The Martyr’s Memorial Hall in Doi Mae Salong (Image: Wikipedia) The history of Doi Mae Salong community set against a backdrop of the Chinese Civil War after after Mao Zedong’s communist party victory in China, the defeated Kuomintang (KMT) armies were led by Chiang Kai-shek who later retreated to Taiwan. From the defeated army, the General Tuan Shi-wen led about 4,000 soldiers of Kuomintang (KMT) 93rd Division…
The King Mengrai is a major festival of Chiang Rai. This is celebrated all over the city. The festival, consists of spectacular, colorful parades, cultural performances and competitions. It is held to celebrate the establishment of Chiang Rai and the Lanna Kingdom. During this festival there is a great deal of food stalls and shops. The main items on sale are local products and house…
This year (2019) the festival will be held in Chiang Rai from Sat, April 13th until Mon, April 15th. What is Songkran? Songkran is Thailand’s most famous festival. An important event on the Buddhist calendar, this water festival marks the beginning of the traditional Thai New Year. The name Songkran comes from a Sanskrit word meaning ‘passing’ or ‘approaching’. How do the people of Thailand celebrate…
The photo is of Maitreya. According to Buddhist tradition, Maitreya is a Bodhisattva who will appear on Earth in the future, achieve complete enlightenment, and teach the pure dharma. According to scriptures, Maitreya will be a successor to the present Buddha, Gautama Buddha (also known as Śākyamuni Buddha). General Information Chiang Rai, the northernmost province of Thailand is about 785 kilometers north of Bangkok. Situated on the Kok River basin,…
Many travelers think of Chiang Rai as a peaceful province that has very little going on besides mountain trekking and hill-tribe visits. The city area, in particular, is often dismissed as not worthy for a visit. In fact, Chiang Rai offers a whole lot more in terms of activities. With ecotourism as the main theme, you will find nature a major part of your…
Chiang Rai Hill Tribe Villages Learn more about the rich diversity of northern Thai culture by visiting one of the hill tribe villages near Chiang Rai during an exploration of the Golden Triangle—where Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar meet. Here are some of the best hill tribes to visit from Chiang Rai or Chiang Mai. Karen Village The Karen people originate from Myanmar and are the…
Thailand is a Buddhist country, and although there is some Christianity here, I really didn’t expect anything special for Christmas celebrations and definitely wasn’t thinking there would be a slew of free buffets and elf costumes running about the streets. Stop at a bar, grab a couple plates of free and delicious northern Thai food and a beer and then continue on down the…
Winter in Chiang Rai’s Doi Chang Where the Wild Himalayan Cherry Tree Blooms CHIANG RAI – You don’t have to travel far to experience cherry blossom season. Each year during December to January, the highlands of Chiang Rai Thailand – where the weather is cold and the region is swept by the chill breeze of winter – transform into a fervent pink forest. Witness as the…
With the cost of living in Australia at its highest point in history, there have been increasing numbers of Australians retiring in Thailand. Cost of living is also expected to be double the rate it is today by the time 2030 comes knocking around. This is why many Australians have been looking for a better way to spend their retirement years.One place that has become…
Retirement can be a financial hardship for most people since most depend on social security benefits. The best way to reduce the cost of living is to move to a country with lower costs. Choosing to retire in Thailand is a perfect example, and many people opt to live in Thailand during their retirement period. Thailand has a warm climate, friendly people, foreign foods and…