TrongpaiExpat
November 11th, 2006, 14:20
The BF and I went up to Chiang Mai for the Flower Expo and Loy Kathong and made a two day side trip to Mai Hong Song. I had not been there since 1991. We flew from Chiang Mai via THAI Air. Nok now has a new service with three flights a day as well. It's a 30minute stress free way to get there quick. I first noticed the new airport. In 1991 the airport was 70's Viet Nam era style. The new airport is modern with high ceilings. There is one gate, labeled prominently gate number one.I tried to rent a car at the airport car rental agency but got a no have cars response, but they could sell me a tour.
There were a few tuk tuks in the nearly deserted parking lot, we took one to the hotel and he pointed out a few places where you can rent cars on the way to the hotel. I had booked at the Rooks Holiday Resort in one of the bungalows. They have a hotel as well that looked pretty dismal. The bungalow was ok, nice from the outside, not as nice inside and the water was not very hot. There are about 15 bungalows around a pond and we were one of three guests. Sixteen years ago, I stayed at some hotel on the river that appears to now be gone of converted to some other use.
I tried to rent a car at the many places that have these big signs, CAR FOR RENT, but got the same song and dance, a bunch of phone calls and then a bunch of no haves but you can take a tour. I was getting a bad head cold and gave up the idea of driving as the BF does not think much of my driving style anyway, staying in the lanes, driving the speed limit and not using the horn every 3 minuets. I booked a private tour with the Fish Cave and Tham Lot on the plan. They did not like adding Tham Lot and wanted me to take an elephant ride but when I insisted they said ok. I also did not want to visit a long neck tribe, something about rewarding harmful body mutation just does not sit well with me. I also said I wanted something other than a mini van and did not want a guide, just a driver.
Next morning the mini van with the guide and driver showed up right on time.
The first stop was the fish cave. More of a hole in the wall but it's free. Not much history on the place but someone must have put some significance on fish getting out of the sun by going in a cave so they built an alter. Fish being neither mad dogs or Englishmen just want to get out of the mid-days sun. The Queen paid a visit to the cave since my last visit and there was a pictorial display in honor of her visit, she fed the fish too.
The scenery in this area is quite spectacular. The sunflowers were out and the weather was clear and beautiful. The guide I did not want sat in the front of the van I did not want and did not say anything. Crazy farang who not like long neck people or elephant ride written all over his face.
Tham Lod is incredible. Some of the tour literature call this the water cave. In 1991 I found this very impressive cave by chance. We arrived and there was a small parking lot with some local hill tribe boys with lanterns that took you in for 40B. Now there is a entry gate where you pay 100B, no double pricing then you pay the guide, not locals 100B per segment of the cave and pay 100B per segment on use of the raft to get in. The entry back in 1991 is now the exit and you can't just walk in as I did then. The raft out then if you wanted was 20B per person and it took you out the way you came in. There were not a lot of people there. Some tours from Chiang Mai and some from Mai Hong Song, no big tour buses. The main cave is the most impressive and the least amount of climbing. This is a big cave with a high ceilings so low oxygen levels are not a problem. They divided up the cave in 4 segments so the fees can add up. They though it was very funny that I got in 16 years ago for 40B total.
I noticed a lot of small quaint some rustic and some too rustic guest houses along the road. Some were long ago abandoned.
All the food we had in Mai Hong Song was excellent and reasonable. There is no food at the airport, so eat in town before your flight out.
If I take this trip again, I think I would rent a car in Chiang Mai where there are rental cars available and drive from there.
There were a few tuk tuks in the nearly deserted parking lot, we took one to the hotel and he pointed out a few places where you can rent cars on the way to the hotel. I had booked at the Rooks Holiday Resort in one of the bungalows. They have a hotel as well that looked pretty dismal. The bungalow was ok, nice from the outside, not as nice inside and the water was not very hot. There are about 15 bungalows around a pond and we were one of three guests. Sixteen years ago, I stayed at some hotel on the river that appears to now be gone of converted to some other use.
I tried to rent a car at the many places that have these big signs, CAR FOR RENT, but got the same song and dance, a bunch of phone calls and then a bunch of no haves but you can take a tour. I was getting a bad head cold and gave up the idea of driving as the BF does not think much of my driving style anyway, staying in the lanes, driving the speed limit and not using the horn every 3 minuets. I booked a private tour with the Fish Cave and Tham Lot on the plan. They did not like adding Tham Lot and wanted me to take an elephant ride but when I insisted they said ok. I also did not want to visit a long neck tribe, something about rewarding harmful body mutation just does not sit well with me. I also said I wanted something other than a mini van and did not want a guide, just a driver.
Next morning the mini van with the guide and driver showed up right on time.
The first stop was the fish cave. More of a hole in the wall but it's free. Not much history on the place but someone must have put some significance on fish getting out of the sun by going in a cave so they built an alter. Fish being neither mad dogs or Englishmen just want to get out of the mid-days sun. The Queen paid a visit to the cave since my last visit and there was a pictorial display in honor of her visit, she fed the fish too.
The scenery in this area is quite spectacular. The sunflowers were out and the weather was clear and beautiful. The guide I did not want sat in the front of the van I did not want and did not say anything. Crazy farang who not like long neck people or elephant ride written all over his face.
Tham Lod is incredible. Some of the tour literature call this the water cave. In 1991 I found this very impressive cave by chance. We arrived and there was a small parking lot with some local hill tribe boys with lanterns that took you in for 40B. Now there is a entry gate where you pay 100B, no double pricing then you pay the guide, not locals 100B per segment of the cave and pay 100B per segment on use of the raft to get in. The entry back in 1991 is now the exit and you can't just walk in as I did then. The raft out then if you wanted was 20B per person and it took you out the way you came in. There were not a lot of people there. Some tours from Chiang Mai and some from Mai Hong Song, no big tour buses. The main cave is the most impressive and the least amount of climbing. This is a big cave with a high ceilings so low oxygen levels are not a problem. They divided up the cave in 4 segments so the fees can add up. They though it was very funny that I got in 16 years ago for 40B total.
I noticed a lot of small quaint some rustic and some too rustic guest houses along the road. Some were long ago abandoned.
All the food we had in Mai Hong Song was excellent and reasonable. There is no food at the airport, so eat in town before your flight out.
If I take this trip again, I think I would rent a car in Chiang Mai where there are rental cars available and drive from there.