After much deliberation on whether to embark on a slow-paced solo train journey to Chiang Mai or opt for the convenience and speed of a flight, I ultimately decided on the latter, opting for a flight with AirAsia. With my bags packed, I boarded the plane and set off on my adventure.

Check out this video for a glimpse of the stunning scenery at Kiw Mae Pan:

The equipment used on this trip:

• Fuji X100T • Fuji XA2 + 50-230mm •

• Fuji XT1GSE + Samyang 8 mm Fisheye •

• Fuji XT10 + Voigtlander 50 mm f1.4 Nokton •

• Gopro Hero 4 Silver •

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January 18, 2016 "Happy New Year"

As far as I can remember, the last time we visited Chiang Mai was back in sixth grade. Now, it's already our fourth year of university. Everything seems to have changed so much! (Actually, I don't really remember anymore haha)

Upon arrival, the first order of business was to pick up the car that had been reserved for our four-day northern adventure. We had been eagerly anticipating its arrival for months (okay, maybe a slight exaggeration), but it wasn't until nearly 9 am that it finally showed up. Checking the weather app, we were greeted with a temperature of 13 degrees Celsius! For us, this was freezing! We had packed clothes for a much more relaxed climate. Oh, the irony!

Let's go!!! But wait a minute, before we go to our main goal for today, let's find something to eat first. The fat in my stomach is crying out for supplies.

Not passed. For us, it's not delicious. We've eaten it in Nan before, and it was much better. -,.- The first goal for today is to climb Doi Ang Khang to hunt for the tiger flower. Right now, I'm really excited about whether I'll find the tiger flower blooming in full bloom like I'm in a cherry blossom forest in Japan, or if I'll find the remains of the flowers that have fallen to the ground, or if it will be small, budding flowers that haven't bloomed yet. My heart is beating like a drum! But wait!! The view along the way is pretty good.

Stop for a break at the Pha Daeng viewpoint.

Stop for a photo at the Suithang viewpoint.

We opted for the route via Wiang Haeng and Ban Arunotai, where we encountered no traffic, making for a truly solitary ride. Despite the lack of steep inclines, the road was rather narrow and winding.

After taking a one-hour break, I'm heading to the Doi Ang Khang Royal Agricultural Station. The current temperature is 8 degrees Celsius, with the grass tips at -1 degree Celsius. It's freezing! My jeans aren't providing any warmth at all!

After taking some photos, the light began to fade. We drove around looking for a plum orchard but couldn't find one, so we decided to go get something to eat. The go-to dish when going up the mountain is "mookata" (Thai BBQ).

Despite wearing an extra sweater, the cold persisted. Unable to bear it any longer, I had to buy another sweater. It was freezing!

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January 19, 2016

It's 5 am and the penguins are about to storm the 2000 tea plantation and the NOLA strawberry farm (wearing 3 layers of clothing + scarf + gloves). But... the sun hasn't woken up yet, they're standing with trembling legs waiting for it to appear over the horizon. It's soooo cold, their feet are numb and they're in pain. TT

The morning light has arrived.

We got to know this place, Baan Norlae Strawberry Farm, because a friend in our Fuji group frequently posted pictures of it. So, we decided that if we ever visited Chiang Mai, we had to come here. (But my photos still aren't as beautiful as theirs. I guess I'll have to come here more often, haha.)

You can look and take pictures, but please don't take anything.

Seeing the charcoal stove makes me want to sit by the fire to keep warm.

On our way back from the farm, we stopped by the Royal Project again to look for the legendary plum orchard.

Can I take a selfie with you, Buay?

Whose child is this? So cute!

We then took a car back to the city, following the same route but capturing new angles.

I was so hungry by the time I reached the city that I ordered a special chicken rice dish, but it felt a bit small.

While on the way, we stopped at the Grand Canyon and were tricked by an uncle who charged us 40฿ for directions even though we had GPS. I'm still wondering why we paid for it!

As I entered, the afternoon sun's heat was palpable, but it couldn't compare to the heat emanating from the six-pack abs of the foreigner about to jump into the water. Each one of them was a masterpiece, handsome enough to take home. (But hold on, ladies, let's not get carried away just yet!)

The sun began to set, and we, the adventurous ones, couldn't resist climbing after the others. We were going to try jumping into the water, but we ended up just taking pictures. 555

The accommodation is a nature lover's dream, with a single-family resort house that is incredibly spacious and affordable. It can easily accommodate ten people.

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January 20, 2016

Waking up to the cold on the top of Doi Inthanon with a temperature of 9 degrees, accompanied by a chilling wind that pierces through your clothes. Take a short walk on the top of the mountain before heading to Kew Mae Pan.

The Nature Study Trail of Kiw Mae Pan: Today's Highlight

This sentence describes the Kiw Mae Pan Nature Study Trail as the highlight of the day. The writer notes that the trail has changed since their last visit ten years ago.

Here is a more formal translation:

The Kiw Mae Pan Nature Study Trail was the highlight of the day. It has undergone significant changes since my last visit ten years ago.

The initial sight of the stairs was daunting, but the breathtaking alpine meadows at the 7th point made the arduous climb more than worthwhile. The stunning scenery erased all traces of fatigue from the kilometer-long ascent.

Taking a quick breath, I have to say it was super scary! 5555

Take your son to get some fresh air.

This is a scenic viewpoint of the Phra That. Beyond the earthen boundary lies a cliff. If you want to take photos, please be careful. There have been reports of people falling to their deaths from that spot.

The forest is rather barren due to the winter season. The trees appear dry and withered, lacking their usual vibrancy. It is recommended to visit during the late rainy season for a more scenic experience.

Attire

Clothing: Light but warm, good grip sneakers, sun hat, dust mask if visiting during winter (dust from people walking in front can be overwhelming), and a small bottle of water.

Royal Agricultural Research Center, Chiang Mai (Khun Wang)

This year's Khun Wang flowers are much less abundant than usual. While the photos may appear to show a large number of flowers, this is due to careful framing and positioning. However, the scenery at Phu Lom Lo is currently stunning.

Tiger Lily Tunnel, Khun Wang

The tunnel is as described, but there are no tigers. The tigers are not in bloom. Very disappointed. Only a few trees are in bloom, and they are very small. So we adjusted the tone of the image to make it darker to compensate for our disappointment.

Mae Ya Waterfall during the dry season

The Google Maps directions led us to a remote and secluded location. The narrow, winding roads through the village were barely wide enough for a single vehicle, with sharp turns every few meters. Upon reaching the waterfall, we found it eerily deserted, devoid of any visitors or even park rangers.

Tonight's stay at Ob Aun Homestay (lots of pictures because I really loved it)

Warm Embrace Homestay: Affordable and Charming Accommodation with Exceptionally Hospitable Hosts

โอบอุ่น โฮมสเตย์ translates to Warm Embrace Homestay, a charming and affordable accommodation option where the hosts are renowned for their exceptional hospitality.

The accommodation was decorated to our liking, it was very artistic. The room we stayed in was called "Khim".

We stayed alone, but in the morning, the owner of the accommodation called two other people who were not staying there to have rice porridge together. I was so impressed! Let me tell you, there was a lot of pork, both minced pork and pork bones. I had 3 bowls easily.

The cafe was only open until 9 am, so we could only take pictures and missed out on trying the delicious menu items.

The Colossal Chiang Mai

A legendary trendy cafe. The entrance is extreme - very narrow, with many sharp turns, steep inclines, and no guardrails. Drive carefully if you plan to visit. There's also a岔路 leading to Mae Kampong village along the way.

I can't find the right angle to set the lighting. This picture is so frustrating.

We arrived before the shop opened. The wooden bridge you see above can only accommodate two people at a time.

Translation:

We were taking photos and playing around when we realized the restaurant was suddenly packed. Almost every table was full.

The hot cocoa costs 70฿ per cup, and the taste is just average in our opinion.

Crepe cake 125฿. If I could rate it, I would give it a 4/10. -,,- I don't know if it was tough because of the weather or if the dough was already tough.

After leaving the coffee shop, we went in search of another delicious khao soi restaurant, hoping it wouldn't be as bad as the one we had on the first day. We found "Khao Soi Nimmanha" in Nimmanha Soi 7. Drive into the middle of the soi and it will be on your right. This restaurant is confirmed to be very delicious, from the khao soi to the coconut water.

Left is Khao Soi Gai 69฿, right is special with everything in the shop 129฿, crispy wonton 45฿ (really crispy), coconut water that can be eaten whole 60฿, cup cake 30฿ per box.

Before heading back, I stopped by the Ang Kaew Reservoir at Chiang Mai University to take some photos. It happened to be a rehearsal day, so it was incredibly crowded and the traffic was terrible.

Summary of main expenses:

• Entrance fee to Doi Ang Khang Royal Agricultural Station: 50฿ per person / 50฿ per car
• Suvarnabhumi Resort: 3000฿/night
• Car rental: 1500฿/day
• Nature Lover's House: 1500฿/night
• Entrance fee to Doi Inthanon National Park: 40฿ per person / 40฿ per car
• Guide fee at Kew Mae Pan: 200฿/group
• Ob-Aun Homestay: 800฿/night
• Entrance fee to Grand Canyon: 50฿ per person
• Food and fuel expenses are at your own convenience.

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Thank you everyone for following us until the end.
Our review may not be very informative, we mainly focus on pictures because we are not very good at writing. 555
If there are any mistakes, we will try to improve on our next trip. Goodbye.

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