It's been almost a year already but a lot of people, myself included, are still not accustomed to the fact that the beloved King Bhumibol Adulyadej has passed away. Perhaps that's partly because the remarkable results of his hard work and dedication to improve the lives of people living in the Kingdom no matter what race or religion are still flourishing. The Thung Roeng Royal Project Development Centre, which I'll tell you about in today's article, is a less-known part of his tremendous legacy.
In operation since 1978 to introduce sustainable farming and new crops to the locals in order to end shifting cultivation that was rapidly destroying precious forests, this royal project development centre and its member farmers in Chiang Mai's Hang Dong district are now Thailand's largest producer of avocado (60-70 tonnes per year).
The centre has sites on two nearby locations. The main site where the avocado and a variety of vegetables are organically grown can be reached via an access road that splits from Road 1269 (Hang Dong-Samoeng) near kilometre marker 21. The other site, also known as the Royal Rose Garden, sits around kilometre marker 18 along the same road.
While hardy cyclists may opt to ride from the beginning of the 1269 or even all the way from Chiang Mai city, I think biking between the two locations of the Thung Roeng Royal Project Development Centre is already good enough for a fun ride.
Let's begin from the rose garden. This place is home to 200 or so varieties of roses that take turns to flaunt their blooms all year round. I was told that the flowers will be most beautiful in the cool season, from December to February. I was there in late September and even then I saw thousands of roses. A walk through the compact English-style garden would be a delightful way to warm up. A refreshing glass of avocado smoothie (yes, the fruit is from the royal project) at the garden's organic restaurant would get you ready for the short yet strenuous ride.
To reach the main site of the Thung Roeng Royal Project Development Centre, you need to bike out of the rose garden to Road 1269. Go right and climb up the hill. After 2km or so, you'll find a side road on your left with a sign confirming that it's the way to Thung Roeng. Yep, follow that road.
From here it's 3km of gliding downhill to the centre located at the bottom of the valley. Along the way, there are a couple of steep sections; so be careful. Also, keep in mind that any slope that allows you to zoom down at high speed will definitely be a torturous climb on your return leg.
At the centre, you can check out the plantations where avocado, banana and other crops are grown. Unlike most farmlands where pesticides and chemical fertiliser are heavily used, here you can see a lot of butterflies, bees, grasshoppers and other insects among the grass and other wildly grown ground level plants. Trust me, the tiny flowers of these "weeds" are no less charming than the big blooms at the rose garden.
After you're done with the organic farms, it's time to test your climbing prowess. Actually, you can opt not to use the same route to get out and thus avoid those tough climbs. On Google Earth, I saw an unpaved road going another way from the centre but eventually emerge on Road 1269 at kilometre marker 15. It's not as steep but longer. I can't tell what the trail condition is like since I didn't have enough time to try it.
Anyway, no matter which way you take, make sure you get back to the Royal Rose Garden well before 8pm when its restaurant closes. (To play safe, inform the staff that you'll come back for dinner.) The scenery here may not be as spectacular as some of the many popular eateries available along the 1269, but I found the food is superior both in terms of taste and freshness. For me, a salad, avocado ice cream and a glass of latte was a heavenly way to end that day of riding.
Well, see you here again next Thursday. Until then, if you have questions, news or biking insights you wish to share, please feel free to send an email to pongpetm@bangkokpost.co.th or go to Freewheel Bangkok community page on Facebook.
Pongpet Mekloy is the Bangkok Post's travel editor and a mountain bike freak.
