Blogs from San Kamphaeng, Chiang Mai, North-West Thailand, Thailand, Asia - page 4

We had our first day at the orphanage today and it was lets say an experience! So the day started with a rather early wake up (we're still adjusting to the time difference! Especially seeing as on Sunday we didn't get up til midday!) and breakfast of black yellow leaf tea and what Hannah described as a chocolate version of a pink panther biscuit! Then we met prachit and walked over to the bus stop where a yellow and green truck type thing with no doors picked us up and took us the 40 (yes 40!) minute journey to the Viengping Orphanage! On arrival all volunteers (of which we've met one - who is from Finland and is very friendly) sign in and passports are scanned etc. The orphanage is built on a massive stretch of ... read more

I am sure there are "authentic" hill tribe villages out there, at least in terms of their rustic appearance: thatched roof houses with mud floors and people adorned in colorful apparel. (But we did see a few people traditionally garbed and gathering mushrooms in the forest while carrying their children in little baskets on their back). However, it is perhaps no surprise that I have mostly seen such hill tribe tradition only in photographs, travel blogs, at museums or (in terms of dress) around places where tourists congregate. (For example, I see more people dressed up in various hill tribe gear in Bangkok and Chiang Mai in tourist zones than I have ever seen going around the countryside, but I haven't spent that much time in the countryside yet.) On my recent trip driving Honda scooters ... read more

our last 2 days in Chiangmai we decided to spend trekking through the jungle so we booked - got picked up at 9:30am put in a truck with 7 other people and off we went. first stop was a Market for fresh supplies for our lunch/tea.......then drove for about 45 minutes up through the countryside the views were amazing. then we came to an elephant farm where we all got taken on elephant ride through the forest and across a river.....we bought some bananas for our elephant Mamun, and she was one hungry elephant- her trunk kept reaching up for more......so we gave her the whole lot......there was one baby elephant walking with us that was scared to go in the river but once it was in was loving it- it kept flinging itself around in ... read more

We got to our hotel which is the cutest hotel ever, its ran by 5 locals and is in a residential area but they have the place looking so nice with little trinkets and old fashioned furniture everywhere, and their pet cats wandering round they're so cute.......its total luxury with air con AND a hot shower.....seriously living like king and queen!!!!! the hotel is quite a walk away from the touristy bit but only 15-20mins so we had walk to find some chang and food (we are loving the chang mind) there was a night market on that actually filled the streets it was hard to find the end - we found a nice place to eat that was ran by what can only be described as a womanman (he definitely wasnt a lady nor a ... read more

We arrived in Chang Mai and headed straight to our hotel by taxi. The hotel was awesome compared to all the rest. We had people carrying our bags, tea whilst checking in (so much sugar, but still), had someone to show us the apartment, huge modern room and even a pillow menu. The classy stuff all for cheaper than the hostel room in Amsterdam. After traveling for about 26hours, we were both shagged beyond belief, headed for the night markets and a bite at Dukes, then a 30min neck massage ($7). Back to the hotel, the turn down service (of our bedding) was a nice touch with a flower on each of our pillows, and a card wishing us a good night’s rest. It must of worked too, because we managed to sleep until 2pm. Damn. ... read more