| Days traveling: | |
| Average per day: | |
|
excluding
and
Flights
:
Luxury activities
|
Tam Wua Buddhist Monastery, Thailand
I'll spend the next following days in "Tam Wua" Buddhist Monastery. This monastery opens its doors to anyone willing to learn about Buddhism, offering free food and accommodation. I wasn't planning on doing this, but a guy at my previous hostel shared his amazing experience with me and encouraged me to do it. I decided to give it a go.
| TOTAL (USD) | $0.00 |
I couldn't leave Pai without visiting the Tham Lod Cave, which had been recommended to me several times. You go into the cave accompanied by a local guide who shows you the different rock formations. A tour in a (very precarious) bamboo raft was also included, which was definitely the highlight of the visit for me.
|
Food
|
Breakfast |
฿27.00
$0.81
|
|
Groceries
|
Bottled water (x2) |
฿34.00
$1.02
|
|
Tourist attractions
|
Tour to "Tham Lod Cave" (lunch included) |
฿450.00
$13.47
|
|
Food
|
Snacks |
฿40.00
$1.20
|
|
Intercity transport
|
Bus to Wat Pa Tam Wua (Buddhist monastery) |
฿100.00
$2.99
|
| TOTAL | ฿651.00 |
| TOTAL (USD) | $19.49 |
Today I went on a full-day tour that covered most of the touristy stuff around Pai. Because we're on the dry season, some of the destinations where pretty underwhelming: the waterfall had no water, and the rice fields were just dirt fields. However the hot springs were a nice surprise (they weren't so hot) and the Pai Canyon was amazing for sunset.
|
Food
|
Breakfast at "Canary Guesthouse" |
฿125.00
$3.74
|
|
Groceries
|
Bottled water (x4) |
฿64.00
$1.92
|
|
Tourist attractions
|
Full-day tour (lunch included) |
฿500.00
$14.97
|
|
Food
|
Savory snacks at "Pai Night Market" |
฿20.00
$0.60
|
|
Food
|
Khao Soi at "Pai Night Market" |
฿50.00
$1.50
|
|
Food
|
Fruit at "Pai Night Market" |
฿30.00
$0.90
|
|
Accomodation
|
Canary Guesthouse |
฿140.00
$4.19
|
| TOTAL | ฿929.00 |
| TOTAL (USD) | $27.81 |
Today might have been my laziest day so far. I spent most it just lounging at the hostel, doing some writing, catching up with some errands, and working on the website (link in bio, check it out!).
|
Food
|
Breakfast at "Canary Guesthouse" |
฿125.00
$3.74
|
|
Groceries
|
Bottled water |
฿13.00
$0.39
|
|
Food
|
Savory snacks at "Pai Night Market" |
฿30.00
$0.90
|
|
Food
|
Khao Soi at "Pai Night Market" |
฿50.00
$1.50
|
|
Food
|
Mango smoothie |
฿50.00
$1.50
|
|
Alcohol
|
Cocktail |
฿50.00
$1.50
|
|
Accomodation
|
Canary Guesthouse |
฿140.00
$4.19
|
| TOTAL | ฿458.00 |
| TOTAL (USD) | $13.71 |
Pai was described to me as a small town with island vibes, just without the beach. Confusing description, I thought, but now that I'm here, I totally get what they meant. There's not much to do in Pai, so time seems almost not-existent. Most people just chill, going from the pool to the bar, and then back to the pool.
|
Food
|
Breakfast at "Big's Little Cafe" |
฿130.00
$3.89
|
|
Groceries
|
Bottled water (x3) |
฿40.00
$1.20
|
|
Others
|
Pen |
฿10.00
$0.30
|
|
Food
|
Lunch at "Pen's Kitchen" |
฿90.00
$2.69
|
|
Entertainment
|
Entrance fee to "Fluid Swimming Pool" |
฿80.00
$2.39
|
|
Groceries
|
Toiletry restock |
฿52.00
$1.56
|
|
Food
|
Mango sticky rice |
฿30.00
$0.90
|
|
Food
|
Savory snacks at "Pai Night Market" |
฿20.00
$0.60
|
|
Accomodation
|
Canary Guesthouse |
฿140.00
$4.19
|
| TOTAL | ฿592.00 |
| TOTAL (USD) | $17.72 |
Chiang Mai's Old City is a perfect 1.6km (1mi) square, surrounded by a moat wall, although little of the wall still remains. After spending a day mostly eating and drinking coffee, I took my evening bus to my next destination: the small town of Pai.
|
Food
|
Breakfast (incl. in hostel) |
฿0.00
$0.00
|
|
Food
|
Coffee at "Into The Woods" |
฿75.00
$2.24
|
|
Food
|
Coffee at "Akha Ama Coffee" |
฿60.00
$1.80
|
|
Food
|
Minced pork basil at "Siri Wattana Market" |
฿45.00
$1.35
|
|
Food
|
Sweet snacks at "Siri Wattana Market" |
฿30.00
$0.90
|
|
Food
|
Savory snacks at "Siri Wattana Market" |
฿20.00
$0.60
|
|
Urban transport
|
Songthaew (semi-private taxi) to hostel |
฿30.00
$0.90
|
|
Urban transport
|
Songthaew to bus terminal |
฿50.00
$1.50
|
|
Intercity transport
|
Bus to Pai |
฿150.00
$4.49
|
|
Food
|
Dinner (street food) |
฿260.00
$7.78
|
|
Alcohol
|
Beers |
฿270.00
$8.08
|
|
Accomodation
|
Canary Guesthouse |
฿140.00
$4.19
|
| TOTAL | ฿1,130.00 |
| TOTAL (USD) | $33.82 |
There are hundreds of Elephant Sanctuaries in Chiang Mai, however several of them don't get even close to the definition of the word. After lots of research I found @elephantnaturepark, which not only rescues and homes dozens of elephants, but also works with local businesses to convince them to stop elephant riding and to become elephant sanctuaries. I spent my day feeding, walking, bathing, and playing in the mud with these gigantic and beautiful creatures. Definitely one of the best days of my trip so far 🐘.
|
Food
|
Breakfast (incl. in hostel) |
฿0.00
$0.00
|
|
Luxury activities
|
Elephant sanctuary at "Elephant Trails" |
฿2,500.00
$74.83
|
|
Food
|
Khao Soi at "Khao Soi Muslim Noodles" |
฿70.00
$2.10
|
|
Food
|
Coffee and pastry at "Khagee" |
฿295.00
$8.83
|
|
Groceries
|
Toiletry restock |
฿70.00
$2.10
|
|
Food
|
Dinner at "Chiang Mai Night Bazaar" |
฿134.00
$4.01
|
|
Accomodation
|
D-Well Hostel |
฿290.00
$8.68
|
| TOTAL | ฿3,359.00 |
| TOTAL (USD) | $100.54 |
