Thailand Trip Itinerary 2014 - Part 7 Chiang Rai to Chiangmai

Day 8 – Visiting Wat Rong Khun [White Temple] and leaving Chiang Rai to Chiangmai.

Had early lunch after visiting Wat Rong Khun [White Temple] before leaving for Chiangmai.

[Click here to see Wat Rong Khun].

Back to the hotel after lunch which allowed us late check out at 1.00 pm since our bus to Chiangmai departs at 2.15 pm. Journey was good as bus was punctual and arrived at Chiangmai Chang Klan Bus Station at 5.15 pm even though the bus does stop at several places on the way.

Since we weren’t sure of the location of Chiangmai’s hotel which we had booked earlier through Agoda.com, we took the Red Song Thaew which charges 80THB [bargainable] which is cheaper than the Tuk-Tuk to locate the hotel.

Pachkit House B&B

8/1 Arak Road, Soi 7 T. Phrasingh

Amphoe Muang

Old City Chiangmai

Hotel Rim, Arak Road, Suan Dok Gate

This hotel is located next to Hotel Rim side lane, Arak Road and behind Wat Phrasingh. Hotel doesn’t look new but the room is very spacious and clean inclusive of good Western breakfast. The rate per night is less than USD25 which is good price for location, room and food. Free Wifi at the dining area and in the room.

Along Arak Road, there are several good food outlets like Jelang Fish Ball Noodles Shop, Korean BBQ and Steamboat and a Chu Char Stall in the Teochew Association compound.  All these places are within walking distance. The SP Chicken outlet is also within walking distance along one of the adjacent roads near Wat Phrasingh and the hotel.

The hotel collects a deposit for the room key and you can also rent a motorbike through the hotel for 250THB per day. This rate is higher than the one near Thapae Gate area but it is more convenient to rent one through the hotel. 

We took the Red Song Taew from hotel to Thapae Gate that charges 40THB for 2 person to Thapae Gate in the late afternoon.

Before visiting the Sunday Walking Street Night Market, we went to Moon Muang Road [Wendy Tour’s agent] to book a day tour to Doi Inthanon, the highest point in Thailand. The rate is 900THB per person. The tour van will pick us up at the hotel at 8.00 am. The tour package includes lunch and visiting the King Inthanon Memorial [highest peak of Thailand], Twin Pagoda, 2 waterfalls [Wachirathan and Sirithan Waterfalls], Royal Market and a Karen village.  It's a good fare.  We enjoyed the trip.

The Sunday Walking Street Night Market opens at 16.00 till midnight. This market starts at Thapae Gate and runs along Ratchadamneon Road for around 1 Km. Temples on either side of the road become food courts. There are a wide variety of food from Khao Pad [fried rice] to deep fried crickets, pancakes, grilled meat to numerous refreshment stalls [Click here to see map].

Items offered here are handcrafted products and usual assortment of tourist trinkets. Prices are bargainable but that depends on quantity.

The walking street market is packed with people and quite difficult to move around especially around Thapae Gate area.    Beware aware of pick-pockets, too.  We tried several street foods and the prices are higher than in Chiang Rai.

We had the spring rolls [2 rolls for 25THB], Passion Fruit Ice Shake [25THB per cup], chicken satay [20THB per stick], Pad Thai [30THB per plate] and bought 6 pencil box at 20THB per piece.

Taichung, Taiwan Trip 2011

Taichung City was our third stop travelling around Taiwan from Taipei.  After staying at the cosy hotel [Life Hotel, Sinsing District] in Kaoshiung for 4 nights, we took the 12.00 noon train from Kaoshiung to Taichung.  The train journey was 2 and 1/2 hours.  Fare is NT$469.  Very comfortable train that makes stops at several places along the route from Kaoshiung to Taichung [Zouying, Tainan, Yongkang, Sinying, Houbi, Chiayi, Douliu, Changhua and Yuanlin before reaching Taichung].  Since we were travelling around lunch time, we bought a sandwich pack [NT$20],  a rice bento set [NT$80] and a drink [NT$10] at the Kaoshiung railway station.  Quite reasonable price.  The sandwich is good with burger, egg omelette and salad leaves.

Local Taiwanese packed drink

Rice bento - delicious simple meal and my favourite

Taichung Railway Station

The hotel [Honeydew Fashion Hotel] we booked was just along the road opposite Taichung railway station.  Just about 5-10 minutes walk to Zhongzheng Road [nearer if not using the pedestrian crossings]. Hotel room is old with shaky bed, not cosy as Kaoshiung hotel but location wise is good.  Very convenient with foodstalls around the corner, McDonald's and morning market in the vicinity.  Bus stations are also nearby.  Moreover, the breakfast provided was good because of its wide choice [bread, noodles, porridge with hot and cold drinks] for the room price we paid. [View photos on Cooking Pleasure-Travel - Taiwan Breakfast Food]

Since we planned to stay in Taichung for 2 nights, we started roaming the city area and visited several tourist spots by foot.  The places we visited were Nantian Temple, Confucius Temple and Martyrs' Shrine which are quite nearby the hotel.  By then, it is getting dark.  The sky gets dark at around 4.30 pm and sometimes drizzling during October month.  We passed by Taichung Park [Iconic Pavilion - 1 km from railway station] on the way to Nantian Temple.

48 metre high General God of War

Nine dragons pond

 Refer to Confucius - all about filial piety

Nantian Temple, Taichung - refer here for prosperity

Martyrs' Shrine [next to Confucius Temple]

Martyrs Shrine and Confucius Temple, Taichung

Since we have seen many temples at other cities, we skipped the others.  By 6.00 pm, the nearest night market at Yizhong Business District was already full of activities with college and university students.  There were many food outlets, roadside stalls, garment and accessories' shops along several roads [Sanmin Road, Gong Yuan Road] in the vicinity catering for the locals especially youngsters.  There is another Zhonghua Road Night Market just about 15 minutes walk from Yizhong Night Market. [View photos at cooking pleasure travel - Taiwan Night Markets]

Popular drink stall at Yizhong Night Market, Taichung

We had dinner at Zhonghua Road Night Market.  This is a economy food stall selling rice and porridge with a wide array of dishes to choose.  We had 6 small dishes [vegetables, fish and meat] with 2 bowls of rice.  The dinner costs NT$125. We  also tried the Taiwanese Fried Oyster [NT$50].  Frankly speaking, we prefer our Malaysian [Penang] Fried Oyster than this.

Taiwanese Fried Oysters [Oh Chien]

The local maps are quite misleading as the road distance looks nearby but it is quite far away and walking is rather a toll.  Minimun taxi charge is NT$85.  Travelling from one end to the other end of the same road may costs up to NT$120.  We got to realise this when we went on foot to Meichun Road for the famous Braised Pig Trotter.  We walked for almost half an hour then took a cab to the place which on the map is only 2 roads away.  It is worth the effort as the Braised Pig Trotter was good and the Mango Shaved Ice was very good. View more photos postings on Famous Taiwan Food and Recommended Outlets.

On our first morning  Taichung, we made a trip to Changhua [about 45 minutes to an hour by bus] and Lukang [about 30 minutes from Changhua by bus].

On our last morning, we tried to locate the Lim's Clan House [Unesco Heritage 3rd Class Listing] since my hubby's surname is 'Lim' but could not get to the location as it was incorrectly marked on the map.  We managed to get to place with the help of the local police who gave us a ride in their patrol car.  We were too early and did not manage to enter the premises but took some photos through a small opening at the gate.  Seems that there many people with this surname in Taichung.

My hubby so proud of his Lim Clan House in Taichung, we came here in a police patrol car afterasking for directions from the local police

By noon, we left Taichung for Taipei by train.  Fare is NT$404.  The train made several stops on its journey to Taipei [ such as Hsinchu, Taoyuan, Banciao etc].                

We hope to come back to these smaller Taiwanese towns
in future

We skipped visiting Hsinchu from Taichung as we thought we could make a day trip there from Taoyuan.  We did not make the trip, instead we visited Daxi Old Street, Taoyuan which is also a nice place to visit. 

Popular Taiwan Local Food and Delicacies

Clockwise - Lukang delicacies - fried radish cake, fried oyster fritter and deep fried small crabs & prawns

Lukang delicacies - 'tai yang' ping, glutinous rice ball with sesame, green bean cookies etc

Taichung - Shaved Ice with mango toppings.
 TWD 80 for a big bowl.  Very Nice

Below are more of Taiwan popular food and delicacies in pictures.

All over Taiwan morning & night markets, food outlets - Braised pig trotters, innards, meat, soy bean cakes etc

Taoyuan morning market - boiled or smoked goose & chicken meat
 - TWD 100/plate.  Worth trying, meat is tender and juicy.  Ate this with steamed mantou.

Taipei Railway Station - Bento Rice set - TWD 80/big box

All night markets - Street food - fried oyster - TWD 50-60/plate

Night market - street food - BBQ skewed food - pig blood cake, sausages, seafood & meatballs etc

Night market - street food - egg pancake with red bean paste

Deep fried potato fritters - pepper/salt or spicy flavour

Deep fried crispy chicken parts

Assorted One dish meal either Taiwanese, Korean or Japanese styles

Street food - deep fried crabs [pepper/salt or spicy]

Night market delicacies - Pepper crispy baked buns

Raohe night market - skewed glazed tomatoes

Night market popular food - shaved ice with assorted fruits

Ai Yuh - cool refreshing dessert - TWD 15 - 25/bowl

Crispy corn crackers - nice

Noodles with stewed fried pork ribs - TWD 75/bowl
 found at night market stalls

Hualien night market - fried stinky tofu.  Grilled ones are better

Stuffed pig intestines - with glutinous rice, I think

Braised [Lou Wei] pig trotters and assorted innards. Very tempting.

Night market - ala carte seafood stall - cook to order

Night market delicacies - BBQ Taiwanese pork sausages

Taiwan popular snack - fried oyster TWD 50-70/plate

Ai Yuk Ping stall - Nice dessert and cheap 

Assorted fried delicacies - fried tofu puffs, soybean curd etc.

Blanched noodles with braised meat

Assorted BBQ delicacies on skewers

Assorted BBQ delicacies on skewers

Night market - braised vegetarian foodstuffs

Grilled prawns

Delicious set lunch - chicken fritters, tofu and vegetables.  Prices from TWD 65 - 85

Delicious set lunch - honey flavoured meat, 3 vegetables and rice.  Prices range from TWD 65 -85

Bento Rice set sold at railway stations.  Price ranges from TWD 65 - 85

Yu Char Koay with soybean milk.  Prices about TWD 25-35

Deep fried Chicken

Snack - Taro Pastry

Snack - Braised Poultry Parts

Tip Bits - Preserved Plums

Snack - Famous Mochi Shop in Hualien

Snack - Tea Eggs

Snack - Jiaozi. Price ranged from TWD 35 -50 per tray

Siew Loong Pau.  Price ranges from TWD 35-50 per tray

Bianshi - Meat dumpling soup

Snack - Different coloured 'Angku'

Snack - Coffin Toast Bread

Snack - Deep fried Prawn rolls

Breakfast - Jiaozi & Soybean Milk

Breakfast - Deep fried Chives Dumpling

Snack - Deep fried Chicken meat rolls.  Price range TWD 35-50.  Buy one roll you can get some some fritters for free.

Snack - Deep fried glutinous balls coated with sesame seeds

Snack - Steamed Taro Balls

Snack - Braised Soy bean cakes and eggs.  Very popular in Taoyuan Old Street.

Snack - Croissants.  Found at Sanxia Old Street.  They have samples to try

Snack - Peanut candy roll

Braised pig trotter - 'lor too kar'.  Very good outlet at Taichung.

Beef Porridge

Taiwanese meatballs - Kong Wan

Taufoo Fah with yam and sweet potato balls

Kong Bak Pau - slit buns with braised meat TWD 40/piece

Taiwanese spring rolls - TWD 35/piece

Lunch - Hock Chiew Fishballs with noodle soup. Large bowl costs about TWD 60.

Breakfast food - Pancake with egg.  TWD 10-15/piece