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Published: June 23rd 2009
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Chiang Mai
Libra Guesthouse Finally!!
After the 14 hour journey we made up to Chiang Mai...well to be honest we can't really complain as we arrived about an hour and a half earlier than we would of if we had made the rest of the journey by train...we checked into a guesthouse not really fussed about where we were staying as we were so tired and needed a nap and a shower (or a shower and a nap).
Libra Guesthouse was actually really nice and we were surprised that it didn't get a mention in Lonely Planet. The rooms were a little bit spartan and the fan pretty noisy but it had a warm atmosphere. The people who ran the place were really helpful, showing the places that are worth seeing in Chiang Mai and not pressurizing us into any tours or trips, so the random woman that approached us offering us Libra Guesthouse to stay was actually genuine.
After taking a well deserved nap we decided to venture to the Night Bazaar. We wanted to find the food market in that area and ended up not really finding it and settling for some dinner at a food court with so-so food. Nothing
Chiang Mai
Libra Guesthouse special, nothing really authentic...in fact we believe it was Korean. The Night Bazaar is another one of those places geared for the tourists, a street full of stalls selling everything a tourist market would sell (sourvenirs, shirts etc.)
The next day we decided to take a visit to Chiang Mai Zoo. Touted as one of the premier zoo's in Thailand, and while I know you're asking why we would visit a zoo when we can go to the zoo back home, well zoo's are interesting and they are all different in some way or another...plus this one had the now world famous Panda who had just recently giving birth to make it the first panda in captivity to do so. So after a whole day spent at the zoo what was the verdict? Well, if your after a trek and some serious excercise it's top notch. As for seeing some animals (that is the whole point of a zoo, right?) well we struggled. There was no particular layout, and the map was a shambles. You would get a sign pointing for a particular animal with a 3km next to. Ok, not too bad. After walking the 3km, mainly uphill,
Chiang Mai
One of the many culinary delights of Thailand! we finally come to an enclosure (let's give the Koala as an example)....and that's precisely what is was. A Koala...ONE koala! This was the same for all the animals at Chiang Mai zoo. We then went to check out the star attraction, the panda. For 100baht you can see it....on CCTV! So anyway, it went on and by the end of the day and finally seeing perhaps as many animals as we could (including just 3 birds in a walk thru avery which apparently contained 800 species) we set off back to the Guesthouse.
In the evening we set off to Anusan Food Market (the place we were trying to find the night before) and it ended up being next door to where we were the night before! Typical. The market looked great, with a lively atmosphere and some very tasty looking seafood on display. We took a seat had a few beers and waited for the fish we had ordered....and we waited, and waited and waited some more. It finally arrived and looked great and the taste made it worth the wait...until later early next morning...
... the toilet beckoned! Throughout that morning our mission was to
Chiang Mai
Tha Pae gate...the entrance to the walled and moated city of Chiang Mai. find the quickest route from bed to toilet. That's the price we paid for deciding to "splash out"! We spend the next 30 hours sleeping it off, living off nothing but Immodium and Diaralyte's and alot of water.
The day after we felt like we'd been on a bender the night before, but feeling slightly better we headed up the mountain to Doi Suthep temple. This temple is one of the most sacred in Thailand and to get up there you have to climb the 306 steps to receive enlightenment and good health (both of which we were in desperation for). The view from the top was amazing, where you could see the whole city of Chiang Mai. It was certainly worth the walk up the steps and after an hour or so we decided to head back to the city and venture around the Sunday Walking Street. The main street was pedestrianised into one huge market full of everything imaginable with some tasty food, and good music.
A good way to end our visit to Chiang Mai, as we were heading off further north to Chiang Rai the next day.
To sum it up Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai
Another quick bite to eat a roadside stall. is definitely one of our favourite places so far (OK, we haven't been to many but hey ho). For Thailand's second city it was surprisingly quaint and laid back. The people were warmer, the climate less humid and definintely worth a visit for anyone visiting Thailand. OK, the city is quite touristy, with a lot of farang milling around, but it was nice.
So, next stop, Chiang Rai, gateway to the Golden Triangle, where we will be staying for the next 4 nights.
Until then....
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suki
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Looks like your having fun. Hope your well.