Little exploration tour through Chiang Mai

After a refreshing 4 1/2 hours of sleep, we decided to continue exploring Chiang Mai.

The first item on our agenda was renting a scooter and hitting the road! The challenge was the 'Thai traffic'!

So off we went, searching for bargains. We decided on Mr. Beer. He had the best price and he's also a nice and funny guy.

We rented our scooters for 7 days. We quickly got used to the traffic and so our first little scooter tour could begin. Of course, typical for us, this tour didn't start ordinary! No... the police had their eye on us and pulled us over. Dear parents, thanks to our exceptional preparation, we had all our documents with us and could continue driving :)

The goal was Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, a Buddhist temple complex and the landmark of Chiang Mai. Located about 15 km outside of Chiang Mai on the highest mountain of the region. The ride there was already a great experience. The road snaked uphill and offered breathtaking viewpoints.

Once we arrived at the top, it was time for a little refreshment, as we had to conquer 309 steps to reach the temple :) So we tried a 'Thai dumpling' as an appetizer. Small but delicious! The dough itself is slightly sweeter than what we are used to in Germany, but the savory pork filling was excellent.

Next to a roadside stand, we had Khao Soi afterwards - the picture says it all.

After we successfully climbed the steps, the temple revealed itself in its full golden glory. Impressive! Especially the breathtaking view from there to Chiang Mai, the beautiful golden embellishments on the temple, and our first encounter with a monk, along with a blessing, will stay in our memory.

On the way back home, we unexpectedly came across a large market. They sold all kinds of food, clothing, bags, sunglasses, and... and... and... Interestingly, many Thais spent their evenings there. There were relatively few foreigners. A good sign. However, we treated ourselves to only a small miso soup and delicious sushi.

After about 2 hours of amazement, fatigue caught up with us and we drove home. As soon as we arrived 'home', we crashed and fell asleep instantly.

Goodnight :-)