18 March 2024

Chiang Khong

Previously:


If you want to cross border from Thailand to Lao PDR, one of the border towns would be this Chiang Khong.  It is a district nestled in the northeastern part of Chiang Rai province and is a jumping point to Lao.  In here, it is the home for the fourth friendship bridge connecting Thai and Lao.  This small city maybe not so a well-known city for international travellers.  Due to its slowness and quietness, with zero night life.  However, if you are looking for some peacefulness with a number of cultural interests and relaxing place to stay.  This place could be the answer.

Before our next trip to Japan, we choose this onsen hotel just to give us a pre-taste of Japan.  This hotel in Chiang Khong, called Teak Garden Riverfront Onsen hotel, provide a Japan-like onsen or hot spring bath.  In day time, we can just sit and watch the calming water of the river as this hotel is seated by the bank of Mekong river.










At the back of the hotel, there is a one long street along the river, where people can take a walk or ride bicycle or even just sit and enjoying the view.  It is a very quiet street with some passerby and motorists passing by from time to time.  




At night, there is this night market that opens every Friday night called Khong Khao.  They have a few local food vendors and the price is for locals too which means they are so cheap.  Or otherwise food from the hotel was pretty decent as well. 

Khong Khao Market - every Friday night



Luelaikham Museum is a must visit here.  They show Thai Lue ethnic their way of life and their house models.  For living, they normally do woven fabrics and cloths, you can also buy their products from here.  What’s more, there is a coffee shop at the back of this museum with plant farms view from the seating area.  They serve good coffee, light food and also ice creams are available here.  





Along that main road, we found a random noodle shop that looks really appealing with those open windows painted with Thai-style drawings.  Noodle tastes ordinary but it still makes a good go for a quick lunch. 





Teak Garden Riverfront Onsen Hotel
666 Moo 8 Sai Klang Road, Wiang, Chiang Khong

Luelaikham Museum and Sungwa Cafe
Si Don Chai, Chiang Khong

14 March 2024

The Treat Farm Hotel, Saraburi

Previously:

This family friendly boutique hotel or more like a farm stay recently opened its door sometimes in the end of 2023.  The place is surrounded with greenery and nature.  Very picturesque backdrop of Khao Yai mountain and wide vineyard.  It kinda takes you back to a farm stay nostalgia.  There are only eight huts offered in this hotel with six of them comes with a private pool.  I won't call it a swimming pool but more like a plunge pool.
 


As soon as we arrived, they welcomed us with some delicious sweet treats as well as iced butterfly pea and hot tea.  Their homemade macaroons were gorgeous and their cakes were yummy too. 




Then they took us to our little hut with a buggy car.  But for room number one is located the closest one from reception.  They come in order, so room number eight would be the furthest one.  Lucky me, I got the first room and we can comfortably walk to and from the main area without the hassle of waiting for the buggy car.





The hut container is pretty big.  We get the lounge room that can be turned into a second bedroom.  Then at the back door, we have a small pool and outdoor dining area.  Saraburi weather could go down to chill temperature at night, I mean pleasant chilly.  Therefore, it made a nice spot for family dinner gatherings.  












I mentioned above that this place is not just an ordinary rural hotel.  However, they are a little farm place with animals that happily live there as well.  They have these animals that most kids will love such as pigs, goats, ducks, and chickens.  Kids and us adults of course, we would have a play time and get closer encounter with those animals in two sessions a day.  So, basically, they let the animals out from the cage every morning around 9am and another time in the afternoon about 5pm for approximately one hour or more per session.  It is definitely benefiting animals too because they can freely run around on a bigger space rather than staying only inside the cage.  We are allowed to hold, play and feed the animals at that time.  








They let us collect some chicken eggs - not for us to keep though - just for fun






At night, we were having our dinner at the main restaurant instead of our room, just because in the dining area there is a kid zone where they have a bunch of toys and TV.  So, it is very convenient for us who come with kids.  We can comfortably and happily enjoy our dinner while kids doing whatever they like in that little naughty conner.

We need to order the dinner in advance.  There are two options available one is hot pot set or another one is Thai BBQ set.  Or you can even have both.  The set comes with meat, fresh vegetables and also soup base.  They have three different soup base, tonkotsu, shoyu and chicken/pork stock.




Kid zone



In Asian countries, when you book a hotel, breakfast is normally included.  Here, the main meal comes as ala carte but you can also grab some other things from breakfast section on top of that.  They have like cereal, breads, bun, savoury soup as well as juices and hot drinks. 





Big breakfast meal for an adult

Kid big breakfast

222 Moo 10 Cha Om, Kaeng Khoi District
Saraburi

Stay tuned for the next blog in Thailand: