Thai delights in a city of charm

On a quiet Chiang Mai street of half-full restaurants and bars, I met a young Burmese woman making the lightest crepes I had ever seen.

She told me she had bought the crepe cart a year before when she moved to Chiang Mai from Bangkok, having spent seven years in the bustling city prior to living in Myanmar.

It took her two weeks of practising to be able to make perfect crepes and, boy, were they good – especially the Nutella and banana ones.

Those crepes weren’t the only good thing about Chiang Mai; the various tours available were, too.

My partner and I opted for a day trip that included feeding and riding Asian elephants, white-water and bamboo rafting and a visit to a hill tribe. We bumped our way into the mountains in a ute.

The elephants were larger than expected and their skin much rougher.

To get aboard, the elephant kindly lifted its leg providing a step from which to lurch on to its back.

The elephant didn’t seem to feel a thing and loved it when we fed it bananas.

Our accommodation, Villa Thapae, was in a great spot for seeking out all things both adventurous or relaxing.

It was a small boutique affair of only five rooms, each one decorated in vibrant colours and overlooking the pool.

The breakfasts – everything from banana pancakes to fried rice – made getting up each day much easier.

We filled the evenings in at the nearby night markets which usually started about 6pm.

A multitude of stalls are filled with souvenirs for people of all ages and there’s plenty of Thai food and music.

We ate at a restaurant where a Thai man was singing the songs of American singer Jack Johnson and all the 20-something Aussie’s sang along – including me.

The food in Chiang Mai is similar to that in southern Thailand, with plenty of Western meals available.

Our favourite was Fresh&Wraps Restobar where we enjoyed salads, wraps and fresh juices for brunch.

To get home via Bangkok we opted for the overnight train.

We chose a first-class sleeper – not as luxurious as those in Australia, but better than sleeping in a carriage with no privacy or air-conditioning. It included a couch that converted to bunk beds and a basin.

A hostess came around with a menu and tried to talk us into eating in our cabin – I think they get tips that way – but we chose not to as the space was too pokey.

Instead, we dined in the train’s restaurant. The meals – Thai only – are the same price as those served in the room, about $6, and quite tasty.

There’s plenty to love about Chiang Mai, especially the friendly locals.

Just beware of taxi drivers overcharging – set the price before going anywhere!