Christmas in Chiang Mai

Ian spent his Christmas holiday in the northern Thailand city of Chiang Mai. We stayed at the incredible Mandarin Oriental Hotel (images shown), which offers spectacular surroundings, spectacular service and a stay that is restful and complete. The Mandarin boasts its own rice (Paddy) fields which is where Ian got a chance to see how rice is harvested and inspected some fields with Mom. Ian also took part in the annual rice blessing ceremony and he joined the band who played for the dancers - Ian got in on both pieces of action as you'll see from the photos! Ian also got to ride around in a rikshaw, as well as a horse-drawn carriage all which made him (and Mom and Dad) all rather lazy during our stay as we got taken wherever we wanted, whenever we wanted! On Christmas Eve, Mom and Dad were treated to a cocktail party overlooking the rice fields, and the fields had been lit up with thousands of candle-lit lanterns. It made for a very special setting on a very special night ... in a very special place.