What have you heard about Chiang Mai? I had heard of yoga retreats and maybe a film theme by Maurice Jarre (not sure about that) and I knew it was in the hilly North of Thailand so I could look forward to cooler temperatures, but that was about it. We got a quick look at the place as we drove in with Wiew, Nhong and Pew but our first port of call was their company's latest coffee shop, which was set in an American-themed complex, all New England/ Cape Cod style clapboard buildings, painted in tasteful pastel shades. An example can be seen in the photo below, also featuring the usual frank Thai approach to public signage.
Anyway, Chiang Mai, which means "new city" because it replaced the older Chiang Rai as capital of the old kingdom of Lanna, is actually a sprawling, polluted metropolis of some 1.5 million people. If you're looking for some "Shanti" time, it's actually not the most conducive place for it. So instead, we've booked into a country resort in the hills above the city. Maggie and I are fully committed to doing nothing strenuous for the next 48 hours, so we were delighted to find this oasis out at the aptly named hamlet of Ban Pong.
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