Art Workshop Holiday in Thailand?

Most people who vacation in Thailand have a similar pattern with respect to their sightseeing choices; they usually visit the same places and participate in the same traditional tourist activities. Now, this phenomenon can applied to almost any tourist destination, not only Thailand. By no means am I putting down Joe Average Tourist in his choices, but sometimes JAT feels uncomfortable about deviating from the norm and finds a comfort zone in following the pack.

A Traveler is Born

Travelers grow and evolve over a period of time. The desire to experience different things, new cultures and places is a very strong motivating factor for a traveler. He looks forward to his next adventure and to exploring a new destination. When a traveler stops traveling, a certain part of him dies – sometimes when we get very old it becomes physically impossible to travel; other travelers may retire prematurely when they settle down to raise a family or become absorbed in a career. In addition, some people go to the same place year after year for their annual holiday – that becomes their comfort zone.

Homestay Experience in Thailand?

So you’re interested in a homestay vacation with a rural hilltribe community in northern Thailand? Sounds Great! Just remember, don’t be expecting luxury or hotel type accommodations. Be prepared for rather basic accommodations without too much amenities. Most likely your shower will be very rudimentary and consist of a bucket of cool water that you empty on yourself, and your toilet will be the traditional Thai squat toilet, which is low to the ground and does not flush by itself; you’ll have to pour a bucket or two of water to induce the toilet to flush.

Pai – Popular Mountain Resort and Farang Enclave in Northern Thailand

If you’d like to disappear off the face of the map and drop out from the real world, there is no better place than Pai, a very pleasant mountain resort and dedicated farang enclave in Thailand’s northern province of Mae Hong Son. The mountain air is clean and crisp and free of pollution, and during the dry season, the morning temperature is below 50F and at night, a comfortable 65F. So bring a sweater or light jacket during the dry season, November – May.

Botanical Gardens of Northern Thailand (Part 2)

Northern Thailand has many attractions that would be of interest to horticultural and botanical enthusiasts. Just outside of Chiang Mai, Thailand’s 2nd largest city and the gateway to the northern provinces, are two outstanding botanical gardens – Queen Sirikit Botanical Garden and Bhubing Palace and Garden, one of the estates of the royal family. The best time to go is immediately after the end of the rainy season in early November, when many flowers are in bloom.