Whatcha wanna eat? Have mine! Part 24
by herzog63
After our junior guide finished talking with the locals they took us to a big hut to eat. As we entered the hut there were already a bunch of locals seated at the table and someone said something and they all got up and left! Hmmm then they motioned for us to sit down. I felt kind of funny about the situation as I don't like people to move out of the way for me! But we all sat down and I was kind of waiting for them to take the plates and bowls away. But they didn't! They brought more rice and some vegetables and a more water rice soup and but on the same plates that the people were just using. A couple of us in the group looked each other in the eye...LOL Hmm.. Ok I was pretty hungry so I ate up my portions. We all ate without complaining.
After eating we were taken to another hut that had bamboo slat beds which was better than sleeping on mud floor as we were fairly high in elevation and it was quite cold!
We wondered where the rest of the group had gone ...Did they take the wrong trail? Of course not we did. How will be able to find them again? It didn't really matter to me as long as they were safe. I was having a blast! After a good night sleep we woke up to a beautiful sunrise. And had some rice on "clean" plates for breakfast and as we were getting ready to start out on the trail or #1 guide came running over the hill. They had stayed in a different village the night before and as we were'nt there he figured that we would be at this village. It was only about 45 minutes away. The village we stayed in actually had some sort of road going to it and there were 2 pickup trucks in the village. I made us feel to close to civilization. hahaa
Cheaper than Bangkok & more choices
by EGitan about Night Market
Shopping in Chaing mai was less expensive than Bangkok and had more interesting crafts.
The entire experience was a bit overwhelming. The streets are lined with exotic linens, crafts, silk, paintings, home furnishings, and you can't get away without buying a wooden croaking frog.
They have a Thursday night market where local artists display their art. Much more interesting that the night market that happens every night. Depending what strikes your fancy, you can find it here.
If you want fake Prada, or other designer lables you can find some good bargins.
I would however suggest if you are looking for local tribal crafts that you can find some very unique things made by the tribes.
If you buy wood or spices check with your country's custom laws. Wood can be very tricky to get back into certain countries.
I would avoid buying silver as most looked cheap and not real quality.
At the Thursday night market..............
there was one booth that had the most beautiful exotic butterfly pins (real butterflies). If you can find it, they are worth the money. I so regret not buying one!
Custom made journals with silver elephants on the front. The amount varies due to what you buy. Bargin within your comfort level.
Ride to Pai
by Tusitala
Pai is a beautiful small town nestled in a valley approximately 3 hours or 132 km northwest of Chiangers. It is a popular destination for those who want to enjoy the chilled atmosphere in more ways than one ... the high altitude makes it quite chilly at nights, esp November through February, and it is super laid-back, even compared to Chiang Mai.
Here's my tip: don't take the bus or mini-bus there -- ride there, if you're a competent rider.
From CM take the 107 north past Mae Rim, then left when you see the 1095 signpost to Mae Hong Son/Pai. 1095 is a buzz with 762 twists and turns before you reach Pai. Many are hairpin bends you'll need to slow to about 10 or 20km on.
The first section is deceptively flat, good road. About 55km from CHiang Mai, stop at the Pankled COffee House for refreshment (on the left at the turn off to the waterfall). Then you're into the hills. Twisting and turning, twisting and turning. Take time to stop at the scenic lookouts, they're always worthwhile for the views, the photo op, and the rest your weary bum.
There's another big and good food stop, rest centre around 80 mark from CHiang Mai. You'll be going up up up through beautiful forests all the way, then suddenly you'll know when it's down and it's all the way down into Pai. Just before the town you'll come across a big checkpoint: police and soldiers aplenty. This is near the Burmese border so the army is very active around here, but friendly -- they even let us play with their M-16s, and a group happily posed with my bike for a photo.
On the right just before Pai town is possibly the best view of the Pai Valley you'll enjoy, at a place called Coffee in Love. Stop there for a coffee and a photo.
I took my trusty BMW 650 which ate up the hills. If it had a tail it would 've been wagging. But I also passed lots of youngsters on rented scooters, happily tootling along from Chiang Mai. It's gotta be more fun than sitting bored on a bus.
About the timing: we allowed ourselves about 5 hours on the way up there, stopping and resting. On the way back I gave it plenty, and got home in 2.5 hours. So three would be about minimum average.
Kantoke Dinner in Chiang Mai
by Myndo about Restaurant in the Cultural Centre Chiang Mai
Located in the Old Chiang Mai cultural Centre, where you can also buy your share of souvenirs during the day is the Restaurant.
During the dinner (that should start around 7 o´clock - all eat at the same time) you will be presented with traditional music and dances. This means on a big wooden plate they bring you several small dishes:
Curry with pork, deep fried bananas, deep fried pork skin (quite good, actually, like chips with bacon), sauce with tomatoes, chicken sticks, some vegetables.
Served with this is of course rice.
I would say it was the most fattest food I ever ate in Thailand.
It was good anyway and when one of the dishes went out, they refilled it.
City Walls
by M.E.R.V
The central part of Chiang Mai is a square area, surrounded by canals and a city wall. As said, the old part of the city is also surrounded by a city wall. Its function was to prevent intruders to enter the city in old times. As for the canals, don't breathe when u pass them, gosh they stink like fcuk!
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SEE HOW INCREDIBLY ORNATE THESE BUILDINGS ARE
one of the little rascals
Main hall of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
Main Entrance of Hot Water Springs
