As you’d imagine, Phuket has plenty of amazing beaches and the destination itself was made famous by ‘The Beach’, but it’s easy to get a little stuck or swayed by the idea that Patong is the best beach destination for a Phuket holiday, and that Maya Bay (Part of Koh Phi Phi off the coast of Phuket, and the location of ‘The Beach’) is the most idyllic spot to visit.
Phuket in Thailand is an Aussie favourite when it comes to travel destinations. Not only is it fairly close to home (if you consider a 9hr direct flight close), but it offers you a taste of Thai culture, a seductive warm climate and a picture perfect setting, where turquoise water and coconut filled palm trees have you believing you’ve just stepped out of Aussie suburbia and into a real life screen saver.
It’s been almost 1 month since my departure from Australia and i’m currently in the middle of a travel meltdown with complications getting my Indian visa (more on that later!), buttttt i thought it was about time i went back to the beginning of the adventure and tell you all about Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Selling travel for a living often leaves you with pre conceived ideas about travel destinations, long before you ever have a chance to visit. You hear stories from clients and read brochures, but nothing can ever compare to actually visiting the country, town or city for real.
Arriving in Chiang Mai was a blow out and nothing like the image I had in my head. From what i’d heard (and how I’d been selling the destination for YEARS) was that it was a small city and less touristy than other popular Thai travel hot spots. A chance to get away from the hustle and bustle and explore some of the countryside.
I’d also read and heard it was a city enriched with tradition and surrounded by mountains and ancient hill tribes. So, combine all this and I’d imagined green hills & small cobblestone streets, less developed than Thailand’s other cities. Wrong!
Chiang Mai is actually Thailand’s second largest city with almost 2 million people in the whole Provence, and over 200,000 just in the city centre itself. While I was right about the green hills and the traditional elements (there are more than 300 temples in Chiang Mai alone!) it is wayyyy bigger than I thought, and a lot more developed. Cafes, restaurants, tour operators, guest houses and hotels line the streets, while countless tourists & backpackers explore on foot, scooter & tuk tuk.
Taken a little by surprise, but impressed none the less, I was keen to explore.
The accommodation options for Chiang Mai are many and varied From 5 star luxury properties (like the my personal favourite, The Chedi Club! http://www.ghmhotels.com/en/chedi-chiang-mai-thailand/home/#home ) to locally operated Guest Houses. While it would be nice to stay in upmarket resorts all the time, i know it’s not always realistic for everyone, so I was keen to look at the mid market properties. We chose a modest hotel called the Amora Tapae resort. Just a 3* hotel, but a great price and great feedback from colleagues previously.
After arriving from the airport a little hot and sweaty from the Thai heat & humidity, the lobby provided a great first impression. Bright, modern, clean & most importantly air conditioned.
While the rooms are basic (and maybe a little dated) they had all the creature comforts you’d expect. Air con, a big bathroom, tea & coffee making facilities and plenty of space for my bag (trust me, a trip like this ensues i have a lot of stuff. All necessities of course!)
The location was perfect, especially if you prefer to explore on foot. The proximity to the old town and the night markets means it’s the perfect base if you’re looking for something with all the comforts of home, that won’t leave your wallet empty.
The old town of Chiang Mai is the main attraction and well over 700 years old. A moate and wall used to surround the city and recently they restored one of the original entrances, the ‘Thapae gate’, which marks the start of the old town. This is where you find the smaller streets, with hidden sights to be seen.
Everywhere you turn there is a temple to visit, a cooking class to attend or a tour operator trying to tempt you with a ‘special morning discount’ or assurance that their tour was the best in town.
The first morning was spent arranging sights and activities for the duration of our stay, which I’d normally arrange for my clients prior to their arrival, but of course I’m not that organised myself. (Oops)
Sightseeing highlights in Chiang Mai are visits to the temples, surrounding hill tribes and villages, Elephant treks, riding and volunteering (like the Elephant Nature Park that I visited. See blog post ( http://mytravelust.com/2013/08/15/not-just-another-elephant-trek-in-thailand/ ), cooking classes, hiking and a night out to the Muay Thai (traditional Thai kickboxing)
Other than the elephant encounter we had at the Elephant Nature Park, we wanted a glimpse of the traditional way of life, so we visited a long neck hill tribe. We chose the particular trip as it was a little further away from town, bigger and more beautiful than the other villages (according to the sales girl!) and it was!
Green rice paddies surround the village and bamboo huts line the dirt roads, with all the women selling their wares and displaying the long neck tradition, with gold rings placed around their necks, slowly elongating their length.
While it was great to see and interact with the locals and the many children playing along the way, I felt a little strange wandering around their village and homes.
It was a little touristy for me, and I wasn’t sure how genuine it was, but as we’d not had a lot of time to look into the different villages available to visit, we took it for face value and it provided an insight into a very different way of life and an ancient tradition that is definitely worth a visit.
With only 2 full days to spend in Chiang Mai, we were a little pressed for time and couldn’t do it all, but we explored the night markets with row upon row of bright street stalls, with sellers calling for you to purchase their food, home wares or fisherman’s pants (One of those fashion purchases you make on holidays, thinking ‘oh yeah, ill definitely wear these at home’, but then realise they should have stayed exactly where you found them…. On holidays!)
We also attended one of the local Muay Thai fights which are held nightly for tourists. Besides the round where they had 8 fighters in the ring blind folded, punching each other (and the referee) at random, which was pretty funny, the rest was uneventful and not really my thing.
As for eating and drinking Chiang Mai has plenty of choice. I generally try to avoid the travel guide recommended places and go on instinct, looking for restaurants that are busy with tourists and locals alike (usually a sign that the food is good). A cleanish bathroom is always nice too (not always available in Asia!). There was nothing that particularly stood out for me in Chiang Mai, but we we’re only there a couple of nights, so if you’re ever in Chiang Mai I’d recommend following your nose, Butttt if its a good western style coffee you’re after we found the perfect place!
Ponganes espresso bar. An amazing western style coffee shop that serves delicious coffee that’s almost better than anything i’ve had in Australia. So, if you’re craving a good coffee to kick start your day, then check out their page below and find the place for yourself. Yum.
Chiang Mai is the kind of town that you could easily wake up in one morning, to find that it’s been a week or two or three, but with a rough schedule to keep it was time to keep moving.
I’d definitely recommend a visit to Chiang Mai, as it certainly does have charm to it, and delivers on everything the brochures promise.
Kate xx
MyTravelust Hot tip:
Have your Travel Stylist pre book a private arrival transfer prior to your departure. You’ll have someone to greet you and the taxi system is a little chaotic. You’ll save yourself a good hour and a half waiting for one.
It’s taken a day or two to recover and let my rattling bones settle, so only now am I ready to write about our journey through the North of Thailand and into Luang Prabang, Laos.
The South East Asia backpacker route is a buzz of eager foreigners escaping reality for weeks, months or even years on end.
‘Where have you been?’ ‘Where are you going? And ‘How long are you on the road’ are common opening liners when you meet someone new. Travellers tell about their epic journeys so far and are always keen to share their travel tales and do’s / don’ts they’ve picked up along the way, which is why I found it disturbing that we DIDN’T hear the next hot tip until it was too late… Much too late!
Tip #1 in getting from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang… Avoid the fast boats!!
It was supposed to have been a 3 day journey which would have been fine, but when we were presented with a fast boat option we thought… ‘Why spend 3 days travelling when you can spend 2!’ Especially when we had heard so many amazing things about Luang Prabang. So, with little debate we made the seemingly logical choice to take the fast boat. Wrong!
It became evident we’d chosen the road (and river) less travelled as soon as we started our trip….
Collected by minivan with an assortment of other travellers it became apparent we were the only ones (out of 15!) to have chosen the speed boat option. Then the tales of capsizing, boats flipping at high speeds, and a river full of obstacles started. (How had WE not heard about this? We were travel agents too!)
We ignored the chit chat and told ourselves ‘It can’t be THAT bad or they wouldn’t sell it! Right?’ Wrong!
Firstly, the 7hr mini van ride takes you to the Thai border town of Chiangkhong where an overnight stay is required. The only highlight, was a visit to the beautiful white Buddhist temple in Chiang Rai, Wat Rong Khun. The glitter sparkled and reflected off the temple, and it reminded me of snow glistening in the sunshine.
The ‘hotel’ in Chiangkhong was hideous and nameless (not a good sign).
I’ve stayed at some dumps in my time, but this takes the cake. Wooden planks for a mattress, a mouldy bath/toilet/shower combo, cold rice for dinner and stale bread for breakfast. Awesome!
In an attempt to drown our sorrows and make the most of it, we headed off to the one and only bar. An English pub called The Hub Pub.
Set up by an Englishman (Alan) who holds the Guinness World record for the fastest circumnavigation of the globe, by bicycle!
A long neck or two later Swanny unleashed her ‘Rapping Travel Agent’ You Tube clip on them all and managed to score a spot on the wall for her autograph.
Haven’t seen it? Check out her link: The Rapping Travel Agent
Anyway, the beer did the trick and we managed to have a reasonable nights sleep before hitting the road (and the boat) to Luang Prabang.
I left the hotel with mixed emotions. On one hand i was glad that we didn’t have to endure another nights sleep in seedy accommodation, but on the other I was a little anxious about the boat trip ahead of us.
We made it through the Thailand and Laos border crossing without any dramas, and it again became obvious that our choice of transport wasn’t popular. There were literally a hundred or more backpackers (identified by the uniform of backpack, hiking boots and khaki pants of course) arriving into Laos that morning and exactly 5 of us were taking the fast boat… FIVE! (Not great odds!).
It was at this point that I caught a glimpse of the speed boat for the 1st time. What the??
Basically the ‘speed boat’ was a traditional long tail wooden boat, with a juiced up engine that runs off LPG Gas! The passengers in the picture were wearing helmets and life jackets and seemed to be sitting in a 40cm x 40cm section of floor space. Ummmmm??
My gut instinct was screaming for us to run away, but we couldn’t. It was too late. We were en-route to the boat and besides, there were other people doing it (including locals), so it reallllllly couldn’t be that bad….Could it?
Yep… It IS that bad!
There are literally no words for the journey itself so let me paint you a picture.
– Imagine sitting in a convertible with the top down. The sun is fierce and its about 35 degrees celsius at 10am. (And there is no option to put the top back on… there is no top).
– You don’t have a seat, just a small square of wood that is also the floor. Your knees are bent up around your shoulders (or ears, depending on how tall you are!)
– You’re wondering why the locals are wearing motorcycle helmets, but no one gives you one.
– You’re humming along at about 80km per hour (maybe faster) with the wind howling through your hair, but the road isn’t smooth, it’s bumpy. Very bumpy!
– Oh and did i mention the road was in flood and full of debris like logs, rubbish, a rouge washing machine or two and rocks the size of small houses to dodge and avoid? Well… It was.
Now, when you’ve taken all of that in. Close your eyes and imagine it.
Now imagine it for 7 hours!!!!
Your only reprieve is the music blasting through your ipod to drown out the engine noise, the 6 short pit stops (literally) of about 5 minutes each to swap over the gas bottles (that also sit way too close to comfort) and a quick lunch break at a riverside ‘Bistro’, that served cold fried rice, warm coke and a had a hole in the deck for a toilet.
That was our journey.
The rest of our evening was a complete blur as we waited for our bones to stop aching and the hum of the speedboat to stop ringing in our ears, but as fragile as we were, Swanny and I still managed to have a laugh about it. (We had to laugh otherwise we would have cried).
We’ve since heard stories that the overnight bus was just as frightening and that the slow boats can be a pain in the ass too (no pun intended) but now that i’ve made the journey and lived to tell the tale, My #1 tip for travelling overland from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang… Don’t! Pay the $100 and fly.
Kate xx
Elephant Nature Park – Chiang Mai
12th of August 2013
Elephants! Earths largest land mammal and my Mums animal obsession. (Seriously… she’ll literally scream with excitement when there is anything to do with an elephant on TV or in a movie!)
It would be almost unheard of to come to Thailand and not have at least 1 interactive experience with an Elephant, but Swanny and I wanted to choose wisely.
Elephants fascinate me and I’d ridden Elephants in Phuket previously, and to be honest I didn’t love it. I’d since read about safari parks and trekking companies in Thailand mistreating their Elephants, so after a hot tip from a friend of Swan’s we came across the Elephant Nature Park, Chiang Mai.
It’s a unique sanctuary for Asian Elephants in Northern Thailand, and was founded in 1992 by an award-winning conservationist ‘Lek’, by rescuing injured and mistreated Elephants. With the Asian Elephant numbers dropping from over 100,000 last century to just 3000 today, we thought this would be the perfect opportunity to see the Elephants up close, and also do our part to support a great cause.
As we purchased the tickets for our full day at the park, the sales assistant kept saying ‘no riding’,’ no riding’! We assured her that we didn’t want to ride the Elephants and that we understood what their park was about. I’m assuming they are more used to travelers wanting their ½ hr ride on an Elephants back and a cool photo.
Arriving at the park, Lek’s passion for rescuing, rehabilitating and conserving the Asian Elephant is evident. The park is HUGE and with over 30 Elephants in her care, it isn’t long until we are eye to eye with them. (Well, almost!). Hand feeding an 80yr old Elephant is a pretty special moment, although their trunks are kind of freaky and seem to have a mind of their own.
Each of the rescued Elephants has their story about why they we’re rescued. Like ‘Hope’ the orphaned baby Elephant who was bottle-fed and nursed back to health after being rescued from a trekking camp after his Mum passed away. Hope is now a teenager and still so naughty that he’s the only Elephant in the sanctuary who has to wear a bell, to keep tabs on his whereabouts!
Some of the rescue stories move you to tears. Overworked, Underfed, and tortured until they become submissive… The treatment of some of these poor creatures is horrendous, so I’m thankful that a sanctuary like this exists.
After a traditional Thai lunch we are back out in the field, walking with the Elephants. We learned about the small herds that had formed within the park, something that nature denied these guys when they we’re put to work for logging and trekking companies before arriving at their new home.
We then had an opportunity to bathe the Elephants in the river, which was as hands on as you can get. Feeling their rough skin under your finger tips, and watching them frolic in the water with the other volunteers, is an experience that riding an Elephant in a trekking camp just won’t give you, and something I’ll remember for a long long time.
Don’t get me wrong…. Not all of the trekking companies on Thailand mistreat their Elephants, but if you want a unique Elephant encounter and wish to know that the money you’re spending is going to a great cause then I recommend a visit to the Elephant Nature Park.
I can honestly say that when you look in these Elephants eyes, they are happy.
Kate xx
Going to Chiang Mai? How you can help!
You can spend a day at the park like we did or you can do an overnight stay to learn even more. The park runs mostly off volunteers so run weeklong volunteering programs, which would be pretty special if you have the time.
You can also foster an elephant or make a donation by visiting their site.
A quick post to touch base, as it seems the #1 rule of effective blogging (according to ‘Blogging 101’) is be frequent and consistent with your posts. This could be hard since Internet access could be sporadic, and as I said I’m not so great at sitting still for too long, but I’ll do my best.
Firstly, WOW…. I have some followers!! Thanks guys 😉
I hope that my travels inspire YOUR lust for travel, although as MOST of you are travel agents or have already well and truly caught the travel bug, I’m sure you won’t need much inspiration.
So, my adventure has begun.
The lead up to my departure was nothing short of ridiculous. I mean absolutely bonkers! Between working 15hr days, cleaning out my unit, back to back coffee dates, farewell dinners and drinks with friends, it was safe to say that by the time I got ON the plane I was utterly exhausted. Buttttt, I made it. Phew!
I’m now in Chinag Mai, Thailand. Sitting in one of those hotel rooms, where when you’ve got the air con on, it’s too cold, but when it’s off it’s too hot (I’m going with the too cold option. I can always snuggle in my doona).
It’s been 2 days since my departure from oz, and I’m struggling to let go. I’ve been told that I HAVE to switch off my work emails repeatedly by family, friends and work colleagues, but the thought of it is giving me anxiety. (That’s NOT a good sign! But lucky it’s Thailand and I can buy Valium over the counter. Lol!)
I’m not sure why the thought of switching off my email freaks me out… I know that reading emails while i’m away isn’t going to do me much good over here, and i know my team have got my back, but I guess I’m a bit of a control freak when it comes to work, and I hate having to rely on people to help me.
I know what goes around comes around, and I’ve done my fair share of helping, I guess I just like to know that everything’s ok.
I just have to keep telling myself that the point of this trip IS the let go. To relax, unwind, explore and discover new things. So, with a Singha beer in hand, i’m taking the plunge….. As of tomorrow the work email is going OFF! Eeeeeeeek
As for the actual travel experiences of the last 2 days, I’ll update you all later on the specifics of my experiences in Chiang Mai. Although it’s only been 2 days, I’ve already found the best coffee in town and helped out at the local elephant conservation program, so stay tuned.
Today i’m taking off today on a 2 day overland/boat trip from Chiang Mai in Thailand to Luang Prabang in Laos. With the sun shining and my good mate Kel to keep me company, I’m looking forward to the journey.
Kate xx
Kate Scott - Travel Stylist 