Thailand

Doi Suthep Temple – the Most Sacred Place in Chiang Mai

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Situated at the top of a hill at 1,000 meters above sea level in the mountain mass of Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is one of the most important temples in northern Thailand. From the parking, visitors can reach the hilltop via either a funicular railway or a 306-step naga staircase (we took the funicular up and walked the stairs down). Once up, it’s not only the temple that impresses; the city view of Chiang Mai is magnificent! The original founding of the temple remains a legend but is believed to have been founded in 1383.

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Legendary Roti Chaofa in Phuket Town – Delicious Muslim Food

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A Thai-Muslim family has run Roti Chaofa on Chao Fa Road in Phuket Town, next to Siam Commercial Bank (where my wife worked before moving to Norway) for over 30 years. This breakfast-and-lunch place is very popular among locals, and when my wife worked at SCB, she often ate here paying less than 50 baht. Below are some Thai dishes that should be prepared by a Muslim.

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Tha Pom Khlong Song Nam – the Amazing Mangrove Forest in Krabi

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The province of Krabi boasts hundreds of square kilometers of mangrove forests which are one of the most important ecosystems on our planet. I’ve seen quite a bit of mangrove in Krabi, and Tha Pom 30 km north of Ao Nang is definitely the most beautiful.

A wooden boardwalk takes you inside the forest (after you paid the 50 baht admission fee) and lets you explore this natural beauty with amazing tree roots wriggling above and below the crystal-clear emerald water. Many species thrive here, and studies have shown that mangrove forests store up to five times more carbon than most other tropical forests.

Along the first part of the stream, the water is less clear with swimming areas; you will see many Thai families here during weekends, but few tourists. Walk further into the forest, and the water becomes clearer with signs telling you not to swim to keep the ecosystem alive.

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The Impressive Soon-To-Be-Ready Pagoda of Wat Maha That Wachiramongkol in Krabi

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Wat Bang Thong is a temple complex in Ao Leuk, Krabi, a few kilometers from Phang Nga with a new temple/pagoda called Wat Maha That Wachiramongkol under development. This Putthakaya-style temple is said to be one of the highest golden pagodas in Thailand, but there is very little information out there on the internet. When we drove from Phuket to Krabi not too long ago, we decided to stop by and check it out.

Wat Maha That Wachiramongkol in Krabi

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Boat from Krabi Town to Phi Phi Islands and a Visit to Maya Bay

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Phi Phi is a group of stunningly beautiful islands between Phuket to the west and Krabi to the east. Phi Phi Don is the largest island and the only inhabited, and Phi Phi Leh is the one that put Krabi on the map since The Beach featuring Leonardo Dicaprio was filmed here in 1999.

The islands can be reached by boat from both Phuket and Krabi in an hour and a half to two hours. We have previously traveled to Phi Phi from Phuket, and most recently we took a ferry from Krabi Town. Ferry crossings from Krabi Town to Phi Phi Don operates four times per day at 09:00, 10:30, 13:30, 15:00 and costs 200 baht if you purchase the ticket by the pier.

We stayed one night at Phi Phi Don as our main goal was to visit Phi Phi Leh and Maya Bay early in the morning to avoid the crowds. Below is our Phi Phi journey in pictures.

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Our Stay at Baan Mon Muan Resort in Mae Rim, Chiang Mai

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Baan Mon Muan is a resort with ten super cozy houses built in traditional Lanna-style situated next to a vegetable farm 1,250 meters up the mountain in Mae Rim just north of Chiang Mai. It’s such a peaceful atmosphere up here with a wonderful staff who will make every effort to fulfill your requests. The mountain view is fantastic and even if you don’t plan to stay here when in Chiang Mai, I recommend coming here to try out their restaurant with high-quality food.

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