In Photos: The Countryside of Northern Thailand.
There are very few places in the world that feel like home to me, and northern Thailand is one of them. I showed up there with a tired soul, on an impulsive trip that I hoped would rejuvenate me (Read: Going Back to The Places we Love). And what can I say? Thailand gave me the time, space and natural beauty to think, write, and appreciate the little joys of life again.
I pen this post from a little gourmet cafe in Singapore, and these photos, taken with my Sony Cybershot camera, are to be my sunshine on dark and dull days in the year ahead. I hope they’ll make you yearn as much for the Thai countryside.
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1. TEARING INTO THE POSTCARD THAT IS NORTHERN THAILAND
for such surreal views of the hills, river, paddies, and sunsets that are now etched in my mind forever.
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2. SAMPLING HOME-COOKED VEGETARIAN THAI FOOD
at Ban Lom Jen Homestay – Penang Curry and steamed rice. Delicious!
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3. MARVELING AT THE WHITE TEMPLE
of Chiang Rai, that fuses traditional and contemporary thinking, and portrays heaven and hell in today’s context.
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4. ESCAPING IN THE WOODS OF THE THAI COUNTRYSIDE
; these rubber plantations line the way from the Chiang Rai prison towards the Thai village of Mae Yao.
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5. CRUISING ON A LONG TAIL BOAT
along the Kok River that winds along the countryside of Chiang Rai, then merges into the Mekong River into Burma.
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6. THIS COULD BE HEAVEN OR THIS COULD BE HELL
; these faces are everywhere around the White Temple!
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7. OBSERVING LIFE IN RURAL THAILAND
and the love with which older Thai men and women treat their rice paddies.
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8. REJUVENATING AT THE NATURAL HOT SPRINGS
in a tribal village in Chiang Rai. The sulphur smells like a chemistry lab (terrible), but the hot underground water is extremely relaxing.
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9. TRYING MY HAND AT THAI COOKING
with my wonderful hostess, Son. There’s magic in the Thai food she whips up!
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10. CYCLING ALONG THE THAI COUNTRYSIDE
amid the dramatic scenery formed by the hills and rivers of northern Thailand.
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11. WORKING (HARD) IN MY OUTDOOR OFFICE
at Ban Lom Jen Homestay!
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12. TYING MY WISH ON A WISHING TREE
at the White Temple. The wish before me asked for marital bliss (!), guess what I wished for?
Would you like to visit Northern Thailand someday?
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Welcome to my blog, The Shooting Star. I’ve been called a storyteller, writer, photographer, digital nomad, “sustainability influencer,” social entrepreneur, solo traveller, vegan, sustainable tourism consultant and environmentalist. But in my heart, I’m just a girl who believes that travel – if done right – has the power to change us and the world we live in.
So refreshing to read about such a different side of Thailand, one that is beautiful without the drape of luxury. I would love to be able to go there someday! 🙂
I hope you do, Sarita. There’s so much more to Thailand than luxury resorts!
Beautiful shot.
Thanks Sreejith!
Wow..that’s great,and I used to think Thailand is all about beaches and sand.
It does have awesome beaches, but so much more than those too! Hope you get to visit soon, Ashwin.
Beautiful and very capturing! As always, love to follow your adventures and blissful paths.
Thank you; I’m glad!
Nice photographs with great variaty and uniquness.
Thanks Amit; glad you liked them!
Beautiful pictures, Shivya. I have a Sony Cybershot too… its my prized possession 🙂
High five, Shikha! I love it too 🙂
Naic pictures
Hoping that your cooking classes have been fruitful (& secretly that they may bear fruits for us, once you are back, in the form of a lunch invitation :P)
Haha, I wouldn’t bet my money on my cooking :p
You are such a refreshing inspiration, Shivya! I feel rejuvenated just looking at the photos. 🙂
Thanks Paras! I’m so happy to hear that 🙂
A lovely selection of photos. I particularly like the white temple, it looks so different to anything I have seen in Thailand before.
Thank you! I’m not really a temple person, but the white temple absolutely blew my mind. Please visit it the next time you go!
How beautiful 🙂 Enjoy your travels!
It was! Thanks Pallavi 🙂
So beautiful…
Thank you so much for sharing Thailand pictures!
Blog : global vegan fare
Thanks Kum!
PS: Do enter your blog URL with your name when you write a comment on any blog so people can easily click through to it 🙂
Brilliant images
Thanks!
I think I mentioned it on your Facebook page too, but anyway, I think you’d love Laos and Cambodia too!
I was born in Thailand and travelled in Thailand a bit but definitely not as much as you have. You certainly have been places that are off the beaten tracks. It’s nice to meet someone that appreciate the other side/beauty of Thailand.
I have a question about your travel. Do you travel alone? Would you recomend traveling alone?
Photos often tell much about a destination. Thanks you for your fantastic pictures.
Your story and blog is very inspirational. Kudos for the hard work and dedication 🙂
The Thailand country side looks amazing. I’m going there at the end of this month. Let’s see how much will I be able to experience it.