Khao Suan Kwang – Udong Thani - 68 km
Our ride to Udong Thani was short and effortless, and it was a typical
cycle-touring day. Stopping to take a picture, a watermelon vendor
surprised us with an already-cut watermelon. It was delicious, and
the lady refused to accept any money. We felt for these generous
locals, so we invested in 3-in-1 coffee sachets, which we could give in
return. Of course, it’s not enough, but still, it’s the thought that
counts.
Scenery-wise, the day was lovely; butterflies darted around as we
peddled past substantial cassava plantations and sugarcane fields. En
route, we visited one of the many monasteries, took a few pictures,
and had a chat with the monks. The following stop was a durian
vendor, where Tania sampled Thailand's most famous (or infamous)
fruit.
Thai ladies fished in large ponds alongside the way, using earthworms
as bait, but they never caught anything; maybe the fish didn't like
the earthworms. Finally, Tania joined them but was equally
unsuccessful.
Afterwards, we made our way towards the big city of Udon Thani,
passing more monasteries and lakes featuring fishing platforms that
looked a tad more promising than the ponds. We had one final stop to
buy sticky rice cooked in segments of bamboo tubes. The bamboo
tubes are filled with rice and beans in coconut milk and plugged using
coconut husk wrapped in a banana leaf to keep in the steam. In
Thailand, this dish is called kao lam, but in Malaysia, it's known as
lemang.