Thailand Naturally (page 5 of 13)

Hi there, it's true that this spot is really lovely for a day trip from Chiang Mai, or even to spend the night with a huge choice of guesthouses in the village. As for the small Kantrapruksa temple, it's very easily accessible, especially since they now have a paved path, steps, and a concrete platform around the temple, plus some bright pink tiles in the best of traditional Thai taste—on sale at the local wholesaler, no less!

Back up in the heights for a visit to an extraordinary garden. In a vast, sloping space, you can choose between pedestrian paths, flower-filled parks, and a dozen exhibition greenhouses showcasing exotic plants. Even though it’s not peak season here either, there’s still plenty to see.



















We were really pleasantly surprised by the canopy walkway. It spans a good 400 meters alongside and above the trees. The vibrations under visitors’ footsteps, the transparency of some glass panels, and the beauty of the surrounding landscape definitely give you a positive feeling—or maybe even a little thrill. This attraction closes immediately if it rains, sometimes for just an hour, other times for entire days.













Once again, a beautiful waterfall reveals itself to us, framed by lush greenery: this one cascades down ten levels over 1.5 km, with several visible from a viewpoint.

Thanks, great debate starter, for also taking an interest in my little discoveries—some more original than others. Like everywhere in the world, after visiting the "must-sees," you’ll find a little further away (and for less money) what it takes to reconnect with the country and its people—often among the most humble, if I may say so.

Just so you know, songthaew fares are 30 baht per person for the historic square and 40 to 50 baht beyond that.

No need to introduce the famous Silver Temple (or "temple for money" since entry is paid and the stalls offer a wide selection of religious items you can purchase). That said, within its walls, a foundation operates, including a school for children. It’s pure goldsmith work—just lean in to see the details.













In the historic square, a small recently restored temple has a museum dedicated to the golden age of the Lanna Kingdom in the 15th century. The young monks on duty pass their idle time watching TV during the brief opening hours from 9 AM to 11 AM and 1 PM to 3 PM.















If you hit a slump along the way, you can always stop by the pharmacist...

Perfect, the photos are even better than usual and the text is shorter and cleaner; bravo! And the mystery remains intact.

Oh, I missed an episode! That waterfall photo is fantastic... You really found some great spots this year. I love Chiang Mai and the area so much—that’s why we’re going back again this year. We’re planning to see the Silver Temple too :p You’re making me even more impatient than I already am by nature!

TAK AND ITS SURROUNDINGS

Tak Province alone would deserve a full trip, it's so vast. Indeed, stretching far from north to south, it marks a significant part of Thailand's border with Myanmar. It's covered in national parks where the most active travelers can really let loose.

We wanted to make a brief stop there, mainly to see what the city looks like.

Our impression was very positive. The city center is quite spacious, and the area has few high-rise buildings. A large market operates every morning, and you can enjoy an outdoor night market every evening. An endless promenade runs along the river, leading to a pedestrian bridge built in 1981 right next to the space dedicated to Loy Krathong celebrations.

We particularly felt the friendliness of the locals and how easily they smiled at us. Add to that the fact that we already had a lovely view from our hotel room...





We still took the time to explore one of the nearest national parks, as others in the same province are located a good 200 kilometers away.





One of its two major waterfalls is relatively accessible. Here too, we were truly amazed when we discovered the panorama around a bend in the trail. The waterfall cascades down several tiers and winds for dozens of meters. Photos don’t do justice to the stunning view you get in person. It’s one of those vistas that makes you forget the distance you traveled to get here.









It’s a joy to follow the river’s path, which continues its journey with occasional mini rapids.





We were already hungry when we arrived at the park’s restaurant—empty of customers—where the ladies were grilling chicken. As always, they were pleasantly surprised and amused that we used a few words of their language. After being served by a shy young trainee ranger, we feasted on the chicken with its delicious sauce, sticky rice cooked in banana leaves, and a papaya salad that was completely non-spicy, just as we’d ordered. 120 baht for two. Apart from the ladies’ laughter and the birdsong, it was absolute peace and relaxation.

We continued on foot toward the park entrance, taking a one-kilometer path through the tropical forest, accompanied by the murmur of the river and the rustling of bamboo in the wind. Near the end, we came across a few waterfalls that seemed placed there just to enhance our journey.





We spent a very pleasant evening wandering the night market, stopping especially at a stall run by an older lady offering a good little cold pad thai for... 10 baht.

Tak, a peaceful place off the tourist trail. And, in our opinion, even more than that.

It’s the green ant that wasn’t running in the grass...

Thanks!!! I couldn’t say whether I preferred the sound or the visuals... 😉

I love these rocks and trees, and the sound is great for putting a baby to sleep! Thanks

It’s not unpleasant to have a passage from *The Specialist* and his humor in your travel journal—whether it’s dark or... pink—even if I probably don’t have much new to share with him, I assume.

You’re definitely hitting the road this year!

Today is dedicated to a mini exploration of Tak, after a quick stop at the morning market. It would be unthinkable not to start by greeting the locals from the countryside who come to sell their rice in bulk.











Just a stone’s throw away is Trok Ban Chin, the old Chinese quarter that’s more or less stayed true to its roots.











We continue to Wat Mani Banphot, where a Buddha statue in the Chiang Saen style from the late 13th century stands. It was under lock and key, but a monk kindly opened it up so we could admire it.

The new concept is one photo per day.

If I do that for my travel journal, we won’t be done anytime soon—I’m diving into this journal with gusto, and the humor won’t be in short supply!

Hi Joël,

VoyageForum just remembered I’d asked to follow this thread after the first post—I got a notification this morning... and realized I was 5 pages behind 😮. Well, now that I’ve caught up, I’m eagerly waiting for what’s next 😎 (especially since it’s reinforcing my idea that you *can* find stunning spots in Thailand while keeping the tourist crowds low 😉). Muriel

Skipping a visit to the sanctuary dedicated to King Taksin the Great, who reunified the country after the defeat of the Ayutthaya kingdom against the Burmese and was once governor of Tak province, was unthinkable. Lots of people come daily to pay their respects and add a figurine to the many already lined up compactly in the courtyard. Mostly hundreds of roosters and horses.











We finally take the back roads on the other side of the river. Not just to admire the old black chedi (Wat Khok Chedi), but also to enjoy some fresh country air.













We end our journey with a stop on the footbridge where a few fishermen, just like us, can see that the water level is quite low.



This brief stop in Tak wraps up with a visit to the night market. Kids play, birds keep an eye out for something to snatch, and we don’t go unnoticed as lone *farangs*, but everyone smiles at us. Definitely need to come back...

(Especially since it reinforces my idea that it's possible to discover magnificent spots in Thailand while keeping the tourist density around you low 😉). Muriel

Hi Muriel, Joel, and everyone 😛 ...

Just come visit me (Sakon Nakhon in Isan) ... I just biked 42 km this morning, quite a few red dirt roads; I only crossed paths with a few vehicles and no *farang* ..😉

Same goes for the touristy spots; Joel and his partner show it again in this amazing travel journal that’s just getting started.😛

Hi Michel

Suffit de venir chez moi

I don’t doubt it… but I’m afraid Isan might feel too much like Laos ;)😇… maybe later… Muriel

Perfect, the photos even better than usual and the text shorter and more refined; bravo, and the mystery remains intact

Hi Fabien,

Here’s a single sentence that raises several questions...

For the photos, it just so happens that every year I have this exact thought (well, it’s not self-glorification since I’m not the one taking them). And then when I look back at previous years, I tell myself those were just as good. Of course, while some really stand out, others are far from remarkable. A milky sky—yuck—the person moving or not striking the right pose, the result of poor timing, a momentary lapse, etc.

For the text, let’s just say the hardest part is not always presenting the same thing in the same way, both for the reader and for us. That’s why these past two years we’ve gone for slightly more original openings for our travel journals. Now, not everyone sees things the same way: some can’t stand very long texts or a story that recounts every detail of the travelers’ vacation. Personally, I’ve sometimes lost interest in certain journals, especially about the U.S., when I saw entire pages of discussion completely drowning out the subject.

When you keep it short, some people aren’t happy that certain details—like the names of places or how to get there—aren’t included. A quick aside on that: considering how much more information is available online every year, anyone looking for places in tourist spots like Chiang Rai or Chiang Mai will find them easily. Also, to avoid cluttering the journal with too many minor questions and diluting its essence, I encourage those with specific questions to ask me via PM. If people don’t chime in to say hello on the journal or make a request via PM, we can reasonably assume they don’t have any questions. I’ll add that what I’ve found, others can just as easily find too. Besides, this year I’ve specified which provinces the action takes place in. For the rest, most of the texts are already written, and I won’t be revisiting them.

In my opinion, control of the journal belongs to the person who spends an insane amount of time preparing and publishing it, and no one has the right to step in or tell them to do things differently. Some might not be happy about that—maybe they have ulterior motives—but if they’re so keen on sharing, let them prove it by publishing their own journals or answering the many questions regularly asked in countless discussion threads.

The choice for the last two journals leans toward a more airy layout, giving pride of place to images. I’m simply glad it works for you. I’ve already planned a change in approach for next year, and I’ve got some pretty cool surprises in store. But that’s a mystery that’ll last at least another year...

That was a joke—if I actually did that, there’d be a petition to make me stop!

You’ve got such a gorgeous travel journal going with breathtaking photos, and I’m over here feeling embarrassed with just a little green ant to show for myself. Hope it still does the trick for you, though. 🙂