After I arrived in Chiang Rai on the first day, I visited temples in the city and slept in the cool and misty air of Doi Mae Salong. This morning, I woke up refreshed and had a light breakfast at the hotel around 8 a.m. to prepare for the day ahead (I didn’t eat much because I planned to try some amazing dishes that I didn’t think could be found on the mountain later). Before checking out, I decided to go to our first destination of the day, which was Wat Phra Thad Santidham, located not far from our hotel. It only took about 15 minutes on a motorbike to get there.
Wat Phra Thad Santidham is a newly built temple located outside Mae Salong area. It is the foundation of the Lord Buddha’s Nirmita Dhammajati Chedi and is situated on a high hill that provides panoramic views. The area around the temple is quiet, and on the day I visited, there were almost no tourists since it was a weekday. I was able to walk around and take pictures to our hearts’ content. Then, a monk passed by and asked us with a smile, “Are you celebrities as I see you are photographing? ” I replied, “No, I’m not. 🙂 ” The monk went on to say, “You seem to have come from Bangkok to practice meditation here for about a month because it’s so quiet and peaceful.” After that, we chatted for a while, and the monk had to leave to continue his monk duties. It was a friendly encounter that we had while traveling in a different way 🙂
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I went sightseeing and taking pictures almost without any other tourists until I reached the Phra That and the temple. It felt peaceful and quiet, like being in a real “temple”. Sometimes when I walked around, I felt calm as well… It was really nice. After that, when it was getting late, I went back to my hotel to pick up my stuff and check out around 11 am. Then, I went to have lunch at my destination for today, which was “Pizza on Doi Mae Salong – Xin Shi Dai Bakery“. The shop is located in the middle of a village, and after driving pass 7-11, I finally arrived. Actually, this shop is a bakery that sells ordinary bread and cakes, but their special menu is “Yunnan Pizza“, which the owner invented. Just hearing the name made me want to try it, so I ordered one without hesitation (warning for those who think of coming when hungry… Don’t do it because it takes about 45 minutes to wait for the pizza, but I guarantee that the taste, quality, and worth of waiting is definitely there). 😛
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After indulging in Yunnan-style pizza for a while, and letting my stomach settle, I was ready to continue my travels. The next destination for today was the “Doi Tung Royal Villa.” I rode down the familiar path of Phaholyothin Road, then turned left towards Mae Sai District until I reached the Doi Tung junction and turned left up the mountain. The road up Doi Tung was not as winding and steep as Mae Salong, and it was relatively flat and wide because it was a royal area. It took me about an hour and a half to reach the top. I rode calmly and enjoyed the scenery along the way.
The Doi Tung Palace was built in 1987 according to the royal initiative of Her Royal Highness Princess Srinagarindra (Princes Mother) to serve as a residence and as the center of the Doi Tung Development Project. The project aimed to improve the degraded forest and raise the quality of life for the people living on the mountain by replacing opium cultivation with alternative economic crops. There are three main attractions on Doi Tung: The Doi Tung Palace, which used to be the residence of Princess Mother, The Royal Villa and Mae Fah Luang Garden. Admission fee for adults is 150 THB (4.50 USD) for all three attractions. Visitors are not allowed to take pictures inside the Doi Tung Palace, but they can enjoy the panoramic view of the Myanmar mountains from the palace balcony. Mae Fah Luang Garden is a collection of various kinds of flowers and ornamental plants, which are beautiful all year round.
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Afterwards, at around 2 PM, I waved goodbye to the palace and beautiful flower garden to continue on to my next destination where I would spend the night. That destination was “Doi Pha Hee“, and I took a shortcut route up the mountain through the Phra That Doi Tung. The road wasn’t difficult to ride, but there were many curves, so I had to be careful. Along the way from Doi Tung to Doi Pha Hee, there was another interesting spot called “Doi Chang Moob Operation Base“, which is an area guarded by the Thai military on the border but open for the public to visit for free. The view here allowed me to see the mountains on the Myanmar side clearly, and the exciting part was that I could stand at the spot where the border between Thailand and Myanmar is connected, only separated by a bamboo fence. It took me only 30 minutes to get from Doi Tung to the viewpoint at Doi Chang Moob Operation Base.
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I didn’t spend much time at Doi Chang Moob, about 3pm, I continued on to Doi Pha Hee, which was only a 20-minute ride away. It was riding along the road next to the Thai border with beautiful mountain views. It was so enjoyable ! 🙂
I arrived at Pha Hee village around 4 PM and checked in at my accommodation, Coffee Hill Pha Hee. Almost all accommodations in Pha Hee are homestays, and the prices include dinner and breakfast. The prices are almost the same everywhere, at 750 THB per person per night (minimum of 2 people, if traveling alone the cost is 1,200 THB per person per night). The highlight of every accommodation is the unique “coffee” that each place serves, and almost all of them are located on a hill with stunning views. However, it is important to note that all accommodations are fully booked months in advance, especially for weekends. If you plan to stay during holidays or long weekends, it’s best to book at least six months in advance.
After checking in and dropping off my belongings at my accommodation, I still had time in the evening to explore the village and enjoy coffee with a view that felt like heaven. During midday, Pha Hee Hill was crowded as many tourists visit during the morning and leave in the evening. However, the number of people decreases in the evening, and the quietness allows visitors to experience the cool atmosphere and the stunning view from the top of the hill, which is more than 1,300 meters above sea level. It was like I had stopped time to breathe in the fresh air and energize my body. I was genuinely happy from drinking coffee while admiring the view and reading a book, walking around to see the locals’ way of life, and visiting the bamboo bridge near my accommodation, which is a landmark that no one should miss 😉
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After walking around the village (hillside walkin in the village is a good workout, 🙂 ) for about 6.30PM, the sun began to set and I returned to my homestay to relax and prepare for dinner. Here, they served a set meal with complimentary drinks, and I have to say the fried fish with herbs was so delicious.
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After a satisfying meal… darkness crept in… and a serene stillness settled into my soul. It was a perfect time to sit quietly and reflect on various aspects of life. Sometimes I would think to myself, “Happiness doesn’t require anything more than simply having a peaceful mind. When our minds are at ease, happiness naturally flows into our hearts.” With this realization, I felt ready to move forward without any expectations of things that may not be possible. Just be present in the moment and with myself……..That’s all it takes to feel true happiness. Good night, sweet dreams !
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Written by : SHIPY SIWARIT TIASUWATTISETH
Shipy-Ship 