Photo trip report: Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai loop

[Don]

Awesome pictures.
You have a handsome family.

[Roel]

Great pics. Can see them now! Thanks.

[buksida]

It was time to explore a bit of the area and do some touristy stuff. The umbrella factory was one of those tour bus stop places but the skill on display here by local artists was impressive.

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[buksida]

Zoos are not my thing but when travelling with kids you dont have much choice in the matter. This was one of the few places that didnt hit me with the white man tax, they had a lot of animals here but the main attraction of course was the sleeping panda (which you had to pay extra to see). What was utterly astounding about this place is that they let cars in so it was a bit of a fiasco with Thais triple parking right next to the animal compounds because they didnt want to walk an extra 7 meters.

About as close as you want to get to a hippo.

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We were lucky to get this one awake!

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Pandas arse: the shot that most people got.

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What came first, the chicken or the rhino?

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Ele versus tour bus.

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[buksida]

That evening we went to the Chiang Mai night bazaar, very touristy but not many farangs, about 80% were Chinese.

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To follow: Doi Inthanon

[Vital Spark]

I do enjoy your trip reports, and fabulous photos.

Thanks.

VS

[buksida]

I had high hopes for Doi Inthanon, the highest peak in Thailand, but unfortunately they were not fulfilled. We decided to hire a car for this trip since the weather was unpredictable and it was over 100km from Chiang Mai - a new Honda City arrived in the morning and off we set. The National Park is to the south west of the city, mostly highway then some really nice roads (that would have been better on two wheels), the Honda struggled, big-time, just not enough oomph from that 1500cc engine to get up the steep parts and overtake safely, it was labouring the whole way.

At the gate I got hit for the white man tax again (I know we could have gone the long way round). Once nearing the peak the temperature noticeably dropped, it was time to dig out the beanie. A flower garden with two chedis was the first stop, and of course we had to pay again to get in. Pleasant surroundings but I wanted to get to the top. The summit of Doi Inthanon is probably the biggest anti-climax in the area, zero visibility due to the clouds and fog and a token sign telling you that you were at the highest point at 2,565 meters above sea level. The best bit was the little local restaurant there for a steaming bowl of Khao Soi.

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We decided to take the long way back which took us on some stunning roads with even more stunning vistas about an hour south to the not-so-stunning Thepphanom hot springs which appeared to be totally deserted.

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One thing that did impress though was how good the roads were - even in the outback. I guess the locals have a certain exiled politician to thank for that.

To follow: Chiang Rai

[Big Boy]

Funny how different things please different people. I think from our short visit to Chiang Mai this place impressed us most. To make your trip even better, you had brilliant weather at the flower gardens midway up.

Did you get to see the wildlife while you were eating your steaming bowl of Khao Soi? For me, sitting in that hide was by far the best bit.

[buksida]

Later in this report I'll tell you about another mountain we went to which blows Inthanon away, and another flower garden which made this one look like my back yard!

The only wild life we saw were badly behaved Chinese tourists!

[Big Boy]

The only wild life we saw were badly behaved Chinese tourists!

You obviously missed it on my earlier report, but on the side of the cafe/restaurant was a little hide, where all types of unusual visitors came within reaching distance (often too close for my inadequate camera). We weren't visited by a single Chinese tourist .

[buksida]

Ahh, the birds, yes I remember now - shame we didn't get to see them. Anyway, on with the trip ...

We stopped off at a fantastic restaurant on the Ping River that evening called the Antique House and dined on a boat! Here are a couple of shots across the river and the old iron bridge that attracted the selfie crowd.

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It was time to leave Chiang Mai and head north, we'd booked a VIP bus to Chiang Rai for the following morning, costing 270 baht each for the 3 hour journey. Busses have improved a lot since I last took one in Thailand (which is well over ten years ago), instead of being limited to the blue government ones with a lunatic at the wheel, there are now a raft of private companies with new vehicles and competitive prices.

Our hotel in CR was more of a homestay - a small family run place 7km west of town. We chose this over the bland Thai and Chinese style block hotels that are everywhere and it turned out to be the best place we stayed at. That extra personal service and attention goes a long way, especially when you're used to bored girls playing with phones when they're supposed to be tending to customers.

It was a few hundred meters walk to the River Kok (I think the same one from Top Gear) and a delightful little restaurant there that we returned to every day.

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I instantly liked Chiang Rai and its surrounds, far more laid back and picturesque than the manic city life in Chiang Mai. That evening we headed into town for the weekly night bazaar and walking street - a kilometer of market stalls and very cheap clothing and shoes (happy wife).

To follow: Wat Rong Khun (The White Temple)

[PeteC]

Too bad there's no ocean up there. It would be like rural Northern California in climate and appearance. Pete

[Vital Spark]

I love that area of Thailand. My first (and last) trip to Chiang Rai was in 1996, and I stayed B&B in the stunningly beautiful Anantara Hotel (it was called something different then). We couldn't afford the high prices for their food and drink, so hired bicycles and cycled around the area for cheaper sustenance. Like you, I much prefer the city to Chiang Mai - it is, or was, less developed, and the surrounding countryside is beautiful.

VS.

[migrant]

Too bad there's no ocean up there. It would be like rural Northern California in climate and appearance. Pete

When we were picking where in Thailand to live, that, Pete, was exactly why we didn't choose Chiang Rai area. We really like it, but would miss the ocean.

[buksida]

One of Thailand's most famous temples just happened to be a few kilometers from our accommodation so we grabbed a couple of bikes and rode over there. As expected it was uber touristy, again 80% Chinese, but an impressive structure nevertheless.

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Wasn't easy getting shots with no people in them.