On Feb 21st we will cross the border from Laos into Thailand at Chong Mek and continue on to Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubon_Ratchathani_Province where we will catch a late flight to Chiang Mai, Thailand http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiang_Mai. In Chiang Mai, we will be staying at this hotel for 3-4 days http://www.maninarakorn.com/ while making the best of our short time there.
On around February 24th, we plan to rent a car with GPS(yes, it's available) and travel to the area of Chiang Rai, Thailand http://www.geocities.com/rainforest/7153/crai.htm. If we arrive there safely after driving ourselves in a right sided car on the left side of the road, our schedule is extremely fluid but do plan to spend a night at Phu chi fa so that we may get up early in the morning to see this http://www.flickr.com/photos/atomdocs/3181609643/ spectacle. We have also learned that there are some more relatives in a nearby city called Wiang Kaen that we may go see or meet in Chiang Rai. We will spend 2-3 days in the Chiang Rai region.
On Approx Feb 27th, we plan to drive south to the city of Sukhothai, Thailand http://travelhappy.info/thailand/sukhothai-thailand/, the 1st capital of Siam and spend a day taking in the historical park there.
On February 28th, we will catch a plane from the nearby city of Phitsanulok and fly to Bangkok where we will enjoy our last four days while staying at this hotel http://navalairiverresort.com/ on the river.
On March 4th we'll begin the LONG journey back and will arrive in Charlotte on the 5th. Many will notice that we have omitted the BEAUTIFUL southern Thailand islands and beaches from our itinerary. As tempting as it is, we cannot justify at this time, going halfway around the world to lay on a beach but are jealous of those that have done so! We are finding that there is SO much to do in these countries that 6 months or even a year wouldn't be enough but we hope to make the best of the 3 and a half weeks we are so fortunate to have!
Hi Roger and Seng
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link to my Phu Chi Fa photo in your blog. I have been reading about your upcoming trip - it sounds great, I am sure you will have a fantastic time. Phu Chi Fa is worth the effort. It is best to stay overnight at the small 'resort' a couple of km back from the top. You can also see the sunset from another viewpoint, but that is further away. The sunset at the resort is quite beautiful anyway. For sunrise, you can drive to about 800m before the summit, but the manager of your accommodation will probably offer to take you there - advisable as the road is a bit dodgy in the dark. Take good shoes, warm clothes, something to sit on maybe, and a torch for the walk (we bought a torch there - 60 Baht). The access roads to the region are generally ok - all except one are surfaced, so a 4x4 is not mandatory. GPS works fine in the region, although ours put us on a steep dirt track once, so we were glad of our 4x4. The only things to watch out for are the successive hairpin turns on some stretches. Thai drivers are not always great, so don't be surprised to find someone trying to overtake on the corners. It is worth reading up about driving in Thailand before you arrive; traffic regulations are often considered 'optional' here. Take care, keep aware of all cars front and back and you'll be ok. There are plenty of parks and flower gardens in the region - very popular with Thais as the climate further south tends to prohibit such things. If you like tea, there are a lot of plantations, and a chance to pick up some local varieties. There are several other mountains in the area too, e.g.: Doi Suthep - easily accessible from Chiang Mai, and Doi Angkhang - further north, and noted for Sakura trees (Japanese blossom). Have a great time!
Tom