In Chiang Mai, Thailand!
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That's some guts for me to rent this - the most simple, basic scooter available, Suzuki Step 125cc. Yeah it's a scooter with only one control for gas and brakes to handle, which suits me very much.
This is the route I rode. A total of 50km from the old city to uphill on Doi Suthep, for the major temple, view of the city, and a winter palace, then same way down hill.
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You can see that the left side of this route map has only one road and fairly blank around it. The road also has a lot of turns.
All these accumulative thoughts in negativity, adding to the cooler temperature in higher altitude, made me shiver a little.
On one steep hairpin turn, I was looking ahead the bend (I avoid turning when the other side had any traffic), leaned into the turn, but somehow FORGOT to gas up... Then I fall on my left and the bike just slide to the double white line.
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You can see this is really the last turn before the big temple...
I would have taken the middle lane so that the turn is less sharp. But then if I fell on that, my bike would have fallen off a cliff!!
This thought, plus the scratched and bruised elbows and knees, put me in shock for almost the whole day. Gee, I just had my first traffic accident as a driver...
Paint was scratched off the left side of the bike. Left mirror also broke off. When I got back up the floor checking if myself is okay, there is a long tourist coach passing the turn. Classic! Then there is this auntie on a scooter who stopped and asked if I could start again. All I can response was "I'm OK. Kop kun ka. (Thank you)". Hmm the kindness of strangers.
On the way down I was a lot more cautious. The legal speed sign said "40" and so did I. Still there were more than a few scooters, 4-wheels and such over-passing me. Really I think the auntie who stopped for me would easily drive at 60kmh here.
Overall it is a pleasant experience - I really enjoy the scenery and being able to get to places without haggling a songthew (2-row pickup truck) driver. But then I KNOW I should have practiced a lot more before driving in a foreign place... I'm over confident in my driving skill, and well, I paid my price..