A Year in Thailand Pts.12 & 14 (Chiang-Mai)

[Arwing]

Hi again, Been in Chiang mai almost 2 weeks now. Can't believe how fast the time has gone. I'm here for another 10days or so and am absolutly loving it here. I must admit Chiang-Mai isn't what i expected it to be, it's a lot "busier" than i had imagined and it's actually harder to cross the road here than it was in Bangkok

Inside the city you have everything you want (western compforts that i can, and have done without the last 5months, but are a nice treat non-the-less) Been to the cinema twice now to watch the new Robin Hood and Prince of Persia: Sands of time. You have shoopping malls and the like, yet at the same time, you're only a stones throw away from beautiful and remote areas, mountains, national parks etc...

I met a Thai girl in Ayutthaya who worked in the guesthouse i was staying at. She had 2 weeks holiday and was spending 1 week in chiang-mai and 1 week visiting her mum in Isan. So for the 1st week we met together and just enjoyed relaxing in the city, Airport plaza shopping, eating and even went to the zoo and night safari, it was good fun. She also had an aunt who lived in Chiang-mai and owned a restaurant so we were treated to more food than we could eat including sooooo much sticky rice & mango (khao neo mamwang) i thought i was going to burst. It was a good week and a nice way to settle into chiang-mai.

After Ning went to Isan i was back on my own and begun the day trips. So far i've done flight of the gibbon, Tiger Kingdom, Royal flower park? (i forget it's name) Hot springs, caves, a lake, waterfalls, off road buggy racing and much much more. I plan to goto Don ithanon national park in the next few days also. 3 weeks just isn't enough to do everything in chiang-mai, i think i could happily stay here 2months. But with my visa run due in a few weeks i need to head to Chiang-Rai and chiang-kong next week.

For now i only have pictures from the zoo uploaded. I'll just add pictures of the other places to this thread as-and-when. If anyone has recommendations of good attractions to see or do in chiang-mai, please share.

Thanks












Is there anywhere in Thailand with no 7-eleven? can't believe they're in the zoo

[Arwing]

[Arwing]

[Arwing]

[Arwing]

[ravip]

Nice photographs. Looking forward to your next post.
Thank you

[yy]

The pandas were (and still are, I guess) such an immense source of pride to them when Mother Panda gave birth last year They were all the rage and banners everywhere in CM when there last year Thanks for the pics - finally got to see them 'live' this time haha

[Arwing]

Okies, here are some pics of Tham Muang-On and Sampampaeng hot springs where i actually had my 1st bath in over 5months They're both really close to each other and are only a short motorcycle ride east of Chiang-Mai city centre. The cave is 20baht for entry and has a "few" steps to walk up before you reach the entrance. Also if you continue up the steps, past the cave to the top, it's more than worth the effort for the views.

The hot springs are only about 1KM away on the same road. 40baht entry and various prices from 20baht + for swimming in the mineral pool or having a hot mineral bath etc. It has some beautiful gardens to walk around in it's grounds (although the grounds are very small) and you can buy eggs to boil in the hot springs pool It's a great place to kick back and relax.


Tham Muang-On


Tham Muang-On


Tham Muang-On


Tham Muang-On


Tham Muang-On


At Tham Muang-On (pagoda? at top)

Still can't seem to take good pictures in the caves.......

[Arwing]

Sumit view at Tham Muang-On


Sumit view at Tham Muang-On


Sumit view at Tham Muang-On


Sankampaeng hot springs


Sankampaeng hot springs


Garden at Sankampaeng hot springs

[Arwing]

A few pictures of me with my new friends at Tiger Kingdom


The Big one


The Big one


The not so big one