Chiang Mai

On to Chiang Mai.  Landed, went to the taxi station and started asking about taking a taxi to the city.  The city is pretty close to the airport so fares were cheap, but I heard some other people speaking English catching cabs so I asked a few where they were going and if they’d like to share.  One couple from New York – Jonathan and Joyce – were more than happy to share with me.  They weren’t going too close to where my hostel was, but I figured I was in for an adventure either way.  My hostel check-in time wasn’t for another two hours anyways, so I didn’t mind a walk.  Chatted with them for a bit about the Thai island they just came from – Ko Samui (which they recommended) and shortly we arrived at their hotel and parted ways.  They were amazed at how little luggage I had for 4 months of traveling; they had about 4 full size suitcases – one just for Joyce’s shoes (is the excuse Jonathan gave).

At the center of Chiang Mai is the old city, which is about a 2km x 2km square walled city with one main road going around it.

Inside the walls there are many temples, as well as shops.  Outside the walls is the new city with things like the Night Market.  I was staying at the north entrance in the wall at a hostel called Hug Hostel.  So, I walked through the city up to my hostel, stopping for a bite to eat and looking in some shops, arriving at my hostel right on time for check-in.

 

The hostel is great.  It was recommended to me by a Facebook acquaintance, and it’s only 2 months old/new, and the staff are so helpful/friendly.  They make a point to call everyone by name, which seems like a daunting task to me.  I stayed in a 6 bed dorm room, and liked all my room mates.  A couple from Ireland, a girl from Netherlands (I think), a boy from Austria (I think) and a girl from Israel.  The girl from Israel was “top bunk mates” with me (across from each other) and we seemed to get alongs pretty well, so we hung out a bit.  She gave me a compliment saying I was the only American she’s liked thus far.  Not sure how much that’s saying, but thanks Daria!

Still pretty exhausted getting into travel mode, so lounged around for a bit, but that seems like an activity in itself because you get to meet people in the common rooms.  Met a guy from New Zealand that told me about how he rented a scooter and drove around the mountain ranges and loved it.  So that’s what I’d planned for the next day.  It was amazing.  First of all, driving the scooter was quite the experience here.  It’s pretty much a free-for-all.  No speed limits or laws, but more just “best practices”.  Driving on the left is an obstacle of its own, but then there’s the dodging everyone merging and getting to the front of lights in-between the cars when it’s red.  In the city you have to be pretty alert, but just as in Bangkok, it seems as though everyone can read each others minds what they’re doing.  There’s not much road rage because if someone isn’t doing something right they’ll just go around them – no biggie.

I guess I must have missed doing all the driving on Maui (Hana and Haleakala) because this route was also quite curvy, and quite fun.  Once you’re out of the city there are a lot less cars/motos on the road so you feel a bit safer (still alive Mom!)  I made a couple stops to check out some waterfalls, viewpoints and villages, but other than that drove most the way through the 100+ km loop back to Chiang Mai.

I went up one road which turned to dirt – the map said there was an elephant farm up there – I made it to the top of this barren road and it was an empty lot, but it had a spectacular view of the valley below.  At the top of this road a huge snake (maybe 6 feet long, and black) slithered across the road – I tried not to turn that surprise into a panic and went on to take some photos of the view:

After making it back to my hostel, I rested for a bit, then went out again to do another trip on the scooter.  After all, I did pay for a full tank of gas (about $4), and still had over half a tank left.  This time I went up to Doi Suthep, a mountain just outside of Chiang Mai, atop which sits a sacred temple.  The road winds even more than the first loop I did.  There were many people riding bicycles up the road too, which sounds like a lot of work at around a 5,000 ft climb.  The ride down must be fun though! About halfway up there is a great viewpoint looking down upon Chiang Mai – if you look hard enough you can visibly see the tree lines that outline the city and make the square walls/moats.

 

The next day I decided to take a half-day Thai cooking class.  The hostel is great because anything you want to do they can set up for you and a truck will come pick you up and drop you off at your destination.  I took the class with a couple from Argentina, who were very nice – it was great discussing the culinary differences of our respective home countries, all while trying to figure out the English/Spanish words for certain vegetables.  I made a papaya salad, red curry, and pad thai.  I’d have to say I’m a pretty good cook – especially when they tell me what to do!

Now I’m full and ready for bed – tomorrow I will be going to a smaller town called Pai.  See the travel plan page for whereabouts that is.  It’s a 3 hour van ride and is supposed to be a lot more relaxing and laid back nature feel than Bangkok or Chiang Mai.  Should be just about right timing for that 🙂

 

Photos can be viewed here