Chiang Mai Outdoor Activities

Chiang Mai or in local word “New City” is known to be the most culturally significant city in northern Thailand. There are so many reasons for you to visit Chiang Mai, one of them being that it is at 24th placed in the 2012 list of "25 Best Destinations in the World" and it is also considering to apply for Creative City Status with UNESCO. All you need to do is get on any of the Thailand flights and just embrace yourself with its wondrous culture and serene nature; and experience it for yourself.

In my earlier entry, I have posted on Things To Do In Chiang Mai/Thailand which involved cultural activities. Chiang Mai are not popularly known for its outdoor activities to date, unless traveler and tourist search in depth; else they will stick to the same activities - shopping, eating, massage and cultural visit. Hence, this time around I will share my participation on outdoor activity that you can try during your trip here.

The venue where we assemble

The best way to embrace northern Thailand’s 1500 years old of lush green rainforest is by taking zipline canopy adventures. You will not only glide and fly through Chiang Mai’s pristine hills but you will also treetop walk and abseil (rappel) from them. Here, I would like to share my step-by-step experience gliding my way in the beautiful Thailand rainforest.

 

Gearing up by the sky rangers

Heading to the "fly/glide" point

Briefing by the sky rangers

Take/glide off

Gliding in the lush green rainforest

The highest and furthest of all treetop

The treetop canopy walk

Sky ranger waiting to receive "gliders"

The pristine Chiang Mai's hill, "glider's" view

Abseiling/rappelling down from last treetop

Group picture

There are many more great outdoor activities you can find here in Chiang Mai; bamboo rafting, elephant trekking, hiking, micro light flight, hot-air ballooning to name a few. One can never be truly bored with northern Thailand.

Now that you know where to plan your next holiday, get the fastest Thailand flights here and experience it yourself.

Things To Do In Chiang Mai/Thailand (Part 3)

Bo-Sang Handicraft Village

There is always a soft spot for Thailand, Chiang Mai in particular. I believe those who have been to Chiang Mai would feel the same. For holiday maker, business traveler and adventure seeker looking for cheap holidays, this is the place to be.

Earlier I have shared on Things To Do In Bangkok/Thailand (Part 1) and Things To Do In Bangkok (Part 2), where by both entries have indicated briefly on what you can do in Chiang Mai, aside from Bangkok itself. This time around, I will like to share more on Chiang Mai’s cultural from my view.

Bo-Sang Umbrella Making Centre

Keeping in mind that Chiang Mai offers one of the best cheap holiday destinations. You can start your cultural journey by visiting Bo-Sang Handicraft Village where you will discover one of Thailand “Ancient Art” - Sa Paper Umbrella Making. Here you get to see step-by-step how the artisan create their umbrella; from composing the bamboo framework, drawing on the stems of the Mulberry paper, the sundry station, designing the motif and finally the finished umbrella. 

Artisan composing the bamboo framework

The ready bamboo framework

 The drawn Mulberry paper

Custom made ready umbrella

 

Artisan painting on a bag

For budget travelers looking for something unique and yet no wanting to spend their dollars, you can also request the artisan to paint your belongings such as caps, shirts, bags, pant and etc. Of course this will cost much lesser and it is more practical especially for light travelers.

 

Bo-Sang handicraft town

Not only that, here at Bo-Sang you can also purchase handicraft made by locals, from bags to lightings to sarongs to house décor stuff at a reasonable price (bargaining skill is highly required).

 

Carved soap flowers

Another handicraft activity that is unique here is carved soap flower and carved candle. This is easily seen at Anusarn Night Market, the popular flower design comes in all shape, size and colour placed in a carved wooden jewelry box or clay pot.

Carved candle flower

It is understood that this art started 700 years ago in Sukothai, the old kingdom of Thailand with just fruits and vegetables carving. It had evolved to present date into an art form in order to keep the once dying art alive. Now, it is also taught to children age 11 years and above (as optional subject) to ensure the skill is being preserved.

Carved candle flower stalk

Where else can you get good, educational and cheap holidays if not in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Travel Thursday | Sunflower Elephant

Have you seen?
A field of flowers?
Yes, I have seen
AND been
To yellow field
of Sunflowers

You don't need to go far
Bangkok will just do
Just rent a car
2.5 hours it takes you

Not only that
They also have an elephant ride
Make sure your camera & hat
Is well intact
Hold on tight, to your might
While taking this picturesque sight

Pearl Harbor & Submarine

If you’re in Hawaii, you must visit Pearl Harbor right. It’s like the biggest and loudest landmark in Oahu. Well, as mentioned in few entries earlier, we took a 3 days break in Honolulu before proceeding to Isle of Kauai - northern most islands in Hawaii. It was said that this is the island where they film the 1st Jurassic Park and Fantasy Island and of cause the least inhibited island of them all.

Anyway, back to Pearl Harbor, Anna and I decided to drop by in the morning before we catch out noon flight to Kauai. We took the bus (about 1 hour trip or so) and head for Pearl Harbor. I was an interesting feel, and sad too. I mean, I just (purposely) watch Pear Harbor movie before this… and it kinda “bonded” then. When I feet touched the ground of Pearl Harbor, it was unbelievable, this was the area that Japan attacked US. The closest point before they hit mainland.

I can relate a bit of how the Americans felt, reason being Malaysia was conquered by Japan for 3 brutal years. This was the period where there as massacre and all. Let’s not go thru the dark ear shall we.

I have never seen a missile or a submarine before in my life, hence this was extremely exciting. Especially since I love ships and all (but scared of open sea - irony huh!). I must have taken after my late dad, he love the seas and everything about it.

We saw it plenty of times in the movie where they shots scene in the submarine, but have one ever really been in it? It’s SUPER CLAUSTROPHOBIC (even if you’re not one); the toilet is….sigh… small ie SUPER SMALL.

The “canteen”…. it’s like eat & leave kinda thingy.

How can one even cook in this kitchen, and where do they dump the trash or how about the “smoke” from the grilling and frying. You know what I mean…?!?

The bunk beds are kinda expected of, but still… talk about personal space!

Then there was the navigator system etc…

We all when on top deck to take a glimpse of what they get to see & feel when the submarine surface… hemm…

I have the highest respect for the navy officers who embark in long journeys protecting their homeland. I think it’s not easy living in such a tight space day-in and day-out, but they did and the sacrifices they’ve made are something we should respect and honor them.


Don’t you think so?

Watery & Outdoor Wednesday | Cliff Temple

In Bali I stayed
This temple I prayed
Memories will fade
And kindness repay
But love...
...stays

More on my cliff temple and kecak dance at Uluwatu - Bali here.

For more, please click on Watery Wednesday & Outdoor Wednesday.

Travel Thursday | Chim Chiminey

Chim chiminey
Chim chiminey
Chim chim cher-ee!
A girl is so lucky
Get to visit Gaudi

Chim chiminey
Chim chiminey
Chim chim cher-oo!
Go on a trip to Spain
Bring best friend with you
Share your joy and pain
And sweetest taboo

Travel Thursday | White Elephant of Thailand

Believe me now?

It was a trip with my sis back in 2008 (Yeah! I visit Thailand almost by yearly -just love it!), and during our trip to Ayuthayya , we stop by at an elephant sanctuary and there, they taught the elephant to do some tricks like sitting, drawing (REALLY!!!) and etc.

As I was busy taking pics of other elephants around, I saw this baby elephant from far and it's WHITE! I mean... really WHITE! Kid you not! Crazy me (As usual!) ran closer to take the pics. I was practically awe struck, is it suppose to be sacred or something...

Out of curiosity I googled (from Wikipedia ofcos) and found out :

The term derives from the sacred white elephants kept by Southeast Asian monarchs in Burma, Thailand[1], Laos and Cambodia. To possess a white elephant was regarded (and is still regarded in Thailand and Burma) as a sign that the monarch reigned with justice and power, and that the kingdom was blessed with peace and prosperity. The tradition derives from tales which associate a white elephant with the birth of the Buddha, as his mother was reputed to have dreamed of a white elephant presenting her with a lotus flower, a symbol of wisdom and purity, on the eve of giving birth.[2] Because the animals were considered sacred and laws protected them from labor, receiving a gift of a white elephant from a monarch was simultaneously both a blessing and a curse: a blessing because the animal was sacred and a sign of the monarch's favour, and a curse because the animal had to be retained and could not be put to much practical use, at least to offset the cost of maintaining it.

Have you seen an animal as unique?

Hyperlink credits : Wikipedia

Flight of the Gibbon

I realized I’ve blog so much about Thailand and yes, I can’t get enough, especially northern Thailand ie Chiang Mai in particular. Chiang Mai has soooooo much to offer, put shopping aside (those shoppaholic out there, Bangkok is heaven for shoppaholic, Chiang Mai… well… so-so). BUT, for adventure LOVERSSSSS out there, YOU ABSOLUTELY must visit this place and mind you 4-5 day is just ain’t enough (THAT's FOR SURE!), and Tourism Thailand did not pay me for this (DANG!!!!).

Sigh…. Sooo…. Since I’ve visited Thailand at minimum 10 times in my whole life (If you must know, Singapore the most lar), so for any Chiang Mai blog entry after this will not be post base on daily experience but base on activities or adventurous stuff we did.

Oh yah! I forgot to tell you, Chiang Mai is home for loads of adventurous stuff (next to Queenstown, New Zealand - of cause this is only my own opinion :D ).

Let’s get down to my adventure…

Flight of the Gibbon

Yup! The same one shown in The Amazing Race last season, obviously I went way before that - 2008. Few reason why I want to do this.

1. I am crazy over outdoorsish & adventurish activities (BUT scared at the same time!!!)
2. My travel kaki Andrea is outdoorsish & adventurish too.
3. It is designed, built and overseen by international expert engineers from New Zealand with more than 20 years of experience in nature-based construction (cut and paste from their website)
4. Feel the freshness of 1500 year old rainforest outside of Chiang Mai.
5. 14-15 treetop zipline base (If I remembered it correctly)
6. 2-3 canopy walk
7. 1-2 abseiling down the tree (Especially the last treetop, how else you gonna get down from the tree right?!!? Duh!)

Wow! I just went in their website, and noticed it has gone thru tremendous change, probably due to The Amazing Race visibility with worldwide audience, in fact I noticed the cost has increased slightly. You know what, it's still worth it.

Gearing up... I think I look cool. Yeah right Lily!

Walking to the starting point. Dup dup dup... our heart beats.

Checking the cables before we start out adventure!

Off we go! Where the adventure begins.

My turn, from the starting point. Weeeee........

Can you see her? Andrea versus the jungle out there!

SOS! Rescue me, I've break too fast, too soon. Or I think she did that on purpose, wanted a pic hanging there. Hemm...

Almost all reached the base/platform, except for me.... hey! Wait up!

Andrea and the mountain beyond...

Can you see the treetop base/platform?

That's the canopy walk.

One for the album, Andrea and me.

Yup! It's very high, can you see the ground from up here?

Descending from the last treetop

It terms of experience and service...

TWO TUMBS UP!

Hyperlink credits : The Flight Of The Gibbon, Wikipedia