Today was a super fun first day in Chiang Mai! We woke up relatively early at S*trips Poshtel and did our laundry in the hostel laundromat. Laundry in the hostel was definitely a solid perk of staying at S*trips, especially on our fourth day into the trip. This brings us to the first travel tip from day four, check out the hostel perks.
Check out the hostel perks
Travel Tip #16
We planned out the day while folding our laundry and decided the main thing we wanted to accomplish was driving up to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep at the top of Doi Suthep–Pui National Park. We read online that the overlook from the temple is known for having spectacular views of Chiang Mai and despite the near triple digit temperature, today’s weather was going to be perfect for sightseeing. The internet also told us that the drive up to the peak was best done from the back of a motorcycle and after a quick Google search we found a rental place with great reviews called Vanessa’s motorbike rental.
After packing up our freshly folded clothes we checked out of S*trips and in to our new hostel – Bodega Chiang Mai hostel. When we read reviews online, Bodega hostel boasted a fun environment full of new found friends and good times. As soon as we walked into the lobby this promise was upheld and we were greeted with armfuls of kittens. That alone is worth my gold star review of Bodega hostel.
The check in process was quick and then we started to make our way to Vanessa’s motorbike rental. The rental shop was 4.5km from us, so we called a taxi to make it halfway there and then we walked the rest of the way. On our mile walk to the shop I conquered my fear of 7-11 food poisoning (see day two) and we packed snacks and water for our trip.
When we got to Vanessa’s rental shop they only had 4 bikes available at that location. Luckily, the owner had an extra bike at his other shop! While he went to go get the fifth bike we all walked around the area in search of a quick bite. After a short walk around we we found a hole in the wall Thai café. The day was starting to heat up and we had only eaten free hostel food for breakfast, aka toast with jam, so this stop was much needed. I ordered the Pad Thai, obviously, and it was only 50 baht.
After our mini fuel up feast we went back to the shop and got our bikes. At first I was super nervous about driving a motorcycle on my own because other than my car, I hadn’t ridden anything in the realm of motorized since high school. We practiced in the parking lot for a few minutes and afterwards I felt a lot better.
While the parking lot practice calmed my nerves, it didn’t save us from the inevitable injury. We made it 2 blocks from the rental shop when Jordan hit a bump going around a corner, lost control and launched into a street pole. It was a gnarly wipe out and he had a giant gash on his arm and leg, but overall he was fine.
While I’m sure having a few tourists crash your bike isn’t fun, the guy who rented us the bikes was extremely kind about the entire situation. When we called to tell him we crashed he immediately asked if we were okay and cared more about Jordan than the bike. He drove to us and picked up Jordan and the bike, then he drove Jordan to the pharmacy to get meds and then back to the hostel to get some rest.
Our whole experience with Vanessa’s bike rentals was amazing and the kindness that they showed to Jordan after his crash was truly amazing. I would highly recommend this rental shop to anyone and everyone!
While Jordan went back to the hostel to wrap his wounds, the rest of us headed up the mountain to Doi Suthep. The drive is about an hour from Vanessa’s rental shop and the roads are windy the whole way. We drove slow on the drive up, partly to take in the views and partly because we didn’t want to wreck another bike.
On our way up we also made lots of eventful stops. Our first break on the ride was at a small waterfall hidden in the woods. We walked around the rocks for awhile and then we met Rahul from Mexico. We chatted for awhile and realized he was also headed up to the temple, so after our rest we all decided to drive up to the peak together.
We left the waterfall and the next portion of our ride was stunning. With Rahul in our squad we were back up to our original 5 and it was cool watching everyone on motorbikes zooming past the dense mountain backdrop. Despite my initial fears, the curvy roads weren’t that scary. There was a little bit of rain that picked up when we were almost to the temple, but with the heat it was actually refreshing. Once we made it to the top we parked our bikes and walked to the final barrier between us and Wat Phra That Doi Suthep…309 steps.
When we got to the top the view was breathtaking. The temple is all gold and sits at the summit of Doi Suthep overlooking all of Chiang Mai. The origin of the temple is unknown, but it is thought to have been built in 1383. The temple is also sacred to many Thai people, so once you’re in the main part of the temple it’s important to take off your shoes and have your shoulders covered. This bring us to Thai tip #17, respect the rules.
respect the rules
Travel Tip #17
We walked around the top of the temple for awhile and then Rahul showed us that he had a drone. He flew the drone out over the edge of the temple and took a really cool video of us waving from the edge of the overlook. Then he flew the drone up and over the temple to get a birds eye view. It’s lucky that we met him at the first waterfall because after our trip he compiled all of the footage into a sick Youtube video.
Once we were done exploring the top of the temple, Ben and I went back to a tiny market of shops at the base of the temple. We bought matching singing bowls and I bought a new purple skirt. Thinking back, I’m glad I bought that skirt when I did because I needed it desperately by the end of the day, but more on that later.
We got back on our bikes and drove past Doi Suhthep peak to a small Hmong Village called Doi Pui. While we were in the village Rahul flew the drone again and this time the kids at the school came out and ran around with the drone circling above.
Once we were done flying the drone we got back on the bikes and drove through the marketplace shops to a garden waterfall at the back of the town. It was breathtaking and so we we flew the drone again. This time we made it fly super far away and then recorded it sweeping across the landscape and landing on us. Afterwards we got back on the bikes and went back the way we came from.
After waterfalls and hidden gardens we decided we needed to add a little bit of education to our jam packed day. So, in honor of my name being Jade and us being in Thailand, we drove to the Orchid Jade Factory. We went on a tour of the factory and saw how Jade was carved and polished. I also learned that the primary sources for real Jade were in Burma and Guatemala… and all along I thought the primary source of Jade was in North Carolina. You learn something new everyday! After the tour we walked through the gift shop and I ended up buying my new favorite bracelet – a braided green cord covered in Jade circles.
Add in some education
Travel Tip #18
After the factory tour we started back down the mountain and continued our tactic of random stops along the way. Our first break on the way down was at a waterfall temple with statues covered in jewelry. We climbed out to the edge of the waterfall and took a moment to cool down from the increasing heat of the day. We were all relaxing on the edge of the waterfall when I looked down and noticed a phone in the pool of water. I quickly picked it up and realized it was Pat’s phone that had slipped out of his pocket and almost went straight down the falls.
After the phone fiasco we kept riding down the mountain and stopped again at the rumored location of a swimming hole. We hiked down to the water and discovered those rumors were correct. The swimming hole was empty except for a few monks who were doing flips off the top of the waterfall. It was a hot day and we didn’t hike down to the water for nothing, so we decided to jump off the cliff too.
Unfortunately for me, I was wearing the cheap elephant pants I had haggled for the day before… and oh buddy were they cheap. After I jumped off the waterfall a few times I heard the guys laughing and I looked down to see that the force of jumping into the waterfall had… well… ripped my pants into four strips of cloth. I felt like Jane from Tarzan, but I realized I should probably cover up. To remedy the situation I turned the strips of pants into more of a…diaper, but then I kind of felt more like Tarzan
Don’t trust cheap pants
Travel Tip #19
After my pants fell at the waterfall we drove the final stretch back to return the bikes and then walked straight to the hole in the wall Thai café for another epic meal. We hadn’t eaten anything since our meal this morning, so we all got two plates of food each. After a double packed dinner of reminiscing and exchanging contact info, we parted ways with Rahul and headed back to the hostel to check on Jordan. When we got back Jordan was bandaged up and sipping martinis in the lobby, so naturally, we decided to go out and hit the town. Which leads us to the final travel tip from today, in all matters other than motorbikes… all gas, no brakes. In other words, keep going, even when you’re tired.
All gas no BRAKES
Travel Tip #20
We pregamed in the hostel lobby because it was also a bar and then everyone from the hostel headed out to a bar called Zoe’s. We all got giant Cheng beers and played cheers to the governor for honestly way too long.
The bars close early in Chiang Mai so when Zoe’s closed at midnight we headed to Spicy, which was another bar that stayed open until later. We got beers and danced there for awhile before heading back to the hostel and falling asleep as soon as our heads hit the pillow.
