Summary
I traveled from Bangkok to Chiang Mai by train, then to Mae Hong Son by minibus, experiencing a scenic but winding journey. In Mae Hong Son, I explored temples, met a fellow traveler, and enjoyed local cuisine. After three days, I returned to Chiang Mai.
On February 3 at 8:50 PM, I took the MRT to Bang Sue station and caught the night train to Chiang Mai. Since all the sleeper beds were taken, I took the third-class seat.
I sat in the crowded carriage with open windows for 13 painful hours; there was no air conditioning.
I’m unsure if I slept well, but the morning ride to Chiang Mai was beautiful.
My minibus was packed at 1:30 PM. I sat in the middle seat behind the driver, enjoying the view of the six-hour journey’s many curves.
We took breaks, including a stop in Pai, a popular destination for Gen X adventure seekers. Pai offered avocado toast, other avocado treats, rafting, and trekking.
We climbed over several mountain passes, rising from 2,000 feet to 5,000 feet on our way to Mae Hong Son. A truck on the roadside lost power, rolled back into a ditch, without crashing.
It was dark when I pulled up to my Chubeema Guesthouse, which was just two blocks from the bus station, and my host, Lae, was waiting for me.
After dropping off my bags, he took me by motorbike to a nearby 7-Eleven store to buy orange juice, a banana, 3-in-1 coffee mix, and a pineapple pastry.
I had dinner at a local restaurant. I had vegetables, chicken, rice, an egg, hot tea, and soup.
The next morning, I found a great breakfast spot by the lake in this small town. Across the way, there were two beautiful temples.
The restaurant offered a rooftop view of the Chong Kham Reservoir. I shared a table with a Frenchman named Jacques, who had lost his home in May due to a cyclone in December. Jacques, an engineer, had worked for Bill Gates in Bellevue for several years, translating Windows into French. He left before the company offered stock options. Jacques enjoyed living in Seattle, appreciating its beauty and mountains.
He said that back in 1985, he worked for Bill Gates in the Bellevue area for several years, since his background was in engineering, and he helped translate Windows into French. He said he left before they started offering big stock options to employees. Said he really enjoyed living in the Seattle area with its beauty and mountains.
II hired a tuk-tuk driver at the bus station to take me to the Wat Pra That Doi Mu monastery on the hill overlooking the city.
The monastery and mountain views were beautiful.
At night, lights dangled from a huge tree near the monument, creating a spectacular scene.
During the day, I visited the two large monasteries by the lake, Wat Ching Kham and Wat Chong Klang, which had Hindu and Buddhist influences. Hindu symbols adorned the Wat grounds.
There is a bit of Hindu symbols included on the Wat grounds.
After three days and recovering from the trip, I was ready for the 6-hour trip back down the windy roads to Chang Mai in a full minibus. I left the Chubeema Guesthouse and the owner, Lae.
On the foggy morning, I stopped by a 7-Eleven store to buy a banana, a toasted cheese and ham sandwich, and a pineapple pastry for ฿50. The staff toasted the sandwiches for me.
Back in Chiang Mai, I took a moto-taxi to my hotel for the same ฿100 price. The driver convinced me it would be faster than a tuk-tuk, and he was right. We wove through traffic and down narrow pathways. It was a good thing he had an extra helmet for me.
Subscribe to my YouTube Channel
I have recently uploaded all of my travel videos to YouTube now that they allow longer uploads. Under the "Playlist" tab, look for my "Full Length Travel Videos" for over 45 travel videos. I have also added other shorter travel videos.
That link is https://www.youtube.com/c/huntforgold
If you do go there, please subscribe to my video channel since it will help me eventually get some income there and help with my future travels.
No comments:
Post a Comment