With the free train ride as usual, on the day before payday, or rather, when the salary is not yet out, but there is still some left. The last gasp of spending the salary 555555 Where to go?

Last month, I returned to my hometown in the north of Thailand. My mother told me not to forget to pay respects to Queen Chamadevi. She had already been there and prayed for me to find a partner. This temple is famous for granting wishes related to children and love. My mother even suggested that I visit again myself. She really wants me to get married! After that conversation, I decided that I need to find time to visit Lamphun.

Is there anything else I can help you with?

I'm not here to find a boyfriend like my mom said. Right now, what I want most isn't a boyfriend, but money! 5555 I'd rather have a lot of money to travel the world than have a family right now. I want to travel a lot, and I want to travel alone too.

We have a page that tells stories about traveling alone in different places. You can join the conversation at the page "Traveling Alone Lady Journey".

English:

All photos were taken with a Samsung Galaxy A5 smartphone and edited using VSCOCAM.

Limited budget, travel slowly. This time, I will probably take the train as usual. The train... is free!! Haha, I will be in Chiang Mai soon by train. I will get off at Lamphun first. At first, I had a lot in mind that there are actually many places to visit in Lamphun, and there are homestays and things like that. But the attractions are far apart, and I didn't plan much. So this time, I will just visit the city.

It's still pitch black at 5 am, and I'm already at the train station, killing time.

After that, I continued walking to find accommodation. I came without a map and didn't have any accommodation booked. I only knew that I wouldn't stay anywhere that cost more than 500 baht. Initially, I planned to take a shared taxi, but the wait was long. So, I walked around, taking in the sights of Lamphun. It took a while, but I eventually found a place to stay.

Promotion 299 baht, spacious fan room with TV, comfortable stay.

After a short break, I had to start my journey. I walked the whole way, as I couldn't find any motorbikes or bicycles to rent. There were some vans and shared taxis passing by, and motorbike taxis, but it would have been too expensive to hire them for the whole trip. I decided to walk and explore at my own pace. In fact, Lamphun is a great city for cycling, as there isn't much traffic and not many foreign tourists. It has a very local, peaceful atmosphere.

The first place we will visit is Wat Phra That Hariphunchai, a temple that is a symbol of Lamphun. Everyone must come to pay respect for good luck. I asked people around here and they said it was quite far, about 3 kilometers. At first, I was going to wait for a car, but I walked all the way and decided not to wait. The sun was really hot. It was raining everywhere else, but in Lamphun, it didn't rain at all. The sun was shining all day long.

Our primary reason for visiting this location is not solely for religious purposes. This site also houses a tram system, which will serve as our primary mode of transportation during our visit. This tram, which travels around the city, represents our hope for exploring Lamphun without the need for a personal vehicle.

The architecture is beautiful and serene, especially since we visited on a weekday when there were not many people. Mostly, there were only locals and visitors from nearby provinces.

The tram only runs twice a day, not all the time. The important thing is to be on time. If we miss the morning round, we have to take the afternoon round. It stops in front of the main gate of the temple. It is a tram tour in Lamphun city, offering tours of temples and important places in Lamphun city. It is open every day except Monday, with morning rounds at 9:30 AM and afternoon rounds at 1:30 PM. The fare is 20 baht for children, 50 baht for adults, and 100 baht for foreigners (the price is per person). After worshiping Buddha and taking photos, we waited for the tram at 1:00 PM. We saw a milk tea shop with a lot of customers, so we decided to try it. I heard it was the best in the city.

The vendor was in a good mood and very talkative. The Chinese herbal tea was delicious, with a perfect balance of sweetness and richness. It was better than any other I've had, and at only 35 baht a glass, I finished the entire thing, including the ice. Sometimes, it's not just the taste that makes a place popular, but also the seller's salesmanship.

We also filmed a clip of us buying grass jelly. The seller's salesmanship is worth watching. You can check it out on our page. Oh... we also filmed a short clip of the Golden Retriever temple dogs named Moo Ping and Thong Kao, and the 3-legged Thai dog that hangs around the lottery seller in the temple. The dogs are very cute. Don't forget to play with them.

Initially, I waited and waited, hoping someone would share the cost of the tram ride. If not, I was prepared to pay the 300 baht fare myself. Since I had already arrived, I was determined to ride it. As the time approached, three women from Chiang Mai joined me, and we decided to share the cost. None of us had ever ridden the tram before. In the end, with four of us, the cost was 75 baht each.

Embark on a tour of nine significant locations, though some may not be captured due to time constraints. The first, Wat Phra That Hariphunchai, has already been pictured above. The next stop is the Lamphun Community Museum, which narrates the city's pivotal events. A knowledgeable guide provides additional insights. The museum, housed in a traditional wooden structure, showcases historical artifacts and portraits of influential figures from Lamphun's past.

According to the tram driver, who also serves as a tour guide, Lamphun is currently in the process of burying its power lines in several phases. This is in preparation for the city's future designation as a World Heritage Site. Lamphun is the smallest and oldest city in northern Thailand, and it has retained its authentic northern Thai culture.

The monument of Queen Chamadevi has arrived. Let's pray for blessings and ask for a partner as my mother told me. Just ask for a little bit. 55555 But mainly, I ask for more work from my current job, ask for more money, make it easy to find money, in short, ask for money. 5555555

Wat Chedi Liam

Is there anything else I can help you with?

The statue of Queen Chamadevi and the Wat Chamadevi temple are located in different places and seem to be quite far apart. It takes a while to get there by tram.

The most striking feature is the beautiful teakwood house, which in the northern dialect is called "Hoang Tuean Boon, Dork Pa Mi", which in the central dialect translates to "Merit Extension House".

Mahawon Monastery

The mere sight of the tram passing by the temple left me in awe and amazement. Upon entering the temple, I was further stunned by its magnificent beauty. The sheer splendor of the temple took my breath away. I never imagined that Lamphun could boast such an exquisite temple.

Ku Chang Ku Ma is believed to be the cemetery of war elephants and horses, the pair of prestige of Queen Chama Thewi. According to legend, this place is also famous for making wishes.

Stepping into the temple, one cannot help but feel a sense of awe and mystique. The lush greenery that surrounds the temple creates a serene and tranquil atmosphere. To make a wish, devotees walk under the elephant's belly three times, following the direction of the arrows.

The journey to Wat Phra Yai was long, but upon arrival, we were greeted by a serene and expansive atmosphere. The tranquility extended far beyond the temple grounds, creating a peaceful ambiance. Each temple we visited possessed unique architectural features, and Wat Phra Yai was no exception. Its beauty was distinct and unlike anything we had encountered before. However, our travel companion seemed to be in a hurry, rushing through the visit. If I had been alone, I would have lingered at the temple for a longer duration. Unfortunately, we were reliant on the tram for transportation, limiting our options.

The Wat Ton Kaew weaving group was not fully explored as I was too focused on selecting beautiful cotton and silk fabrics that the housewives were weaving. Seeing this, I really like Thai fabrics. When I travel to the provinces, I like to buy sarongs, but I don't buy them very expensive. I buy them just enough to wear because the real fabrics are too expensive for me. I would like to try weaving, but I am afraid of damaging their work. Lamphun is another city that is famous for its beautiful woven fabrics.

We only took a few photos of Wat Phra Khong Rishi, but unfortunately, we can't find the photo files. It's a pity, as it's a small temple. As mentioned, we had enough time to walk around, but it would be difficult if we were in a large group. The aunts had already gotten on the tram, probably tired of the hot weather. We still enjoyed taking photos, but we felt bad and had to get on the tram too. The tram returned almost in the evening and stopped at Wat Phra That Hariphunchai again. We planned to have Lamyai noodles, but the shop was closed. So we walked around. When we travel, we eat anything available. If we can't find anything, it's okay. But we prefer to eat local street food made by the locals. We don't like to eat at restaurants. Besides being expensive, they don't seem to offer authentic local food.

While we didn't try the highly recommended local dishes, the best food we had was the northern Thai cuisine prepared by the locals. It was absolutely delicious! We had khao soi, sai ua, and nam prik ong with sticky rice, which we took back to our room to enjoy after a long day of exploring. We were exhausted and just wanted to relax.

"I walked there and back without any problems. Lampang seems like a safe city, not dangerous at all. The people are also very friendly. On the way to the hotel's alley, I passed the Jakkrawutthakarn School in Lampang Province. The school's student work was displayed all over the fence."

The next morning, before returning the car around 3 pm and checking out at noon, we went for a walk to find some places to visit. We had already decided the previous day that we would visit the local silk museum, which we had seen a sign for while walking around yesterday. It was also within walking distance. But first, we were hungry, so we decided to eat at a restaurant next to the hotel.

After feeling full, we continued our journey. We saw a sign indicating the museum was 900 meters ahead, but we were unsure, so we asked someone at the market. The market had a wide variety of local food, which was perfect for us as we love exploring local cuisine. We couldn't resist taking a look around, and we were amazed by the unique and unfamiliar dishes. We decided to come back later to explore the market further. This market is located near the Wat San Pa Yang Luang temple. We started to remember the route we took on the tram yesterday, realizing that the roads here are somewhat repetitive.

Above all, the significance of being a traveler rather than a regular tourist lies in the opportunity to learn and connect with local people, to engage in conversations, and to witness acts of kindness that we never thought we would receive. Lamphun is another place where we encountered kind and generous people, similar to other places in Thailand that we have visited during our solo travels across various provinces.

When we talked to people in the market in the northern dialect,
We: Is the silk museum far away?
The pork skewer vendor and the motorcycle driver helped to answer.
"Oh, it's far away. It's too far to walk."
We: It's okay, we can walk. Is it in this direction?
Motorcycle driver: Oh, I'll take you there. I'm going that way anyway. If I leave now, wait a minute. I'll take you there. It's far away!!!!"
I tried to say that I could walk, but I thanked him and sat on the seat. In conclusion, it was really far away. There was no public transportation. On the way back, I walked back. I wasn't tired at all. The way there felt very far, but the way back felt like a short time.
But one thing is for sure, Lamphun people are very kind. The picture is a bit blurry because it wasn't taken as a still image, but instead, it was captured from a video that was taken.

Translation:

Despite the long journey, the museum offered little to see. Only a few people were weaving downstairs. I went up to the museum building. Although it was a small museum, the fabrics upstairs were beautiful. They were on display and available for purchase, but the prices were quite high. Unfortunately, photography was not allowed upstairs.

A slight feeling of disappointment crept in, but at least we witnessed the kindness of the people of Lamphun who were so good to us. They didn't want us to walk, perhaps mistaking us for tourists. Everyone kept asking where we were from. We said we had taken the train from Bangkok, but no one believed us because we had spoken in the northern dialect throughout the journey. So we revealed that we were actually from the north ourselves, but had been working in Bangkok.

I just made it back in time to check out at noon. I was worried I wouldn't make it back to catch the train, and I hadn't even bought my ticket yet, so I ended up waiting for hours. But it's better than missing the train, right? The third-class train ticket back cost 268 baht. In the afternoon, I was hungry again. I walked around looking for something to eat nearby. If I had walked farther, I probably could have found more options, but I didn't. It was quite hot, so I ended up having khao soi again. Wow! Why is it tastier than the one I just had? I never get tired of northern Thai food. I had khao soi again.

A Day Trip to Lamphun: Cultural Immersion and Unexpected Delights

This trip to Lamphun felt like a whirlwind day trip, primarily focused on paying respects at the sacred sites. While the lack of planning and research added an element of spontaneity, it also highlighted the wealth of cultural and natural attractions Lamphun has to offer. A return visit is definitely in order to explore these hidden gems.

Beyond the tourist attractions, the true essence of Lamphun lies in its people and their traditions. Engaging with locals, trying the local cuisine, and immersing oneself in the local culture provides a deeper understanding and appreciation for this unique place. This goes beyond simply sightseeing and opens doors to a richer, more meaningful experience.

The journey of discovery and learning never truly ends. Every interaction, every conversation, every bite of local food becomes a window into the heart and soul of Lamphun. It's in these moments of genuine connection that we truly connect with the place and its people, leaving us with memories that resonate long after the journey has ended.

In fact, we have friends in Lamphun, and our sister-in-law also lives in Lamphun Province. But we came here blindly, traveling on our own for only the second time. This kind of independent travel, without relying on anyone, is what teaches us many things. We also want to encourage anyone who wants to visit Lamphun on their own someday, to come on a budget, easily and safely, especially women who have to travel alone. You can come easily and not be afraid of being lonely. Lamphun people are kind. You will have friends to ride the tram with, and your Lamphun trip will definitely not be lonely. See you again in the next review.

A budget-friendly trip to Lamphun: Free train ride on the way there, 268 baht on the way back, 299 baht for accommodation, 75 baht for the tram, and affordable food. All in all, it cost less than 1,000 baht. Street food ranged from 20 to 60 baht. During this period, you can enjoy a budget-friendly temple tour in Lamphun. Anyone can come! We love to travel to every province, even if it's not a popular tourist destination. We find that the provinces with fewer tourists are full of friendly people. Life here is truly slow-paced. We believe that every province has its own charm.