The province of Nan, Thailand but different
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Looking for the hidden gems in Thailand? You don't have to look long if you really want to travel to the province Nan in the far north of Thailand near Laos. You go there to avoid tourists and enjoy peace and nature.
Nan is a special province because it was still a separate kingdom in the 13th century. There are still authentic hill tribes that maintain their ancient culture, such as the Mlabri, who are called the spirits of the yellow leaves.
The valleys and wooded mountains will make the hearts of nature lovers beat faster, with the icing on the cake: the Doi phu kha national park, with mountains up to 2.000 meters. Nan has no fewer than six national parks! The rich natural beauty of this province therefore makes it an ideal destination for adventurous trekking.
An eye-catcher is the Wat Phra That Khao Noi, a temple with a Buddha statue overlooking the area. Also famous is the Phumin Temple, which is, as it were, carried on the back of two snakes. In this temple you can see beautiful murals about the life of Buddha and daily life in 19th century Nan.
For example, you can stay in Nan Seasons Boutique Resort. A resort on the outskirts of Nan. A number of bungalows even offer a view over the valley. The bungalows are tastefully and luxuriously furnished by the Dutch-Thai management and have spacious verandas with sun loungers. Seasons also has an excellent restaurant.
More information: Nan Seasons Boutique Resort
Rest in Nan? There is a small caveat to this advertorial! Wise travelers google it first: Nan and disco terror. We didn't sleep a wink at night for weeks due to the deafening tranquility of rural Nan and finally fled Nan, one of the northern provinces where the air pollution – according to our acclaimed thailand blog – is the worst.
As a regular reader of this blog, I saw Joe's reaction. He's absolutely right. I was there a month ago on business and damn, all night that boom. I didn't know where it came from, but later I was told it was from a disco in Temple Face. That just can not be. My wife and I lay awake all night; it reminded us of other locations in this world, where that monotonous disco drone also holds you hostage. But I don't really have to go far from home. Also in the city where I lived, we were rocked every time in the summer by a disco festival for years. After much complaining, the mayor first came to watch and listen and immediately put an end to it. Never suffered again. The party continued, but without imposing those thumps on local residents.
But it will be again as is often the case in Thailand – I have experience – : those who suffer from the nuisance must keep their mouths shut.
In Thai it is น่าน, long A and falling tone (nâan).
Serious noise nuisance occurs throughout Thailand.
It seems that the Thai cannot do without noise.
From cars that are fully equipped as a disco, disco buses, end of the rice east festivals. morning markets with deafening noise from speakers, parades, during bus rides,
The peace is sometimes hard to find in Thailand.
Earplugs should be a standard equipment of every Thailand traveler.