Run and travel: First day in Chiangmai.

Chiangmai marathon 2013 was my last running event for 2013. I was really very excited yet worried about it. Excited because I have never been to Chiangmai and my last trip to Thailand was more 20 years ago while visiting Bangkok. Worried because I have not yet fully recovered from my Achilles Tendonitis which knocked me out from participating in Penang Bridge International Marathon 2013, my only full marathon event for the year. So Achilles Tendonitis is something not to be overlooked by serious runners because the healing period is really very long or take months to total recovery.

Four of us in the family registered to run in the marathon in Chiangmai, our first running stint overseas. Really feel great amateur runners like us also have to the chance to participate in international event overseas. We took a 2 hours 35 minutes direct flight from KL to Chiangmai via AirAsia. As our trip is only 5 days 4 nights, I just parked my car at LCCT( Low Cost Cargo Terminal) car park which charges RM16 per day. This is very much cheaper compared to taking an airport limousine which may charge more than RM 200 round trip.

Our flight took off at 6.15 am and reached Chiangmai at 7.55 am local time, a time lag of one hour. We were lucky to encounter a lady taxi driver who could speak Mandarin and drove a brand new Toyota forerunner as taxi. The fare to our Hotel in old city is only RM12 or 120 Baht but we did not pay for it because we agreed to follow her to Mae Taeng Elephant Farm which is more 20 Km from the airport. She only charged Rm120 for the trip which would last until 5.00 pm local time.

At the elephant farm, we were treated with elephants show which included elephant doing painting, playing football and performing disco dancing. We also had the chance to ride an elephant which carried us across river to a place 1 km away where we were ferried back on a cart driven by oxen. The ride was really a new experience and full of thrill. We were also treated with a river cruise on a raft handled by two men. The cruise was really a long one which is 4 Km round trip. We were given the chance to steer the raft using bamboo pole and the men were too happy to let us try as they could rest. It was an enjoyable cruise trip as we could see small waterfall, hanging bridge and elephants carrying tourists across river but regret that I did not give any tips to the two men who looked tired and bored after steering the raft for almost an hour.

The only disappointment was the visit to the long neck tribe village which charged RM 50 per person. Only a few miserable huts selling souvenirs and some long neck women doing knitting and embroidery work or waiting to be model for taking photograph with. There were hardly any tourist and the hefty entrance fee could be the reason. Before we started our elephant ride We were treated with free buffet lunch which was very sumptuous and full of varieties. We were given a choice whether to include meal in the travel package and it is always more convenient to choose one which include meal.

We left Mae Taeng Elephant Farm before 4.00 pm and felt it too early to return to our hotel. We proposed to the driver to take us to the most famous temple in ChiangMai, Wat Doi Suthep. The driver agreed but with an additional charge of RM80. The temple is perched on a hill and it is just like travelling up Cameron Highland to reach there. A lot of tourists, local and foreign but most of those who prayed there were locals who came from different parts of Thailand doing their pilgrimage. The temple is grand and magnificent especially the golden tower or chedi which buried relics of prominent monks.