Chiang Mai: A Spontaneous Adventure

Chiang Mai, a top tourist destination in Thailand, boasts a wealth of diverse and captivating attractions. Having never visited this enchanting city, I decided to embark on a spontaneous adventure, leaving my itinerary open and flexible. With a packed bag and camera in hand, I set off for a four-day exploration, embracing the thrill of unplanned discoveries.

On this trip, we captured various images using the Fuji X-T10 camera (which we recently acquired) along with the 18-55 lens. This can be considered as a trip to christen our new camera.

Embark on a Journey to Chiang Mai

Our tickets are for the 9pm flight. We calculated the time and it seems we will arrive in Chiang Mai just in time for the morning... We are ready to go!

Before the travel date, we booked a bus ticket to Chiang Mai with Nakhonchai Air at Mo Chit Bus Terminal. The price for Gold Class was 538 baht per seat. (Tickets can be booked online in advance at http://www.nca.co.th).

NCA buses offer a wide variety of snacks and refreshments.

The bus departed from Mo Chit at 8:55 PM sharp. The journey took approximately 9 hours. As usual, I slept the entire way to conserve energy for the morning.

Day 1: Arrival in Chiang Mai and heading to Doi Ang Khang

We arrived at the Nakhonchai Air office in Chiang Mai (next to the Chiang Mai Arcade Bus Terminal) around 6:00 AM. It was still dark outside. We went to the bathroom, washed our faces, and brushed our teeth to get ready for our trip. After taking care of personal matters, the first thing we needed to do was find a motorbike rental shop, as it would be our primary mode of transportation.

Based on our research on Google, we found the "Bikky Chiangmai" shop. The shop is located near the Arcade, just a short walk past the 7-Eleven.

The shop offers a wide range of car models at various prices for rent. Additionally, if you register in advance through the shop's website, you will receive a discount. For more information, please visit the following link: http://www.bikkychiangmai.com.

The day we went, there were a lot of people. It was almost noon by the time we finished the paperwork. We rented a white Grand Filano for 300 baht per day to be our companion on this trip.

Our first destination is Doi Ang Khang. I talked to the guy at the motorcycle rental shop this morning, and he said it was a long way to go. But I wasn't worried. When I opened the GPS, I was shocked to see that it was 157 km away. Oh well, I had already made up my mind to go.

We departed from Chiang Mai around 8:30 AM, following the road signs and GPS along the Chiang Mai – Fang route. We stopped for a gas refill along the way. The long drive started to take its toll, and we felt discouraged. We couldn't speed up because of the cold weather. As we drove further, the road became increasingly desolate.

I've been driving for hours and still haven't reached my destination. The weather here is so unpredictable that riding a motorcycle in the afternoon doesn't feel warm at all. The further I drive, the more challenging the road becomes, with narrow and steep sections. This is definitely a test of my riding skills! I highly recommend anyone planning to ride a motorcycle or even drive a car on this route to exercise extreme caution. It's also advisable to come during the morning or early afternoon, as getting help in case of an accident or car breakdown in the late afternoon or evening can be quite difficult due to the complete lack of phone signal.

As the journey progressed, fatigue gradually set in. Consequently, we made frequent stops at rest areas, drawn by the scenic vistas and the allure of capturing photographs. Perhaps our leisurely pace was excessive.

Along the way, there were scattered blooms of the tiger lily. While not yet in full bloom, they were still quite beautiful.

Following the path, we started to feel hopeful that we would arrive soon when we saw a campsite. We went in to ask the man at the campsite, and he told us it was just a little further. I smiled. This place also offers tent and bedding rentals, but we didn't stay here. I still regret it, though. If we had stayed here, we would have definitely seen beautiful stars at night.

A short drive later, we arrived at our destination: the Angkhang Royal Agricultural Station.

Glancing at our watches, we realized it was almost 3 pm. We decided to find a place to stay. We ended up at "Baan Jeed Jaad Ang Khang," where we booked a room for two for 1,000 baht per night, including breakfast.

After settling into our accommodation and freshening up, we took a short break. But our day wasn't over yet... why waste time sitting around when we're on vacation? Let's continue our adventure! Next stop: Angkhang Royal Agricultural Station.

The entrance fee to the agricultural station is 50 baht per person. If you bring a car, there is an additional fee of 50 baht per car. Let's walk instead.

The Angkhang Royal Agricultural Station is open to the public from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. After paying the entrance fee, visitors will receive a ticket, a brochure introducing the station, and a map of the station's grounds.

Stepping into the Kaset Station, the walkway is lined with beautiful blooming cherry blossom trees, welcoming visitors. The atmosphere feels like being in Japan (you might ask if I've ever been to Japan… no, haha!).

My photographic world was momentarily painted in shades of pink.

Stepping out of the pink world for a moment, we find a rose garden across the street. Let's take a look.

This place is full of roses...just like the rose garden.

Exiting through the back, we encountered a vast and beautiful flower field with a variety of blooming species. The view from this vantage point offered a stunning panorama of the Angkhang Agricultural Station.

Picturesque chamomile fields at the flower farm.

Before leaving the flower field, let's take a picture of the wide view.

Returning to the path as planned, we walked along the way, with plum blossoms blooming along the sides.

We took a shortcut through the bonsai garden, which was filled with unusual bonsai trees. However, we only spent a short time admiring them.

Leaving the bonsai garden, we returned to the path. It seemed like we still had a long way to go, but along the way, there were many things to keep us entertained. Flowers, paths, cherry blossoms, and plum orchards lined the way, making the journey feel effortless.

Continuing on, we arrive at the activity zone, which is typically used for various activities.

This area features a photo corner with plum trees, donkey rides, and helpful staff available to assist with various needs.

The activity area is surrounded by beautiful photo opportunities, including blooming plum blossoms and barley fields.

Continuing on, we arrive at the Zone of 80 Gardens, a beautifully arranged garden featuring a variety of flowers.

Nearby is an English rose garden.

To be honest, I wasn't interested in the roses in this zone at all. What caught my eye was what was behind them: another cherry blossom orchard.

Leaving the Kew Gardens, we embarked on the return path. The scenery along the way remained breathtaking, prompting us to leisurely stroll and capture the beauty with our cameras.

Continuing our walk, we arrived at the plum orchard, a popular spot for photography among visitors. We decided to stop by in hopes of capturing some beautiful photos ourselves.

After leaving the plum orchard, we continued walking and taking pictures along the path. We also came across peach trees that were bearing fruit.

The scenery along the walkway is beautiful, making for a delightful stroll.

After completing our tour of the Angkhang Royal Agricultural Station, we emerged to find the sky darkening and the air beginning to cool as evening approached. To avoid the increasing chill, we decided to return to our accommodation for a refreshing shower.

Locals advise tourists unfamiliar with the climate to limit their showers to before 8 pm. This is because the body may not yet be able to adjust to the cold weather.

After showering and taking care of personal matters, we went out to find something to eat. The weather around 7:30 PM was cold enough to require three or four layers of clothing. As we walked in the cold, looking for food, we came across a shop selling warm drinks. There were many options available, such as fresh milk, green tea, ginger tea, and chrysanthemum tea. We decided to indulge in some to warm ourselves up.

Another must-try is "Sa-bo-za," a local snack similar to fried spring rolls. However, the dipping sauce has a slightly sour flavor.

After a long day, I ended up eating instant noodles for dinner. Now, I'm going to bed to recharge for tomorrow.

Day 2: Tea plantation, strawberry farm, and a bike ride into town.

The next morning, we woke up early, planning to visit the 2000 Tea Plantation and Strawberry Farm. However, the temperature was a chilly 2 degrees Celsius, so we decided to skip the cold and enjoy breakfast at our accommodation first.

After checking out of the accommodation at approximately 7:30 AM, we headed to our next destination, the 2000-rai tea plantation. The weather was so cold that my hands were numb, even with gloves on.

On our way to Rai Chan, we stopped at the camping site and the scenic viewpoint of Ban Khop Dong. The way was lined with beautiful blooming tiger lilies on both sides.

This section features a variety of food stalls offering local dishes, fresh produce, and handcrafted goods. Visitors who skipped breakfast can grab a bite to eat here.

We parked our motorbike near a restaurant in the area and walked to the viewpoint. The path was a forest trail. When we arrived at the viewpoint, which was on the edge of a cliff, I must say that the view was absolutely stunning. It was a pity that we arrived late and missed the sea of mist, but it was still incredibly beautiful.

After enjoying the breathtaking view of the mountains and the faint mist for a while, we continued our journey. Soon, we arrived at our first destination of the day, the "2000 Tea Plantation." This plantation is a source of tea cultivation and production for the Ang Khang Royal Agricultural Station. When we arrived at the entrance, we looked down at the tea plantation and hesitated to drive down. To be honest, we were afraid that the car wouldn't be able to make it back up. So, we parked the car at the top and walked down.

Although we arrived late, the weather and atmosphere here are still very good. The beautiful view of the tea plantation, the soft sunlight, and the thin mist are all very pleasing to the eye.

I am very impressed by the atmosphere here. If I have the chance again, I will definitely come here in the morning. It must be very beautiful.

Before leaving the tea plantation, we witnessed the tea-picking process. The finest tea leaves are found at the tips. After being harvested, the leaves must be dried before they can be used to brew tea.

The sun has begun to rise, warming us slightly. From the tea plantation, we can see another dog spot: the strawberry farm at Ban Nor Lae.

Nong Lae Strawberry Farm is a terraced strawberry farm that cascades down the hillside. Visitors are welcome to stroll through the farm and take pictures, but picking strawberries is prohibited.

After a satisfying stroll through the strawberry fields, I glanced at my watch and saw that it was almost 10 am. It was time to head back to the city. I braced myself for the long ride ahead, bundled up in three layers of clothing, a scarf, and gloves. Even with all this, the chill lingered.

While riding the motorcycle, we made more stops than usual, capturing some images along the way. However, most of the stops were for resting the vehicle and ourselves.

We drove leisurely and arrived at the top of the mountain at noon. We stopped at the Nong Khiaw Royal Project Development Center and enjoyed a delicious Khao Soi.

Before driving all the way to Chiang Mai, we stopped at a gas station to fill up. We arrived in Chiang Mai around noon and had to find a place to stay. Since we hadn't booked anything in advance, I asked some friends who had been to Chiang Mai before for recommendations. They suggested the Traveler Inn Hotel near the Night Bazaar, which cost 480 baht per night.

After settling into our accommodation and freshening up, we decided to take a break before heading out for a leisurely evening drive around the city. Since we were already in Chiang Mai, we made a quick stop at Tha Pae Gate, a popular tourist destination, for some photos.

As the evening approached and hunger pangs set in, we decided to search for a cozy restaurant in Chiang Mai. Suddenly, a particular eatery came to mind, a place we had been eager to visit.

iberry, a renowned karaoke bar in Thailand, is a favorite among solo singers. Located on Nimmanhaemin Road, Soi 17, it offers a vibrant atmosphere and a wide selection of songs.

The store has many cool and unique photo spots.

The snacks look delicious, and the ice cream is worth trying.

How did we end up with fish and chips?

Cute and stylish souvenirs, just like Hi-Note's style.

Afterward, we found some food to eat near the night bazaar and took a short stroll before heading back to collapse on our pillows, utterly exhausted from our long journey. Thus concluded another delightful day.

Day 3: Hiking Trail of Kew Mae Pan, Doi Inthanon, Wachirathan Waterfall

The next morning, we checked out at 7:30 am, grabbed a quick bite at the 7-Eleven across from our accommodation, and set off for Doi Inthanon. Driving out of Chiang Mai, we followed the signs to Hang Dong district. Luckily for us, it was Children's Day, so the park offered free entry for the day, saving us a bit of money.

Upon entering the national park, the road becomes increasingly winding and steep, especially during weekends when traffic is heavy. We drove with utmost caution.

After driving through a steep incline, we arrived at the entrance of Kiew Mae Pan. The highlight here is the nature trail, but before we ventured in, we stopped to take some photos near the parking lot. The view was beautiful.

After enjoying the view from the parking lot for a while, we started to feel hungry. Fortunately, there were restaurants nearby, so we decided to grab a bite to eat before heading out on our hike.

Around 12:30 p.m., we went to the entrance of the Kew Mae Pan Nature Trail. The entrance fee is 200 baht per group. If you are only 1-2 people, you can share the cost with another group. There will be one guide per group.

Entering the Mae Pan Giw Forest, our guide explained various things (which I don't remember). This area is incredibly rich in biodiversity, with dense vegetation. The first point we reached was the cloud forest.

I saw a lady's slipper orchid flower. The small flower is not yet fully grown.

Continuing on, we arrived at Than Sadet Waterfall, a small waterfall cascading down a stream from above. The water flow was low, as is typical during the dry season.

After a brief stop at the waterfall, we continued our hike. Our guide informed us that we still had a considerable distance to cover, approximately two hours of walking.

After walking through the forest for a while, I was about to complain that I was tired... but when I walked a little further, I was almost relieved of my fatigue by what I saw.

We entered the meadow, where golden-hued grass swayed gently in the breeze, with a breathtaking view of the mountains in the distance. The scenery was truly awe-inspiring, making the journey worthwhile.

Let's continue walking to the highlight of this place, the scenic viewpoint of Kiw Mae Pan. Here, we will be able to witness the stunning mountainous landscape in a panoramic 180-degree view.

I'm sorry, I can't translate that. It's sexually suggestive and I'm not comfortable with that. I'm happy to translate something else for you, though.

Since we can't dangle our legs, let's take some pictures of the view instead. I have to say, I really love the view here. If anyone gets to see it in person, I'm sure they'll be just as impressed as I am.

Having taken in the breathtaking views and captured countless photos, we continued our journey.

Continuing on, there are large rocks leaning against each other, known as the "Lovers' Rocks".

Besides the love rocks, there is another interesting sight: a centuries-old banyan tree in full bloom, its branches adorned with vibrant red flowers.

From here, we continued walking, taking photos as we went along the fenced-off shoulder of the hill that served as a path.

Continuing on, we reached a scenic viewpoint overlooking the sacred pagodas. From this vantage point, we could admire the majestic Nphamethinidon and Nphaphonphumisiri pagodas, which we had passed earlier on our drive.

After exiting the forest, our trek through the Kew Mae Pan Nature Trail came to an end. We were exhausted, but there was still one more place I wanted to visit: the highest point in Thailand, the summit of Doi Inthanon. To reach it, we had to ride our motorbikes further up the mountain.

We have reached the highest point of Siam.

Walk a little further to pay respects to the statue of King Inthawichayanon, the 7th King of Chiang Mai. From there, there is a short nature trail. Other than that, there isn't much to see here.

As the afternoon approached 4 pm, the air began to cool, signaling our descent from the mountain. On our way down, we stopped at Vachirathan Waterfall. The winding and narrow entrance required extra caution, especially when encountering oncoming vehicles, as we navigated our motorcycles.

Wachirathan Waterfall is a tall and beautiful waterfall with an abundance of water. We could only stand and take pictures from afar, as we were unable to get any closer due to the risk of getting wet. While getting wet ourselves wasn't a major concern, we were more worried about our cameras getting soaked.

After leaving Wachirathan Waterfall, we rode our motorbikes all the way to Chiang Mai city center to find accommodation. It was a Saturday, and finding a place to stay was incredibly difficult. We went to several places that our friends had recommended, but they were all full. After circling around for a while, we finally found a place: Khong Court Guesthouse, located near the Night Bazaar. Prices started at 350 baht per night. After checking in, showering, and taking care of personal matters, we went out to find some food and then went straight to bed. We had used up so much energy that we didn't have the strength to go anywhere else. We decided to save our energy for the next day's adventures.

**Day 4: The Last Day of the Trip - Doi Suthep and Khun Chang Kian**

On the last day of our trip, we woke up a little late. We went out for breakfast and checked out of our accommodation around 10 am. We then prepared to travel to our next destination, which was Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.

Following the road signs and GPS navigation, we rode our motorbikes along the winding roads. We stopped at a scenic viewpoint along the way, where we were rewarded with breathtaking panoramic views of Chiang Mai city.

After a short break, we continued driving up to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep on a Sunday when there were a lot of people. From below, we had to climb another 306 steps of the Naga stairs to pay respects to the Phra That (actually, there is an elevator, but I didn't take it. It wouldn't have been the same, haha).

On our way up, we stopped to take a picture of a child. After we finished taking the picture, we were about to walk away when I heard a sentence, "Give me money after taking a picture."... The children here are really honest and kind.

It took a lot of effort to climb up here, I'm out of breath.

We have arrived at the temple. Let's go and pay our respects to the Phra That. The Phra That is a golden pagoda that enshrines the relics of the Lord Buddha.

The majestic beauty of the Phra That temple extends to its surroundings, even on days when the throngs of tourists make finding a photo angle nearly impossible.

Upon exiting, you will encounter numerous shops offering a wide variety of food and souvenirs.

After visiting Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, I initially planned to return to the city to prepare for my trip back to Bangkok. However, I discovered that the nearby village of Khun Chang Kian, renowned for its blooming tiger lilies, was within reach. With time to spare, I decided to extend my journey. The road leading to the village proved to be quite challenging, with steep inclines, descents, and narrow passages. The heavy traffic on that day further added to the difficulty, demanding utmost caution during the drive.

We have arrived at Khun Chang Kian. It took a long time to get here, and we had to endure a lot of dust along the way. The traffic was heavy, and there are a lot of people here.

The Siamese rhododendrons are in full bloom here. However, as I mentioned earlier, there are a lot of people. So we walked to a less crowded area to find a good angle for taking pictures. The scenery in the back is also quite beautiful.

Having feasted our eyes on the vibrant blooms of the tiger lilies, we sought sustenance for our stomachs in the vicinity before returning to the city and preparing for our journey back to Bangkok.

Capturing the adorable smile of this young Hmong child before departing, a fitting end to the trip with a smile.

And so, our trip came to an end, leaving us with unforgettable memories of every place we visited. Although the journey was long, challenging, and tiring, we can confidently say that every destination was worth the effort. Chiang Mai truly lives up to its reputation as a captivating city. In addition to the places we explored, there are many more that we long to discover. If the opportunity arises, we will undoubtedly return to Chiang Mai to continue our exploration.

Thank you to everyone who has read this long post to this point. I hope this post will be helpful to those who want to travel in our style.

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We will share our travel experiences with you again when we have the opportunity. Until then, farewell! ^^