Chiang Rai to Chiang Saen

Friday October 13, 2017, 42 miles (68 km) - Total so far: 795 miles

(1,279 km)

The first section past the airport is a bit busy, but ok. Things improve once you're on the 1209. We cut a corner off by taking a tiny rural road, which was great. Not such spectacular scenery today but we did see pineapples growing, rubber being harvested, and some very beautiful water buffalo.

Chiang Saen is great. There's no one here, really, and I don't understand why. Quiet, leafy streets, cool ruins and amazing old walls / moat, and a spectacular backdrop of the Mekong with Laos in the distance. It has the feel where people are actually pleased you've bothered to visit.

Lunch was at Lan Gae (find it on Happy Cow) the tiniest, most ramshackle restaurant I've ever been to but the food was really, really good. The friendly welcome was the icing on the cake! 60 baht for two large meals and takeaway pudding, AND a free side dish.
Coffee and cake at Dreamy White Coffee - nice spot and very reasonable, excellent coconut cake.
Dinner was at Aom Kitchen at the riverside food market / centre / not sure what to call it! We were brave enough to try this as it's listed on TripAdvisor but we really needn't have worried. You grab a table and the charming, English speaking waiters look after you. Two large meals for 190 baht, in a very atmospheric setting. There's a long line of food stalls, all set up with low tables on the pavement. It was absolutely packed!

We're staying at Nampheung Place 1. It's a bit out of town but perfect if you have a bike! Slightly gaudy rooms but clean enough, with aircon, 350 baht. Free hot drinks and instant noodles, and the evening lady insisted that we put our bikes in the lobby! Excellent shower as a bonus.