Around Karma Royal Bella Vista – Thailand Trip Day 2 – Further Up in the Hills North of Chiang Mai
I woke up late after enjoying my first evening in Chiang Mai. I couldn’t help but note that my balcony had lovely, refreshing views. It was a wholesome wakeup. Since I wanted to go riding, I enquired about a bike and got one at a rate of 300 Thai Baht per day through Karma Royal Bella Vista to go around Chiang Mai northwards. Here is a rundown on what to do around Karma Royal Bella Vista, apart from chilling out.
Doi Chaang – Just Around Karma Royal Bella Vista
Doi Chaang Entrance
There is a nice looking restaurant called Doi Chaang Coffee House right around Karma Royal Belle Vista. It is just a five-minute walk. I decided to have my breakfast right there. Point to note: their breakfast is from 7 AM – 10 AM. Doi Chaang Coffee House is really famous for it is coffee. It is supposed to be the best in Thailand and perhaps the World. Read more about Doi Chaang
Hom Strawberry Garden
Hom Strawberry Garden, Around Karma Royal Bella Vista, Chiang Mai
Feeling happy, my next stop took me to the Hom Strawberry Garden. They plant their strawberries in steps and let you walk through them. They have a cafe and a store attached to the property. You can shop for strawberries, strawberry plants & products, stevia, bananas and super delicious macadamia nuts. Read more about Hom Strawberry Garden
Khun Khan National Park
Khun Khan National PArk
The bike ride took me through the hills and the jungles of Khun Khan National Park. The National Park had excellent roads with amazing scenery all around them. There are valleys, waterfalls and lakes en route which mesmerise you all through the drive. Read more about Khun Khan National Park
Star Bugs
Star Bugs – Around Karma Royal Bella Vista, Chiang Mai
Through the ride, I found – Stars Bugs, a quaint but cute cafe with a beautiful view. The entire operation is run very neatly by a lady. Though, when I decided to order I found that a lot of items on the menu were unavailable. The saving grace was that the beer was cold and that was my order. It seemed to be a popular stop since a lot of passers-by stopped for refreshments. Read the Star Bugs Cafe Review
Bon Bon Restaurant
Bon Bon Restaurant, Chiang Mai
On my way back, I stopped for lunch at a restaurant called Bon Bon. Bon Bon Restaurant is located in a resort in the countryside with green fields overlooking. I ordered Spaghetti with Chicken Salami and Pork Fried Rice. The food was reasonably alright but the beer was far more expensive than the rest. I enquired about the rooms and found them to be quite small and just functional. The server Kaw who handled my table had limited knowledge of English. So that was a bit of an issue.
Patara Elephant Farm
Patara Elephant Farm, Chiang Mai
On the way back I stopped for a visit to the Patara Elephant farm which was quite enjoyable. Patara is quite an eco-friendly and they don’t make the elephants wear big metal saddles for the tourists to sit comfortably on when riding. The moment I entered the farm precincts there were a few elder and baby elephants wandering and indulging tourists happily. Read more about Patara Elephant Farm
Local Store around Karma Royal Bella Vista
Store near Karma Royal Bella Vista
There is a convenience store located about 10 mins away from Karma Royal Bella Vista. A lot of daily needs stuff is available out there. The old lady who runs the store is not good at all with a calculator. So, do check your totals. She billed me for 392 Thai Baht while the bill actually was 198 Thai Baht. Having said this, the store is a good place to pick up items like shampoos, cup noodles, sodas, eggs & bread, personal hygiene items, small gift items like caps.
The Terrace Restaurant – Karma Royal Bella Vista
Fried Chicken with Basil and Chilli topped on RiceM
Dinner comprised of fried chicken with basil and chilli topped on rice and fried egg and a noodle curry, Northern Thai Style with Chicken. It was something like a Khao Suey with coconut as a part of the sauce. But then Burma is not too far from there. The food was fantastic as it has been on all occasions till now. The best part is that they let you bring and consume your own alcohol at the restaurant while they serve their delicacies.
Room Transfer
One of the managers I encountered that night was called Ms Bird. I wanted to experience Karma Royal’s villas during my stay. So, I requested Bird for a transfer to a villa with better bathrooms. I reminded her again since I didn’t hear back from her. She was not very attentive towards my request and unhelpful. As a result, nothing happened. I requested the other assistant Klang for the same who checked with Mr Noi, the manager and then showed us the villa. I liked the villa and requested for a move. The same was approved and Klang assisted in getting the right or seemingly right rate. The move was the next day.
