| Chiang Mai to Thaton, Thailand --- 3 & 4 Dec 2005 |
We checked out of the Galare Guest House in Chiang Mai, taxied to the Chang Pheuak Bus Terminal,
and took the 11:30am bus (90 baht each) to Thaton. Each side of the center aisle had a bench
intended for three passengers, but not really wide enough for three, so the benches were built to
permit each bench to slide into the center aisle by a few inches, thus clogging the aisle but giving
each of the three passengers a little more seating space. Fortunately on this trip our bench seated
only us two. We were the only foreigners on the bus.
and took the 11:30am bus (90 baht each) to Thaton. Each side of the center aisle had a bench
intended for three passengers, but not really wide enough for three, so the benches were built to
permit each bench to slide into the center aisle by a few inches, thus clogging the aisle but giving
each of the three passengers a little more seating space. Fortunately on this trip our bench seated
only us two. We were the only foreigners on the bus.
Our bus from Chiang Mai to Thaton, Thailand.
Interior of our bus from Chiang Mai to Thaton.
During the first hour or so we went over fertile plains, then about a couple of hours of steeply sloped
wooded hills, and then during the last hours (after the town of Fang) we saw very productive rice
paddies and rice processing facilities.
wooded hills, and then during the last hours (after the town of Fang) we saw very productive rice
paddies and rice processing facilities.
We arrived in the village of Thaton around 3:30pm and walked to the nearby "Garden Home Guest
House' and "Ban Suan Riverside Resort, both of which had no vacancy. Then we came to the "Thaton
River View Resort" who told us they only had one room available, which we took for 1400 baht
(US$35) to be sure we had a place to sleep. The exterior of the "resort" looked very nice ---
cottages in a garden along the banks of the Nam Kok River. However the interior of our cottage was
what we would normally expect in a US$5 to US$10 per night basic room in Southeast Asia --- poor
lighting, a few insects, no furniture of any kind except a bed, no closet, one clothes hanger hanging on
the wall, and a very basic bathroom.. The "Resort" seemed to serve only to house travelers coming to
Thaton to cruise the river and/or visit local hill tribes. Except for us two, all guests seemed to be
part of Asian tour groups.
House' and "Ban Suan Riverside Resort, both of which had no vacancy. Then we came to the "Thaton
River View Resort" who told us they only had one room available, which we took for 1400 baht
(US$35) to be sure we had a place to sleep. The exterior of the "resort" looked very nice ---
cottages in a garden along the banks of the Nam Kok River. However the interior of our cottage was
what we would normally expect in a US$5 to US$10 per night basic room in Southeast Asia --- poor
lighting, a few insects, no furniture of any kind except a bed, no closet, one clothes hanger hanging on
the wall, and a very basic bathroom.. The "Resort" seemed to serve only to house travelers coming to
Thaton to cruise the river and/or visit local hill tribes. Except for us two, all guests seemed to be
part of Asian tour groups.
Outdoor dining area of the "Thaton River View Resort"
overlooking the Nam Kok River.
overlooking the Nam Kok River.
From the veranda of the "Thaton River View Resort" an early
morning view of the Nam Kok River.
morning view of the Nam Kok River.
Next morning we took a walk around the village of Thaton and saw at least 8 or 10 guest houses which
looked OK. Upon arrival in Thaton the previous day we should have left our bags with the owner of
the snack bar at the bus stop and stayed at one of those guest houses a couple of nights instead of at
the overpriced "Resort". Another possibility would have been to take an earlier bus from Chiang Mai
to Thaton and leave from Thaton by boat around noon without staying in the village overnight (that is
what we did on a previous trip to Thailand, but it would mean not having the opportunity to enjoy the
village of Thaton).
looked OK. Upon arrival in Thaton the previous day we should have left our bags with the owner of
the snack bar at the bus stop and stayed at one of those guest houses a couple of nights instead of at
the overpriced "Resort". Another possibility would have been to take an earlier bus from Chiang Mai
to Thaton and leave from Thaton by boat around noon without staying in the village overnight (that is
what we did on a previous trip to Thailand, but it would mean not having the opportunity to enjoy the
village of Thaton).
Thaton is an attractive little town to walk around in, clean, lots of greenery, pleasant lanes, and
trails leading up to large Buddhist monuments on the nearby hills.
trails leading up to large Buddhist monuments on the nearby hills.
Residential street in Thaton, Thailand. Note white Buddhist monuments on nearby hills.
Pleasant Thaton, Thailand
Uncrowded Thaton, Thailand