The historic Lanna Kingdom of King Mengri, who ruled from 1259 to 1317, covered most of Northern Thailand. It was surrounded by high mountains, teak tree forests and rivers rich with fish. Chang Mai is the capital of Chiang Mai Province and was a former capital of the Kingdom of Lanna. Hotel properties in the area still offer views of the beautiful rural landscapes. The region stands out with its own unique cuisine, culture and customs. Women who hail from the area are believed to be the most beautiful and the people are described as the friendliest in the country, with their charm and gentle demeanour that seldom fails to impress even the most demanding of visitors. To experience this magical land book a stay at the Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort, which is positioned on a ridge overlooking the hills of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos.
The Mekong River, at four thousand three hundred and fifty kilometres, is the twelfth longest in the world. It flows through Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, China, Myanmar and Vietnam before emptying out into the South China Sea at a point south of Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City. Vientiane, capital of Laos, and Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, are both located directly on the banks of the great Mekong River.
As the region’s popularity grows into a top tourist destination, so does the allure of cruising down the river. River cruises carry passengers from Siem Reap in northwest Cambodia, located close to the famous Angkor Wat temple complex, to Ho Chi Minh City or from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh. The route sails by bustling cities, rural settings complete with lush paddy fields, entire floating villages like Kompong Luong that is north of Krakor, floating markets and several pagodas and temples that are a distinctive feature of Southeast Asia.
Thanuja Silva is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Auburn Silver. She has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.