Greetings once again, fellow travelers! This is my second trip to Chiang Mai, and this time, we're going as a group. As college students, we rarely have many days off, especially during the year-end exams. So, we decided to plan a trip to escape the city and embrace the cool winter breeze. After much deliberation, we settled on Chiang Mai. We started planning in October, which seems like ages ago. As usual, we opted for a train journey, and this time, we're a group of seven, the largest group I've ever traveled with.

The origin of the trip's hashtag is as follows: A few days before our trip to Chiang Mai, I, the author of this post, was selected to present research at another university after returning from Chiang Mai. Of course, I had to practice intensively with my advisor. My friends encouraged me by saying, "Fight!" and comparing the research presentation to a near-death experience. This led to the hashtag #CNXbeforeMdie, which means "going to Chiang Mai before I die from the research presentation."


This is a post I wrote before. It may be helpful as a reference.

"Well, well . . . . Who said there's nothing to do here?" Trip on January 6-8, 2016 https://pantip.com/topic/34656885

Phu Soi Dao. I've been there. I know. https://pantip.com/topic/35926892

Sukhothai: More Than Just a Stopover

This sentence translates to: "Sukhothai: A city worth visiting, not just a place to pass through." The hyperlink included provides further information about Sukhothai as a tourist destination.



"If everyone is ready, let's embark on a journey with us."

CHAPTER I: Embarking on a Journey "Embrace the joy of venturing into new realms with a curious mind and a thirst for knowledge."

Our journey began at Future Park Rangsit around 1 pm. Once the team was assembled, we headed to Rangsit Railway Station. We had booked tickets for the 109th train, Rangsit-Chiang Mai, 2nd class, seat, for 271 baht, departing at 2:43 pm. In the meantime, my friend and I were hungry, so we grabbed some duck rice for lunch.


After a long wait, we finally left Rangsit around four o'clock. It was a slow journey, typical of Thai trains. However, we were relaxed and comfortable, so it wasn't a problem.

Second-class carriage with reclining seats and a food tray in front.

The Allure of Train Travel: Food and Camaraderie

The charm of traveling by train with friends extends beyond simply soaking in the scenery. It also provides an opportunity for exchanging ideas and experiences. Another highlight for me on every train journey is the "food" sold at various stations along the way. Each region boasts its own unique culinary offerings, making for a delightful mini-review of the cuisine available on the Northern Line's fan-cooled or express trains. Let's take a look at what we devoured during our trip.

Wow, it was like a buffet! We initially joked that we wouldn't even need to reach Chiang Mai, as we'd likely spend all our money on the train itself. And we did eat a lot! Traveling with a group allowed us to share the cost and sample a wider variety of dishes.

The abundance of food options along the route is evident. Water is readily available throughout the journey, and a staple food item is stir-fried basil with a fried egg, sourced from both supply cabinets and local vendors. Shortly after departing Rangsit, a variety of food options emerge, including sticky rice with pork, boiled peanuts, dumplings, tapioca pearls, and Pad Thai. Upon reaching Ayutthaya, the renowned Roti Sai Mai (sweet roti with cotton candy) becomes available. Nearing Lopburi, the delectable Khanom Kai Hong (duck egg dessert) is a must-try. Its unique flavor profile features a savory filling of salted peanuts with a hint of pepper, reminiscent of the filling in Khanom Chan (Thai steamed dessert). The exterior is coated in sugar, creating a harmonious balance of sweet and salty. The bite-sized balls are a perfect treat. As dusk approaches near Nakhon Sawan, steamed buns and sweet corn with sticky rice are offered in a set of three for approximately 20 baht. I couldn't resist indulging in the entire set myself.


Atith fell on the way.

During the journey, we kept ourselves entertained in various ways. Some friends read novels, falling asleep and waking up repeatedly. Others engaged in various activities. Naturally, I also found ways to pass the time. As the only two men on the trip, we shared a passion for Star Wars, discussing it from beginning to end. We then moved on to The Lord of the Rings and The Matrix, until my friend's girlfriend advised against engaging me in such conversations, as I tend to become engrossed in them. It was quite humorous.


The bird flies back to its nest.

Convey the story.

As we approached Chiang Mai, the air grew progressively cooler, accompanied by strong winds. Everyone donned their winter jackets. After a comfortable sleep, we arrived in Chiang Mai.



Chapter II: Arrival in Chiang Mai - "New Places, Unwavering Friendships"

We arrived in Chiang Mai around 5:30 am, almost 6:00 am. After washing our faces and brushing our teeth, we set out to find something to eat.

Near the train station, there is a market called San Pa Khoi Market. It's just a short walk from the station. The market mainly sells fresh produce, various curries, fried food, and sticky rice.

For breakfast, we opted for sticky rice, fried fish, laab wrapped in banana leaves, and crispy pork skin. We hired a car with Mr. Keng, a friendly northern driver who accompanied us throughout the trip. He picked us up at the market around 7:00 am to head to Doi Suthep. On the way, we were all famished and devoured the sticky rice with various side dishes with gusto, placing them on our bags and digging in ravenously. The hot sticky rice with crispy pork skin, fried fish, and laab was incredibly delicious.

It didn't take long for P'Keng to take us to a scenic viewpoint on the way up Doi Suthep. The road may be a bit winding and require some skill to navigate, but the view from this point is breathtaking. It's almost as if you can see the entire city of Chiang Mai in one go. The scenery is truly magnificent.

This is the kind face of our kind driver, Mr. Keng, who took us everywhere on this trip. We mainly visited three places: Doi Suthep, Mae Kampong, and Doi Inthanon. We were a group of seven people and paid 1,000 baht per person. At first, I thought it was expensive, but considering the distance and the difficulty of each route, I think it was not expensive at all. Mr. Keng's contact numbers are 0979210953 and 0871752296. You can use his service. He is very kind and even slept with us in every place we went, including in the car. He is very dedicated. Our next destination was Doi Pui. The weather was very good that day, and the road might be a bit winding.

Soon, we arrived at Doi Pui, a village inhabited by hill tribe people. It boasts flower gardens, tea, and coffee for tourists to enjoy. As soon as we got off the car, the first thing we encountered was this.

The strawberries were delicious. Next, we walked to see the flower garden above. Along the way, there were things for us to play with. We shot crossbows and bows. Since there were only two of us men, we competed against the women. Of course, we lost badly.

After a short walk, we arrived at the flower garden. The air was fresh and cool. Everyone was taking pictures and soaking up the atmosphere.

On a chilly morning, we craved something warm to drink. Above the flower garden, there's a cafe that sells tea, coffee, and has Wi-Fi. The atmosphere is fantastic, so we decided to give it a try.

After that, we descended from Doi Pui to pay respects at Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. Since we were already in Chiang Mai, we decided to visit the temple.

The girls on the team have amazing cheerleader moves!

It was almost noon, and we were all starting to get hungry. Of course, we couldn't come to the north without trying some northern food. Since none of us had done any research, we asked P'Keng to take us to a good place. He brought us to this restaurant.

Most of our friends ordered Khao Soi, the most popular dish here. The overall taste is delicious. It is rich and flavorful, with a variety of options, including chicken, beef, and meatballs. For snacks, we ordered satay. Our northern friend also recommended that we try this dish.

Khao Klua Jin is a dish made with rice mixed with pig's blood, seasoned, wrapped in banana leaves, and steamed. It is then sprinkled with fried garlic. Since none of us had ever tried it before, we each took a bite or two. It was surprisingly delicious! The fried garlic was fragrant, and the rice was salty and savory, offering a unique flavor experience. After filling our stomachs, we continued our journey to Mae Kampong village. Along the way, we had the opportunity to stop by the Royal Project at Tin Tok. This location features a restaurant, a stream, and accommodations for visitors. We took the opportunity to fully immerse ourselves in the atmosphere.

We finally arrived at our accommodation in Mae Kampong today, Samran Chon Homestay. We unloaded our belongings, rested for a while, washed our faces, and unpacked. We stayed in a large room that could accommodate six people. The accommodation provided us with dinner and breakfast during our one-night stay.

After lunch, we went to Mae Kampong Waterfall, which is not far from our accommodation. The path is a bit steep, but the air is fresh and the scenery is beautiful. The waterfall has several tiers, but we arrived around 4 pm, close to the closing time of the "Chom Nok Chom Mai" birdwatching shop (5 pm). We hurried to the shop and then walked to the waterfall. After enjoying the waterfall, we walked down to the village to visit the trendy "Chom Nok Chom Mai" cafe. The cafe is a must-visit for anyone passing through Mae Kampong. We stopped by in the evening and enjoyed delicious snacks and drinks while taking in the breathtaking mountain views. As the evening progressed, the air grew cooler. We walked down from the cafe to explore the village below. I loved the atmosphere here. Everything seemed to be at a standstill or moving at a slow pace. It's a true slow-life experience. The villagers are friendly, and there aren't many tourists. You can feel the simplicity of life here, where people live in harmony with nature without rushing. It's no wonder this place has become so popular in recent years. It's not just from seeing photos online; experiencing it firsthand makes you feel the warmth in your heart, the coolness in the air, and the fresh, clean air all at once. With our hunger pangs, we knew that snacks and drinks wouldn't be enough. So we bought grilled pork and roasted corn to enjoy. The pork was grilled over hot coals, and the aroma was irresistible. There was also a long queue of people waiting to buy it.

"Gather... unleash the power!"

We ended the day with a delicious meal at our accommodation. The dishes included omelet, northern Thai chili paste, hang lay curry, and stir-fried cucumber with oyster sauce. The meal was absolutely delightful. The cucumber was fresh and crispy, the hang lay curry was bursting with spices, and the northern Thai chili paste was fragrant and delicious. Everything paired perfectly with the hot rice. After dinner, everyone showered, took care of personal tasks, and went to bed. The weather was quite cold at night, so stepping outside the room was quite an experience! Oh, and I forgot to mention that the bathroom has hot water, so you can enjoy a comfortable shower. Good night for now!

Chapter III: This Morning… at Kam Pong: "Moving Forward, Me and My Friends"

Wake up, wake up, there's something going on. Wake up, you dog.

This morning, we woke up around 7:00 AM. The accommodation provided us with hot rice porridge and boiled banana for breakfast. I had several bananas. After recharging, we packed our belongings and left Mae Kampong. Personally, I love the atmosphere here. The accommodation is top-notch. If you have the chance, I highly recommend visiting this place. You will realize that the true slow life experience is worth the search.

The Next Stop: San Kamphaeng Hot Spring

Our next stop was the San Kamphaeng Hot Spring, conveniently located on the way to the city center. The entrance fee was 40 baht per person, and we also bought a basket to boil eggs in the hot spring. They offered both chicken and quail eggs. We visited on a Sunday, and the water park was packed with children enjoying the various water features.

This is the fifth photo of the photographer above. Since there was no one around and we really wanted a picture, we asked a young person to take a picture for us. They were super cute and ran over to help. We showed them how to take the picture, and our friends laughed at me, saying it looked like a father teaching his child.

The boiled eggs in the hot spring water, which has a slight sulfur smell, should be cooked for approximately 10-15 minutes.

Rinse the fruit with cold water before eating, then peel and enjoy.

We then got into Brother Keng's car and continued eating on the way, as we needed to hurry to book a tent on Doi Suanya that day.

As time flew by, it was almost noon again. We asked our friend, Mr. Keng, to recommend another delicious restaurant. This time, we came to this restaurant.

We indulged in a feast of northern Thai cuisine, our table overflowing with sticky rice and an array of delectable dishes. From flavorful curries to spicy laab, savory fermented sausage, and crispy pork rinds, each bite was a symphony of flavors. The hunger pangs added an intoxicating element to the experience, making the meal all the more satisfying.

We then continued our journey to Doi Inthanon National Park, where we would be staying for the night. Upon arrival, we paid the park entrance fee.

And so we arrived at Doi Sua Ya, the campsite where we would inquire about a place to sleep for the night.

This is a camping area with a hill-like terrain. You can choose your own camping spot from a variety of sizes. Pillows and blankets are provided. Once you have unloaded your belongings and settled in, we can move on.

We then continued our journey to the Inthanon Royal Agricultural Station.

The entrance fee is approximately 200 baht, but it is well worth it. Inside, there are many beautiful gardens with a variety of flowers from cold climates. There are also many photo opportunities and the atmosphere is very peaceful. I have included some photos for you to enjoy.

After enjoying the atmosphere and taking photos, we returned to our accommodation to relax and eat snacks. Some friends took showers and enjoyed their leisure time.

As night fell, we searched for food. Of course, there's nothing better than enjoying a hot pot with friends on a cool night like this while camping in a tent. So we went ahead and did it. This kind of atmosphere is hard to come by. If we didn't have the chance to hang out with friends like this, we would have missed out. We ate with gusto, chatting and gossiping, playing the twenty questions game. It was fun. Some friends were afraid of their heads smelling, so they even wore shower caps. Of course, because we ate a lot, everyone was very hungry, so the hot pot was quickly finished. Then we went down to find something else to eat. I was so angry! There was a hot pot restaurant at the entrance of a big shop. When we came, they said they would sell it to order at eight o'clock, but when the time came, we walked down and they didn't sell it. Oh, my god! We're not full yet. What are we going to eat? So we filled our stomachs with toast from the shop next door. When we were full, we brushed our teeth and went to bed early because we had to leave this place very early tomorrow, around five o'clock in the morning, to go up to the Mae Pan Waterfall. Because if we go up late, there will be a lot of people.

CHAPTER IV: Time Flies, Memories Remain

We woke up at almost four in the morning, brushed our teeth, and washed our faces. Of course, since there were more women than men in our group, there wasn't enough time to put on full makeup. So, our friends decided to apply their makeup in the car while we were driving to the starting point of the Kew Mae Pan Nature Trail. The winding road didn't faze them at all. With good balance, headlights, and mirrors, they managed to look flawless, as if they were applying makeup on solid ground.

The faces need to be blurred a little, but these women are incredibly talented. I must admit, I'm impressed.

We arrived around 5:30 AM and registered with the staff. The guide fee was 200 baht, payable upon descent. The morning temperature was a cool 8 degrees Celsius.

Around six o'clock, we set off from the starting point. The path was dark, so if you come to hike this early, don't forget to bring a flashlight. It didn't take long to reach the viewpoint, but it was still dark at that time, so we waited a while for it to get light. Then we enjoyed the atmosphere as you can see.

The crowd was quite large, leading to queues for photos at popular spots.

At approximately seven o'clock, we continued our journey along the nature trail, which initially followed the contours of the mountain.

This is our guide, Game, who will lead us through the Mae Pan Nature Trail. He's a funny and lively kid.

The trail leads into a lush rainforest, boasting a refreshing atmosphere. The verdant landscape is adorned with moss and ferns.

After completing the walking route, we went out to find something to eat near the starting point. We found a very long queue of people waiting to walk. 555

This is what our breakfast looks like: grilled chicken, rice porridge, and soft-boiled eggs.

After satisfying our hunger, we continued our journey to three more destinations: the summit of Doi Inthanon.

Naphra That Nophamethinidon - Naphaphon Phumisiri

And finally, before descending from Doi Inthanon, there is Wachirathan Waterfall.

On the way down from the mountain, we stopped to buy some local fruits, including mulberries, strawberries, apples, pears, and seedless grapes.

In the afternoon, we took the 3 p.m. train back to Bangkok.

If you, my readers, are still with me at this point, I would like to express my gratitude. This post is quite lengthy, and I wrote it to share my experiences and the lessons I learned along the way. Traveling allows us to learn and understand ourselves and others better, as well as to take a break from our usual routines. If you have the opportunity, consider venturing out and exploring new places. Thailand has a plethora of hidden gems waiting to be discovered. Don't wait for the perfect moment; instead, create opportunities to embark on new adventures.


Total damages incurred.

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