Up and ready early, we are walking off the ship today so we can be the first ones in the immigration line, knowing how backed up that process can get. We’ve got a relatively early flight out of Changi airport, so it doesn’t hurt to be early, and while we could have waited 15 minutes and had our bags outside for us – we’re not willing to take the chance of getting hung up in immigration and then the taxi line. So, 5:45am it is and we are downstairs at the walk off meeting area by 6:30. There is only one other couple there – so we’re happy.
As always, the place starts to fill up, and the staff half heartedly tries to keep order and put everyone in line on one side of the hallway. Nobody really listens – and as par for the course on this ship – the staff doesn’t care either. 7:00 am (our appointed walk off time) comes and goes, and a line starts to form at the exit. Of course 6 or 8 people line up in front of us and the 1st couple, normal, but we hop up out of our seats and end up bonding with the other early birds trading complaints about the unorganized staff and rude passengers. When we are finally released, we have to strong arm our way out the door as 4 late comers (arriving literally minutes before we are released) try to get in front of us. Nope – not happening. We said we’d been here and are first, they came from another direction entirely and said they had been here since 6:30. When we asked why we didn’t see them in the lounge, they said there were not seat. Wrong answer. There were hundreds of seats at 6:30, we should know, we were there. Outta our way you fibster!
Our strategy pays off as we breeze through Immigration and are 3rd in line for a taxi, so in the end, it was worth the agg of getting up early and dealing with the walk offs. Got to the airport in no time, checked in via automated machines (please make our bags arrive in Chiang Mai), easily through security and spent our last Singaporean dollars (almost to the penny) on cappuccino while we waited for our plane.
The flight was really late, and we were getting a little concerned about our connection in Bangkok, but they turned that plane around in a jiffy (welcome to Asia air travel) and we ended up only a few minutes late taking off. Flying Air Asia, we paid extra to choose our seats and to get a meal – which were these adorable little chicken ham (don’t ask me, it was some sort of processed lunch meat) and cheese, and tuna salad sandwiches. Each sandwich was a third of a slice, with the crusts cut off. Very cute, and quite frankly a nice little snack to tide us over.
Bangkok DMK (the other airport) was an easy transfer, we’ve done it before and know the routine. Follow the transfer signs, get your sticker for Chiang Mai and head down to the domestic terminal. It’s a little wonky, but it works. The flight the Chiang Mai was right on time, and easy. Had a great seat mate, Caesar, from LA who was visiting SE Asia for the first time. We traded tips with him, even though he’s visiting someone who lives here, and chatted throughout the whole flight. Had more sandwiches, Caesar has hot fried rice because he ordered a vegetarian meal (might try that next time!) and even a beer this time. At the airport, we bade good bye to Caesar as he was flying domestic and could pick up his bags in that terminal, and checked in with the Air Asia girl holding our names on a sign. Rounded up the other 3 passengers on our flight, and she walked us to the International terminal for our bags – which took forever to come. I eventually had to get someone to go look for them – and they appeared quite quickly afterward.
While we were waiting, we noticed a SIM card kiosk by the luggage carousel. After retrieving our bags, we went over and ended up buying a 30 day card for about $18. The girl who sold it to us installed it –thankfully, because she had to do all sorts of crazy stuff to make it work – and now we are situated with a local phone number and data. This will come in very handy, particularly because Uber is everywhere here – and much cheaper than Tuk Tuks and taxis. Now we can call an Uber anywhere and not worry about using international data. Can’t believe we’ve never done this before. Slow learners!
This is our first time here not renting from Richard, so we had no car and driver waiting to take us to the condo. That was odd! But not unsurmountable. The taxi only cost 150 Baht, about $4.75, and we were at the condo in no time. We are still staying in the same area, just in a different building: Peaks Garden, not Twin Peaks this time. Same road, same basic situation, just a little bit further back off the main Chan Klang road, so it is much quieter back here.
Our new digs are on the 3rd floor, very nicely equipped with floor to ceiling windows and a nice little patio facing away from the road. Sweet.
We get settled in, hit 7-11 across the street for supplies, explore the new storefronts that have opened on our little Peaks lane – a massage spa (that’s where I’m heading Monday – why walk all the way into town, even if the prison massages are more altruistic), a travel agency/laundry and a Singaporean restaurant. Nice additions to our little neighborhood. After freshening up, we hit the streets and head to River Market, hoping we can get a table on a Saturday night. There are definitely some changes along our normal route, but not so much that makes it unfamiliar.
At River Market, we get a table right away and sit down to a great meal of garlic chicken wings to start, then Burmese Pork leg for Ed – huge and delicious – and crisply snapper with chilies and garlic for me.
It is a lovely evening, made even more enjoyable sitting out by the river in the cool evening breeze.
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