Downtown Inn Hotel Chiang Mai

Cabbages & Condoms. Just about the most unlikely name for a restaurant as you could invent. I'm glad to report that it is likely one of the finest eating experiences in Bangkok. One whole wall of the outdoor table area is a waterfall. Trees canopy the entire eating area and are strewn with thousands of tiny white lights. Large fans around the perimeter spray a mist and the music is live Thai classical. Our crew met in the lobby of the Park Hotel where we hooked up with my friend Aom. My S...

Y salimos de Bangkok, en super mega bus de dos pisos. Eramos de los ultimos en llegar pero aun asi consegui agenciarme los dos primeros asientos, justo detras del conductor que, al estar debajo, a la altura del volante, no se molestaba si poniamos los pies en el reposador, es decir, casi viajamos totalmente estirados. O eso creia yo porque al rato de estar comodamente apalancado en mi particular asiento, el conductor empieza a tocarme los pies desde abajo, diciendo que los quite, que no se pu...

Esta vez salimos de la estacion de Chiang Rai hacia Chiang Mai, para ahorrarnos bastente dinerillo que siempre viene bien. En la estacion de buses de Chiang Rai nos volvemos a encontrar con Sindu y con Rowdy, los cuales tambien iban para Chiang Mai, pero estos para quedarse y hacer un trekking. El bus salia a las 12:30 y llegamos a Chiang Mai hacia las 4 de la tarde. Una vez en la estacion de Chiang Mai, tomamos un songtheaw por 20 bahts cada uno hasta la zona del mercado de Pompet, cerca de ...

Train was a little late but arrived uneventfully about 10am. Walked a couple of k's into Chiang Mai with our packs -- our first loaded hike of the trip. Eventually found the unlabelled motel and found that our room was free. Dropped our stuff and went down the road to the bank and subway for lunch. Hired a tuc-tuc for an hour, and he showed us the town wall, moat, gates and the three big pagodas. Same, same, but different.


Back to the hotel and picked up for our afternoon tea tour...

I have a new travel buddy! Met up with another one of the guys, Chris, from the group the other day in Bangkok so decided to head north together. Chiang Mai being the first stop! With plans to do all sorts in Chiang Mai (visiting the 300 temples here, being top of the list) we've done very little (visited only 3!)! After the bedlam of Bangkok and a sleepless 14 hour night train, you get here and time just dribbles through your fingers! It's terrible, you become so idle because the place is so...

Our next stop was to Chiang Mai which felt like the Thai version of Austin with a younger, college town feel. Cheap eats, cheap beer, cheap massages, cheap entertainment were the theme. We loved this city. Our hotel was right in the heart of the main attraction which was the Kalare Night Market. We took a Tuk Tuk aka rickshaw to get to our hotel in style with all of our luggage on top of us. By this time, I was getting addicted to daily 7-11 trips to get the Oishi Green Iced Tea which was ava...

Hi everyone ! Sawadee krap Flight AK 896 Air Asia Departure Kuala Lumpur LCCT : 08.50 Local Time Arrival in Chiangmai :10.40 Local Time We checked in at Downtown Inn .Immediately we proceed to make arrangement for our adventures : - 1)29/02/2008 - Kantoke Dinner 2)01/03/2008 - A trip to Chiangrai to see the Hill Tribes ( Karen long Neck,Lahu and Padung ) , Hot Spring and Golden Triangle ( a boat ride to see the borders of Thailand,Myammar and Laos ) 3)02/03/2008 Trip to Maesa Elephant Trainin...

Day 2

Sawadee krap

We have our buffer breakfast provided by the hotel.We visited Anusarn Night Bazzar which is quiet in the daytime but there ares a lot of activities at night.The food there is cheaper and very affordable.In general Chiangmai town at night comes a live with a lot of bright neon lights and handicrafts sold along the streets.I even bought my camera battery charger at Pantip Plaza for 900 baht

There are a lot of Used Book Stores in Chiangmai.I bought a fe...

We took a long journey to the North,Chiangrai and the golden Triangle.The whole journey lasted 12 hours inclusive of lunch which was provided by the tour agent. The hill tribes I visited which I discovered is not the original.The hill tribes on the way to Chiang Sian nearing the border look like created for the convenience of tourist or travellers .I even saw one of the long neck women suddenly stand attention and posed for photographers.Our tour guide took us on a guided tour to the hill tri...

Today we went to the Maesai Elephant Training Camp and Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep Rajvoravihra.

Elephant Bathing
The elephants will go to the nearby river to play for a short while and then have their bath.The trainer I saw took out a big brush from his bag and brushed the elephant.After brushing the elephant,the trainer cleaned up the elephant.

Main Show
The elephant show was very good and also very enjoying for all of us.The show came in this order : -

1) The el...