Monday 10th August, 1998. David Hardy stayed with us in Chiang Rai for the day. We all went to the “Dusit Island Resort” for presentation photos and we were kindly invited by the management for lunch:
http://www.dusit.com/hotels/thailand/chiang_rai/dusit_island_resort/index.html
The presentation was our copy of “Good Morning Chiangmai News Magazine” and the August issue, with an excellent article David had written about “Walking For Thailand”:
http://www.gmorning.info/my_chiangmai.htm
PADANG BESAR - NIGHT BAZAAR - SONGKHLA, ON FOOT!
“Hello, I’m Dennis Peacock and this is William. We’re walking through every province in Thailand” said the tall, lean Englishman with the casual air of someone describing his morning stroll.
After 5 days rest in Chiangmai, Dennis Peacock, retired accountant and resident of Had Yai and Boonchern “William” Jinapirom, a monk for 8 years in Nakhon Si Thammarat, set off for Chiangrai on July 20th. In 18 months to two years time, they intend to walk up to the famous ‘mermaid’ statue on Songkhla beach having covered all 76 provinces of the Kingdom.
“I want to demonstrate solidarity with Thailand in difficult times” explained Dennis, who broke his right leg badly in a motorcycle accident two years ago and started walking as therapy. “Anyone, Thai or foreigner, is welcome to join me. I’m not raising funds, have no sponsors yet and it’s costing me about 1,000 baht a day, but I’m meeting Thai people, giving them encouragement, receiving a lot back - and showing that walking is an enjoyable, healthy exercise.”
From his start point on the southern border at Padang Besar, Dennis set out alone. After 377 kilometres (this accountant keeps meticulous records) he was resting at a travel agent’s shop in Krabi where Khun Boonchern was helping part-time. After only a few minutes learning about ‘Walking for Thailand’, the former travelling monk concluded “You need a protector, an interpreter and a companion. Can I come with you?” That was 1,940 kilometres south of Chiangmai, and the pair have been averaging 32 k’s a day ever since.
“We walk most days and at night with a torch, but only if there’s a good moon”, explained Dennis. “We’re not rushing and we take occasional breaks, staying in small Thai guest houses and meeting as many people as possible. Everyone has been very friendly and encouraging and the dogs bark but don’t bite. We get lots of thumbs up and flashing lights from the Highway Police and the bus drivers, who of course see us regularly as they dash up and down!”
“We’ve turned down plenty offers of lifts - but I’ve sometimes regretted it when the only place to settle down for the night has been a bus stop!” laughed Dennis. Carrying only a hammock and light rucksacks, the two had worn out two pairs of trainers each on the northbound trek - and they have only covered one-third distance of the planned marathon. ‘Good Morning Chiangmai’ presented Khun Boonchern with a new pair of Adidas trainers and will update the walk’s progress each month. Readers online can follow their progress via:
http://www.escati.com/walking_for_thailand.htm
“Bythe time we near the end, perhaps in June 2000, we want a whole crowd of people to be walking with us, showing the world that Thailand has lots of spirit even if the going is tough” concluded Dennis “And we’ve met so many great people who we’d like to see again, well, we may do the whole thing once more by tuk-tuk!”
I sent a copy of the magazine and Bangkok Post article by EMS mail to Andrew and Dr Virat and Margaret in Songkhla. We had a great day and David’s rental car was no good for his later return to Chiang Mai, so he stayed another night and flew back on Tuesday morning:
http://www.walking-in-thailand.com/1998.htm
Yours truly,
Escati Tiger Team Walking For Thailand
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