9/01/18 Chiang Mai and Surroundings

We have checked into the Wangburapa Grand Hotel. The hotel is located on Moon Muang Road and is situated in the center of the old city walls. The room is spacious and the furniture looks like it's from the colonial era. The view from the window overlooks the courtyard and the pool. The hotel offers a laundry service, which we gladly accepted.

Yesterday morning during breakfast, we decided not to join guided tours, but to explore the city and its surroundings on our own. So we organized a scooter through the hotel. Quickly packing everything we needed into a backpack, we headed west towards the Buddhist temple complex Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. The road there is long and winding, but manageable with the scooter. If it's not foggy, you have a wonderful view of Chiang Mai.

After visiting the temple and enjoying a delicious coffee from the espresso machine, we continued our journey towards the mountain village Doi Pui Hmong. The village is beautifully nestled in the mountains and the market offers original Hmong handicrafts to be admired and purchased. The locals are happy to welcome every visitor and it's easy to connect with them. Many of them wear hemp costumes decorated with the famous cross stitches. A visit to this village is worthwhile, as the landscaped flower garden near the waterfall and the small houses for relaxation are beautiful.

In the evening, we visited the night market and gave our feet a break at a massage salon.

Today, we decided to take a trip to Huay Tung Tao. It's a lake with bamboo huts for relaxation and a view of the Don Pui mountains. The Huay Tung Tao Reservoir is about 20 minutes away from downtown Chiang Mai and offers a beautiful, peaceful location away from the busy city. It's a popular destination for families, friends, and many fishermen who seek and sometimes find their luck in the water.

Tonight, something special was on our Have-To-Do-List. The Miracle Cabaret Show, which is exclusively performed by ladyboys. The show, the music, the costumes, and especially the performers are amazing!!

Tomorrow, we will continue exploring the city and get the first postcards before heading to Luang Prabang on Thursday.