Well, we’ve been here over six months now and I think I can hand out a few pointers about driving in this country, at least from a Chiangmai perspective. I wrote an earlier post about how to survive on a scooter here so this is just a little update after spending time every day in the traffic for the last few months. It is by no means an exhaustive list but only some pointers to let you drive and stay alive here. As usual, these pointers are directed more towards riding scooters and motorcycles than driving a car, but most will apply to both. Unlike China, where I lived the last six years, the Thai drivers do have some sort of order and actually do follow some of the rules. Read More
Chiangmai Flower Festival
Once again, the Chiangmai Flower Festival has come and gone. During the first weekend of February each year, Chiangmai comes alive with the sounds and sights of the Chiangmai Flower Festival. For three days, it seems that every flowering plant within transportation distance of the city ends up on display somewhere. It also draws tourists from every corner of the globe, so if you don’t like crowds, that is not the weekend to visit. During those three days, the city seems to absorb an outrageous number of people until it is literally at its breaking point!
Dozens of vendor displays pop up in and around the park known as Suan Buak Hat, which is located inside the southwestern corner of the walled city. It is soon easy to see why the province of Chiangmai lives up to its name of “the Rose of the North” as you wander throughout the displays of beautiful and exotic flowers, which are in full bloom towards the end of the cool season in early February. Along with the garden displays, there are also copious food booths selling homemade treats to get you through the day with barely a dent in your wallet or purse. During the evenings, crowds gather at Thapae Gate for speeches and entertainment by local musicians and dancers.
The highlight of the weekend is the Flower Festival Parade. It is a wild and crazy time that seems to go on forever. Let’s just say we watched the parade for a couple of hours before finally entering a streetside restaurant for a leisurely dinner. Later we exited to the ongoing parade and soon left with the thing still going strong! I think if we had returned the following morning we could have caught the tail end of it! Read More
Chiangmai Jungle Flight
Zip-lining is one of the major tourist attractions in Chiangmai. Posters and brochures are visible everywhere, advertising the many different companies that offer this adventure experience. When a group of relatives dropped into town recently, we decided to go with Jungle Flight. It turned out to be an excellent choice on our part! Read More
