A 65 minute 'plane hop from Thailand's capital , Bangkok , followed by a quarter of an hour's  " tuk tuk " ,  or taxi ride - that's all it takes to reach the heart and experience the beat of the Kingdom's second city , Chiang Mai .........  700 years of history ...... 300 temples - food for the soul vying with the temptations of gourmet cuisine & pampering at the most luxurious spas & resorts , hip boutique hotels , bars as well as guest houses, to suit all budgets . Then there is the 24/ 7 exotic local fare at hawker stalls and noodle stands and the convenience of a  "7/11"  store at almost every corner.......the old blends with the new ......... Just when you thought there was  nothing left to do - move on to...... SHOPPING ! Thai  & foreign fashion , jewellery and  homewares designers long settled in the North to put ultra cool  modern interpretations on centuries old traditional skills by making best use   of the wealth of local materials .

Browse around art galleries & antique dealers - many would not be out of place in London , New York ,  Milan, Istanbul , or scour local markets for bargains Having enjoyed all that the city and environs  have to offer , head out to the mountains for trekking , the rivers for rafting , the valleys for elephant rides or to a monastery for a retreat  ...........before returning to the city for another massage - there are enough foot reflexology shops to soothe an army of centipedes !

In the clear cool "Winter" season , float above the cares of the world in a hot air balloon and plan your next escapade......