It is hard to give an overview of the Chiang Mai a la Carte blogs. There is a very wide range of subjects. Many of the blogs are about Chiang Mai history but there are also many about Buddhist temples. Frans Betgem has written all the blogs for this website. Some of the blogs are very special to him such as the ones about the temples Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Phra Singh in Chiang Mai. He keeps on adding content to these blogs.
Some Chiang Mai a la Carte Blogs are continuously under construction. Wat Pha Lat, the temple on the trail, has become more popular and has been under construction itself for a long time. This wonderful temple has been neglected for many years but has now become a very popular tourist attraction on Doi Suthep. The abbot is very active so the temple attracts many donations for Thai Buddhists.
Frans has written a number of Chiang Mai a la Carte blogs about the history of the teak industry in North Thailand. These cover subjects such as the Louis T.Leonowens House in Lampang and the Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation. Other interesting blogs are about the East Asiatic Company and the Burmese teak trader Luang Yonakarn Phichit. More blogs are to follow! We are not done yet. Frans wants to publish at least one blog per month.
Table of Contents Map of Wat Umong Legenda of the map of Wat Umong Bhudda Dhamma bookstore Welfare Store Meditation Center Dhamma Kosa Library Ancient Arts and Lanna Science Learning Center Phra Ubosot Abbot’s Residence Wat Umong Pagoda Tunnel Buddha Statue Wat Umong inscription Ashoka Pillar Panyananda Bhikkhu Monument Spiritual Theatre Buddha image from Phayao […]
The Martyr’s Memorial Hall The Martyr’s Memorial Hall is in the town of Santikhiri, also known as Mae Salong, Mae Fah Luang District in Chiang Rai province. The building is devoted to the tragic history and sacrifice of the soldiers of the 5th Chinese Nationalist (Kuomintang) Army. It consist of a museum, a memorial hall for […]
A restaurant at a heritage property The restaurant Baan Phraya Suren by Madame Muser in Lampang opened for the public a couple of years ago. It is located on the property of of Khun Tri Phraya Suren Thiratsena (Cherm Chuchinda) who was the first governor of monthon (province) Lampang from 1909 until 1926. They constructed […]
Table of Contents Phra That Doi Tung, the temple of the year of the Pig Phra That Doi Tung (พระธาตุดอยตุง) is a spectacular Buddhist temple close to the summit of Doi Tung, the highest peak of the Doi Nang Non mountain range, Chiang Rai province. There are actually two temples: Wat Phra That Doi Tung […]
Table of Contents The Oub Kham Museum The entrance of the Oub Kham Museum Introducing the Oub Kham Museum The Oub Kham Museum in Chiang Rai is a unique museum dedicated to preserving the heritage of the Lanna Kingdom and educating future generations about its history. Specifically the museum houses Buddha images and artifacts of […]
View on the First Nawarat Bridge, early 20th century. Source unknown. The Mae Ping River Cruise Enjoy a couple of hours on the water The Mae Ping River Cruise offers a two-hour boat trip on the Ping River with a stop at a nice riverside location. The Mae Ping River Cruise office is at the boat […]
Magnificent Shan-style Buddha image at Wat More Nyin Update July, 2025: Currently, the border crossing at Mae Sai/Tachileik is closed to foreigners. We will keep you updated. The border crossing at Mae Sai/Tachileik The border crossing at Mae Sai/Tachileik has been an important gateway to Myanmar for at least a century. It was here that […]
Start of the samlor tour of USAC The Chiang Mai update of October 2021 I have decided to make a personal email to update you on the reopening of Chiang Mai in October and the situation on the ground. This is not a mass email campaign. I have selected a small number of addresses. I […]
Cycling in the Sukhothai Historical Park has always been a popular activity for visitors to this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sukhothai was Thailand’s first capital and flourished from the mid-13th century to the late 14th century. Thai people regard Sukhothai as the cradle of their civilization. Table of Contents Sukhothai, a UNESCO World Heritage Site […]
Introduction to Coffee in Thailand When I visited for the first time in 1987 there was no coffee culture in Chiang Mai and Thailand. In guesthouses and hotels, there was only Nescafé instant coffee. This is a brand from the Swiss company Nestlé. People regard it not as real coffee and rather as substandard. I […]