LIVE BLOG: Trip to Chiang Mai and Lamphun in September 2017

This weekend I’m in Northern Thailand for the “Creative Lamphun Festival”. As usual, I’m posting live on @RichardBarrow and Facebook. This live blog is for people who don’t have social media or for people who want to look back at my Live Photos and notes. Click here for the map of places that I’m visiting.

TRIP DATE: 1-3 September 2017

1st September 2017: Good morning from Suvarnabhumi Airport. I’m flying to Chiang Mai. At the weekend I will be in Lamphun for the “Creative Lamphun Festival”

Boarding Bangkok Airways flight PG215 from Suvarnabhumi to Chiang Mai. Flight time is just over an hour.

This morning I visited the Chiang Mai Womens Correctional Institution Vocational Training Center.

For 14 years now, female inmates have been brought here every day to work as a masseuse. Any inmate can join this scheme, but they must have less than 3 years & 6 months left on their sentence. They also have to undergo 400 hours of massage training in the prison first. If they pass and are good inmates, they then have a chance to work here for two months. Many of them work as a masseuse after they have left prison as the correctional department helps them find jobs. This place we visited today is very popular and you often have to wait. However they only offer two kinds of massages. Full body and foot. Private rooms are not allowed for security reasons. Prices are 200 Baht and 400 Baht. It comes highly recommended.

Map: https://goo.gl/maps/Jvdan5gnsXD2

Drone photos of the former women’s prison inside Chiang Mai city and of the surrounding area. The inmates moved out about four years ago.

Street art on the walls of the former women’s prison within Chiang Mai city wall

Map: https://goo.gl/maps/FnGT1gDJggC2

Lunch at Rabieng Na Maerim Restaurant in Mae Rim District, Chiang Mai.

Map: https://goo.gl/maps/yT2cQdq5Hh42

Wat Ban Den is quite a remarkable temple in a large compound. It was unexpected as it’s on a hillside in the middle of nowhere, to the north of Chiang Mai in Mae Taeng District. The highlights are the teak wood chapel and the 12 chedis representing the zodiac signs.

Map: https://goo.gl/maps/YC2S3LXVVF62

Drone photos of Wat Ban Den in Mae Taeng District of Chiang Mai

Map: https://goo.gl/maps/YC2S3LXVVF62

A brief stop at The Grand Morocc Residences in Mae Rim district of Chiang Mai for some refreshments.

Map: https://goo.gl/maps/qiaNpkVeQUp

A brief visit to Jungle Coaster (โป่งแยง ซิปไลน์ แอนด์ จังเกิ้ล โคสเตอร์) in Mae Rim of Chiang Mai. Weather wasn’t that good. They have a promotion at the moment of 150B per round during the day and 100B after 6pm. Closes at 8pm. Full price is 300B. It was fun but I don’t think the full price is worth it as it’s only a few minutes long.

Map: https://goo.gl/maps/y55zJLfFpqE2

DAY TWO: Saturday 3rd September 2017 Good morning from Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand. Dry at the moment but it looks like thunderstorms are in the forecast

Good morning from Lamphun in Northern Thailand.

The old city gate and part of the city wall in Lamphun

Map: https://goo.gl/maps/bTnGkDxK7932

Wat Phra That Haripunchai Woramahawihan is the most important and biggest temple in Lamphun. People born in the Year of the Rooster worship here.

Map: https://goo.gl/maps/hhKkJB8teK52 #Thailand

Drone photos of Wat Phra That Haripunchai in Lamphun. Map: https://goo.gl/maps/hhKkJB8teK52

Lunch today is longan noodle soup (ก๋วยเตี๋ยวหมูตุ๋นลำไย) & khao soi with stewed pork (ข้าวซอยซี่โครงหมูตุ๋น)

Map: https://goo.gl/maps/v53mkaz6inC2

Wat Jam Thewee in Lamphun was built in the 13th Century. The pagoda is of particular interest with its standing Buddhas on every level.

Map: https://goo.gl/maps/jggx5sHX15Q2 #Thailand

Wat Sanpayangluang in Lamphun was originally a Brahmin temple but was converted to a Buddhist one in 531 AD

Map: https://goo.gl/maps/kRNnmgBLspn #Thailand

In this drone photo of Lamphun, you can clearly see the moat that circles the old city. The large temple is Wat Phra That Haripunchai

The local community museum in Lamphun is open Tuesday to Sunday, 8:30am-4:30pm. The house used to be the Residence of a governor. The museum has old artifacts and pictures from the city. Interesting but unfortunately all the information is only in Thai.

Map: https://goo.gl/maps/t8rrqptTNtv #Thailand

Creative Lamphun Festival is this weekend next to the tourist center. Come on down if you’re nearby.

Map: https://goo.gl/maps/ieZcX8KowwN2 #Thailand

Near Wat Phra That Haripunchai in Lamphun there’s a covered bridge that sells OTOP products & souvenirs.

Map: https://goo.gl/maps/xvp8TxBE9LE2 #Thailand

Lamphun is a sleepy town compared to Chiang Mai. Certainly not many foreigners come here. But it does have a lot to offer. Worth visiting. You can take a blue songtaew here from Chiang Mai or hop on the train. #Thailand

The Saturday night Walking Street Market on Wua Lai Road in Chiang Mai. Map: https://goo.gl/maps/bahjmen3r852 #Thailand

DAY 3: Sunday 3rd September 2017

Brunch at Rustic & Blue restaurant in Chiang Mai. Highly recommended but come hungry. Portion sizes are large.

Map: https://goo.gl/maps/xX2T

Wat Umong on the outskirts of Chiang Mai is famous for its ancient tunnels and large stupa. The temple compound is 15 acres and mainly wooded. I was hoping to fly my drone but it’s too near the airport.