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Chiang Rai
Early September I was in CR for a few days. If you wish to see something more of the real Thailand vs the exposed western way of life this is a great place to start. You will find the people so kind and helpful. Nothing is expensive. Just laid back Thailand. If your looking for bar scene of Soi Bangla it is not there. A small area called "little patpong" and that is virtually nothing.
Went to a few discos and outside bars with mostly Thai. No farang price. Treated just has a Thai. If you go just to have fun and not trying to shag you will have a great time. The ladies are fun, will make you feel comfortable to have fun, and alot of dancing at the tables. Bought a bottle and the fixings and I think I spent 600 baht. Offer a few drinks and you will have a table full of girls.
I did not venture to far on the food. Ate at the Night Market everynight. So much to choose from for very little. Your lucky to spend 80baht.
I stayed at a place called the White House. Nothing fancy. Room was clean, hotwater, took just a fan room, and the place has a swimming pool. Good staff. 300 baht a night. Also rented a MB from there. New automatic for 150 baht a day. The owners are an older Thai couple. Another Thai man there name is Skippy. Can't miss him. He is at the bus station, airport, works security, cleans the pool. Not much he does not do. If you need something he can get or will find it for you. Offered many times if I needed company at night. Was not to please when I used the pool at 2-3am each morning. Did not eat there. The menu seemed very expensive for Thai food and breakfast.
If you like riding a MB. Go up into the mountains. No traffic and just beautiful. I took the road going North to Mai Sai(lots of traffic here). You can do a visa run there. About 25km outside CR I took a loop road to Doi Maeisong (no traffic at all). On the loop many many Hill Tribe Villages. Nothing is marked. But they are there. Most have a cement road and blue sign leading into the village and then turns into a dirt road. I went into 2. And each time I was welcome. Probably have not seen a falang in months. A little leary when I first went in. Not knowing what to expect. If you stop for more then 5 minutes many older ladies all of sudden appear to sell you hand made items. Each time I bought something not that I wanted anything. Then the children will appear laughing talkking around your MB. I wanted to take pictures inside the villages. Just did not feel right coming in taking photos of where someone lives. Ended up taking one of a girl who I had bought some items from. I have been told at one time the villagers just grew opium now they grow tea. The queen had visited and convinced them to switch sometime in the past. Did know there was many GHs you can stay at on the loop. If had known I would have made it a 2-3 day trip instead all in one day. Great time and will do again. Much longer and venture much farther. I think I put almost 200km on the MB that day.
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