Chiang Mai, we finally meet

After a short 2 hour train from Lampang, we arrived in the famous Chiang Mai.

This post covers:

• how we got to Chiang Mai from Lampang
• where we stayed
• good places to eat and have coffee
• how much we spent
• overall impressions

Anyone who has ever been to Thailand says you must go to Chiang Mai, it's the best. Now we could see for ourselves what all the fuss is about.

Street art in Chiang Mai

Getting there

We took the local train from Lampang to Chiang Mai (23 baht for 3rd class seats). We were a bit dubious about it as we were picturing standing up all the way with chickens around our feet. Much to our happiness, it was fine. It was just like your standard train really, with comfortable enough seats and windows.

Bit like the London Overground without the grumpy arseholes

Atmosphere and getting around

With a lot less hustle and bustle then Bangkok, Chiang Mai is a travellers haven. You can do allsorts here, from visiting elephants, Thai cooking classes to exploring the bustling markets.

Like most places in Thailand, you can't really walk anywhere because it's boiling and they have no pavements - ideal when there's 5,000 scooters whizzing about.

Getting around I'd recommend downloading the Grab taxi app, it's lot easier than haggling for a taxi. You can also hire a scooter if you're that way inclined. We saw so many travellers with bandages on their legs and arms so we took that as an indication that it wasn't the best choice of transport.

Where we stayed

In total we were in Chiang Mai for 6 days. We stayed in a hostel for 2 nights, then a hotel for 4.

Our hostel was Hug Rooftop Hostel located just outside the Old City walls. We were in a 6 person dorm with, unfortunately, some loud lads who obviously only wanted to see the bottom of their beer glasses every day or every night. Despite this, the hostel was really good for the price. We went straight up to the rooftop bar where we could see the sunset over the mountain and the city. You could also see planes leaving Chiang Mai airport.

Heaven, is that you?

Food was really good here too. There's a restaurant attached to the hostel that does really cheap pad thai and khao soi until about 11pm. 

When we came back from the Elephant Nature Park, we stayed in a hotel called Sakulchai Place. We wouldn't usually go for a hotel, but for 4 nights this was really cheap and it had a pool and a little basic gym attached. It was really basic, but it was nice to have a bit of a break from sharing with strangers. 

Where to eat

As you can imagine, with the raft of different people that come to Chiang Mai, you can get pretty decent food.

Free Bird Cafe

We Googled vegan/veggie places and lucky for us our hostel was right next to one. 

Free Bird is a social enterprise cafe.  The money that the cafe makes goes straight to helping the local community - so that gives you a little pat on the back whilst you enjoy your healthy ass food.

We first went for the breakfast smoothies...

Fruit orgasm

Then we went back for lunch...

Vegan Khao Soi

Free Bird is a bit pricey, but the smoothie bowls are so worth it. I was so upset when I'd finished mine.

Khao Soi

When in North Thailand you have to try the main dish on the scene: khao Soi. It's made usually with meat, in a light curried sauce made with coconut milk, together with noodles and crispy noodles on top. It's pretty darn good.

You'll find a lot of restaurants who specialise in khao soi, we went to a couple of them (can't remember their names). If you're a veggie, like us, you can get it with tofu or omelette.

Pretty decent omelette khao soi

Night Bazaar market

Open all week - 6pm to 12am

East of the city, on Chang Khlan Road 

We'd heard a lot about this place and were pretty excited about checking it out.

In this permanently fixed market you can get allsorts from handicrafts, portrait painting, toys, clothing and hi-tech items. Much to my partner's excitement they did knockoff Adidas Yeezy's, which are usually a few grand at least, we got some for £30 - swag on the cheap.

We had a few big Chang beers and enjoyed some live music courtesy of a Thai Noel Gallagher on acoustic guitar.

Sunday walking market

Located on Ratchadamnoen street, the Sunday walking market caters for everything you could possibly think off.

How to look like the most obvious tourists, ever

With it being at night as well, it's a lot more tolerable than the morning or afternoon markets because you're not sweating your ass off whilst looking around.

We picked up random bits of food like: coconut pancakes, mango sticky rice, potato balls and noodles. I'd recommend just getting bits and walking around because you're bound to see something else you want to devour.

Coconut pancakes - lovely little snack

Coffee

You're pretty spoilt for choice when it comes to coffee in Chiang Mai. It's almost like a few hipster cafes from East London have been sprinkled on the city.

Your coffee even gives you life coaching: "Life is a journey - not a home" - thanks iced latte

We went to a few places, like Overstand, which is in the Old City. We had our first sourdough with avocado in weeks and it didn't disappoint. With the avocado you get bits of feta thrown in which gives it a bit of a salty flavour.

We also went to a place called Ristr8to - an Australian inspired specialist coffee place and hipster AF.  If you want a pretentious but also very cool coffee, then I'd recommend it. To make us even more pretentious we ended up getting ourselves Ristr8to t-shirts, because we want to be as cool as the coffee glasses...

A pint of iced coffee and a butterscotch coffee in a skull glass - 10 hipster points

How much we spent

Over 6 days, we spent:

• accommodations: £71
• food and drink: £72 - that's with a couple of nights on the beer
• clothes and gifts: £96 - we splashed out a bit, because we're worth it

We hardly got any taxis, but the ones we did get we used Grab and they were dirt cheap.

Overall impressions

Chiang Mai did live up to its exceptions in terms of its cool, happening vibe. Like any city though, I think you'd have to stay a couple of months to really get to know it. We were only there for few days so we didn't really know where to start.

If you're after some cool places to chill, meet other travellers and do some authentic cooking, then Chiang Mai is the place to be.

Next stop: The Elephant Nature Park - I am so excited!