Blogs from Chiang Rai, North-West Thailand, Thailand, Asia - page 33

On Dec 30, 2006, we took an early bus from Pai to Chiang Mai. Gary got a seat at the very front of the bus and took a lot of pictures. It was a very misty morning, but the sky cleared up as soon as we left Pai and ascend to the mountain. The scenery is beautiful from the mountains top as the valley are covered by fog. Half the way to Chiang Mai was hilly and winding roads. On the way when we pass the national park that we failed to get to the previous day, the bus pick up a beautiful Thai girl and her name is Amp, a fourth year drama student in Bangkok University. Her English is very good and gave a lot of good information to us. We arrived at 12:30 ... read more

When we arrived back to our hostel after the trek, we were having a few drinks when this crazy thai guy from one of the hostels came up and sat next to us. We had a bit of a chat to us and started getting more and more angry as the night progressed. He finally snapped and had a go at all of us for being dirty westerners (amoungst other things). With a bit of help from a massive Welsh guy and his wife, the crazy cat was cast out onto the streets and the gates were locked. P.S i wouldn't really trust the police there as they said to us that they would arrest this guy but someone translated for us that they were going to drop him around the corner and have a laugh ... read more

I separated from the herd today and stayed in Chiang Rai while the rest of the tour group went to Myanmar. I'm sure Myanmar is a cool place to visit, but I wanted a little time to explore on my own. Chiang Rai is the perfect size for pedestrian exploration. I was able to walk all around the city. I walked through the huge market area, visited three wats, spent some time at an Internet Cafe catching up on email, had a foot massage, visited with a monk, bought a pretty silk skirt and shirt set, hung out with ex-pats at a little German bar, and finally caught up with the group when they came into town for dinner. It was a great day. ... read more

Nach ausgiebigem Erholungsschlaf Frühstück und dann los nach Norden zur Grenze von Myanmar. Traumhafte Straßen, Kurven ohne Ende, das ganze über Hügel, besser als Achterbahnfahren. Thailand ist definitiv eine Motorradfahrt wert. Unterwegs ein paar Abstecher Offroad, beim ersten habe ich einen Belgier getroffen, der mich gleich zum essen einladen wollte. Er wohnt in einer Wiederaufforstungsanlage und kam gerade vom Einkaufen zurück. Mangels Zeit musste ich leider ablehnen, aber wenn ich noch mal nach Chiang Rai fahren sollte, werde ich ihn auf jeden Fall besuchen. Schon genial, wie man mit fremden in Kontakt kommt, wenn man allein als Ausländer unterwegs ist. Beim zweiten Abstecher bin ich auf eine Ananasplantage gefahren, bis irgendwann vor mir ein Thai auf seinem Roller im Dschungel unterwegs war. Interessiert bin ich ihm nachgefahren, er hielt dann am Ende des Weges an, um ... read more

Early start today, 6am. Jumped into the minibus which took us up to Chaing Rai. We didn't realise how far away it actually was, but its not like we have to watch our time.. Our first stop was a Hot Water Spring, the tour guide seemed quite excited about it, but it wasn't that impressive. Smelt of gone off eggs, sulphur. We recognised this from a trip to a volcanic rainforest years ago in Dominica. We headed off for a 3 hour drive to Chaing Rai city, stopping off on the way at a temple, which was very impressive, it was about 900 years old. Upon arrival in Chaing Rai we went to a place called the "Golden triangle", this is on the corner of Thailand / Laos / Burma. They are seperated by the Mekong ... read more