Last day in Chaing Rai, sees a tour to Doi Tung Royal Villa and the Mae Luang Garden next door.
Doi Tung is the range of hills and used to be an Opium producing area (and there is probably a fair amount still going on). The villa was built for the King's mother -now deceased - 22 years ago and was inspired by trips she took to Lausanne, and is therefore an interesting mix of Thai and Swiss.
Quite basic in areas, it is used for a few days a year by the royal family, but otherwise open to public.
The location was partly due to the fact that the hills do have a bit of a Swiss feel to them (minus the snow in winter) but also to bring employment to locals in order to encourage them away from previous trade.
The gardens next door are 18 years old but seem quite mature and very well laid out.
On the way back we stopped at the Chiang Rai flower festival, which is an annual event, over 10 days starting just before Xmas. Photos to follow in due course and will hopefully do it justice.
In the morning i fly to Bangkok and then travel down to Hua Hin, for the more relaxing part of trip.
Doi Tung is the range of hills and used to be an Opium producing area (and there is probably a fair amount still going on). The villa was built for the King's mother -now deceased - 22 years ago and was inspired by trips she took to Lausanne, and is therefore an interesting mix of Thai and Swiss.
Quite basic in areas, it is used for a few days a year by the royal family, but otherwise open to public.
The location was partly due to the fact that the hills do have a bit of a Swiss feel to them (minus the snow in winter) but also to bring employment to locals in order to encourage them away from previous trade.
The gardens next door are 18 years old but seem quite mature and very well laid out.
On the way back we stopped at the Chiang Rai flower festival, which is an annual event, over 10 days starting just before Xmas. Photos to follow in due course and will hopefully do it justice.
In the morning i fly to Bangkok and then travel down to Hua Hin, for the more relaxing part of trip.
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