Arrival in Chiang Mai
We rode the newer Express CNR number 9 train from Bangkok up to Chiang Mai. We enjoy traveling by 2nd class sleeper in Thailand and the newer CNR trains are our preferred way to do so.
In Chiang Mai, we had a car delivered to the train station by Drive Car Rental to the train station. Drive Car Rental is increasingly our default option for a car in Thailand when we need one. I like the easy booking online. I like that I can have the car delivered to me and picked up from me.
Our first stop of the day was a rather painless passport renewal at the US Consulate.
Thai Silk Village
Our next stop was Thai Silk Village. They showed us the whole process from silkworms on leaves to cocoons to silk thread to dying to silk weaving to silk goods.
Bo-Sang Handicrafts Center
Just a little further down the road we stopped at Bo-Sang Handicrafts Centre. While on the whole it was less than we were hoping for, our kids did get to try their hand at painting skills for decorated umbrellas.
Celadon Ceramics
We paused for lunch at Celapot Celadon Café x Gallery. The setting of both the café and the gallery were attractive in their lighting and layout. There were craftspersons to watch through a window. The whole experience was very pleasant.
When we left and went to Chiang Mai Celadon it was a bit of a let down. It could be simply that we were there on a weekday or over the lunch hour, but it felt much less alive (even though at both places we were the only patrons), and the ceramics were much less artfully presented.
Skugga Estate
Our next stop was a last minute addition due to a mention from a friend. It was not far out of our way, and as former residents of Hershey PA the opportunity to see the chocolate process was tempting. Unfortunately, even on a weekday, there were not open slots for a last minute addition to the chocolate process tour at Skugga Estate. Nonetheless, we enjoyed seeing the car collection and sampling a little chocolate.
San Kamphaeng Hot Springs
The last tour stop of our day was San Kamphaeng Hot Springs (น้ำพุร้อนสันกำแพง) where we cooked eggs in the hot springs and soaked our feet a little further down stream.
Back to Chiang Mai
Wrapping up our day we enjoyed our Mexican dinner at Salsa Kitchen and loved the styling of our hotel At Pingnakorn Huaykaew (โรงแรมแอทพิงค์นครห้วยแก้ว).
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