Chiang Mai

Thai 7/11: a tale of bittersweet love

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"Bing-bong" the ubiquitous announcement of arrival that rings aloud with an unapologetic shrill tone. Shortly followed by a crisp, calm blast of faux-alpine air, peppered with the lingering scent of 1000 cheese and ham toasties. Sweet salvation. And a welcome respite from the midday heat. An oasis of tranquillity can be found amongst these dinky packe[...]

The Vegetarian’s Guide to Chiang Mai

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My first adventure to Thailand started with a warning. A well-intentioned one, no doubt, but one that was shared with me defiantly, assuredly, and most of all - repeatedly. It came at me from many places, it was wrapped in various phrases and intonations, but the gist of it remained stubbornly, until I was almost ready to believe it: “It is hard to travel [...]

The Travelettes Guide to Chiang Mai

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What was supposed to be a trip for a couple of weeks in Northern Thailand, quickly turned into a six month stay, as I had fallen head over heels for the Chiang Mai vibe. In a blink, I started calling this city ‘my home away from home’, just like all the expats and digital nomads that got stuck here. The many faces of Chiang Mai kept it interesting. From [...]

Trekking in Chiang Mai - of blue toes and serenity

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"I'm cooking," my friend Julia declares and tries to cool herself with a self-made banana leaf fan. "You are boiling, not cooking," Jatoo, our guide, corrects her. His English is not only excellent, he is also a very brave man; I wouldn't have quibbled with her over semantics in the state we are all in. We are well into the third day of hiking in the mounta[...]

Chiang Mai: Thailand's Rose of the North

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Here at Travelettes, our love for Thailand is undying and forever more. Sorry to sound pretty gushy about that country, but it’s definitely a fav of ours. Sure, there’s Bangkok with Khao San Road and its never-ending bustling fun; sure, there’s the sandy partying of the southern islands; but how about some northern culture in the serene and stunning ci[...]

Wheeling around Chiang Mai, Thailand

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Exploring a new place epitomizes all the excitement of traveling: discovering tiny corners and allies which reveal hidden treasures of cafes/stalls/wall art, places you would never have discovered until you got away from tours and strike out alone. However, it can also be tres boring if your trapped in the midday sun, traipsing around with a map that you dis[...]