Chiang Mai

Posted by Ingrid:

Our journey to Chiang Mai is coming to a close and tomorrow morning we will be catching the VIP (hopefully express) bus to Chiang Rai....

Both Helen and I continue to suffer from a cold and flu and although we continue to have fun, we could have had a lot more excitement and taken on a lot more activities were we not feeling under the weather. Particularly in Bangkok, where air pollution is a major factor, we were longing for fresh air and the air conditioned hotel became a bigger draw than expected. Nevertheless, we managed to see a fair amount and had some great food - noodles with vegetables and duck, as well as sticky rice with mango for dessert - all for about $2.50.

On our last day we walked around a lovely artificial lake right in the heart of town before heading to the train station and our overnight sleeper to Chiang Mai. It is quite magical how a small compartment with one leather bench turns into a quite cosy two bed sleeping arrangement with crispy white sheets and decent air conditioning. Ever adventurous, we walked four carriages to the restaurant car, only to be greeted by staff with cheers and a clapping of hands. Most people order their food from the steward, I think we were the only foreigners they had ever seen in there. The train took 14 hours to transverse the 580 km and the rails outside the big cities were so bad that it felt like the carriage was pulled along the railroad ties instead.

Our hotel in Chiang Mai is on a busy road, hardware and building center stores all along both sides. But, surprise, surprise, the hotel itself reaches far back from the road and is an absolute oasis of calm with jungle-like greenery everywhere. During our first walk across the Ping River and into the town center we found a beautiful tea room for lunch and had a cappuccino at the Arti Cafe that would put Starbucks to shame.

We are also learning patience. We are writing to various hotels and boat companies expecting an answer within a "reasonable" time period - and are surprised when we don't hear back within the hour. 24-48 hours is more like it. We had eye-balled the Imperial River House Hotel in Chiang Rai and when we did not hear from them within a day, we booked and paid for the same hotel through a travel agency. Subsequently, the hotel contacted us with a lower rate - we live and learn.

Also had our laundry done at a little hole in the wall where the husband was repairing motor cycles in the front. The laundry turned out wonderfully clean and soft - again, we live and learn.

Yesterday we took tour to Doi Inthanon, the highest peak in Thailand at 2,560 meters and part of the Himalayan mountain range. Viewing waterfalls and a tribal village along the way, our little tour bus took us right to the top.  Amazingly there is much produce/arabica coffee beans being grown here, an agricultural project which was initiated and supported by the King of Thailand to get the tribal people off growing opium. Close to the highest peak were two lovely pagodas, honoring the current king and queen, with gardens and flowers that could have come straight from Canada - impatients, pansies, petunias, hydrangeas, cedars, etc. To Thai people is must look quite exotic, we felt right at home......

Unheard of at this time of year, we experienced a thunderstorm yesterday evening that knocked the power out in most of Chiang Mai.Although we were largely under cover, many of the little stalls at the street market were quite wiped out. With most roads flooded with one foot of water, we were lucky to find a tuk-tuk that would take us back to the hotel. All temporary of course - today it is again 30 degrees and beautifully sunny.

And we are ready for our next adventure................