Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai, Thailand 13th - 24th April (By Ella)

We arrived in Chiang Mai airport after an hour flight from Phuket. Our hotel's staff had a sign with Dad's name on it and he drove us to the Grand Napat. At our hotel we met Canadian friends, English friends and Thai friends! We spent quite a lot of time at the Central Festival mall, going ice-skating, buying warmer clothes, getting lots of socks, and buying walking shoes for Nepal.   We visited the Night Bazaar, and went to some botanical gardens which had a great swimming pool. We spent 5 days in total in Chiang Mai.

Chiang mai

Ice Skating at Central Festival Mall:

Anna's first time!!

The Grand Napat hotel:

Our English friend Stephen:

Botanical Gardens:

Song Kran - a Buddhist Celebration that involves lots of water:

Chiang Rai

We then got a bus to Chiang Rai, before getting a small taxi/mini bus 'thing' to our homestay. For 5 days we stayed at Chiang Rai Homestay. We mainly stayed around our Homestay; going to the local monestery, climbing the mountain which is only a bike ride away, playing in the pool and hanging out with Mr Dog! We had a great stay in Chiang Rai with the Dutch owner Huub and his Thai wife Ann.

Bus Trip:

Homestay Chiang Rai:

Early morning walks:

Mr Dog:

On our first day in Chiang Rai, we went for a bike ride quite early. 5 minutes into a ride we found a German Shepherd, who stayed with us the whole morning.

Anna's friend Miller:

White Temple:

Believe it or not, this is a real place - Wat Rong Khun, better known as the White Temple, is a Buddhist temple in Thailand that looks like it was placed on earth by a God!