Chayprapat Waithayakul  

Chiang Daw Cave :
We woke up about 07:00 to had breakfast at the hotel and start our today trip at 08:30.  This morning we’re going to Chiang Daw Cave at Amphoe Chiang Dao, 72 kms north of Chiang Mai town, turn left at the entrance route and proceed for 5 kilometres on an asphalt road.  This cave is an electricity and oil lamps illuminate.  Chiang Dow Cave is one of the largest and most beautiful caves in northern Thailand.  The entrance is only 20 baht per person but you need to pay for the local guide and a lamp to walk along with you in the cave for 100 Baht per lamp.  1 lamp for 5 people.   This cave filled with grottos, Buddha images and many legends.  We walked and crawled through the cave complex for approximately 3 kilometres.

This was very exciting for us because we never been into the cave before.  At the front of the cave was colder than inside.   We’re really enjoy what they had in the cave.  It’s very beautiful that you can see some of the pictures that we posted here.  It took us about 1 hour to finish the trip in the cave.  Before we moved to the next place, we’re relaxed at the front of the cave with various kinds of fish swimming in a stream.

Sport X :
After lunch, we’re headed to get some adventure at Sport X.  Let’s drive ourself wild!!!  This place is located at Ampur Maerim.  They have 2 kinds of off road for you to choose Buggy and ATV.  We chose 2 buggies and 3 ATVs.  Because this trip we had children.  We decided that kids can ride and play in the trainning course.  The others will go the off-road track in Mae Rim.  We drove across road, field and go into jungle through the challenge adventurous mountain trails along to view point to see Mon Long Mountain.  This off-road trip time is about 1 - 4 hours depending on how much time you can stay in this place.  Unfortunately we had only1 hour to be here.  This is one of our unforgettable experiences.

Daily Program : 09:00 - 12:00 and 03:00 - 06:00

Sunday Night Market :
It’s shopping time!!!  This was the time that we’re waiting for.  Sunday Night Market located at Ratchadamnoen Road.  This is an absolute must that we plan to be in Chiang Mai.  This market has only on every sunday.  Relatively new to Chiang Mai it has become the most popular and busiest market attraction after the famed Night Bazaar and occupies four blocks along Ratchadamnoen road as it traverses the old town from Tapae Gate to the Three Kings Monument.  This place you can find variety of things such as art, handicrafts, souvenirs and more are accompanied by buskers, food stalls and lots of people.   

Cushion cover, scarves, candle holders, lampshades, jewelry, aromatherapy oil and so much more can also be found at the Sunday Market.  If you are running low on energy you can have something to eat from any of the food vendors.  You can also receive a Thai foot massage.  We are recommended that this market should not be missed.

Shopping Time : 17:00 - 24:00 (Sunday only) 

We’d finished shopping at Sunday Night Market at about 21:00.  Then we’re back to our hotel to have a bar BQ party there until 24:00.  What a great day! 

To be continue in day 3 …

This week we had couple days off.  We’re decided to go to Chiang Mai in March 2008.  We have never been to Chiang Mai on this month or summer time.  We are only been in winter to feel the cold weather there.  This trip we use Thai Air Asia morning flight and arrived at Chiang Mai about 07:55.  This trip we had 10 people altogether.  We’re decided to rent a mini van with driver for our whole trip.  The rent price of the mini van is 2,000 baht.  This cost is included driver and we can use the van about 12 hours per day and excluded fuel.   We’d moved from the airport to the resort named Belle Villa Resort .  This resort is at 19th. km. on Hangdong - Samoeng Road, just 30 minutes drive from Chiang Mai international airport  and Chiang Mai Town.

This hotel has various typs of accommodations for use to choose such as …

• Deluxe with private balcony
• Superior deluxe with private balcony
• Special deluxe also with private balcony
• Garden suite with private living room and jacuzzi
• House suite with 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1 living room and fire place
• Villa Suites with 3 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms and 1 living room

This trip we’re use house suite and villa suite for 2 nights.  The price rate is included daily American breakfast.   This is a superb boutique resort in the beautiful northern hills of Chiang Mai.  We can relax in the highest priority.   They also have Spa, elephant riding, children playground, Out door swimming pool and jacuzzi, tennis court,  meeting and Theme party at a greenery field for special events and dinner party for group of people surrounding by trees, steam, flowers fresh air and stars at night.   If you would like to visit there, you can check out the special packages on the hotel website at http://www.bellevillaresort.com/.

After check in and took photos around the resort for a while.  We’re moved in to the city to look around Chiang Mai.  We’re decided to go to the new shopping place called Nimmanhaemin Road.   The most famous shopping street of Chiang Mai because it has many luxury shops, pubs and coffee to serve all of you all day and night.  If you would like to visit, we recommended that you should come in the night time because we went at noon to find the place for lunch and found that most of the shops are not open yet and the weather was very hot in summer to walk and look around along the street.  But I am sure that at the night time, it must be very nice to dine or shop there because most of the shops are nicely decorated.

In the evening, we’re going to Chiang Mai Night Safari located at Doi Suthep - Pui National Park, it’s about 12 km. away from downtown Chiang Mai.  Chiang Mai Night Safari is constructed to be a world class nature theme park consisted of wildlife area, musical fountain and water screen.  This night safari is 2 times larger than Singapore night safari.  I had been to night safari in Singapore before about 5 years ago.  I  am almost forgot how nice it was.  But I am guarantee that our Chiang Mai night safari is very exciting too.  The prices are difference between nighttime and daytime.  We came for night time attraction, the prices are 500 Baht for adult and 300 Baht for children.  Predator Prowl tram ride in English version will be at 19:45 and 21:30.  Savanna Safari tram ride in English version will be at 20:30 and 22:15.  Musical Fountain show will be at 20:00 and 21:10.  Do not miss it.

We’d finished at Chiang Mai night safari at 22:00.  It’s time for us to go back to the resort and have a rest for tomorrow adventure.  See you soon in day 2…