I've been to many mountains, so I felt a little guilty that I had never tried to visit and immerse myself in the mountains of Thailand. At the end of 2015, I had the opportunity to stay in Chiang Mai for 2-3 months, so I wanted to try living a slow life. On days when I was free, I could go anywhere, climb mountains, visit farms, eat grapes, pick strawberries, visit waterfalls, or even play with cats >.<

:: Chiang Mai Wishes List ::

Dress up in hill tribe clothing and visit Doi Suthep - Doi Pui

Stroll through the beautiful flowers at Phuping Palace

Immerse yourself in nature and local life at Mae On and Mae Kampong

Relax your feet (but don't boil eggs) at the San Kamphaeng Hot Springs

Take a leisurely stroll around the Huay Tung Tao Reservoir

Experience the charm of Mon Cham and buy grapes at Eden Vineyard, then visit the scenic Mon Wiang

Hike and exercise at the 10-tiered Mae Sa Waterfall

Pick fresh strawberries from the farms near Samoeng

Play with cats at a cat cafe like Something Like Cat Cafe

Explore the culinary delights of Nimmanhaemin Road and indulge in a treat at iberry

Test your courage at the Chiang Mai Grand Canyon (Hang Dong)

Go tiger spotting at Khun Chang Kian

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The first day I arrived in Chiang Mai, it was already evening. I took an airport shuttle bus that was waiting for passengers behind exit 9 and it took me to the city for 40 baht per person. From the airport to the Tha Pae Gate area, I told the driver to drop me off in front of Wat Lok Moli because I had booked accommodation nearby. So I was able to visit Wat Lok Moli during Golden Time. It's a small temple, but it's very beautiful.

One of the first things I did when I arrived was to go eat at the Joke Sompetch restaurant on Si Bhum Road, which is right in front of the entrance to my accommodation. Everything I ordered was delicious, and my favorite dish, the roasted pork rice, was no exception. The prices were also very reasonable, which made me very happy.

I stayed near Si Bhum Road for only 3-4 days while looking for a new long-term accommodation that was not too crowded but had convenient access to food. Most of the apartments I found had long-term leases, which is normal, but I still tried to inquire at several places to see if any would allow me to stay for 2-3 months. I looked around for 2 days and finally found a place near Chedi Luang. The room I wanted was having its bed repaired, but the apartment owner saw that I wanted this room because it had two windows. One side of the bed had a view of the mountains (Doi Suthep), and the other side had a view of the village. She said, "Then I'll take out the bed and put two mattresses on top of each other." So I was okay (very much so). The room was spacious and had a table, chairs, and a refrigerator. I had to buy my own blankets and sheets, but that wasn't a problem because I liked the room. Oh, and there was also a washing machine on the roof, and I got to see the view around for free. And most importantly, the price was half of what I had prepared. ^___^

Since I moved to the Charoenrat Road area, I've enjoyed eating at Charoenrat Plaza. There's a wide variety of food to choose from, including chicken rice, fried chicken, noodles, papaya salad, stir-fried dishes, rice noodles, khao soi, and drinks. There's also a stir-fried food stall opposite the plaza. As for khao soi, the condiments include sliced shallots, chili oil, and pickled mustard greens. Anyone who comes here should definitely try it! :)

Rented a Yamaha GT 125 cc motorcycle to drive around both on the mountain and far away to see the view of Chiang Mai city since the first day I moved to the Jed Yod side. The sky here... Some days are very clear, some days are cloudy, some days are cute.

"Wat Phra That Doi Suthep"

I have been to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep once, 3-4 years ago. That time I visited a friend's house in Fang, and my friend drove me to visit Chiang Mai. I remember it was during the New Year festival, there were so many people and traffic jams everywhere. I promised myself that I would never go anywhere during the festival again!!! Haha. This time, I came up during November, the weather was cool and comfortable. Moreover, along the way up, the smell of various flowers was fragrant and sweet.

"Hmong Village Doi Pui"

About 8 km further from Phra That Doi Suthep is the Hmong village of Doi Pui. I didn't come up here on the same day as I visited Phra That Doi Suthep, because I sometimes like to go out in the evening and prefer to work in the morning. I also thought there was no rush, so I saved it for another day. Actually, I also like the atmosphere on the way up here, so I thought it would be nice to come here often. And actually (again), I wanted to stop by to see the flowers at Phuping Palace, but I saved it for another day (again) because I ended up coming up here in the evening again. So I didn't stop by because they close it to visitors at 3:30 pm.

The view from the Hmong village in Doi Pui is not overly spectacular, but what I found fun was trying on the traditional Hmong clothing. I must confess, the outfits are quite heavy, and I'm sure anyone who has tried them will agree.

"Huay Tung Tao Reservoir"

Huay Tueng Tao Reservoir, a royal initiative, is a freshwater lake surrounded by mountains. Drive along the irrigation canal road, passing the 700th Anniversary Sports Stadium, through the Nawamin School, the Chiang Mai Soil Development Station, turn left across the irrigation canal bridge, and continue for another 500 meters. Most people who come here sit and talk, eat, there are many restaurants by the water. Some people come to fish, camp. As for me, I come to see the view, find a place to sit, and bring snacks and tea to eat myself.

"Mae Kampong"

Riding a motorbike out of Chiang Mai to Mae Kampong for some fresh air, a distance of over 50 km, really made my butt ache. Along the way, near Ban Pong Kum, about 15 km before reaching Mae Kampong, I saw this scene and immediately pulled over to take a closer look. It was a scene straight out of a dream.

Another imaginative picture: 4-5 km before reaching Mae Kampong, I caught a glimpse of a small house by the river / resort, so I walked down and imagined myself sitting there writing something random / working on the balcony of this house. I stood there smiling silently, looking at this picture in front of me for a long time..

From the path before entering the village, you can feel the cool and refreshing air. As soon as you enter Mae Kampong village, you start to feel the magic. I have read about Mae Kampong, a village with a strong community way of life, surrounded by abundant nature. Even though the village is now crowded with tourists from both Thailand and abroad, the images I see still make me believe wholeheartedly that Mae Kampong will remain strong alongside the development of sustainable tourism.

This photo was taken at the Chom Nok Chom Mai shop in the afternoon, which is not a good time to take photos. But this photo serves as a beautiful memory, no less than any other.

The tea, coffee, and snacks at Chom Nok Chom Mai are delicious! I'm not just saying that, they really are delicious.

Mae Kampong Waterfall, a small, cool, and shady waterfall near the village. Anyone who comes to Mae Kampong village will not be able to resist visiting the waterfall. When you arrive, you have to walk up many stairs, which is a good leg workout. When I arrived, the path to the top level was closed, perhaps due to safety concerns. This meant I could only climb so high. A friend who had been there before told me that there is a pavilion at the top where you can sit and relax. I missed out on going up there.

"Opium Ridge"

I decided to ride my motorbike up from Mae Kampong Waterfall for another 2 km. The path was quite steep, and at some points, I had to jump off and push. I got so caught up in the moment, running and laughing, that I didn't realize the world was spinning until it was too late. This was just at this altitude, mind you. But the view from the top was worth it. Giw Fin, at an altitude of 1,517 meters above sea level, felt like a breath of fresh air. There was a pavilion to sit and relax in, and I sat there for a long time.

"San Kamphaeng Hot Spring"

From Mae Kampong, I returned to Chiang Mai city without wanting to go back the same way. On the way here, I rode a motorbike using Highway 118. On the way back, I tried to loop to Route 1317. I drove for more than 20 kilometers and passed the San Kamphaeng Hot Springs. If you come from Chiang Mai city, it should be about 40 kilometers.

This place is supported and developed by the cooperation between the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Sakon Kamphaeng Agricultural Cooperative. It is shady, spacious, with camping grounds, bungalows, Thai massage, etc. Open daily from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm. Stop by for a walk and there is also a foot bath. The shade is lovely^^

Maintenance fee :

Thai 30 baht

Foreigners 100 baht

The pool you see is not a swimming pool, it's a pool for boiling eggs. But I didn't try boiling any because I was already very full. I couldn't boil any more because if I did, I would have to eat them ^^

At the back, there is a hot spring gushing from below. Try standing near it, it's hot enough to make you sweat.

"Mon Jam"

Today, my butt hurts again. It's because the distance from Chiang Mai to Mae Rim is about 50 kilometers. But when I arrived and saw the view, I gradually felt less annoyed. Many people sit here and eat while enjoying the view. But when I arrived, I arrived with a group of students. So I didn't get to sit here and eat. I decided to go for a walk around instead. Oh... the bathroom here is very clean^^

One thing I wanted to see was the beautiful red poppy flowers up close. To be honest, I've never experienced them like this before (where have I been?). Even though it was just a small patch, the mission was accomplished. Haha.

This place is full of small vegetable plots. On a good day, you can walk around for a long time. There is a camping zone, which you need to inform the staff if you want to go down and see. I heard that at night the sky is full of stars, it's so beautiful you can't even describe it.

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The golden sunflowers at Mon Wiangam, opposite Mon Cham, can be seen from afar. This place is perfect for camping and enjoying the view. It looks peaceful. If you take a motorbike up here, you should drive around to see all the beautiful views. #MonWiangam

"Mae Sa Waterfall"

I went for a hike at Mae Sa Waterfall on my way back from Mon Cham. The waterfall has 10 levels. I parked my car at the third level, which also happened to have a bunch of food stalls. So I had some papaya salad and grilled chicken before I started my hike. It's a good thing I did, because the levels are about 300-500 meters apart, and most of the hike is uphill. By the time I reached the top, I was exhausted. I think the most beautiful level is the 8th one.

#This picture is just a creation #Actually, my knees are weak

Maintenance fee

Thai 20.-

Foreigners 100.-

"Phuping Palace"

Back to the mountains near Doi Suthep-Doi Pui again, haha. Each place requires time to soak in the nature or the location. Wherever I go, I want to manage my time well and not rush too much. I want to have enough time to see and feel everything. The palace is located between Wat Phra That Doi Suthep and the Hmong village of Doi Pui (about 5 km beyond Wat Phra That). The palace has a variety of cold-climate flowers, including orchids. The weather is quite cool and comfortable. If you ride a motorcycle up, you need to bring a jacket. But if the sun is strong while you are walking around, it can get quite hot.

Entrance fee : Thai 20.- , Foreigner 50.-

"Hang Dong"

Entrance fee : 50.- Exchangeable for 1 drink

"Golden Bamboo Strawberry Farm"

I had to ride my motorbike for over 50 kilometers to get to the golden bamboo plantation, which is located near Samoeng. But in mid-December, the weather started to cool down a lot. I took it slow and steady as usual. On the way, I stopped for a late breakfast at "Khao Deu Wiang Ngam Restaurant". The view was truly breathtaking (it's just 100 meters past the Khao Deu community market).

This strawberry picking job is not easy at all. I'm almost out of breath. 555

Our local strawberries are so pitiful. As soon as they turn slightly red, ants and insects rush to suck them dry, leaving only the orange, sour ones behind. (We who try to pick them are no less pitiful.) It takes more than an hour to select the red, non-orange, and non-spoiled ones. And usually, after the customers have finished picking, the grandmother who weighs them will pick out the bad ones again (250 baht per kg). I told the grandmother to take everything I had and not to choose, because I had already chosen them. I almost got dumped together with the others.

Strawberry picking rules: Big or small, pick only the deep red ones. Remember, we want them sweet and juicy, so don't pick the orange ones.

"Something Like Cat Cafe"

Something like a cat cafe ~ The cakes, brownies, and drinks are delicious. Even though the cats aren't very diverse, there are still enough to be divided into two groups, but it's not a problem because the leaders don't get along. 555 They told me that again, but the cats got up to play and tease each other well. But if any of them don't want to play, I won't bother them, for fear that they'll be unhappy. / The shop is on the opposite side of the street, diagonally across from the Seven Peaks Plaza.

“Kua Gai Nimmanha, Nimmanhaemin Soi 17, next to iberry"

When you visit Chiang Mai, one of the must-do activities is to go on a food adventure in the Nimmanhaemin area. My personal favorite is Kua Gai Nimmanha, which serves the most delicious kua gai I've ever had in my life. Seriously, I'm not exaggerating! The noodles are perfectly chewy and soft, and they add chicken, eggs, and squid to the dish. Every bite is pure happiness. The other dishes are also visually appealing and taste as good as they look.

The whole table is offered at 320.- flat ;P

"iberry by Note, Nimmanhaemin Soi 17, next to Kua Gai Nimmanha"

After a delicious meal, if you have some time to spare, why not stop by iberry, Note Udom's ice cream shop? To be honest, I'm not really into all this cutesy stuff (really?), but the prices aren't too bad. The desserts are pretty good, and there's a giant teddy bear that everyone takes pictures with. So, if you're ever in the Nimmanha area, make sure you come with an empty stomach because there's so much delicious food everywhere you look. ;P

"Khun Chang Kian"

First of all, I apologize for going back to the same mountain, but this time I went all the way to Khun Chang Kian. Because in the past when I went up Doi Suthep-Doi Pui, I didn't go all the way to Khun Chang Kian because I thought I would go up to see the Nang Phaya Sua Krong flowers as well, which I thought would be at the end of December. Ann might be lucky (Ann is only in Chiang Mai until the end of December, so it's almost time to say goodbye...). So I wouldn't rush to go up early. And then the end of December came, I rode my motorbike up. If anyone remembers Doi Pui, on the way up to Khun Chang Kian, after passing the Hmong village of Doi for about a kilometer, you will reach a viewpoint. The atmosphere is lovely. Looking down below is a view of the Hmong village of Doi Pui. Up here, they sell scarves, gloves, and other small items. The weather up here is quite cool, even though the sun is shining. So, a jacket is a must-have.^^

About a kilometer and a half further on, you'll reach the Doi Pui campsite. The atmosphere is so meow-meow and cute that I ended up sitting there for quite a while. I couldn't help but think, why didn't I come up here earlier? I really want to camp here, but I'm going to say goodbye to Chiang Mai in 2-3 days. Oh well ;O That's too bad. Blah blah blah. And then, 3 seconds later, heaven suddenly descended upon me –" When a large group of Thai and foreign tourists arrived, talking loudly, my dream was shattered in an instant. Haha.

But seriously, the atmosphere is so inviting for a nap ;)

And then… let's continue to Khun Chang Kian.

Today is a good day for Anne... It's blooming, isn't it? The cherry blossoms are blooming. As soon as I arrived at the Khun Chang Kian Highland Agricultural Research Station, 2-3 trees of the Wild Himalayan Cherry were already in bloom, probably in late December. How did it bloom? It's not spectacular or anything, but I feel so happy that I finally get to see the Wild Himalayan Cherry in person.

The plum blossoms are also blooming little by little. Andy is happy to see this. It's small, but it's growing in my heart somehow. In fact, I'm secretly wondering when I'll be able to come to Chiang Mai again. Y_Y But today was a good farewell to my heart.

Ann went to sip coffee at the fresh coffee shop in Khun Chang Kian village (about 5-600 meters into the village from the Khun Chang Kian Highland Agricultural Research Station). She sat sipping coffee and chatting about coffee picking and roasting with her sister who was looking after the shop for a long time. But she forgot to ask her sister's name. Ann remembers her smiling face, her enthusiasm, and her showing her many different types of roasted coffee.

Ending the day with a full heart, impressed by Chiang Mai in every corner...

After immersing myself in the beauty of nature, culture, architecture, and delicious food, one thing that truly left a lasting impression on me was the people.

The people here are always ready to smile and are truly kind-hearted. I'm not just saying this to brag or take sides. Unlike some vendors in markets who might be grumpy, everyone here seems to have a genuine service mind. I've been here for almost 3 months and I've never been frustrated with any vendors. Sometimes Google Maps takes me on a wild goose chase, or I might accidentally tap the wrong location on the map and end up somewhere else. Whenever I ask for directions, the people here are always helpful. Sometimes they even put their own work aside to draw me a map on paper with a pen.

Seeing this, anyone who stumbles upon this post will understand why I praise Chiang Mai so much ;) For others, I don't know how it is, but for me, Chiang Mai is a very livable city ^^