According to 2020, this year, it has many situation on our planet since the beginning of the year. One of them is COVID-19 what was (is) obstructing my beloved international traveling . Anyway, since the situation in Thailand was getting better in Q3, government has eased the restriction measures and allowed domestic traveling. I had no hestitate to seek for my net destination to explore my world again. And, Mae Hong Son (Thai : แม่ฮ่องสอน) was popped-up in my head.

Mae Hong Son, the nickname is “The city of three seasons fog” as it is located in high-land area and has fog all-year-round.

Mae Hong Son is about 880 km away from Bangkok but it takes 14 – 16 hours by road as we have to pass 1,864 curves along with uphill way. It has only one bus company (Sombat Tour) what operate direct route (as of 10 October 2020). The road trip to Mae Hong Son is the nightmare for car-sick sentitive person. By the way, This city can be reached by air. Nokair from Bangkok – Don Muang and Bangkok Airways from Chiangmai. But they are just seasonal flights, I think they will fly only high season, Noveember – May. Unfortunately, during my intended time, it has no flight. But whatever I make the choice, it must go on. So, I decide to fly to nearest airport, Chiangmai and then take the public van from Chiangmai to Mae Hong Son. The van takes 5 – 6 hours with uphill way from Chiangmai. The summary of this route is following.

1. Fly from Bangkok to Chiangmai in by morning flight. This trip, I used Thai Smile flight WE102 (0755am – 0915am)
2. Take taxi from Chiangmai airport to Chiangmai bus terminal – Arcade (Thai : สถานีขนส่งอาเขต)
3. Take the van on 1130am by Prempracha Transport Co.,ltd. and arrive 1730pm and enjoy the nicest scenic view along the way. The van ticket is 250 THB (about 8.50 USD)

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Despite I fly from Bangkok but I still have to spend all days to reach Mae Hong Son and arrive in evening.
Upon I arrived Mae Hong Son bus station by van, I have seeked for motorbike taxi to bring me to vehicle rental shop in the city. The “taxi biker” has brought me to PR Motor Shop, near to Chong Kam Lake with 40 THB cost (1.25 USD). Then, I asked the shop owner to rent motorbike for 3 days. The rental cost is 200 THB/day (about 6.50 USD) and deposit 1,000 THB (35 USD). This deposit can be gotten back when we return the bike to the shop. This shop also has car for rent too. But this trip is better to use motorbike for me. 😛
As soon as I get the vehicle, I have biked it to check-in our hotel before take evening/night time to see Mae Hong Son City. Tonight, I will stay at B2 Mae Hong Son Premier Resort which is only 10 minutes from bike rental shop.

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B2 Hotel – Mae Hong Son

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After check-in and keep my stuff in the room, the sun was just set, then, I bike to city center. The bike shop owner has told me that it has small festiva and walking market at Singha-Nat Barm Rung street. I have decided to go there to see the festival and find dinner.
Mae Hong Son City is quite small. We can bike around the city. The center is Chong Kham Lake. The festival what I visited is looked like Thai Northern Style Culture what combined with Burmese architecture.

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After visit the festival and have dinner with street-traditional food on walking street, before back to the hotel, I would like to see the night view of Chong Kham – Chong Klang Temples, near to bike rental shop. These 2 temples are the biggest ones in Mae Hong Son. The visitor MUST see these temples anyway. Today I just see the night view from outside. We will see inside the temples on tomorrow.

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In overall, today is one tired day as I fly from Bangkok since the morning. And, arrive Mae Hong Son on evening. But it is very WORTH time when compare with everything I can see today. It makes me sleep tight and recharge for tomorrow. 🙂

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Written by : SHIPY SIWARIT TIASUWATTISETH

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