a week in chiang mai
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LocationChiang Rai: Next Stop
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It takes just over an hour to fly from Don Muang airport in Bangkok to Chiang Mai, using Air Asia. Air Asia is cheap, efficient, and reliable. It is also cramped for SOME of us. I use it all the time when flitting about in Thailand. One limitation is that Bangkok is the Thai hub, so sometimes I have to fly there and catch another plane somewhere else.
I may try a bus for my next journey.
I may try a bus for my next journey.
Chiang Mai (more about CM) is the second largest city in Thailand. It's quite a bit North and in the mountains.
Thus the weather is a bit more moderate than the South.
It's very popular for farang to retire here. (I'll explore this in another update.)
Cheap, fun, less noisy/dirty/rambunctious than Bangkok, and far more relaxed.
costs
I put the handy dandy currency converter at the top of this page so you can figure out how much this is costing me... NOT MUCH!
I use local ATMs to get cash. They charge a 150 ฿ fee per transaction, and some cost more. There's a rumour that one Thai bank does NOT charge the transaction fee, but it seems to have only one ATM in a city and I've not found that as yet. Another cost is the currency conversion fee your bank will charge you. I had my bank raise the amount I could get in one withdrawal ($400 to $1000), and so have cut back on the transaction fees.
Local currency exchange booths give a pretty good deal for changing US$ to ฿.
It cost 120 ฿ for a taxi ride for 2 from the airport to my hotel.
Local currency exchange booths give a pretty good deal for changing US$ to ฿.
It cost 120 ฿ for a taxi ride for 2 from the airport to my hotel.
ACCOMMODATION
I stayed at the Chiang Mai Lodge which is just outside the old city.
It's costing 650 ฿ a night for a pleasant room with A/C, western style toilet and lots of hot water in the shower.
There's a small balcony and a 'frig and a TV and a small safe.
There's a choice of 2 singles or 1 queen bed.
Monthly apartments, at this hotel, are 7000 ฿ a month, fully furnished.
Truthfully, that's almost an outrageous price for a 2 room plus bathroom apartment.
I stayed at the Chiang Mai Lodge which is just outside the old city.
It's costing 650 ฿ a night for a pleasant room with A/C, western style toilet and lots of hot water in the shower.
There's a small balcony and a 'frig and a TV and a small safe.
There's a choice of 2 singles or 1 queen bed.
Monthly apartments, at this hotel, are 7000 ฿ a month, fully furnished.
Truthfully, that's almost an outrageous price for a 2 room plus bathroom apartment.
EATING
Lots of good restaurants within a 10 minute walk, ranging from over-priced western chains to hole-in-the-wall local restaurants, not to mention small carts selling tasty and cheap Thai food.
These are universally safe, delicious and filling. (Especially THREE double-sized beer... filling I mean!)
If you cannot imagine eating these kinds of foods... then... visit an American chain restaurant at the local megamall, and get a steak at 600 ฿, or bacon and egg breakfast at 250 ฿. Or a pizza at 350 ฿.
Or just stay at home, I suppose.
If you cannot stomach strange food, you might as well stay in Canada or the US or the EU or go on a cruise. But in SE Asia, a huge attraction is the exotic cuisine.
Lots of good restaurants within a 10 minute walk, ranging from over-priced western chains to hole-in-the-wall local restaurants, not to mention small carts selling tasty and cheap Thai food.
These are universally safe, delicious and filling. (Especially THREE double-sized beer... filling I mean!)
If you cannot imagine eating these kinds of foods... then... visit an American chain restaurant at the local megamall, and get a steak at 600 ฿, or bacon and egg breakfast at 250 ฿. Or a pizza at 350 ฿.
Or just stay at home, I suppose.
If you cannot stomach strange food, you might as well stay in Canada or the US or the EU or go on a cruise. But in SE Asia, a huge attraction is the exotic cuisine.
- Cappucino 40 ฿
- Double sized beer 70 ฿
MASSAGE
I love Thai massages. They are relaxing and therapeutic, I find. They can also be other things, but this is a family Blog, so I will just let go of that particular topic. In this area of CM, I can get a great massage for 130 ฿ per hour, at the local megamall. Smaller shops charge between 150 ฿ and 200 ฿ an hour. So I get a 2 hour session (or is it a 2 hour nap?) for 260 ฿. What a bargain. |
tourist stuff
"My" taxi driver has a business card that lists the following tourist-type attractions available in the vicinity. I did not go to any of these.
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Temples
On top of the nearby mountain, Doi Suthep, is Wat Phra That, (more about this) and that's where many of the pix in the slide show came from.
I have a handy-dandy APP on my smart phone, Google Tracks. I records my trips and keeps track of a multitude of things. I used this for my visit to Doi Suthep. You can peruse the details below. To see the route, click the blue link.
I have a handy-dandy APP on my smart phone, Google Tracks. I records my trips and keeps track of a multitude of things. I used this for my visit to Doi Suthep. You can peruse the details below. To see the route, click the blue link.
Name: Trip To Doi Suithep Wat
Activity type: drive Description: Temple on mountain above Chiang Mai Total distance: 9.29 km (5.8 mi) Total time: 42:38 Moving time: 17:13 Average speed: 13.08 km/h (8.1 mi/h) Average moving speed: 32.36 km/h (20.1 mi/h) Max speed: 55.82 km/h (34.7 mi/h) Max elevation: 603 m (1980 ft) Min elevation: 280 m (918 ft) Elevation gain: 332 m (1088 ft) Max grade: 12 % |
VIEWING THE TRIP (getting the most out of the map)
Once you've clicked the blue link and a map of my trip has opened, you might try the following:
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FESTIVAL: Loy Krathong
Thais float small banana-leaf boat containers with a candle, joss sticks and a coin to thank the river goddess and to ask forgiveness of past sins. As well, they launch hot-air balloons festooned with firecrackers, coloured smoke, and small gliders that release at different altitudes. Smaller balloons, with a candle burning inside to provide lift, are launched by individuals.
In CM, the festivities are centered on the local river with a parade to add to the fun: dancing, boat races, floats...
Note how my buddy, Ken, can get into trouble just about anywhere.
Click a picture to see a larger version.
Thais float small banana-leaf boat containers with a candle, joss sticks and a coin to thank the river goddess and to ask forgiveness of past sins. As well, they launch hot-air balloons festooned with firecrackers, coloured smoke, and small gliders that release at different altitudes. Smaller balloons, with a candle burning inside to provide lift, are launched by individuals.
In CM, the festivities are centered on the local river with a parade to add to the fun: dancing, boat races, floats...
Note how my buddy, Ken, can get into trouble just about anywhere.
Click a picture to see a larger version.