A Break for the Body, a Hike for the Soul: Exploring Doi Mon Jong

After a much-needed rest, it was time to embark on another soul-soothing hike. This time, our destination was Doi Mon Jong, a breathtaking mountain nestled amidst the lush forests of northern Thailand.

The Spark of Inspiration

My partner and I have become avid hikers, constantly browsing pages dedicated to trekking adventures. One fateful day, while scrolling through Facebook, we stumbled upon an event titled "Land of the Heavenly Horses: Doi Mon Jong First Trip (Untouched Forest)" hosted by Kon Long Pa, a renowned trekking group. The event was scheduled for November 4th-6th, 2016, perfectly aligning with our desire to conquer one of the 12 designated hiking trails in the region. Seizing the opportunity, we immediately booked our spots.

Joining Forces

Our trekking party consisted of three individuals: myself, my partner, and Nune, a fellow adventurer we met during our previous expedition to Doi Luang Tak (documented in our blog post "++ Saturday-Sunday Trip - Doi Luang Tak - With a Budget of 1500 ++").

Friday night

We traveled on the night of the 4th. This trip had two vans with a total of 20 members.

We will meet at PTT, Sanam Pao, at 7:30 PM.

All members arrived. Around 8:00 p.m., it was time to depart.

With the wheels turning, it's time for a power nap. See you in the morning after a quick warp jump.

A Saturday Morning

Original Text:

เช้าวันเสาร์

A Saturday morning.

Dozing off and waking up, left turns, right turns, like going to Mae Hong Son, over a thousand curves (didn't count though, was asleep).

We arrived at Omkoi District, Chiang Mai Province, at around 7:00 AM.

We stopped by the 7-11 in front of the district office before entering the tourist service center.

So I went downstairs to grab a coffee and do a little shopping.

By the way, there is a fresh market and a grocery store a little further down the road in case anyone wants to buy more things.

After finishing our shopping, we continued our journey for another 30 kilometers.

The next destination is the tourist service center, where we will prepare ourselves.

After a two-hour van ride, we arrived at the center and had breakfast.

Those who wish to shower first may use one of the five available bathrooms.

However, the three of us are conserving our clothes, water, and helping the world by not showering, as per the regulations.

The journey continues with a 4x4 ride to the trailhead, taking approximately 1 hour.

Porters will prepare communal supplies in baskets to carry up to us.

The center is located in a Musoe hill tribe village. The porters are also local hill tribe members.

We packed our bags and equipment into the back of the truck, and then got ready to go and shake it.

While waiting for our luggage, we took a walk around Doi Mon Jong to see the different viewpoints.

Embark on an adventure by starting small.

Climbing Doi Mon Jong is not just physically demanding due to the hike itself, but also mentally challenging.

I'm still feeling sore in my arms from hanging onto the 4x4. This place is truly amazing.

This process took a significant amount of time, approximately one hour and fifteen minutes.

The initial sections feature narrow concrete roads, barely wider than a car wheel.

The terrain became increasingly challenging, consisting solely of loose dirt. The journey was exhilarating, with frequent ascents and descents, as well as occasional encounters with treacherous mud.

This is perfect for those who love to dance! You can move in any direction, just like you're in a club.

The neatly arranged belongings suddenly shifted and piled up, requiring a firm grip to maintain balance.

This path was built by the villagers to facilitate vehicle access to the starting point of the hike.

Reaching the Um Long Forest Protection Unit means you've covered half the journey by car, but that's not all.

The journey continues, the distance is vast. No time to waste, let's keep moving forward, brothers and sisters.

The roadside scenery is a beautiful pine forest, but there isn't much time to enjoy it as we are busy shaking.

And then I encountered an obstacle. Here I am standing by to give support in another car. The car couldn't make it up the hill, it slipped on the muddy lane.

Look at the young porter, he knows his job well. But look at the people in the car, they are having a great time. "Is there anything more fun than this, bro?" 555

However, after driving for a short while, I encountered another obstacle. This time, it was my own car.

A piece of wood got stuck under the car, and we had to work together to remove it. It was quite a hassle.

Before reaching the parking lot, the drivers of the shortened cars shook their cars again.

To the starting point

We have reached the end of the road. From here on, we must continue on foot.

Before leaving, they paid their respects at the temple for good luck and then set off.

The hike began with an immediate uphill climb, without any prior warm-up.

At first, I still had some energy, so I took a lot of photos. Later, I ran out of energy and didn't take any photos. Haha.

As we walked along, a "snail" came out to greet us. This was the first trip to Mon Chong.

The reviews I read didn't mention anything about leeches.

As you venture deeper, you encounter an increasing number of the creature's relatives, each progressively larger than the last. The sight is truly awe-inspiring.

The vibrant green slugs found here, while seemingly creepy, serve as an indicator of the forest's health.

I was wearing shorts and the mosquitoes were swarming around me, but luckily I didn't get bitten. I could feel them landing on me, though.

However, my girlfriend and her friend kept checking each other's legs throughout the journey, even though they were wearing long pants, undershirts, and socks over their pants.

If you find a leg island, I'll be the one to take it out. You always just lift your feet for me, haha.

Upon closer inspection, one will discover a plethora of beautiful flowers lining the path, accompanied by an abundance of butterflies.

And most importantly, fresh cow dung, don't step on it.

In most cases, and not just here, hill tribe people raise cows and buffalo by letting them graze on the mountain slopes.

They may visit once a month, otherwise, they let it forage on its own.

Phu Hin Cho

We have reached another point, known as "Phu Hin Chor," a landmark on the Mon Chong trail.

This is a major rest stop where you can take a break and enjoy the view.

Take a break, relax and enjoy the view before continuing your walk.

The path is covered in moss, lichen, and mushrooms, creating a lush and visually pleasing green landscape.

After walking for a long time, I started to feel discouraged. The path seemed endless, with slippery and steep slopes covered in thorns.

The occasional snail greets me, and I can't help but sigh.

Panting like a dog with a dog's panting hill

We have arrived at "Dog's Panting Hill." As soon as we emerged from the forest, we were greeted by this sight. It's truly breathtaking and worth the effort.

The view is breathtaking, with rolling hills covered in lush green grass.

The name must have a source. Walking up here is really like a dog panting.

It took almost half an hour to reach the top of the hill. (A bit exaggerated)

As I walked up, I turned around to look at the view behind me.

Note: As there is no text provided in the original language, I am unable to provide a translation. Please provide the text you would like translated and I will be happy to assist you.

Chang Golf Course

Continuing on, we arrived at "Chang Golf Course." The person who named it was quite clever, as it is a truly massive golf course.

However, the Chang Golf Course is another story. People are still walking and panting as usual. Fortunately, most of the course is flat, with few steep hills.

I stood panting on the hill, while the porter sat down to smoke a cigarette, enjoying the million-dollar view.

Continue walking for a while and you will reach a three-way intersection. Turn left to reach the campsite, and turn right to head towards Huasing.

Let's head to the campsite first. We can set up camp and unpack our belongings there.

We have arrived at the campsite.

Descending into the valley, you will reach the campsite, which offers a flat area suitable for pitching tents and a stream for collecting drinking water.

We set up camp together, built a fire, took care of personal business, and then neatly packed everything into the tent.

It took us approximately four hours to hike from the trailhead to the campsite, with frequent breaks.

A majestic lion's head

Having pitched the tent and packed away their belongings, they picked up their cameras and continued their journey.

To conquer the "Lion's Head," the highest peak of Doi Mon Jong.

The day is quite cloudy, with beautiful rays of sunlight peeking through.

The million-dollar view we trekked to is truly breathtaking.

A short walk from the Chang Golf Course, you'll find the Lion's Head in the distance.

As I walked, I admired the scenery and captured the moments when sunlight fell on the lion's head.

This place has thousand-year-old rose bushes, but it is not yet the flowering season.

It appears like ordinary dried-up trees.

We have arrived at the peak of Doi Mon Jong.

After climbing and climbing, we finally reached the top of the lion's head.

We finally conquered the summit of Doi Mon Jong.

"But it won't be long before it rains," the young hawker said.

I had to hurry back because it would be very dangerous to walk back if it rained.

The cliffs on both sides of the road are almost a kilometer high.

The army marches on its stomach, and is lubricated by the water of civilization.

As the sun sets, it signals the time for dinner.

This trip was led by Nai Namjan and Nai Khai, and two or three other members of the group did not go up to Huasingh.

They helped prepare dinner for us, and the taste was quite good.

[18+] The weather is cold, so let's have some "floating stars" to warm us up.

"Daow Loy" is a type of distilled liquor traditionally made by villagers. It has a similar taste to white liquor, but with a more fragrant aroma.

Only those who know the source can obtain it, as it is boiled from corn.

I had a great time and slept soundly, feeling warm and cozy.

Around 9 or 10 pm, it's time to rest and prepare to wake up early to watch the sunrise. Those who are still energetic can continue chatting.

I'm going to take a break now.

Sunday morning.

I woke up with a leg cramp this morning, so I had to rest my leg and missed the sunrise.

The photos of my fellow travelers are beautiful. I feel regretful and will come back again later.

This morning, I made myself a cup of coffee and then went for a walk around the campsite to take some photos.

A short while later, our fellow travelers and P' Namjan returned from watching the sunrise.

We started making breakfast, which was simple but delicious fried rice and pickled vegetable soup.

After breakfast, please gather your belongings. Those who are ready may proceed to the viewpoint to enjoy the morning view of the Chang Golf Course.

The breathtaking view of the sea of mist made me regret missing the sunrise.

We were taking pictures when three bikers walked up with a national flag.

"What is it? Why is it so cool? I borrowed it to take some pictures."

After a while, we started walking again, taking breaks as needed.

Upon reaching the "Dog's Panting Hill," we encountered the group that had set out earlier.

One by one, they lowered themselves to the ground, taking turns to slide and slip, enjoying the tiring but fun experience.

Halfway through the walk, I realized I had already reached the midpoint of Phuhin Chor. The descent was surprisingly fast.

We stopped to take some photos and check the leeches on our legs.

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The more time you spend walking, the more you will appreciate the completeness of this forest.

Despite the wildfires that occurred last year, the forest would not have been destroyed if it had not been damaged by humans.

Given time to recover, the forest will soon regain its former beauty.

Upon arriving at the pick-up point, we immediately departed to allow time for showering before our next activity.

Whichever way you came, go back the same way. If you came with a short greeting, go back with a short greeting. Shake it until you're tired.

Visit the Musoe Village

This sentence invites the reader to visit the Musoe Village. It is a concise and clear call to action, perfect for a tourism website or brochure.

After an hour of intense sexual activity, they returned to the center.

Feel free to take a shower to freshen up, then we can have lunch at Auntie Keeying's noodle shop.

Translation:

"Let's have a bowl each, with some chilled Coke or beer. It's another way to enjoy ourselves."

Note: 089-956-3984 is the phone number of Auntie Keeyingkham. If anyone wants to order lunch boxes, they can call her directly.

We still have some time left, so let's take a walk around the village and see the way of life of the Hmong people.

The warmth and hospitality of the local people towards tourists.

Wherever we went, we were greeted by the smiles of the villagers.

Mose with the King

A villager I spoke to mentioned our revered King.

He claimed to have been inside the palace and served the royal family, longing for closeness.

The villagers recounted the King's immense benevolence towards the Muser people.

As she spoke, she raised her hands in a wai, almost making me cry.

I can truly feel the love for our King.

Return to the city

Shortly after, another group came down to take care of personal matters. After finishing our meal, we returned to Bangkok.

Arriving in Bangkok around 3 am, I rushed home to sleep, marking the end of my trip.

Having walked through Doi Mon Jong Forest, my first trip of the year, I witnessed the pristine beauty of the forests in Omkoi District.

Nature's beauty, which takes years to restore.

This verdant beauty will transform into a golden hue around midwinter.

We expect to return for a second visit.

In terms of overall difficulty for this trip,

The hike was not too challenging, just enough to break a sweat and feel a hint of fatigue.

And savor the taste of success at the summit.

Aside from encountering snails, the hardship we faced was having to cook our own meals.

A significant concern for many is the lack of restrooms, with only open-air toilets available.

Expenses

The total cost for this trip was 3,000 baht per person, as we joined the trip organized by "Jungle Lost" led by Ms. Namjan.

VIP van transportation fee from the meeting point, including 5 meals, until returning to the drop-off point in Bangkok.

Those interested can contact the Kon Long Pa page.