"Chiang Mai - Lamphun - Lampang -... " a Chiang Mai Travel Page by amytoh

Airport to Chiang Mai city - this would cost you only 150 baht at the Chiang Mai Airport Taxi counter for a comfortable sedan which seats up to 4 person. I got into a "brand new" Toyota Altis. The driver may recommend that you charter his taxi or his family van for the day. The van should cost 2,000 baht per day (8am to 5pm) and it is up to you to go anywhere or recommendations from the guide cum taxi driver. My family found a Mandarin speaking taxi driver (for the sake of my sister's mum-in-law who understands no English) who provided superb services for a very reasonable price.

A good tour agency found along Loy Kroh road is Asia Active (located inside Green Garden Hotel - a budget motel) and the prices are the cheapest that I found. On my return trip last week, I booked my Sukhothai trip through the internet and the service/guide cum driver was superb.

Places to see/visit:

Chiang Mai - Wat Phra Tat Doi Suthep, Doi Pui Hilltribe Village, San Kampaheng Handicraft Village, Chang Klan Night Market - bargain like mad, please. Also try their traditional Thai herbal massage at Let's Relax (beside McDonald's) for only 600 baht per person for 2 hours!!!

Chiang Rai (went there during my January 2006 trip) - Golden Triangle, Cruise Mekong River, Hop to Dao Sao Island (Laos), on the way visit Chiang Dao caves, Wat Chedi Luang at Chiang Saen. The journey takes about 3 hours per way but with stops along the way. Be prepared if you are prone to "car sickness", especially if you sit on the last row of a van in joint tours.

Si Chomtong - You'd probably stop at this town to visit Wat Phra Tat Si Chomtong if you are joining tours to visit Doi Ithanon. My guide cum driver to Sukhothai brought us here on our way back to Chiang Mai from Sukhothai on our request as this is the pagoda for those born in the year of the Rat!!! Nothing spectacular and on a much smaller scale. Didn't get to buy souvenirs/replica of the pagoda from here as with the Rooster pagoda (Wat Phra Tat Haripunchai - see below).

Places to visit:

Lamphun - Wat Phra Tat Haripunchai, said to be more than 1,000 years old and the pagoda for those born in the year of Rooster (Chinese calendar). Hubby was extremely delighted when he heard this as he is born that year. People buy figurines of the rooster, pray and leave them on the altars surrounding the pagoda. Prayed and bought souvenirs/pagoda replica of the Wat.

Lampang - Wat Phra Tat Lampang Luang, said to be the oldest teakwood temple in North Thailand and the pagoda for those born in the year of Ox (Chinese calendar). There's a small temple on the left corner which only males can enter. When the doors are closed, an inverted and coloured shadow of the pagoda is visible on the silk screen. Didn't get to witness this as only MALES can enter. Hubby tried to take pictures with his cellphone and camera but didn't turn up quite well, especially the ones taken with my dinosaur Olympus digital camera. So, bought the postcard instead.

Lampang is also famous for its ceramic wares especially those which has the picture of the rooster on them which Chinese fancies. One medium sized rice bowl costs only 10 baht and I lugged 10 of them back since they refused to sell them loose/individually. Regret not having bought the soup bowls but to buy 10 of them is too many.

The twin world heritage sites.

Si Satchanalai - Older than Sukhotai and less touristy. Said to be once connected to Sukhothai via a river (forgot its name). An Angkor Wat in miniature. There's also an excavation site where ancient porcelain pieces and skeletal remains (including those of a child) is found. The site is being prepared for tourists when I visited. You can only view from the top, about 10 feet high, and careful not to fall in while craning for the best shot. There're no complete railings yet when I visited. Luckily didn't go tumbling down.

Sukhothai - Magnificient ruins though most are restored. Do not miss Wat Si Chum as this has a 14 feet high sitting Buddha. If you stand next to his right hand (there's a sign prohibiting such as Buddha images needs to be respected), the hand - fingers and palm - would be higher than most Asian.

A good hotel to stay in Sukhothai would be the Lotus Village operated by a French guy. Cosy (cold at night) and you can order anything from the menu for breakfast!!! It's also about 5 minutes walk to the night market. This night market is for food only and it's very, very affordable. Fried rice dishes at 20 baht and ice water is free.

For both historical parks, you can get a "Total ticket" for 150 baht per person which is valid for 30 days. If you have a car, need to pay another 50 baht for its entrance. Otherwise, renting a bicycle at the entrance of the parks is recommended if you intend to tour the entire park. If not keen on cycling, you may also take the tram (driven by pretty lasses!!!) and I think the hop-on/off tram costs 200 baht per person for each park.