After finally managing to book some paid time off in September, D and I decided to visit Chiang Mai, Thailand, which had been on our bucket list for a while.
There are no direct flights from Manila to Chiang Mai, so we had a long layover at Hong Kong International Airport before continuing our journey.
We arrived in Chiang Mai in the afternoon and checked into the Dusit Princess Chiang Mai hotel. After settling in, we went out to explore the neighborhood.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that the street where our hotel was located also hosts a night market on weeknights. Vendors were already setting up their stalls when we went out. The market had a mix of souvenirs, clothes, and accessories. A few steps away from our hotel, there was also a street food hall. We made plans to explore the area more later in the evening.
A walk through the Old City was on our itinerary for our first day. It took us about 30 minutes to walk there, and we made quick stops at some temples.
Before we knew it, it was already almost 6 p.m. We didn’t have much time left for sightseeing because I had made a dinner reservation at Eung Kam Sai Northern Thai Cuisine. To get there on time, we took a GrabCar.
At Eung Kam Sai, we were warmly welcomed by the restaurant staff. We learned that their food comes from family recipes that are over 100 years old. I tried their ong puna (ricefield crab made into a dip) and gaeng toon sai pla (Thai curry with fish), which was customized to be less spicy. Note: I still found it spicy. 🥵
After dinner, D and I took a GrabCar back to our hotel. By then, the market was already in full swing. D bought a couple of shirts, and I bought a carved soap shaped like a flower. I asked the vendor how long it takes for him to carve the soaps and he said typically about 10 minutes. It was fascinating!
After strolling through the market we headed back to the hotel and called it a night. Our first day in Chiang Mai was simple and relaxed, with a little bit of everything: a walk through the Old City and our first taste of Northern Thai food. It was a good start to the trip, and we were looking forward to seeing more of Chiang Mai over the next few days.
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