A Tiny Village Nestled in the Forest: Mae Kampong (EP. 1)

This trip to Chiang Mai, I was determined to visit Mae Kampong.

After being teased with beautiful pictures for a long time, the initial two people have become three of us.

You can go, but the more the merrier. Together is better, as Leo said.

This round-trip flight ticket was booked for 590 baht during a promotion. Of course, if you proceed to the next page, there will be additional charges such as baggage fees and travel insurance. Most backpackers will remove all of these, especially those that are bundled with the flight ticket. The prices are quite high, so many people think it's unnecessary and would rather save the money for their trip.

However, I would like to remind everyone not to neglect travel insurance. If something happens, travel insurance will be there to help you. Therefore, when booking your tickets, when you reach the step where you are asked to purchase travel insurance, I would recommend that you uncheck the box and then go and purchase it from an online insurance website instead. This way, you will get a much better deal. (Friends, try this method, it works very well and you can save hundreds of dollars.)

After searching for information, I found domestic travel insurance TIP FLY SURE from Tip Insurance at tipinsure.com/tipflysure. It is half the price of buying through an airline, with a one-way trip costing 55 baht and a round-trip (covering the entire trip) costing 129 baht. The best part is that it offers more coverage.

Once you have completed the information, you can pay and have the policy delivered to your email immediately. No need to contact us back, no need to wait to send documents. It will be ready for your trip within 3 minutes.

Single-leg coverage plan example costs only 55 baht.

This provides coverage of up to 4 million baht!

A word of caution: when traveling domestically, don't assume that domestic travel insurance is unnecessary. Purchasing insurance is like paying for peace of mind. Many late-night domestic flights experience frequent delays. Those who have connecting flights to other provinces may miss their connections and have to purchase new tickets. In case of emergencies, insurance can provide much-needed assistance.

This trip was planned for a very long time, so long that it almost fell through. The highlight was that we originally planned to take the sleeper train in second class, but when we saw the price, it was hundreds of baht more expensive than last year. So, we ended up with theสมบัติทัวร์ VIP 27-seat bus, which cost only 759 baht. Let's see what it has to offer.

The bus departs from Mo Chit at various times. We booked the 9:39 PM bus and picked up the tickets at the counter. We then stocked up on supplies before boarding the bus at the platform.

Upon arrival, hand your luggage to the staff who will tag it and place it under the bus. Then, gracefully walk up to your seats: 1a, 1c, and 1d, located on the upper deck in the front row. These seats offer ample legroom, reclining seats with adjustable backrests, and massage chairs. Enjoy the movie with comfortable headphones, and don't forget to utilize the provided pillows and blankets for a restful journey.

As the bus departs from Mo Chit Bus Terminal, the staff will distribute five snacks, milk, water, and snacks to each passenger. They will also announce a rest stop in Kamphaeng Phet Province and provide headphones for those who do not have them.

Around 2 am, the bus will arrive at a rest stop in Kamphaeng Phet province, where there are restrooms and a restaurant available for passengers.

VIP guests can enjoy a buffet in the VIP room, which includes congee, fried rice, steamed rice, a variety of dishes to choose from, and stir-fried noodles with gravy.

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The staff will bring water to your seat and inform you of the departure time. There will be a 20-30 minute rest stop to allow you to stretch your legs. The bus will then continue its journey and arrive in Chiang Mai around 7:20 AM.

Overall, I am quite satisfied with the condition of the bus, the service, the price, and the amenities. Compared to the sleeper train, I would choose to take the bus, unless I am looking for a specific atmosphere. After all, life is a journey, and no matter how we travel, the atmosphere and feelings we experience are different, but we will all reach our destination eventually.

Upon arrival at Chiang Mai Bus Terminal, KaTai Car Rent delivered the car. Let's go!

This morning, we started our day with a delicious breakfast of fried eggs at the renowned Kai Ga Ta Le's Rot restaurant. This is a place I frequent often during my morning visits to Chiang Mai.

After energizing ourselves in the morning, our next destination was Wat Phra That Doi Kham to seek blessings from Luang Pho Tan Jai.

The temple was bustling with activity today, with many people coming to fulfill their vows and offer prayers.

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After paying respects to Luang Pho Tan Jai and making our wishes, we continued to Wat Umong, which is not far from Doi Kham Temple. In the early morning, there weren't many people around. The sunlight filtered through the leaves and onto the old bricks of Wat Umong, making for some cool photos (even though we were at a temple, haha).

After visiting Wat Umong, we continued to the restaurant "Huan Tueng Chiang Mai". We arrived at around 11:00 am, and there were hardly any customers. We ordered several dishes, and they were all delicious. This is another restaurant that I will definitely visit again when I come to Chiang Mai.

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The menu with red ant eggs is great. The fried chicken, papaya salad, and chili paste are delicious. Overall, the prices are not expensive. We ate until we were full, and it only cost us a little over a hundred baht per person.

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In addition to local cuisine, there are also trendy cafes.

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After a hearty meal, I initially planned to climb up to Khun Chang Kian. However, I was so exhausted from the climb that I had to stop at Doi Pui.

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Disperse and return to the city to regroup before heading to Mae Kampong.

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The drive from Chiang Mai city to Mae Kampong takes about an hour and a half. The main road is not long, but the entrance to Mae Kampong has many curves. However, the drive is enjoyable with beautiful scenery. When we arrived at Mae Kampong village, there was a sharp turn that was difficult for our small Swift car. Even pickup trucks had to slow down. We were impressed that our car made it up the hill.

The first night, we booked a stay at Cheewit Cheewa for only 1,000 baht per night. It's a three-story house with one room per floor. If you come during December or January, it's always fully booked.

The interior features a bed and mosquito netting.

The bathroom is spacious and equipped with a water heater, making it perfect for those who are afraid of the cold.

Plates, bowls, and spoons are provided for you to purchase food or order a hotpot to enjoy here. The owner is very friendly.

Next to the house, there is a waterfall. At night, you can sleep and enjoy the sound of the waterfall. The cool air is refreshing. This is why I escaped the hustle and bustle of the city.

Breakfast is not provided here, so you need to bring your own supplies or walk to the entrance where villagers sell food. We have prepared our own food, and after eating, we can clean up, take some photos, and get ready to continue our journey.

The accommodation offers direct access to the Mae Kampong Waterfall via a scenic nature trail. A leisurely walk takes approximately 20 minutes, but expect a slightly longer duration if you stop to capture photos along the way.

We have arrived at Mae Kampong Waterfall.

After taking photos below, there is still a path leading up to the top of the waterfall. I was crazy enough to walk up there since I was already there. If you come in the morning, the ground and rocks will be a bit slippery due to the morning dew.

Weary from walking

Time to grab a bite to eat.

Today, we are on a tour. Before visiting the army, we must fill our stomachs. When visiting Mae Kampong, don't miss the Royal Project Development Center at Ton Tok. Here, various plants are grown, and many dishes use vegetables from this project. It's best to come around 11 am when there are fewer people. Otherwise, you might have to wait a while.

Today's menu features vanilla-infused pork leg, strawberry papaya salad, garlic-fried tilapia, mixed vegetable curry with Royal Project ingredients, Royal Project fermented pork sausage, and brown rice. Water and tea are included. The total price for three people is 1,110 baht, which is reasonable considering the quality of the food.

The pork leg has a subtle vanilla aroma, not cloying, and the sweetness is just right.

Spicy and sweet strawberry papaya salad.

Deep-fried Nile tilapia with garlic

This dish features tender, sweet Nile tilapia fillets, expertly fried and infused with the aromatic flavors of garlic.

The Royal Project pork sausage comes in chunks. It's delicious when eaten hot and fresh, but it can become a bit hard if left out for a while. However, it's still edible and the taste isn't too sour.

The Royal Project's mixed vegetable curry is unlike any other I've ever had. The curry is incredibly rich and flavorful, without being overly spicy. The vegetables are perfectly cooked and tender, making for a truly enjoyable meal.

After finishing your meal, you can take a walk to digest your food while enjoying the beautiful green scenery. However, avoid coming during midday or afternoon as it can get quite hot. Although the place is not as large as many other Royal Projects, it is still a must-visit destination.

Just half a day and I'm already so happy. I can tell that it's only going to get better from here on out. The air here is so fresh, it's like I'm getting a lung cleanse.

Finally, I would like to recommend the page www.facebook.com/MooBurinGoAround.

Where will the journey take us next? Stay tuned to find out!