Chiang Mai: Your Gateway for Adventure, Love, and a Life Time of Memories
At the hub of Northern Thailand is the fascinating city
of Chiang Mai. Founded by the Lanna king Mangrai in 1296
on the site of an older Lawa settlement and strategically located
on the River Ping traces still exist of the ancient brick walls
that once protected the old city. Of course Chiang Mai has changed
rapidly in recent times. Modern intrusions now predominate but
old Lanna style wooden houses can still be found among the meandering
sois and it's still a pleasure to wander these narrow lanes in
spite of the cars and motorbikes. There are dozens of guest houses
and hotels in Chiang Mai ranging from basic to luxurious.
If you want to try your luck, it's possible to rent motorbikes
large and small . There are lots of interesting places in and
around Chiang Mai that can be visited in a day. The truly energetic
may want to rent mountain bikes and ride up Doi Suthep for instance
(early morning is the best time for this) or venture further afield.
There are orchid farms, butterfly farms, elephant training camps,
handicraft factories all within easy reach of the city.
If you want to see something of the surrounding countryside, you
should consider a trekking tour. Treks vary in duration and degree
of difficulty. You can ride an elephant , travel down a fast flowing
river on a bamboo raft and visit hill tribe villages all on the
same day if you wish or join the ongoing quest for the "unspoilt'
and spend several days getting to remote villages where you can
sample opium (at your own risk of course) and collapse exhausted.
Back in Chiang Mai, You can have your feet (and various other
body parts) massaged, wander the fruit and vegetable markets,
watch frogs being skinned and learn the secrets of Thai cooking
or Thai massage. Chiang Mai has a vast range of restaurants
to suit all tastes and lots of bars and cafes where you can sit
quietly in a corner or, if you're feeling gregarious, join a game
of pool and make new friends. You can watch TV, meditate, send
E-mail, get drunk and sleep. You can even fall in love and/or
get married. Stay long enough and you might even get bored. If
that happens you can always just sit by one of the klongs feeding
fish. As a travel destination Northern Thailand has something
for everyone.
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