Chasing Waterfalls in Chiang Mai

Don Inthanon National Park

On a quest to see a few waterfalls, I signed up for a day trip into the jungle, specifically into Don Inthanon National Park.  Our group was fairly small, but the park was quite busy.  We stopped first at a Waterfall, and admired it for sometime, and I climbed around a bunch of rocks.  The next stop was a trek through some of the jungle, with stops at a waterfall and a coffee plantation.  There is nothing like the smell of fresh roasted coffee beans!

After the trek, we had a quick and tasty lunch at the village.  One of the guides even found a local delicacy, fresh from the jungle for us to try!

From there we went to the highest point in Thailand, it was surprisingly cold and foggy.  The viewpoint we finished the day…was also very foggy.  It was so dense, that I felt almost completely alone, it was hard to see anyone else, even though the place was packed with other tourists.  In a way I enjoyed the time, breathing in the fog and losing myself to the sensation of being in a cloud.

 

Making Friends

One of the nice parts of traveling alone and staying in hostels, is meeting other travelers and teaming up to take in the sights.  I benefited from a very social hostel in Bangkok, where I met a few women, also headed to Chiang Mai.

Together we explored the limited nightlife of Old Town Chiang Mai, and I found my favorite bar of the trip.  North Gate Jazz Co-Op, a small bar only a stone’s throw from my hostel.  Next, on the recommendation of everyone I talked to, we went to Zoe in Yellow.  A loud outdoor maze of bars that cater mostly to tourists.  Overwhelmed by the competing DJs, we stumbled across a small reggae bar nearby.  The live reggae band was unexpected, and performed a mix of English and Thai songs that fit the mood of the group perfectly.  Both bars were such a hit, that I found myself at them almost every evening!

Take Aways

The overall vibe in this town is much more relaxed than Bangkok.  The city has drawn quite the crowd of digital nomads all vying for connection at the many cute little coffee shops.  I can see why people fall in love with this quieter, and relaxed city.  I could have easily spent weeks venturing through the neighborhoods beyond Old Town, and racking up the steps.  But, I had a flight to catch, and beaches to explore!