Northern Thailand is, for me, the ultimate mix of culture, adventure, and amazing sceneries. Northern Thailand is home to the Lanna Kingdom which 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 centre 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.
You find Wat Huay Pla Kang and the enormous Buddha image, on the top of a little hill, in the rural area north of Chiang Rai. Wat Huay Pla Kung is one of the most impressive temples in Chiang Rai province and is a popular tourist attraction amongst Thais and foreigners alike. It’s one of…
Rai Mae Fah Luang Art and Culture Park were home to one of the Mae Fah Luang Foundation’s many projects. The name Rai Mae Fah Luang, as the place first was called, reflects the project’s purpose in a lovely way. Rai means plantation, and Mae Fah Luang refers to the king’s mother, Her Royal Highness…
The Garden of Reeds home to Chiang Rai Flower and Art Festival 2022. You find The Garden of Reeds next to the Kok River in the northeastern part of Chiang Rai. If you need to ask for directions, the park is called Suan Nai Ngam Rim Nam Kok in Thai. It is nice to know, but…
Chiang Rai Clock Tower “the more the merrier” The Chiang Rai clock tower was built in 2005 in honor of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, and is another masterpiece by Chalermchai Kositpipat, who also created the White Temple in Chaing Rai. When you see Chalermchai Kositpipat’s work, there is no doubt in your mind that this guy…
Chiang Rai City Pillar is nice symmetry with symbolism I discovered Chiang Rai City Pillar Shrine when I visited Wat Phrathat Doi Chom Thong. Chiang Rai City Pillar is right next door, inside the temple grounds. In 1987 to celebrate King Bhumibol’s 60th birthday and Chiang Rai’s 725th anniversary, the governor of Chiang Rai…
Buddha Image Cave, an adventure that grew on me The Buddha Image Cave might never find its way to the top of the ordinary bucket list. My visit to the Buddha Image Cave was, not the most exciting place I visited on my trip to the Golden Triangle. But on the other hand, I kind…
The Black House is a must… if you like it a little spooky. If you have limited time to explore Chiang Rai, you must visit the Black House, at least if you want something a little out of the ordinary. When I walked in, the first thing I saw was this fantastic Thai-style wooden house….
Baan Dam Museum or Blackhouse Museum Baan Dam Museum is a collection of exceptional wooden houses where the outside is only matched by what you find inside. Baan Dam Museum or the Black House as it is called by tourists is truly an amazing place. If you do not have too much time and want…
I woke up, after a good night’s sleep in the middle of the rice fields, maybe the cabin wasn’t top-notch, but the surroundings were first-class. You usually associate Thailand with sun and tropical heat, but northern Thailand in late December can get cold at night. Down to 10- 15 degrees Celsius is not unusual. It…
Phuket – Bangkok, what to expect on the road. My trip to the Golden Triangle started on the 11th December 2021; at that time, I had been locked up in Phuket for almost 2 years due to COVID. Of course, I know there could be much worse places to be locked up than Phuket. I…