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.
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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!
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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!
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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?
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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.