A culinary adventure from "Chiang Mai" to "Chiang Dao" in search of delectable delights. [A Journey Eater's leisurely exploration]

The ultimate destination of this trip is Doi Luang Chiang Dao, the third highest peak in Thailand. The only way to reach the summit is by foot, making it a truly challenging and rewarding experience. Its stunning beauty has earned it the nickname "heaven on earth" among those who have had the privilege of witnessing its splendor.

If you ask why I chose to come here, the answer is my friends. My friends invited me, but in the end, the friend who invited me didn't come. This trip ended up with 4 girls, so we got the hashtag #tripoffourwickedgirls.

However, before embarking on a hike or exploring the forest, let's first explore the city.

January 26, 2018 Travel from Bangkok to Chiang Mai

The journey begins at Mo Chit, of course. Where else would it be? We're on a budget, so we opted for the NCA Gold Class service. The price is moderate, and the seats are plush and adjustable. There's music, movies, snacks, milk, and a cold towel. Since our bus was scheduled for 11 p.m., which is past dinnertime, we were given a chicken burger instead.

I'm not sure if it's the same for other rounds, but the round we went on was delayed by about 10 minutes. Haha, we took photos while we waited.

We departed at 23:10 and arrived at the NCA bus stop around 8:00 am. We then took a tour of Nimmanhaemin as a way to kill time. We hadn't actually planned this, as our original intention was to head straight to Chiang Dao upon arrival in Chiang Mai. However, our friends suggested that we find a place to shower and eat first, which led to our impromptu Nimmanhaemin tour.

As we were backpacking, we relied on public transportation. However, we opted for exclusive public transportation options at affordable prices, namely Uber and Grab Taxi. We are grateful for technology, which has made our lives more convenient.

Before heading to Chiang Dao, let me review a restaurant in Nimmanhaemin. Personally, I have never been to Chiang Mai before, while my friends on the trip have all been here. Therefore, for the city trip, I have to give my friends the lead.

This place feels like Bangkok. There are traffic jams, hot weather, and it's a street-style tourist spot. But it looks much cleaner than Bangkok. Next time I come here, I want to see if it's more crowded at night.

It was almost 11 am by the time we finished showering, so we decided to grab some caffeine before our main meal.

The first stop was RISTR8TO. I can't remember the name of the menu item I ordered, but I think it was some kind of mocha. My apologies to the owner of the shop.

The coffee was so strong that it woke me up from my hunger pangs. Haha!

The second restaurant was a heavy meal. We arrived in Nimmanhaemin and a friend recommended that we try Khao Soi. We headed straight to Khao Soi Nimmanhaemin. The menu offered a wide variety of Khao Soi options, including chicken, seafood, sai oua (northern Thai sausage), and fried pork. We were afraid of missing out on any of the flavors, so we opted for the mixed option. It was delicious!

The third shop, after having savory food, we had to follow it up with something sweet. So we went to the famous Iberry shop owned by Note Udom. As soon as we saw it, we knew it had to be Note's shop. The decorations in the shop are all in Note's style. It's like we're sitting in his art gallery. Since we had already had caffeine at the first shop, we went for a light hot cocoa at this shop, which was very enjoyable.

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Our friends enjoy taking photos and they upload them to Instagram and Facebook very quickly. As for us, we have to wait until we get home to upload them. We haven't invested in new technology equipment yet.

With full bellies, we are now energized and ready to embark on our journey to Chiang Dao! ^^

Traveling to Chiang Dao

To get from Chiang Mai to Chiang Dao, you need to take a bus from Chang Phuak Bus Terminal. The easiest way to get to the bus terminal is by Uber, which is convenient and affordable.

Upon arriving at Chang Phuak Bus Terminal, purchase a ticket and inform the staff that you are heading to Chiang Dao. They will advise you to disembark at Lotus Chiang Dao. You may request them to notify you when you reach Lotus. The fare is 40 baht. The ticket resembles a bus ticket in Bangkok, but you will receive multiple copies. Keep them with you, as officials may board the bus for inspection.

The bus we need to take is the Chiang Mai-Tha Ton bus, which is an open-air bus that gives a classic feel. It's already starting to fill up with backpackers. The bus leaves every half hour, but if it fills up before then, it will leave earlier. If it doesn't fill up, it will still leave every half hour.

Local residents in the mountainous areas use the service frequently. Most of them are locals, and there are not many tourists. It seems that our group is the only one that looks like tourists. Since local residents use the service a lot, they tend to carry a lot of luggage, including large boxes. For large items that cannot be taken on board, they can be stored in the storage compartment on the side of the bus, along with our luggage, which is really big. Most importantly, don't forget to bring your ID card with you. Some buses will have military officers checking ID cards.

The journey from Chang Phuak to Chiang Dao takes about 1.5-2 hours. The driver drove steadily, and we took a short break to rest our eyes. The driver was in no hurry, so we nicknamed the car "Sweet Ice Cream." We enjoyed the leisurely pace of the journey.

I went without much information, mostly asking the uncle and taking his word for it. I didn't know what bus to take, how to get to the elephant transport, what the bus schedule was, or what the Lotus Chiang Dao would look like. I just went with the flow, haha. It was fun in a different way.

Upon seeing the mountainous terrain, we were filled with anticipation, eager to discover the appearance of Lotus Chiang Dao. We wondered about its size and how it was constructed within such a valley. Our excitement was palpable, and we turned on our GPS. When the GPS announced our arrival in 20 minutes, we called Uncle to come and pick us up. Although he was busy that day, he kindly sent his team to greet us. This exemplifies Uncle's genuine kindness.

The long-awaited Lotus we finally saw was just a small, ordinary Lotus Express. Haha, why am I so excited? I was so excited that I forgot to take a picture. 55555 As soon as we got out of the car, a 4WD pickup truck driven by an uncle who came to pick us up parked right next to us.

Upon arriving in Chiang Dao, one is immediately struck by the fresh air, the tranquility, and the majestic mountains that serve as a backdrop. The scenery is breathtaking, especially during sunset when the sunlight casts a golden glow over the mountain range.

That night, we did not sleep at Uncle Gala's house. I'm not sure if Uncle Gala has a place to sleep. 55555 We chose to sleep at Ashi's house, which is a Grues house. It was very friendly. We chose to sleep in a room, which was cheap compared to other resorts in the area. It was also close to Chiang Dao Cave Temple. We walked less than 100 meters and arrived at the temple. However, we arrived too late, and the temple was closed. We were not allowed to enter the cave. But outside, there is a magical well. The water in the well is blue all year round. It is very beautiful. I think if I go again, I will go into the cave.

Returning to Ashi Guesthouse, we booked the house through Facebook and immediately transferred the money to secure the reservation. Ashi Guesthouse ChiangDao

For dinner, we opted for a large shabu set and grilled fish, prepared by Ashi. Breakfast consisted of rice porridge and coffee. We enjoyed delicious meals and a comfortable night's sleep, surrounded by stunning million-dollar views. It was an excellent value for money.

It is recommended to have a hearty breakfast before climbing the mountain to avoid dizziness, fainting, or vomiting. ^^ Eat a full meal, avoid eating too little, and emphasize eating a full meal.

A breathtaking view of Doi Chiang Dao from Baan Achi. Just step out onto the balcony and you'll be greeted by this stunning panorama. Enjoy a hot bowl of rice porridge while soaking in the scenery, followed by a warm cup of coffee. What a perfect way to start the day! Don't just imagine it, book your stay now! Haha.

Achi's house