Since I always read here and never give back, I thought I should change that. :D
I arrived in the evening and took the airport link to the city center, only to be ripped off. I knew I was being ripped off but I was too tired to care. Being on the road for 21 hours tends to have that effect on me. :D
I was smelling like an open sewer, tired and hungry. So all I wanted was check in, shower, eat, sleep.
I stayed at the Krung Kasem Sri Krung Hotel in Chinatown because I wanted to see a bit of that part of the city, and because it is right next to the train station and Huang Lamphong; I intended to take the nighttrain to Chiang Mai and I did.
The hotel was alright for its price, but the mattress was hard as a brick. Good for me that I don't really mind that. I enjoyed the balcony and the view in the evening, and a cold one. :D
No safe, no tours, and so-so breakfast. But a spacious room, fine location, and properly cleaned on a daily basis, and friendly reception. The wifi too was just fine for me. Altogether good enough for my first three nights in Bangkok.
I'd go there again because the price and location are just right for me. :)
The day after arrival I just took in the sights of China Town and especially enjoyed the museum about the development of China Town and the exhibition on the discovery of the 3.5 meter high golden Buddha. All of that you can find where that big Buddha is.
I'd really recommend paying the place a visit - and I'm going to presume that the Almighty Net can tell you its exact location.
I also met a scam artist in dirty shorts and equally dirty shirt, standing by the side of road, who wanted me to belief he was a teacher waiting for his gf during his break. I'll save you the long story and simply say: if people are desperate to help you then they are usually just desperate to help themselves. :D
At your expense, of course. So be careful. :)
I also booked a tour to the old capital that day at a hotel a bit down the road from where I was staying. That meant rise and shine at 5AM for me. No problem, though. :)
Took lots of pictures, met cool people, and basically had a real blast. A full day tour that to me was time and money well spend.
The next day was another day of striking out on my own until it was time to board the Bangkok-Chiang Mai night train. Picked my ticket up at 12go.asia at their little office on the ground floor of a building whose name has slipped my mind, it is right across the train station.
Tip: the only easy and safe way I learned there is from that place to the train station is by going under the street via Huang Lamphong station.
I was seated wrong when I boarded the train but eventually ended up in the right seat. Right next to this awesome family from Israel. Lots of fun. Lots of laughter. I'll never forget getting a smoke in standing in the space between two carriages.
We laughed our asses off. :D
Nor will I forget the guy's wife joining him in the upper berth, most likely presuming folks around her were asleep. She didn't stay there long, though. Her youngest kid came looking for her. :D:D:D:D
We said our Goodbyes in the morning and I found myself again ripped off by the taxi, a theme by now. No problem, though. :D All part of the journey. Besides, I should learn to bargain. :D
As for the Bangkok-Chiang Mai night train, would I do it again? I came back by night train. :) Really, I love that train. Sure beats the plane.
Anyway, in Chiang Mai I stayed at Hotel Montha, located right between the Old City and the Night Market. The reason why I selected it.
What I didn't know is that there are also quite a few happy ending massage parlors in that area, but I just ignored that. But if you have kids then you should know that and take a right when leaving the hotel. That way you avoid all that. :) Just go down that road and the first right, after a few minutes you'll have the old city gate (forgot the name) to your left. But! Before you cross the road, eat at the hole in the wall. I forgot the name but it is the first one you come across if you walk that route. Great food there for Thai prices. :D The place looks run down but the food and friendliness more than make up for it.
This time I was really lucky with my hotel. Nice room, cleaned daily, good view from the balcony, helpful and very friendly receptionist. Solid wifi.
Tip: ask for a room at the back because they have the best view. :D And channels 59 and 60 have English movies with Thai sub. :)
The first day was just taking in the scene and book an elephant sanctuary tour for the next day. I really recommend that. You can't really get much cooler than bathe with elephants in my book. :)
So it was elephants and fun people from Tennessee for day two of Chiang Mai.
That evening I learned that you can get a great massage right next door, one that doesn't do happy endings, only the real authentic Thai massage.
Som Massage, that is. The receptionist recommended her and I am very happy she did. Som, the owner, actually speaks English well enough to have a conversation with. She can even joke in English. :D Even better was the two hour Thai massage for 350 Bath. I went back for more during the following days, of course. :D So that's another thing I can recommend: Some and her authentic Thai massage at a great price. :)
The third day it was Night Safari time and I'm not certain if I should have. Was it a disappointment? Not at all, I just started feeling bad for participating in a something that keeps those animals trapped. :(
It was a relatively short evening tour that I'm certain most will enjoy, though. I did until my conscience kicked in. lol There are two 'trains' that run through the zoo and quite a few of the animals actually come close enough to be touched. That's special and easy to enjoy, as long as you don't think how they are trapped.
Tip: if you go then don't throw away your ticket after the first ride because they will ask for it for the second ride. Also, get some food to feed the animals.
Next day it was Chiang Rai, hot springs, the three counties point (Thailand, Laos, Myamar), a short boat ride and a few moments of Laos soil.
In hindsight, it was fun but most of the time was spend on the road. Given that I was the only one of the group who spoke English, the rest very limited English, I didn't really have a good rapport with the other folks. So yeah, I didn't enjoy myself half as much as I would have if that situation had been reversed.
The hot spring, to me, was absolutely not worth it. A total downer. Just a little geyser, and if you have seen Old Fateful, as I have, then it is easy to be taken aback by anyone promoting that pathetic little hot spring as worth visiting. lol
On Laos soil it was simply a big market for the tourist, nothing special. Nothing you can't find in probably any town in Thailand itself.
So I can't really recommend it as the time spend stands in stark contrast to what you get in return. Of course, that is just my very subjective opinion. :)
The next was a rest day and trying to decide where to go after Chiang Mai, and booking a kayaking tour for the next day.
I wasn't certain if I should book that tour but it turned out to be among the most fun things I've ever done. It was awesome to go down the river, surrounded by all that green and at times with a clear view of the mountains. I picked the sporty tour and only ended up in the water twice. :D
The group was great fun, Australia was represented, so was France, Hong Kong, Ireland, and the USA. Lots of fun and another thing I can recommend. The guy in charge, an American, told me that he is the only one in town providing kayaking tours. So if you find the folder about kayaking tours then you know that's the one I'm talking about.
That evening, on recommendation of my new friend from Ireland, I booked a half day class at asiascenic and I'm glad I did. A quick and short visit to a local market was followed by pad Thai, coconut soup, preparing red curry, and spring rolls. (And maybe something else but I can't recall as I am tired. I barely slept on the night train and it is late). The cook, Peay, was lots of fun and so were the other people of the group, most from France and two from Germany.
So a cooking class is another recommendation. :)
The next day it was back with the night train to Bangkok, but not before running into another scam artist who had a wonderful investment opportunity. That's when I cut him off. lol
Got seated wrong twice, no idea what it is with that, and arrived this morning in Bangkok.
One thing about that night train: I recommend bringing your own food. Not only will it probably taste better, it will also save you a bit.
This time I decided to check in at Chic Hostel near Huang Lamphong and treat myself to a luxury room. I wish I hadn't. For 1100 Bath I do expect my ' luxury' room to have a small fridge, but no.
There are only three power points in the room, two taken by the TV and the box from the cable company.
The third is located in the closet, no joke.
The room is meant for two but you have a small table with only one chair.
This afternoon, after walking around a bit, I returned to find the reception area abandoned. I needed to use the john badly and really didn't appreciate being left waiting for what I guess was about three minutes. That's when a guest arrived who did have his keycard with him.
He opened the door that gives access to the area behind the reception and that's how I, and another guest, got in. We had to find someone to give us our keycards.
