I'm not very good at storytelling, as I'm more of an editor. So, let's cut to the scene at the airport and then speed through various shots while on the plane.
I am incredibly excited (with a million exclamation marks) because this is my first time flying.
Frantically clicking the shutter, oblivious to the world outside, a figure stands at the window, their loneliness palpable.
The first time I flew, it felt like riding a thrilling amusement park ride. I loved the clouds; they looked like giant cotton candy.
I want to jump down and roll around like a sofa at home.
I used to look up at it, but I never thought I would look down at it today.
Ah... Chiang Mai, is this really Chiang Mai? (I want to shout and ask, but I'm afraid they'll think I'm crazy) Huh!! ... It's almost four o'clock. Don't get excited by my voice. The owner of the accommodation said that the car to Jom Thong leaves at four o'clock in the afternoon. I hailed a red taxi in front of the airport and got off at Chiang Mai Gate to catch a bus to Jom Thong - a blue car (the blue car is the Chiang Mai-Hot car). The driver didn't know I was in a hurry because I didn't say I was in a hurry. Oh... well... I should be in time. There it is, I'm really in time -- The blue car has already left. The driver told me that it made a U-turn and I could catch it up ahead. There it is, the blue car is coming.
Wait for me!
Notes:
- I am ready to translate sentences or phrases from Thai to English.
- Please provide the text you want me to translate.
'I waved to the kind uncle, who stopped and waited for me.'
Boarding the bus, I was greeted by the melodious sounds of the northern dialect. It was truly enchanting, my friend.
Upon arrival at Chom Thong District, stop by for a quick bowl of noodles. (Get off at the Government Savings Bank in Chom Thong District. The bus ride takes about 1.5 hours. You can tell the conductor to drop you off at Chom Thong Bus Terminal.)
I can't take it anymore, my stomach is about to burst. The restaurant I'm eating at is located in front of the Government Savings Bank. It's rated 4 skulls, and the taste is decent.
Let's go, continue walking for another 400 meters to the accommodation. The owner will pick us up, but I don't want to. I want to walk. Look... doesn't it look like a nice walk? We can still walk a kilometer to the accommodation. "The rolling meadow"
Accommodation access
This is my accommodation, 'Heuan Phak Ton Tan'. However, I didn't take any pictures inside (looking at Google, it seems to be more beautiful than what I took).
Five skulls for 500 baht. We think it's a great deal. The owner is friendly and kind.
I haven't showered yet because it's already dark. I'm in a hurry to go out and find something to eat. I suggest you walk to the front of the Government Savings Bank as usual, and you will see a shop called 'Uncle Ad Lab Kham'. Go for the buffalo meat laab, and tell them to roast it, otherwise it will come raw. Ask for a lot of vegetables too, to keep the meat from being too gamey.
Start your day by renting a car in front of Wat Phra That Sri Chom Thong Worawihan, next to 7-Eleven. Deposit 1000 baht, rental fee 300 baht/day.
Park in front of the temple and take a leisurely stroll and photos.
Enjoying a bowl of pork congee in front of the temple with the pleasant weather. Life here isn't exactly "slow living" - people go about their daily routines as usual. Still, just sitting here and observing brings me joy. I envy those who live in the countryside. It reminds me of my childhood, when I was struggling to make a living in Bangkok. What was I thinking back then? Haha, just being dramatic.
Not full yet, let's go to the Tree Pizza restaurant next ...........huh..........the restaurant is not open yet, let's stop by to watch the cows eat grass first.
We can wait until 10:00 AM when the restaurant opens, but it's already 9:00 AM and we don't have any other plans. We'll have to return the rental car tomorrow anyway, so we can stop by then. (I'm not sure if congee will be enough to keep us full, haha...)
Traveling to Hod District, I stopped by a random village along the way. I couldn't help but take photos as I drove, excited like a child who had never been to the north, feeling as if I were in a foreign country.
And finally arrived at Hod (it took a while to get here - stopping and stopping to take pictures). I miss you all so much.
Following the steps, find accommodation before going to Aob Luang (accommodation fee is 500 baht, focusing on budget-friendly options).
Notes:
- The original text is empty, so the translation is also empty.
- I am ready to translate sentences or phrases from Thai to English.
- Please provide the text you want me to translate.
- I will ensure the translation is of high quality and sounds natural, as if written by a native English speaker.
Hello, I would like to inquire about a room. Oh, you won't talk to me.
The rented car is ready to go. After driving for a while, it…
Auntie, one set of Happy Mew costume, please.
Surrounded by nature, I barely touched my phone. It was a welcome break to reconnect with myself and the natural world.
We have arrived at Ob Luang. We sat down to rest and almost fell asleep. When we walked here, there was no one around. It was so quiet that it was scary. I was afraid that it would be too lonely.
I'm going back now - I'm feeling very sleepy. I had some coffee and drove back. People drive very fast here, so be careful if you're not a confident driver. I'm already a slow and cautious driver, so each trip makes me feel very tired. Let's go to the accommodation and get some rest. We can drive around and take photos later in the evening. zZZ
Riding a motorbike here is a pleasant experience. The mornings are quite chilly, but as the sun rises, it becomes scorching hot. However, if you venture into areas with dense vegetation, the temperature cools down again. We visited in early October.
- After charging our phones, we were ready to explore. Without a set plan, we decided to go with the flow. We asked friends who had visited before for recommendations, which made things easier in terms of finding accommodation and navigating transportation. Otherwise, we would have been lost.
The first picture after riding a motorcycle out, we came to the sign that said to go to Pha Sing Lieao, but we didn't get there because the aunt on the side of the road where we stopped to ask said that it was already dark and there were no people. If there were a lot of groups, it would be better to come (the aunt spoke in the northern language, trying to understand the meaning).
Visiting various markets, I found a belt for 20 baht.
We stopped for dinner before checking into our accommodation as it was already 6 pm. I don't remember the name of the restaurant, but I know it had these two mascots.
And just like that, another day has come to an end. Thankfully, there were no work-related issues to cause me stress, allowing me to enjoy a carefree and relaxing day of sightseeing.
..
..
A new day with a simple breakfast in a simple atmosphere that you can see as soon as you wake up.
After finishing breakfast, we drove back from Hod District to Chom Thong District to return the car before noon. Since we woke up early, we had time to stop by villages in Chom Thong District. We drove through the alleys looking for rice porridge, but couldn't find any. So we ended up with grilled bananas.
We lingered here for a while because we intended to have pizza before returning the car. As usual, we parked the car, walked around, and took pictures. We like towns that are not too developed but have a lot of trees. However, it probably won't be long before more buildings are constructed as tourism booms. It all depends on what is built.
“If we can stop progress at this point, then we can consider that as progress itself. It's like finding completeness in incompleteness."
It's time to go to the pizza shop. I wonder if Note Udorn has been here.
"The slow life is truly tempting. Seeing this makes me want to join the queue. The owner of the shop said that there is a duck trying to blend in with the flock of geese. I took a picture of it playing in the water. It's so cute! 'In every place, there must be adaptation.'"
The pizza has arrived. It's huge and has half Salmon and half Stefano Beef toppings.
And a hot dog, piping hot and delicious, so hot it burned my mouth.
After a satisfying meal, the bill came to 900 baht, including two glasses of fruit juice: a red grape smoothie and a mixed berry juice.
Return the car and receive the deposit refund >> Wait for the yellow car to return to the city to rent a motorbike >> Intend to go to Mae Kampong >> Diarrhea >> Go to the bathroom in the temple >> Take the same yellow car >> The car leaves
Continuing our journey without a break, we arrived at our destination, Mae Kampong, at 2:30 PM under the scorching sun. The weather had been alternating between rain and sunshine, which was a welcome change. We were exhausted, and our batteries were running low. At this point, we just wanted to roll over and sleep.
"Let's refuel a bit," the vendor advised, "It's still a long way to go (I feel like the journey there seemed longer than the way back)."
The sight of this scene has ignited a driving force within me. However, the issue remains that we haven't booked accommodation in advance. We've begun to notice the overwhelming number of people here. Today being a Saturday, the crowds are truly immense. Big bike groups, Chinese tour groups, cars, vans, young adults, and even some individuals with political affiliations (both red and yellow) are present. Some appear to be wealthy, judging by their arrival in Mercedes vans with personal drivers. Initially, we were confused, wondering if we had come to the wrong place. The initial review we read from a previous visitor described a tranquil and serene atmosphere, which held immense charm. We long for Mae Kampong to be a single bite-sized morsel that we can devour entirely, leaving behind only a profound silence.
Let's drive down to find accommodation below.
Farewell, Mae Kampong. If I have the chance, I will come on a weekday.
After driving around for a long time looking for a place to stay, it's almost dusk now. I finally arrived at the horse stable. Wow! Seriously, I should have driven in through the front entrance.
- Another day has passed -
This is the accommodation where I slept last night, The Log of Paradis Resort, 500 baht/night (taken in the morning). The bathroom is shared, but I was the only one using it. If there were other people, they must have been ghosts, because I was the only one who rented a room last night.
The room is equipped with a TV, air conditioning, and a refrigerator that has not been plugged in for a considerable amount of time. The surrounding atmosphere appears somewhat outdated, but it is nonetheless comfortable and casual. Adjacent to the room, there are teepee-style accommodations available for 500 baht per night.
Leaving the accommodation, I headed straight to Bo Sang, where I browsed the umbrellas and found a keychain as a souvenir for my friend.
Today, before returning, I went to pay homage to the Phra That Doi Suthep. I stopped by the rest stop to watch the artist draw. He also sang Chinese songs, and it seems that Chinese customers are constantly coming and going. He really knows how to win them over.
"The place was packed with Chinese tourists taking photos. I managed to squeeze in and take a couple of shots myself."
Continue driving past Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, following the road. We can stop to pay respects on the way back. The weather is very cool now, like it's winter. The more trees there are, the colder it gets.
The cold-resistant car has finally arrived at Khun Chang Kian Village. I just want to take some photos and have a cup of coffee.
On the way back, I stopped by Doi Suthep to pay respects to the pagoda. It was very crowded on Sunday.
Translation:
Along the way, we noticed some Westerners or Chinese people walking. They must have been walking from below. They were incredibly fit! If you come early in the morning, we think it's a good time to walk because it's not too hot. Even at eleven o'clock, it's not hot (probably because there are a lot of trees).
It's time to return the car and walk to the walking street, which is not far from the car return location. There are many food options available. If I stayed for another 2-3 days, I would definitely gain weight.
It's time to return to Bangkok. Must we part ways now, Chiang Mai?
Having a blast, but it's time to go. Three nights and four days here were definitely worth it. Back to the daily grind. Goodbye, Chiang Mai!
ROAD MOVIE
Friday, October 4, 2024 3:20 PM