Pigs like this when wild in the forest are fast, dangerous and clever. Beware!
Ever had a job so stressful that at the end of the working day you feel the urge to relieve the stress through vigorous exercise?
Well if you have ever visited Huai Teng Tao or the picturesque lowland forest area of the Doi Suthep-Pui National Park in the twilight hours you surely have noticed the many city cyclists exercising in the cool evening air.
But his coming week the routine must change as these areas are reserved from 5 pm for five evenings from July 13th or 14th to allow Somdet Phra Boromma-orasathirat Chao Fa Maha Vajiralongkorn Sayammakutratchakuman to cycle away the stress from handing out hundreds and hundreds of degrees at the ChiangMai Rachapat University.
Both these areas have been spruced up for the occasion. Trees have been cut back and speed humps removed to provide safe passage for the Prince who likes to ride at 30 k.p.h according to a senior park official.
At the Mae Hia Nai check point, ChiangMai District’s biggest Teak tree has had the straggly Strebulus (Don Khoi) at its base cut back to expose the ancient tree complete with flood lights.
Hopefully this will be enough to discourage the wild boars which frequent the area at night from putting a spoke in the wheels of the bicycle procession.
The Royal visit could not have come at a better time as it coincides with the Chiang Mai Sustainable Transport Forum on 16th July. It also give Nakhorn Chiang Mai Municipality the opportunity to bring in measures to compensate for the disturbance of the city’s cyclists such as banning cars from the city moat from 5 pm during the visit. Also the Mayor who is some twenty years younger than the Prince has a chance to show that he too can adopt the bicycle as the most sustainable form of transport and ideal for this hill free city.
Two Royal visits in one day !! The prince is reported to have taken his evening bicycle jaunt at 1:00 am Today, Bastille Day at Mae Hia Nai. Then having so liked this sole remnant ChiangMai has of the original lowland riverine forest, he returned to visit in the afternoon. This raises the question: As this National Park area has been subject to a number of illegal incursions including alteration of the stream banks, an illegal bridge, house and coffee shop constructions, so will the visit lead to more of the same or as HM Queen Sirikit, with her concerns about nature conservation might wish, a turning of the tide as witnessed recently in the Khao Yai National Park?