I love Chiang Mai. It was good to be back for a few days before heading to Vietnam for a visa run. Highlights included the Royal Pavilion & Royal Park, Queen Sirikit Botanical Gardens, the Samoeng Loop, and an unexpected stay at the Palm Villa.
The Royal Pavilion and Royal Park in Chiang Mai are totally worth a visit. There are gardens dedicated to different countries all with their own unique style and architecture. There is also an amazing variety of plant and flower, as well as veggie and herb patches. I was so tempted to forage! It’s great to find such peaceful places in a bustling city. Love it.
The Queen Sirikit Botanical Gardens are a bit different and centered around education. The place consists mostly of greenhouses, with each housing to a specific variety of plant. There’s the arid region, a carnivorous plant house, one for your aquatics, and an amazing rain forest-type one with a waterfall that you can walk under. Good job Thai Queenie!
To the west of Chiang Mai are mountains dotted with temples, viewpoints, waterfalls, and fresh air. It took over four hours to complete the Samoeng Loop on my little golden Fino that has clocked over 147,000 kms! There are stacks of steep climbs and hairpin turns. I was very impressed to see cyclists riding uphill. I got a puncture just before heading up there, but the lovely locals were very quick to patch me up.
I approached a sign that said: “No private vehicles from this point”. I had detoured from the main Samoeng Loop road. Red tuk-tuks were taking humans to a recently-completed temple called Loha Prasat Sri Mueang Pong (pictured above). In strong sunlight, the fresh whiteness of the temple with gold and silver adornments were blinding! There are also rows of bells that encircle the temple. It must sound amazing when the wind blows fierce.
I had itchy feet come Friday night. I was hoping to meet up with some fellers who I met here a year ago, but they had other plans, so I headed back to a familiar night spot. It was an okay night, but northing compared to the next.
I had met some expats through a close friend during my last visit to Chiang Mai. The one owns a place called the Palm Villa, which he rents out to up to eight people at a time. He had kept things open for family and friends during December. I stayed in the African Room.
Just picture swimming pools, table tennis, a pub with karaoke and a pool table, a rooftop bar with another pool, and themed bedrooms, each with their own unique touch. I felt hugely privileged to spend an evening there and spun his little daughter around the dancefloor between karaoke songs.
I would very much like to live in Chiang Mai too.
Next: An Alien, Spaceman & Angry Pig on a Dancefloor
Previously: Koh Samui Mountains & Khao Yum
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