Chiang Mai, a slow-paced city located in the mountainous region of Northern Thailand, is a great place to go to unwind. It’s accessible, with Grabs and buses and tuktuks everywhere around town to take you places, and if renting a car is your choice, driving is the streets is also a fairly easy affair. I’ve been to Chiang Mai twice in my life, the first time with a fellow girlfriend who needed a little retreat after a nasty breakup, and the second time a last-minute decision, filled with a completely different set of experiences than the first. Combining both of my experiences, here is a list of what I think you should see and do as part of your adventure in this historical, scenic region. At Wat Phra That Doi Kham, you get to observe locals on a day of worship and the vast landscape of Chiang Mai 1. Visit Significant Temples of Chiang Mai One noticeable trait about Chiang Mai you’ll notice is how spiritual their culture is. Buddhism is the center of most people’s lives, and you see this from as small as daily gestures of getting blessings before opening restaurants for the day, to the grandiosity of large statues of the Buddha, reminding you just how important beliefs are for the Thais. Whenever I travel I enjoy visiting spiritual establishments not only to appreciate their peaceful vibes, but to also get the feel of centuries of spiritual history often associated with these places. Regardless of what you believe (or don’t believe), I really do recommend visiting a temple or two while in Chiang Mai. At Wat Umong, for example, you’ll get a chance to see the old tunnels built by the monks to escape the war. It’s quite an amazing feat. The temple itself is located at a large area with lush greeneries, perfect for a day’s stroll. At Wat Phra That Doi Kham, you’ll be rewarded with a beautiful view of the city from a high vantage point, and while you’re at it, enjoy the various snacks and fruit drinks sold by the temples. Chom is enlisted in the Michelin guide, but there are also a few others scattered around the city! 2. Sample Some Michelin-Standard Thai Cuisine Thai food. It’s world-renowned. But to elevate your dining experience, why not sample some Michelin-listed restaurants in Chiang Mai? With reasonable prices that won’t break the bank, that is. Chom restaurant is an instant favourite of mine, welcoming you in via an elaborate entrance of waterfalls, streams and large lush trees. The seating is comfortable, and the menu extensive, boasting a wide range of local delicacies fit for any dietary needs. Special honorary mention goes to its pomelo salad – a heavenly mix of pomelo flesh bursting with sweetness, a sharp sour dressing and fresh herbs. Chiang Mai’s favourite local dish, Kao Soi, which is a noodle soup variation that’s spicy, creamy and rich, can also be sampled at a Michelin restaurant called Kao Soy Nimman. Delicious local dishes to try at the many restaurant options I listed below 3. But While You’re At It, Try Other Local Delicacies Too Yes, of course it doesn’t have to be Michelin-rated to be delicious. There are plenty of just as-worthy places to eat around Chiang Mai. From seafood restaurants, humble hawker delights to vegan havens, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Mira Restaurant – A certified halal restaurant, this place has something you have to try when in Chiang Mai. Khantoke, which basically describes the pedestal tray the food is served in, comes as a large platter filled with bits and pieces of delicious things – fresh sausages stuffed with herbs, cuts of roast beef, blanched vegetables, different kinds of chili paste to dip all of these things into, and steamed glutinous rice. It’s a spicy and interesting combination. Reform Kafé – A vegan café (don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. I brought friends who were all skeptics, and they loved it in the end) with a beautiful semi-outdoor setting, Reform Kafe boasts an extensive, plant-based menu. I implore you to try the spicy tofu, cubes of crispy tofu smothered in a dry chili paste. Another must try item on the list would be the tea leaf salad (Burmese salad), a tangy fresh crunchy concoction of crisp vegetables, herbs, tea leaves and crunchy nuts. Cat House Café – For a chill breakfast experience, head over to this cute little café by the roadside. It has a good mix of western and thai breakfasts, and I particularly loved the cheese avocado sandwich where they used local avocados and housemade bread. Dantewada Land Of Angels Waterfall Park – It’s a bit of drive out of town, but the entire place is a worthy immersive experience. The café is located right in the middle of a waterfall park, which is a manmade waterfall series with streams, gardens and gorgeous trees. It’s a great place to spend a few hours of lunch time in. The café itself has an array of choices, I had the snapper dry curry which was scrumptious, served with white rice. Donuts Stall Right Next to Kao Soy Nimman – It is allegedly the ‘best donuts in Chiang Mai’, and you know what? I believe it. It’s just a small stall located right next to the Michelin-rated Kao Soy Nimman, selling only donuts. I’ll describe it; it’s like a eating a fluffy cloud and the custard dipping sauce is a delicious addition. They are no seatings, so it’s best packed and consumed on a park bench or you know what? Right after you buy it, stuffing your face as you walk along the roads. It's not slippery at all, one can literally climb up it barefoot! 4 Try Climbing The Sticky Waterfall of Namtok Bua Tong-Nam National Park About an hour’s drive from Chiang Mai city towards the North is the Namtok Bua Tong-Nam National Park. Here, you can find a very peculiar waterfall. At a first glance, it looks like just another majestic tropical waterfall, streams of water gushing down the hills amid thick rainforest greens. But then you’ll notice the rocks beneath the waters are strangely white. If there are locals around, you’ll also notice that they… climb up and down the waterfall. With no harnesses or safety gear. The simple geological explanation is that the natural waterfall flows on top of Tufa, a type of rock precipitate that are not slippery at all, giving you a great grip as you walk up and down the incline of waterfall. It’s a beautiful place to have some fun with your family or friends, and certainly a unique experience from other waterfalls you might have been to. You can easily get here from Chiang Mai via a car or scooter rental. The night market is a great opportunity to try local snacks, buy local products/clothing and even just to browse through 5. Get Your Steps In At Chiang Mai Night Market The Chiang Mai night market is a very long, elaborate stretch of street which is easily the pulse of night life in city. Located near the Old Town, it’s not hard to find at all – just follow the lights and the crowd! You can find anything here from food, snacks, drinks, local durian, clothing, shoes and even home utilities, or it’s just a nice place to walk around. Be warned that because of the weather, expect to be completely drenched in sweat by the time you’re done, and it could also be very crowded if you’re there during the weekends/holidays. Cooking At Home is a great option to take cooking classes, amongst many others 6. Take A Thai Cooking Class Probably not something to with kids, but I’d definitely recommend this activity especially if you love Thai food. Cooking classes (whether half day or full day) is very popular in Chiang Mai, and it involves not only a fun and interactive class (for the most part, the tedious things are already done for you, like cleaning produce etc) but also a trip to the market and usually wrapped with an eating session of all the delicious things you’ve made. It’s a great way to make new friends and meet other travelers too. You can easily book these classes online depending on your budget and preferred duration, otherwise your hotel will also happily help you find one once you’re there. 7. Pamper Yourself With Some TLC At A Thai Spa There is no use recommending you a specific place – Chiang Mai has an abundance of massage parlours and spas, found scattered in almost every major street of the city. It’s a dynamic scene, filled with a myriad of treatments and different levels of luxury, depending on what your budget is and what kind of pampering you’re looking for. A quick foot rub, for instance, takes only 30-40 minutes at any time of the day, whereas if you want to really go to town, you could also do a 4-hour treatment! A very friendly giraffe at the safari! 8. Channel Your Inner Child At Chiang Mai’s Night Safari Aside from eating out and the night market, there aren’t really many family-friendly activities in Chiang Mai after sunset. However, the Night Safari is certainly something that is fun for everyone. Well kept, spacious and interactive, the Night Safari experience has a few stations, like Herbivores, Night Predators and Animal Shows. Upon the purchase of your ticket at the entrance, you could choose whichever ones you’d like to go for first. The Night Safari trains are frequent and accompanied with a guide, who would explain what animals you’re seeing and some fun facts about them. The animals all seemed healthy, well-fed and friendly, and you could even try petting them if they approach. There are also snack bars inside next to a man-made lake for you to take a breather. Mae Kampong Village seen from the top of the hill 9. Make A Day Trip (Or Two) At Mae Kampong Village A highly recommended activity, although it is a little out of town. You could opt to get there via your personal car rental, or even via a direct bus that can be taken from Van Station Sankamhaeng (the bus leaves every few hours, so it’s best to come to the station the day before just to check the timetable or get your tickets in advance). The drive takes about one hour, up some winding roads which will lead to the Mae Kampong Village nestled in the green hills. There is also a van that can easily take you back to the city again in the evenings. The village itself is small, quaint and charming. You could spend the day checking out the small shops, trying the local cuisines in one of the village restaurants, or just chilling at one of the scenic cafes that overlook the mountainous landscape. It’s a beautiful glimpse of the more rural and raw Thailand, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The cabaret show will for sure show you a good time! 10. Watch A Live Show – Cabaret, Muay Thai Boxing
On weekends especially, there are cabaret shows and muay thai boxing matches that you can catch around the city. Both entertaining for different reasons, you’ll get to enjoy them with both local and international crowds (however, be warned that sometimes it can get a little rowdy too). Nonetheless, they’re both fun experiences and a great option for a night out in the city! If you’re in Chiang Mai and have time, it is highly recommended to go to Chiang Rai, another town North East of Chiang Mai. It’s a smaller town, and things are generally cheaper and more cultured here. You can get to Chiang Rai from Chiang Mai via taxi or bus, although taking a bus will only cost you around RM8 whereas a taxi will cost ten times as much. Here are seven things you should not miss when in Chiang Rai. 1. Visit The White Temple The White Temple (Wat Rong Khun) isn’t exactly ancient, built by a renowned Thai architect. It was built entirely in white, and the exterior was made with a mix of glass so that the temple glistens in the sunlight. There are strange carvings of hands, skeletons and Batman (I have no idea how this relates to the temple). The little garden around it is lush and green, and overall it’s a nice little spot to visit 2. Visit the Myanmar-Laos-Thailand border There’s that scene in the film ‘A Walk to Remember’ where Jamie, the girl, had dreams to be in two places at the same time. Landon, the guy who was in love with her, brought her to a border between two states – and ta-dah, she was in two places at once. Unfortunately, Landon doesn't exist in real life. So if you're looking for something close enough, this will be a great opportunity to do sort of the same thing, but even better because this spot is a three-country border. (Tip: There is also an opium museum around here which I heard is especially fun if you're sentimental about your pot-smoking days in college. And no, you can't sample any) 3. Buy tea You will not believe how cheap good tea is in this region. There are massive amounts of locally produced tea being sold by the streets and night market. A 100-gram bag of good Oolong tea, for example, can cost as low as RM3.50. If you’ve always had a fantasy of being a fancy shmancy tea connoisseur, here’s a good place to start. 4. See the Long Neck Tribe You’ve probably been fascinated by the long-neck hill tribe in National Geographic. I knew I was. You can take a forty-minute tuk tuk ride from the main city to visit the Long Neck Karen village, where you can stay all day long and observe the daily lifestyle of these fascinating people, their long necks wrapped by heavy, metal rod necklaces. This practice starts as early as young childhood, and you’ll have a great time mingling with them as they proudly exhibit their beauty culture. The trip towards the village itself is a sight, passing by local villages and paddy fields. 5. Walk around the Night Bazaar Like Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai also has a night bazaar. Some reviews have said that things are a lot cheaper here than they are in Chiang Mai, although the selections may not be as extensive. In any case, it is nice to walk around and take in the atmosphere, and perhaps do some retail therapy. 6. Try some Rotee If you hail from Malaysia, then perhaps Rotee isn’t really anything new. But there is something quite wonderful about buying a freshly made Banana Rotee in the night market, and wander around with that greasy plate on your hand, convincing yourself that you’re burning those calories and fast as you’re eating them. 7. Walk around the town
My favourite habit whenever I arrive someplace new has always been; dump the bags at the hotel, freshen up, pack my passport and money, and take a nice long walk around the area. It helps to get a feel of the place you’re in and build an anticipation of what you might explore. Walking is also much more flexible than taking a transport, as you can stop and peer at the shops, talk to locals and drop by interesting buildings. If you’re like me, there are times when you just need to go for a little adventure but have limited time and resources (read: budget). At times like these, one might consider Chiang Mai, a little bustling town in Northern Thailand. It’s a perfect place to go to if you need a short getaway and yes, it isn't harsh on your bank account. Here’s a short recommended itinerary for a 2-3 day visit to Chiang Mai. Day 1 Morning Start with food. It’s always great to begin exploration with a full stomach. I would recommend Pad Thai or ‘khao soi’, as everything else might be a little too spicy that early in the day. Then take the small blue tuk tuk around the city for as low as RM5 (RM4 if you're pretty) for you to get the feel of the city. If you’re friendly enough with the driver, you might even snag yourself a pretty great deal of him taking you around for half a day to the further parts of town. It is worth your time to walk aimlessly within the Old Quarter of the town, where the ancient brick walls still stand and quirky shops and cafes are abundant. Khao Soi - a lighter version of curry noodles, topped with strands of crispy fried eggs and served with pickled veg. Afternoon Consider a foot massage. Seriously. Consider it. For as low as RM20 a pop for a spa-standard treatment on a sunny day, you wouldn’t get that kind of deal back in KL. Massage parlours (legit, STD-free ones) are everywhere in the city. Afterwards, hang out at one of the local cafes for a quick lunch and don’t forget to try the local iced Thai tea with milk. A bright day is perfect to sightsee some Wats (temples) around town, and one that deserves a mention would be Wat Chedi Luang, a magnificent 14th century monument. You'll sweat your undies off, but you'll get nice pictures too. Wat Chedi Luang, with these boys that strangely, reminds me of my kid brother. Night Now this is when Chiang Mai really comes alive. On weekends especially, night markets pop up like mushrooms after the rain everywhere on the streets of the city. You can find everything from exotic local food, clothing, fabric, souvenirs, woodwork, ivory and elephant leather goods (do not buy these. Elephants are an endangered species!) to cultural performances. If you enjoy Muay Thai boxing, you can catch a live match near the markets. If nothing else excites you, go and watch the cabaret shows by the local ‘ladyboys’ (who will look ten times better than you do, but don’t feel bad.) A one-hour show will cost around RM20. Yep, the girl they're taking pictures with used to be a man. Feel ugly yet? Day 2 Morning After breakfast, take the tuk tuk and head outwards from the city to visit some local manufacturers of a variety of products – Thai silk, leather, fancy colourful umbrellas, honey, gemstones and tea. All these products have some things in common. They are much cheaper than anywhere else and you will be helping local labours by purchasing (or so I tell myself as I start distributing my Bahts). Be smart and don’t buy items that are products from endangered animals. One of my travel buddies and the umbrellas that she really wanted to see. Afternoon Thai cooking classes are the rage when you’re in Thailand. Although you might convince yourself that you can just learn Thai cooking via Youtube (you cheapo!), physically attending a class in Chiang Mai is fun, delicious and a great way to make new friends. I would recommend CookingAtHome for their first grade kitchen, fun class with a scenic view and ah-mazing food! A plus point would be that they cater to all sorts of dietary needs, be it Halal, Vegan, Gluten-free (diva) or Carnivore Royale. I can't recommend this class enough! Sticky rice with mangoes - I could eat 5 plates of these in one sitting Night
Learning is hard. Time to reward yourself with a full-blown spa experience around town. A two-hour massage until you turn into a human pizza dough? Why not? The great thing about Chiang Mai is because the massage industry is so competitive, you are sure to get at least a decent service. Afterwards, end the night by a nice walk around town just to soak it all, and head back to your room for a much needed snooze. |
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