Northern Thailand is, for me, the ultimate mix of culture, adventure, and amazing sceneries. Northern Thailand is home to the Lanna Kingdom that ruled the north from the 13th to 18th centuries.
In the old days, it was only permitted for temples and palaces to use stones as building materials. For ordinary houses, wood and bamboo were the preferred material, but both wood and bamboo do not last long in the hot, humid air, so mostly only temples are preserved to this day.
Chiang Mai is the 2nd largest city in Thailand and is the center of education and culture in the north, and here you find a strong presence of Lanna Culture. This is especially evident in the many beautiful temples you will find within the moat of Chiang Mai´s Old Town.
It is in the mountains of northern Thailand I have been on the most amazing off-road trips. Many of the small mountain villages you find here are only connected to the outside world via primitive gravel roads. I really like exploring these little dirt roads. Mostly when I come to a village, I get the feeling that visitors are not an everyday occurrence.
Chiang Mai Grand Canyon Click image to view full size. Watch the gallery as a… Read More
5 years ago
If you are interested in flowers and plants a visit to Queen Sirikit Botanical Garden is a… Read More
6 years ago
Mae Rim is a subdistrict in Chiang Mai province. Mae Rim is mostly known for… Read More
6 years ago
On the banks of the river Ping you will find Chiang Mai Chinatown. Outside the… Read More
6 years ago
There are several hell temples in Thailand, but the most gruesome in Wat Mae Kaet Noi.… Read More
6 years ago
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is known as Wat Doi Suthep. Wat Doi Suthep was built… Read More
6 years ago
Bhubing Palace is located in Doi Suthep national park, 1/2 hour drive from Chiang Mai.… Read More
6 years ago
In Doi Suthep national park you find Doi Pui Hmong Hill Tribe Village. “Doi” means… Read More
6 years ago
The first king of the Lanna kingdom King Mangrai build Wat Chiang Man. Wat Chiang Man… Read More
7 years ago
The full name is Wat Phra Singh Woramahaviharn. It was King Phayo the fifth king of… Read More
7 years ago
Udon Thani is one of the 5 major cities in Esan, North East Thailand and… Read More
7 years ago
Take a walk in nature's pharmacy. When you walk the streets of Vientiane you will… Read More
7 years ago
Visa run to Vientiane Laos, part 2 Apply for Visa and get back to Thailand.… Read More
7 years ago
The Thai consulate in Vientiane, Laos is one of the places you can get your… Read More
7 years ago
Take route 118 in direction of Chiang Rai you find Wat Doi Saket on the… Read More
7 years ago
From old times San Kamphaeng Hot Springs was grassland, the people used the hot springs,… Read More
7 years ago
Kham Tiang flower market in Chiang Mai is the place to go if you are in… Read More
7 years ago
King Saen Muang Ma started to build Wat Chedi Luang, or as it originally was… Read More
7 years ago
Chiang Mai old city was founded 1296 around and it was built as a walled… Read More
7 years ago
Wat Suan Dok was built by the Lanna King Kue Na in the year 1370… Read More
7 years ago
An experience I once had gives a good impression of how desolate it can be in the mountains of the north.
After driving 6 hours on terrible mountain dirt roads in the Golden Triangle close to the border of Burma without seeing any sign of life, I come to a military camp. Of course, I was stopped and asked where I come from, where I was going, and especially what my business was in the middle of nowhere in the Golden Triangle.
I explained that I liked to drive off-road and had heard that one could drive from Pai, which is a well-known city, through mountainous dirt roads to Chiang Rai. I thought it sounded exciting, so I wanted to try it.
The soldier looked at me very skeptically, he explained to me that the only Westerners they saw on this road were either missionaries or drug runners.
So he wanted to know what I was; Missionary or drug runner? After thoroughly searching my car and luggage without finding Bibles, drugs, or large amounts of cash, he was convinced that I was what I said, and my story was true.
The soldiers explained to me how I got to Chiang Rai the easiest way and wished me a good trip.