Day 3, 15 Sept, 2018, Saturday
I woke up as usual to say my Suboh. It was at around 0530 and as soon as I was done I just sat in my bed looking outside. Across me, I saw Mohd Noh and family busy getting themselves comfortable. A few minutes later the attendant came to two seats away from us to pull up the bed. As soon he had finished Mohd Noh requested him to do the same with our beds. In a few minutes, we were sitting in our proper seats and looking out. The day started to break in and at 0600 we arrived at Khun Tan. Khun Tan is a special station among railfans as it is a possible station for an excursion to spot train up north Thailand. One of the main attraction is the longest railway tunnel in Thailand is within the Khun Tan Range. In fact, the tunnel was just before the Khun Tan station. I totally missed the experience because it was still fairly dark outside. The 1362.10 metres long tunnel is the longest of the seven in Thailand. Due to its location in high range, Khun Tan Station is the highest railway station in Thailand at an elevation of 758 m.
Closed to 0700 we approached Lamphun station. Lamphun is one of the smallest stations in the north region and by the look of it quite traditional in architecture. We stopped for a while to cross with an ordinary train from Chiang Mai to Bangkok. The train was really ordinary just like the one we took from Golok to Bangkok. I could imagine the train stopping at every station going down to Bangkok.
A few minutes after Lamphun we started to approached Chiang Mai. I just knew it as the building outside started to look like a suburb and the daily life of the people indicating that big town is nearby. I captured a few frames and started on my video of our arrival at Chiang Mai station. At 0715 the train stopped at Chiang Mai and happily, we disembarked. Happy because after two days of travelling we finally will be really playing tourist. It was the first time in Chiang Mai for everyone else and a second time for me since 1998. Our first time to arrive at Chiang Mai historic railway station.
We took our time at the station to take pictures and posing for the album first. In the meantime as per my habit when arriving at a new place I to get the sense of the place and gather as much information as possible as not to get hoodwink by the locals. There is always one or two of this type everywhere trying to skin tourists or visitors like us. I approached a legitimate tourist information desk to ask the best way to get to town. The man at the tourist counter suggested or more like recommended his friend. Much later I found out 60 baht to town by jeep from the station was pretty much the standard. 5 of us in one big jeep it was way worth paying for it. Soon we were happily at the back of the jeep chatting and playing with the wind that was blowing against our faces. It was a fairly short ride to our hotel.
When we arrived at the hotel, Night Bazaar Place Hotel, we knew it was still too early to check-in. But, we tried our luck anyway. As expected we were told too early to check-in. So we stored our luggage and walked along Halal Street to find good food to eat. The street was just next to the hotel. There were a lot of choices but we decided on a promising one, the Sophia Restaurant. We were not wrong and the place became our designated restaurant to eat during our Chiang Mai stay. The food was really good. Not only we enjoyed our food but knowing each other as well.
After we had our lunch we walked back towards our hotel. Along the way, we were intrigued by an old wooden building that was left untouched but kept clean. We stopped to explore and the nice surprise as it was an old wooden mosque. We deduced the new mosque across the road opposite it was to replace the old but they kept the old intact for historical reason.
Still too early to check-in. Out of the lobby of the hotel, we turned left and walked along Changklan Road. Most of the shops and the stalls along the road were still closed as expected. Based on experience the street will be transformed at night with lights and business activities in progress. Only one or two major shopping complexes were already opened. We found one, Pantip Plaza after we had been walking for about 10 minutes. We entered with the intention to explore and kill some times. Well, I cannot trust myself anymore with shopping. I found corduroy jeans on sale that fit me like a glove. A quick mental calculation said it was RM20 a piece. I bought two straight away ha ha ha.
After we had done with the shopping complex we had so much waiting time still. Too full to drink and we did not wish to venture far from where we already were, we backtracked back to the hotel using the back route just in case we find something really interesting to explore. By that time the heat really on us and at every opportunity, we rerouted our way through buildings.
In front of our hotel was The Plaza Outlet Mall and it was already opened when we were back at the hotel. We walked in to kill some more times. They have different outlets and one that Sam and I love like the most was the handicraft outlet. We took our own sweet time browsing. We like some of of the handicrafts but we did not buy anything due to either they were a bit pricy or no suitable size. We were consciously waiting to safe our spending spree for the famous Chiang Mai Weekend Walking Market the next day. As for me, there was an arts gallery and thank goodness there was not one that I really like.
We finally went back to the hotel to wait for our room to be readied. Ours was readied first while sadly Mohd Noh had to wait a bit more for his room. Before we went up we made plan to come down at around 1600 to explore the other side of Chiang Mai town to look for leather goods and parchments. I did not remember whether I took a nap or not but certainly I was really excited to be In Chiang Mai again. Tired I might have been but the adrenaline kept me awake.
Using my virtual as well as my mental maps we started to cross the Halal Street to walk until the corner of Changklan Road and Taphae Road. We turned right at the corner and proceeded towards the bridge. One of the many temples around Chiang Mai and Chiang Mai Old City was on our right as we walked. We did not cross Ping River instead we cross the road and turned left into Praisanee Road with the intention to walk along the river. The heat dented our spirit a bit but we persevered to walk on. We passed The Chief Judge of Region 4-5 Lodging, Mae Ping Post Office, Northern Telecoms of Thailand Museum, and Philatelic Museum. All of them look like historic beautiful buildings. We did not stop to explore as we were trying to catch the leather’s stores before they were closed for the day. But we did stop at a small shop selling local weaving products. In fact, I bought a matt made of reed. Further on we stumbled upon a flower market. Beautiful flowers were everywhere on the street. Naturally, they were from the high lands of Chiang Mai.
According to the Goolge Map, there was a pedestrian bridge that we could use to cross Ping River to the other side. As we got to the bridge, of course, photography sessions materialised naturally before, while and after the crossing. Once we were on the other side it was serendipity. We discovered like arts and crafts zone of Chiang Mai. Galleries, arts and local handicrafts shops were along the street we walked. There were several boutique hotels and homestays as well. In fact, most of the old shophouses there were transformed into either boutique hotels or gallery. There was a Gurdwara as well that really surprised me. I had not seen them but obviously, there were Sikhs in Chiang Mai.
Mostly we observed from outside and only one or two that we entered to explore. The two particular ones for me were Suvannabhumi Art Gallery and Sop Moei Arts. Suvannabhumi Art Gallery was run by a local artist that had his painting on display. But there was not one that I really fancy. However, we had a long chat about the arts world in Thailand, particularly in Chiang Mai. He suggested a few galleries I should check out if I had times. Sop Moei Arts was actually a non-profit organisation established to preserve the local handicraft. They have sites in Bangkok and Chiang Mai. This particular shop was run by a Dutch guy that felt in love with the Thais culture and crafts. There were a few locals actually were making the handicrafts at the time we visited. Again not finding something that we really like we thanked the gentleman and continued our walk.
Kaeonawarat Road was ahead of us after we left the arts store and turned right led by Taufiq in trying to locate the shop. Sam and I just followed from the back. The street was like a normal town road with various shops on both sides. After 2 blocks they decided it was not the kind of shop they were looking for and we backtracked. Again guided by our Google Map we walked straight with the intention to cross Ping River via Nakhon Phing Bridge that connected to Tai Wang Road. Actually, it was Kaeonawarat Road that became Tai Wang Road as soon as we crossed the river.
Through the maze of Chaing Mai’s city roads and alleys, we walked back to our hotel. It was quite a long walk but we reached with more than enough daylight. The plan for the night was no brainer for us. Just to walk the entire length of the night bazaar that happens every night along the road of our hotel - Changklan Road.
After we said our prayers we came down and started walking to check out various shops and stalls. We had a food tasting session as well. Well those that were halal for us. Mainly, we ate a lot of fruits. To those that have been to night bazaar in Thailand this one not much different. What's obvious though less, almost none, fake items but more local products and brands. A lot of leather stuff if you are a fan. Mohd Noh decided to cut a suit for his son at one of the tailors along the road. We had a nice chat with the tailor as well. He is a Thai born second-generation Indian that spoke English with a bit of American accent. I asked about that and where he had learned. Without missing a beat he said from the street. Meaning from the tourists and his customers. I was really impressed and yes one can learn to speak a foreign language that way.
While we were walking I was really thinking about what best to do the next day. Two things that were constantly on our mind were Doi Inthanon Park that Mar suggested and go up to visit the mountain tribes. Mohd Noh gave a third alternative of just doing the Museums in town. Whatever the choice we will do the Sunday Walking Street Market in the evening as I thought it was a whole day Walking Street Market. I was leaning more towards Doi Inthanon and started to enquire on how best to get there from the tourist desk at our hotels as well as along the bazaar. Of course, enterprising locals would offer their services easily and gave their contact numbers for us to get in touch.
After 2 straight nights on the train we had a proper bed for the night and with our tired body, we slept soundly.
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