PARSAKHOME

Chiang Mai : Location

        This ancient city is large enough to be described as a regional centre, but small enough to allow exploration around its ancient walls, moat, temples and alleyways by bicycle or foot. It is situated closer to Burma, Laos and Cambodia than Bangkok in a lush and green tropical valley, overlooked by emerald and majestic mountains.

        Chiang Mai is Thailand’s second largest city, located in the north of the country towards the border with Myanmar. Despite its growing population and development, it has managed to retain its peaceful, friendly ‘village community’ atmosphere which is one of its main attractions

         The extensive night markets are fantastic with dozens of street vendors selling a variety of authentic goods, and visitors simply have to try their hand at one of the many classes on offer including Thai cookery, massage, meditation and Thai boxing. Most popular however, are the jungle treks up to the Hill tribe villages, the elephant riding camps and the bamboo rafting trips.

Chiang Mai: Culture

         Chiang Mai is the cultural centre of Thailand in many people’s minds, in fact many of the so called Thai customs are really Lanna cultural activities that has been absorbed into modern day Thai culture due to their beauty and general fun nature.

         Your should not miss the Chiang Mai national museum or for the avid stamp collector there is a stamp and post office museum and of course the coin museum or even Bug museum. But it will not teach you much about Chiang Mai culture.

         Truly the culture of Chiang Mai is not in the museums but in the people. For Chiang Mai is a living culture still very much alive, and the people are what the culture is made of, so visit them in their markets and experience the culture as it really is. Not as a guide thinks you want to see it. One of the best parts about Chiang Mai culture is they are friendly and accepting. They invite you to partake in most any activities they are doing from weddings, to parties, to funerals you are almost always welcome as long as you act respectfully and politely.

         Chiang Mai people are known throughout the kingdom of Thailand as friendly, polite and fun-loving. Celebrating one of Chiang Mai’s many festivals with your Thai friends is an experience not to be missed.

Chiang Mai : Festivals

         The Flower Festival is a new festival being held for only 30 years now and have proven to be a event for all to see with a parade with floats covered with real flowers only. It comes with beauty pageants and live entertainment. Held in February 2007 - (usually held the first weekend of February .It is a wonderful relaxed event where westerners and Thai people get to see floats and just hang out.

         Yipeng Loi and Krathong Festival - Ping River Festival. This is an historic festival where the people pay respect to the river god. It is a lively event mostly in the evenings and is load with fireworks and fire crackers going off till the wee hours of the morning. The center is the river banks with thousands of people floating their offerings down the Ping River.   A dazzling procession of hanging lanterns, Krathongs (floating offering trays made of banana stalk holding coins, incense, flowers and a candle to float down the main river) , Phi Yi Peng Festival ( which is the release of thousands of KomLoi- fire balloons) , as well as fireworks displays at the Ping River, traditional Lanna lifestyle displays like fruit carvings contests and beauty contests and Lanna cultural performances all welcoming you to participate or merely observe the fun.

         The Songkran Water Festival is the northern traditional New Years. Mid-April, depending on the moons, is when Chiang Mai really get a little wild and wet. Not from the rainy season, but from the celebrations of the northern Thai New Years and Chiang Mai is easily the wildest place in Thailand to come and celebrate it.

Chiangmai : Handicrafts

         The first obvious choice is the Night Bazaar. Yes it is the most touristy place around, yes they sell all kind of poor fakes but there is quality too. The Night Bazaar as it is known today refers to a busy street crowded with all kind of stalls selling everything from DVD copies to... rattan ashtrays Lao silk, unique white celadon, original paintings, delicate silverware, cheap essential oils... to name a few.

         The Sunday Market is great for little handicraft, this market held between the Taphae Gate and the Wat Phra Sing Police station is very popular among Tha?s, the atmosphere is relaxed, prices are at their cheapest. This place is only for local handicraft.

         The Taphae Road and the Loy Kroh Road (also famous for its bars) have some very interesting shops, producing unique items (home decor, fashion, jewellery) it is worth a stroll.

         Luxury handicraft shops are found in the Nimanheimin Road.

         If you want painted fans or umbrellas, it is all in the Borsang village, on the road to Sankampaeng

         If you're looking for furniture’s, you'll have to go to the Hangdong area, a superhighway starting near the airport. The shops there will also take care of the shipping.

         And if you're into wood products, you definitely must visit the Ban Tawai, a village specialized in this craft. You'll also find very nice reproduction of antique furniture’s (many imported from China or Central Asia).

Chiang Mai : Weather

The weather of Northern Thailand, including Chiang Mai, differs from the traditional divisions of spring, summer, autumn and winter. Instead, the region has three distinct seasons: the cool season, hot season and rainy season. Chiang Mai is known as the 'cool capital', and in comparison to the sweaty heat of Bangkok, the climate is far more agreeable

Cool Season

The most popular time for visiting Chiang Mai ( weather wise) is the cool season, which runs from December to the end of February. It is in fact pleasantly chilly in the evenings, and if you are planning on visiting Chiang Mai at this time of year, it would be wise to bring some all weather gear along. However, don't leave out your summer clothes, as midday temperatures can climb well into the 30s

Hot Season

The weather start heating up in Chiang Mai after New Year, and by Mid-March, the nippy nights of February are nothing but a pleasant memory, with daytime maximums regularly reaching 40C. Despite all the moisture in the air, however, there is virtually no rain during this period

Rainy Season

The southwest monsoon usually arrives from India at the end of May, and from then until November the weather in Chiang Mai and Northern Thailand get very wet. The rainy season is characterized by downpours, but they tend to be sudden bursts that only last for an hour or so, rather than a steady stream of water. The rainy season is otherwise a pleasant time to visit the north. The rains bring respite from the heat, and the landscape returns to its strikingly gorgeous shade of green. Rainfall is usually heaviest in the September month

Generally speaking, the weather of Northern Thailand is far more temperate than central or Southern Thailand. This coupled with its mountainous terrain and location in the Asian interior brings cooler temperatures and less humidity