Top 7 things I liked in Chiang Mai
I traveled Chiang Mai at the end of last Auguest, and I'd like to share the 7 most fun activities I've enjoyed in Chiang Mai. It was the end of rainy season, so not often able to see the blue sky but actually it didn't rain that much. This 7 most exciting things to do might be not the case for some people, but if you are the person who like yoga, cooking, nature , and vegetarian food Chiang Mai is one of the best place in the world. :)
1. Walking in the old city
There are so many cars and motorbikes fuming out exhaust gas in the main streets , but only if you walk a few steps inside the alley, you will feel a very quiet and peaceful vibe with a lot of trees , birds singing and old style houses and temples, etc. Actually you can see a lot of temples everywhere. Riding a bicycle is another great option. In Chiang Mai, you can find mobike (bicycle sharing) everywhere in old city. It's very cheap, easy and fun transfortation when you get around inside the old city. But I felt it is dangerous to use mobike in main streets because there are no special road for bicycles. In this case, songtaew (red taxi) is cheap and convenient option.
A typical view in Chiang Mai old city
2. Yoga Class
It was one of the reasons I went to Chiang Mai. I have searched some Yoga centers and classes in Chang Mai before going there, and even planned my travel route according to the Yoga class schedules. Even if it ended up attending only 2 classes in one Yoga center, it really was a great experience!
A Freedom Yoga near my hotel. I took Hatha Yoga class in the morning . The teacher was experienced yoga teacher who was very good at teaching. Drop in class is 250 THB for each session.
A friendly cat in freedom yoga.
3. Thai Massage
This must be a must to do in Chiang Mai for everyone! Massage is very cheap and relaxing. There are thousands of massage shops in every streets in the old city. You can have massage for prices from the cheapest one (200~250 THB) in the streets , and middle , and also the luxurious ones with more than 1000 THB. I tried every price range and all of them were satisfying. The first massage I had was a middle one (500THB). The place was a little bit cleaner then cheap places, and massage was good, and the massager gave me an unexpected hair styling service! After massage, they offered me a delicious and great looking mango stiky rice!
Mange Sticky Rice after Thai Massage
4. Vegetarian Food
Chiang Mai is one of the best places to enjoy vegetarian food! I've been to many vegetarian and vegan restaurants, but almost every restaurant, including street food, offered vegetarian options and that was very impressive! By the way, why would they have so many vegetarian places? I thought it was because Thailand is Buddhist country and Chiang Mai is well know for good place to grow plants. But a local said that the main reason was because of European tourists. So many people from Europe asked them for vegetarian options. A little bit funny story but anyway it is nice to have such nice veggie places everywhere in the city.
Vegan Pad Thai and Fried Mushrooms in "Vegan Heaven", a vegan restaurant in front of the hotel I stayed. It was really a vegan heaven!! They even have vegan American style breakfast meal. I've been to this place a few times during my stay and everything was awesome!
A healthy vegan burger in a famous "Rustic & Blue" in Nimman, and "Kao Soi Tofu" in "Lada Vegegarian", a food stall in a market near Chiang Mai Gate.
5. Cooking Class
In Chiang Mai city, they offer variety of cooking classes. Of course I attended Vegetarian class. I had booked the class in "cookly" site in advance. If you are vegetarian, it's better to book online because it is little bit hard to find one when you get there. I enjoyed the class a lot. I learned all the basic thailand dishes such as pad thai, curry, papaya salad, and even mango sticky rice! It was very organized class and I felt I can do it by myself when I get home, and I really did! In fact, you will be very full after the class because you will eat them all right after making each one :)
Fried tofu with holy basil, mango sticky rice.
6. Doi Suthep Night Tour
Joining a tour was less preferable than activities such as cooking. But I really recommend this one because unlike other tours, you can see very few other tourists and local people. Of course, the night view was stunning! I was lucky to able to join the tour by booking in front of my guest house just one hour before the tour. Tour guide said local people don't go to temples at night, and it is difficult for tourists to go there by themselves because no public transportation they can use at night. (Songthaw , last one goes down at 5 pm)
Wat Umong Temple (A Burmese style), and Doi Suthep Night View
A night view of Chiang Mai from Doi Suthep
7. Night Markets
Chiang Mai has two very famous night markets. One is Night Bazzar, a big shopping area only few minutes away from Tha Phae Gate(the right side of the old city) . It opens from 6 PM everyday. Second one is Sunday market , a big street markets from Tha Phae Gate all the way to Wat Phra Singh . They have almost everything from food stalls , clothes, art products, herb product, and many more things you can imagine. It only opens in Sunday evening. I enjoyed a lot. Let me introduce a few scenes from the Sunday Night market.
Wooden umbrellas and Dream catchers
Mango wood products and pashminas
Mango Stiky Rice is only 50 THB, and a whole mango is inside!
Thank you for reading and I hope it will help planning your trips :)
From the 7 things I enjoyed food a lot. I will write about food in Chiang Mai in more detail soon!