adventure

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Travel Guide and Tips: Bangkok

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Bangkok is the bustling capital city of Thailand. Filled with temples, floating markets and the popular Khao San Road, it's a crazy city to be in. 

Things to do

Khao San Road

This is the backpacker haven of the city. Head here if you're looking for something gear towards tourists. You can find bars, restaurants, hostels and local stands selling pad thai and insect here. There are tons of souvenir shops selling clothes and trinkets. 

Floating Markets

The area around Bangkok has tons of floating markets. Some will be bigger or more authentic than other. Amphawa Floating Market is a popular one to visit. To get there, you'll need to take the BTS to Victory Memorial. Catch the mini-bus there to get to the market. It costs 160 baht and takes around two hours to get there. From here, you can join a boat tour to see the market. 

The Grand Palace

This if for all you temple junkies. As the previous home to the Kings of Siam, the Grand Palace is now a popular attraction in Bangkok. Spend the day walking around the numerous different sections. 

Entrance fee is 500 baht. Remember to dress respectively (shoulders and knees covered)! 

Sky Bar

For all you wanting to live it high, literally. Made popular by The Hangover, Sky Bar is one of the highest rooftop bars in the world. The drink prices are pretty steep though. You don't need to buy a drink to access it. You can just head up to see the view. 

Siam Square

This is the perfect place for shopaholics. Siam Square has different malls within it. We mostly stuck to MBK Centre, since it has both tourist stalls and shops that locals use. Explore the different floors to find an abundance of clothes, electronics and souvenirs. If you head outside, you can find neat food trucks as well! 

Where to Eat

Soi Rambuttri

This street is parallel to Khao San Road and is filled with street vendors. Head here for slightly cheaper prices. We were just happy to find a place that sells Khao Soi! 

Where to Stay

At Home Guesthouse

Located near Khao San Road, At Home Guesthouse has reasonable prices. For 600 baht, you can get a private double room with A/C, fan and ensuite washroom. It's clean and they offer towels with the room. 

Happy Travelling! 

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Travel Guide and Tips: Chiang Mai

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Located in Northern Thailand, Chiang Mai is a popular tourist destination. From digital nomads to adventurers, there's a tons of things you can do. 

Things to do

1) ELEPHANT CAMPS

One of the most popular attractions in Chiang Mai are the elephants. While there are many different camps to choose from, not all of them are ethical. Please make sure to do some research and choose one that treats their elephants well and doesn't offer elephant riding with saddles. Elephant Nature Park is well-liked and gets booked quickly. However, we went with Ran-Tong (Save and Rescue Elephant Centre). 

2) GRAND CANYON

About 17km away from the city centre is the Grand Canyon of Chiang Mai. It's a man-made quarry where many visitors go to cliff jump. The Tuang Thong Canyon View restaurant there offers wifi. You can get there by renting a scooter, hiring a red truck for the day or biking there if you're adventurous. There is an entrance fee of 50 baht per person.

Please note that we heard the quarry water is dirty. It can also be unsafe to swim in, so proceed with caution. 

3) Maya Mall

For a 20 baht red truck ride from the city centre, you can visit the city mall. You can find a mixture of western stores and other tourist stores. We went there for their movie theatre (SFX CINEMA Maya Chiangmai - check here for movie times). Make sure to choose the (E) for english movies with Thai subtitles. 

4) Massages

Massages are fairly cheap in Chiang Mai (140 baht+). There are many spas you can choose from, low-end to high-end. They all offer a variety of massages, so you can choose the type that suits you. We went to Lila Thai Massage, a centre run by ex-inmates. 

5) Night Market

This was probably our favourite part of Chiang Mai. The night markets runs on Saturdays and Sundays (on different streets). Vendors fill the street with stalls of food, clothing, trinkets and western-influenced souvenirs. It's really fun just to walk the streets, pick up some grub and check out what everyone is selling. Just note that it gets really busy. 

6) Temples in the City Centre

There are many temples spread through the city centre that you can visit. You can easily spend a whole day wandering about and checking out every temple.There are three major temples located within the city centre. Our favourite Wat Chedi Luang. Just make sure to wear respective clothing (shoulders covered, no revealing tops and nothing showing above the knees). 

7) Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

This is probably the most popular temple in Chiang Mai. Instead of taking a red truck taxi all the way up to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, you can turn it into a half day hike. If you do the hike, you can also see Wat Phra Lat temple (no entrance fee). 

Once you reach Wat Phra That, there is an entrance fee of 30 baht per person. It's heavily tourist-friendly, so keep that in mind. 

8) Doi Inthanon National Park

It's located about 2 hours away from Chiang Mai, so it's a bit harder to reach. The best way to get there is either by renting a car/motorbike, going with a tour or you can hire a red truck for the day. The park houses the tallest mountain in Thailand, has waterfalls and temples to see. There's a 300 baht entrance fee. 

9) Other Activities

Chiang Mai offers other things to do like watching a Muay Thai match, cooking classes or visiting the waterfalls. 

Where to eat

Chiang Mai Gate

Chiang Mai Gate is where all the locals eat. Around 6 p.m., the vendors will set up their carts selling a variety of Thai food for a cheap price. Shop around to pick a place that you like. They usually have tables and chairs, so it works similar to how a regular restaurant works. 

There's also a cart selling fruit shakes for 20 baht! 

Thapae Gate

The area around Thapae Gate has a ton of restaurants to try out. There's a mix of both Western and Thai restaurants. Since it's a restaurant, it'll cost a bit more than street food. But you'll have more options. There's a cart that sells rotee and crepes. 

Where to stay

Teeraya Boutique Guesthouse

Located outside the square near Chiang Mai Gate, the guesthouse has Wi-Fi, a swimming pool and clean rooms. 

 

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Hiking the Monk's Trail Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai

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If you're looking to escape the city, try hiking the Monk's Trail up to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. The two hour hike takes you through a jungle to Wat Phra Lat Temple before a strenuous hike uphill to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. 

Hiking to Wat Phra Lat Temple 

The entrance of the trail starts at the end of Doi Suthep Road, past Chiang Mai University and behind Chiang Mai zoo. We took a red truck (red songthaews) to this point (20 baht each). This can be confusing to explain to a driver, since he originally took us to the wrong place. Just make sure you say Doi Suthep Road! 

End of Doi Suthep Road

When you reach the end of Doi Suthep Road, go right and continue past the signs for Chiang Mai Zoo. From here, the road will take you uphill for 5-10 minutes. Along the way, you'll pass a building on your left. 

Hike past the signs for Chiang Mai Zoo.

The uphill road. 

Just keep walking on the road for a few more minutes and you'll reach the entrance of the trail. You know you're there when you see the red and white TV Tower on your right. There will be orange cloth wrapped around the trees to mark the entrance. 

Entrance of the Monk's Trail. 

The 30-45 minute hike to Wat Phra Lat Temple is a little rocky, but heavily marked. Monks frequent the trail, so it is well maintained. The trail itself isn't too difficult, as you can see many people hiking in sandals. 

Orange markers

Once you reach Wat Phra Lat Temple, you can enjoy a break on the rocks. The atmosphere is very serene and tranquil as the temple is situated in a jungle by a river. 

Hiking to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

To get to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, it's going to take an hour and 15 minutes from this point. When you're ready, head back to the trail.

The trail will lead you up a steep section up to the road. Once you reach the road, head left along the rail. Look out for a yellow arrow painted on the road pointing across the street. Cross the street at this point and you should see an orange cloth marker on the tree.

This trail isn't as consistently marked, but well-travelled. So, watch out for any yellow paint markers on the ground. There's one section where you'll reach a fork in the trail. Take a left at this point. The trail will eventually turn into clay stairs until you reach the road, so get ready to walk up some steps. 

Beginning of the trail, after crossing the road. 

Clay steps

Once you reach the road, make sure to walk up the shoulder to get to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. We were advised against taking the trail to the right of the road due to aggressive wild dogs. However, it's up to your own discretion. 

Notes:

  • Make sure to pack plenty of water, sunscreen, bug spray and snacks.

Happy Hiking! 

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Transit Guide: Bangkok to Chiang Mai

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From Bangkok's Mo Chit Station to Chiang Mai's Arcade Station, the bus ride takes around 10 hours and is the cheapest mode of transportation. 

There are three options for the bus:
-VIP (600-700 baht): adjustable massage seats, A/C, snacks and water, meal, wet towel, TV,  pillow, blanket and washroom. 
-First Class (500 baht):  adjustable massage seats, A/C, snacks and water, meal, wet towel, TV, blanket and washroom. The difference between VIP and First Class is that you get bigger seats and more leg room in VIP.
-Second Class (375-400 baht): adjustable seats and A/C.

We ended up taking the First Class bus because the ride was cheaper and shorter than the train. It wasn't too bad since we had recently gotten off a 12-14 hour flight, with similar conditions. When you purchase your tickets, you can choose your seats. We opted for the front seats on the second level. It offers a section to place your bags in front of you. Plus, you get a better view, which is nice if you get car sick. 

About halfway through the ride, the bus makes one stop at a restaurant for your free meal. You just have to show them your ticket at the food stand. There are different options you can choose from, but most were a broth-based noodle. As a heads up, the washrooms at the stop are squatting toilets, so be prepared. Also, remember your toilet paper! 

Once you get to Chiang Mai, it should only cost 40 baht/per person to get to the city centre! 

Notes:

  • If you take the last bus out of Bangkok, you can save on shelter accommodations for that night. 
  • You can also take the train to Chiang Mai, but it takes 14 hours to get there and costs closer to 900 baht for the second class sleeper. But, the view is much better and you can save on accommodation if you take the sleeper train. I personally got confused about how to purchase a ticket. Some sites explained that you needed to buy tickets in advance in person or online. If you purchase online, you'll have to pay service (200 baht) and PayPal (3.4 % + 11 baht) fees. You could also risk it and buy it when you get there, but it might be sold out. 
  • Flying is the most convenient method, but costs the most. It only takes an hour and 15 minutes to get there. It's a great option if you don't have the time. 

Happy Travelling! 

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Day 3: Alone in Bangkok (Cathy)

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After landing in Bangkok, I realized that Cee wasn't able to meet me at the airport because of the Bike for Dad event. 

So, I hopped on the Bangkok Transit System (BTS) and made my way over. Unfortunately, the stop I needed to get off was closed because of the event. I ended up getting off a few stops early and tried to hail a taxi, but none would take me because all the major roads were closed for the event. 

Long story short: I was stranded in Bangkok. 

Luckily, I met a fellow traveller along the way who let me tag along with him throughout the day. We then proceeded to get scammed by a taxi driver who took us to the wrong place, jumped back onto the BTS and then walked around the city to find his hotel. 

There, I was able to contact Cee to let her know where I was. Thankfully, the receptionist at the hotel was able to explain to the taxi driver how to get to my hostel. 

 
Thanks Joe! 

Thanks Joe!