The day started with breakfast. I had no idea that the hostel came with free breakfast and it was a bonus on a rainy morning. Stephan and me only had a few things to see in Chiang Dao and he would leave at the end of the day for Chaing Mai while I stay another night hence the final split of the initial group in Mae Sariang. Has it been more than a week? wow ...
Free Breakfast ... the little things but when coupled with a chain of little things a place can be so much more than just a passing town. Laundry was next and with rainy weather in the morning I had no idea if laundry was even possible to do. Laundry was 50 baht (dirt cheap) and I did not even have to do it myself. Just left it at the counter and collected it by the end of the day, full service laundry. The little things.
First stop was the hot springs. It was funny because I was contemplating going in or just seeing it since all the online guides said it was 100 baht and even google maps says it's a private hot springs but when we got there just by the river, it was free. Simple but free and I decided to jump in even when I was unprepared or even if Stephan says he had no time and had to move, I would stay and jump in the hot springs. HOT SPRINGS ....... ^^
Stephen decided to join in the hot springs and it was best just sitting inside those cement ring pools with piped in hot springs water by the cold flowing river. It was the perfect morning, cold and with the rain starting to give way to the sun, a hot spring in a private tub outside in the open by the cold river, nothing like relaxing after a long long ride through Mae Hong Son loop.
By the time hot springs was done it was already lunch time. Towards Chiang Dao Cave which at first I thought it was just one of those many cave in Thailand. It was a very large and complex cave maze which took nearly 2 hours just to explore the basic parts.
Chiang Dao Cave was very touristy but surprisingly local tourist and we almost did not see any foreign tourist around. The entrance was 40 baht which was clearly indicated for maintaining the lights in the caves. One way to know that the place was not tailored for foreign tourist is the price are the same regardless of Thai nationality or Foreign Nationality.
40 baht and we went in and by the first enclave we were greeting by local guides. The guides barely speaks English but they had all the important signs and instructions translated into English. Chiang Dao cave is categorized into three segments, one which requires a guide and a gas lamp for light and the other which is fully lighted up with bulbs which can be self explored with the many many local tourist that feels like a conveyor belt and lastly the deep exploration of caves which requires a guide and a permit as well.
The lamp cost 200 baht and could be shared as a group regardless of size. So Stephan and me split the cost to 100 baht each. The guide worked on a tip basis but they have the sign to suggest a recommended tipping amount for the guide. 200 baht for the tour tip was the recommended amount regardless of how large the group was.
The darker parts of Chaing Dao cave runs 700+ meters through large and very narrow passage which we had to navigate and crawl to get from one cavern to another. Halfway in and looking backwards I realized that there were so many branches leading to other caves segments that without a guide we would probably be lost and in trouble. Then again the large amount of local tourism means that not 10 feet away was another group with a guide and the same with a group behind us.
Warning signs of DANGEROUS and no exploration without guides were placed where the caves tunnels forked and seamed to dive endlessly into the abyss yet mysteriously calls to a few visitors which seams to have a glint in their eyes to want to explore further. Nevertheless it was the end of the permitted part of Chiang Dao Cave.
Last stop was viewpoint but what we did not know was the viewpoint was located in a wildlife sanctuary which required payment for entry. 230 baht per person and we decided to skip it. It was fun travelling with company for a while after a long time travelling alone.
Free Breakfast ... the little things but when coupled with a chain of little things a place can be so much more than just a passing town. Laundry was next and with rainy weather in the morning I had no idea if laundry was even possible to do. Laundry was 50 baht (dirt cheap) and I did not even have to do it myself. Just left it at the counter and collected it by the end of the day, full service laundry. The little things.
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| Chiang Dao Hostel |
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| Chiang Dao River Hot Springs |
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| Ahhh .... Bliss - Chiang Dao Hots Springs By the River |
Chiang Dao Cave was very touristy but surprisingly local tourist and we almost did not see any foreign tourist around. The entrance was 40 baht which was clearly indicated for maintaining the lights in the caves. One way to know that the place was not tailored for foreign tourist is the price are the same regardless of Thai nationality or Foreign Nationality.
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| Chiang Dao Cave Temple |
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| Entrance to Chiang Dao Cave |
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| Chiang Dao Cave |
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| Chiang Dao Cave |
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| Chiang Dao Cave |
The darker parts of Chaing Dao cave runs 700+ meters through large and very narrow passage which we had to navigate and crawl to get from one cavern to another. Halfway in and looking backwards I realized that there were so many branches leading to other caves segments that without a guide we would probably be lost and in trouble. Then again the large amount of local tourism means that not 10 feet away was another group with a guide and the same with a group behind us.
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| Chiang Dao Caves |
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| Chiang Dao Caves |
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| Chiang Dao Caves |
Last stop was viewpoint but what we did not know was the viewpoint was located in a wildlife sanctuary which required payment for entry. 230 baht per person and we decided to skip it. It was fun travelling with company for a while after a long time travelling alone.
Traveled on: Dec 2018
#watthamchiangdao
#watthamchiangdao
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