We flew with Asia Air, we know that their was a horrible and sad incident a few weeks back but the airline handled it very well at the time and everything appeared to be life as usual, don’t fret. However, for a 32 row plane 6 seats a row we sure did experience a lot of turbulence… which had a few of our fellow travellers gripping their armrests. We flew in over a checkers board of rice padi fields and had an incredibly smooth landing. Don’t judge an airline by one awful incident, I’d recommend them and hey, the flights may be a bit cheaper…

Life hack, Chiang Mai Airport: The taxi stands.
Future advice: get to the taxi stand first. I don’t care how aggressive you need to be, get to the front! If this means grabbing your packs and pushing past the elderly , do it! (I don’t really mean this, I’m not that mean, mum) but if you don’t you have the pleasure of a 30 plus minute wait for a cab standing in a crowded parking lot as they repetitively yell 51 and you’re number 83… Just be aggressive, be be aggressive.

Any who, first impressions of Chiang Mai are all fantastic, apart from the shiver inducing 23 degrees.
We are staying within the square (or moat, it’s a square moat. Does your city have a moat around it? Didn’t think so.. Chiang Mai wins) at MD House, which is the hub of the old city surrounded by markets, restaurants, gardens and dotted with temples. Quite a contrast to beachy Koh Samui, but I’d be worried if it wasn’t- this place is lush. Lush as in so green and fresh, I love it already!

We arrived in the evening and after dinner we heard from our friend from tour, Megan (I know right, exciting, we made a friend!?). She’d been out at elephant camp all week shovelling their dung and understandably bailed a night early with a couple of other girls. We found them downing margaritas at a Mexican restaurant so, when in Chiang Mai, we joined in!

Our first full day here- it was Sunday so attending the Sunday markets felt mandatory, une problemo… They don’t start till 4pm!! Guess we’re still not used to the whole up all night, sleep all morning thing they have going in this part of the world. Thankfully Chiang Mai and the area we were in is a hub of activity, lots of tourists around although it doesn’t feel crazy touristy like the islands, heaps of lane ways and other markets to fill ones day.
In our first 30 minutes of exploring we stumbled on fruit shake heaven; Cheap, fresh and huge! The woman preparing them is also a master of the knife, amazing to watch as you wait for your beverage.

One thing we’ve noticed about this area is the market they cater for, so many “fresh”, “organic”, “healthy”, “vegan”, “vegetarian”, even “gluten free” signs on every shop. Not what I was expecting but you really can’t go wrong in a town like this!

Sticky rice made by unicorns:

What, another Wat!? Wat, it’s free? This never happens. We were dressed too risqué to go inside (knees showing) so we took it all in from the beautiful grounds surrounding each building. Introducing Wat Chiang Man:

After all this it was night market time, we arrived when they were still setting up but they performed this task in record time, allowing us to shop up a storm!

Laura and I have a problem… People have started to take advantage of our adventurous palates, this time it was some lovely Alaskans. Mean protein gains though. Guess we’re adding bamboo worms to the list.

We ventured back for dinner with Megan and those dedicated people from the elephant farm who had just returned. Same Mexican joint but this time we were having dinner! We were so excited! First western meal since Christmas and it was worth waiting for- handmade corn chip nachos!

Now we’ve had our western fix we can go back to Thai food, we rather missed it… But first back to the markets, how good is this guy!?

Chiang Rai-Golden Triangle-Long Neck Karen Day Trip:

Stop 1: Hot Springs
Big jet of water, smells a little like Rotarua but less potent and people like to boil eggs in it.

Stop 2: The White Temple
Wat Rong Khun is hard to say fast 10 times, so let’s stick to White temple, it’s to the point and a new style Wat we weren’t over. This place is a baby in Wat terms at only 18years old and was designed and built by Chalermchai Kositpipat a $300 millionaire and is the first privately owned temple in Thailand. Also, like most temples it’s unfinished and construction/ his legacy is being continued by his son. Before you get all generous they don’t accept funding from anyone else as they don’t want to share ownership- greedy, greedy.

(The really white one had some pushy posers heads in it, anyone got decent photoshop skills? Also we could use a hand with the next pic too)

The attention to detail is seriously incredible, those hands look like they could grab you any minute! When you cross the bridge you leave hell (the land) for heaven (the temple) and you mustn’t turn back or stop walking… Though, some tourists of Asian decent missed the memo.

Chiang Rai experienced earthquakes a few years back and the spire on too of the temple has been left in remembrance, I’m unsure whether the plaster damage will be repaired but it’s pretty significant.

Inside the temple the wall closest to the bridge is and incredible mural or a dragon with George Bush and Osama Bin Lardin in each eye and surrounded by pop culture icons and cartoons such as Michael Jackson, a Minion from Despicable Me, Angry Birds, Ben 10 you name it- hell, it’s the world we live in. On the opposite wall is a very realistic wax figure of a Buddha, a golden Buddha and a mural of a smiling Buddha- heaven.

The most beautiful toilets in Thailand, the golden toilets. Kawa Kawa eat your heart out.

Stop 3: The Golden Triangle
This is the intersection of Thailad, Laos and Burma or Myanmar, aka the golden triangle aka the black market aka where you could get your opium fix. They’re conveniently separated by the Maekong River and each have a land mark. Thailand: Giant Buddha, Burma: land between rivers, Laos: Casino.

We jumped on a boat to get a bit closer to the sights!
The golden Buddha riding in a green boat, as Buddha’s do:

Oh look it’s the black market island…
Honestly, I’m a tad disappointed, where the buildings at? Unless it’s underground, that would be cool! It’s so underground.

Burma casino, win win!

We stopped off in Laos Vegas. Good to know they find changing place names too plus more stamps for the passport!

When in Laos… It’s Lao Lao time! We’re worried about our affiliation with Lao Lao too… (that was a joke, mum)

Stop 4: a the Northern most pout of Thailand

Stop 5 (holy moley so many stops): The Long Neck Karen Hill Tribe
Long neck Karen people are going back to Burma soon as they want them for their own tourism benefits now they’re internationally accessible and all. So if you want to see the tribes I suggest you go ASAP, that is unless you want to go an visit Burma which you’re now welcome to do.
I felt rather uncomfortable taking photos of and posing with the women of this tribe as it felt you were almost exploiting their culture. Even the children knew the best angle for a photo and our guide said they were explicitly there for tourism.
Side note: the men in these tribes cook and clean while it’s the woman’s job to look beautiful and make crafts, saweeeet!

After 5 stops and a 14 hour day our touristy day trip was over and now so is this post. We’ve had another awesome few days here that I look forward to sharing in the future for your viewing pleasure.
Stay classy,
Lauren x