Chiang Mai

The weather was bad that day, it rained. Our first stop was Long Neck Village, which was very small and didn't seem like the place where the locals actually lived. After that, we visited the White Temple, Blue Temple, and Black House. The White Temple was beautiful, the Blue Temple was small, and the Black House was spacious and worth visiting. The Golden Triangle was just something our tour guide mentioned on the lake. We took a 9-seater bus, which was quite old and didn't have cup holders. The driver was fast but skilled. We had lunch at a restaurant next to the White Temple, a very basic all-you-can-eat meal. You can't expect much from a rural place like Chiang Rai. Overall, the White and Black Temples are must-sees; the Blue Temple, Long Neck Village, and Golden Triangle are quite ordinary and optional.

The staff were very helpful, and the pick-up point was in Warorot, which was very convenient and easy to find. The vehicle was in good condition, the seats were comfortable, and it departed on time. It was cheaper than hiring a car, but Mae Kampong is a very small street and there's nothing special about it 🤣. I ended up taking a songthaew to The Giant coffee shop to kill time.

I worried about it, but it was a really, really good choice! When else would I get to touch a tiger? I met the biggest tiger and a medium-sized tiger, and the trainers were very helpful with taking pictures. The baby tiger I saw near the last entrance was so cute! Since the hotel was in an area where pick-up wasn't available, I went directly to Tiger Kingdom and met the driver at the main entrance. Because I had other plans, I went somewhere else for sanding.

Elely Cafe offers a variety of drinks and food, and the indoor music is fantastic. I had a really relaxed and chilled time there. Besides the two elephants, the dachshunds are also adorable. Most importantly, the cafe doesn't force the animals to perform; they just let it be. The hydrangea fields on Mon Jam Mountain are also beautiful. There's a swing area, a cafe, and local stalls. The tour guide is very friendly and will help you take photos; you can tell he really likes Elely Cafe's animals. On the return trip, you can talk to the guide about getting off in the Neman district/Old Town (remember to take precautions against sun and mosquitoes).