Today we hired a scooter from Peter. it cost 250 baht, as we were already staying there they did not ask for a deposit or passport. We made our way to Bosang and then on to find the Indian Consulate of Chiang Mai:
Indian Consulate of Chiang Mai
33/1 Thung Hotel Road
Wat Kate, Muang
Chiang Mai 50000
Open Mon – Fri 9am to 12pm
How to get to there:
You can take a Songthaw or TukTuk from anywhere in Chiang Mai. If the driver does not know exactly where the consulate is, he might know Thung Hotel Road at least, and you can look out for the white sign with plain black letters. If not, ask him to bring you to the railway station – it should only be a fifteen-minute walk from there. Alternatively, you can rent a bicycle and cycle from the Old City in 25 minutes, or walk in about an hour.
The Indian visa application is fairly straight forward. The form has to be completed online in advance at
http://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/
On the top of the electronic form you choose where you would like to present the visa application ‘Indian Mission’, once completed you are given a time and date for an appointment at the chosen consulate after which you print out two copies, take these along with your passport, a photocopy of your passport, photocopy of the departure card and immigration stamp of Thailand and a completed reference form available on the Indian high commission website to your appointment together with two passport sized photos and the visa fee (charges vary and are related to what passport you hold, whether it is a business or personal trip and the duration off the trip) we paid 2170 Thai baht. The longest visa you can get at Chiang Mai is 3 months. For a 6 month visa an application in Bangkok would be necessary. So, the following need to be taken to the consulate ;
Passport
Two passport photos
X 2 copies of visa application form
x 2 photocopies of passport, Thai visa / immigration stamp and departure card
Reference form
Visa fee
At the ‘interview’ which basically means handing your form to the receptionist and her looking through them we waited about 30 minutes for the lady to call us, take our money and tell us to come back a week later. She could have been quicker but I think she wanted to show us she was very busy. Also whilst we were waiting we could hear an Indian official just continuously shouting on the phone. Annoying Indian just wanting to show his status by shouting. The whole process was quite relaxed and easy.
Where we booked a day at the Elephant Nature Reserve.
Later, we rode to the bus station where we booked tickets for Pai, going tomorrow. There are various operators going to different destinations, it can get rather confusing especially when most signs are written in Thai. Luckily the operators are very helpful and can direct one to the correct operator. Later we visited the train station and made enquiries about trains to Bangkok.
Bus terminal
Inside there was a information booth, where the lady old us which bus terminal we should buy the ticket from
Walking towards the correct terminal
The train station
On the way back to Secret Garden we stopped at Tesco Lotus where we tried to find some vegetarian snacks.
Having a wander at Bosang
Then back to Secret Garden to relax use the wifi and have some soft drinks. We said goodbye to the amazing staff at Secret Garden and got the courtesy bus to
Baan Chonpakorn
122 Charoenrat Road
T Watket
A. Muang
Chiang Mai 50100
Thailand
T: +66 53 2401612
E: [email protected]
W: www.baanchonpakorn.com
In the end we got the room for just over £17 per night!
Room and hotel
The hotel is next door to the Gurdwara, here is the Gurdwara lit up at night
Now as I was running of my favourite ritz lemon crackers we headed to Tesco Lotus, I had forgotten how far it was. On the way we came across vicious dogs and people performing Thai karaoke, not sure which was worse the dogs or the people singing! On the way back we headed down the west bank through local fruit markets (not a tourist in sight!) where we bought satsumas and mangosteens. We walked through various other markets including the beautiful flower market. Then we went down Tae Pae Road, popped in to Taste Like Heaven for drinks and food and then went to search for the night bazaar. Well stocked and lively but not as lively as the Sunday Night ‘Walking Street’ market. After a LOT of walking, headed back to Baan Chonpakorn.
In the afternoon I went to the shop, a couple of blocks away from Secret Garden.
In the evening, Peter gave me a lift to Bo Sang village, a fantastic non touristy village where the locals are very friendly. Bo Sang is known for its handmade umbrellas and parasols, which are brightly coloured, and often decorated with floral motifs. Festivals are held every year and numerous decorated craft shops and stores exist along the main street in the village in the Lanna Thai style. During the festival time there are contests, The Miss Bo Sang beauty pageant is also held. In 2013 the 30th umbrella festival will be held from the 18-20 January.
Afterwards, I called Peter who came to pick me up and take me back to Secret Garden.
After a modest breakfast at hotel, and watching the dog Charlie be sick (after someone overfed him – wonder who that could be!!) we headed to the city in search of
Sri Singh Sabha Gurdwara.
134 Chareonrat Road.
Chiang Mai
Thailand
Waiting for the bus
Pai dropped us off at Bosang Village where we caught a white bus (looks like a jeep) which dropped us to the east of the old city, about 13km from our accommodation. It’s amazing how many people you can get into one if those things! There were 15 plus in there at one point! The bus charges 20baht per person (40 pence)
From there we walked through the hustle and bustle of some local markets, before heading across the bridge to begin walking up from where Charoenrat Road started (or where the map told us it started!)
An hour later we had reached the top of the road, not a Gurdwara or any Sikhs to be seen….so we began the journey back down the road deciding it must have been earlier on, where the street name changed to Charoenrajd, again as the map told us!
An hour (and a visit to Tesco Lotus and Zit Around cafe – due to the intense heat!) later, we found the Gurdwara.
It was around 1pm by this time. There is no diwan on a Sunday but the Giani was present and welcomed us to the Gurdwara. We talked for quite some time and were later joined by other members of the sangat. It was good to speak to Sikhs that live in Thailand, gave us a different perspective of the city.
After several hours, we parted company. Some Buddhist monks and other locals had requested a tour of the Gurdwara and information about Sikhi so the Giani and sangat showed them around. The monks seemed very excited and fascinated!
The Buddhist monks left their shoes outside the Gurdwara
After, we popped into a guesthouse next door to the Gurdwara. The rooms were clean and the location perfect so we booked in some nights for next week when we planned to be closer to the city.
We then carried on walking down Charoenrajd Road – nice road running alongside the Mae Ping river. it, along with the Nan River, is one of the two main contributaries of Chao Phraya River. It originates at Doi Tuay, Daen Lao Range, in Chiang Dao district, Chiang Mai Province. After passing Chiang Mai town, it flows though the provinces Lamphun, Tak, and Kamphaeng Phet. At the confluence with the Nan River at Nakhon Sawan (also named Paknam Pho in Thai) it forms the Chao Phraya River) with lots of nice looking cafes and restaurants.
We then crossed Narawat Bridge, heading down Tha Pae Road in search of dinner. We ate at a vegetarian restaurant
Taste Like Heaven
237-239 Tha Pae Road,
Chang Klan (at Muang, opposite Krung Thai Bank)
Chiang Mai
Thailand 50100
T: +66 53-208-803
Some items contain eggs but the menu is marked very clearly with vegan dishes. Roy runs the place and has done a great job. The food and atmosphere were excellent. I got chatting to Roy as I went over to pay the bill, he asked me if I am vegan, I explained that I am a veggie but that Sangeet is vegan. Roy said that’s why she is so beautiful. I accepted the compliment – after all she is my wife!! Sangeet joined us and we chatted for a while about veganism, Elephants, life…!! Roy also told me that other Sikhs in Chiang Mae have told him that vegetarian Sikhs wear white turbans. He looked at my turban and said your turban is black? I explained that the colour of the turban has no bearing to being vegetarian. After exchanging details, Sangeet and I set off for a wander around the Sunday Night market on Walking Street.
On the way we popped into a coffee shop which also sold clothes. Sangeet had a browse while the Sikh owner presented me with tea and gulab jamun, no complaints from me! Then on to the Sunday Night Market which was enjoyable. It goes on and on and on, lots of live music, food, interesting crafts. The people of Chiang Mai are friendly and laid back. At 9pm we headed to the bus stop. We ended up getting a taxi (red jeep) to Bosang Village, where Peter then came to pick us up. A great jam packed day.
Today we checked out of the hotel and flew with Airasia to Chiang Mae. We ordered a taxi which cost 453 baht (around £10), not a bad price for a 45 minute journey.
Relaxing at the airport before the flight
Check in and security was straight forward and the flight took an hour
At Chiang Mae
Outside Chiang Mae airport
The place we are staying at sent a courtesy bus to pick us up
On the way
Arriving at the hotel
Secret Garden – Bungalows & Cooking
54/1 Moo 5, T. Mae Kue, A. Doi Saket
Chiang Mai 50220, Thailand
T: + 66 53 339 502
F: + 66 53 338 901
Skype: borsang
E: [email protected]
We were expecting Chiang Mae to be cooler then 31 degrees C it has been in Bangkok. I was pleased to say it was the same temperature. Sangeet was looking forward to cooler temperatures!
The hotel is around 25 minutes (12km) away from a Chiang Mae, in a small village called Doing Saket. Bo Sang, a larger village is close by. We arrived at the Secret Garden a little before 4pm. The place is tucked away in a very quiet area, mainly farmland and local residences.
Our bungalow
The resort is a family business, Peter and Pai have done a fantastic job of building the guesthouse from what used to be rice fields. They show so much kindness and a lot of passion for the business.
We debated whether to go into Chiang Mai at around 5pm and decided against it and relaxed at the resort instead. We got talking to Peter, from Germany, who runs the place with his wife Pai. The resort is a family business, Peter and Pai have done a fantastic job of building the guesthouse from what used to be rice fields. They show so much kindness and a lot of passion for the business. In the evening Pai made a fantastic vegan dinner just for Sangeet and I whilst the other guests ate in the buffet.
Hi, thanks for visiting my blog, feel free and have a look around.Here is a bit about me, as you may or may not have guessed my name is Mandeep,I work to travel as opposed to work to pay bills and die!Every trip for me is an adventure, I have been very fortunate to stumble across amazing places and meet awesome people along the way.
Why gaygoat? When I first started this blog I was a vegetarian, so gaygoat – happy goat! Also you have to admit it is catchy and a URL you will not forget!
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