Pad Thai

Pad Thai

This is the one noodle dish to master and to love, over all the others (including the best that Italy has to offer). It's so addictive that it alone would keep Thai cuisine alive, were we ever to become too jaded for our own good and eschewed everything else.

Pad Thai is a splendid lesson in how the simple, and bland, rice stick (a.k.a. rice vermicelli) can evolve in the culinary hands of a tasteful culture. The result is so harmonious, so perfect in every way that it would be hard to imagine it without even one of its vast symphony of flavors and ingredients. Though daunting at first
(so many ingredients), it is actually relatively easy to concoct. The only caveat is that one cannot stint on the oil content, although it appears excessive. Too little oil, the noodles will stick and you'll have a mess in your wok. I've gotten away with 5 tbsp instead of the full 1/2 cup but I had to work awfully fast to avoid the sticking. This one is a treat; give it its full due and it'll pay back in memorable pleasure.

Wat Chiang Man

Wat Chiang Man


This temple was built in 1297 at the site of the camp King Mangrai used when he supervised the building of Chiang Mai. It was the first temple to be built in Chiang Mai and contains several very old artifacts. The oldest structure is the Chang Lom chedi, which is in a style that could have originated from Sri Lanka via Sukhothai, or from Pagan. Fifteen elephants represent a sea of unformed matter upon which the cosmos of the chedi floats.

Nearby are a lotus pond, a raised scripture repository and an ubosot. The stela in front of the ubosot was inscribed in 1581, and is one of the oldest known records that establishes the founding date of Chiang Mai.The temple has two Lanna style viharn. The larger viharn was renovated by Khru Ba Srivichai in the 1920's. The standing Buddha image (front right of the altar) has an inscription on its slightly lopsided square base that dates it to 1465. This makes it the oldest dated Buddha image to be found so far in Chiang Mai. Close study shows new gilt veneer covers pits and cracks that indicate the image's real age.The smaller viharn to the north (open 09:00-17:00) contains two small but very famous Buddha images. The Phra Sila image is a bas-relief that probably came from Ceylon in about the eighth century. The image is believed to have the power to bring rain and is the focus of a festival at the temple held from April 1-5.
The Phra Sae Tang Khamani crystal image belonged to Queen Chamadevi, who brought it from Lop Buri when she became the first ruler of Haripunchai. The image reputedly survived the burning of Haripunchai when it was razed by King Mangrai, and is honored for its powers to protect against disaster.

Located within the walls of the old city, near the Chang Puak gate, Chiang Man is the oldest temple in Chiang Mai. It was supposedly built by the founder of the city 700 years ago, King Mengrai, on the spot where he stayed while planning his new capital. It's a small temple, and not on the main tourist trail, but it was important for quite some time.


Several small buildings dot the temple compound, and behind the main prayer hall is a chedi. The base of the pagoda is lined with elephants crafted out of plaster. All the other buildings are finely decorated in the Northern style, with red lacquer, gold leaf and many-colored mirrors. Of special interest is the roof and stairs of the Wiharn to the right of the main chapel which houses two sacred Buddha images. The stair banisters are colorful naga dragons typical of the North. The roof gable-ends also forms beautiful nagas using colored glass and mirror tiles.

Giant Panda Live in Chiang Mai Zoo

In 2001, The vice-prime minister and minister of defence (a full general Chawalit Yongjaiyut) talked with the president and prime minister of The People's Republic of China about the giant panda.

He wanted to display giant panda in Thailand. The government of China was glad to give 1 pair of giant panda for friendship ambassador and celebration of Her Majesty the Queen's 6 cycle birthday anniversary in 2004. So, that is the reason for the project for panda research and display in Thailand.

The government of Thailand entrusted the Zoological Park Organization to take responsibility for these very rare giant panda. They are on display at Chiangmai Zoo in Chiangmai province.

Giant Panda Entrance Fee:
Foreigner : Adult 100 Baht, Child 50 Baht
Thai : Adult 50 Baht, Child 20 Baht
Giant Panda & Koala Zones open daily from 8.30 - 17.30 hours.

The Songkran Festival in Chiangmai

One of the high spots of the Thai calendar is the annual New Year celebration, or Songkran, which falls on or around April 13, when the sun moves into Aries, and lasts for three days or more. The word 'Songkran' originates from the Sanskrit meaning 'beginning of the solar year'. The holiday-loving Thais therefore get to celebrate New Year three times each year: the Western New Year on January 1, the Chinese New Year in February and the Thai New Year in April.

Traditionally, Thais visit temples at this time of year to offer food to the monks and to participate in bathing ceremonies for Buddha images. At home, young people pour scented water into the hands of their parents and elders as a mark of respect and to receive the blessing of the older folk.

April 12 is Wan Sungkharn Lohng. This is a day for house cleaning and general preparation for the New Year. In the evening it is traditional for Thais to dress up as a signal of the coming new year.

In Chiangmai, the Songkran procession is held on this day. This is a parade through Chiangmai comprised of Buddha images and attendants on floats, which are accompanied by minstrels and the town's people. The procession begins at Nawarat Bridge on the Mae Ping River and moves the Thapae Gate before approaching its final destination of Wat Prasingh.

April 13 is Wan Nao. On this day people prepare cooked meals and preserved food for the Buddhist merit-making that takes place on the following day.

Activities at Wat Prasingh continue on this day and in the evening local residents go to the banks of the Mae Ping River and gather sand to be deposited in piles topped by flowers in the temples. This practice is the ancient "raising the temple grounds" ritual which was necessary in the old days because then Thai New Year was held at the end of the rainy season in the first month of the old Thai Lunar Calendar.

April 14 is Wan Payawan. On this day a grand new year begins with early morning merit-making at the temples. Preserved and cooked foods, fresh fruit, monks' robes and other offerings are made at the temples. In the home, people do the final cleaning of Buddha images using scented water.

Traditionally this is the day that the pouring of water begins. It was once the practice to pour gently, but the fun-loving Thais have transposed this into a relative water free-for-all.

April 15 is Wan Parg-bpee. On this day homage is paid to ancestors, elders and other persons deserving respect because of age of position. This is called 'Rohd Nam Songkran', meaning 'The Pouring of Songkran Water', and the water is sprinkled on the elder persons while uttering wishes of good luck and a happy future.

In Chiangmai, this is the final day of the celebration and the day on which people have built up to a crescendo of water throwing. It is the day when all family and religious obligations have been completed and the people are totally dedicated to "Sanook...Sanook."

Chiang Mai Thai silk from San Kamphaeng

The majority of silk products in Thailand are produced in Chiang Mai, although the silk itself is cultivated from huge silkworm farms on the Khorat plateau in the country's northeast.

Even with modern technology, Chiang Mai silk remains a timeless expression of the craftsman's skill. From reeling the gossamer silk filaments from the cocoon, through the dyeing process, to weaving the filaments into a myriad of shimmering forms, nothing can replace the sure hands and eyes of the experienced craftsman in revealing the luminous beauty of genuine Thai Silk.Thai silk is considered among the best in the world, due to the higher fibre ply, quality of weave and rich hues - a result of the coarser silk being able to withstand stronger dyeing.


Although most fabric nowadays is woven on a mechanised loom, making the process far more efficient and consequently the end product cheaper, much of the silk of Thai origin is still woven by traditional hand methods, and for this the Thais are incredibly patient and skilled with their hands, producing an end product that has a very subtly superior feel. There is also quite a complex method of preparing the silk and dyeing it.

Woodcarving Furniture in Chiang Mai

Thai wood furniture is first class and ChiangMai is a major centre of wood furniture making, its artisans being well known for their expertise in woodcarving floral motifs and other intricate designs. Wood furniture in a variety of finishes, including a light withewash and pastel colours, include cabinets, tables, dinning room sets, bedroom sets or something as simple as a wood tray or trivet - indeed anything bearing a wood surface large enough to be carved. Carved wood elephants and wood figurines number among other popular purchases.



When shopping in ChiangMai, one must consider the many handicrafts that are part of the city’s history. Made with workmanship skills that have been passed down from generation to generation, these beautiful crafts are a good representation of ChiangMai’s proud Lanna heritage. Umbrellas made of sa paper, hilltribe crafts with bold colors, fabrics of countless types, delicate ceramics (celadons), replicated and genuine antiques, dazzling jewelry and gems, silverware of all sorts, lacquers with intricate designs, rattan and wickerwork, and woodcarvings ranging from pictures to furniture are only a part of the long list of crafts and arts that help to make ChiangMai so special. Each individual piece of workmanship requires painstaking attention to detail and design in the process of its creation. Owning one of ChiangMai’s traditional crafts is a sure way to take back tangible memories of your visit to ChiangMai.

Lanna Thai Crafts
Offering quality exotic handmade ornaments, decorations and gifts made of wood, ceramics, bamboo in northern Thailand. Customers can choose from 3 ways to pack, 3 ways to pay and 7 ways to deliver worldwide - lowest shipping costs guaranteed. We have product videos and instant online quotes to all countries.
http://www.lannathaicrafts.com/

Three Kings Monument

Three great kings of Thailand are imortalised in this monument in the heart of Chiang Mai.
Although there was certainly previous habitation in the area, King Mengrai founded a New City at Chiang Mai in 1296 and it became the capital of his kingdom of Lanna, as the grouping of Tai states in what is now the north of Thailand was called. For two centuries Lanna was a powerful and prosperous Tai kingdom until it succumbed to the overweening might of Burma in 1558.

According to legend, the three worked together to lay out the city of Chiang Mai. The sculpture has become something of an iconic image representing Chiang Mai. You will see it reproduced in various forms all around the city.

It is their recently erected statues that stand in a pleasant square at the very heart of the city, in-front of what used to be the Provincial Hall, but which it is now the Chiang Mai City Arts and Culture Centre.


Behind the monument stands the old provincial hall. It was converted into an Art and Culture Hall. Across Phrapokklao Road to the east stands the Chiang Mai magistrate court.

On the north-east corner of the Phrapokklao - Ratwithi intersection is Yupparat School, which was built on the grounds of the former palace of the kings of Chiang Mai. The Wooden building that stand at the corner near the intersection is the former stable for white elephants - a symbol of power and nobility - belong to former Chao.