TravelFeedTravelFeed Logo
Journey to the West - Biking Thailand Starts in Chiang Mai

Journey to the West - Biking Thailand Starts in Chiang Mai

June 2018 · 3 min read · Chiang Mai Province

20180621_070438.jpg

Thailand marks a totally new culture for our travel. All aspects of life here are vastly different from the West or from the Chinese culture.

We arrived in Chiang Mai, which has become a touristic city with an immense amount of attractions all concentrated within half and hour ride by car. Once we landed with our bikes at the airport, we slept until it was early morning and started riding towards our hostel, Cumpun Guest House. On our way, even though we were very tired, we encountered so many beautiful temples that we had to stop and visit them. Every 5 minutes of cycling in Chiang Mai would bring you to a tourist attraction. They literally perfected the city for tourists.

20180621_062544.jpg

20180621_063629.jpg

Everywhere you go, even when you get into the countryside of Thailand, if you can speak and read English, you can survive. Most people here speak English at least so much as to be able to carry out their respective trades. Even the street signs were mostly in English as well as Thai.

We were extremely hungry and curious about traditional Thai food. That's why we went to the Chiang Mai Night Bazzar to get some local food.

20180621_191553.jpg

We had Pad Thai, spring rolls, salad and some more dishes totalling about 20 Euro for both of us. It was a feast and we were stuffed with great food. So far we both love Thailand food and Japanese food the most in all of Asia.

20180621_193352.jpg

The bazzar was accompanied by beautiful dancers performing traditional Thai dances representing their main cultural minorities. The dances were so different from what I saw before. The movements were very slow and calculated.

20180621_200555.jpg

Finally, we had some ice fried yoghurt. Basically, they put yoghurt onto a flat surface that is extremely cold. This makes the yogurt freeze and then they would roll it into tiny rolls of ice. It was delicious.

Later that night we enjoyed some live Jazz music in a local bar. The beer and music were just amazing and really relaxed us.

20180621_215527.jpg

The next day, we started our city tour on bike. We stopped at several temples.

20180622_092418.jpg

20180622_100527.jpg

These are meditation huts where people on a retreat would go inside to meditate for a long period of time, often hours or days.

Ready to Blog & Earn?

With TravelFeed, easily start your own travel blog and earn as you go. It's the smart platform for travelers who want to profit from their passion. Create a free account

20180622_093102.jpg

At some temples, you can see people selling caught pigeons for you to free them. What a Unique Selling Point!

20180622_102029.jpg

A typical temple has a stupa and a hall inside and next to each other. There are always monks either working or residing inside the temples. They usually wear orange ropes although the color can change from temple to temple and does not give any significance to it's wearer.

20180622_102554.jpg

Don't Forget: Get Travel Health Insurance!

To make your trip a worry-free experience, TravelFeed recommends SafetyWing Nomad Insurance. It provides comprehensive health coverage while you travel, so you can focus on exploring, not the unexpected. Get a quote here

I went for a full day of meditation retreat at this temple.

20180622_111856.jpg

It was so worth it. They asked for donation only and it was the best meditation experience in my life. We mediated with introduction and ongoing guidance. We had lunch, afternoon tea and cookies and the teaching monk was great in English and very wise and had a good sense of humour. We ended the day by listening to binaural sound generated by two gongs while we were sleeping on the floor. I fell asleep instantly and woke up 40 minutes later. Two gong masters volunteered to rang the gong for 40 minutes just so some Western people and tourists can enjoy this time. Their way of giving is beyond belief. It makes them happy.

Stay tuned for the next stop which is Chiang Rai. I shall also update on our currently modified travel plan in another post.

Travel Resources for your trip to Thailand

Recommended by TravelFeed

Flights: We recommend checking Kiwi.com to find the best and cheapest flights to Thailand.

Accomodation: Explore the best places to stay in Thailand on Booking.com, Agoda and Hostelworld.

Travel Insurance: Medical emergencies abroad can be pricey, but travel health insurance is not. We always use SafetyWing for affordable and reliable coverage.

Transportation: Use 12go and Omio to find detailed bus and train schedules, making travel planning easier.

Car Rental: For hassle-free car hiring, DiscoverCars is our trusted choice with a wide selection of vehicles.

Internet: Got an eSIM compatible phone? Airalo is perfect for reliable internet access during your trip. Just install it before you go, and you're set!

Day Trips & Tours: We recommend GetYourGuide for a variety of well-organized and enjoyable activities.

Tickets: Save on entrance fees in Thailand with Klook and Tiquets.

Travel Planner: Need a hand planning? Our free travel planner chatbot is your personal guide to Thailand. Chat now.

Disclosure: Posts on TravelFeed may contain affiliate links. See affiliate disclosure.


Share this post