A trip to Chiang Mai

So where did we go in Chiang Mai this time?

We went to a Cafe when we arrived - Box Dog Cafe - https://goo.gl/maps/a9Qx6kESVFw - not for everyone and I am a little skeptical but my daughter loves them... Then time to get a bus and drove through Chiang Mai getting glimpses of what was there.

As soon as it was ready we visited the Wualai Saturday Market - https://goo.gl/maps/Bbbi2PpcBi52.

 Then it was time to visit a Wat and Wat Sri Suphan was close to the market - a wonderful collection of buildings - the Silver Temple (with access only for men) - https://goo.gl/maps/YdkRWJKBSsn. Then our first night was at Hug Nimman Hotel - simple and clean - popping across the road to the Fairy Tales Branch - https://goo.gl/maps/ZGpbEYgH28N2 - a shop for lots of fairy thing jewelry.

An early start the next day took us to Ton Payom Market - to meet the monks in the morning and pay respects.

Then it was time to drive out a bit - stopping at Wat Intharawat (Wat Ton Kwen) - https://goo.gl/maps/8mbavJKkbbP2 - a wonderful old Wat. Then it was time to enter Doi Inthanon National Park where we visited the Phra Maha Dhatu Nabhapol Bhunisiri - https://goo.gl/maps/yn9yBNbW6sK2 - another wonderful and scenic place to visit. 

After this we went to King Inthanon Memorial Shrine (กู่พระเจ้าอินทวิชยานนท์) and had a coffee at Doi Inthanon Summit Coffee.

Then the Wachirathan Waterfalls - https://goo.gl/maps/B2GU6So1eYm - and then some very nice lunch at ป้าแก้ววชิรธาร - very nice.

It was then time for the Grand Canyon - Phar Chor (Mae Weng National Park) https://goo.gl/maps/wZ87jhvqBsk - quite impressive but not very big!

On the way back to the Chiang Mai we stopped at Wat Pa Charoen Tham (วัดป่าเจริญธรรม) which was an enormous Wat and impressive - https://goo.gl/maps/4mP96oRi25s.

The evening took us to Chiang Mai Walking Street which was extremely busy, so busy in fact it was almost impossible to take photographs - https://goo.gl/maps/RVGGfjEfYYT2.

Stopping off at a favorite of ours - Guu Fusion Roti + Tea - delicious - https://goo.gl/maps/6SRPzVuvNRL2 - a great place to grab something to eat. Then it was time to lay our heads at Imm Hotel Thaphae - a clean place to lay our heads - https://goo.gl/maps/3FvW2XpfihT2. 

Up early the next day and our first stop was river rafting on the Mae Taeng River - very low level this time of year.

Then it was time for some zipline...

Followed by lunch at the Jungle De Cafe - https://goo.gl/maps/oFF3vPkBTUw - a scenic place for lunch. Interestingly the cafe was bigger and over the waterfall but they were ordered to take it down...

We then visited Wat Ban Den - https://goo.gl/maps/iQhjmRmWd3y - a very impressive example of a Wat, certainly worth visiting! Sometimes known as Wat Den Salee Sri Muang Gan.

Then to the top of the mountain - Mon Cham - https://goo.gl/maps/KVAbTRsttCS2 - some fresh air and lots of flowers.

Then Wat Pa Dara Phirom (วัดป่าดาราภิรมย์ พระอารามหลวง) - https://goo.gl/maps/rEE1qD61HrG2 - a special Wat - ornate and  complex temple featuring stone lions and a gilded chedi amid tropical greenery. Certainly worth stopping.

On the way back to the airport we stopped at the Elephant Parade for an elephant to paint...