Northern Thailand road trip, February 2026
[To write: a few lines about this trip]
Sunday 1 February 2026
Today, my adventure starts. I have enjoyed Pattaya, met many great people and friends. Now it is time to explore. I don't know how long I will travel, I don't have a planned itenerary. I don't know where I will end. But I will enjoy, see and learn. All is good. Today I ended the drive at Black sands beach. An park and interpretive center of the banyon forest ecosystem. Stayed ag the S.A hotel for 250 bhat (around $7-8)
Monday 2 February 2026
New day, new road trip. Pics added later.
Tuesday 3 February 2026
Another day, new challenges. Next stop Ubon Ratchathani! So I'm in Ubon went for a walk along the waterfront it's kind of quiet this afternoon so I didn't do much I'll be going to mukdahon tomorrow and stopping at a couple sightseeing on the way Tonight I'll go hit the night market and maybe find a local club
Thursday 5 February 2026
A new day, after a great stay, time to ride again
Friday 6 February 2026
Heading to Udon Thani. Its going to be a crazy weekend, a lot of driving. Looking to spend time with friends. Udon Thani is different. Most towns don't feel like suburbs. Udon Thani is flat, almost one suburb after another. I asked at the hotel and the manager said it's because of the airports they didn't want to build up so they built out.
Took a quick visit to Ramasan station, a Vietnam era CIA base.
Tuesday 10 February 2026
Just an evening out with friends.
A quick visit to Ubon, next I'll head up to Chiang Rai
Wednesday 11 February 2026
Starting the journey to Chiang Rai, I'm thinking three days. Keep the drives short. See lots of new places
Thursday 12 February 2026
Another day in beautiful Thailand! I stopped to visit friends on the way to Chiang Rai. So much fun!
Friday 13 February 2026
I appreciate the hotel host for giving me a tour amazing Khonsan. I followed that with a drive through the mountains to uttaradit. A quick dinner atvthe nught market, sleep, and Chiang Rai tomorrow!
Saturday 14 February 2026
Another day, another road trip.😄
Sunday 15 February 2026
I was going to do my original post on my trip to Chiang Rai. I will still do that and add pictures tomorrow. but as I was coming in I got stuck in s whole bunch of traffic and Google took me on the side route, up into mountains to this cute little side suburb tow. On the way back traffic again. what is going on? I was in this massively huge park ,Singha Park. Beautiful manicured lawns, ponds, trails play areas. I had to lookit up. Last night, (Saturday night) was the flower festival, balloon fiesta https://www.facebook.com/share/r/17TUxqNi8W/. and a huge concert. I found my hotel and yeah I had to go. Up until 3 am but so fun!
Tuesday 17 February 2026
Todays road trip? Chiang Mai. As usual pics to follow later 😁
Wednesday 18 February 2026
📍 The Moat House
I found it! The moat house salsa dance, and bachata, and kizumba,,
Thursday 19 February 2026
Okay I got way to many pictures. Yesterday I did Old Town Chiang Mai. These pictures are from that. Next post will be from today
Went walking yesterday, Around Old Town Chiang Mai. Today I wanted to see some nature. Thanks to Dutch Jones, I chose to go see sticky falls. Very unique experience The very top had some Moss and so was kind of slippery in spots but most of it even with the water going by your feet and everything else you can stand on it wasn't really sticky it wasn't sandpapery it just had good traction.
Saturday 21 February 2026
I was thinking of going to an elephant sanctuary but I think I need to plan ahead for that. The place I wanted to go is fully booked out. so what do I do? I will go to the highest point in Thailand. A mountain excursion today, pics will follow.
Yes the mountain excursion happened! For my California friends the elevation of Donner Pass is 2100+ meters The elevation of Doi Inthanon is over 2500+ m I'm glad I took long clothes and a jacket. It was so beautiful. so many things to see and do. One day was not enough. And yes camping is available. Looking more more like a camp travel trip is going to be in the future.
Sunday 22 February 2026
So I thought today was a slow day. I took a lot of resting from the long drive to the mountain, tomorrow I head towards Tak, on the way to Bangkok. I thought there was a salsa dance tonight, I forgot to contact the organizer. I'm guessing it was canceled no dance. Great I'll go home go to bed early. Nope cars parked everywhere what's going on? It's the Sunday night market in Old Town. Most night markets are the same You got the food often times multiple vendors with the same thing and sometimes they have things for sale, generally mass produced. you might have some fruit. They go to the fruit wholesaler and sell the fruit. Well yes this did have a lot of that. BUT also many many vendors selling either homegrown honey, handmade soap, their own chocolate they grew. Paintings, ceramics various things they made. The artists were there making stuff and I thought oh this market's just a couple blocks long, nope all the way down Old Town off on the streets. I did not walk the whole thing it was huge
Monday 23 February 2026
Today I start my journey again. I'm heading towards Bangkok. A few stops along the way. Todays stop is tak. as I go I have to say goodbye to my cinnamon rolls, enjoy one last breakfast here in Chiang Mai.
Tuesday 24 February 2026
A new day, a new road trip. This trip I'll stop better historical ancient city. Oh, do many pictures! Plus tonights hotel, it is just cute!
Wednesday 25 February 2026
Another day. Another drive,, heading to Bangkok.
Saturday 28 February 2026
And back to Pattaya! I'll settle down here for a couple weeks get rebalanced and then I think time to head to the south of Thailand to explore there for a few weeks
