Mekong Indochina Hash event was first held in Chiang Mai, Thailand in 2002 with the participation of over 600 hashers. Since then, it has been held periodically around the region with big turnouts. And it was on 24th to 26th October, 2008 that its 10th event was held for the second time in Thailand at its historical city and former capital of Sukhothai which attracted a smaller pack of over 400 hashers who included Malaysians and Japanese.
On the morning of 24th October, 2008, as arranged by Rasputin of Orang-Utan Hash of Malacca, Okui Chuan, Iron Man and I left Malacca for Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT), Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) by taxi. Whilst there, we met a number of familiar hashers. Among them were Rasputin, Printing Machine, Hari Hari Mahu, Tikus, Botak Chin, Charlie, Mopiko and partner from the Orang-Utan Hash. Understandably, they were also heading for Sukhothai, Thailand to attend the 10th Mekong Indochina Hash. We left by Air Asia flight to Bangkok and chartered car to Sukhothai which took us 2 hours and 6 hours respectively. On arrival there at 10.00 am on 25th October, 2008, we proceeded to Sawaddiphong Hotel Hash Bazaar where we reconfirmed our registrations and were each given a goodies bag which contained, among others, a beautiful T-shirt, 2 hash badges, a foldable bag, a security wrist tag and a magazine. Whilst there, we met Gorilla and partner from Ipoh Hash. I then checked into the said hotel whereas the others checked into another hotel nearby.
The programme of the day was the Red Dress Run which started at Sawaddiphong Hotel at 2.30 pm. It attracted some 40 participants. I did not take part as I was not prepared for it. The run was flagged-off by the Governor of Sukhothai after a cultural dance. It was a 5-km run which circled around the streets and attracted the attention of the amused on-lookers. The runners were back after some1 hour followed by drinking session with local snack and hash circle.
The opening ceremony was held at 6.00 pm at an open field at Muang Kaw (Old City) Historical Park some 25 minutes drive from the hotel. It was there that I met a bigger number of familiar faces from the Malaysian Hashes. Among them were Speedy, Kachang Panjang and Cow Boy of Malacca Hash; Coconut Kernel and Lion Peter Chong of Petaling Jaya Hash; Brig. Gen. (Retired) Dato’ Soon Lian Cheng of Damansara Hash; and Original, Mao Tze Tung, June Teo, Ong Poi Sik and Kerk Chuan Hork of Batu Pahat Hash. It was well attended by a big pack of enthusiastic hashers and officiated by the Governor of Sukhothai. A sit-down dinner on floor mat of local delicious Thai food was served with cultural dance in attendance. It was followed by the performance of another grand cultural show at the adjacent Wat Mahathat, Sukhothai Historical Park with colourful fireworks. It ended at 8.30 pm after which we returned to the said Hash Bazaar where we continued our drinking and singing sessions until mid-night before we called it a day.
The main running event took place at the vicinity of the same Muang Kaw Historical Park at noon on 25th November, 2008. In all there were 4 A to B runs which were made up of Ball-breaker, Long, Medium and Short Runs. They started at different locations and time from 12.50 pm for the Ball-breaker Run to 3.00 pm for the Short Run. Like the previous day, the runners were being picked up earlier from Sawaddiphong Hotel by buses with their bags kept in a separate locked police truck for their safety. In attendance to supervise its arrangement was the event’s ever-industrious Chairwoman Kim ‘Normal’ Chaubert. Well done and keep it up!
It was a hot Saturday afternoon. As usual, as oldies, I joined the biggest pack of some 120 hashers who took part in the Medium Run. It was flagged-off at 2.15 pm after a short briefing by its hare on the running trails which were marked with either white powder on the tarred road or shredded paper on the path. Among the runners were Flower Pot, Original, Mao Tze Tung, Kerk Chuan Hork and June Teo from Batu Pahat Hash. The white powder headed north on a tarred road for some 5 minutes before hitting the first simple check at a crossed junction. A spread-out search led to the finding of its connecting white powder a short while later some 100 metres ahead. It continued to head forward for another some 5 minutes before hitting the second simple check at another crossed junction in a housing estate. Like the previous check, its connecting white powder was found a short while later a short distance ahead. It continued to head forward for another some 5 minutes on the tarred road before hitting the third simple check at a T-junction. After a short spread-out check, its connecting paper was found a short distance ahead in a bushy path at the foot of a small hill. From then on, it proceeded uphill for a short distance before arriving at its top where a giant Buddha statue stands. A number of us took a short break to admire and enjoy its beautiful surrounding scenery and taking photographs for remembrance.
The paper then trudged downhill into a stretch of corn and paddy fields, and bamboo plantation for some 15 minutes before arriving at the first water point where we were supplied with drinking water to replenish our lost sweat and quench our thirst. It then meandered through a park and a village across a few more simple checks for some 20 minutes before arriving at the second and last water point where we were again supplied with drinking water. The villagers were amazed to see us crazy hashers chasing after the paper for no apparent reason.
The paper continued to meander left, right and centre through the park for some 10 minutes before hitting the last complicated check on a tarred road. A tedious spread-out search was conducted to no avail. It was a few minutes later that we were being shown the direction of its connecting paper by a policeman that we managed to find it a short distance away. From then on, it was another some 15 minutes trudge through the park and a short stretch of soggy field before arriving back at Ban Muang Kaw which is the finishing point for all the 4 runs at 3.40 pm where a small pack of front runners were enjoying their cold beer and local snack. Among them were Long Run runner Mopiko from Orang-Utan Hash and my co-Medium Run runner June Teo from Batu Pahat Hash. A number of us then proceeded to take our bath at a water tanker and had our leg massage to loosen its muscle by a few professional masseuses in open air nearby. What a great relief!
It was a leisured Medium Run of some 9 km through the scenic historical park. More runners of all the 4 runs trickled in as time passed by. The last runners were back at around 5.00 pm when the sky was still bright. Among them were Rasputin, Tikus, Brig. General (Retired) Dato’ Soon Lian Cheng, Lion Peter Chong, Printing Machine, Hari Hari Mau, Charlie, Iron Man and Botak Chin of Malaysian Hashes.
Hash Circle was conducted by members of the organizing committee. It was well attended which saw a number of sinners being put on-ice and on-downed.
The buffet dinner of delicious local food and free-flowing beer was held at a nearby restaurant with an open field. In attendance was a live band on stage. It was then that we took our time to relax ourselves while enjoying our food and socializing with our fellow hashers after the various memorable runs. Unfortunately we were being interrupted by a sudden downpour which forced us to take cover in the restaurant building where we continued with our drink and socializing. It ended at around 10.00 pm when we departed for Sawaddiphong Hotel Hash Pub where we continued with our drinking session until mid-night when we called it a day. We did not attend its Hangover Run At Sukhothai Orchid Hotel and its closing ceremony on the following day as we had left for Chiang Mai for its Post-Lupe Run which was scheduled at 3.00 pm on 27th October, 2008. However, out of the 10 of us, only avid Rasputin and Mopiko joined it as we opted for sightseeing and shopping as some of us had attended its 15th Interhash in 2006. Accidentally, we bumped into 2 Hash Pubs which have been in existence for the past 10 years and 6 months respectively. They are situated at 25/1 Moonmuang Road and Kamphaengdin Road, Chiang Mai. Of course we took the opportunity to have a drink there and interacted with some local hashers. So feel free to visit them when you are there, fellow hashers! This also applies to Malacca, Malaysia where it has a newly opened Harriettes Bistro Cafe at the nearby Sungai Udang town where you can have your breakfast, lunch, dinner and drink as well as establishing contact with all its 8 hashing chapters through harriette Chickadee and join them in their weekly and monthly runs. You are sure to enjoy them, fellow hashers! See you there!
It was a well-organized 10th Mekong Indochina Run. Credits should be given to its delicate organizing committee for the job well done which made us left Thailand on 28th October, 2008 through Chiang Mai and Bangkok with fond memory.
On! On!
Scribe: Drug Buster
Date: 9th November, 2008.
