A Week in Chiang Mai

[satyr]

Sounds like an interesting place to visit.

Edited December 27, 2014 by satyr

[Laid Back Larry]

Nice photos thanks for taking time, stayed at Raming Lodge myself and really enjoyed the area. Some people have posted on previous topicS that there is not a lot going on, which i never understood as I always had plenty to do there. Hopefullly your photos show the plenty of bars that are about if you look

 

 

Big

IS Raming Lodge tru to its name, Guest Friendly?

Edited January 3, 2015 by Laid Back Larry

[heathcliff81]

Thanks for all the info. I am considering going up to Chiang Mai on my next trip to los in May.

[gbsmiley]

Thanks for the Trip Report, nice to see some familiar places from my previous 4 trips.

 

@ Laid Back Larry, the Raming Lodge is girl friendly

[jamesnry1982]

Very good post , thank you I could so easily live there ! 

[Xfreak0000]

Thanks for the great TR.

 

Can you let us know the going rate of freelancers?

[Piece Corp]

Thanks for the great TR.

 

Can you let us know the going rate of freelancers?

Someone else will have to answer this one as I skipped Bubbles and Spicy, but I had a great time and plan on returning in the next month or two.

[nct5583]

Another post of nice places to go in Chiangmai.

thanks for the sharing of these places.

[loafie]

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"The Rose of the North", the hub of northern Thailand, 5th largest city in the kingdom.  It had been over a decade since I was here, brought a girl from Nana Plaza and we did an elephant camp, river rafting, visited an orchid farm.  I rented a car and we drove up the mountain to Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, then visited the nearby Bhuping Royal Palace and the ultra-touristy hilltribe village.

 

I went alone this trip, staying at the Raming Lodge on Loi Kroh, just a block outside the moat in the southeast section of the city.  A deluxe room included airport pick-up and in-room wifi. 

 

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The hotel was a 10 minute walk to the night bazaar and I thought it had a nice mongering sound to it.  There were several beer bars along Loi Kroh with friendly ladies.

 

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Halfway to the night bazaar is the Chaing Mai Entertainment Complex (CMEC), a cluster of about 30 bars surrounding a boxing ring.  Not exactly a hotbed for stunners but girls were only asking 1500 LT.

 

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GO GO Bars

 

Adjacent the beer bar complex is Star XiX

 

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You climb the stairs and pay 150 baht for a drink coupon before entering.  They do it this way after losing so many potential customers that entered the bar and left without buying a drink.  Get the picture?

 

Slightly better is Spotlight, on Kotcasarn, facing the moat.  Three girls on stage wearing bikinis, Chevas Regal 140 baht.

 

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The best of the lot was Foxy Lady, across the street from the Dusit D2 hotel.  Long Island Iced Tea: 240 baht, more conventional drinks about half.

 

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Next: Live Music

Wow, this is exactly the places I went in CM just by wandering around (in 2012). Glad I didn't miss anything. And actually I had a wonderfully wild time at Star Xix, though the stunners were ALL at Foxy Lady.

[Piece Corp]

Yesterday, four flights had to be diverted because of poor visibility from smog. I'm flying in from Bangkok this afternoon.

 

http://www.chiangmaicitylife.com/news/flights-redirected-away-from-chiang-mai-due-to-smog/

[Piece Corp]

Purple Haze all in my eyes, don't know if it's day or night,
you've got me blowing, blowing my mind
is it tomorrow or just the end of time?   -- Jimi Hendrix

 

Farmers burn off the rice fields every spring and this creates a serious health problem.  Heart attacks spike during this time and a few thousand people with respiratory problems end up in the hospital. Amazingly, this happens every spring! The city desperately needs RAIN to help clear the air but the forecast calls for 40 degrees every day with no rain until next week. 

 

Booked the Yindee Stylish Guesthouse for 1100, in the backpacker area just off Rathwith, around the corner from the Chaing Mai Saloon and UN Irish Pub.

 

 

The UN Irish Pub was featuring a buffet for St. Paddy's Day.  Drink just 8 pints of Guinness and get a free hat.  Such a deal!

 

 

Headed over to Wat Chedi Luang to capture a few snaps before sundown.

 

 

Paused for dinner at La Fourchette, Pumpkin Soup (90 baht), confit de canard in rhubarb brandy (480 baht) with an Irish Coffee (220 baht) to commemorate the occasion.

 

[heathcliff81]

This is a very useful resource. Thank you PieceCorp for putting it together.

I am wondering if someone can suggest other hotels or apartment rentals in CM? Doesn't mind if it is a bit more expensive than Raming Lodge. Thanks in advance for any help.

[Piece Corp]

^^ There's a Shangri-La and a Holiday Inn on the river, and a Dusit near the Foxy Lady, but I don't have personal experience at these places.

 

Last fall, when I stayed at the Raming Lodge, Loi Kroh road was dead by midnight.  Quite a contrast to the Zoe in Yellow Garden, which was jamming at 1 AM.  Maybe it was just for St. Paddy's Day, but I got the feeling every night was St. Paddy's Day!

 

[Piece Corp]

More Attractions

 

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

 

Founded in 1393, about a 20-25 minute drive up the Soi Suthep mountain.  It can offer some great views of the city but you can't see anything in the spring.  Fortunately, there's a tram so you don't have to climb the 309 steps to the top.  Lots of great stuff here.  Pagodas, statues, drums, bells, and the copper plated chedi. 

 

 

 

Museum of World Insects and Natural Wonders

 

A small house converted into a museum, conveniently located around the corner from Wat Chedi Luang.  Admission 100 baht.  There's a much larger version of this museum somewhere else in town that might be more worthwhile.  I wasn't too impressed with this abbreviated version but I'm not really into bugs.

 

 

Night Safari

 

Opened in 2006, the world's 3rd nocturnal zoo (others in Singapore and Guangzhou, China) and very popular with Chinese tourists.  It's basically a zoo with a layout similar to a theme park with three main areas.  Jaguar Trail is a 1.2 km walking trail around Swan Lake.  Visitors can view a Tiger Show and a choreographed Water Fountain show, then tour the other areas via tram.  Savanna Safari Zone has Rhinos, Hyenas, Lions, Cheetahs, Giraffes, Ostriches, Zebras, and even Kangaroos whereas the Predator Prowl Zone has Tigers, Lions,  Vultures, Wolves, Wolves, Black Bears and Crocodiles.

 

[Piece Corp]

 

I spent Saturday night at my favorite Chaing Mai bar, the North Gate Jazz Co-op, enjoying a cocktail I'd heard of but had never tried before. The drink is a variant of the Long Island Iced Tea, but instead of triple sec and splash of coke, this variation uses pineapple juice and Blue Curacao liqueur. Otherwise, all the other ingredients are the same: Gin, Vodka, Tequila, and White Rum. The drink is called Adios Motherfucker. 140 baht and highly recommended.

 

Edited March 22, 2015 by Piece Corp

[Piece Corp]

Saturday Market

 

Not quite as popular as Sunday Walking Street Market, on Wualai Road just south of the old city, from 5 to 10 PM. 

 

 

 

I didn't spend much time on Loi Kroh this trip

 

 

After a visit to the Sunday Walking Street Market, it's nice to veg-out with a Long Island Iced Tea at the THC Rooftop Bar near the Tapae Gate and enjoy some views of the city.

 

 

 

After Chiang Mai, a trip to Pai

 

http://www.pattaya-addicts.com/forum/topic/265870-pai/

 

[ryanh]

Cool report, I'm heading up to CM on Monday to catch some of the Songkran fun.

 

Last time I stayed at the Holiday Inn, it is old and a bit run down, but you can catch the Korean air hostesses at the bar.

[Piece Corp]

Here are some photos from my first visit to Chiang Mai in 2003, scanned from old film.  I rented a car and we drove up Doi Suthep

 

 

 

Beyond the Wat there's Bhuping Royal Palace

 

 

Even further is a hilltribe village where opium poppies grew on the hill side, to be used in tribal medicines.

 

 

We also visited an Elephant farm where the animals played one-on-one and shot hoops

 

 

Finally, we visited an Orchid Farm and Mo wore a perfectly matching outfit

 

Edited April 17, 2015 by Piece Corp

[kopite]

Nice pics. Think I'll need to go back next time I'm there in high season. I've seen most of the main attractions around CM itself but have still not made it to Doi Inthanon National Park or Mon Jam so ought to make a trip out there just to see those. Would like to see somewhere nearby too although not as far away as Pai or Mae Hong Son. Was thinking maybe Chiang Dao.

[vincent law]

So were are best discos to pick up freelancers?

Edited June 4, 2015 by vincent law

[MikeLFC]

So were are best discos to pick up freelancers?

I am Interessted too for my upcoming Trip in feb ? Any news ??

[Stillearly]

I am Interessted too for my upcoming Trip in feb ? Any news ??

Spicy Nightclub

[vincent law]

Okay I ended going back in July/August. But i brought sand to the beach. This time around I will be going alone. Plan to hit the two main agogos. Btw anyone know the name of any soapy massage palour with hot girls? Never had one. It’s something I want to try.

Edited November 24, 2015 by vincent law

[Piece Corp]

Btw anyone know the name of any soapy massage palour with hot girls?

 

Ah, did you read the trip report?

[gimmesum]

Thanks for posting.  Haven't been there in a few years but I used to visit friends there and I liked it.