Chiang Mai, 28 February to 4 March 2015

Our first trip for the new year 2015 was to the 'Rose of the North', Chiang Mai in northern Thailand. Tricia and I went on a 4 nights stay meeting up with Agnes and Hean Chye over there.

 

Air travel was by AirAsia. Hotel stay for the entire stay was at Goldenbell Hotel, located near south 'Chiang Mai' gate. It is less than 5 minutes walk to the Saturday night market and about 20 minutes walk to the popular temples within the city walls. It is a new, small boutique hotel with only 30 rooms, opened for business in November 2014. There is a nice swimming pool and it comes with daily buffet breakfast. Comfortable stay.

The airport is only a short distance from the city centre. The trip to the hotel by the red songkhaew cost 150 baht for 2 pax. The return was even cheaper at 40 baht each.

The entire stay was to absorb the sights, smells and sounds the city has to offer. Night markets, street food, shopping, massages and visiting popular tourist attractions.

Wat Chedi Luang

 

At Chiang Mai (South) Gate

The old and new co-exist

Street food galore 

Saturday Night Market

Visit to the famous Tiger Kingdom. We got more than we anticipated. It was Hean Chye's bucket list to take a pic with a real live tiger. We agreed to join in not knowing what to expect until we purchased the tickets and taken to the waiting area. Only then we realised tourists were taken in groups into an enclosure where about 5 adult tigers roamed free!! Admittedly, it was real scary when it dawned on us what we got ourselves into.

Believe me, the tigers are awake!



Was I scared...you bet!

From Tiger Kingdom, it was a 2 hours driving journey to Chiangrai. Along the way, we stop at a hotspring.

 

                                                                                            Wat Rong Khun
  

                                                              
 

 

 

On Day 3, we went on the day package to Doi Inthanon National Park which includes two waterfalls (Vachiratharn and Mae Klang), highest point in all of Thailand and the Karen hill tribe cloth weaving. The package cost was 1,200 baht per pax but we got another 100 baht discount from the hotel.

 

 

 

 

Naphamethinidon and Naphaphonphumisiri, two chedis near the summit of Doi Inthanon