Travel, Holiday and Vacation Reviews and Photos from Bars, Restaurants, Hotels, Resorts and Destinations around the World.
Bor Sang village near Chiang Mai
The Borsang village is pleasant daytrip destination from Chiang Mai in Thailand. In this small village are many manufactures and companies for handicraft products like Asian umbrellas, Thai Silk, Silver Art, Jade sculptures and many more. Bor Sang is easy to reach by taxi or Bus from the bus station in Chiang Mai city. At the manufactures you can see how the workers make from cocoon’s beautiful Thai Silk products like Suites, Bedcovers… At the umbrella company you can see how the locals produce from bamboo and other natural basic materials nice Southeast Asian umbrellas in many different colors and designs. All here is handwork from Asia. After you inspected the production you can buy in a huge sell rooms handicrafts products like umbrella’s from Bor Sang direct from the producer, the variety of the handmade goods are amazing and the prices are ok. If you forget your money in your Hotel you will have a second chance of one of Chiangmai’s handcraft markets to buy the products. After your shopping trip you can relax by a cup of coffee or tea. Nearly every company here in Borsang near Chiang Mai in Thailand has a small beverage shop in front of the handcraft production. The visit here at this village in Thailand was very interesting and I can recommend this trip to all tourists who are interested in local artwork.
Phae Meuang Phi National Park
The Phrae province in the north of Thailand is one of the less visited provinces in the Kingdom. Just some traveler, backpacker and culture tourists come here to watch the beautiful Asian temple and the Phae Meuang Phi, which is one of the landmarks of Phrae in Thailand. The oldest temple is the Wat Luang from the 12th century. My favorite temple of the Phrae province was the Wat Phra Suthon Mongkon Kiri. You will recognize this great holy place because of the huge reclining Buddha image witch you can see from the highway to Phrae.
Wat Phra Suthon Mongkon Kiri Temple
The Phra Suthon Mongkon Kiri temple is a nice daytrip with by motorbike if you stay here some days. Another nice destination for temple fans is the Wat Phra That Cho Hae temple about 10 km out of town which is famous for the Phra Jao Than Jai Buddha. But our highlight on this travel trip to Phrae was the Phae Meuang Phi national park with his pillars of earth and stone which look like huge mushrooms. The Meuang Pi park is easy to reach by taxi, if you want to save money you can go as well with the bus from the bus terminal at the center. Some view points and rest stations invite for a picnic. Inside the town are some possibilities to stay. Thip Vong Place, Paradorn Hotel, Maeyom Palace Hotel and Nakhon Phrae Tower are just some of the accommodation options here in this city in north Thailand. We sleep at a friend in a wooden house a bit out from the historical moat near the market. Prae is a great destination for all people who like temples and beautiful landscapes and a nice travel stop for backpackers on their way through SE Asia. From here you can easy travel to: Lamphun, Chiang Mai, Laos… Have fun and enjoy your backpack tour!
A Buddha @ Phra That Cho Hae temple
Hotels in Thailand
The Mekong in Asia
In September 2009 my wife and me was traveling from Chiang Mai in Thailand to Luang Prabang in Laos PDR. The minivan picked us at our guest house in CM up and brings us over Chiang Rai to Chiang Khong in north Thailand where we slept one night at the Namkhong guest house near the Mekong River. On the next day we took a ferry to Huay Xai to get our Visa for Laos, after some hours here in this cozy village our slow boat starts for the first day of our Mekong trip.
A boat in Laos.
It was six hours on small wooden banks to Pak Beng in north Laos. Here we took a walk in the evening through this small town direct on the Mekong bank in north Laos. After one night at the Phetsokxai Hotel we took the second travel part: 7,5 hours from Pak Beng to Luang Prabang. On this day we just checked in the Vanechalearn Hostel and took dinner in a nice restaurant on the Mekong before we went to bed. Our Lonely Planet travel guide for Laos did a good job on this trip. The last days we spent in LP to explore this UNESCO listed city.
A street in north Laos
We visited many temples and markets but our highlight was for sure the Tat Kuang Si waterfalls about 32 km out of LP town. From Luang Prabang we took a plane of Lao Airlines back to Chiang Mai in north Thailand. It was a good travel trip, especially the tour over the huge Mekong River. I really can recommend to do this if you have time on your backpack trip through South East Asia.
Landscapes around Luang Prabang.
The Mekong River in Chiang Khong
Chiang Khong is a small village direct on the Mekong River in north Thailand. Here in this cozy town is nothing special to see, just some small temples like the Wat Luang or the Wat Phra Kaew temple. The most traveler and backpacker come here for a visa run or for travel to Laos. If you travel to the other side of the huge Mekong you stay already in Huay Xai which belongs to Laos PDR. Just a few people stay here longer than one night; a cheap and good hostel in Chiang Kong in Thailand is the Namkong Guest House which is just 50 meters from the river. For more accommodation take a look in your lonely planet travel guide or ask in any booking office around Chiang Khong. The waterside promenade invite with many nice restaurants for a great dinner or a pleasant walk in the evening. We was leaving after one night to Pak Beng by boot, how the most traveler in Chiang Kong at the north of Thailand.
Chiang Khong in north Thailand
Thailand Accommodation
The rope of monks in Lamphun
In the middle of July 2009 we went for a daytrip to the capital of the Lamphun province in north Thailand. We rent a motorbike in Chiang Mai to travel to this peaceful city names Lamphun. Here living about 15000 habitats. The town in the north of this beautiful Kingdom is famous for old and historical Buddhist temples. The most traveler and tourist who stay in Lamphun visit the Wat Phra That Hariphunchai and the Wat Chama Thewi Temple from the 12th century. When we arrived we had a traditional Thai breakfast in a cozy Restaurant. After breakfast we travel to the Wat Phra Yuen temple who is build in the 7th century by Queen Chamthewi, the first ruler of Hariphunchai, the former name of Lamphun, after she ruled for eight years. Some historians believe that King Amikaraj of Hariphunchai build this temple around 700 years before.
The entry of the Wat Phra Yuen
However, this Buddhist monument in north Thailand is for me one of the highlights of Lampun. Here on this peaceful place you can find some lonely moments to relax and meditate. After we went to the Chama Thewi Temple. In the afternoon we drove back to Chiang Mai. On the way we stopped at Lotus Tesco for shopping and catch some food. The best way to come here from Chiang Mai is the bus. From Thailand’s Capital Bangkok you can take the night train which stops direct in Lamphun. In the center of this city in Thailand you will find many options to stay. A good option is the Da Lha Resort near the center. Take a look in your travel guide or contact a TAT booking office for more information’s about Lamphun in Southeast Asia.
Temple in Lamphun
Click here to watch new posts of Travel Reports & Pictures.
On our Travel Trip at April 2009 to North Thailand we took a stop in Sukhothai to watch the old Temple ruins at the historical park. For me it was the second time that I Travel to holy ruins in the Kingdom. My first time was on the travel tour 2006 at Ayutthaya near Bangkok.
Old City at Sukhothai
We come here by train over Phitsanulok and stayed at the “Old City” Guest House in old Sukhothai. We took a Motorbike at “The Coffee Cup” Restaurant to explore the holy City. Our first stop was the Wat Phra Luang where we watch a huge Buddha statue and the three towers of the Temple wich are build in Khmer stil same the Temples of Angkor in Siem Reap. This holy building was build in the 12th century. From ther we drive to Wat Si Chum where is a 15 meter high sitting Buddha. Than we took a brake and drank some refreshments at a Thai Restaurant on the Main road. After we relax on a lake near the Wat Sa Si. From there we drove back at long Sukhothais biggest temple Wat Mahathat from the 13th century. The last sights for our day in Thailand‘s first Capital was the Wat Trapang Thong, Wat Mai and the National Museum. Back at the old city guest House we took a shower and slept for a while. Than we went to Central Market to catch some delicious Thai dishes. We went early to bed because our Bus to Pai was leaving in the next Morning.
Historical Temple
The old City of Sukhothai is a nice travel destination for all Backpackers who travel in Asia. The most temples here in Central Thailand are rebuild and in a good condition. For more travel tips ask at a TAT or buy a travel book for Southeast Asia.
Ferry from Koh Chang
In 2009 my wife and I did two weeks holidays at Pai in north Thailand. From Koh Chang we traveled by ferry and VIP bus to Bangkok‘s Hualampong Train Station. From there we took the Train up to Phitsanulok where we arrived at 1:30 at night. Moun and I slept one night in a small guest house close to the bus terminal. On the next morning we took a public bus to Sukhothai where we watch the old temple ruins. Here at this historical destination in Thailand we checked in the “Old City” guest house as well just for one night because we took the bus to Chiang Mai in Southeast Asia on the next morning. From Chiang Mai we had a minivan connection to Pai in the Mae Hong Son province. We stayed around 10 days in this cozy village in the north of Thailand.
Train Station in Bangkok
One day we rent a Motor scooter to explore the Mae Hong Son province. First we went to the capital of the province where we watch some Asian temples. After we drive to a Longneck Karen Village where we meet the hill tribes. Our last destination on this travel day was the Tham Pla Fish Cave on the way back to Stone Free Bungalows in Pai. After the Songkran festival we traveled back to Koh Chang. We took the public mini bus to Chiang Mai at 08:00am. From there we had a good travel connection to Thailand’s capital Bangkok. We arrived at the Mochid Bus Terminal. From there we took a first class bus back to the pier. The first ferry at 06:30 we took back to Koh Chang Island and we arrived at about 9:00 am on the next day at or bungalow at Big Elk.
Click here for Mae Hong Son Hotels and accommodation deals.
Temple in Mae Hong Son
At the beginning of April 2009 my wife and I was traveling by Motor scooter from Pai to Mae Hong Son in north Thailand. We started at 6:00 am because the trip to the province capital need about three hours and we wanted being back before the Sun leaves behind the Mountains. On the way are many Scenic Areas which offer a great panoramic view over the Asian Highlands. We arrived at about 9:15 at central Mae Hong Son. Our first destination was the Crossroads Restaurant where we did a stop for good breakfast and a delicious fruit shake. After we went to Jong Kum Lake to watch the Wat Jong Kum and the Jong Klang Temple. On the way out of town we stopped at Wat Pha Ang to make some pictures of the beautiful Buddhist Temple. The Temples look a bit different than in other regions like Bangkok in Central Thailand. The Province Capital have many other Temples which you can visit: Wat Hua Wiang, Wat Muay Tor, Wat Phra That Doi Kong on a hill and Wat Phra Non where you can watch a Reclining Buddha Statue.
Temple Drum
If you want to stay at this Asian City you will find a Guest House or Hotel around the Jong Kum Lake, or read the Lonely Planet Guide. On the way back we was traveling to a Longneck Karen village named Ban Nai Soi which is 15 km out of the city. This was the highlight on this day for me. Before we went back, we drive to the Tham Pla Fish Cave which is on the way from Mae Hongson to Pai. The landscapes here in this Southeast Asian Mountains are amazing, take a look in your Travel Guide and don’t miss this beautiful destination in Thailand.
River near the Fish Cave
The Tham Pla National Park is around 18 km out of Mae Hong Son City and easy to reach by Motorbike. After arrival you will walk over a nice bridge through a beautiful park with old trees. The way at long a river is about 500 meters to the Fish Cave with a holy Hindu Nara statue which should protect the carps. The rare carps can be up to one meter huge. The tables and chairs at the Tham Pla park invite for a break to relax under the shadow of the high trees of Thailand‘s highlands. Between October and Mai you can recognize some rare birds who singing a song of the nature. For more informations about the Fish Cave at Mae Hong Son ask at a TAT office or look in your South East Asian Travel Guide. We visited the cave on a day trip from Pai to Mae Hong Son by Scooter on the way back to Stone Free. Before we went to Baan Nai Sai Village. It’s a perfect combination of culture and nature for a nice Travel day in North Thailand.
Longneck Karen
The minority village Ban Nai Soi is about 15 km out of the state capital of Thailand’s Mae Hong Son province in the north. It’s easy to reach by Motorbike. Just follow the signs to the Longneck Karen Village. In the 18th century the Burmese-tibeto origin come to the north of the Kingdom. The woman’s of this “type” of Karen minorities wear metal rings around her neck’s which let them look as a longer neck than other people. Nobody knows really why they do that, but they wear it since generations. Some people believe that they wearing the rings to protect them self from tiger bites. Other ones think the Longneck woman in Thailand’s Mountain wear the metal because than they are not attractive for men from other hill tribe minorities. Some travelers or backpacker don’t visit the Karen villages in North Thailand because they think that they destroy the culture. I think it’s ok to visit them when you follow some rules. For me it’s important to know something about the people and the art of living before I visit the village. Just in this way it’s possible to respect the lifestyle and the culture of the Karen. Inform yourself is it ok for them that tourists come into the Thai villages in Asia. Some Minorities don’t like that the travelers make pictures because of religious aspects. Don’t touch statues or sth. like that, maybe it’s holy for the hill tribes. My point of view is: if you know something’s about their life, you can respect that and if you want to visit the Longneck Karen its ok so long you leave nothing instead of used air and footsteps at the village. No waste and no inspirations for a different life so far it is possible.
Ban Nai Sai Village
For us it was the second time that we visit Karen Minorities in North Thailand but the first time that we meet the Longneck woman. Our first time was at Chiang Mai’s Doi Internon National park. We traveled by motorbike from Pai to Ban Nai Soi village near Mae Hong Son town. It was a nice trip at long the beautiful landscapes of the highlands in Asia. The village is about 500 meter long and on every side of the path are simple bamboo huts where the Karen lives. One Longneck Girl give me a neck ring, I think it was about five kilogram heavy. I read before the metal on their body’s can be up to 25 kg. The people are friendly and it’s nice to see how happy people can be without commercial thinks far away from shopping malls and other civilization thinks here on this quiet spot in South East Asia.
