Sukhothai: The Quiet Ruins of Ramkhamhaeng
With the current craze for ancient temples and traditional Thai dress thanks to the hit Channel Three tv series Buppesannivas, people from across the nation are reviving their interest in Thailand’s historical city of Ayutthaya. Flocks of people, often in splendid traditional garb, arrive at the ancient city and pose in front of temple ruins to recreate their favourite soap opera. Even our dear Prime Minister has joined the craze, occasionally adorning a jaunty sash around his waist. This madness (although possibly short lived) has made Ayutthaya busier than it has been in decades and despite being in my late-20s, but I have an air of ‘ageing National Trust member’ about me, which is why I like to visit my ruins in peace. So for those like me who are put off by hordes of tourists getting in my way, Sukhothai is a pleasant alternative.
La-iad Bungsrithong the general manager of RatiLanna
The RatiLanna Riverside Spa Resort is a beautiful property overlooking a quiet stretch of the Ping River. Infused in the essence of Lanna, from its architecture to décor, the resort offers international standard of amenities, facilities, and service, while retaining a northern charm.
Southern Culture
It had been many years since my last visit to south and I couldn’t have been more excited when the provincial offices of the Tourism and Sports Ministry invited well over 100 members of the national press and travel agents to visit Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Pattalung, though we will save the excitement of the two last destinations for next month’s magazine.
More Than Just a Border Run: Why you should really explore Udon Thani
There is no doubt that some of us, at one time or another, have had to make that arduous journey to Laos to renew a visa or do a border run. For those who have been lucky enough to avoid such hassles, maybe Udon Thani and the nearby Vientiane, Laos’ capital, have been mostly off the radar.
Beatific buggying and Xtreme adventures in the hinterlands of Chiang Mai
Nestled among rolling vistas of rice fields, facing a panorama of mountains clothed in thick jungle, is the small hamlet known as Baanpong. Travelling from Chiang Mai city to Sankampaeng you’d drive right past it without knowing, but if you were fortunate to take the right turn and follow the meandering road to the district of Mae On Tai, you’d find one of the most picturesque spots on the fringes of Chiang Mai.
Jai Thep Festival 2018: Chiang Mai’s First Three Day Art, Music, Magic and Love Fest
About to enter its third year, Jai Thep art and music festival will be stretching to three full days and expanding to feature bands from across the world, amazing art instillations, fascinating workshops for adults and children, and a genuine festival vibe inspired by some of the world’s greatest festivals.
Royal Funeral Schedule at the International Exhibition and Convention Centre Chiang Mai
October 26 marks the day of the Royal Funeral of His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej which is being held at Sanam Luang in Bangkok. Across the country there will be ceremonies and flower offerings including Chiang Mai. The Royal Funeral ceremony will take place at the International Exhibition and Convention Centre from 9am to 6am the following day.
Jumbo Sized Fun for the Family
Earlier this year funkily coloured elephants were seen all over our city. From Tha Pae Gate to Nimmanhaemin, Wat Gate to Chang Klan, it seemed that for nearly two months, wherever we looked, there was a pretty statue of an elephant. It was the Elephant Parade’s ten year anniversary and nearly 100 elephants, many painted by local artists and celebrities, were back on their home turf, raising awareness about elephant conservation, promoting the arts and generally prettying up our fair city.
Citylife Garden Fair 2018
By all accounts, the Citylife Garden Fair 2018 was a great success and we look forward to many more years of this event to come. Thank you very much to all of you who helped, who worked, who donated, who bid, who came, and who were a part of it all. ***Booth Booking Now Closed*** ***Please contact wichuda@chiangmaicitylife.com for more information*** Book your stall now! Suggest a charity for our donations (last year we raised over 400,000 for three charities). And donate deep! We are asking you to donate anything we can use in our auction or tombola, all proceeds will go to charity. This will be a fun and fantastic day out and we can’t wait to see you all again.
Ubon Revisited
One year ago, Citylife visited Ubon Ratchathani and explored some of its lesser known attractions, ate some of the local food and exposed some local secrets. This year, we headed back to the city to see how it has grown, and now with daily direct flights from Chiang Mai to Ubon Ratchathani with AirAsia, this North Eastern city has become even more accessible for us northern folks.
Bun Bang Fai – The Rocket Festival or Thailand’s Bourgeoning Space Programme
The last wisps of early morning mist had dissipated. Sunlight now danced across the iridescent waters of the lake. On its shores hundreds had gathered. Local villagers and saffron cloaked monks had spent the last three days making merit at shrines and temples in order to ensure this year’s rice harvest would be in abundance. Food stalls had been erected and the aroma of a thousand spices fused with the strains of traditional folk melodies.
A Chiang Mai Balloon Adventure
It was an early rise for Citylife on an otherwise slightly misty morning last week. The sun was just starting to bring back colour to the skies as large clouds blanketed the mountains and surrounding farmland. On a grassy plain at the Horizon Village & Resort, a small team of men in jumpsuits began rolling out a large canvas balloon as people began to arrive, still half asleep but excited to soon by flying high in the air, with only the wind to guide us.
The Hidden Temple: Wat Pha Lat
Nestled in a lush green mountain away from the chaos of Chiang Mai’s city streets lies Wat Pha Lat, a jungle temple paradise. Jungle temples, as opposed to community temples that are found in the city, serve primarily as a calm place for monks to live and meditate. With old stone buildings, intricate carvings and statues, and plenty of breathtaking places to meditate, it’s clear why people claim Wat Pha Lat is a hidden gem in Chiang Mai.
Suan Sati: Where Yoga Meets Nature
Suan means garden in Thai, and Sati is the Pali word for mindfulness. Suan Sati set in the hills of Mae Jo, is a yoga retreat that focuses on permaculture, healthy eating, yoga and meditation. Their mission is to create transformation, awareness and empowerment through yoga and permaculture. The creator of Suan Sati Will Hardy, a Washington D.C born native returned to Thailand after receiving a teacher training in India.
Zipping the Jungle Lines
Flying through tree canopies at hundreds of metres above the ground on a hot Thai summer’s day is not everybody’s cup of tea. In fact, it was downright terrifying for me. I have always been scared of heights and combine that with the number of articles I have published as deputy editor of Citylife about zipline accidents, I was hoping to ask for hazard pay before tempting this feat. But after Jungle Flight and Tripzii, who have now teamed up to provide jungle adventures bookable by a the click of a button, invited me to sample their services, I couldn’t miss the chance to finally give zipline a go.
Backpacker Business: One girl’s journey as a solo traveler
In the last 10 years, solo female travelers have become a common phenomenon, and Southeast Asia is a hub for many of these sojourners. Backpacker Business by Nikki Scott is a sensational story about a 23-year-old girl living and traveling alone throughout Southeast Asia. Hailing from a small town in northern England, she decided to drop everything and live the life of a wanderer.
A visit to Nakorn Sawan and Phichit
The drive to Bangkok can be tedious if done in a day. But if you take your time, there are wonderful attractions along the way which could easily turn a one day drive to a full on road trip. You can visit exquisite waterfalls in southern Lampang, UNESCO-stamped ancient ruins in Kamphaeng Phet, Si Satchanalai, Sukhothai or Ayutthaya, the wild and wacky monkey-mad Lopburi, and hundreds of natural and man-made wonders along the way.
One Day in Moon Muang Road
Moon Muang Road is Chiang Mai’s gentler, kinder and move sober version of the famed Khao San Road in Bangkok. For decades the labyrinth of sois meandering off Moon Muang Road which runs along the Eastern moat of the city, has been a haven for backpackers looking to take in local culture on a shoestring. Flanked by guesthouses, second hand bookshops and mum and pop shops, Moon Muang’s sois stretch the length of the moat at around a mile long, with its nearly dozen sois running branching out into a web of soilets, perfect for strolling and taking in the gentler pace of the city. Best explored on foot, I decided to take a few days to get to know this part of the city which I don’t normally ever visit, as parking can be problematic and there are few goods and services targeted at local residents.