Thailand 2025: Kao Lak

On departing Chiang Mai with Asia Airlines, we were allowed use of their airside lounge, it was really nice to sit comfortably and have free tea, coffee, orange juice, popcorn and mini tartlets.  the flight from Chiang Mai to Phuket was about 90 minutes, then a one hour taxi to Kao Lak where our  villa awaited .... 

which had its own 25 ft pool, lounge with 2 tv, large comfy bedroom, tea and coffee, mini fridge, rain shower.  this was a very luxurious upgrade which was totally unexpected.

The resort had two sides facing The sea, separated by a lagoon with a bridge for access but at low tide we found we could walk across the lagoon bed.

There were pools on both sides, open air restaurants which offered a la carte lunch and dinner, buffet breakfast.  All the food was good, we mostly ate Thai food.

The sea was shallow and the beach sandy, a lot of people were surfing.

Our villa private pool, what a treat!

From our villa, a 5 minutes walk through pine woods took us to the elephant sanctuary.

During covid there was a large intake as the decline in tourism and labour (logging) meant the owners could not afford to keep their elephants,.  Some have been at the sanctuary a long time before covid though as they can live to 100, change hands as outlive owners, and eventually are not wanted.

They are gentle although some have behavioural problems like swaying due to previous confinement and poor treatment

There are two babies age 3 and 4 years old. We visited twice and the second time I fed one some milk.

We were uncertain of how the elephants feel about the  tourist intervention, they certainly enjoy being fed sugar cane.  Some people go with them to bathe, we didnt.  The number of visitors is limited and visits are early morning or evening. They are taken out into the forest at night to forage but stay in the compound with their mahout to sleep.

We took a trip into town on market day, some pics below.  We love a good market!  We got good, strong, mosquito repellent and some nuts and snacks.  There was a 7/11 shop and a cannabis shop, which is legal in Thailand in small amounts.

The. Boat below is for the royal family, when the 2004 Tsunami hit, it was washed inland 2km to this spot and has remained there with a memorial and museum built around it.

Kao Lak has small bars and restaurants and is very welcoming.  The market is mainly for tourists, we managed to buy beer cooler sleeves!

We had a few thunderstorms with torrential rain, The monsoon season is starting.  It has been 95% humidity and temperatures in the 30s but we have adapted quickly.  We slept a lot and I read 3 book!

It has been a wonderful trip and we have made some great memories.  

Thailand 2025: Chiang Mai

 Continuing our Thailand adventure...We flew from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, flight was about 90 minutes and we got an unexpected snack onboard.  Thai airports are super efficient and we were soon in our taxi on a 15 minute ride to centre of Chiang Mai and to our beautiful hotel, Tamarind. A small, very old, traditional style boutique hotel. Named after the 200 year old Tamarind tree it was built around.  

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We were out a lot exploring and our room was a beautiful. refreshing, retreat, and such a pleasure to return to after a full on day out in this busy city.  The Tamarind is well situated, within walking distance of all the tourist 'must sees' yet very quiet, a  peaceful oasis despite the noisy streets beyond its walls.  The famous Monday night market wraps around this hotel.

We took a walk to the three King's monument. The oldest buddhist temple in CM and the womens prison vocational training centre, where prisoners can learn massage and catering skills to prepare them for a career when their sentence is completed.   We had a Thai massage (pictures of inside and of prisoners not allowed).  I had a full body massage, steve had legs and feet, both were excellent.  

We ate lunch here twice. the food was delicious and very low priced.

We really enjoyed our visits, the women were really friendly and keen to please (you give a score card 0-5 to the wardens on leaving. My masseuse cheekily asked for a 5 and deserved it, she was great!)

Food was vegetables in oyster sauce, spring rolls, and steamed rice day 1 and day 2 morning glory and rice. Very tasty.

The temples are open all the time, decorated with flowers and visited by many Thai people and tourists.

We were booked on a bed and breakfast basis only as there were plenty of small bars selling Thai or western food, beer and soft drinks, all around us, also some great backpacking hostels with catering.  

Below : local.hostels

Below: Annie's bar where we ate lunch and dinner or just enjoyed a few cold beers.

This is one of the best night markets I have ever seen, there were whole streets lined with masseuse for foot massage. It's astounding how many Thai people stop for a massage, cost is about 5 uk pounds or less.

 We spent many hours in the Monday night market, which ran right outside our hotel and stretched for 5km, maybe more,  through all streets, the police close the area to traffic once a week for this and hundreds of stalls line the road, 3 deep in places, with fresh cooked food, clothes, jewellery, souvenirs, bhudda, carvings, fortune telling, pavement artists, there are street musicians and police put barriers up to ensure people keep to one side of the street as its so congested.

on our last  night in Chiang Mai, we ate delicious Thai curry in the Tamarind.

Mango colada

Spring rolls 

Deep fried mushrooms 

Beff curry for steve and green tofu curry for me

Macarons, first time I have had them! 

Next stop Kao Lak!