I got back earlier this week from a beautiful 3 day stay at the Chiang Dao Nest, which I discovered from Adrianna’s review. This was the first time I was going anywhere off the beaten track, and I wasn’t sure what to expect – but I was looking forward to stretching myself. I needn’t have worried; it was paradise.

Day 1

My girlfriend and I woke up at the early hour of 3:30 in the morning to catch our 6:30AM flight; an adventurous start to our first adventurous trip together. When we reached Chiang Mai, we were greeted by our taxi driver. We say taxi, but it was really a pick-up…without a back door! That made for some interesting views out the back, especially in Chiang Mai where most motorcyclists didn’t wear helmets and we could look them straight in the eye when they drove near us.

It was a near 2 hour drive to Chiang Dao Nest, with my girlfriend and I wondering at some point just where we were going – we saw run-down towns, deserted roads and bumpy mountain trails. But at last we reached our destination.

Like the view you see above, Chiang Dao Nest 1 is somewhere in a forest up on the mountains, looking on some spectacular mountain views. It’s simple, rustic and absolutely beautiful. The weather was sunny but cool, the staff warm and friendly, and my girlfriend and I fell in love with it instantly.

After settling in, we set out to explore the nearby Buddhist monastery built on top of a mountain, enjoying the fresh mountain air and cooling winds. At around 6:30 in the evening, it had already turned dark and we joined in the 5th year anniversary BBQ.

I was a little disappointed to hear that we were having a BBQ, because BBQ food usually turned out burnt and dry. But were we in for a pleasant surprise! The BBQ at Chiang Dao Nest was unbelievably delicious, and I felt sorry I couldn’t stuff in more than I did!

Chiang Dao Nest at night was warm and romantic. The main area/lobby/restaurant was tastefully done up in soft, yellow lights and the climate dropped to a nice, chilly temperature (we were told 16 to 19 degrees). It was the perfect tranquil and beautiful place to be, and I felt happy. Peacefully, blissfully happy like I hadn’t been in a while.

After dinner, we walked out of the restaurant, only to see a sky full of stars. For a city boy like me whose daily night-sky is a blanket of black, this was an amazing view. I’ve always loved looking at stars, and I fell even more in love with Chiang Dao Nest right there and then. My girlfriend and I just stood there looking up, transfixed, till our necks got sore and we went to bed. Time? Around 8 in the evening.