Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is a large city and therefore it is loud and hectic outside the center. The quieter and more relaxed old town is surrounded by a moat. There are countless temples scattered throughout the city, you can take cooking, language, massage and meditation courses, stroll through huge great markets, enjoy street food and above all explore the area around Chiang Mai by scooter.

After a day wandering through the alleys of the old town with numerous temples and shops, I was glad to get out of the city on a scooter and explore the Mae Sa Valley. Here there were waterfalls, small villages, great views and landscapes and of course temples to admire along winding roads through the mountains.

Thai food is simply delicious, and since I love cooking so much and especially cook so well - irony off - I decided to take a half-day cooking class. From a variety of dishes, you could choose 4 dishes that would be cooked. The teachers were super funny and with their guidance, the implementation of the recipes was not that difficult. And in the end, the self-cooked food actually tasted very good.

Afterwards, I went on a tour again with the scooter, to the temple What Phra That Doi Suthep. This is one of the most sacred temples in northern Thailand and sits on a mountain with a fantastic view of the city. Further up the mountain, you can reach other great viewpoints. The narrow and winding road is currently being repaired, so I fell off the scooter on the sand. Fortunately, I wasn't going fast, so I only got a few scratches and scrapes on my hands and elbows. The friendly Asian couple in the car behind me not only helped me up and treated the wounds, but also took a few souvenir photos.