✈Chiang Mai . Thailand

Where: Chiang Mai, Thailand

When: February 2013
Who: Him & I
What: Our Annual Trip
How: By AirAsia

Day 1

Today I am going to talk a little bit of my travel experience in Chiang Mai which also known as The Rose of The North. We took the early flight and touched down Chiang Mai at 8am, it was very cooling in the morning because it was the beginning of the year, entering into spring season. Checked in to Zensala Chiang Mai. It is a boutique hotel with less than 20 units of rooms. It is a lovely hotel located just beside Ping River, the designs are unique but a little too far from the town.

#01

Zensala Chiang Mai

168 Patan Rd., Patan, Muang District, Chiang Mai 50300
tel: (66) 53 225 888

email: info@zensalaresort.com 

website: http://www.zensalaresort.com/ 

 

Freshened up ourselves and went out to hunt for food. At first, we thought the town is quite near to our place, so we rented a bicycle from the hotel for only 100 Baht for full day. We were really tired and gave up cycling to town, because it is really very far. Then, we got back to our hotel and asked the staff to call a taxi for us. 300 Baht for two person for only one way to town, it was pretty expensive.

 

#02 So called "Pisang Goreng" - too sweet

#03 Chiang Mai is an ancient city, this is part of the ancient city wall.

#04 After the town exploration, we went back to get some rest. Although the hotel is a bit far from the town but we really enjoyed the peaceful moments in this resort. The pool access room was a nice choice even the pool is not that big but soaking the legs into the cold water was the best thing I could do during the cold weather.

#05 Ta-dah! We went back to our hotel with this scooter. We rented this scooter for only 200 Baht for full day, it is super cheap right? Even I have a motor license in Malaysia, it was my very first time riding a scooter on super highway. Riding motorcycle/ scooter in Thailand is very very dangerous, so if you plan to rent it, please think thrice, unless you are very confidence on your skills. It was totally an outrageous and unforgettable experience to us.

#06 Dined in a restaurant where the price was affordable and the food was good especially the sweet&sour fish.

#07 Stopped by a little hawker to try this. Pork balls with the sauce tasted so marvelous!

Day 2

#08 This is the morning view of the hotel. I did not take any picture of the breakfast because I was too excited to enjoy their freshly made breakfast. We love the breakfast so much because we can choose anything from the menu. The pancake was very delicious and the staff was very nice and helpful.

#09 This hotel was built in a naturally beautiful place.

Next, we went for a jungle exploration. We purchased a package for real rainforest adventure that include few platforms, ziplines, abseils, sky bridge, one spiral staircase, canopy nature walk, lunch, water, Jungle Flight T-Shirt and hotel transfer.

#10 My very first time to the real forest, it is astonishingly beautiful. Feeling so wonderful to escape from the busy city to the unspoiled nature.

#11 The longest zipline is 300m, I shouted like a Tarzan. Haha!

#12 The last and highest abseil made me almost pee.

#13 There were around 15 people in a group, it took about 5-6 hours to finish the whole adventure. At the beginning of the adventure, I was feeling extremely nervous and anxious. However, the overall experience seemed safer than expected. Gliding through the beautiful forest and seeing the amazing views was awesome and wonderful. The guides were excellent, friendly and entertaining throughout the tour. I would not recommend leaving Chiang Mai without doing this tour.

Chiang Mai Jungle Flight

47/2 Moon Muang Road,

T.Prasing,A.Muang,

Chiang Mai 50200

tel: 053-208-666

email: info@jungleflightchiangmai.com
website: http://www.jungleflightchiangmai.com/
2,000++ Baht/ person

Day 3 

On day 3, we planned to tour around Chiang Mai and we hired a driver for 800 Baht for a day. He brought us to visit the elephants. There are many different elephant parks around Chiang Mai, I couldn't recall which park we have been to. The entrance fees is 200 Baht per person. I hope the money we have paid really contribute to the elephants and provide them veterinary care.

#14 Opened its mouth widely.

#15 The elephants that you see performing tricks and painting have been beaten into a submissive state to do these things. My tears rolled down to my cheeks while watching them painting.

#16 These two paintings are for sales to raise fund.

#17 Bamboo Rafting is included in the package.The weather was good, along the river we saw different types of trees and also elephant's camps.

#18 I am not very impressed with the elephant parks, especially when I know a little bit about the movie Water For Elephants.

We did not go to Chiang Rai because the driver told us that the journey will take about 4 hours with winding roads. Therefore, the driver brought us to a Long Neck Karen Village nearby the elephant park, it is actually purposely set up for tourism.

 

#19 I have seen this on the television where the young women adorn rings on their necks and some of them even have big ears piercings. I couldn't believe all these until I witnessed with my own eyes that the young women there are really having so many heavy brass rings adorning their necks. If you want to take picture with them, please respect and be kind to them, you may buy something from them to help them. I was wearing fake brass rings and it is very heavy actually. 

#20 They live in bamboo houses built on stilts, with their domestic animals living under the house. The women are also skilled weavers and make beautiful clothes & handicrafts.

#21 We were told that the children in 20th century have the rights to chose whether they want to adorn the brass rings or not. 

Next destination, which is also the highlight of the trip - Tiger Kingdom

 

#22 I was very nervous being so closed to the tigers. It is worth to visit this place because the price is not high compared to say doing something similar in Malaysia. They offer few packages like different size of tiger with different price, we picked the cheapest one, small and big tiger for 800++Baht for each person. We were allowed to enter the very big cage for 40 minutes to touch the tigers and take as many photos as we like. Don't worry there are few professional trainers inside the cage to protect and guide you.

 

#23 There are four to five tigers in the cage. Look at his paws and handsome face. I really love this experience and will remember it for years to come.

Day 4 

#24 Explore Chiang Mai local market. I think this is China Town.

#25 We just simply wandered around and walked into a fresh food market that is a particularly good place to buy fruit and food.

  #26 70 Baht for a very yummy Tom Yum Kung with fish and prawns.

#27 Crispy fried banana, meatballs, fish balls and spring rolls.

#28 Someone told us that we must not miss out the fried chicken from the stall along the street. Two thumbs up!

#29 We bought different foods from the market and brought back to the hotel to enjoy.

#30 The view of where the night bazaar located in Chiang Mai from our hotel.

#31 At night, Chiang Mai town is busier than day time.

#32 A floral carnival was held there, We were very lucky to go on the right time, because we found so many stalls selling all kind of food.

#33 Mango sticky rice.

#34

#35

#36 The Night Bazaar is the most famous of all Chiang Mai's markets selling food, fruits, souvenirs, craft and clothes. Just 3 minutes walk from our hotel so we came here every night.

#37 In Thailand, I do not dine in a nice restaurant, I prefer to try local hawker food, cheap and delicious.

#38 Pat Tai

#39 Curry chicken with rice.

Well, that's end of the trip. I would encourage you to visit Chiang Mai at end or beginning of the year because of its cooling weather. Overall I enjoyed a lot because, I had many first experiences in this trip like riding scooter in a foreign country, being so closed to the real unspoiled jungle and being so closed to so many Tigers. Chiang Mai is little Bangkok but smaller, calmer and has some of the most beautiful scenery you’ll ever see.