Lanna-style pavilions overlook terraced rice fields and the mountains in the beautiful Mae Rim Valley, minutes from the artistic and cultural heritage of Thailand's northern capital.

While the Night Bazaar has its flashing neon signs advertising the western food chains and merchandise, crowded narrow walkways crammed with hawkers and tourists, the Weekend Bazaars offer a more relaxing experience. Large wide avenues are blocked off from vehicle traffic at 4pm until 11pm. Talented craft persons and northern Thai fresh food vendors politely sell they wares along the sidewalks and on colorful temple grounds. Rajdumnern Road seams to have one temple after another. The temple grounds are where almost all the food stalls are set up. Lots of different foods and desserts you probably have never seen before are available. Soft Thai music is usually played on the temple sound system to add to the eating experience.

Many of the hill tribes in north Thailand celebrate their new year the same time as the Chinese and last for several days. One of these hill tribes are the Lisu who originate from Yunnan Province in China. Here in part 1 you will see the early morning start of the festivities, which include drinking, fireworks, animal sacrifices and spirit worship and the beginning of the dancing. Many of the hill tribe where their colorful costumes during the New Year celebrations and the Lisu probably have the most elaborate and colorful costumes .

In part 2 the celebration continues with great food, colorful costumes, music and dance.

a day at the world famous cooking school in chaiang mai...making great tasting food.

The brand New Sofitel Riverside Chiang Mai is more than a 5-Star respectable hotel but it's also a Thai style tradition service and design.

Deliciuous French fine cuisine served in a very nice area of Chiang Mai, Thailand

If you enjoy shopping for Fabrics, Clothes, Herbs and Spices and hard to find items you should take a look at this Video of the area around Warorot Market in Chiang Mai Thailand. It also includes the beautiful flower market and out of this world fireworks stand. Most visitors to Chiang Mai miss out on the excellent prices and unique items to be found here and much cheaper than the Night bazaar.

A few friends of ours had a holiday so we took them to Doi Inthanon National Park and stayed overnight. We visited waterfalls, hilltribe villages, a trout fish farm and Karen hill tribe coffee house where they grow and process their own coffee. Here is the Video. It was too cloudy and rainy on the summit to shoot video but we returned the next week to shoot more which is in Part 2.

The Night Safari in Chiang Mai is a great place for families to see to 80 species of animals in realistic in a natural setting of trees and streams. Here is a video of the Chiang Mai Night Safari. We went early to see some of the animals before dark on the Jackel Trail around the Lake. We then visited the resort there and checked out some of the rooms and bungalows. We took the Tram on the night trails then watched the Lazer Lighted Fountain Show. I ran out of memory or I would have shot more video.