We taught a full day on Tuesday, walked home and had a quick shower and last minute pack and within the hour we were whisked off by Daniel's giant Merc to Taoyuan International Airport's AirAsia counter. We were Thailand bound and expecting to be ensconced in our hotel in Chiang Mai just after midnight.
Despite a few spazzdoggies who we didn't really want to see boarding the same airplane, we managed to ignore the disturbing influences and in less than 4 hours we'd touched down, negotiated customs with our carry-ons, found our driver after a slight confusion and realized on the 15 minute trip to the hotel that none of our aforementioned "friends" were joining us...relief!
A bargain airfare and a short break had seen us decide to go big on the accommodation, and the X2 Riverside Resort, Chiang Mai certainly lived up to (and exceeded) our expectations of luxury, style and comfort. The incense was silently puffing from strategically located gourds, the receptionists were impressively liveried and attentive, and the room itself was gargantuan; luxuriously outfitted and stylish. We played with all the room "toys" for a while and ate some exquisite tiny cakes that had been left for us before collapsing into crisp linen on a king sized bed.
Dad would have been proud of the fact that we got up early enough to partake of the "pre-paid" breakfast in the stunning all glass "Oxygen" dining room and bar the next morning. The room blends into the scenery despite its soaring ceilings and decadent space. The glass walls and roof make it seem like it's floating in the manicured gardens, perfumed by frangipani and lily. We were surprised to realize that the breakfast was by menu, rather than buffet, and rather stunned by the open ordering of any number of dishes, we slightly under-catered. Hot meals slid from the waiter's hands onto our placemats, croissants and pastries occupied cake stands between us and quality champagne was offered (and consumed!). Bowls of piping hot, strong roasted coffee were accompanied by fizzed milk and whipped butter was slathered on cakes and breads.
We spent the vast remainder of the day lazing in the cabana room poolside or lolling in the water itself of the impressive, infinity edged rooftop pool straight above or top floor unit overlooking the Ping River. This beautiful pool ran the length of the main building and had a shallow section for banana lounges and tables in the water and a section for swimming in the other half. The pool was sparkling with mosaic tiles, some of which were rainbow coloured and with an electric hue and dazzle. We claimed a cabana room with gigantic daybed, snavelled towels and were served glasses of ice water by the barman looking after the well-stocked bar and keeping an eye on the fitness gym as well. Later on in the day, we ordered a few beers to sip on as we swam and floated our way through the remainder of the morning and afternoon. For the entire time we were there we didn't need to share the pool with any other guests: it was not only our private pool, but we had our own dedicated barman as well!
That night we booked at the amazing Oxygen Dining Room and experienced their Michelin chef designed menu. I had the Thai set and Cassy the vegetarian.The courses were suitably fancy and Michelin style: lots of explosive and exotic flavours, delicately arranged and decorated plates and jellies and foams in abundance: it was all a little overwhelming, and we staggered out after our multiple courses very full and wondering what culinary train had smashed us down then thrown us up and flipped us like pancakes on a griddle! It was an amazing experience however, made especially memorable by sitting outside overlooking the mood lighting in the frangipani trees and the sweeping lawns running all the way down to the banks of the Ping.
Gilt soaked dragon heads, elephants and buddhas overran us the next day as we did a temple crawl of the inner walled sanctum of old Chiang Mai. Our (private as it turned out) shuttle bus delivered us in style to the Three Kings Monument, a notably bland edifice among such gaudy company, but a central point for drop-offs and set-downs. Trusty old-school paper map in hand, we managed to find a few things, get ourselves lost, find our bearings again and soak up most of what the inner township had to offer. The temples were suitably grand and dripping with gold, while the grounds were neat and impossibly pretty with water lilies and other flowers lighting up every nook between the buildings. Eventually, templed out, we hailed a rough and ready tuk tuk for a hair raising trip back to the resort as he chopped and choked down inside lanes and between cars before depositing us in a plume of blue smoke at the front door!
We enjoyed yet more private pool time in the afternoon as well as a couple of beers while we made use of the comfy cabana room to read the day away on our duelling Kindles. As the sun stated to drip away for the evening we headed off down the road in search of authentic Thai food which we found just a hop and skip away from the resort. The crowds were just startiing to trickle in and we ordered from a huge menu some grand favourites like Green Curry Chicken. Other dishes followed including some exceptional prawn spring rolls....what a treat! Kayaks carried inexperienced paddlers down the river with the current, local ferries plied the Ping and dextrous geckos entertained us by gripping the inner window panes of lanterns dotted along our eating platform. It was a moving canvas and a delicious meal....oh, authentic Thai cuisine is just so wonderful! Satiated with food (and more beer!) we strolled back along the riverfront to reach the little gate leading to "our" jetty. From here, after a sit in the grounds again for a while, we made our way up to our room and another restful sleep and sleep-in.
A full breakfast the next morning followed by further private pool dipping and associated reading, we reluctantly showered and packed to make our way home. Car, plane, car and back home to our attentive girls, we still had a whole lazy weekend ahead of us! We'll definitely do this again!!
The link to the full photo album is here.