Adventures in Asia, Part 3: Charming Chiang Mai
- Mar 8, 2017
- 3 min read
Well, after a looong delay, the adventure in Thailand continues! (Thanks for your patience, it's been a busy month! Why does February always seem to fly by?!)
Day 4 began with coffee and treats from the Hen and the Egg. Then we headed to airport via taxi and traveled to Chiang Mai. The flight is less than hour so we really go the whole afternoon there. The hotel, Ping Nakara, picked us up with their vintage 1960s convertible. It was so fun! You can easily get a cab from the airport to your hotel, but not going to lie, I was lured by the car when I booked the room!
The hotel may be the cutest and loveliest place I've ever stayed. It looks like a colonial mansion and not a single detail is overlooked, from the architecture to the amenities to the service, all of it was stellar. There are so many hotel options in Chiang Mai but I'm so happy we "splurged" and booked this one. (I say splurged because we cashed in our credit card points. We could have used less points and stayed elsewhere, but given the level of service and amenities (free snacks and mini bar in room, bug spray, gorgeous breakfast buffet and a la carte menu for breakfast, and 4-star service), it was 100% worth it.
After walking around the night market area (which is near the hotel and also quite touristy, I must admit) we grabbed a late lunch a little spot called Green Chili (fine, nothing memorable), showered, and headed for our 6 pm foot massage at Fah Lanna spa's outpost by the night market.
After some pampering (and a mere $12 later!) we strolled the Sunday night market and headed back to the hotel to relax. Of course we had to enjoy some mango sticky rice, which I couldn't resist...and a fresh summer roll, because why not!
The next day began with the most lovely breakfast at the hotel (included with the room!). We explored the city by foot and attempted to find the "arts district" without much luck. But we then headed "Think Park," an outdoor shopping area, via tuk tuk. It's near the city's university and has a great, fun vibe. Picked up a cool necklace, some lip balm, candle, and lots of fresh fruit.
After some shopping and strolling, we headed back to the hotel to relax by the pool. That afternoon we pampered ourselves at Lah Fannah Spa's main location. I got the two and half hour Traveler Retreat treatment and it was spectacular. No really. It was so indulgent and blissful and worth every baht! The spa is so lovely, too. Beautiful decorated and a warm, inviting atmosphere. Dinner was at the Riverside Bar and Grill. Sadly, we miss the sunset on the river. The food was decent but unmemorable (though very cheap — about $15 for four dishes and two drinks!).
Day 6 was the reason we visiting Chiang Mai—Elephant Nature Park. We did the half day excursion which was the perfect length of time. Truly an unforgettable experience. Here, they teach you all about these beautiful animals, how they are helping to rehabilitate those injured and rescued, and what is wrong with the elephant industry. There's no riding, but you do get to feed them and spend lots of time with these magnificent creatures. I can't recommend the experience enough. We returned to Chiang Mai around 3:30, and headed across the street to Dada Kafe for a snack. A great healthy and delicious spot (and only $10 for 2 huge smoothies and a fresh summer roll).
We then strolled through the Old City, chatted with a friendly monk, and slowly made our way back to the hotel...but not without stopping to pick up a few more goodies and an hour long foot massage! Back at the hotel we enjoyed a few cocktails and then took a tuk tuk to our best meal in Chiang Mai at Paak Dang. So, so delicious and run by a friendly couple. Great riverside location and the food was fantastic. We shared everything, and our meal included Som Tom (green papaya salad), shrimp wrapped in panam leaves, red curry with chicken and vegetable (admittedly, I didn't eat any meat in Thailand...), an incredible fried rice, and a whole steamed red snapper that was one of the simplest and best whole-fish dishes I've ever had. I wish I could eat there every nights.
We headed back to the hotel via tuk tuk, piloted, co-piloted by two very comedic brothers. We were exhausted from our day exploring and headed to bed after finishing up the last episode of the Night Manager.
Up next...Krabi!
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