Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, a group of us have been dreaming that we will take an overseas trip together once international travel restrictions have been lifted and we enter the brave new world of post-COVID vacations. Our dream is finally realised in 2024 when we are able to plan a trip to Bangkok. We literally spent many days talking about where we would go and what activities we would participate in.
We quickly agreed some ground rules - we would focus on food, sightseeing and shopping (not necessarily in that order, but that would be my personal priorities). The opportunity came when we realised plane tickets to Bangkok were quite reasonable (not quite pre-COVID sale prices but okay) and we all quickly booked our flights. We then scoured around for properties to rent so that we can stay together as a group.
We decided initially to just visit Chiang Mai and Bangkok, but then we realised there were a lot of things to see in Chiang Rai and it would be rushed to do it as a day trip. We hired a private tour driver who planned an itinerary for us. Cat, who is half-Thai, took charge of planning our itinerary in Bangkok.
I tried my best to lose weight before the trip, but unfortunately I completely failed in this endeavour so I boarded the plane feeling heavy.
This trip is so massive for the sake of optimising storage I have broken the trip to two parts. In Part 1, we fly from Sydney and arrive in Chiang Mai via Bangkok. We spent about a week in both Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, visiting a variety of locations and sampling food from many places.
In Part 2 the adventure continues in Bangkok as we fly from Chiang Mai to Bangkok and spent a week there including a side trip to Amphawa.
We had a pleasant checkin experience, had breakfast at the AMEX lounge, before boarding a flight to Bangkok. We stopped for 3 hours in Bangkok which was enough time, before boarding a flight to Chieng Mai. We arrived safely and checked into an AirBNB house for our stay here.
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Woke up early, and decided to explore our neighbourhood by walking to Maya Lifestyle Shopping Centre.
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We went to a foreign money exchange office in Charoen Prathet Rd, a historic street full of teak mansions beside the Ping River.
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We had lunch and did some shopping at Central Festival, and then headed to Warorot Market to buy some traditional Thai costumes for the Loy Krathong Festival.
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Fabulous dinner at a trendy restaurant by the Ping River called Chefs Together.
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Congee breakfast on the way to Chiang Rai.
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First stop on our private tour on the way to Chiang Rai.
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Abandoned "temple" next to Thaweesin hot springs.
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Lunch at a cafe owned by Doi Chaang, a well known Thai mountain coffee producer.
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The fammous and popular dazzlingly white reflective temple in Chiang Rai.
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Another popular and Instagrammable modern temple at the best time of day - during sunset.
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Fabulous dinner at a trendy restaurant by the Ping River called Chefs Together.
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Dinner at a popular riverside restaurant in Chiang Rai near to Kok River.
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We stayed overnight at this trendy accommodation in Chiang Rai.
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We had rice porridge for breakfast in Chiang Rai located opposite the Wat Ming Mueang
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Lalitta Cafe is a trendy, Instagrammable fairy-tale cafe set amongst lush greenery and cascading waterfalls.
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We visited one of the villages of the Karen tribe, where women wear stacked brass rings on their necks & sell handmade crafts.
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We headed back to Chiang Mai and on the way back stopped by to have lunch at this delightful restaurant.
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We went out at night to experience the street parade for the Loy Krathong festival in Chiang Mai.
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Thai Silk village is a silk factory located at San Kamphaeng District where is a road of culture, art and traditional way of life.
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We visited the traditional village of Mae Kampong. First stop was lunch at one of the restaurants in the area.
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After lunch we walked around the Mae Kampong village, and discovered a temple with a beautiful chapel next to a stream.
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We attended the combined Loy Krathong/Yi Peng festival on the outskirts of Chiang Mai.
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Today we are visiting the famous Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. On the way, we stopped at a viewpoint to admire the scenery, plus buy some food and trinkets.
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Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is a famous temple located in the mountain of Doi Suthep and the golden chedi surrounded by golden Buddha statues is iconic in many depictions of Thailand. The temple can actually be seen from Chiang Mai airport so it's one that many people recognise.
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We had lunch at Michelin starred restaurant Khaomao Khaofang which recreates a setting of an imaginary rainforest.
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After lunch Margaret and I decided to wander around the trendy Nimman neighbourhood.
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We stumbled upon this charming boutique hotel on our way to visit the Chiang Mai Sunday night market.
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We visited the Chiang Mai Sunday night market held in the inner part of the city from Wat Phra Singh the Tha Pae Gate.
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We discovered this charming temple whilst visiting the Sunday night market. It looked glorious at night.
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Today we went on a tuk tuk tour of the old city. First stop is Wat Chiang Man, a delightful temple.
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The second stop on our tuk tuk tour of Chiang Mai is the Wat Chedi Luang, or "temple of the big stupa".
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The last stop on our tuk tuk tour of Chiang Mai is the Wat Chedi Luang.
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On our last night in Chiang Mai we attended Khum Khantoke which consists of traditional Lanna dining and performances.
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As we prepare to leave Chiang Mai to board a flight to Bangkok, I took some photos of the Airbnb house we stayed in Chiang Mai.
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I am convinced cabling on poles is an art form in Thailand.
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