On Dec. 21, Thursday at 5:00 p.m., we're off to Chiang Mai. We didn't catch the 7:40 p.m. train at Hua Lampong station and so we went straight to Morchit bus station eventhough we don't exactly know it. Thanks to manong driver of an intelligent taxi (that's how Chris and I call taxi here, based na rin sa nakaprint sa taxi nila.) The bus left at 9:40 p.m. We went for the 1st class bus, they actually have 3 kinds- 1st, 2nd and VIP class. They are all airconditioned but the 2nd class doesn't have toilet while the 1st and VIP class has additional amenities like free snack, breakfast, meal, pillow, blanket and of course a comfortable reclining seat. It's not so expensive to travel by bus, it only costs us a little more than 500bht per person for one way, just a 130ish difference from the 2nd class, while the VIP costs 850bht, that is if you do not allow yourself to be fooled by some bus agents who will ask you to pay 950-1000bht per person, its still safe to go and purchase your ticket from the counter.
We arrived in Chiang Mai at 7:30 a.m. the next morning. The travel takes about 10 hours, long ride huh but who cares we're both asleep. When we woke up, the conductress is serving hot water for the passengers - yes, newly boiled water while the bus is moving. Chris made his coffee in a moving bus for the first time, what an experience!
When we arrived at the bus station, I noticed that all people are wearing jacket, bonnet and even gloves while walking in a thick fog(merong bang snow!!!) and when we got off, it is indeed chillin' cold. I never realized that it will be that windy and I wasn't prepared for it. We nearly get fooled by the red taxi driver asking us to pay for 150bht but when we hailed a tuktuk we only paid for only 60bht. Thanks to lonely planet!
We arrived at CM Blue Apartment, a booking we made a day before. Good thing they have a free room when we called them before we leave home . We've been trying to book a room a month ago but they simply cannot, December is a peak month here so we understand how hard to get an accomodation. Lucky enough, we still got the most recommended guesthouse from travelfish.org. We did have the right choice to push as much as we can to stay here while in Chiang Mai. The room is cheap but will not turn you down. They have a king size bed, a cable TV, a 5cu. ref(not an ankle high one,huh), hot shower, a balcony for only 350bht a night. It's not airconditioned but the hell we care we cannot even turn on the remote control fan in the room.
This is when we are waiting for the room to be ready, the previous guest just check out at 10am and we arrived a few minutes after 9.
Our comfortable bed at CM Blue Apartment…
On our first day, we didn’t go out during the day. We were so tired that I end up sleeping the whole afternoon and Chris watching TV. During the night, we went to check the night bazaar. We walked going there instead of getting a tuktuk. When we reached the Night Bazaar, we went on to see farther and we saw the Kalare Night Bazaar. We enjoyed our dinner while watching a cultural dance show special.
Take some glances…
Ganda ng mga lamps…
Ayan, see my red nose, sobrang sinisipon na ako sa lamig kaya kinuha ko na ung cap ni chris…
We ended the night by eating mami noodles near our guesthouse at 1am. We thought we really need to take something hot before retiring to bed to soothe our chilling hands and feet.
Being not an early people, we got up late the next day ‘coz enjoying the natural cool weather under sheets is more likeable than walking while looking drunk ‘coz of sleepiness. We left our room late morning for a brunch at Sailomjoy restaurant, our favorite place to eat for its cheap meals, kao neow ma-muang(sticky rice with mango), fruit shake, and their most famous (American)breakfast meal with freshly brewed coffee with cream on top and freshly squeezed orange juice at 50bht, cheap noh! They are just at the back of Black Canyon Coffee Shop. This is recommended by most farang(slang word for foreigners) if you happen to visit Chiang Mai.
Presenting Sailomjoy…
After having a heavy brunch, we went to walk around and check out their talat(market). We went to Talat Warorot to see what we can buy there and look for the tourist places around the area. We got lost but managed to get back to the right route, thanks to my instinct and good sense of direction. Since we cannot talk to anyone, all we can do is rely on the map given by the guesthouse. After getting lost and buying some chicharon(yes they have chicharon with laman). We went back to the old city and check out some temples.
At first, I planned to visit each temple shown on the map, but they’re too many to handle for an afternoon walk, so, we just have to rely again to our instinct and signages that tells us which ones are the most visited temples here.
Our first stop is Wat Chediluang. As far as I remember it’s the tallest temple in the early years of Siam(former name of Thailand). This is actually our first time to see a Buddhist Church and we were simply awe by the structure. We saw people banging each gong in the compound for good luck. We walked around and found some more smaller stupas(triangle shape part of the temple) at the back.
These are what we saw, incredible awesome structures…
The Reclining Buddha – now I know that Buddha spent 1 hour each night lying on one side as part of his meditation that is why this image is very sacred for Buddhist people.
This shot was taken at the burial places of one of the sacred monks in the Buddhist community. I got scared when I see the wax formation inside the sealed glass, it looks like it will move anytime. I am not sure if it’s alright to post this but for the sake of the people who wants to witness it even only in the picture I am posting this shot, my intentions are good.
Konting meditation pa…
This other stupa is dedicated to the late monk of the forest. A wax formation of the sacred monk is also inside a sealed glass.
The City Tree is also located within this compound. It was planted many years back to honor Chiang Mai when it became a city. They placed red ribbons at the bottom but we don’t know for what it is for.
There is another temple compound right next to Wat Chediluang but we do not know its name. Nevertheless, we went in and see the kind of structure it has.
This shot was taken a few steps from the busy road, I love the idea of this small one person passage, I simply love the shot.
Look at the details of the roof…
The next wat that we visited is Wat Phrasing. We arrived almost 5pm that’s why we’re in a hurry to tour the compound. We just had a quick view of the temple and around the place.
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