Driving around Chiang Mai

Posted by Danae

We had a yummy breakfast at the hotel, before heading off with Mr Driver to various destinations around Chiang Mai. First stop, the Bhubing (otherwise known as Phuping) Palace where the Royal Family stay on their holidays. It was great to have virtually the whole place to ourselves, apart from the gardeners/guards, as very movie epic sounds played from speakers strategically positioned around the grounds. Ryan, Heidi and Chris had a comp as to who could take the best macro/closeup photo of flowers, as there were ample pretty flowers to choose from over the expansive grounds. The jury's still out as to whose shot was the best, though Ryan may have discovered a new form of wildlife in one of his - a black and white splattered moth thing (the Ryanmothilitisaurelius, or Ry-moth for those of you who are not versed in Latin).






Second stop, the temple (Doi Suthep) where gilded gold buddhas jostled with sparkly mirrored tiles. After climbing nearly 400 steps to get there, it became abundantly clear just how fat all the delicious thai food has been making us.



Third stop was a pretty cool waterfall which we luckily didn't have to pay for (Mr Driver gave us the hot tip that most waterfalls cost 400 baht around the traps, but he knew a special spot higher up where you didn't have to pay for one of them - we liked his style!). Then we went to the Hot Springs which we thought at first might offer some sort of relaxing bathing opportunities, but we quickly decided against that when we were offered a basket of eggs to boil in the water.


The water was bloody hot, naturally, and there were some massive geisers where you could witness the wonder of the natural landscape. They looked pretty cool but they had a rotten egg smell, or was that the ghosts of attempted boiled eggs past? The sign which declared 8 minutes for boiled eggs was clearly claptrap, as after triple that time the eggs were still as runny as traveller's diahhorea. Ryan and Chris were able to cain numerous beers, but still no boiled eggs were able to be had.



We headed off to lunch at a nearby restaurant, where we spent most of the time fighting off the flies in between eating more delicious el cheapo pad thai. Then off we to the umbrella factory where of course I felt compelled to buy a pink umbrella with birds on it - which will no doubt present transportation problems over the next few weeks. There Heidi and I also saw the enormous umbrella which was made by the locals for Princess Diana’s visit in 1988 – apparently the world’s largest umbrella, at least at that time. That was pretty cool.


That night we walked for what seemed an eternity in search of Chiang Mai’s nightlife. Probably not so wise on a Monday night in low season, as unsurprisingly the place was dead. We wound up at the Cowboy Bar, across the road from a strip joint called 1991. No cocktails to be seen and the options were pretty limited on the drinks list, so Heidi was coaxed by the waitress into buying a vodka and coke (though shortly thereafter the waitress sent a lackey out into the street to purchase some vodka). The place was interestingly decorated with a number of knick-knacks and paraphernalia such as an empty Jean-Paul Gautier perfume bottle.

We then went off in search of the Rasta Bar, Chiang Mai’s apparent hotspot, but there was not a soul in the place. We went to dinner at a place nearby, where Ryan and I had the sort of curry that brings tears to the eyes and a sweat to the brow, luckily eased by several local beers of goodness. I now like the Chang more, much to Chris’ annoyance at having discovered it first and proclaiming it his beer. Whilst we were there a Thai soap opera was playing on the big screen, which seemed to consist mainly of women pulling each other’s hair and beating each other up. The bar staff were glued to the screen; obviously a popular spectator sport. After we all got a bit tired and grumpy, we hitched a lift in the back of a sawngthaew (literally, 2 rows) or people-mover, which is quite an experience as you bump along on your metal seat whilst holding a metal bar on the ceiling. Much quicker than walking, and a steal at only 50 baht for 4 of us.