CNY celebration in Chiang Mai (Day 5 – Day 6)

Day 5 was Chinese New Year eve. Normally, I would spend my time shopping for new cloths back at home before go back for reunion dinner with my family. Yes, I’m a last minute shopper. However, this year I was not at home. I was at Chiang Mai.

After arriving from Bangkok via train, I headed straight to old city of Chiang Mai by red sawngthaew (bigger version of tuk tuk). That is where most of the guesthouses located. The first thing I did after got off from the red sawngthaew was looking for a motorbike to rent. After a short find, I managed to get a motorbike from Tony’s Big Bike. The rental fee was 120 Baht per day, which I think was quite reasonable. I paid for 2 days in advance and I had to leave my passport at the shop. With the motorbike, I toured around the old city looking for guesthouses. After comparing few guesthouses, I decided to stay in Same-same Guesthouse. At 250 Baht a night, the room was pretty basic. It was a fan room with shared bathroom. Luckily it was cold season, so air-conditioning was not necessary. Later, I met up with Annie, Monica, Derick and Michell. We spent the rest of the day together shopping in the night bazaar and had our own “reunion” dinner at a cafe of a guesthouse. The night bazaar was huge and colorful.

Crossing Th Moon Muang near Tha Phae Gate

Tha Phae Gate

Foot massage by the roadside

Street full of bookstores

Beautifully decorated doors at one of the temple

One of the many temples in Chiang Mai

Fresh fruit juice in the night market

Traditional music played by students asking for donation

You can find all kind of food in the night market including the famous chicken embryo egg

The night market kicked into full swing

Camwhoring with Annie

“Reunion” dinner

The atmosphere in Chiang Mai is certainly not as “festive” as in Malaysia. In Malaysia, Chinese New Year songs would play non-stop everywhere you go and fireworks would set off almost simultaneously the moment the clock strike 12 midnight. There was none here. Although I saw some shops set off some firecrackers during day time, but the street was as silent as the grave during midnight.

However, the real celebration was on the next day in Chinatown. I found it accidentally when I was searching for breakfast on my motorbike. Few roads were closed and the area was packed with people. To my delight, Chinese New Year songs were playing loudly, lion dancers danced to the deafening drum beats, smoke from joss sticks filled the air around a Chinese temple, everything was decorated in red, the girls looked elegant in their red cheongsam, traditional dances were performed live on stage and galore of food stalls lined the street. Ah… I felt at home for awhile. I sampled most of the food as my breakfast before going back.

Chinatown

Food stalls

Thai traditional dance

Ladies looking good in red cheong sam

More girls in red cheong sam. I never see so many girls in cheong sam in one place before.

More pretty girls in cheong sam

Dragon dance

Lion dance

Chinese temple

Food stalls lined the street

My breakfast

Grilled seafoods

Grilled sausages

On my way back to my guesthouse, I was stopped by a traffic police. Unfortunately, I couldn’t produce my driving license because I left it in my guesthouse and I was slapped with a fine amounting 200 Baht which I gladly accept. After checked out from my guesthouse, I went to the police station to pay the fine. It was quite an experience to be in the police station. I was the only foreigner in the station and the policeman had trouble pronouncing my name. At least they served with smile. Too bad I was not allow to take any photograph in the station.

After the unexpected short thrill in the police station, I continued my journey on my bike to discover Chiang Mai before I departed to Pai on the afternoon (more on next post). Highly recommended by Conny on the train, I headed to Doi Suthep to visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, a temple perched on a panoramic hilltop. The long and winding road leading up to the temple was very scenic. Tree’s shadow casted on the road with cool winter breeze blowing across my face made the journey one heck of a ride. I think everyone should try this when in Chiang Mai.

View of Chiang Mai town on the way up.

Riding up the hill on my rented motorbike

Long flight of steps, lined by ceramic-tailed naga, that leads up to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. Everyone has to take off their shoe before entering the temple’s compound

Stunning decoration on the temple wall

Golden stupa in the temple

Buddhist devotees seeking blessing from a monk

I left Chiang Mai for Pai not long after that via a local bus. The 4-5 hours bus ride cost 72 Baht. I took the last bus on 4pm at Arcade bus station.

If you love this post, then you might love these:

1. Best wishes from Chiang Mai
2. Overnight train to Chiang Mai (Day 4 – Day 5)
3. Transit in Bangkok (Day 3 – Day 4)
4. Relaxing in Pai (Day 6 – Day 8)
5. My 2 weeks backpacking adventure across Indochina