Traveling Chiang Mai with SRT - Ban Pa Pong Piang Rice Terraces - Wat Umong

On October 16, 2014, my friends and I participated in a volunteer photographer activity organized by the Photographic Society of Thailand. We traveled by second-class sleeper train with air conditioning on the Bangkok-Chiang Mai route. We then planned a trip to Doi Inthanon National Park, Mae Klang Luang Village, Ban Pa Pong Piang, and Wat Umong, staying in Chiang Mai city for one night.

Currently, most people travel by car and plane regularly. This post aims to introduce to friends who have never traveled by air-conditioned sleeper train (like me, for the first time in my life) to see what the train and the journey are like.

Nikon D610 camera body + Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8 lens + Nikon 12-24mm f/4 lens + Nikon 85mm f/1.8d lens

All images have been edited using Photoshop.

You are welcome to visit.

We met an hour before our departure. It was exciting to travel by Thai train for the first time. The atmosphere at Hua Lamphong was bustling with people from all over the country waiting to travel to various destinations. Hua Lamphong has undergone significant development in recent years. The building is now air-conditioned, clean, and modern, a vast improvement from the past.

The train departs from Bangkok at 6:10 PM and arrives in Chiang Mai at 8:15 AM. Please arrange for your relatives to pick you up at the destination.

It's time for the train to depart. Everyone is taking their seats. The chairs are wide, allowing for comfortable legroom. Once the train starts moving, an official will come to check tickets and ensure everyone is seated in the correct place. You can be assured that there will be no strangers sitting with you in this compartment.

When booking your seat, please specify whether you prefer the upper or lower bunk. Before dark, passengers sit on opposite sides of the train. The upper bunk folds away securely, and in the evening, the staff will make your bed with fresh sheets, a pillow, and a blanket. You can sleep soundly and stretch out your legs. I am 175 cm tall, and I slept comfortably.

Those who have listened to adults talk about the joys of train travel often mention the delicious food and the fun of drinking in the dining car. Naturally, around 8:00 p.m., I took the opportunity to explore the dining car with my camera. I wanted to see for myself what it was like. It looked like a restaurant in a train car, but the atmosphere of eating and the feeling of the train running, the rattling sound, it gave a different kind of feeling.

I then ventured into the kitchen to ask permission to take some photos. Although the kitchen was small due to space constraints, it was still quite clean.

The head chef was in a good mood today. He saw a handsome photographer asking to take his picture... haha (morning picture).

Soon, foreigners began to come to the pantry for dinner one after another. It was a different kind of vibe than eating at our seats.

For me, I chose to order the Railway Fried Rice menu. So I can go and talk about it. I've arrived. Haha... The taste is okay. It's delicious. Children can eat it. It's a bit sweet, similar to American fried rice.

A variety of breakfast options are available for your convenience. Enjoy a simple and delicious meal to fuel your travels.

Waking up early, we grabbed our cameras and started taking pictures, before enjoying a delicious breakfast.

For meals, if you want to eat at your seat, when the time comes, the staff will come and ask you if you want to eat. Will you eat at the pantry or at your seat? They will serve you at your seat, which gives you a different kind of private dining experience with a view.

A friendly smile and a polite request for permission to take a photograph are essential qualities for any aspiring photographer.

Some of our companions disembarked at Lamphun... (and we eventually met again at Doi Inthanon).

Lamphun Railway Station... Some people have never been there, so I took some pictures to share with you.

It didn't take long to reach Chiang Mai from Lamphun. Upon arrival, I greeted and took a commemorative photo with a fellow passenger. Have a wonderful time exploring Thailand!

As I approached the station, a group of Hong Kong women saw me holding a camera and asked me to take their picture. I happily obliged, being a friendly Thai person. In return, I asked if I could take their picture as a souvenir. We exchanged photos with a laugh.

Upon arriving at Chiang Mai Railway Station, we rented a van from Uncle Piek's North Wheel Car Rent to take us to our accommodation in Mae Klang Luang, Doi Inthanon. Along the way, we stopped and chartered a yellow songthaew to Ban Pa Pong Piang, instructing them to follow us. After checking in at Mae Klang Luang Hill, we hopped on the songthaew and headed to Ban Pa Pong Piang to capture the stunning sunset.

October. A light off-road trail to Ban Pa Pong Piang. There were small puddles and mud. The two-wheel drive songthaew got stuck a few times, and we had to get out and push it, which was fun. Soon, we arrived at the rice fields of Ban Pa Pong Piang. Everyone went their separate ways to take pictures. It's always like this, haha.

The terraced rice fields of Ban Pa Pong Piang in October 2014. The rice is starting to ripen and will be ready for harvest at the end of the month. If you want to visit during the golden rice season or the rice planting season, you need to plan your time accordingly.

We were so immersed in the beauty of nature that we completely lost track of time. As the sun set and the light faded, we returned to our guesthouse in Mae Klang Luang, where a delicious meal awaited us. We were famished and couldn't wait to dig in. I'm always meticulous when it comes to food.

The next day, we decided to wake up at 4 am and wait for the sunrise at the viewpoint at Km 41. When we arrived, we set up our cameras and waited. The sky before dawn was not very beautiful, so we took the opportunity to capture the lights of cars going up and down Doi Inthanon. We waited until the sun was high in the sky, and then we saw the sun begin to emerge from behind the clouds. The light was beautiful, so we quickly took a lot of pictures. When we got home, we combined the pictures from the early morning and the late morning. It was delicious!

As the sun grew stronger in the late morning, we descended from the viewpoint and returned to Baan Mae Klang Luang for a cooked breakfast. Afterwards, we walked to Ai Som Sak's fresh coffee shop, a popular spot in Baan Mae Klang Luang. This morning, he showcased his skills by brewing fresh coffee for us to enjoy.

I was afraid no one would believe that the owner of the fresh coffee factory came to grind coffee for me to drink, so I took a picture... haha... Ai Som Sak is a very fun, sincere and lovely person.

That day at Baan Mae Klang Luang, it happened to be the Kathin ceremony… so our group took the opportunity to make merit together.

To fully experience the charm of Mae Klang Luang, one must indulge in a cup of coffee brewed over a traditional wood-fired stove, where the aroma of burning embers infuses the air and enhances the flavor of the beverage.

And don't forget to grind your own coffee, brew it yourself, and enjoy it yourself. It's another level of pride, delicious and fun like no other... Hehe.

After finishing a cup of hot freshly brewed coffee, I walked to the back of the shop to take some pictures of the coffee roastery. The aroma was truly delightful.

Next, we stopped by the mother of Nitat, the owner of the local fabric weaving resort. Many people supported the beautiful handicrafts. There was also fleece fabric.

The view of Mae Klang Luang village in October is lush, green, and truly beautiful. I don't want to go home.

We stayed in the house at the bottom, next to the stream over there. It was very clean, although the pillows were a bit too soft (Nitat has informed me that this has been rectified). The water was freezing, but thankfully there was a hot water heater... I can't remember the price, so anyone interested should call and ask. It's not expensive outside of peak season.

This black dog is the pet of Nitat, the owner of the resort. It's friendly and not aggressive. I decided to make it a model.

That morning was the Kathin procession day for the villagers of Mae Klang Luang and nearby areas. It was a stroke of luck for me to be able to capture these images as a souvenir.

Some rice fields are already yellow, while others are still green. The harvest will likely begin at the end of this month.

Golden crispy rice crackers... a truly unseen sight for city dwellers... haha... I never paid attention to them before taking pictures.

I met this young woman and thought she was a local villager. However, she told me that she was also visiting for the Kathin ceremony. I couldn't resist taking her picture.

Today is a special day for young women to dress up in their finest attire. Come and join the festivities!

This woman, though no longer young, still retains traces of her former beauty.

Before leaving Mae Klang Luang, I stopped by Baan Cheing Doi, where I stayed the year before, to take some pictures for the owner's reference. The view is truly stunning.

This house on the hill can sleep 20 people, I think… Anyway, ask them again. Last time, there were about ten of us in this house and we were comfortable.

After descending from Doi Inthanon, we drove to Chiang Mai city and checked into the Anoma Hotel, which cost 500 baht per room (booked by a junior). It's an older hotel, but it's well-maintained and clean. There's ample parking and it's close to the city moat.

The next morning, Uncle Piek, the owner of the rental car, stopped by the hotel. So I ended up lending him my fisheye lens. Haha… I'm hooked now.

This morning, I took a random walk from my school along the moat and stumbled upon the long-established Ko Liang boat noodle shop. The spacious and clean-looking restaurant was too tempting to resist, so I decided to give it a try.

I ordered a beef noodle soup with meatballs, fresh beef, and liver. Let me tell you, it was incredibly delicious! I'm definitely hooked. Oh, and the restaurant also serves pork noodles, but I didn't try those. I'm a sucker for beef…

After finishing breakfast, we took a red songthaew to Wat Umong to take pictures. I had heard the name for a long time, so I wanted to see it with my own eyes.

This is an unusual temple, built as a tunnel instead of a building. It's a clever design that keeps the interior cool.

Never been here before, so it was exciting and fun to take pictures.

The afternoon brought a welcome respite, signaling the time to return to Bangkok. A songthaew, a shared taxi common in Thailand, transported me to Chiang Mai Railway Station. The station's spaciousness and cleanliness impressed me. Food vendors lined the area, offering a tempting array of options for those seeking sustenance before their journey. Passengers could conveniently purchase snacks and meals to enjoy on the train.

The SRT staff are here to assist you.

People with disabilities or patients who need to use wheelchairs can also take the train. Just inform the staff when purchasing tickets, and they will provide excellent service. There is a hydraulic staircase system that provides a smooth and comfortable experience.

A photo of another train next to it. I don't know where it's going, but it's beautiful and clean.

It is now time for us to return to the capital city.

If your phone battery drains quickly while chatting or browsing the internet, inform the airline staff when booking your ticket that you would like a seat near a power outlet. This will allow you to conveniently charge your devices during the flight.

This young Chinese man is enjoying a solo trip through Thailand, happily taking the train.

This family stated that they consistently utilize train services due to their confidence in their safety and comfort, which they believe surpasses automobile travel.

Waking up to the sunrise signifies the nearing end of this trip... Let's grab the camera and capture some memories.

In conclusion, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Photographic Society of Thailand and the State Railway of Thailand for making this trip enjoyable and memorable. From the bottom of our hearts, the CPFT Northern Line Volunteer Photographers.

In reality, thousands of photos were taken during this trip, but many had to be omitted for the sake of conciseness and to avoid boredom. If anything is unclear, please ask, and I will do my best to answer your questions. Thank you all for following along to the end.

Good luck and have a prosperous day, everyone.

A photo of a train derailing on a curve before reaching the Tha Chomphu Bridge was shared by Nong Tal this morning.

Two pictures, two different moods, huh?

This photo set was shared by Naa Ton. He is a member who cannot post photos yet. Thank you Naa Ton for sharing these photos.