AmyHuang
Hindsight on Chiang Mai
We have since our trek had a break in Chiang Mai, shopped in Bangkok and now enjoying the sun and sand in Phuket. I am now doing catching up posts so bear with me.
Chiang Mai is relatively small, and it is possible to walk everywhere in and around the old city. The old city is quite charming, enclosed in old city walls there are temples, markets and parks to explore.
The night before our trek to the hills we stayed in a budget hotel right in the heart of the tourist hub in Chiang Mai. While it was convenient and a great spot for markets and attractions, I hated it, as there are alway a line of taxi drivers/tour salesman/massage salesman waiting to pounce on every person that walks out of the hotel. At this point, I hated Chiang Mai and all I wanted to do was to get out of there.
Having said that, we did venture out to the night markets (markets are always fun) and had a good meal, and amused ourselves with watching lady boys promoting the cabaret show nearby.
After our trek, we moved to a hotel a little bit away from town, in a more residential area where I found that I liked Chiang Mai a lot more. You know you are no longer in the tourist areas when there are no longer English translations on shop signs and menus, and there is not a MacDonalds or other style of fast food restaurants to be seen. Markets had less tack and more substance, and we were able to enjoy a lot more local snack foods at cheaper prices.
Of course, we are still tourists after all, so we still did take ourselves to see the necessary sights, temples and shopped at markets. Mainly though, we ate to our hearts content. At 35 Baht for a plate of Pad Thai (that is, just a little more than AUD1) and 20 Baht for a delicious thin roti with honey for snack, I wasn't going to hold back!
Images of Chiang Mai:
Chiang Mai is relatively small, and it is possible to walk everywhere in and around the old city. The old city is quite charming, enclosed in old city walls there are temples, markets and parks to explore.
The night before our trek to the hills we stayed in a budget hotel right in the heart of the tourist hub in Chiang Mai. While it was convenient and a great spot for markets and attractions, I hated it, as there are alway a line of taxi drivers/tour salesman/massage salesman waiting to pounce on every person that walks out of the hotel. At this point, I hated Chiang Mai and all I wanted to do was to get out of there.
Having said that, we did venture out to the night markets (markets are always fun) and had a good meal, and amused ourselves with watching lady boys promoting the cabaret show nearby.
After our trek, we moved to a hotel a little bit away from town, in a more residential area where I found that I liked Chiang Mai a lot more. You know you are no longer in the tourist areas when there are no longer English translations on shop signs and menus, and there is not a MacDonalds or other style of fast food restaurants to be seen. Markets had less tack and more substance, and we were able to enjoy a lot more local snack foods at cheaper prices.
Of course, we are still tourists after all, so we still did take ourselves to see the necessary sights, temples and shopped at markets. Mainly though, we ate to our hearts content. At 35 Baht for a plate of Pad Thai (that is, just a little more than AUD1) and 20 Baht for a delicious thin roti with honey for snack, I wasn't going to hold back!
Images of Chiang Mai:
A dragon? A lion? A gecko? Either way, this little temple guardian is getting a golden make over
Tuk tuk driver was a Liverpool fan, much to Will's disappointment
Canals surround Chiang Mai's old city
Old city walls
Wat Chedi Luang temple, one of Chiang Mai's biggest attractions
Inside Wat Chedi Luang
Shopping at the street markets
Shopping for food at the local markets
Local Thai sweets and snacks
