Scoot

"I'm sorry. I want your money. But you must protect the body." She was quite insistent.

Then she added, "But you can have a bicylce for a dollar. Good exercise."

This wasn't what I'd expected. All around me, farang (foreigners) have been whizzing around on mopeds with little regard for their or others' enlightenment. A wobble and a spin away from reincarnation. But the woman in the shop wouldn't let me hire one. All because I told the truth and said that I'd never ridden a moped before.

"But there's lots of traffic." [You should see Camberwell, I thought.] I explained again that I wanted to go for a little scoot up to Doi Suthep, about 16km away from, and 800 metres above, Chiang Mai. Even if it wasn't 36 degrees I still wouldn't cycle it. But this lady wasn't for turning.

I'd have to change my plans.

But then I found this little gem online, and hatched a simple plan. Lie. So I found a different shop and I was off - a fun little day out in the cool highlands, round a couple of temples, and then down into a little tribal village. I think it must've been a tribal village, cos there were busloads of tourists getting in and out of their air-conditioned havens, taking photos of people with funny hats.

Riding a moped's good fun actually. I think I'm hooked. My mum will be so happy.

And it's really easy too. Wikianswers got it right, here:

Question - How do you drive a moped?
Answer - Get on it.