♫ ♪ ♪ ♫ When I first met you, I was in a daze, as if I had been enchanted. It was like someone had cast a spell on my heart, keeping me from going anywhere. ♪ ♫ ... I hummed a song before. When I have Bangkok allergies, I have to take myself into nature. Lately, wherever I go, I see lush greenery, fresh and vibrant. I chose to go to Mae Chaem District, Chiang Mai for many reasons, and I will also visit a friend, so I have to end up in Chiang Mai for 2 days and 2 nights. I can get to Chiang Mai in no time by flying. Haha.

Four people from Bangkok flew with Thai Air Asia, their go-to airline (because of frequent promotions). This airline offers numerous flights to Chiang Mai, allowing passengers to choose their preferred time.

Waving goodbye. I just noticed that the officer who was waving the plane raised his hands in a wai and waved goodbye to the captain. I also saw him waving to the passenger cabin. It's so cute. It's heartwarming. It feels like a blessing for a safe journey. :)

We set off late on Friday evening and arrived in Chiang Mai city center. We borrowed a car from my brother who lives in Chiang Mai for this trip. We chose to stay at De Kriya Hotel, which is about 8 kilometers from the airport (a 20-minute drive) and only 2 kilometers from the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar. The hotel currently has promotions for the rainy season.

Located on Ratchadaphisek Road, Soi 6, next to the Chiang Mai Gymkhana Club Golf Course. You can also search for it on Google Maps. It's easy to find.

Bicycles are available.

Guest rooms and dining facilities

Where would you like to go? What activities are you interested in? We offer a service to connect you with and transport you to your desired destination.

The accommodation offers a variety of room types, including family rooms, rooms for 2 or 3 people, shared dormitory rooms with single beds, and even dome-shaped rooms.

The Family Room will have more amenities, including a microwave to heat food.

Our plan for this trip is to visit friends, make offerings, and find rice terraces. Let's see if we can complete everything.

Saturday morning started with breakfast at the hotel, followed by a drive to Doi Kham Temple with my friend to fulfill a vow. We also planned to make a new wish while we were there. **Doi Kham Temple** is easily accessible via the road leading to the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek Park. The temple is located on a slight hill. If you plan to make an offering, it's recommended to buy jasmine garlands from the vendors on the way up, as they are not available for purchase at the temple itself. However, there are people who offer to buy them for you for a small fee to cover their travel expenses. Since we didn't buy any beforehand, we had to use this service, paying 300 baht for 50 garlands, which was reasonable.

The talking Buddha statue of Luang Pho.

To pay respects to the Buddha with a garland of jasmine flowers and make a wish. There will be a clear sign indicating the steps on how to make a wish. (This is a personal belief, not intended to be disrespectful.)

Some people believe in something, even though they cannot see the way ahead. They just ... believe.

The back of the temple offers a clear view of Chiang Mai city.

Able to walk up and down stairs.

There are also beautiful corners for taking pictures.

In this rainy season, a waterproof bag is a must-have. ^_^ Thanks to this bag, our camera didn't get wet.

After paying respects at the temple and making offerings, my body craved coffee. Someone recommended **Baan Suan Cafe**, which is conveniently located near the temple. After descending from the temple, turn left at the shrine and continue straight to find the cafe.

Rustic charm

There are many photo spots.

This location offers a limited selection of beverages and snacks. The grilled pork with salt is a recommended light option before lunch.

With coffee in our system, it will be noon soon. We haven't left Mae Chaem district yet. What time will we arrive? It looks like it will be almost evening. We haven't booked accommodation yet, so we'll find something along the way that we like, depending on the situation.

From Chiang Mai city, take Highway 108 to Chom Thong District. At the three-way intersection, follow the signs to Doi Inthanon National Park. At the park entrance, inform the staff that you are going to Mae Chaem. Continue driving until you reach another checkpoint, where you should again inform the staff that you are going to Mae Chaem. At the next three-way intersection, turn left following the signs.

The rain falls heavily at times, and there is some fog. Most of this road is a steep uphill climb, so please drive carefully.

As dusk approached, we arrived in Mae Chaem, having spent the afternoon shopping for ingredients for our evening meal. We hadn't done much research on accommodation, so we decided to drive around and see what was available. After searching online and driving around, we finally settled on Monmuang Chaem Resort, located about 6 kilometers from Mae Chaem town on Highway 1088, which leads to Hod District. Upon arrival, we negotiated a reasonable price for a room, as we were the only guests that night. The entire resort was ours!

One team set up the tent they brought, while the other team prepared the food for a barbecue party that night.

The party tonight has begun. I'm so full!

The cool air makes it perfect to build a bonfire and bask in its warmth. However, be aware that there are many mosquitoes and sandflies in this area. It is highly recommended to bring insect repellent spray to avoid returning home with itchy bites and red bumps.

Gazing at the stars in the sky and the stars on the ground, at this point, the city of Mae Chaem is clearly visible. Tonight, I will sleep soundly. The air is good, and it will be cool. I will have sweet dreams. :)

Wake up, unzip the tent, and peek out to see the thin mist. It's so refreshing.

While most people visit Chiang Mai during the cool winter months, we opted for a rainy season adventure. We pitched our tent and enjoyed the gentle pitter-patter of raindrops on the canvas. To our surprise, the ECO DOME tent from Karana kept us completely dry throughout the night. Not only did it provide excellent rain protection, but it also offered UPF 30+ sun protection, making it the perfect choice for our outdoor escapade.

Stretch your body a little.

However, some people are still not awake. When they realize that the tent can protect them from UV rays, they sleep in late.

Without brushing their teeth or washing their face, they sipped their coffee, soaking in the atmosphere before indulging in the moment. Ah, bliss!

Short morning timelapse

Get dressed and look beautiful.

Beautiful but neck-straining :)

Leftover pork belly from last night's barbecue.

Full, let's exercise, jump, jump, jump.

Taking photos together before leaving.

Blending in seamlessly with the greenery, standing tall in vibrant green. ^^ This trip threw sunshine, rain, and strong winds at me, but my Equinox jacket handled it all like a champ. It's truly a reliable shield against the elements, keeping me healthy and ready for adventure.

Continuing on, the next destination was a leisurely drive through Mae Chaem to Ban Kong Kan in search of terraced rice fields. However, no rice fields were visible yet, as locals informed us that the late arrival of the rains had delayed rice planting. As we drove, we came across a wooden suspension bridge next to Wat Kong Kan, offering another opportunity for a neck-straining photo. With heads tilted upwards, we braved the rain for this shot.

Hurry back, it's raining!

Next, let's pay our respects at Wat Phutthaen, a temple with a history of over 200 years.

Of particular interest within this temple is the ordination hall, built in the middle of a pond. This unique structure uses water to demarcate the sacred space for religious ceremonies. Constructed entirely of wood, the ordination hall is off-limits to women.

Behind the ordination hall, there is also an old teakwood vihara, which houses beautiful murals on the walls. However, these murals have faded significantly over time.

Another highlight of Wat Phutthaen is the Phutthaen Well, which has crystal-clear, cool water flowing from the ground continuously. The Mae Chaem people consider it a sacred well and often collect water from it for drinking. Uncle told me about it and invited me to drink some. I did, and the water was indeed clear and drinkable.

Paying respects to the Buddha and making merit will bring a radiant complexion like this ^_^

Alright, let's head back. But I haven't had any coffee yet today, so I need to find a place to stop. Let's go to Baan Mae Klang Luang. Maybe we'll see some rice terraces too.

Arriving at Baan Mae Klang Luang, I saw a coffee shop sign. Following it, I found Aum Eib Coffee. Although the mobile phone signal is not good, there is WIFI available. ^^.

A small stream runs beside the shop, and there are rice fields nearby.

Finally, I came across the terraced rice fields.

I have finally found the rice paddy field of my dreams! This short green trip has come to an end. There are still many beautiful rice terraces in our country. If you come to this area, you can visit Ban Pa Bong Piang (an article I wrote about my visit last year https://th.readme.me/p/1191), Ban Tin Pha, Ban Mae Long, and Ban Pha Mon. They are all beautiful. However, if you want to see the rice terraces like this, you must visit between September and October. Come on, everyone! Nowadays, there are many ways to travel economically.

Stay tuned for our next green trip to see where we'll be going green next ^_^

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Story by LingPle Mayuree : [email protected]

Photographed by: LingPle Mayuree, Nawapon Punpeng, and Tor Tourlek.

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