L-R: Ching Neng Bin, Lily Yap, Bernard Lee, Tay Seok Hooi, Cindy Chong, Chew Leng Soon, Lee Kam Boon at the Karen Ruammit Elephant Camp of Ban Raummit Village.
Day 4 (09.11.2012) Thaton to Chiang Rai (92km, 4hr) by long tail boat ride
We took the Mae Kok River Boat at 8am from our hotel to Chiang Rai (B350pp). We stopped at Karen Ruammit Elephant camp on the way down. In Chiang Rai we walked around the town visiting the night bazaar.
Sleeping: City Home Guest House at B600 a/c room for 2pax
Our chartered long tail boat waited for us at our Thaton Garden Riverside guesthouse.
Bernard Lee and Ching Neng Bin about to get on-board the long tail boat on the banks of the Mae Kok River.
On board the long tail boat on the banks of the Mae Kok River from Thaton to Chiang Rai (B350pp).
The cruise from Thaton to Chiang Rai was very scenic, passing through attractive fields, hills, forests, and villages.
Everybody is feeling the cold chills in the morning boat ride from Thaton to Chiang Rai.
Cindy Chong on the boat ride from Thaton to Chiang Rai.
Lily Yap on the boat ride from Thaton to Chiang Rai.
Tay Seok Hooi on the boat ride from Thaton to Chiang Rai.
Ching Neng Bin on the boat ride from Thaton to Chiang Rai.
Bernard Lee on the boat ride from Thaton to Chiang Rai.
Chew Leng Soon on the boat ride from Thaton to Chiang Rai.
Lee Kam Boon on the boat ride from Thaton to Chiang Rai.
Fishermen along Mae Kok River.
Pumping out river sand on the Mae Kok River.
Pumping out river sand on the Mae Kok River.
River bank erosion is a serious problem in Thailand - part of the cultivated rice has collapsed on the Mae Kok River.
You’ll see plenty of traditional villages and waterside markets like this along the Mae Kok River.
We stopped for 'pee break' at this place along the Mae Kok River.
Long-tail boat is very common in Thailand and Laos; consists of a large engine (often an automobile engine) with a long straight shaft with a propeller at the end; this is all balanced on a swivel with which the boat operator can steer by swinging from side to side, or maneuver through shallow waters by lifting the propeller out of the water when required.
We stopped at Ban Raummit for the Karen Ruammit Elephant Camp .
At the riverside village of Ban Raummit we stop for elephant ride at the Karen Ruammit Elephant Camp.
At the riverside village of Ban Raummit we stop for elephant ride at the Karen Ruammit Elephant Camp.
Elephant ride at the Karen Ruammit Elephant Camp.
Elephant ride at the Karen Ruammit Elephant Camp.
L-R: Ching Neng Bin, Lily Yap, Bernard Lee, Tay Seok Hooi, Cindy Chong, Chew Leng Soon, Lee Kam Boon at the Karen Ruammit Elephant Camp of Ban Raummit Village.
Two elephants seem to be talking to one another at Karen Ruammit Elephant Camp.
Two elephants seem to be kissing at Karen Ruammit Elephant Camp.
Two elephants seem to be kissing at Karen Ruammit Elephant Camp.
Tay Seok Hooi and Lee Kam Boon went for a elephants ride at Karen Ruammit Elephant Camp.
Tay Seok Hooi and Lee Kam Boon went for a elephants ride at Karen Ruammit Elephant Camp.
Tay Seok Hooi and Lee Kam Boon went for a elephants ride at Karen Ruammit Elephant Camp.
Coffee at Karen Ruammit Elephant Camp.
We got splashed by spray going through minor rapids, also some splash of waters which became almost dry by the time we got to Chiang Rai.
Thanon Klang Wiang Bridge, Chiang Rai.
A very pleasant adventurous 4 hour boat trip indeed from Thaton to Chiang Rai. Upon arrival of our boat at the dock in Chiang Rai we took a pickup-taxi to City Home guest house.
Chiang Rai is a city in northern Thailand near the borders of Laos and Myanmar (formerly Burma). Wat Phra Kaew is a royal temple that once housed the jade Emerald Buddha and now displays a replica.
Upon arrival of our boat at the dock in Chiang Rai we took a pickup-taxi to City Home guest house.
Sleeping: City Home Guest House at B600 a/c room for 2pax.
Sleeping: City Home Guest House at B600 a/c room for 2pax.
Wat Jed Yod, Chiang Rai was constructed in 1844.
Wat Jed Yod, Chiang Rai was constructed in 1844.
Darun Aman Mosque or Ban Haw Mosque, is the biggest mosque in Chiang Rai Province built by Hui people, known as Chin Haw in Thai.
This Chiang Rai clock tower was designed by Ajarn Chalermchai, the same artist who built the White Temple, Wat Rong Kun. For the first ten minutes of every hour from 7 pm until 11pm there is a light show of different colors that attracts a large number of viewers.
This Chiang Rai clock tower has a light show of different colors at night.
This Chiang Rai clock tower has a light show of different colors at night.
This Chiang Rai clock tower has a light show of different colors at night.
At dinner time, Chew Leng Soon ordered some of this sausages and it really taste good.
At dinner time, Chew Leng Soon ordered some of this sausages and it really taste good.
At dinner time, Chew Leng Soon ordered some of this sausages and it really taste good.
At dinner time, Chew Leng Soon ordered some of this sausages and it really taste good.
At dinner time, Chew Leng Soon ordered good food and it really taste good.
Entrance to the Chiang Rai night bazaar which is adjacent to the bus station of Phahonyothin road. On a much smaller scale than Chiang Mai's, it is nevertheless a decent place to find an assortment of handicrafts.
Daily free show on stage (7 to 12midnight) - cultural dances and pop singing in between at Chiang Rai night bazaar.
Guitarist singing evergreen English songs at Chiang Rai night bazaar.
Guitarist singing evergreen English songs at Chiang Rai night bazaar.
There are two food sections, this one comprised of nice wooden furniture and waitress wearing north Thai costumes, and the other section aimed at locals with aluminum chairs and staff in jeans and T-shirts.
Chiang Rai night bazaar.
Fashion and beauty shop at Chiang Rai night bazaar. 
Chiang Rai night bazaar.
Chiang Rai night bazaar.
Chiang Rai night bazaar.
Day 1, 2 - KL to Chiangmai
Day 3 - Chiangmai to Thaton
Day 4 - Thaton by River Boat to Chiangrai
Day 5 - White Temple of Chiangrai
Day 6 - Chiangrai day trip to Mae Salong and Mae Fah Luang
Day 7 - Chiangrai to Phu Chi Fa
Day 8 - Phu Chi Fa to Phayao
Day 9,10 Phayao to Chiangmai to Mae Sariang
Day 11,12 - Mae Sariang to Mae Sot
Day 13,14 - Mae Sot to Bangkok
Day 15,16 - Bangkok – Kanchanaburi - Sangkhlaburi
Day 17,18 - Sangkhlaburi – Ayutthaya
Day 19-22 - Ayutthaya - Bangkok – Butterworth
Day 3 - Chiangmai to Thaton
Day 4 - Thaton by River Boat to Chiangrai
Day 5 - White Temple of Chiangrai
Day 6 - Chiangrai day trip to Mae Salong and Mae Fah Luang
Day 7 - Chiangrai to Phu Chi Fa
Day 8 - Phu Chi Fa to Phayao
Day 9,10 Phayao to Chiangmai to Mae Sariang
Day 11,12 - Mae Sariang to Mae Sot
Day 13,14 - Mae Sot to Bangkok
Day 15,16 - Bangkok – Kanchanaburi - Sangkhlaburi
Day 17,18 - Sangkhlaburi – Ayutthaya
Day 19-22 - Ayutthaya - Bangkok – Butterworth
| Day | Expenses | THB total | per pax |
| 4 | Chartered boat Thaton to Chiangrai | 2,100 | 300 |
| Tips maid | 20 | 3 | |
| Tips boat | 100 | 14 | |
| Tuktuk from boat jetty to guesthouse | 140 | 20 | |
| S. charge re internet booking thro' hostel world | 66 | 9 | |
| lunch | 490 | 70 | |
| dinner | 780 | 111 | |
| drinks yoddoi | 450 | 64 | |
| CityHome Guesthouse in Chiangrai | 2,400 | 343 |
I didn't know you could reach Chiangrai by boat, just by 4hrs ride.
ReplyDeleteThis Lee KamBoon sure is a pleasant person, smiling all the way in all photo-shots. Hotel room at Bhat600 for 2 is reasonable, and it looks clean too. Large two feet long sausage to feed you fellas, go down with Chang Beer with chopped sausage & vege will be fun, at the same time listening to the music to relax. The night bazaar at Chinagrai is not much different from Chiangmai's.
From alancykok