12 January 2023
Steve and I were excited to be back in Chiang Mai after a few days in Bangkok. We had been looking forward to seeing our friends Mikey and Robbie, who were flying in from Singapore.
We arrived at the airport at 4pm and headed straight to arrivals. We were sitting there for a few minutes when we saw their smiling faces walking through the gate. We jumped up and gave them a big hug.
We grabbed their bags and headed off to our hotel, 3Seasons. We knew they would be tired after leaving Perth earlier that day, so we just wanted to get them to the hotel and let them relax.
13 January 2023 – RM Day 1
Today was Steve and my turn to become tour guides. We woke up early and headed to Maya shopping center to get Mikey and Robbie’s phones up and running on the local AIS network. However, we forgot that most shops don’t open until 10 or 11am. So we decided to change our plans and head to Doi Suthep instead.
We found a songthaew, a red truck that is commonly used as a taxi in Chiang Mai, and a driver named Pup. We climbed up the steep incline to Doi Suthep, which is a mountain located about 10 kilometers outside of Chiang Mai. The views from the top were amazing. We could see the entire city of Chiang Mai spread out below us.
We spent a few hours exploring Doi Suthep. We visited the Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep temple, which is a Buddhist temple that is considered to be one of the most important temples in Thailand.
After we were done exploring Doi Suthep, we had Pup take us to Wat Pa Dara Phirom. This temple is located in the north of the Old City of Chiang Mai. It is a beautiful temple that is surrounded by lush vegetation. We spent some time exploring the temple and admiring the architecture.
We then had lunch at the River Rock Cafe Hill. This restaurant is located on a suspension bridge that crosses the Mae Sa River. We had a delicious lunch with a view of the river and its rapids.
After lunch, we had Pup take us to the Elephant Hospital Sanctuary. This sanctuary is located on the outskirts of Chiang Mai. It is a place where elephants that have been rescued from the logging industry are rehabilitated. We spent some time visiting the elephants and learning about their care.
From the Elephant Hospital Sanctuary, we had Pup take us to the Monument of King Naresuan The Great. This monument is located in front of a local army base. It is a statue of King Naresuan, who was a famous Thai king who fought against the Burmese in the 16th century.
Our last stop of the day was Wat Jed Yod. This temple is located in the Old City of Chiang Mai. It is a beautiful temple that is known for its giant reclining Buddha. We spent some time exploring the temple and admiring the Buddha.
We were all exhausted by the end of the day, but we had a great time. We saw a lot of amazing things and learned a lot about Thai culture. We are grateful to Pup for being a great driver and tour guide. We would definitely recommend him to anyone who is looking for a tour of Chiang Mai.
We ended the night with dinner at the Runcorn Night Markets. We had a delicious meal of Thai food and then wandered home for the day. We were all tired, but we had a great time.
14 January 2023 – RM Day 2
Today, Steve and I decided to take Mikey and Robbie to Jing Jai Markets. Once again, we jumped in the back of a songthaew and headed off. We all wandered around for hours and had lunch while we were there.
From here, we walked into the garden center for a look around. The range of fish, plants, and flowers here is lovely. There is color everywhere.
About 1pm, we took a Grab taxi to Borsang Umbrella making factory. Umbrella making is done traditionally and hand-painted. We had planned to do this as part of the Umbrella Festival, but the dates unfortunately misaligned by one week.
Over the next few hours, we wandered through the handicraft workshops and furniture making factory, taking in the smells and sounds. The highlight for me is always the large wooden furniture made here. It is amazing.
By about 4pm, we were all a little thirsty and stopped at a roadside cafe for a drink of water. Next thing we know, we are enjoying a Chang beer or two and roadside BBQ chicken. The owners were just wonderful, joking with us and chatting in broken Thai/English.
About 5:30pm, we made our way back to Chiang Mai Gate and then onto the Three Kings Monument, Wat Phra Sing, and lastly the grand Wat Phra Singh. It is simply stunning with its golden architecture.
We had a wonderful day exploring Chiang Mai with Mikey and Robbie. We are so glad that we could share this experience with them.
15 January 2023 – RM Day 3
Steve and I woke up early today to get a head start on packing and washing for the next part of our next trip. We knew that we would be busy the rest of the day, so we wanted to make sure that we were prepared.
In the morning, Alison, Mikey, and Robbie went out to explore the city. They took a Grab to the wet markets near the American Embassy. Mikey and Robbie had a good wander around the markets, Mikey and Robbie had a massage each, and wandered back to 3Season. Alison had a relaxing shampoo and dry, and had her nails done, and took a Grab back to 3Season.
We all had a restful afternoon before heading down to Pam and Tom’s for dinner. We grabbed a few drinks from 7-Eleven to have with dinner.
Pam and Tom’s is a great little restaurant that serves up delicious Thai food. We had a wonderful time catching up with them and enjoying their food.
After dinner, we headed back to the apartment. We were all tired, but we were also happy and relaxed. We had a great day of rest and maintenance, and we were ready for our next adventure.
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