Chiang Mai, Thailand

Chiang Mai Temple

Chiang Mai, is one of the biggest cities in Thailand and is surrounded by a ring of mountains, and it has a wealth of over seven hundred years of fascinating history.

Chiang Mai is quite a stark contrast to Bangkok in the South, with its very own unique blend and style of distinctive culture, arts, festivals, and traditions as well as an exciting mix of local, ethnic communities, from all over the world.

Chiang Mai recently has been voted one of the top Asian destinations to live in and with its blend of old and modern styles wrapped up in this fascinating and vibrant city in the mountains. Chiang Mai is steeped in history, and wherever you go in the city you will see constant reminders of its sometimes violent past.

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History of Chiang Mai

In 1557 the Burmese attacked Thailand, and completely destroyed Siam and turning Chiang Mai into a vassal state –subordinate state of its conquerors. The next two hundred years Chiang Mai was a broken state and was cut off from the rest of the world and neglected by its rulers – it disappeared from the pages of history.

Chiang Mai Temple

Times move on and you can’t keep a great city down forever, but the Burmese were not done just yet, and so, in 1767 the Burmese struck at the heart of Siam and this time reducing the great city of Ayutthaya to a pile of rubble and from that, it never really recovered, politically anyhow.

The capital is as we know it today and was recreated at Bangkok. Slowly the kingdom of Siam recovered under the new Chakri Dynasty but there was some still deep scars to be healed between the two countries.

Chiang Mai was deserted for over twenty years following the Burmese aggressive onslaught. However, it was gradually repopulated and eventually joined back into the loving arms of Thailand -as it was known then Siam.

Chaing Mai was very difficult to reach from many parts of Thailand and the river was the main route up there, even so, that was a slow and arduous journey. So the then Prince of Chiang Mai was virtually an independent ruler, and answered to know one from the bigger city in the south.

In 1867 the very first American Presbyterian missionary finally reached the north from Bangkok. The journey actually took him three months to make. The name McGilvary's mission was given and brought in a more modern era to Chiang Mai.

Temple of Chiang Mai

The mission tried to spread the word of God, but it mainly fell on deaf ears, although he did have more success introducing the locals to a better education and medicines that they had never tried before.

Chiang Mai these days is a very different place to what it was back then, apart from the wars and fighting, it takes significantly less time to get there and with many flights from most of the main airports, which fly directly into Chiang Mai from Bangkok for example it takes little over an hour to reach the beautiful city and Chiang Rai is only a little further.

Once there, there is always something to do or go and see, and in February every year, there is a flower festival, this is to coincide with the more pleasant weather, suitable for growing such beautiful flowers. Also Tam Bun Khan Dok festival starts on the waning of the moon of the six lunar month and last for a week or so.

Buddha Temple Chiang Mai

There is a wonderful Elephant Nature Park which is situated about 60 km north of the city, only about an hour drive. The Elephant Nature Park is home to approximately 30 rescued elephants.

The Hill-tribe tourism and trekking business is possibly the main reason people want to go to Chiang mai. Many tour companies organized treks among the local hills and forests on foot and on elephant back, where you can visit some of the local tribes who still to this day practice their ancient traditions. Which include the very famous from the Akha, Hmong, Karen, and Lisu tribes.

Elephant Trekking

There are museums and temples and countless shrines to Buddha to see there is trekking to undertake, markets to shop at, the nightlife is thriving with some fantastic restaurants and bars as well as other eating places available. There is also a strong expat community up there so western food is plentiful too.

There really is far too much to list, the best way find out about Chiang Mai is to go there and see for yourself. It is really a most beautiful city, and the people are even friendlier than in the city of Bangkok, spend as long as you can and see what everyone is talking about in Chiang Mai, a city steeped in tradition, with an amazing history, you simply cannot go wrong.

Where to eat in Chiang Mai 

Riverside Restaurant: On the river front. Thai, northern Thai and western food. Good prices. A main dish Thai about 80 baht. A cheese burger 110 baht. A large beer 120 baht. A bottle of wine from 800 baht.
Live music from 9.30pm. Three bands each night playing covers. They are pretty good and very popular with Thai’s. It’s a cool place to hang out with locals. Advance booking is essential in high season.

Anusorn Market: Just off the night bazaar. Cheap eats. Everything available from small restaurants. Noodles, curry and rice, seafood, northern sausages etc etc. Local favourite is Kao Soi, yellow noodles with chicken, beef or pork in a curry soup.

Whole Earth Restaurant: Central Chiang Mai’s best veggie restaurant.

Baan Suan: 10-15 minutes out of town down a scenic teak tree lined road. The restaurant was built by one of Thailand’s top architects (designer of Shangri La and 4 Seasons hotel) Ajarn Junlatat Kitibut. Lovely setting on the river, popular with the Thai royal family and very good value for what it is with dishes starting at about 150 baht.

Phuket Wake Park

Phuket Wake Park is located in the center of the Phuket Island, in the beautiful district of Kathu, which is very close to Patong and Kamala. In fact, it is only 20 minutes or so from most of the main tourist resorts on the island. Also it is very conveniently located to Phuket international airport, which is only 30 minute away depending on traffic.

Phuket Wake is a very special place where the whole family can come and enjoy all the facilities here. We are open from 6.30am in the morning, for those early risers, and we stay open throughout the day, no sleeping for us, until 10.30pm, every day throughout the year. Even if it is raining, we stay open, well you will only get wet anyhow, so what!

Just recently the park has installed 11 new obstacles and they are all for your complete enjoyment and safety. The park has installed a new wakeboard 6 Sesitec cable, as well as winch Sesitec 2.0 System as too.

We have several professional instructors on staff and they are ready and waiting to help you and teach you the best techniques available. We help beginners learn how to wakeboard absolutely free too and before you know it, you will waking like a professional yourself, and also we can coach the more advanced riders to gain new tricks.

For a full list of prices please contact us as there may be some special offers on.

We can provide a shuttle service from wherever you are staying on the island, whether just around the corner in Patong or if you are just arriving from the airport or even if you are staying down in the south of the island, in Rawai or Chalong, then just let us know and we will sort it for you.

Equipment rental is available for everyone, so don’t worry if you cannot fit your wakeboard on the airplane or if the airline tries to charge you an arm and a leg to bring it, then leave it at home. Our rates are very reasonable here at the park. We have at our disposal complete and full sets of equipment (wakeboards, life vests, helmets) for both beginners and for advanced riders alike.

Please contact us again for any other enquiries including prices for rental of equipment Night riding:

Yes, that’s correct in the evening (from 18-30 till 22-00) the whole park is illuminated by powerful 45 lights, which gives amazing visibility and adds an air of excitement to the whole affair and ensures the complete safety of night riding.

On site, we also have our very own Wake-float shop which has a huge selection of all the latest wake boarding equipment and apparel you might even find some great little souvenirs for home here too.  Also on site we have a shooting range, where you can find all your favourite weapons and shoot away till your heart is content.

The Shooting Range

The shooting range is fully insured, and you will be given a full safety briefing and we will teach you how to hold and how to fire the weapon of your choice easily and safely. On staff, we several weapon instructors who have been trained in the art of fire arms technology, so you can be sure to have the most exciting experience possible

Also we have an excellent massage shop, where after a hard days shooting and wake boarding you can find some peace and quiet and enjoy a relaxing massage for your feet, your head or your entire body, sit back relax and let us take care of you.

On site also, we have Phuket Wake Park Hotel which offers accommodation in 26 fine rooms all have air-con available. More information about accommodation and prices Wakeboard shop please contact us and we will get back to you very quickly.

Phuket Wake Park come and enjoy yourself and let your hair down we are here waiting to serve you and we will make sure that your time with us is well spent and highly enjoyable. 

Phuket Weather Up Date

Phuket Weather Update 2nd March/ 8^th March 2014

Phuket is a fantastic Island, whether you live here or come on holiday, it is fun in the sun. There is no doubt about that. Here is a great bit of news that involves the children of Phuket's close town Krabi.

PHUKET: ABC Charity, a global art project of kids helping kids, has continued its journey around the world. They are creating the world’s first ever “human alphabet” – each letter made up of 500 children, in 26 different countries – ABC charity does not only help create fantastic memories for children, it will also raise money for a good cause.

Krabi Town Mayor Kiratisak Phukaoluan also supported the project and welcomed ABC Charity to both Krabi and Thailand.

The letter “G” took place in Krabi Thursday, February 13 with 500 children from Klong Ji Lad School taking part. The children had an amazing time and the day was filled with smiles and laughter. The event included music and food, as well as an inspirational speech by ABC Charity founders Ashley Cooper and Filip Cederholm, who reinforced their motto, “Together we can make a difference.”

ABC Charity is currently working its way around the globe creating one letter per country from A to Z. When the alphabet is complete, the letters will be sold as limited edition photo art. The idea is that companies and individuals will buy their name and 100 per cent of the profit will go back to local charities in the participating countries. Behind the project is Canadian Ashley Cooper and Swede Filip Cederholm, who gave up their previous lives to fulfill their dream; doing what they love, while inspiring kids and raising money for charity.

Ashley Cooper and Filip Cederholm were excited about being in Thailand, as Ashley puts it, “I had visited Thailand eight-years ago and knew it was somewhere we had to include in our journey. Not only is it a spectacular location for the letter “G”, the people of Thailand and Krabi in particular have been so kind and welcoming.

“We have had great support from the Mayor of Krabi Mr Keratisuk and his staff, as well as the Krabi Tourism Authority and Klong Ji Lad School. Mr Saratt Kyokong, the owner of the land, has not only given us permission to use the property, he even helped us arrange a crane to take the picture. We have also received great support from the Swedish Embassy in Bangkok. It is because of people like this that we have been able to continue our journey around the world.”

“Once the alphabet is complete we will tour around the world with the exhibition and look forward to coming back to display the letters, both in Krabi and around Thailand” added Ashley

Monday 3^rd March: Max Temp 36 - min Temp 26 degrees no breezes Its getting hotter and drier folks, come tp Phuket and get some much needed sun.

Tuesday 4^th March: Max Temp 36 – Min temp 27 degrees light breezes, very little cloud cover again  temps drop a little early evening .

Wednesday 5^th March: Top Temp 35 degrees down to 21 in the early morning time still another very hot day here on Phuket, I think beer sales may be up this month.

Thursday 6^th March: Max Temp 36 degrees down to 27 degrees. Today we went over to Racha Yai

Friday 7^th March Max Temp 36 degrees, is Phuket the hottest place in the world, no I doubt it but it is the most beautiful, down to an overnight of low 24.

Saturday 8th March: Max Temp 35 degrees today with a night time low of 27 degrees Not doing anything today it has been a busy week what with one thing and another.

Sunday 9th March: Max Temp 35 degrees down to a night time low of 23 degrees no cloud cover just blue skies and beaches what a beautiful day. Tonight we are going to Naka Night Market

Here is two great days you can find on Phuket:

Phuket Wake Park is located in the centre of the Phuket Island, in the beautiful district of Kathu, which is very close to Patong and Kamala. In fact, it is only 20 minutes or so from most of the main tourist resorts on the island. Also it is very conveniently located to Phuket international airport, which is only 30 minute away depending on traffic…

Phuket Fishing Park is Phuket’s best and incidentally only freshwater Monster Fishing Lake! We have over 12 different species from Thailand, America and many other parts of the world. Our fish are exotic monsters; fishing is popular in Thailand…

Phuket Weather 24th Feruary - 2nd March

Phuket Weather Update 24th Feb / 2nd March 2014

Here is the latest weather report for those keeping a check on your next holiday destination. But before that here is a little local news.

 A Myanmar (Burmese) national survived more than 12 hours alone in the sea by holding onto

Two coconuts.

The 21-year-old man, who identified himself as Poy, was pulled from the water by men on a longtail fishing boat at about noon on February 4 in Bo Phut, Koh Samui.

Mr Poy had been working on a construction site in Koh Pha Ngan. On Monday night, he and four friends were drinking on the beach.

“At about 11pm, my friend and I got into an argument. He started to attack me. He hit me hard on the shoulder with a three-inch woodenstick,” said Mr Poy.

“I ran for my life toward the water because I did not know where else to go.

“Fortunately, I found two coconuts on the beach. I grabbed them and held on tight as I knew I would not be able to swim with my injured arm. I had no idea where I was going,” he said.

“I held on to the coconuts all night and into the morning before a longtail boat picked me up.”

Here below is the last week’s weather:- you may notice that the lows are getting higher and the highs are not getting any lower: confused you won’t be read on

Monday February 24th: Max Temp 34 - min Temp 25 degrees no breezes other than when a small bird flies over head. Some light cloud cover towards the evening time.

Tuesday 25th February: Max Temp 35 – Min temp 27 degrees light breezes, little cloud cover again early evening the temp dropping down to 27.time for a cool beer.

Wednesday 26th February: Top Temp 35 degrees another hot day, just been up to the airport, and it’s very busy, the hew terminal is coping very well 26 degrees at night again some light cloud cover.

Thursday 27th February: Max Temp 34 degrees down to 24 degrees. Today we went over to James Bond Island on our Speed boat tour

Friday 28th February Max Temp 33 degrees, down to an overnight of low 24, another fine day here on Phuket island, and I think we all deserve an ice cold cocktail, I shall have a Mai Tai.

Saturday 1^st March: Max Temp 34 degrees today with a night time low of 26 degrees clear early morning, even the trash men were in a good mood today another great for the Beach day let’s try Kamala.

Sunday 2nd March: Max Temp 34 degrees down to a night time low of 21 degrees another great day quite a shirt in temperature throughout the day. Sunday is great day for shopping in Phuket Town

Two events are coming to tow soon be a part of them read it all here:

Phuket Pride Week is 8 days of pure fun and celebrates the biggest Gay Pride Festival in Asia. During the week, the Phuket Loves You Club launches the Pride week from Sunday 20th April to Sunday 27th April 2014…

Sri Suntorn Festival is celebrated as one of Phuket Island’s most famous carnivals. It takes place in the Thalang area of the island, near Bang Tao Beach and near the victory monument, which is pretty much bang in the middle of the island