From Pai to Chiang Rai with Love and Charin Pie

Previously:

Pai Night Market Part 2

Today's breakfast, we were asked to order in-room dining.  This was because there wasn't much guests in the hotel.  Their menu was pretty much the same with what we had yesterday, so I won't be talking much in details.  After breakfast, we got ready to drive long way from Pai to Chiang Rai, around 7 hours. 

 

An ultimate curve

Charin Pie in Charin Garden Resort is a-must visit place whenever driving from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai or vice versa.  It is located halfway between these two cities and this restaurant offers good food and they are famously known for their delicious pies as well.  It made a perfect stop for a short break.  

Look at how many types of pies they serve everyday.  The best one would definitely hands down to lemon meringue pie.  We had three pieces to share between the four of us.  We got chocolate pie, lemon meringue pie and also pecan pie.  We then brought another 3 pieces to take away which were pumpkin pie, lime key pie and the second piece of that scrumptious lemon meringue pie.  

Their lemon meringue is very fine like something you can get from any great patisserie.  The base was super thin, the curd was good sour then balanced with soft sweet meringue on top. 

Nothing much on this day, basically our day has nearly gone just on the road.  Wait until the next day, where we explored more of Chiang Rai city.

Charin Garden Resort

Mae Suai District, Chiang Rai

Ph: +66 81 783 1637

Stay tuned for the next blog still in Chiang Rai:

Doi Tung Lodge, Chiang Rai

Pai Night Market Part2

Previously:

Pai City

We started our night out early this time, as yesterday we missed out some local goodies.  And as usual, we did take away food and enjoyed them in our place and at our own pace.  

 

Khao Puk Nga Dam or Black sesame sticky rice with condensed milk

One of a-must try snacks in Pai is this sticky patty made from black sesame glutinious rice flour.  It then grilled to order and finally topped with some grounded peanuts and condensed milk. 

We also got another Chinese noodle salad from the same vendor.  We tried one yesterday and it was delicious.  It is a very refreshing noodle dish with the right amount of sourness and spiciness.  

This donut looks like a regular donut but when we have biten into it.  It was so soft, felt like biting a cotton and the chocolate filling was oozing out.  Very yummy and cheap too.  It was only 25Baht for 2 pieces. 

In Thailand, it is kinda rare to find grilled corn that had been grilled without skin.  Normally, the seller grills corn while skin attached and it will taste more like a steamed corn rather than grilled.  I honestly prefer the way this vendor grilled their corn, naked corn on the cob, as you will get to taste the char yet slightly burned kernels and the smell of charcoal, really good.  

And the same grilled pork that we got yesterday

We got to try nearly all the goodies Pai has to offer and our tongue and stomach were definitely thanked us for that. 

Stay tuned for the next blog:

From Pai to Chiang Rai with Love and Charin Pie

Pai City

Previously:

Pai Night Market

 

Today, we were just chilling out in Pai city.  Their breakfast served as an a la carte.  Each person got to choose one main meal that comes with toast, juice and tea or coffee as well as fresh fruits.  Our brekkie were delicious, especially those simple pan fried carrot.  I think, it probably can turn people who doesn't like carrot to become addicted to it.  

Pork congee

Big brekkie with omelet and extra bacon

an addition soft boiled egg

Though I ordered muesli and yogurt for my breakfast this morning, it wasn't enough for my big appetite.  But the lady/owner was kindly gave me one more egg set to satisfy my hunger.  Very nice indeed. 

muesli, yogurt and fresh fruit

fresh cut fruits, one serve for each of us

After enjoyed our breakfast and relaxed by the river, we headed to some tourist places, but it came to my surprise that they were unbelivably quite, nearly noone around. 

This memorial bridge, for example, twice I'd been here in the past, I could hardly get a nice shot of the bridge as it was always full of people.  But look at what happened!!!  The whole bridge was mine only to explore.  

This coffee shop used to be very famous too.  Due to its strategic location and instagrammable.  However, this place became very quite and seems to be ignored and neglected.  Even their big shop sign had been removed.  So sad....

Wat Nam Hoo

Santichon Village

Another authentic Chinese village like the one I just visited in Mae Hong Son, full of Yunanese refugees and tea plantations, as well as shops selling local community products and souvenirs, not forget to mention, traditional Chinese pork leg stew could be found in here as well.  But again, this place is unrecognised anymore.  Dying and fading away.  I actually really like this place.  When our world can beat down Covid, hopefully, this such a lovely place can retrieve their visitors back.  

Tea testing

Stay tuned for the next blog still in Pai:

Pai Night Market Part 2

Pai Night Market

Previously:

Rim Pai Cottage

Pai city that I'd known, never be this quite and empty.  Pandemic knocked this city awfully and terribly.  So many resorts and shops closed either temporary or even for good.  Some tourist destinations left unattended and abandoned.  The night walking street that used to be lively and jammed with people and food stalls, are now so doomed.  Cars and motorcycles can now drive pass these streets freely.  Passer by need to be careful while browsing and shopping.  There are hardly any food stalls in the middle of the streets no more.  Most likely only few shops that are surviving. 

Here are some of photos I'd taken from Pai walking street and judge it for yourself. 

This delicious grilled pork is a thing you cannot miss here.  The meat are tender with a great amount of spice and a kick of pepper.  

This Banh Mi shop is always busy with customers come and go.  Surely, it's because of huge serving portion, cheap price yet taste delicious.  

 

Take a closer of Bahn mi that we got.  Thick slab of grilled pork pieces, some fresh salad and a great amout of sauces are sandwiched in between a big soft bun.  However, a bit more vegetables will make them 10 out of 10 dish.  

Patongko or deep fried Chinese stick dough

So cheap, 10 pieces of this freshly cook fried bread dough is only 20Baht.

You definitely need to try the local noodle and snack from this stall.  We missed it in the first day, as we came a little too late and she just sold out.  But, we came back the next day.  

Stay tuned for the next blog still in Pai:

Pai City