Tham Luang - Khun Nam Nang Non Cave and Wat Rong Suea Ten, Chiang Rai

Previously:

Imperial Hotel, Singha Park, and Wat Huay Pla Kang, Chiang Rai

As the hotel has not much guests, breakfast was served as ala carte.  In spite of that, you can order unlimited side dishes from the menu.  We then spent half our day in Khun Nam Nang Non National Park.  This cave lies beneath Nang Non mountain sharing the border with Myanmar and more than 10 kilometers in length.  The cave was brought to global attentions around four years ago when thirteen junior football players trapped inside for 18 days.  Long story short, two Thai recue divers died in this incident, but those thirteen people got out safely.  

Back to our hotel, in-room dining sounded perfect for us after a long tiring day.  Yet again, the food satisfied our grumbling tummy.  After our dinner, we gave Chiang Rai night bazaar a go again.  Just for one reason, their famous bua loy (glutinuos rice balls in coconut milk).  Yay... this 'legend' is still there yet as busy as always.  We got one bowl for each of us.  Although I know it won't be enough but after big dinner, I litterally couldn't handle more.  

Bua loy (glutinuos rice balls in coconut milk) 20B

If you like a warm dessert, you need to give this a try.  The coconut milk itself is not so sweet and paired with chewy dumplings and a few shaved fresh coconut as well as some roasted sesame.  This is a perfect match made in heaven.

On the way back, we made a quick stop at this blue temple, called Wat Rong Suea Ten.  It is only a stone away from Imperial hotel.  In day time, you can see that this temple is all painted in blue color and it is no-doubt beautiful.  But at night, this place looks even more stunning from the light reflections.  Blue in here definitely means the opposite of depression.  Because it makes me happy just by looking at this eye-catching assembly. 

The next day there were more guests in the hotel. so breakfast was served as buffet.  The menu, however, not so much deifferent with ala carte anyway. 

Stay tuned for the next Northern Thai trip:

Holatel and Wirot Restaurant, Phitsanulok

Imperial Hotel, Singha Park and Wat Huay Pla Kang, Chiang Rai

Previously:

Choi Fung Tea Plantation, Chiang Rai

For the next two nights, we stayed at Imperial Hotel in the middle of Chiang Rai city.  We also will explore more around here.  We love this hotel so much.  The location, the service and also the room itself.  Although it's quite an old-style hotel, the room is very clean and outstanding.  Not forget to mention their food menu too.  The in-room dining menus especially the one that we ordered were all delicious.

There are quite a few activities to do inside this Singha Park, however, it was mid-day and a super hot one.  So we gave it a miss but take a photo with an iconic 'Singha' statue is a must. 

Then we made a short visit to one of newly renown temple in Chiang Rai, called Wat Huay Pla Kang.  The Kwan Im statue here is so massive and beautiful too.  

At night, we were planning to go to Chiang Rai night bazaar (we had a wonderful memory here).  But when we arrived at the place (according to our GPS), it looked totally different.  It was very quite, dark and nearly empty.  Until we were not so sure whether we were actually in the right place or not, even the huge sign at the gate were taken off too.  We made a couple of turns inside the car park area and outside the street, just to make sure.  There were only a few locals dining in with only less than five stalls selling.  We need to call it off and made our way to a near noddle shop, which is packed with people at dinner time.  We grabbed a few things and headed back to hotel.  Their noodle is quite different than any Thai bamee.  This egg noodle is slightly chewier and thicker in texture.  But I like it and their broth also very fragant and pungent.  Their deep-fried wonton also went well together.  Good meal to end the day.  Let's see what tomorrow will bring us?

Imperial Hotel, Chiang Rai

482 Moo 4, Mae Kok Rd. 

Tambon Rim Kok, Chiang Rai

Ph: +66 53 750 830

Jeheang Noodle Shop

185 Moo 18, Prasopsook Road

Rop Wiang, Chiang Rai

Ph: +66 53 713 176

Stay tuned for the next blog still in Chiang Rai:

Tham Luang - Khun Nam Nang Non Cave and Wat Rong Suea Ten, Chiang Rai

Choi Fung Tea Plantation, Chiang Rai

Previously:

Doi Pha Hee, Chiang Rai

If you are a green tea lover, then this place is a must visit for you.  In this tea plantation, you could find some delicious tea-collaboration food and sweets as well as other Thai-Chinese delicacies and not forget to mention lots of souvenirs to take home too.

Green tea roll 110B accompanied with matcha green tea frappe 70B and lychee oolong tea 60B 

Deep fried tea leaves 120B

The place is massive as well as the cafe area.  I suggest you to come early before lunch time to avoid crowd,  Unless you're aiming only for some drinks or sweet, you can come after the peak hours because many main dishes usually run out by then. 

Choi Fong Tea Plantation and Tea Cafe

157 Moo 6 Srikham, Maechan

Chiang Rai

Ph: 66 63 779 5999\

Stay tuned for the next blog still in Chiang Rai:

Imperial Hotel, Singha Park, Wat Huay Pla Kang, Chiang Rai

Doi Pha Hee, Chiang Rai

Previously:

Doi Tung Lodge, Chiang Rai

Hi again all and thank you for still following and reading my blog.  Although I knew that I had been so slack recently with my blog.  I will finish what I'd started of this Northern Thailand trip back in October last year as the rest of places are really worth to visit.  So please stay tuned. 

Ok now, after one night in Doi Tung logde in Chiang Rai, we continued our journey uncovering the beauty of this city has to offer.  From our lodge, we made a short visit to a place called Doi Phe Hee, the edge of nothernmost of Chiang Rai that meets with Burmesse border.  The mountain view from up here is mind-blowing, you have to see it yourself to believe.  Because pictures cannot capture the true image from what I'd actually witnessed.  Right from the moment I stepped down from the car, it just 'WOW' me. 

Not much things to do in this little village but honestly, we don't really need to do anything.  Just sit and relax with a cup of coffee and a million-dollar view to enjoy.  I just found out that there is a newly opened homestay in one of the famous coffee shop in Pha Hee.  800 Baht per night per person, includes breakfast and local-style shabu shabu dinner.  Super cheap, isn't!  The lady nicely let us checking out the room as well. I will definitely come back and stay in this place.  

Friendly cat in the area

This is the homestay that I mentioned earlier

The coffee shop above the homestay

Imagine waking up to this breathtaking view every morning

This Doi Chang mub, just a few minutes car ride from Doi Pha Hee is where the border between Thailand and Myanmar separated with only low bamboo fences.  It is totally unseen. 

Stay tuned for the next blog still in Chiang Rai:

Choi Fong Tea Plantation, Chiang Rai