slow life : low cost : low season in Chiang Rai

Slow life, Live easy, back to the basic : Low cost, Spend what is earned: Low season, Not the peak traveling period.....

Actually, this trip wasn't aimed to really happen but the Lion Air opened a new route with very cheap promotion, this hits my interesting.. Two ways ticket is only 780 bath. The flight is on Friday evening and come back on Sunday late evening, how can I miss it!! Spontaneously, I booked the ticket during rainy season, the good thing is it is very beautiful and not many people are traveling as my experience from two years ago. I have booked 5 seats for the beginning but then 2 of us have cancelled the trip, only three of us left, two handsome gentlemen and a pretty girl as you see.....

... slow life is enjoying your time, no rush, no time line, do what ever you want, go where ever you feel like, eat what ever is available, no plan and no routine...just take it easy easy and easy....

(we just booked a rent car)

... low cost is spending what necessary is, we are down to earth eat and sleep easy, coming in low season is cheaper...

... low season, be cause of the rainy season, less people and cheaper accommodations to choice...

Raining 40%, showering in some part, frogy and thick frog in the morning... ^^,

(in the air left is BKK, right is Chiang Rai)

We have three days and two nights to spend here, starting the trip from Friday evening after working. As we have arrived at Chiang Rai airport, we pick up the rent car, which this time we choose the Sixt be cause it is the cheapest one, we get Toyota Altis for 599 bath a day....The first moment when we got in the car we get confusing where should we go, as told we did not plan before....but we are surely that we will find the way...

Google the map to find the way to get to the city for diner, firstly!!! We will overnight in Chiang Rai downtown, then see where will go tomorrow....

Follow the Google map to the watch tower, must have a lot of food around that area....Let's go...

Drive until we find the watch tower, then find a parking, and walk around with no concept of what kind of food we want just one thing in our mind is it must be an easy diner...and we left the restaurant which I don't remember even its' name...

What is next after the meal...Dessert must be following, on the way back to the car we see a Roti stand... I will order while letting the two gentlemen take photo at the tower....

They have done a bad job all photos are blur 555+

Next is finding a hotel, my friend came to Chiang Rai at the beginning of the year, she recommend us to check out on a lovely hotel Baan Norn Plearn, which she walked pass.

I search in Google map which shows up. That probably means it is in a popular list of the area. We follow the map, we reach there easily, not far a way from the watch tower. The area has many hotels but Baan Norn Plearn is our first impression so we just head in.

It's almost 9 pm, we must hurry, so I ask for the rate and inspect the room..oh wow.... this is what we are looking for. It's decorated in homy style with recycling items by using some old things from when is was a nursery house for a period of time. But the rate is a bit over our budget, I am not negotiate right the way but just tell him..okay,,let me ask my friends. Then we go check at B2 City,,well there is not thing is impress..So we come back to down the price, finally we get 1200 bath, divided by three is not so bad...

After the deal is made so then we put all our belongings in the room, as it's already late night we all just get ready for bed time, thinking about jogging tomorrow morning....^^

I recommend Baan Norn Plearn,, be concerning it's always full in winter on weekend, more convenient in rainy season be cause you can choose your room as you like, the owner is kind and friendly.. Before we get in, term and condition of staying is informed but well! I can remember only what time the breakfast is...

Let !! me show you the bedroom...how is it so enjoy able....I might not be showing you each corner....

Old fashion television which still functional...the table is an old sawing machine...

Living room...

Relax,,,,,

Coffee in the morning.,..

Designed walk way...

The rooms are names after classroom, mine is Pre-kindergarden 2/3... Shoe shelf is from nursery....

Stairs, up to the second floor...

On the second floor...

For the breakfast is self-service, everything is here for what we need in the morning.. after finished eating we need to wash our own dishes...

Healthy corner, you can take a bike...

Here he is, the owner of Baan Norn Plearn. Contact persons on the name card are Kru Kung (teacher Kung) or Khun Poy, Phone number :+6684-669-7926 , +6692-919-5429. I have talked to him a bit about his hotel story, just give me some ideas for my retirement :)

Ok!! enough to talk about the hotel,,,

this morning the two gentlemen get up early for biking and jogging to the old airport which is not far from where we overnight. One is biking, one is jogging and other one is having a morning nab.

Look at them, doing healthy activities..

Passing 10 am, until we finish here and there, just want to stay one more night...

But we have to see somethings else as well, as talked we will go to Doi Mae Salong (Mae Salong Hill)...let's go go go.......

Right,, let start traveling,, We should go to temples in Chiang Rai, get a recommendation from Baan Norn Plearn's owner.. well many temples he suggested...

There are some temples are near and easy to access such as Wat Phra Keaw, just google the map, I can't remember the way....

Here is Wat Phra Keaw....

Inside is museum........

As leaving Wat Phra Keaw will see a sign of The Silk Tree Tunnel, this is one of the must seen in Chiang Rai... not far from here.. have a look in the picture how does it like... :)

Then continue searching where to go, on the way to Doi Mae Salong. Here is one destination..

Baan Dam Museum, kingdom of Thawan Dujchani..

Inside, is that amazing???

Looking from inside to outside... ^^.

What to look cool,, well too flat ..

Looking cool with SJ camera,,,every where he goes...

every where we go, there are many of Chinese tourist...but this is good for our tourist business,,, same as here full of them,,, though I were in China main land,,,,:)

I see a lady who created here own selfie stick with an umbrella, clip the handy with paper clip handle by putting tissue in between to protect crashing, then tight the clip on the to of umbrella,,,super easy and creative ,,,,

I follow her just to get a chance to take her cute picture...

suddenly, she say something which I though she tell me not to take her picture but her face is smiling..well she is very lovely and friendly...

Let's continue the journey :) Next station "Doi Mae Salong"

But wait on the way we have to pass Chuiy Fhong Tea plantation,, Okay we must stop here be cause these two guys have never been here...I have to show them..

Chuiy Fhong Tea plantation......OOPS!!! No parking sing but why do I hitchhike a car..

Signage

as arriving, the rain is just poring, so what do we do to kill the time here...

let get some teas to try, green tea varieties, blended, iced and blended red beans....with some delicious cakes...

two pieces of cake, and teas is equal 2 meals well but we are here we have to try,,,,otherwise we are still not at Chuiy Fhong tea house... ^__^

The products of tea..(none of tea warms)

The rain has stopped,,,photo time..

Young tea leaf

Red VS Blue,, for a second I though we are boxers...

Different corner focus....

This section was harvested...

After working hours, Tea plantation workers are waiting for the truck to go home...

go go go

Selfie with the super view...

Selfie on the mirror reflection... :)

Police standing....:()

We stop every where!!, what time we will get to Doi Mae Salong >**<

as a pare ^^

Let me alone on this photo..

Jumping shot with my short legs must find the right angle to have a good shot..

His turn to jump...

Behind the scene...

Must leave,,if we have enough time tomorrow we will drop by again....today is bad luck with the weather...

One quick photo on the way...again...

Actually we want to see the sun set at Doi Mae Salong but I think we can not make it there,,so we stop here to see the sun set...where ever , it doesn't matter ....

The male model goes first,, for my security..make sure there are no harmful animals..

My turn new face model:)) post post and post, not much thing to post laughing only :)))) just make sure the photographer continues capturing....

May be I will get a good shot from a million shots...Still hoping..

I am your model, you are my photographer, then you are my model, I am your photographer......take turn...

Getting dark,,,, we are still on the way...

We always stop on the way to Mae Salong hill which make the trip is longer. From Chuiy Fhong tea plantation to Mae Salong takes about 1 hour, right now is 6 pm...... Now we are getting nervous because we will get there late and we didn't book a hotel, well what can we do, let's just take time....

We arrived ar Mae Slong around 7 pm, and looking for a hotel, as in rainy season the hotels are cheaper and we have a big chance to negotiate.

So, what we do is approaching the place which the light still on, people go to bed early here as it has not much to do. We went to ask at My Place Mae Salong, which is quite good with mountain view and and price is in our budget but we haven't decided yet, let go eat first may be it happens that we would have a better thought...

Many of restaurants are already closed, opposite My place is Suki YuNan, let's go ahead there, 500 bath a set for three not bad not bad...forgot photos because I am so starving.

After eating, come back to My Place, but the light is off!!! I called to the number on the sign, bring down the price to a fair point for both of us, as we have agreed, the extra bed is set very quickly..and the room is ready..

a lot of mosquitoes and bugs outside don't open the door..

Morning view,, ohhhh little passed 5 am, the son shines already very bright...

The two men are out for a run and I "LinkPle" still in bed as usual..but the reason for today in I feel not well, take some pills then continue my sleeping..(could be from jumping photos) . Aek is running up to the great pagoda Srinakarintarasatit-Mahasuntikiri, run up the steps, surely is hard and takes a lot of energy.... no picture to prove but he really is on the run...

Other gentleman is walking in the market getting some breakfast.. the room is excluded breakfast only Thai bread and coffee is provided..

Morning market..

Fresh vegetables..

Self grown vegetables and something from the nature..

This is our breakfast, grilled local marinated chicken wings with warm sticky rice, chili and mushroom paste and fresh vegetables,, easy but clean for this meal...

Get to the room after, when the sun is still soft, late morning..

Then we check out and drive up to the great pagoda, the way is very slope and many turns which make me so dizzy, may be from my cold still well but I still can do :)))

LinkPle can smile :)

Enjoying taking photos with buddy selfie stick (the witch with his boom)

A single photo at the beautiful scene, every one must have...

Down town view..

On the way down from the pagoda, a must stop at the KG. 0 as a rule to do for all visitors...

An Innocent kid..so lovely..

Right now is 11 am, let move on, may be we could do the tea plantation again because the weather is very supporting.. well but we didn't make it stop at the plantation because it is too late. On the way down make us a bit dizzy, let find something to spice up.. what is then can fix the dizzy? Som Tum, yes right something spicy will held this sickness.

Continue the driving, Boon Rawd Farm one of a must stop...

at the Boon Rawd farm (not many photos here)

The Boon Rawd logo is not to miss for a picture.. (SINGHA)

Couple capture? touching the lion nose..

At the White temple, many tourists here, and is almost close,,come on quick quick!!!

asking for sharing good karma,,

Red nail...

from outside beside the temple..

Is the time to check in to the flight at the time 19.25 pm. On the way to the airport we must refill the tank, 750 bath ! that is cheap for over 200 kg.^_^

Only 15 minutes we get to the airport which is to early, drive back to find a snack, then return the car, boarding, and the city living mode is turned on......

... End of slow life in low cost style kind of traveling, if you have a chance you should try traveling without planing to learn, to face and to except between you and your travel partner and of course the local cultures..

It is very important how to manage 24 hours a day to balance your life and be happy ...