If you fancy a 10 hour bus journey to Chiang Mai....If you do opt for this, make sure that you book on a luxury (VIP) air-conditioned coach, as the others don't really bear thinking about. Many companies vie for this business and every hour between 05.30 and 22.00 hours a coach leaves Bangkok Mo Chit Station en route to Chiang Mai. To be fair, my friends Tom and Aom always use the bus for this trip. They say they find it comfortable and they sleep for most of the journey anyway. The luxury coaches are all air-conditioned, with stewardess service and on-board toilets. These coaches always have two drivers to share the workload and are reputedly very safe. Tom and Aom seem very happy with the service, so why shouldn't you be? Whichever way you travel, enjoy yourself. Thailand is a wondrous place with lots to see. So - advantages of bus travel
Coaches do leave from Chiang Mai Bus Station for many different parts of the country. One of the favourite routes in Chiang Mai - Chiang Rai in the very North of the country, on the Thailand - Burma (Myanmar) border. This is part of "The Golden Triangle" border area, where you can stand and see three countries from your vantage point, namely Thailand, Burma and Laos. Disadvantages of coach travel
Bpai is a super
place, very 'hippy-ish' and
laid back and full of street markets, especially in the evenings. Full
of young people having a good time.
I think I've already mentioned my dislike of coach trips and a lot of
this is caused by my chronic travel sickness. For reasonably short
distances I suppose they're not too bad but some of the roads across
the mountains are so tortuous, with hairpin bends every couple of
hundred metres, that anyone with this affliction can be in constant
torment. For example, the road to Bpai and Mai Hong Song in the
North-East are enough to tax even the seasoned traveller. Happily ,the
road has been upgraded in the recent past and there are plenty of
stopping places, to rest the weary and "mai sabai".
Be very careful when visiting the border areas...Be very careful if visiting the Golden Triangle or any border areas. The Thai army and police maintain check points on all these roads, looking out for drug-smugglers who, in spite of the severe penalties involved, still try their luck here. |
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