Before embarking on this journey, allow me to first delve into its origins.

This is another journey of mine, with the destination being to learn about the lives of children in the mountains at the Baan Arunotai School in Chiang Dao District, Chiang Mai Province. This trip was supported by CP All Public Company Limited, or 7-Eleven.

This young woman's story is an inspiration to us all. Despite facing significant challenges, she has persevered and achieved her goals. Her journey is a testament to the power of hard work, determination, and the support of others. Let us learn from her example and strive to make a positive impact on the world.

"Xiao Fang Yang" - A Model of Perseverance and Determination

Xiao Fang Yang is a young woman from a poor family in the mountains. As the eldest of six children, she had to help her parents work on the farm to support the family. Despite the challenges she faced, she was determined to get an education. She worked hard in school and graduated from high school. A teacher at her school recognized her potential and helped her get a scholarship to study at the Panyapiwat Institute of Management. She graduated with a degree in Business Chinese and now has a good job that allows her to support her family.



Miss Xiaofang Yang

This is the "opportunity for those who create opportunities" always.

Travel Schedule

Thursday, February 2nd: Departing by special express train number 9, heading to Chiang Mai Railway Station.

Friday, February 3: Chiang Mai Railway Station - Doi Ang Khang

Saturday, February 4th: Doi Ang Khang - Arunotai Village - Bangkok

Thursday, February 2nd, 2017: Depart by special express train No. 9 to Chiang Mai Railway Station


Day of Travel: Our journey began at Bangkok Railway Station, taking the Northern Line (Uttaradit Route).

Let's get a brief overview of this railway line.

Fares for the New 115-Car Train Model

The promotion period is valid for travel dates between November 11, 2016 and February 28, 2017 on the "Utarawithi" express train No. 9/10 between Bangkok and Chiang Mai.

Amenities on the New 115-Car Train Model

Facilities and Services

Source: State Railway of Thailand

For those who want to delve deeper, you can find more information here: Update on new train models

This is the train I took.

Second-class sleeper air-conditioned carriage (Upper berth).

Second-class air-conditioned coach for day and night travel (ANS)

The accommodation is a dormitory-style room with bunk beds and curtains for privacy. Amenities are as shown in the picture above.

Despite the spacious seats, each seat can only accommodate one person. No squeezing two or three people into one seat. Enjoy a comfortable journey all the way to Chiang Mai. If you get hungry, simply walk to the pantry, where you'll find food, drinks, and free Wi-Fi.

Each train car has a touch screen door that opens with a simple touch. We had a lot of fun playing with it. (Unfortunately, the photos from the other camera are all gone.)

The interior of the train features a display screen that shows the current location, time, and temperature.

Each carriage has separate toilet and urinal rooms. The toilet room has a bidet, a sink, and a comfortable seat for both heavy and light bowel movements. Importantly, there is also a toilet room for people with disabilities.

As scheduled, the train departed at 6:00 PM sharp.

After a while on the train, the carriage attendant will come and make up the beds for us. Then, we can each go to our own beds and have some privacy.

Note: The top of the image displays a screen showing our current location and time.

The packaging of the water served on the train is quite stylish.


To block out the light before bed, I have to pull the curtains like this. So chic.

The morning atmosphere on the train before arriving at Chiang Mai Railway Station

The train arrived at the station exactly on time, at 7:15 AM as scheduled. This was the most punctual train experience I have ever had in my life. It made me wonder if the State Railway of Thailand has truly reached this level of efficiency. (However, I am unsure if this punctuality applies to all trains.)

In Chiang Mai

After exiting the train station, we boarded the van arranged by the faculty and headed straight to ................

Kiat Ocha Chicken Rice Shop.........555555 Must eat first, sir. It's already 7 am, breakfast time.

This establishment is renowned for its traditional Hainanese chicken rice recipe, which has remained unchanged for over 50 years, a testament to its enduring popularity in Chiang Mai.

Customers should pay close attention to the restaurant's name, as there are many establishments in the area with similar names. The neighboring businesses not only share similar names but also sell comparable products.


Location: 41-43 Intharaworot Road, Mueang Chiang Mai District (behind the Three Kings Monument)

Opening hours: Daily, 6:00 AM - 3:00 PM.

Tel: 053-327-262 – 3


After a satisfying meal and a bathroom break, we embarked on a lengthy journey to our destination for the day: Doi Ang Khang. The drive would take over 2-3 hours, so we settled in for the long haul. In the van, some of us opted for a nap, while others popped motion sickness medication and drifted off to sleep. Those who were feeling energetic enjoyed the scenery, admiring the houses, the city, and the birds and trees.

Doi Ang Khang

We have arrived at Ang Khang Villa, our accommodation for tonight.

This resort is located on a hill with a beautiful atmosphere. If I had arrived earlier, the tiger lilies would have been in full bloom throughout the resort. What a pity!

Accommodation options are plentiful, ranging from private bungalows to shared dormitory rooms for larger groups.

Before checking into our accommodation, we had lunch at Ting Ting Restaurant, a renowned Yunnan Chinese restaurant in Ang Khang. After lunch, we arranged to visit the Ang Khang Royal Agricultural Station at 3:00 PM. Afterwards, we went our separate ways to shower, as we hadn't had the chance to since our train journey the previous day. The lack of showers was starting to become noticeable.

A high-angle view from the hill behind the accommodation, overlooking the road we took to get here and the community below.

Royal Agricultural Station Ang Khang

The Ang Khang Royal Agricultural Station is a project initiated by His Majesty the King to promote agricultural careers as a substitute for opium cultivation. The first research station of the Royal Project, following His Majesty the King's initiative of "helping people help themselves," transformed opium fields into temperate agricultural plots that generate higher income than before.

Admission fee: 50 baht per person.

The Royal Agricultural Station serves as a research hub for cold-weather crops suitable for cultivation within its 16,577-rai expanse and across Thailand.

- Flower House - Cut Rose House - Ang Khang Bonsai Garden
- Ang Khang Tea Factory - Ang Khang Bamboo Germplasm Collection - Ang Khang Information Center
- Garden 80 - Doi Kham Garden - Fragrant Garden - English Rose Garden - Queen's Garden - Plum Garden - Cold-Climate Vegetable Germplasm Greenhouse - Outdoor Flower Demonstration Plot - Cut Rose Greenhouse - Doi Ang Khang Pagoda - Khop Dong Village - Nor Lae Village - Khun Village - Luang Village

Stroll through the blooming flower garden and immerse yourself in its vibrant beauty.


Eighty Years Garden

This area will be dedicated to the cultivation of exotic, cold-climate flowering plants and ornamental shrubs. While I can't recall the specific names of these plants, I can assure you that they are quite unique and visually appealing. This garden is a perfect fit for those who appreciate delicate and charming aesthetics.


Bonsai Garden

This garden focuses on plants suitable for bonsai cultivation, as well as succulents such as cacti and euphorbs, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a prehistoric desert.

20,000 Tea Plantation

The 20,000-rai tea plantation is located near the Royal Agricultural Station.

This is one of the most romantic tea plantations in Thailand, offering stunning views and a truly enchanting atmosphere.

To fully appreciate the breathtaking scenery, it is crucial to arrive before sunrise. Witnessing the mesmerizing interplay of mist and tea plantations stretching as far as the eye can see, creating a panoramic spectacle, is an unforgettable experience.



Upon arrival, guests are greeted with a welcome drink of tea sourced from the 20,000 tea plants growing below.


Strawberry Farm, Ban Nor Lae

This is the site of the first strawberry plantation in Thailand, or, to put it simply, the birthplace of Thai strawberries.

You can pick fresh strawberries here, but you must weigh and pay for them before eating them. Otherwise, you will be fined.


Map of Angkhang Royal Agricultural Station

Map of Angkhang Royal Agricultural Station


After a 3-hour visit to the Angkhang Royal Agricultural Station, there is a walking street in front of the entrance where you can buy cute local products to take home, including vegetables, fruits, clothes, snacks, and various products made by the villagers.

Saturday, February 4th: Doi Angkhang - Arunotai Village - Bangkok

We departed from Doi Ang Khang at 9:00 AM and headed towards the village of Arunotai. The journey took approximately two hours, bringing us to our final destination for this trip.

This is the family and home of Xiaofang, a child who created opportunities for herself and achieved success as she had hoped. (I have already told the story of Xiaofang above.)

Opportunities await at Panyapiwat Institute of Management.



The house is made of bamboo, which is split in half and then pounded flat. This design is beautiful and has impressed many of our fellow travelers.

This is a local dessert called "Pa Pa". It is grilled over an open fire and served with coconut milk or palm sugar syrup. It is delicious.

Aru Nothai School

After completing the activity at Xiaofang's house, we traveled to Arunothai School to participate in the "Sharing Smiles and Happiness" activity with the students.

CP All has prepared a variety of educational materials, sports equipment, toys, snacks, and food to distribute to the children. It's like they brought the entire 7-Eleven store with them.

These shoes remind me of my rebellious youth, a time of simple pleasures that I can no longer recapture.

In addition to distributing gifts to the children, we also participated in the "Smile, Share, Happiness" activity with them, which was a lot of fun. There were games with prizes, talent shows with dancing and other performances, and most importantly, all the children cooperated with the activities we had planned and had a great time. Just seeing them happy made us happy too.

The smiles and happiness of both the organizers and participants are what we desire and cannot find anywhere else if we do not work together.

Smile-Share-Happiness

Happiness from both the giver and the receiver

After this, we have to travel a long way back to Chiang Mai city to do our last mission ... which is to have dinner at Suan Pak Restaurant 555555

Suan Pak Restaurant


Our trip ends with a satisfying experience at Suan Pak Restaurant, which serves delicious local dishes with a mild flavor profile. The restaurant boasts a pleasant atmosphere and is conveniently located near Chiang Mai Airport.

Suan Paak Restaurant

  • Address: 61 Moo 3, Mahidol Rd., Suthep Subdistrict, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200
  • Phone: 053202222, 053201690, 053904201, 0817461921
  • Website: https://www.facebook.com/suanpaak.cnx/
  • Suan Paak Restaurant features a simple interior design and a cool atmosphere. It offers a wide variety of dishes, including breakfast, Yen Ta Fo, Thai food from all four regions, and organic vegetable salads. With its diverse menu, Suan Paak Restaurant is a great place to enjoy a delicious meal.
  • Opening Hours: Daily from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM.



In conclusion, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Shopee for organizing this meaningful event. It has provided us with an opportunity to broaden our horizons and gain valuable insights into different aspects of life that we may not have encountered before.

We express our gratitude to the Panyapiwat Institute of Management for providing opportunities for children from the mountains to achieve their dreams. We were able to witness their success firsthand.

Thank you to all my fellow travelers for making this journey so colorful. I've made new friends and connections that will last a lifetime.

Thank you.

# Chiang Mai
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