July 28, 2017. From Chiang Mai to the boonies of Chiang Rai

LOCATION:  Chiang Rai, Thailand

WEATHER:  You guessed it!  Hot and humid!

 

We caught a tuk-tuk to the bus station in Chiang Mai. Riding the tuk-tuks is an adventure.  You have to hold on for dear life to prevent falling out! 

 

The bus station was crowded with buses scheduled to go everywhere. We saw the bus to Phuket - 24 hours!  When our bus arrived, the driver motioned us to stand in another line rather than board the bus. We were confused. Then, we realized that they were reissuing tickets for a different bus and were giving everyone a $1 equivalent refund.  Later we figured it out....the new bus didn't have an toilet so it cost less.  Sure hope the bus for the people going to Phuket has a toilet!  I was a bit worried about not having a toilet as my tummy was rumbling, possibly from the fried silk worms I ate yesterday?  Our ticket for the 3.5 hour trip was reduced to about $4.

 

It was an express bus, meaning it didn't stop too often.  We had one major stop for a toilet and snack stop.  The route took us over a mountain that is part of a national park.  Lots of banana tree plants and bamboo.  Then, through farmland - rice paddies, mango trees,  and strangely sweet corn...  

   

The landscape was dotted with temples and random statues of Buddha.  

 

Chiang Rai is much smaller and less westernized than Chiang Mai. The bus depot is a big mud puddle with really ancient looking buses parked everywhere. A bunch of taxi drivers greeted our bus, and ours took us in his pick-up tuk-tuk to our hotel.  

 

Our hotel is actually a small bungalow.  Really cute.    

 

We took a taxi back into town, about one mile, and had the driver drop us off at the ClockTower which is famous here.  At night, it lights up.  It is a bit gaudy.  

   

Then, we walked around in search of a restaurant or bar.  And walked.  And walked. And walked.  Unlike Chiang Mai, there are hardly any. The sweat was just rolling off me. I had to continually wipe my brow as I couldn't see through the sweat in my eyes.  I was getting quite cranky, as I tend to do when I'm hot, tired, thirsty and lost.  Finally we found the dowtownish area and a restaurant.  We had a drink, then wandered through the night market. It was packed.  Perhaps that is why there aren't any restaurants - everyone just goes here.  They sell everything here....clothes, tourist things, hardware, kitchenware, etc.  There are lots of food vendors.  We tried a stick of satay - meat on skewers grilled with a tasty sauce.  I had minced chicken; George had chicken stomach (chewy).    

 

Then, we found a sort of beer garden in the center of the night market.  Absolutely packed.  It is surrounded by about 100 food stalls.  People select their dinner, then sit at a communal table.    

 

Chiang Rai is famous for its "hot pot" dish.  Most people were having that, so George wanted to try it. I was too hot to even imagine eating a steaming bowl of anything.  You select the type of hot pot you want - fish or shellfish, or pork or chicken.  Also you select your level of spiciness.  The waitress brings you a flower-pot type bowl of burning coals.  You put a bowl of steaming broth over the coals and cook it at your table - adding your veg, fish or whatever, raw egg,  and spices. The pot increased the temperature at our table from about 100F to 110F!  George said it was very good. And only $2 for more than he could eat. While we sat there, there was music on the stage, including these typical Thai dancers.    

 

 

Tuk-tuk back to the hotel with blessed air conditioning.