"If you don't like Thailand, you are mental."
A friend said those exact words to me. I was debating where to go next and though Thailand was high up on the list for a long time, I hesitated as the temperatures were expected to be 30+ degrees. Personally, I prefer "comfortable" temperatures, below 25.
I only had about 9 days off, which to anyone else, would seem crazy to go all the way to Southeast Asia for a week, but it made perfect sense to me. The math was simple, despite the possibility of jetlag due to the time difference (11 hours to be exact), at least I would not be going over my budget (which realistically, I don't really ever set a budget when I travel, however I wanted to be somewhere cheap for once, to get more bang for my buck and enjoy). Fly over 20 hours, only to pay $5 for a meal? That sounds perfect to me! Sign me up!
I flew to Chiang Mai, via Seoul. At first, I came with Thailand with no return ticket booked and no pre-planned itinerary (I mean, I am mostly 98% spontaneous with my travel plans, as usual) . Since I am not much of a city person, I was thinking to fly out from another city that offers good options for international flights. I originally had Chiang Mai and Phuket in mind. However, I opted for Chiang Mai first, since I figured the temperature will be much cooler than Phuket, given that it is in the North, and I was right.
Some goals I had for the trip: eat as much mango sticky rice as possible, get a massage, drink Thai tea and learn a new skill! The rest was pretty much flexible, depending on the weather, costs and my interests. For example, though Thailand has so many beautiful temples, I wasn't too keen on seeing them. Instead, I wanted to relax, take it easy and choose carefully what I wanted to do. After traveling so much, I always prioritize my interests over ensuring to cross off every single tourist hotspot (and that works so much better for me).
I originally booked 2 nights in Chiang Mai, to get a feel of the place and see how I like it. Given that I landed quite late at night and had no hotels booked, I opted for something near the airport and booked a transfer on Grab. The currency exchange was closed, but we were able to pay by credit card on the app. Later, I found out that you can get better rates on Bolt. Regardless, they are both helpful apps to have handy and I would suggest to download these apps before getting to Thailand to save money!
The next morning, after breakfast, I took the free shuttle from the hotel to the Old Town. I got dropped off at Tha Phae Gate, the historic and iconic entrance to the Old Town, that serves as a gateway to the past.
After walking around and comparing between a few different currency exchanges, I found the best rate at the currency exchange next to Hotel M, just past the gate.
I spent a bit of time exploring the Old Town, its shops and checking out the different tours offered by the travel agencies, to compare it to the ones I saw online. I got a manicure for $5, and managed to find a decent massage parlor, that costs less than $10 for an hour (before tips). My trip was already off to a great start, since I was not spending a lot.
You can easily walk over to Warorot Market (also known as Kad Luang) once you are past the gate, There, you can expect to dive into the sensory Thai delights and explore the many stalls of handmade crafts, spices, fresh produce and more. Perhaps you can even try one of the many restaurants.
I stopped by Stories Cafe & Bistro for a light lunch, since I had an afternoon cooking class booked. I loved the aesthetics and ambiance of the place, and was very happy to find many healthy options. I got the smoked salmon avocado toast, smoked salmon stacked on rosti and the Thai iced tea. Obviously, the cafe is more on the pricier side (though, still very affordable), since it is mostly catered to tourists, but I loved it and would definitely go back if I am ever in Chiang Mai.
My afternoon ended with an authentic Thai feast, all made by me! The cooking class I booked included a stop at a local market, to get an introduction to the ingredients used in Thai cooking and the opportunity to try exotic fruits. You can book the same experience, right here! They have vegan and vegetarian options. You will find many options for cooking classes and it can get overwhelming choosing the "right one," but to be honest I feel like they are all the same, with only the menu offerings being different. There are even options for full-day courses, which is too long for me. I did find a place with halal options, but they were fully booked for the day I wanted, thus I opted in for seafood and vegetarian only.
What can you expect in the class? We got to make curry paste and learn the differences between each one. We got an interactive demonstration on how to make spring rolls, then made our mains. We all got to choose from a Thai curry, a stir-fried option and a soup. I chose to make the Panaeng Curry, Pad Thai and the Hot and Sour Soup.
The portions were huge and it was hard to finish it all, since the food is very filling. Overall, it was a fun experience and I would strongly encourage you to try this experience at least once. It was an eye-opening and fun learning experience. I got to learn and appreciate Thai food more, while also getting a better understanding of some of the flavors and spices that goes into crafting the perfect and authentic Thai meal. I felt like a dessert was missing and a refreshing drink, though water, tea and coffee were provided. There was pop for sale.
The next morning, I was off to an early start since I had a full-day tour booked. I ended up choosing a tour that included a stop at the elephant sanctuary, a hike to the falls and a stop at Doi Inthanon National Park. I specifically chose this tour as it hit 2 of the things I wanted to see; the park and the elephant sanctuary. I had booked it with a local travel agency. Lunch was included. The total cost was approximately $60 CAD for the day.
When booking a tour to any elephant sanctuary, ensure that it is an ethical one. From my research, I found one of the best and most ethical ones is the Elephant Nature Park. There are a lot of places that may pose as a fake ethical sanctuary, so you need to do your research before going. The biggest red flag is a place that offers riding. I suggest looking for places that prioritize the well-being of the elephants, where you can observe them in their natural habitat, engage in non-invasive interactions, such as feeding or bathing, and support conservation efforts of the elephants.
After spending half the day with the elephants, we stopped for lunch at a local restaurant, before proceeding to the Yod Doi Nature Trail, where we made our way to the highest spot in Thailand. We saw the view of the two pagodas from the park and I chilled at the shop, waiting for the rest of the group to finish their visit around the area.
For day-long tours, I recommend packing an umbrella and/or rain poncho as you never know what to expect! As we were heading to our next spot for a 2-hour hike, it started pouring out. I decided to skip the hike and take a nap instead, while waiting for the group to come back. Luckily, I was not the only one and the eldest woman in the group decided to do the same. I did not regret it, even if I missed out on the waterfalls and the coffee plantation (which my guide said I could go to, since it was nearby). I ended up missing the coffee tasting, since I woke up right when the rest of the group were coming back.
When I got back to Chiang Mai that night, I switched hotels to Movenpick, since it was steps away from the Night Market.
Though the rain did not stop, that did not stop me from getting a taste of the night market. I managed to get some shopping done and even get a personalized passport cover. It was a little hard navigating through the market with the rain, but there are some parts that are completely covered. Some stalls may also remain close, but you've still got quite a few options to choose from.
I came across Maadae Slow Fish Kitchen for dinner. The seafood was fresh, delicious and exactly what I needed after a long day. I especially loved the crab fried rice. As they use only local and seasonal ingredients, their menu changes on a daily basis. I tried their grilled fish as well, and a salad, both were equally as delicious. Their dessert consisted of sago with coconut milk, which was the perfect end to dinner.
There are many options for activities and tours from Chiang Mai. Though I only stayed a short time, 3 nights to be exact, I could have spent more time. I was contemplating doing a day trip to Chiang Rai and/or visiting the Long Neck Tribe, but it was not a priority. You can also discover the Golden Triangle, the point where Thailand, Myanmar and Laos converge, or cruise along the Mekong River. There is the option of visiting the Mae Fah Luang Art and Cultural Park, or discovering one of the many temples, or hiking to the one of the waterfalls.
For me, this short getaway was enough and I was ready to see something different. Something new. That's when I decided to hop on over to Bangkok next. The city where I would be spending a short time, before having to fly back home.
Have you been to Thailand? If so, where?
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