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It’s Friday again, not really, but every day feels like Friday to me.
My first stop in Thailand was in the city of Chiang Mai; I read about this city on the Internet, however, I didn’t know what to expect. Chiang Mai is one of the largest cities in Thailand, and is located in the northern part of the country. I have been to many places around the world, however, Chiang Mai was different. Chiang Mai is mountainous, cosmopolitan, and has a mixture of charm. Well, I was ready to explore this amazing city.
My arrival at Chiang Mai
The flight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai lasted less than an hour. Thai Airlines and Air Asia are your top two choices to get around Thailand. After much anticipation, I arrived safely at about 8 am. I immediately felt an awesome feeling of peace, tranquility, and my lungs appreciated the fresh air. My luggage was waiting for me by the time I went to retrieve them. I was excited, and couldn’t wait to explore Chiang Mai. The apartment was located 10 minutes away and the taxi ride cost me 150 Baht or about $5 US dollars.
Staying in Chiang Mai
Hotels in Chiang Mai are super cheap compared to anywhere else I have ever been in the world. In fact, the rates ranged from about $10 per night for a 3 star hotel to about $80 for a 5 star. I booked a room on AirBnB because I wanted to live with the locals and experience the Thai culture. The location was perfect as I was able to walk to the shops and restaurants. Chiang Mai was packed with backpackers and budgeted travelers. I met several backpackers staying in guesthouses in Chiang Mai for less than $10 per night.
Thai Massage
Thai massage is very popular in Chiang Mai. I have never seen so many massage parlors in my life. As I walked the streets of Chiang Mai, the locals would yell, “Chocolate Man, Chocolate Man, massage-massage.” Funny as heck! The average cost for a traditional Thai massage in Chiang Mai is 180 Baht or $6 US dollars per hour. A foot massage cost 200 Baht, and my favorite oil massage cost me 300 Baht or $10 US dollars. Where in the world can you pay two beautiful Thai ladies to massage you with warm oil for $20 US dollars? Nowhere, but if you find a cheaper price then please let me know! I had a 2 hour massage every day and by 2 Thai ladies while I stayed in Chiang Mai. Call me sick, or call me a pervert, but I felt like I was in heaven. Happy endings cost a little bit more, however, everything in Thailand is negotiable. I will remain silent on the subject of happy endings given that my mother and daughter may read this post.
Food
I can’t understand why people would go to Thailand and then want to eat American food; makes no damn sense to me. American food costs twice as much in Chiang Mai. I love spicy food and Thai food just so happen to be my favorite. There are Thai restaurants everywhere you go in Chiang Mai. There are street carts and restaurants everywhere I went. A basic pad thai noodle with chicken cost $1 and a regular dish will set you back $3 to $5. Tom Kai soup and Panag Curry are my favorite Thai dishes. I drank a pot of soup everyday and gained about 10 pounds (5 kilo) during my stay in Chiang Mai.
Culture
People in Chiang Mai are very warm, friendly, and welcoming. The best way to learn about the culture is to meet and hang with the locals. Most of the people in Chiang Mai are Buddhist. Chiang Mai celebrates a number of festivals throughout the year such as Chiang Mai Flower Festival, umbrella and handicraft festival, Songkran (the water festival) and many other cheerful festivals.
How to get around Chiang Mai
There is no shortage of Tuk Tuk taxi in Chiang Mai. Tuk Tuk is a fun and popular three wheeler in Chiang Mai and they run 24/7; it’s a kind of scooter where the driver sits in front and the passengers sit in the rear seats of the driver. I rode in Tuk Tuk vans to get around Chiang Mai. One driver tried to rip me off until he saw that I was twice his size. Lesson learned, ask for the cost prior to taking the Tuk Tuk.
Excursions and what to do in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai offers plenty of things to do and see in and around Chiang Mai. Things to do include, Chiang Rai – Golden Triangle and visit to Long Neck Karen tribe; Doi Inthanon National Park, Elephant Safari; and Chiang Dao Cave and five different Hill Tribes. You will need over a month to fully enjoy the many attractions in Chiang Mai however, I did a Thai cooking class, rafting, and the elephant tour. If you want to be a little more adventurous then I recommend bungee jumping, trekking, or playing with the tigers. There are small excursions offices located everywhere in Chiang Mai to purchase tickets for excursions. The cost of the excursion include transportation to and from your hotel.
Entertainment in Chiang Mai
I partied my ass off while in Chiang Mai. Due to the city ordinance in Thailand, a majority of the bars and clubs were closed at 1am. My favorite spot was “Spicy” and they closed at 5am. Zoe in the Yellow is another cool spot if you are into pop music. THC Rooftop Bar is a famous spot for students or budget travelers and Norhgate Jazz Co-op has open mic nights if you are into Jazz. If you love live music then you will love Chiang Mai. There are lots of live-music venues that include reggae bar, and outside discos. You will find no shortage of “buy me drink bars in Chiang Mai if that is your thing. As I walked the streets at night, I was approached my Thai ladies interested in meeting western men. I felt like a celebrity even though I knew they only wanted my money.