Arrival in Chiang Mai, Thailand
Sep 25, 2024
After more than 28 hours of travel time I finally arrived in Chiang Mai from Calgary (via Vancouver and Taipei). I passed through passport control (after providing my fingerprints – a first for all the places I’ve travelled) and ordered a taxi. It was cloudy and raining, but despite the showers, it was still very warm (and very humid). I checked in at the (highly recommended) hotel (Mountain View Guesthouse) which is in the north central part of the old city (near the moat). I took a much-needed shower and worked up enough energy to take a walk (to buy some water and a SIM card). I was a bit too tired to do much in the way of sightseeing but did manage to walk for about an hour before fatigue got the best of me. I headed back to the oasis of the courtyard in the hotel, with its lovely greenery and ponds, to relax. My friend Deborah wasn’t expected to arrive until around 7 pm so I just checked email and called my family.
The lovely garden at Mountain View Guesthouse.
There are ponds with fish, tadpoles and frogs and other wildlife including birds, geckos and squirrels.
I eventually relented to the sleepiness overcoming me and laid down with the intention of it only being for an hour, but next thing I knew Deb was knocking at the door. She grabbed a shower and then we headed out to get some food.
BBQ Duck and Noodles from the Night Market (with one of Deb’s dumplings added to my bowl). ~
Deb and I ate from stalls at the night market just outside the north gate of the Old Town.[1] I had roasted duck with noodles and the broth was absolutely incredible. Thailand really does have amazing food!
Deb had shrimp dumplings which she said was also fantastic. “Yummy – hit the spot, exactly what I needed after being in the air for 10 zillion hours” she said. (60 baht each for dinner which is less than $3 Canadian.)
After dinner we headed back to the hotel and collapsed to the sound of frogs croaking in the garden. We didn’t hear any city sounds.
It was a great first day in northern Thailand!
[1] Chang Phuak Gate Night Market - Food Stalls
