Lamphun is another charming town, not so far from Chiang Mai; around 45 minutes easy motorcy ride; and built in the same style, with moat and City walls.
Wat Phra That Haripunchai sits just inside the city walls and is a very historic Royal Lanna Temple.
Legend has it that in The Buddhas lifetime, The Buddha actually came to the Lamphun area to gather alms and was given samor fruit by some Lua tribesmen.
The Lord Buddha predicted that there would be a city erected on this site and that it would be named Hariphunchai Nakhon.
In the Buddha year 1204(661AD), two hermits, named Wasuthep and Sukkatanta, did indeed build a city at the spot and named it Hariphunchai Nakhon, meaning a City where the Lord Buddha used to eat
Samor fruit.
Hari means Samor Fruit, punchai means to consume and Nakhon means City.
There are two Chedi’s on the site, one of which was constructed by a Lanna King, King Athitayaraja, over 1000 years ago.
The more modern round Chedi is presently under refurbishment.
There is also an impressive Buddhist manuscripts hall and several other buildings surrounding the main Temple.
One of my personal favourites was the red stone bell tower.
The artwork and craftsmanship decorating the various constructions are of the highest quality.
Also worth a note is the very grand Gateway that certainly gives that air of Royalty.
For many more photos of this Temple please visit our photobucket album here.
Making the age old mistake of not sorting the price first we then got a tuk tuk to the border crossing, stopping first at an agents where we booked one night in a hotel in Vientiane. We knew we’d be paying a little over the odds but i wanted to relax as much as possible.
Getting through the border was simple enough, and because we had booked the room the hotel had sent a minibus to pick us up and we were at the hotel by 11am. Having already decided to treat the trip as a mini holiday we were in no rush and spent the rest of the daylight hours in our room, showering and sleeping.
In the evening we found a very nice restaurant 5 minutes walk up the road. Well, the restaurant was nice, and the food excellent, shame that the service was very much on the slow side and barely a smile to be seen.
We had hired bicycles from the hotel and after putting in the application we went first to a nearby massage shop, for Thai massage, and then for food at a local cafe.
After some time at the famous concrete Gate and a bit more clothes shopping we returned for more scowls at the French Restaurant up the road, before taking another early night. We just didn’t find any inspiration for a decent night out there.
For 150 baht each we had access to the 3 pools available.
We ended up spending one more day, visiting Wat Phratat Luang, a large Temple complex.
Having booked into The Karin Hotel (400baht double aircon), we took a stroll around town.
Much higher on my list of return journeys than Vientiane.
After a brief walk around and breakfast at the cafe we set off for our next destination, Wat Pa dara Phirom. To get there we turned right out of the car park and carried on down the road which follows the continuing canal from Chiang Mai, to a small intersection with a bridge.Turning left over the bridge and immediately left again going down the otherside of the canal took us to the very impressive Wat Pa Dara Phirom.
This Temple wat developed in the 1890s, on land donated by a decendant of the great Lanna Princess, Phra Raja Jaya, born Chao Dara Rasmi, 11th daughter to Chao Inthawichayanon, one of the last rulers of Chiang Mai and the Lanna Kingdom. Doi Inthanon was named after this King. For an excellent 
The extensive compound holds various Temple buildings and Viharns and is has feast of historical relics spotted all around.
The plush main Temple has exquisite decorations on the outside and equally extravagant decor inside, including chandeliars and a silver metal beaten image of the Princess.
There is some remarkable art work inside the white Chedi to the right of the entrance, including an interesting ‘Buddha foot’ impression in the centre.
The gardens are as stunning as the architecture with such a wide variety of trees, many of which were in glorious bloom when we visited.
Turning left out of the Temple road, towards the mountain we soon came to another Temple at a small village,Wat Ampa Wan.
We then tried taking the side road that the Temple stood at the corner of and ended up on a mud track passing some local women harvesting Jack Fruit, who happily informed us that we could carry on and just keep turning left. Well we tried, but ended up returning the way we came. Still, it was fun.
Once on that road we stopped outside the Elephant camp for a fresh coffee, passing one of the camps elephants on its way home from work, before carrying on around the Loop that takes you around the western side of Doi Suthep and its neighboring peaks.
Look out for mountain streams;
a beautiful terraced landscaped resort which we discovered, on our next trip that way, has a Thai cookery school, with classes held in the wooden construction you see at the top of the garden area.
It is not until you get to the top of the entrance steps that you realise that the grounds then extend up the hillside behind the Temple and that there are many more steps to explore the whole site.
There is a wonderful Monks building to the left of the main Temple with a roof completely covered with a lush climber with orange flowers. There was also a large courtyard which then led through to a large school in the land adjacent to the temple grounds. For more photos, please visit our 
Wat Tay Par Lam (my translator is not 100% sure on this as the sign is in Lanna language)
Needing to get back to the business there wasn’t much time for stopping elsewhere other than to catch the many fantastic views along the way.
For more photos from this day please visit our 
Here’s yet another great day out for you. Quite a special one with lots of historical and cultural interest. We tend to start these days out at around 11am, due to business commitments, but if you were to set off a little earlier you’d give yourself even more time to take it all in.
When the River Ping changed course, during the Burmese period,the area became flooded and was buried under river mud and silt. In the 1980s, after rediscovery during construction of a football pitch, the ancient site was developed into an historical park.
There are several Temple sites revealed over quite a large area with a wonderfully rural feel to it.
A popular way to get around the whole site is by taking one of the pony and cart tours available.
So, after our brief visit to Wiang Kum Kam, it was a short excursion on the outer ring road (Rte 121) towards San Kampaeng and taking a lunch stop at Inter – Mini Golf, an 18 hole pitch & put obstacle course, on the San Kamphaeng Road opposite the turn off to Bo Sang.
Once again, even having been in Chiang Mai for 3 years now, I got that ‘newcomer’ feeling as we entered Bo Sang from the opposite direction to the one I have used previously.
Lo and behold I finally saw the main Umbrella factory that I have always missed on my previous visits.
Much more ‘touristy than the smaller affair mentioned in my previous Bo Sang report, from my family visit, it is nonetheless much more interesting, with a much better insight into what goes into the making of the famous Umbrellas.
Behind the huge shop is the ‘factory’ area, where you can stroll around at your leisure and watch the five stages of the manufacturing process.
If you are wanting to find out more than just what you get from looking it is possible to get a guide to go around with you, who can answer your questions.
A nice touch to the set up is that the artists, of which there are many, will, for a small fee, paint one of their many designs onto to virtually anything you give them. One present craze is mobile phones.
All that said, Wat Doi Saket is one of those that can be considered to be on ‘the tourist trail’, as many of the larger mountain Temples are.
Most notable for me was the Chedi ‘within’ a Chedi, something I’ve never seen before.
And the artwork inside the main Temple is another mind blower, with some quite surreal and futuristic works included on the huge walls.
At the top is a recently landscaped area with terraced lily ponds and even better views than you get from the Temple that it overlooks.
It has a grand statue of the Buddha aboard a multi headed pink elephant.
There are tables spotted around the terraced garden and it is a perfect place to sit in meditative thought. For more photos please visit our 
This was just 3 weeks ago, in the first week of April, when Lars, a Danish plumber, with a penchant for interior design, had been visiting for a couple of weeks and was keen to get out and see more of Northern Thailand.
Boon had quite a busy schedule with his business, but we decided to fit in a couple of days traveling with Lars, who had turned up with Conga Dave, an old friend from the UK. Shame Dave had already gone home really.
Lars had been out and rented a 250cc Honda Chopper.By all accounts very comfortable and certainly handled the hills a touch better than my 150cc JRD., but then I did have a passenger.
By midday we were pretty much melting and on the hunt for a waterfall where we might be able to cool down.
It took a while but eventually we came apon a beautifully refreshing spot, around 30kms from Phayao, and free! Always the best.
We joined many Thais, including a bunch of village kids who had been taken there by a group of Buddhist Monks, soaking in the natural beauty, and getting soaked in the wonderfully cooling water that gushed down the mountainside.
The first is entered via an old stone stairway, which, apart from the very first few steps, which take you under a very impressive archway, is long but not so steep.
There are actually several small Temples of differing styles on this first site as well as quite an array of impressive stone statues, set amongst the mountain forest trees it is so peaceful, apart from the hums and buzzs of the forest insect life.
If ever I take the plunge and sign up as a Monk , this is definitely high on the list of places I’d like to do it.
So quiet, and so much beauty, both the architecture and the scenery, some great views of the surrounding countryside .
This Buddha was obviously very old and possibly in need of renovation, and looking across to the third sight where the replica of Buddhas Temple can be found.
Completely different in design to Thai Temples this blue/white stone edifice casts an imposing feature on the landscape. It is set in manicured landscaped gardens , another must for anyone interested in the Buddhist theme.
When the rain receded we carried on, very carefully, to our destination.
Beautiful , but not so big, after about 40 minutes there we decided to head back down and on to Maesai.
Boon went ahead with Martin to find some help. I carried on down, walking the bike, until they returned just 10 minutes later with a foot pump, borrowed from a repair shop nearby. After putting enough air in so that I could ride it slowly, we took the bike down to the workshop, where a very friendly guy replaced the inner tube in 10 minutes.Whilst waiting, some of the mechanics friends offered us local Thai ‘whiskey’. Not wanting to appear impolite, I accepted a small glass of the clear liquid, that tasted more like schnapps. Just as well that I just had the 1….it was extremely potent.
When we arrived there were many people there sitting outside the house, under a rough lean-to, drinking Thai whiskey. It was an interesting night, we received a warm welcome and the various people did their best to chat with us through Somboon.The striplight we were sitting under attracted hundreds of winged insects.
Waking early with a headache I joined boons aunt and younger brother as the boy prepared for school.
Sure enough the insects from the night before had been de-winged and fried up.
After breakfast we called in at the next ‘uncle’ who lived in one of the traditional wooden stilted houses, where another uncle was busy woodworking. This family was obviously better off and we were even able to get a heated shower and a more substantial breakfast. We stayed for nearly an hour, during which time I was offered a similar house down the lane.
Off for our next tour destination, 
These giant Buddhas are quite awe inspiring, especially in settings such as this.
After a fuel stop at Chiang Saen, there was another mountain range to cross and we took the opportunity to take another detour, to a waterfall tucked away in the forests, next to yet another Temple.
It wasn’t so big but was beautiful and the Temple next door had some very old stonework, including stone monkeys climbing up the walls.
A little further on , up in the mountains we stopped to take a look at a couple of the mountain villages.
Saw some amazing views, houses,people and became centre of attention for many school kids on their way home. The kids loved posing for photos and gave some great examples of the famous Thai smiles. 
As for Boon and I, it was off to visit the famous 
Still in no rush to get home we then went 40 km east off the route home to find another ‘Uncle’,another quiet rural setting and a fantastic Thai house where we were greeted,fed and boarded for the night. 
We took a steady ride back,taking the loop from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai, through 
Another of the delights of living here, for me, is the huge variety of butterfly’s and i am doing my best to gather a collection, by photo only, no way I would kill these beauties.
Another example of why you should check out the little lanes. This little beauty is tucked away down a small side road off Sam Lan, the southern extension of Singarat.
This low but elongated Wat has a gorgeous scarlet interior, a popular colour scheme with many Chiang Mai Temples.
Its long exterior walls are lined with painted angels.
To the rear of the Temple, against the back wall is a covered area with an impressive collection of Buddha statues.
Also behind the Temple is a medium sized , gold coloured Chedi. To the left of this, one of the Monks buildings has an exquisite Buddha painting on its apex wall.
Turning right out of the Brick Road Cafe a leisurely 10 minute walk will get you to the Thapae Gate end of Ratchadamnoen. A short distance before you reach the end you will find Wat Muen Larn, the last Temple on the left hand side of the road, facing Thapae Gate.
Like many in the Old City, this small size Temple is built in the Lanna style and appears to be quite old in origin. It has some interesting buildings within its modest compound. The bell tower in particular caught my eye.
