We were really looking forward to visiting Chaing Mai because we had heard good things. It’s much smaller than Bangkok and nature is more accessible. There are supposed to be great hikes and nature related activities (elephants) but those treks cost too much for us at around $30 per day.

 

There a lot of temples to be visited, including one on a mountain, Doi Suthep, which is almost as good as the ride there.

 

Luckily, we decided to get back to couchsurfing, and couldn’t have picked a better time to do it. We had a phenomenal experience with the extremely generous Esther, and made a friend we’d like to meet up with again in France, Xavier.

What We Learned

 

- Splurge!!! The “River Ping Palace” is a really nice spot to stay on the river. The owner is amazing!

 

- Pinky’s Wings is a great place to get some Buffalo Wings. The owner, Dirk, is a great guy.

 

- The ride to the Doi Suthep temple, up on the mountain, is almost better than the temple itself.

 

- Check out Chaing Mai museum because they keep the grounds nice.

 

- Stray away from the Lonely Planet suggestions for food. Not because they’re bad but because there is great food everywhere.

 

- GPS helps a lot when traveling through the city. All the streets are one-ways.

 

- Chaing Mai is a fun place to moto through, but the traffic can get thick.

 

- We got a ticket for parking our bike where a piece of street was closed for cleaning. Mind the signs because they lock up your bike.