Out of Norm Travels

For those up for a trip up north of Thailand, the most famous, largest and connected of its cities will be Chiangmai or Chiang Mai or Chieng mai . It is also regarded as  the unofficial capital of Northern Thailand, second in importance only to Bangkok.   A must see temple when you are on your first trip to this location will be  Wat Phra That Doi Suthep  (Thai:  วัดพระธาตุดอยสุ เทพ ). Easily accessible by car or van around 15km from the city centre, you have a choice of taking the cable car or climbing some 300 steps to reach the temple grounds which is a Theravada Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. The temple dates from 1383 and is located at  Doi Suthep  mountain which is a sacred site to many  Thai s. During important festivals like Loy Kratong, you will see many Thais making a pilgrimage to this temple to release thousands of paper lanterns into the sky in the month of November to...

A long standing travel wish was fulfilled in November 2012 when I attended Thailand's International Balloon Festival at Chiang Mai , in northern Thailand. I was fortunate enough to be there for the morning flights and evening programmes for 2 out of the 3 days of the Festival as the 3rd day of the festival forced to be cancelled due to a huge thunderstorm. It was a festival like no other that I have attended elsewhere - it was filled with lovely big balloons and a marvelous carnival-like atmosphere in the evenings complete with music and delicious food for picnic on the grounds of one of the oldest golf courses in Thailand. One cannot feel but happiness and joy when seeing the hot air balloons take off into the big blue skies. Truly a beautiful sight!  I managed to get up close with the balloon when it was being filled and it was HOT, HOT, HOT!  I have made a pledge to come down for the 2013 festival as for me, this is the Life that is worth livin...

I found a quaint strawberry farm called " Napahupa " or Nop Phu Pha meaning Sky & Mountain which is  just 1 hour's drive from Chiang Mai city area.  Tip: must remember not to have a full stomach before heading there as the road trip up is full of twists & turns.  It is surrounded by a beautiful mountain range. As my family was there during the winter season in December, strawberries were ripe for the picking.  I sat in a little cafe with lovely strawberry drinks and desserts and seating that was strategically placed facing the farm area. After my little refreshment, I (my kids couldn't resist the machines) took a ride around using the off-road vehicles before ending the excursion at the nearby orange farm . I saw some tents/ huts that can be rented for an overnight rustic stay.  An overall lovely trip outside of usual city life .