The Chiang Mai Album

Let's start with the first sets of pictures; The family trip to Chiang Mai...

Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi

The hotel must have been one of the best we have ever stayed in as a family. It was quite an experience and I'd like to share it with you guys through these pictures. Dad spent a decent amount of time around the hotel with his D200 around his neck. So a lot of these pictures were taken by him.

Steps leading up to the main lobby. The hotel in general is meant to be of the Lanna style.

One of my favourite places at the hotel; the pool.

The hotel also had a small temple, which I thought added to the general tranquility of the place.

The library actually held some pretty rare books on Lanna art/architecture and other interesting art books.

This was cool. The library had available a vast collection of DVDs hotel guests could borrow during their stay. We decided on 'Totoro', mom's 'The Three Tenors in Concert' and some other movies I don't even remember.

The yoga and meditation centre.

Some big ugly fishies outside the spa.

The Rooms

The villa

The first half of our time at Dhara Dhevi, we were staying in 'the village' section of the hotel. Basically, each family had an enclosed space with traditional Thai/Lanna style houses on the inside, making up bedrooms, a living room, a sauna, a private pool and an open kitchen.

The entrance to our home for the first half of the stay in Chiang Mai.

A nice lil garden in the centre of the Thai houses.

Must have taken us a good 15 minutes before we could get into the pool of cold cold water. But it was nice once we were in. The little house there was the sauna.

Pie having her breakfast by the kitchen.

The living/dining room. Probably my favourite out of all our houses. The sound system in there was excellent. Watching Michael Buble's concert was a joy.

Mmmm that was a good lunch.

Inside the ladie's bedroom.

The ladie's bathroom. Don't worry those blinds could be shut so no one could peak.

Now why would they wanna make a little cabinet with a wooden gecko hidden inside?!? I don't understand.

The colonial Suites

The second half of our time at Dhara Dhevi we were staying in the colonial suites. Personally, I liked this section of the hotel better. Not that traditional Thai houses are not nice, but I guess the rooms seemed a little too dark with dark wood everywhere.

The colonial section of the hotel overlooking a courtyard and a pond.

The bedroom

The living room

My favourite part of the suites must have been the bathrooms. I think I could live in one of them.

I could brush my teeth in front of these sinks for the rest of my life.

Each suite had a porch leading out to the colonial pool.

Trying to be all stylo with cake by the pool in my PE shorts.

The hotel also had their own vegetation going. Here, mom and Pie seem a lil shocked by the size of these melons.

Pie got happy standing by the raw tomatoes. Not sure why.

The Roral Flora Ratchaphruek 2006

Ok enough about the hotel. One of the reasons we were in Chiang Mai at the time was because the Roral Flora Ratchaphruek was on. The horticultural exposition was to celebrate His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 60^th anniversary or the Diamond Jubilee of His Majesty’s accession to the throne together with His Majesty’s 80^th birthday anniversary. Here goes...

This seemed to be the main attraction of the exposition as it attracted the most number of people. I admit...I didn't know what the building was for. Still don't. Could someone please tell me?

I like those weird looking palm trees at the back.

Whoaa.. that's a lot of salad. But seriously, that's vegetables.

More vegetables.

A nice picture taken by Cake. I don't know what flowers these are tho. But they're quite nice.

Pie and I looking at other people looking at something.

Flowers..and trees... and flowers everywhere...

This is what trees look like at night in Chiang Mai....
Ok, enough stupid captions.

The ladies

...

(I wasn't really peeing, ok?)

One of the exposition mascots. It was meant to be some fruit. We just couldn't figure out what.

Dad & his favourite toy

Path leading up to the main hall at night.

This tree is meant to have some sort of significance..I think I should have paid more attention at the fare.

Ok...I think this should be enough pictures to make the first sets of the Chiang Mai album. There are still a lot more photos coming up of different places we visited up in Chiang Mai. Like pictures of dancing elephants, and me playing jelly fish in the pool and things. So please stay tuned...