So, my last day in Chiang Mai – what did I have planned? Shooting! Because why not?
I’ve always wanted to try, but in Denmark, thanks to certain individuals who think the country is a free-for-all robbery zone, the rules have gotten ridiculously strict. Now, you can’t just waltz into a shooting club as a guest and try a few rounds – oh nooo, you have to go through membership applications, background checks, secret handshakes, and probably sell a kidney to even get close to a gun 🙄
So when I found out that in Thailand, you can “just” show up and shoot, I thought: Yes, please! Let’s live out the dreams! 😄
I did my research and found a great shooting range attached to a bastion, Shooting Club Chiang Mai – tons of different pistols to choose from, super affordable, and they even arranged pickup and drop-off. It was all coming together beautifully. This was the highlight of my day, and if I had energy left afterward (and my arms weren’t shaking from the recoil), I’d go sightseeing 🤣
So yeah.. Kicked off the day the best way possible – sleeping in! And honestly, it was the best sleep I’ve had in ages, probably because I was completely wiped out after a full day of ziplines 😅
Then, I went for breakfast at Manifreshto, a cozy café near my hotel. I ordered a curry tofu sandwich and a pea flower lemonade (which has basically become my personality at this point). I was a little skeptical about the sandwich – curry in a sandwich, sounds good but will it be as those I make with curry? 🤨Bold move. But OMG, it was amazing! It actually reminded me of Tamil seeni sambol, but with marinated tofu that added this perfect, chewy texture. My taste buds were thriving 😋🤤
Bang, bang! – Time to Shoot! 🔫
At 10:30 AM, my ride arrived, and I was taken to the shooting range. The instructors handed me a list of guns and prices, and I picked a CZ 75D 9mm with 30 bullets – 2,000 baht (aka dirt cheap compared to Bangkok prices).
And guess what? I was actually GOOD at this! Like, really good. I was hitting targets like I was born for it. Honestly, if shooting were more accessible in Denmark, I could totally see myself picking this up as a hobby 😎
Then I thought, why not try another gun? This time, I picked a Glock 34 9mm, again with 30 bullets. But this one was much heavier, and my small hands struggled to control it. Let’s just say my shots were placed a little more … creatively. But hey, at least I tried, and it was still fun!
Overall, an absolute blast. Also, considering the state of the world, maybe having good aim isn’t the worst skill to have, haha (but also… kinda serious).
After my John Wick training session, I headed to Old Town for lunch at Baan Lanna, near Wat Phra Singh. I ordered a vegetarian green curry with rice and a rosé soda. The green curry was mild, creamy, and delicious, and it actually reminded me of my mom’s sodhi – instant comfort food 😍
From there, I walked to Wat Phan Tao, a gorgeous old wooden temple that used to be part of Wat Chedi Luang.
But let’s talk about Wat Chedi Luang – WOW. This 14th-century Buddhist temple is massive, surrounded by newer shrines and even a Buddhist university. Once upon a time, this place housed the famous Emerald Buddha, but then Bangkok was like, “We’ll take that, thanks.”
Despite damage from earthquakes over the centuries, the structure still stands proud and powerful, telling a story through its worn bricks and towering presence. Absolutely breathtaking.
New Fruit, Who Dis?
After soaking up some history, I headed back to Nimman and finally tried jambu (rose apple) – a fruit my mom has raved about forever. Verdict? Crispier and fresher than regular apples. Perfect for someone like me who despises regular apples. Sorry, Granny Smith, you’re not invited to this party 😂
Washed it down with a pink milk (sarbath), which was cold, creamy, and ridiculously good.
And because one can never have too many massages, I booked a session at Massage for Health. The place was beautiful, and I was ready to fully zen out… but then? 😳
Enter a group of rude, entitled tourists (in this case, some Chinese girls), who thought it was okay to film people getting massages. What?! On top of that, they were disrespecting the staff – clearly a tactic to avoid paying 🤯
Thankfully, after some dramatic eye-rolling and storming off in a huff (bye, Felicia!), peace was restored, and relaxation resumed. I felt so sorry for the staff, but they managed it so well 🥺
For dinner, I HAD to go back to Ging Grai one last time. I ordered a spicy tofu pad kra pao with rice and a rose lychee sparkling drink. And let me tell you: this. meal. was. perfection.
Pad kra pao is now officially one of my top Thai dishes – flavorful, spicy, and just chef’s kiss.
After dinner, I should have gone back to the hotel to pack.
Did I? No 😅
Instead, I got a sudden urge to get my nails done, so I stopped by Diamond Nails Lounge and walked out with both a manicure and a pedicure. Because why not end the trip with fabulous nails? 💅🙆🏻♀️
Back at the hotel, I decided to go all out on my last night in Chiang Mai, and ordered:
✅ Thai tea
✅ Mango sticky rice
✅ Thai-style “French toast” with pandan cream
And WOW. This was a spiritual experience. I could eat this every single day and never get tired of it.
And That’s a Wrap!
With a happy stomach and fabulous nails, it was finally time to pack up and get ready for the next adventure.
Stay tuned for more crazy, food-filled travels! 🙋🏻♀️😄