June 3-5, 2017: A solo adventure story in Chiang Mai during the rainy season.
Have you ever felt bored with your job or daily routine? Have you ever done something that you know isn't right for you? What do you do then? It's stressful!
If we can't get out of here yet, let's just take a moment. Take yourself out, take yourself to find happiness.
According to Jack's page, he travels frequently. For us, traveling heals everything.
This trip, Chiang Mai is the answer.
The destination remains unknown, yet the journey itself promises joy.
Please follow and like Jack's page, the little traveler.
Let's continue our journey.
During the rainy season, many people might think that traveling is not fun because it will be wet. But we like it, the green forest, the fog, it's refreshing.
For a more enjoyable rainy season trip, thorough preparation is essential.
To fully enjoy this experience, you'll need to be prepared to get soaked from head to toe. I recommend wearing a raincoat, quick-drying athletic pants, and water-resistant shoes that dry quickly. I'm currently sporting my Ballop shoes, which are not only functional but also vibrant and stylish.
That's enough. Oh, I forgot! A waterproof bag would be good too.
Jack departed on Friday evening, June 2nd, 2017, using the services of the Transport Co., Ltd. (BKS).
DAY-1 03.06.2017 Upon arriving in Chiang Mai in the morning, the first thing to do is to take a red car from the Arcade to the city center.
The red bus queue is located near the old building. The fare is either 20 or 30 baht, I can't remember exactly. I was planning to take it to my accommodation, but it was not going in that direction. The bus was full and the driver refused to take me because it was not on the route.
The driver opened the map and suggested that I get off at the head of Night Bazaar Street. Since I was already there, I decided to grab something to eat before checking into my accommodation.
This time, I stayed at the Casa Marocc Hotel on Charoen Phat Road. I must say that the hotel is newly opened. When I hailed a red taxi, no one knew it. I was frustrated, so I opened the map and gave directions to the driver.
The hotel is conveniently located on the main road and easy to find. Upon arrival, I noticed that the Montfort School (primary) is located nearby.
For those taking a red car, if the driver is unfamiliar with the location, simply inform them that Casa Marocc is situated on Charoen Pruk Road, approximately 200-300 meters past Montfort Primary School. It will be on the right-hand side.
The entrance is next to a Muslim restaurant called Matam Ikwan. It's easy to find.
The kind hotel allowed early check-in.
The hotel's Facebook fan page: https://www.facebook.com/cnxhotel/?fref=ts
The translation is:
From the exterior to the interior, from the front to the guest rooms, including the dining area, the atmosphere is reminiscent of an Arabian land.
Welcome drink
Let's go to the room. I want to rest. Jack, please show us pictures of other rooms. We'll go see them later.
Let's check the room where Jack is staying first.
The room is fully equipped with amenities, including a refrigerator, TV, electric kettle, and even a hairdryer (which I was particularly happy about, as I have very long hair and drying it can be a hassle otherwise).
The headboard, throw pillows, and rug all evoke an Indian and Arabian aesthetic.
A safe is also provided.
Clean and tidy.
A balcony with beautiful railings.
I originally wanted to go to India, but I didn't have enough money, so I came here instead. My outfit isn't very Arabic, but I tried my best. I covered my hair with a scarf. Is that okay?
The hotel offers two scenic viewpoints, one on each side.
The mountain in front is Doi Suthep.
On the other side, it feels like a desert. Maybe it's just me.
After taking photos, we will prepare to explore the city. The next day, we will take you on a motorbike tour outside the city. In Chiang Mai city, there are many temples, so let's visit some temples first to pay respects and bring good luck.
Anything can happen. I was about to go out when it started raining heavily. But after a few minutes, the rain stopped.
After the rain stopped, Jack immediately opened the curtains hoping to see a rainbow, but he didn't. Looking towards Doi Suthep, he saw the sky exploding. He rushed back up to the hotel's viewpoint and took a series of quick photos.
But when I turned to the other side, oh my god.
A beautiful rainbow! Wow, so lucky to capture such a stunning image today. It brings me such joy to have captured this beauty.
The rain has stopped, let's go out and explore Chiang Mai. We'll walk, according to the map, following Ratchadamnoen Road, which will take us near the Chiang Mai Gate area.
A small but beautiful bridge, seemingly old.
I came across a cozy-looking coffee shop, but I didn't stop by.
After walking around, we concluded that it was far but still manageable. We are experienced hikers, so this was a breeze for us.
This itinerary will take you to three temples and the Inthakin Pillar, also known as the Chiang Mai City Pillar Shrine. Located near Tha Pae Gate, these sites are easily accessible by foot. Let's begin our exploration!
The first temple is Wat Phra That Phanom, located on Ratchadamnoen Road, also known as the walking street.
Within the temple, there are restaurants and a shaded area under the Bodhi tree with tables and chairs where you can enjoy a meal or relax. If you are feeling hot and tired from walking, you can come and rest here.
Wat Phra That Phanom is estimated to have been built around 1501 during the reign of King Muang Kaeo. It is believed to have been constructed by a high-ranking official named "Phan" and his wife "On", hence the name "Wat Phan On". The temple is thought to have been built as a monument to their success in life, a common practice in those times.
Sirirat Sarira Reliquary Pagoda
Leaving Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, we continue our journey to pay respects at the Inthakin Pillar, also known as the City Pillar Shrine of Chiang Mai. Located within the grounds of Wat Chedi Luang Worawihan, the shrine can be found on Phra Pok Klao Road.
The Inthakin Pillar was erected by King Mengrai the Great, the first ruler of the "Nophaburi Si Nakhon Ping Chiang Mai" kingdom, around 1839 CE. It is a sacred site highly revered by Thai people, especially those in Chiang Mai. The pillar is considered a spiritual anchor, and offerings are placed beneath it. Women are prohibited from entering the inner area (regardless of nationality or religion), particularly those who are menstruating. Even men who are not dressed modestly are forbidden entry. Entering the inner area is considered disrespectful and is believed to diminish the pillar's sacred power, potentially leading to misfortune for the city and its people.
How did Jack know? Oh, he read it somewhere. 5555555555
Therefore, when visiting any place, it is important to show respect and follow the rules of that place. Everything has a reason and every place has its own beliefs.
Located in the same area as Wat Chedi Luang Worawihan.
Wat Chedi Luang Worawihan is a royal temple in Chiang Mai Province. It was built during the reign of King Saen Muang Ma, and it is estimated that the temple was constructed between 1928 and 1945 CE. The temple has undergone several renovations, particularly the chedi, which currently measures 60 meters wide. The chedi is one of the most significant in Chiang Mai and is located in the heart of the city, which was once the administrative center of the Lanna Kingdom.
The main stupa is very large.
If you don't have the opportunity to visit the main temple for your birthday, there is a replica here that you can worship.
We continued walking, circling the pagoda.
Jack's Personal Impression of the Temple
Jack holds a strong personal fondness for this temple, likely due to the magnificent grandeur of its stupa. This marks his third visit, having previously explored it during the night. This time, experiencing it in daylight, he finds it even more captivating. He encourages fellow travelers visiting the walking street to pay their respects and explore the temple's beauty. As a bonus, Jack shares a photograph he captured during a previous nighttime visit (admitting his photography skills weren't as refined back then).
Next, right next to it, is a temple that Jack also likes, which is Wat Phantao.
Wat Phantao, a small ancient temple alongside Wat Chedi Luang, lacks a clear historical record. Its notable feature is the Phra Wihan Ho Kham Luang, a large and historically valuable teakwood vihara that perfectly preserves the architectural characteristics of Lanna.
Originally a royal residence of King Inthawichayanon, the fifth ruler of Chiang Mai from the Kawila dynasty, Wat Phra Singh Woramahawihan was built in 1876 on the site of a former palace.
The Ho Kham is truly magnificent. I highly recommend visiting it in person to experience its beauty firsthand.
Another must-visit site in Chiang Mai is the Three Kings Monument, dedicated to the three kings who founded the city: King Mengrai, King Ngam Mueang, and King Ramkhamhaeng the Great. Located in front of the Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Center, the monument offers a beautiful tribute to the city's rich history.
The twilight scenery is beautiful.
Another must-visit spot is Tha Pae Gate, where you can capture stunning photos at both day and night.
A daytime scene with Chinese people taking pre-wedding photos.
Followed by an image of the evening.
That's enough sightseeing for today. Let's head back to the hotel.
Follow me, Jack will take you to see the stars at the hotel's viewpoint. We stayed here for two nights and walked up to the viewpoint hundreds of times. Okay, okay, I'm exaggerating, Jack. 5555
I can't see many stars, haha.
If you're going alone, set up a camera to take pictures of yourself.
I'm sleepy. I'm going to take a shower and go to bed. Oh, is it over already?
Yes, it ends abruptly like this. Hehe.
DAY-2 June 4, 2017
The day began with breakfast at the hotel's Aladin restaurant (don't tell anyone we went down without showering).
The menu includes scrambled eggs, fried eggs, and rolled omelets. There is also fried rice, and on other days, there is plain rice. There are also two side dishes and soup. The menu changes regularly, as there are no repeats over a two-day period.
The daily menu includes orange juice, apple juice, tea, coffee, milk, yogurt, cereal, bread, salad, and fruit.
I'm going to eat now.
After a hearty breakfast, we headed upstairs to shower and get dressed. By the time we finished, it was already late morning. Today, we were planning to explore Doi Inthanon. First, we needed to find a motorbike rental shop. The hotel offered rentals, but they were from an external provider. We could have booked through the hotel and had the bike delivered, but they required a 5,000 baht deposit, which we didn't have on hand. Jack decided to use NK Bike Rentals instead. If you read the review from when Jack took the free train to Chiang Mai, you might remember that he rented a bicycle from this shop. NK Bike Rentals requires a 1,000 baht deposit and your ID card. The rental fee for the motorbike was 200 baht.
Shop page: https://www.facebook.com/NKbicycleforrent
This shop specializes in bicycles. If you are a cycling enthusiast, you will not be disappointed with this shop. The owner is an avid cyclist.
She can recommend all the routes.
This time, we're going on a long trip, so I decided to ride a motorcycle. I'm not very good at riding, but I wanted to try. The reason I dared to ride was because the last time I told the shop owner that I couldn't ride a motorcycle, he said, "If others can ride, why can't you?" That's right, those words have been stuck in my head ever since. So I started practicing riding a motorcycle. On the Ubon trip, a few months after that trip, I was able to ride it. It's also very convenient for traveling.
11:30 AM. The car and the people are ready, so let's go.
Five minutes after leaving the shop, the rain started pouring down. But that wasn't going to stop us. We had already put on our raincoats before leaving the shop, and our helmets were on. They were waterproof. Plus, our sports pants would dry quickly if they got wet, and our shoes were made for walking in water. We had also put our belongings under the seat. This was the first time we weren't afraid of getting wet in the rain.
Wow! You're all set!
Before embarking on a long journey, it is advisable to ensure a full tank of fuel. Upon leaving the gas station, the rain ceased, revealing clear skies and intense sunshine. The journey continued swiftly along Highway 108.
Obsessed with lemon tea lately.
Our destination is the three waterfalls on Doi Inthanon. It takes about two hours to reach Mae Ya Waterfall.
Mae Ya Waterfall is located within the Doi Inthanon National Park. The entrance is in Chom Thong, before the checkpoint to enter Doi Inthanon National Park.
The scenery along the way was so beautiful that we had to stop and take pictures.
The journey is well-signposted throughout, just follow the signs and you won't get lost. All types of vehicles can access the falls. There is a toll booth before reaching the falls, but we didn't see any staff collecting tolls. We slowed down to stop, but the staff waved us through without collecting any money. Perhaps it was because of the running event? We're not sure. Or maybe they're not collecting tolls during this period. We arrived at the falls around 2:30 PM.
There are shops available.
Let's start walking. From the parking lot, we need to walk another 600 meters to reach the waterfall.
Easy and comfortable to walk.
A shady path, cool and comfortable thanks to the trees lining the way. I love the lush green forest, so refreshing!
The sentence is already in English and does not require translation.
There is a place to sit and eat.
Do you see it in front? That's Mae Ya Waterfall. Wow, the waterfall is huge!
Mae Ya Waterfall is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Thailand, standing over 200 meters tall. Its grandeur and beauty are captivating, even during the dry season. At the foot of the waterfall, a hydroelectric power plant has been installed to generate electricity.
For those seeking waterproof footwear, visit this page: https://www.facebook.com/actosthailand/
I have taken so many photos, and I have chosen and chosen again, but I still don't know which ones to delete.
Many pictures, don't get bored yet.
The photos are almost gone.
That's all for the Mae Ya Waterfall pictures. Did you enjoy them? ;)
I love it! I was so impressed. If you're visiting Doi Inthanon, don't forget to stop by. It's beautiful. Go ahead, you won't regret it.
After leaving the waterfall, it started raining again at the parking lot.
It's raining, so we must eat ice cream.
The journey to the waterfall took two hours. Wow, that's a long time! Next, we will head to Mae Klang Waterfall.
The rain continues to fall, but it has become lighter. I decided to brave the rain again, and I am now soaked. The white spots on my pants are raindrops, not dust or dandruff. 5555
Ride back the way you came.
The rain falls, making the forest lush and green.
Heading out to Highway 1009 towards Doi Inthanon at 5:00 PM, the rain kept falling and stopping along the way. At that moment, I thought I wouldn't make it in time and it would definitely be dark. I decided to stop at a coffee shop to regroup. The first shop I stopped at turned out to be a Thai massage parlor, but the lady said I could sit and wait out the rain. We ended up chatting with a Malaysian man who had been living in Thailand for a month. He had been riding his motorbike from Mae Hong Son, exploring different provinces at his own pace. He showed me pictures of Mae Surin Waterfall and the lush green rice fields along the way from his camera. It was so refreshing to see. Jack immediately had a travel plan in mind, looking for a long weekend to ride his motorbike around Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son. It would be an amazing experience.
After a brief conversation, Jack decided to leave Doi Inthanon, realizing that he wouldn't have enough time to visit all three waterfalls. He acknowledged that his planning and time management were inadequate. As a consolation, Jack offers a picture of another waterfall on Doi Inthanon.
Vachirathan Waterfall is a large waterfall with year-round water flow. It is accessible by car, with a parking lot located directly in front of the waterfall.
April picture
Here are some pictures from the mountains, including some with fog from December.
A view from the mountaintop in April
Continuing our journey, after turning around, we rode our motorcycles for a few minutes from the previous shop and came across a charming cafe.
T TABLE INTHANON Restaurant
There is also a page available at https://www.facebook.com/ttableinthanon/.
The coffee tastes good.
I enjoyed sitting at this restaurant until 6 pm before returning to the city. Goodbye, T TABLE INTHANON. If I have the opportunity to visit again, I will definitely stop by again.
On the way back, if you want to visit Pha Chor, it's also on Route 108. You can add it to your plan, but our time is up. 5555
While returning to the city, riding a motorcycle, at Doi Lo, I turned to the side of the road and had to stop the motorcycle immediately.
This breathtaking view compels anyone to stop and admire it. Even if we may not reach our final destination, we have fully embraced the journey. This alone makes it worthwhile.
The sun has set below the horizon, but there is still beautiful light to be seen.
The light began to fade, signaling the time to continue the journey. Returning to the city would be after dark. The result of my impulsiveness, riding a motorbike in the rain, was evident upon reaching the hotel. I felt drained, my entire body ached, and I had a headache. But it was fun.
DAY-3 June 5, 2017
This morning, I woke up feeling stiff and didn't want to get out of bed.
Breakfast as usual at the hotel's restaurant.
Before returning, let's take a look at other room types at Casa Marocc Hotel.
1. The first room is a twin room.
This room features a compact kitchenette. There is one room of this type on each floor.
2. The next room is a corner room, for those who do not want to be next to other people.
All rooms will have the same amenities.
3. The last room is special because the two rooms have doors that connect to each other.
Thank you to Casa Marocc Hotel for allowing us to photograph the various rooms.
The staff are friendly and welcoming. If you are visiting Chiang Mai, I highly recommend this place.
Jack concludes the review here. Chiang Mai is definitely a place to return to. There will definitely be more motorcycle trips in the future. Next time, there will be more sightseeing, because travel is an energy booster.
Note: Upon returning, the bus driver from the Bus Terminal greeted me, saying, "Oh, you're leaving already?" I was wearing the same outfit as when I arrived and was sitting in the front seat.
Oh, you remembered me!
See, traveling alone isn't that difficult. Thank you to everyone who has read this far. I hope this review will inspire someone to embark on their own journey.
Experience cannot be bought, it must be earned through travel.
Little traveler
The provided text contains links to Facebook pages, including the official Facebook website, a photographer named Jack Rocker, and a page called "journeymemories".
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Tuesday, October 8, 2024 11:17 AM