Backpacking in Northen Thailand

[xiaopang]

I went on my very first backpacking trip to Northern Thailand for 8 days. Went visiting places like Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Maesai, Chiangsaen, Pai, the Golden Triangle and crossed the border into Myanmar.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y218/alwyn239/northern%20thailand/map-northern-thailand.gif

Here are some photos of the places which I visited:

Chiang Mai

Sunset in Chiang Mai.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y218/alwyn239/northern%20thailand/sunsetatchiangmai.jpg

View of Chiang Mai from Doi Suithep. (kinda of hazy that day so can't get a good view )
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y218/alwyn239/northern%20thailand/chiangmaifromdoisuithep.jpg

Pancake vendor along streets of Chiang Mai (each pancake selling for 10 baht. free to choose the design that you liked. :D)
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y218/alwyn239/northern%20thailand/pancakevendor.jpg

Doi Inthanon National Park

Temple at the peak of Doi Inthanon, Thailand's highest mountain at 2565m.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y218/alwyn239/northern%20thailand/templeatdoiintha.jpg

One of the many waterfalls in the National Park.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y218/alwyn239/northern%20thailand/waterfallatdoiintha.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y218/alwyn239/northern%20thailand/streamsatdoiintha.jpg

[xiaopang]

Chiang Rai

Pasar malam in Chiang Rai
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y218/alwyn239/northern%20thailand/nitebazaarinchiangrai.jpg

Golden Triangle

View of the famous Golden Triangle.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y218/alwyn239/northern%20thailand/goldentriangle1.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y218/alwyn239/northern%20thailand/goldentriangle2.jpg

The mighty Mekong River.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y218/alwyn239/northern%20thailand/mekongriver.jpg

[xiaopang]

From Maesai, I crossed the Thailand-Myanmar border into Myanmar, to a little town called Taichilek.

Thai border
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y218/alwyn239/northern%20thailand/thailandborder.jpg

Myanmar border
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y218/alwyn239/northern%20thailand/myanmarborder.jpg

View of Taichilek
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y218/alwyn239/northern%20thailand/taichilek.jpg

A temple at Taichilek
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y218/alwyn239/northern%20thailand/templeinmyanmar.jpg

I also travelled to a little town called Pai. It is located halfway between Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son. The bus trip from Chiang Mai to Pai will take you through the mountains of Thailand, along winding mountainous roads. (imagine Initial D's mountain runs with hairpins)

Pai
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y218/alwyn239/northern%20thailand/pai.jpg

The hazy view is not due to the exhaust fumes of vehicles. It was drizzling when I took this picture in the morning. As Pai is located at a valley and is surrounded by mountains, the mornings and nights are rather cold, with temperatures around 16-17 degrees. This little town is especially popular with foreigners, going there to trek, see the hot springs or just to relax. At night, the town is quite alive with live music from pubs.

[eight8]

Nice. Mind telling us how you plan about your backpacking trip?

[xiaopang]

Day 1: Reach Chiang Mai in the evening. Explore the Sunday night market. (not the Night Bazaar) This night market is only open on Sundays along Ratchadamnoen Rd and it stretches a few streets down.

Day 2: Left Chiang Mai in the morning to travel to Chiang Rai. (4 hours bus ride) Reach Chiang Rai in the afternoon. Explored Chiang Rai and visit the night market there.

Day 3: Took a 1.5 hour bus ride to Maesai to cross the Thailand-Myanmar border to the town Taichilek. Took a 1 hr plus songthaew ride to the Golden Triangle. (songthaew is a pickup-like vehicle which can sit people behind.)http://www.answers.com/topic/songthaew
From the Golden Triangle, travel a short distance to a small town called Chiangsaen to take the bus back to Chiang Rai. (1.5 hour bus ride)

Day 4: Depart Chiang Rai for ChiangMai. (cos meeting friends) Explored Chiang Mai.

Day 5: Went to Doi Inthanon National Park. (drove up)

Day 6: Left Chiang Mai for Pai (4 hour bus ride). Explored Pai.

Day 7: Left Pai for Chiang Mai. Shopping in Chiang Mai. (made a mistake to leave Pai... felt that I should have stayed longer... it's reallu a nice place to visit and relax... hehe...)

Day 8: Visited Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai. Took evening flight back to Singapore.

[Seagull]

Nice Spectacular view of the Golden triangle... :hat1:

[John_Chee]

Yah. THe golden triangle is nice. I went from bangkok and my uncle drove us up... Was very nice. And since we had a car we were free and easy and took out time. Went up the mountain to mae salong as well...