Nov 16, 2013
Changmai, Thailand
At 12 noon, after our morning tour of Angkor Wat, we hired a car service for 30 USD (max of 3 pax per car) to bring us from Siem Reap to Poipet. After 2 hours and 10 minutes, we arrived at the Cambodia and Thailand border and then went to the immigration stations in both Poipet and Aranyaprathet for the necessary immigration processes, which went quick, uneventful and scam-free.
It was not until our journey to Bangkok that a few stressful incidents took place. Four hours into the journey via a van we hired for 3500 Baht, our driver stopped along the highway and asked us, in Thai, to transfer to 2 taxicabs that were already parked there. We could not extract the reason for the transfer from the driver due to the language barrier, so, of course, we insisted to stay in the van. The driver finally caved in after a heated argument.
By the time we reached the train station after 6 hours of travel due to a heavy traffic in Bangkok, we were already unsure if there were any seats left on the way to Changmai. We were supposed to take the first class sleeper train, but by that time, we knew we had no more choice but to grab whatever option was available. Fortunately (or unfortunately), third class tickets were still available for 250 Baht each and at 10 PM, we were on our way to Uttaradit station (Changmai station was under repair), seated in most uncomfortable seats, and under-dressed for the chilly night in the open-air cabin. We were all dead-tired when we reached Uttaradit.
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| Open air cabin on the way to Changmai |
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| Van on the way to Changmai |
It was definitely a good decision that we chose a great place to stay in at Changmai. After 24 hours of mostly uncomfortable land travel, staying in a first-class resort made us forget all the time and effort we exerted to get there. Mae Jo Golf Resort has all basic amenities and more, relaxing rooms, gorgeous view, sumptuous food (Western, Japanese and Thai cuisines), and friendly staff.
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| Mae Jo Golf Resort |
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| Mae Jo Golf Resort room and view from room |
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| Great food and service at Mae Jo Golf Resort |
Later that night was the Loi Krathong Festival. This was the main reason for our 9-day trip and everything was arranged so that we can be at Changmai for this awe-inspiring event where thousands of lanterns were all lit simultaneously and were set free to float across the sky. It was definitely a night to remember.
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| Loi Krathong Festival |
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| Food stalls near the festival venue |
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