Winter Trip 2008 (Chaingmai – Pai – Chiangrai) Part I November 23, 2008

Welcome to my Winter Trip 2008,

And the review of chic & cheap accommodation in North, Thailand.

Part I

Chiang Mai White Chalet Bed & Breakfast

First of all, I just would like to say Hello and Thanks for your visiting…Please join me this funny trip with this below review 555

I started my trip on the 8th November 08 together with my Dad, my Mom, ‘Nong Mungmee’ and ‘Nong Mumunoi’ which you will know what the latest two are..ei ei

I arrived to my 1st accommodation — Chiang Mai White Chalet Bed & Breakfast which is very very chic & fun place to stay, highly recommended to all young and teenagers, the price is not expensive — cost me @ THB 900 per night included breakfast (very tasty).

White Chalet – The Bakery House

I was staying at Chiangmai White Chalet for 2 nights, before depart from here, on Sunday, I visited to Prathat Doi Suthep, Phuphing Palace, and Chiangmai Walking Street –

Chiangmai Walking Street, weekly on Sunday

Early morning in the next day, after I had a very delicious breakfast, I checked out and left Chiangmai to my next destination — Pai

From Chiangmai to Pai, it took me around 3 hours. On the way to Pai, I was dropping at Huay Nam Dung National Park, here, I also visited Doi Kew Lom — the most blissful view point I have ever seen.

Doi Kew Lom, Huay Nam Dung National Park (จุดชมวิวดอยกิ่วลม อุทยานแห่งชาติห้วยน้ำดัง)

Flora at Pong Dued, Huay Nam Dung National Park (บ่อน้ำพุร้อนโป่งเดือด)

Pong Dued Hot Spring, Huay Nam Dung National Park

I arrived to Pai at 4.30 p.m. and then I checked in at Pai River Mountain, I got villa no. 7 which very closed to the peaceful Pai River. It cost me @ THB 2,000 per night at this place, not expensive once compared with what I got… After relax for a while, I left out and find something to eat near the resort. I went to a very nice restaurant – Sapanpai, a wonderful dinner with a very very nice view and fantastic food again.

Pai River Mountain Resort

Sapanpai Restaurant (ร้านสะพานปาย)

Sapanpai Flower Field

In the evening, I also visited Pai Walking Street, with everything unique, chic, outstanding art gallery, make up here being a fantastic place for every tourist to come. The Mitrthai Art Shop is now becoming a landmark of this walking street, all their selling items were very unique and in-style, i.e. postcard, T-Shirt, Bag, Note Book, etc. The people who come to this shop are normally write their own postcard and send it to their friend from here (there is a cutie post box in front of the shop).

Pai Post, another place to chil out at night time.

Pai Second Handed Book Shop

Early morning with tasty American Breakfast (again), I left the resort and continue to check in to another resort I have already booked, still in Pai — Aqua Resort. The accommodation here was very unique — The round shape villa with 360 degrees view, amazed that I can see everything around me only staying inside the room oHHo. Surprisingly price, the accommodation was cost approx. @ THB 900 per night excluded breakfast, that’s fine as there are many places to go for a nice breakfast in Pai.

Aqua Resort - Bedroom

A 360 Degrees Villa

Taking a rest for a while (again), it was a coffee break time…I heard one good coffee house not far from the resort, not delay, I went there. Around 10 minutes far away, I arrived to the nice coffee house named ”Coffee In Love”, and the lovely house next door, most of the tourist who comes to Pai must drop off here, even they didn’t buy a cup of coffee, but just to take a photo for souvenir like here is the Landmark coffee shop for Pai.

In front of Coffee In Love

Coffee In Love - The House

Coffee In Love - The House

Lovely garden on the roof

In the following day I prepared and packed up all of my belongings for the next destination — Chiang Rai. But before I depart, I went to ”All About Coffee” to have breakfast, here, there were the plenty of menus to try, like Fresh Brew Coffee, Any Styles of Egg, and highly recommended for Wholewheat Bread. Believe me, just pick up one or two, any..all at best.

All About Coffee - Inside the shop

Breakfast Menu at All About Coffee

Coffee Brazil -- One of the menu in this coffee shop

A Yellow Jar, the unique point in front of All About Coffee.

The weather during this period was very cold in Pai, at this time I was walking out at the Pai Morning Market in early morning after I finished breakfast; it was around +/- 12°C degrees – very cold and very foggy. I need to keep my mumunoi carefully inside my bag to prevent it being wet ha !! While I was walking along the road, many interesting thing here, not enough space to express, you may try once in your lifetime.

Farang singing a song at Pai Morning Market

Late morning (which was still foggy), I left there, before I left Pai, on the way of departure, I dropped at Wawee Coffee House, another great coffee shop (again) near Sapanpai, in front of an Ancient Pai Bridge. I bought a cup of Iced Wawee Coffee, took some photos, and lastly I did before I left here was dropped all postcards to many friends. Truly said from most of the tourists who have been here that Pai was the small town but with its fascination, uniqueness of everything, made all people love Pai. I promised with myself that I will come back here again in some day…Absolutely yessss!

Wawee Coffee

The entrance of Wawee Coffee House

The unique wooden chair inside the shop

The uniqueness of this coffee house is the 2 red bicycles and a lovely post box

Ancient Pai Bridge

Mae Nam Pai -- The Pai River

On the date I travel to my next destination – Chiang Rai, it’s was Loy Kratong Festival day, just couldn’t wait to Loy Kratong in a different way 555+ (Northern people also Loy Kratong by using Floating Lantern or locally called Come Loy — the round shaped dome made from local paper with the candle light inside, while lighting them with fire to push the air out, that was made it flying away..and away..and away).

It’s was a very nice scenery view along the way to Chiang Rai as well, the wide spread golden rice fields; you can’t find it in such a big city like Bangkok.

Plenty of Rice Field along the way to Chaing Rai

To be continuing in Part II