"Friend: Hey friend, I want to travel. I want to drive to Chiang Mai."

"Alright, let's do it."

My friend and I met at a friend's wedding. It was the beginning of the cold season. (November 27, 2016)

We discussed the possibility of taking a trip to Chiang Mai. My friend was already planning a road trip, so it seemed like a perfect opportunity.

Alright, let's go all out! This trip is with two friends, including me and my girlfriend, so it's a group of four.

We then started planning the date, time, and location. The destination was none other than "Chiang Mai."

The location, "Mae Kampong," is rumored to be a slow-life town, so I decided to include it in my itinerary.

I would like to experience it myself to see if it is really like that.

After consulting with my friends, they agreed to the plan, so I went ahead and booked the accommodation.

We have found a brand new homestay that just opened a few days ago. It is called "Himdarnน้อย Homestay".

The next day, we arranged for him to sleep in the city because his friends were going to eat a lot in the city.

Spend the evening strolling around Nimmanhaemin Road and relaxing at a cafe. I've already booked a room at a place I've stayed before, "Baan Gaewta."

When we were planning our trip, my friend told me he could take an extra day off, so we decided to spend a night on **"Doi Inthanon"**, the highest mountain in Thailand.

The Air Force area offers accommodation, which is not particularly comfortable but does provide heaters.

Expenses

Maekampong Homestay: 580 Baht per person, including breakfast.

The room in Inthanon is 1500 baht for the whole room.

City room 817 baht (15% discount from Agoda)

Fuel cost: 4,000 Baht (Mazda 2 Diesel)

I can't remember what I ate, I overindulged a bit ;-)

Mae Kampong Village

The day of our trip arrived, and my friend drove from Rayong to Bangkok, arriving around 10 pm. We then took turns driving throughout the night.

The late-night road was quite dark, very dark indeed. Then, in a flash, we arrived at Mae Kampong around 8 am.

We arrived and decided to have breakfast first. My friend wanted to eat sai oua, so after parking the car, we walked until we found a shop that was grilling sai oua.

The first round was a knockout, with both the food and the atmosphere being top-notch. However, the weather on the day I went was cool, with overcast skies and occasional drizzle.

As we arrived early and couldn't check into our accommodation yet, we decided to follow the review of "The Giant" in Mae Kampong, which was not too far away.

For those who are not comfortable driving, there is a shuttle service available for 100 baht each way. However, this is quite expensive.

Although we wanted to try driving up ourselves, it was indeed dangerous. In the end, I managed to reach the top safely.

Upon arrival, find a parking spot. **A word of advice: be sure to ask which side is paid and which is free.**

Is there anything else I can help you with?

After getting off the car, we took a few photos in front of it before heading inside and ordering coffee.

The staff informed me that there is currently a power outage, and only cold beverages are available. Hot beverages cannot be prepared. (Talk about bad luck!)

After waiting for a long time, I finally got to enjoy a cup of coffee with a million-dollar view. The coffee itself wasn't particularly remarkable, but the cool air and mountain scenery made it a pleasant experience.

After killing time by chilling out until past noon, we went down to our accommodation. The accommodation was a house extension of the owner's house itself, called "Himtarn Homestay".

The room is equipped with a sleeping mat, a private bathroom with a hot water heater, and a balcony for dining. In front of the room, there is a small stream.

After packing our belongings and taking a shower, we went for a walk around the village. The village has a temple, restaurants, cafes, and many shops.

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After a while, we were hungry, so we went to "Huen Cafe" for lunch.

The restaurant serves both food and coffee. We ordered a lot of food, but it was so delicious that we managed to finish it all.

After a savory meal, it was time for dessert, and we ended up at the shop "Uncle Poo & Aunt Pung".

The coffee at this shop is pretty good, it's fragrant and delicious. There are a lot of people, so after sitting and drinking coffee for a while, I started to feel sleepy.

Despite consuming two cups of coffee, they ended up falling asleep in their room.

I slept soundly and woke up at 6 pm. I was hungry again, so I had to go out to find something to eat.

My friends and I have a plan to watch the football match between Thailand and Indonesia today. We are looking for a restaurant that shows the game.

While searching for a restaurant, we came across a shop where they were tuning the TV signal. They said they were going to watch a football match, so we asked if we could watch with them, and they kindly agreed.

We ordered food and some light beers. I don't really watch football, but the atmosphere was really fun.

After the football game ended, we celebrated our victory and then returned to our room to rest. We had to wake up early the next morning to watch the sunrise.

Good morning, Mae Kampong. We went to watch the sunrise at "Kiew Fin", the path is similar to Giant, slippery and quite dangerous.

After driving, we walked for about 200 meters. We arrived after sunrise, but we were greeted by a **sea of fog**, which was incredibly breathtaking.

After capturing breathtaking photos of the sea of mist, it's time to satisfy our hunger. Let's head back home for a delicious meal of hot rice porridge, bananas, and coffee.

After finishing my meal, I took a shower and packed my belongings in preparation for the evacuation. While waiting for my friends, I decided to try the Nitro cold brew coffee from the shop in front of my accommodation.

The coffee was so good, it transcended the word "coffee." It was truly groundbreaking. I also enjoyed a cold brew in the car.

However, before we leave Mae Kampong, we cannot miss this coffee shop, "Chom Nok Chom Mai".

The coffee at this shop lives up to its reputation. It is fragrant and delicious, and the atmosphere, with a view of the village below, makes it even better.

Nestled in the serene embrace of nature, Mae Kampong offers a tranquil haven for those seeking a respite from the hustle and bustle of city life. Its idyllic setting invites visitors to immerse themselves in the slow pace of life, where time seems to stand still. However, concerns linger over the potential transformation of this peaceful retreat into a bustling tourist destination.

As I walked through the village, I noticed that many of the houses had been converted into homestays and cafes with a relaxed atmosphere. I wonder how long this trend will last.

Doi Inthanon

In the morning, we set off from Mae Kampong to Doi Inthanon. But before we started our ascent, we decided to refuel.

For lunch, we stopped by "Khao Soi Simeo Jai," a restaurant near the city center. My partner and I had eaten there twice before, so we recommended it to our friends.

The taste is still as delicious as ever. The only difference is that there are more people than before. But don't worry, the restaurant is spacious and there are plenty of seats inside.

The journey continued to Doi Inthanon, taking another two hours. Along the way, patches of mist began to appear.

As we drove to the entrance of Kiew Mae Pan, we couldn't resist stopping the car and getting out to admire the breathtaking sea of fog that stretched as far as the eye could see. It was truly awe-inspiring.

Wherever I go, I see a sea of fog. 555 But we have to drive to the top of the mountain to get to our accommodation.

Upon arrival at the entrance, proceed to the reception to register and exchange for your access card. You may then proceed to your designated accommodation.

Our room is a single room with a blanket and a heater, as it gets very cold at night.

The shared bathroom facilities are located outside the accommodation and include hot water showers.

Overall, it was a good experience, considering the stunning view from the highest point and the extreme cold. It was worth it.

I didn't take any pictures of the accommodation because I was afraid of violating any restrictions.

After packing up, my boyfriend wanted to see the Dok Phaya Sua Krong flowers. Although they weren't in full bloom yet, there were enough for some photos.

We then went to the "Lady's Slipper Orchid Research Center" and were fortunate enough to encounter a few clouded leopards. Although not numerous, we managed to capture some photos of them.

After admiring the beautiful flowers of the tiger orchid and lady's slipper, it was time to satisfy our hunger again.

This evening, we recommend "A Hundred Baht Barbecue with a Million Dollar View" at Doi Chaung Ya. My partner and I have already enjoyed a meal here during our previous trip.

We enjoyed two rounds of hotpot with a stunning view in the cold weather. It was a truly delightful experience.

Full and satisfied, it's time to drive back to our accommodation. Otherwise, we might miss our chance to sleep there.

The air up there is really cold. After taking a shower, I had to run back to my room, even though the bathroom is just a short distance away.

Upon entering the room, a sense of relief washed over them. They then engaged in a light-hearted game of mental arithmetic before retiring for the night.

The alarm clock went off at 5 am, and I woke up to take pictures of the stars at the pagoda. The weather was so cold that I felt like my body was going to freeze. The wind was also strong.

After setting up the camera, I pressed the shutter and took shelter from the wind in a building. However, I regret not taking enough pictures.

As the first light of dawn appeared on the horizon, we woke our friends and drove to the viewpoint to witness the sunrise.

Today is Monday, but it's incredibly crowded, almost as if it were a holiday. My friend and I specifically came on a weekday to avoid the crowds.

Thankfully, there was still some space to stand and watch the sunset. Afterwards, we went out to eat some delicious congee and grilled pork nearby.

Initially, we planned to hike the Kew Mae Pan Nature Trail, following the recent online trend. However, we ultimately decided against it due to the overwhelming crowd and long queue.

Instead, we went to admire the view at Phra Maha Chedi, where we could still see the sea of mist. This place wasn't bad either.

After admiring the view and paying respects at the pagoda, we went down to eat at the "Royal Project Restaurant, Doi Inthanon" in Baan Khun Klang.

My friend wanted to try the local specialty fish, so we each ordered a dish. The taste was good, but the portions were rather small.

Doi Inthanon is a truly remarkable place. The night sky is filled with countless stars, unobstructed by clouds. The temperature is frigid, sending chills down to the core.

The access to the accommodation is a bit difficult, but it's convenient that you don't have to go up and down to watch the sunrise.

A culinary adventure in Chiang Mai

After lunch, we headed back to the city and checked into our accommodation, "Baan Gaew Taa," located near Kad Ton Payom, which is also close to Nimmanhaemin Road.

It's time to eat again! Let's start with the "rock me" burger, as recommended by Wongnai.

Deservedly ranked among the top restaurants on Wongnai, this establishment offers delicious food, beautiful photo opportunities, and generous portions.

After getting a snack, we went for coffee. Every time I come to Chiang Mai, I have to visit this shop. "Rist8o". We each ordered a cup.

Afterwards, I invited my friends to go for a drive and take a walk to digest everything in preparation for dinner.

Our dinner at "Tong Tem Toh" is always packed, so we were prepared for a full house.

After getting a queue number, we took another stroll around Nimmanhaemin Road to kill time. Thankfully, we had eaten so much that we didn't have time to feel hungry, otherwise we wouldn't have been able to wait.

It was finally our turn to eat. This restaurant serves delicious local cuisine at affordable prices.

After finishing our meal, we headed to a bar. We ended up at a place called "Tha Chang."

It's already past midnight in Chiang Mai. Haha, what else can I do when the shops are closed? I guess I'll just go back to sleep.

The next morning, we went to Kad Luang to buy souvenirs and then drove back to Bangkok in 8 hours.

The trip involved a lot of driving, but it was enjoyable. It was a non-stop eating and tasting trip.

I arrived in Bangkok at 4 pm. My friend then drove back to Rayong. Everyone arrived home safely, and that concludes our trip.