💎 Hidden gems remaining: 5
An hour of flight to the north stands Chiang Rai, the biggest city in its area. Although renowned for the best university in the country, it has a calm, Selçuk-like vibe and is thus attractive as a tourist destination. Despite constant rain, we wish we had stayed there for longer.
We embarked a very smily ThaiSmile aircraft with better service than our intercontinental flight – we were served a sandwich and a smile :)
The airport where we landed was very comfortable with carpets and rugs on all surfaces (horizontal as well as vertical). We quickly received our checked baggage, then got stuck trying to reach the city. Namely, the bus that ought to drive every half an hour for a small price did not operate (last update was two years ago). Thus, we had to take a Taxi as there was no other option (and we did not want to relive the Mykonos hikes, especially not in the middle of a monsoon).
Colourful breakfast at the Tourist Inn
Finding our accommodation was easy: the taxi driver left us at the door. We were greeted by our nice English-speaking host and given super-fast Wi-Fi access (seriously, the further away from civilisation you go, the faster their internet).
For only 20 baht per person, the public bus is your best option to reach the destination, as a taxi or a tuk-tuk will quickly cost you well over a hundred baht. You will be driven in a colourful and soulful, barely operating old-timer, held together by a duct-tape. Definitely an experience! To get back, stand at the other side of the highway (and don't listen to locals telling you the bus won't come!). Once you see a bus coming, wave the bus (Google the appropriate pose beforehand).
Designed in the 21st century, the White Temple is still under construction. Nonetheless, the white plaster with shiny glass sherds that act like small mirrors makes it well worth a visit. For 100 baht per person, you can visit not only the temple (the inside frescos will surprise you 😉🕸🦇) but also other religious buildings and parks at the backyard.
Bus interior
Now we know why all Bled's frogs are without a tongue
My inner child is happy
The late evening is when Chiang Rai starts to shine. Night Bazzar is a big market place meant for gathering all the people at one spot, making it perfect for meeting new friends or having a beer. But not only a beer, because the whole place where tables are located is enclosed by food stalls offering various authentic Thai cousine for pretty affordable prices. And all of this accompanied by live music. What a breeze.
The first time, we only went to the market after we had had our dinner, but soon decided that we must not leave the place until we've had at least a dish. So we traded some money for delicious spring rolls and enjoyed the live music. Similarly, we came back the next night with a sole purpose to try the famous Hot pot, which we saw people eating the other night. Despite ordering a "little spicy", the boiling temperatures of the soup were enough to make our receptors burn, let alone food being spicy as well. But we survived, as always.
Spring rolls and live music stage in the background
The other day we still had a lot to explore so we decided to do a "city tour" by foot. You could as well use any mean of transportation, but points of interest are located very close to each other. Our trip was made very special right at the start as monsoon started to pour on us. Bring out a poncho and everything is fine again.
Our tour started at the Wat Jed Yod Temple where we turned towards the Golden Clock tower. The shiny gold leaves the Old Clock tower, our next stop, completely in the shade. After marching through the market, we visited the Wat Phra Sing temple, which was full of colours and tiny details. Carrying on with our stroll, we reached a buddhist monastery with a gorgeous garden in the backyard. There were pottery bells with incredible acoustic properties hanging at the front door, ready to be banged 💥. We walked some more streets, then returned home.
Wat Jet Yod
Wat Phra Sing
Golden clock tower
Wat Phra Sing again
As in Bangkok, having meals at inns instead of cooking them is cheaper. We ate heterogeneous colourful daily breakfast at our accommodation. Upon arrival to Chiang Rai we figured out a wierd detail about our district. There were no authentic Thai restaurants, only few Korean ones, a Chinese and a Vietnamese. Or so we thought. So we tried some suspicious looking chicken kebab and we still do not know whether our stomachaches were a chicken's toll or our promise to eat at least 4 times a day not to be hungry anymore. Nonetheless, we avoided this Korean restaurant and any other preprepared meats ever since.
As the district lacked Thai restaurants, we had lots of trouble finding them, and when we thought we finally found one, they said they were closed - that happened two times in a row. That is when the Night Bazaar saved our arse. We tried a Hot pot, which is a traditional "self-" dish. You choose a base (a soup) and meats, which are sliced thin and raw on a separate plate. Along with this, you are given a basket of fresh vegetables. From there on, it is up to you to cook the dish.
Luckily we then managed to find a small food shop near our place where ar-roi mak (very delicious) and dirty cheap Thai dishes were prepared.
Hot Pot
Speaking only Thai is no barrier for us
Yummy Pad Thai
