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We are currently in Chiang Mai, Thailand.Chiang Mai (referred to as "the rose of the north") is situated in Northern Thailand, 700km north of the capital city of Bangkok. Chiang Mai is the second largest city in Thailand, yet only has a population of around 200,000. Compare this to Bangkok which has about 9 million and it is easy to see why even the Thai people in Bangkok love to visit Chiang Mai for a holiday. The city is now becoming increasingly popular with overseas travelers as word spreads of this magnificent tourist location. There are various ways to travel to and visit Chiang Mai. From Bangkok it is a 1 hour flight.
In the last 25 or so years tourism has gradually transformed this once sleepy area into a travelers paradise whilst still maintaining its provincial charm. The ever-friendly and polite Thai people are full of smiles (Thailand = LOS = Land of Smiles). There are a million things to see and do, the food tastes sensational, it is a shoppers paradise and a visit to Chiang Mai can even be done on a shoestring.
Chiang Mai was built in 1296 as a walled city surrounded by a moat. The old city was roughly 1.5 kilometer square. Whilst a good portion of the original city wall has collapsed the four corner bastions are still intact along with various other sections. The original moat is still in use to this day. Chiang Mai city is basically made up now of the old city (within the walled area) and the new city which has grown up around it. Grab a Tuk-Tuk and go for a scenic visit to Chiang Mai's lovely moat and the ancient walls of the old city.
If you like ancient temples (Wats) and buildings, then visit Chiang Mai and the surrounding areas, they are full of them, several hundred in fact. A good number of these ancient temples are still in use today by the Buddhist monks.
