Saturday, January 23, 2016

Thailand (Chiang Mai) Jan 2016

Hostel (2 nights): 200bht pp x 2 (Aoi Hostel - dorm)
Day Tour (Chiang Rai & Golden Triangle): 700bht
Train (Chiang Mai > Bangkok): 841bht (lower bed), 771(upper)



Chiang Mai was named "New City" after been the new capital of the Lan Na Kingdom in 1296, succeeding Chiang Rai, the former capital. The old Tha Phae Gate is an iconic landmark in Chiang Mai city.

Cool weather, backpackers favourite city (4.6m foreign tourists in 2013), an exciting Golden Triangle day tour, the busy Sunday Chiang Mai Weekend Market, visiting wats after wats --- oh we had so much to see & enjoy our times in this northern city of Thailand !

Chiang Mai was our last city of stay before heading back to Bangkok & Hat Yai for our journey back to Malaysia. It was in Chiang Mai that I took my first overnight (departing 17.00) train ride experience for our return trip to Bangkok.

In my last day in Chiang Mai, I observed happiness was very much beaming on the faces of my buddies - our perseverance paid off handsomely - the long overnight train rides (the elders sleep on lower berths), sporting & team spirit supporting one another, window shopping & casual sight seeing, eating like a horse although we are in our twilight years, roughing out in backpacker's hostels - all in all a great outcome and for all the travel activities our group participated & indulged in - we got back our "youth" reminding us of our good old days !

I heaved a sign of relief when our bus from Hat Yai touched down at the Tasik Selatan bus terminal, Kuala Lumpur and say good night to my buddies when I was about to alight from the KTM train minutes before arriving at the Subang Jaya train station ! After a 12 day of travel ordeal, a total of 5,200km, it was home sweet home again !

Tha Phae Gate


Wats in Chiang Mai



Chiang Mai Train Station



Sunday Market Walking Street, Chiang Mai



Yummy Thai food taken by our group during our stays in Chiang Mai


Pork noodles - 30bht
Pork offals noodles - 40bht
Wong & Hui eagerly awaiting food to be served
Spicy stirred fried squid, vege & tofu

Aoi Hostel, 189/13 Moon Muang Road, Soi 7 Sri Poom, Muang, Chiang Mai - 10-15 mins by red cab truck / taxi from Chiang Mai bus terminal or train station


200bht per bed for a standard 4 bed mixed dorm

No comments:

Post a Comment