I really enjoyed it, much more than I thought I would to be honest. Nice laid back vibe, some decent restaurants and a few good bars about the place as long as you stay away from Loi kroh rd. Def need to take a bird with though, fuck all there thats do-able otherwise unless your Thai is good enough and you're gonna be there long enough to put the effort in with a non-BG.

Large temple compex of Wat Jed Yord (circa 1445) to the north of town...

.....

Did you go in a bar called the red lion Matt ? Near the night bazaar

No but I was drinking in the Belgian bar next door one night and got wrecked on Kwak while the missus worked her way through the Kriek fruit beer selection.

Didn't really drink much in the centre as we were stopping the other side of the river and drank out that way most nights.

That red lion had a few ciders in and good food , bloke who owned it was from Kirby went through school with Phil Thompson had loads of pics on wall of himself with loads of LFC players and staff

The brilliantly named Wat U-Mong

There's a rooftop bar and restaurant at the top of the Pornping Tower hotel (near the night market) that gives a good view over the city. Opens around 5pm and used to be a great place to watch the sunset but unfortunately since I was last there 6 or 7 years ago they've built a large hotel that blocks that now (Le Meridien).

Never been to CM, always had the impression it was too backpackerish for me and I prefer the beach when I went elsewhere rather than the hills

Does have quite a high backpacker contingent but they tend to stick to the cheapo guesthouses in the east of the old city and the shite bars there and along Loi Kroh so are easily avoided.