Khao Sok to Chiang Mai….. and dinner at the Wualai Road night market

November 24th

This will be a longish transfer day ….1,300 kilometers involving a songthaew, minibus, flight and taxi as we bid adieu to Southern Thailand and head for the North….sort of reverse snowbirds.

We wake up to a nice day as the regulation jungle critters make sure there is no sleeping in….last nite I had to do battle with a cicada that flew into our room and inadvertently bumped into Annie’s head….safely wrapped up in a towel he/she was evicted (btw they make little crying noises when you squeeze them) ….set-up the mosquito netting after that!!

Breakfast, settle up the bill and say goodbye to Our Jungle House…

…and load onto a songthaew which takes us to the minibus pick-up point then transfer to a seemingly brand new Toyota minivan and we race off (race being the operative word as the driver pounded back an M-150 > equivalent to Red Bull) before taking the controls….got to the Surat Thani Airport safe & sound. Small efficient airport, the Air Asia flight takeoffs on time  and less than 2 hours later we are in ChiangMai (200 CAD  for us both) > fixed rate taxi  at 150 THB (6 CAD) and  we reah the Chedi Home, close to the Old City walls, home for the next four nights. Check-in, welcome drink > delicious and get settled in > decent room with a/c + fridge, even a small pool for 55 CAD a nite with breakfast included.

After getting sorted out we take our dirty laundry to an ancient couple who weigh it and declare we owe them 240 THB (9 CAD) for 8 kilos  promising to have it ready next day same time. Then we head off to the Wualai Walking Street Market (held only on Saturday) and located near the south moat of the Old Town.

A longish walk as we try to get in sync with the busy traffic > crossing the streets needs to be carefully choreographed …there are no real red lights, same being merely suggestions, on the other hand if you step out they will slow down…so waiting is not an option. Manage to see a few sights along the way….

 

The walking street is quite busy when we arrive …..

…there are throngs of people on the closed off streets with hundreds of stalls selling various goods from cheapo tourist stuff  to some high-end items and of course: THE FOOD ..it is actually overwhelming > choices, choices and more choices from the prosaic to the exotic ….everything is prepared at little stalls …

…..we had some outstanding vegetarian, melt in your mouth gyozas,

……a mussels mixture in a pastry like substance served over bean sprouts in banana leaf containers > an old couple created these in little molds set on a propane burner > A-1

some chicken skewers, and of course we couldn’t resist a chocolate banana roti…

lots more to taste ….one could come here many a time and not repeat a dish…

…….as we were leaaving we had  to try some custard mini tarts with chives that were slightly sweet > odd sounding, but super tasting. A no brainer transfer and great night, as we slowly walked back to our digs as the crowds keep surging in …. a mix of all races and creeds all enjoying themselves.