Having flown in Air Asia that morning I had to put in a photo of their float!What a way to start the Asian leg of our adventure, with a flower festival! We were supposed to begin in Siem Reap, but our plans changed when James read about this festival. So Thailand, in particular Chiang Mai became our first port of call. Was it a good call?
It was a bloody brilliant call! We took a disgusting early flight from KL to Chiang Mai (think 4.30am alarm). Ditched our bags at the hotel and raced down the back streets (we know Chiang Mai quite well) to intercept the parade. Flower adorned floats, bands, school children, dancers were out to celebrate. Beautiful girls adorned the tops of the floats, all hoping for the coveted title of Chiang Mai Flower Festival Queen. But the best was yet to come….
We followed the end of the parade to the beautiful Nong Buak Hard Public Park to see the floats we had missed. I hadn’t appreciated that the gardens themselves were going to be decked out in blossoms. There were daffodils and tulips looking stunning but so out of place in a tropical climate. There were ornamental cabbages, begonias, hydrangeas, petunias too many to name. I particularly enjoyed the garden beds full of my favourite highly scented Star Gazers lilies, and orchids. Speaking of orchids outside the park we walked past what I think must have been an orchid competition, never have I seem so many magnificent orchids! Poor James kept turning round looking for me as I was oohing and ahhhing at the blooms or taking yet another photo.
Tulips are not exactly the flower you expect to find in a park in Thailand!
These looked a lot like lettuces in the hammocks to us!
Judging by the blue tag with a 1 on it I reckon this is the winning orchid!This free festival has been running for more than 40 years, over three days at the start of February. It is clearly a favourite with both locals and tourists. I just can’t believe we haven’t heard of it before.
So yes, it was well and truly worth missing a bit of beauty sleep to catch that early flight to Chiang Mai!
I am not allowed these beauties in the house because they set James’ hay fever off, but a photo won’t upset him!
Alms Giving Ceremony in Luang Prabang
We rise before it is fully light and head towards the centre of town. We are not alone. Mini buses pass us and other blurry eyed tourists join us. I hear French, Chinese, German and other strains of English. Locals are already there on their little stools with their offerings for the monks. This daily
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The colours of Chiang Rai
White, blue and black with a touch of gold thrown in for good measure. These are the colours of modern Chiang Rai. From the pristine Wat Rong Khun (White Temple), the whimsical Wat Rong Suea Ten (Blue Temple) to the dark, in all senses of the word, Baan Dam (Black House), these buildings of Chiang
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2018 Chiang Rai International Balloon Fiesta
Bright garish birds trying to take flight. Huge jewel coloured balloons jostling for space. The sudden whoosh of a flame behind you. A shout to move in a foreign tongue as a basket heads your way. We are like a couple of kids, heads back, mouths gapping open not knowing where to look next. I
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A long-tail boat from Tha Ton to Chiang Rai
One of the things we love about travelling is the people we meet along the way. When we arrived at the Mud House the other day we met a couple of fellow countrymen. Not just any old Aussies but a travel blogger and her photographer partner! We slipped into easy conversation with them and found
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