The road to Mae Sot

The road to Mae Sot is mostly straight and flat. It passes through many small towns, which could be any small towns, and through many sleepy fields. Only at the end does it begin to wind, up into the hills, climbing deep into the jungle, through the bananas, towards the Karen mountain, past the temple on the hill. Through the checkpoint (to keep Burmese refugees from leaving the area), and down into the town, the Burmese mountains standing guard in the distance, just over the border.

The bus station is next to the airport. After a long hiatus (of years) the first new flight landed a couple of days ago. Soon, there will be regular flights to Bangkok, a couple of days a week. The single airline flying here is called Phoenix, which is not confidence inspiring given that phoenixes are known for bursting into flames.

The Mae Sot highway passes through the edge of town, but town is centered around Intharakeeree Road, from which you can get anywhere. The town is a perfect size for biking, and I am currently using a bike left by a recently departed volunteer. It has a sign proudly stating it is 'All Steel' and it definitely feels like it. My lovely light road bike would be laughed at by these weighty, meandering, single gear, basketed, belled, old school behemoths.

Map of Mae Sot
Map of Thailand (Bangkok is not labeled, but is the yellow blob near the bottom where all the roads come together)
Weather Underground, Mae Sot station