Bangkok Market

The information for this article: Try Chiang mai ! is offered by: www.visit-chiang-mai-online.com

For centuries, the tranquil Thai city of Chiang Mai has been a haven for people either seeking refuge or just quiet contemplation. From the Buddhist monks who congregate here and chat with tourists outside the many temples, to the hill tribes who have fled troubled spots such as Tibet and Burma, it has always been happy to extend a welcome to all visitors.

For modern travellers, who invariably come via the hustle and bustle of Bangkok or the tourist “invaded” beaches of the south, it also provides a refreshing change of pace.

It’s climate is slightly cooler & less humid than that of the southern capital, and the pace of life within the old city walls much slower.

As you walk past countless outdoor Daily Market stalls selling fresh fruits and vegetables, meats and fish, smiling locals stop to “wai” the Buddhist greeting, putting the palms together with fingers touching the tip of the nose, and bowing the head slightly.

If there is a better place for finding yourself than Chiang Mai among such beauty and serenity, it probably has yet to be discovered !!.

Make sure you leave enough time to enjoy Chiang Mai’s many Tourist Attractions . Amongst the most popular places to visit are Wat Doi Suthep Temple which is one of the most important Buddhist temples in the whole of Thailand.

Another place that is always popular with the tourists is Chiang Mai Night Bazaar which is second in size only to the world famous JJ Market in Bangkok, you will find an incredible range of every kind of fake brand watch, t-shirt & copy DVD, along with loads of other souvenirs, home decor, fashion & trinkets all at incredibly cheap prices.

For the more energetic, the most popular activities are white water rafting & riding elephants, which can both be accommodated if you fancy a little “light” Trekking up in the mountains that surround the city.

The Treks can be organised for anything from one day upwards, and small groups of wide-eyed, and inevitably poorly prepared, tourists are led on wonderous trips through dense rainforest, up steep slopes, across rushing rivers to meet the local Hill Tribe communities.

While the various Hill Tribes groups have long embraced tourism as a way of making money ? and there is no shortage of souvenir shops along the way !, they have also thankfully recognised that their historic way of life is what attracts the visitors to their remote mountainside villages.

The treks provide amongst others an opportunity to meet the Karen Pa Dong Hill Tribe -Longnecks- , where the women’s necks are adorned with heavy-looking, and ultimately physically deforming, neck rings designed to resemble the neck of the dragons revered by their culture.

Nights are spent in bamboo huts on wooden stilts, falling asleep in mosquito nets with the sounds of the rainforest just outside. If you fancy something not quite so energetic as the trekking, you might just find it at the Maesa Elephant Camp , as well as providing rides for tourists, the elephants paint pictures and play football !.

Although this can seem demeaning for these grand beasts, they are well cared for by the mahouts and their role in Chiang Mai’s thriving tourism industry ensures their survival now they have been replaced by machinery in the area’s agricultural industry.temple

The Thais are masters of the art of relaxation, so the less adventurous visitors can choose from countless Thai Massage and other treatments that are available all over the city, whether you just drop into a day spa for a few hours, or completely pamper yourself over the course of a few days at one of the many Spa Resorts that have sprung up all around the city over the last few years.

Chiang Mai is a city that is steeped in History it was founded in 1296 by King Mengrai as the new capital city for his Lan Na Kingdom (the word Lan Na means the million rice fields in Thai), and the city has been fundamental to the whole establishment of the Thai culture that is at the core of this great country today.

The most famous remnants of its past are the remains of the moat & walls that originally surrounded the old city & over 300 temples in total, which all add to the natural aura & charisma that Chiang Mai “”Rose of the North” oozes, you cannot help yourself to do anything other than chill out in this wonderful city.

Author's (web site): Bangkok Market

Written by: Bangkok Market