[Day 01] First trip to Northern Thailand, Chiangmai

November 18, 2022

After my trip to Paris in June, I decided to give Baby an early birthday celebration by having a short getaway. We purchased our air tickets from Scoot to Chiangmai, Thailand. The flying time was about 2hrs 40 mins.

Prior to our departure, we purchased an airport-hotel transfer via Klook that cost us only SGD5 (we used our points that we had earned from our Paris trip to redeem the transfer cost) for a one-way trip.

The car journey took only 15mins to get to our pre-booked hotel, the 'Chala Number 6 Chiang Mai'. It is located in the old city of Chiangmai.

There is something worth mentioning of the hotel - I felt welcomed by the smiling and friendly staff throughout my stay, and these little gestures will always brighten up my day! Kudos to their impeccable service and hospitality, and this is a staple part of the experience that really deserves a BIG thank you and recognition!

Upon entering the hotel premises, it was like walking into a tropical oasis! I was in a relaxed state of mind instantly! The hotel was a lovely boutique hotel that was surrounded by plenty of nature, with lush trees and gardens filled with pretty flowers.

I love the inner garden courtyard, as vibrant colours are a signature of Thai essence and heritage! The luscious green and colorful furnishings gave a great feeling of Serenity. It is definitely a beautiful garden-scape.

I immediately fell in love with the room as it was amazingly lavish and comfy. The room was spacious and clean, and I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the refreshments in the room, including the contents of the minibar, were all complimentary! Drinks and snacks would be replenished without any extra charge daily! Thanks Baby for getting us such a wonderful room!

I loved the classic and elegant Thai-styled setting with with wooden furniture and carvings, but overall, the room did give off a modern feel too.

The delightful thing during my stay at 'Chala Number 6' was afternoon tea at the 'Thai Rice Barn', the hotel's bar. The afternoon tea is served daily in the afternoon, and I was served a selection of snacks and bites as well as an unlimited serving of aromatic tea. This is a complimentary offering to all guests during their stay at 'Chala Number 6'!

We decided to walk around to get familiar with the surroundings, and we spotted some temples.

As we walked further away from our hotel, we reached the most famous landmarks in Chiang Mai - THA PHAE GATE, and the walk was about 15mins from our hotel.

Time for dinner! We got a recommendation from our neighbor, so we made our way to Chum Northern Kitchen @ Old City which was about another 10 minute walk from our hotel.

This was our first time trying Northern Thai Cuisine, and to my surprise the food is delicious. I love the efficient service, and this eatery place definitely deserves a big shoutout. It is a hidden gem! I like everything that I had ordered, and every dish did not disappoint me. Baby also loved the Jazz music that was playing in the background while we were having our meal. while we were having our meal. It was an awesome meal without breaking the bank, and I will definitely go back when I visit Chiangmai again.

Dishes that are highly recommended are 'Nam Prik Ong' with eggs, Gaeng Hung Lay with Roti and Curry Pork Ginger Fried Rice

After our meal, we used 'Grab' to hail for a taxi to the Saturday Night Bazaar which is located at the outskirts of the Old City. Both Baby and I bought some clothes from the night market. We had some supper before ‘grabbing’ back to our hotel.