The ISTY Hotel. $37 /night

Our flights went smoothly.  On the first leg we flew to Taipei where we had a short layover.  However brief the connection, George always aims for the airline lounge so he can eat at the ever-present buffet (#nevernothungry). Not quite time enough to enjoy some of the other airport amenities such as the "Hello Kitty Lounge" or my favorite, the "The Glory of High-Tech Waiting Lounge".  I’m not kidding.  Then on to Bangkok, and finally to Chiang Mai -- almost 23 hours of travel time rewarded with 14 hours of jet lag.

We are staying at the small ISTY Hotel in the Santitham neighborhood, just north outside the moat which surrounds the old city of Chiang Mai. Santitham was the rather run-down section of Chiang Mai well-known for its several brothels. It's all better now, but still a very Thai neighborhood and very few tourists.

I know that our friends expressed alarm that George booked us into a $37/night hotel. No worry (this time). The ISTY hotel opened 7 months ago, it's very modern with simple, contemporary furnishings.  The walls are decorated with inspirational New Age type aphorisms that speak directly at me and encourage me to be happy and calm - remember this blog is called "Travels with George".  There is rooftop bar and lounge which is quite charming if only it were not raining.  Our room is on the 3rd floor, on the backside of the hotel.  We overlook Thai houses and a community center where they teach Thai line dancing  on the front porch in the evenings.

The hotel staff are children.  No one seems older than 18. That said, they are well trained, cheerful and very, very helpful.  They have directed us to tasty local restaurants and street food carts, and helped us insert and activate SIM cards so we have a Thai phone number (more about that later when we tell you about our manic adventures to lease a condo).  We went to several phone stores and ubiquitous 7-11's to shop for SIM cards, but no one spoke English.  It seems that very few Thais speak English in Santitham. One shopkeeper, when asked if he understood English, went directly to his Apple computer and opened Google translator.  He and George then had a conversation over the keyboard.  No SIM cards but an interesting way to get to know the neighborhood.  Later, when George found some cards, our hotel staff helped us load and setup our phones, just as children would do for their technologically-inert parents. 

Entrance is on a quiet street 41 Changpuek Soi 4, Si Phum

Message for me on the bathroom door.

The cook and hostess from a local restaurant Baan Landai.

George's meal at the Baan Landai.

Mural on the wall across from the hotel entrance.