Sop Kai.

Spent a day riding the Sop Kai loop this week. It is a wonderful little trip through mountains and along the Mae Taeng river. Thailand is still hot and combined with the heat, the recent political turmoil has left little for those who sustain themselves off the tourism industry to live off of. The summer is usually hard for these people but this summer in particular. People are just not travelling to Thailand or within Thailand right now and spells trouble for a nation that has a large part of its economy based on the industry. It is by far the small local vendors that suffer the most though. Often these road side stalls, selling simple snacks and lunches will only see a few people a day. Many complain that the large scale tourist industry here captures much of the business. It is easy to see why, with signs in English, English speaking staff and larger cleaner facilities, many tourists feel more comfortable frequenting these establishments. In this vein, more seasoned travels, those that feel compelled to get off the beaten track should support the small local vendors. Even just buying a water or a coke here and there can make a big difference.