| Days traveling: | |
| Average per day: | |
|
excluding
and
Flights
:
Luxury activities
|
Land borders are always a bit sketchy. They know tourists have no other option so you kinda have to accept their terms. I've heard horror stories about other borders, but this one wasn't too bad, other than the bus to tuk tuk to bus to shuttle dance. Huay Xai is a small village, and most people just stay here in transit to their next destination. Something I've learned on my first day in Laos: food portions are way bigger than in Thailand.
|
Food
|
Breakfast at "Pho Chai Restaurant" |
฿45.00
$1.30
|
|
Intercity transport
|
Bus to Thai/Lao border |
฿65.00
$1.88
|
|
Intercity transport
|
Tuk tuk to Thai Border Control |
฿50.00
$1.44
|
|
Intercity transport
|
Bus to Lao Border Control |
฿25.00
$0.72
|
|
Visas
|
Lao visa on arrival |
$35.00
$35.00
|
|
Intercity transport
|
Shuttle to Huay Xai |
₭20,000.00
$0.92
|
|
Food
|
Khao Soi (Lao version) |
₭15,000.00
$0.69
|
|
Groceries
|
Bottled water (x2) |
₭10,000.00
$0.46
|
|
Groceries
|
Snacks for tomorrow |
₭16,000.00
$0.73
|
|
Food
|
Sausage with rice |
₭10,000.00
$0.46
|
|
Accomodation
|
Little Hostel |
₭40,000.00
$1.83
|
| TOTAL | ₭111,000.00 + ฿185.00 + $35.00 |
| TOTAL (USD) | $45.43 |
| Laos | Thailand | ||
The last thing on my list for Chiang Rai was the famous "Baan Dam Museum" or "Black House". The museum consists of several wooden buildings, all painted in black, holding the work of Thai artist Thawan Duchanee. Most of the art pieces use wood, pelts and bones as material. Bizarre, intriguing, and a bit sinister, to say the least.
|
Urban transport
|
Local bus to "Baan Dam Museum" |
฿20.00
$0.58
|
|
Food
|
Basil pork rice |
฿40.00
$1.16
|
|
Tourist attractions
|
Entrance fee to "Baan Dam Museum" |
฿80.00
$2.31
|
|
Urban transport
|
Van back downtown |
฿30.00
$0.87
|
|
Food
|
Coffee at "Pangkhon Coffee" |
฿40.00
$1.16
|
|
Food
|
Dinner at "The Pizza Company" |
฿308.00
$8.90
|
|
Food
|
Fresh fruit at "Chiang Mai Night Bazaar" |
฿25.00
$0.72
|
|
Food
|
Mango sticky rice |
฿50.00
$1.44
|
|
Accomodation
|
Norn Nung Len Hostel |
฿200.00
$5.78
|
| TOTAL | ฿793.00 |
| TOTAL (USD) | $22.91 |
Another day, another incredibly beautiful temple: Wat Rong Seur Ten (aka "Blue Temple"). I have to say that the temples in Chiang Rai are my favorites of all Thailand. I then visited Chiang Rai's Big Buddha. You can take an elevator to go all the way to the top. The view is not incredible, but it's a cool experience to be inside of Buddha's head (literally).
|
Food
|
Breakfast at "Pho Chai Restaurant" |
฿80.00
$2.31
|
|
Urban transport
|
Local bus to "Blue Temple" |
฿20.00
$0.58
|
|
Urban transport
|
Taxi to Wat Huay Pla Kung |
฿91.00
$2.63
|
|
Tourist attractions
|
Elevator up Wat Huay Pla Kung's Big Buddha |
฿40.00
$1.16
|
|
Urban transport
|
Taxi back to hostel |
฿100.00
$2.89
|
|
Food
|
Coffee at "Baan Chivit Mai Cafe" |
฿70.00
$2.02
|
|
Food
|
Coffee and pastry at "Cat 'n' a Cup Cat Cafe" |
฿150.00
$4.33
|
|
Food
|
Snack at "Chiang Mai Night Bazaar" |
฿30.00
$0.87
|
|
Accomodation
|
Norn Nung Len Hostel |
฿220.00
$6.35
|
| TOTAL | ฿801.00 |
| TOTAL (USD) | $23.14 |
After getting to Chiang Rai, I went straight to visit Wat Rong Khun, mostly known as the "White Temple". This temple was created by a renowned Thai artist and it's artistically different to any other temple, mixing Western and Thai culture.
|
Food
|
Breakfast at "Khao Soi Muslim Noodles" |
฿50.00
$1.44
|
|
Groceries
|
Snacks |
฿20.00
$0.58
|
|
Urban transport
|
Songthaew to bus terminal |
฿30.00
$0.87
|
|
Food
|
Crispy pork with rice |
฿40.00
$1.16
|
|
Intercity transport
|
Bus to Chiang Rai |
฿180.00
$5.20
|
|
Food
|
Lunch at "Muang Thong Restaurant" |
฿90.00
$2.60
|
|
Urban transport
|
Local bus to "White Temple" |
฿20.00
$0.58
|
|
Tourist attractions
|
Entrance fee to "White Temple" |
฿50.00
$1.44
|
|
Urban transport
|
Songthaew back to Chiang Rai |
฿20.00
$0.58
|
|
Others
|
Laundry |
฿40.00
$1.16
|
|
Food
|
Fresh fruit at "Chiang Mai Night Bazaar" |
฿25.00
$0.72
|
|
Food
|
Dinner at "Chiang Mai Night Bazaar" |
฿90.00
$2.60
|
|
Alcohol
|
Beer |
฿95.00
$2.74
|
|
Accomodation
|
Norn Nung Len Hostel |
฿220.00
$6.35
|
| TOTAL | ฿970.00 |
| TOTAL (USD) | $28.02 |
There was a big thunderstorm yesterday night, followed by the first rain of 2019 in Northern Thailand. Rain means cooler days, which is great news. However, rain might also cause a giant tree 🌳 to block the road for more than one hour. Quite an experience!
|
Gifts and souvenirs
|
Donation to Tam Wua Buddhist Monastery |
฿1,000.00
$28.89
|
|
Intercity transport
|
Shuttle to Pai |
฿100.00
$2.89
|
|
Food
|
Lunch at "Lux Pai" |
฿100.00
$2.89
|
|
Food
|
Coffee and pastry at "Red Bike" |
฿145.00
$4.19
|
|
Intercity transport
|
Van to Chiang Mai |
฿150.00
$4.33
|
|
Urban transport
|
Songthaew (semi-private taxi) to hostel |
฿30.00
$0.87
|
|
Food
|
Khao Soi at "Kao Soi Fueng Fah" |
฿50.00
$1.44
|
|
Others
|
Haircut at "Skill Barber" |
฿400.00
$11.55
|
|
Food
|
Mango sticky rice at "Coconut Shell" |
฿50.00
$1.44
|
|
Accomodation
|
The Living Place 2 Hostel |
฿120.00
$3.47
|
| TOTAL | ฿2,145.00 |
| TOTAL (USD) | $61.96 |
Tam Wua Buddhist Monastery, Thailand
This was an amazing experience for me, as someone that had had no contact with meditation ever before. I learned so much in these 3 days, and went through so many different things that are almost impossible to describe. I will never forget the people I met here and the smiles of the monks, which are no doubt the most honest smiles I have ever seen before. I cannot recommend this place enough, as long as you come with the right intentions and with an open mind.
| TOTAL (USD) | $0.00 |
Tam Wua Buddhist Monastery, Thailand
The schedule is pretty intense at "Tam Wua" Monastery. You start your day with a meditation at 5am and you end it around 8pm after the evening chanting & meditation. Everyone's back at their dorms before 9pm, and I was usually asleep before 10pm. All the food served here is vegan, and everyone must wear white at all times. Clean white clothing is provided to you in case you didn't bring your own.
| TOTAL (USD) | $0.00 |
