Chiang Mai, Thailand

We stayed in a lovely (but exhausting) hotel just outside Karon, Centara Villas, set on a hillside overlooking Karon Bay.
Karon town was not particularly attractive, but walk along the beach road and there are some good restaurants.

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		There is a bustling night market a few blocks outside the walls to the east, and also two craft markets, one on Saturday just south of the city walls, and another on Sunday inside the old city. All three are well worth a visit.
	There are plenty of interesting trips out from Chiang Mai, we hired a driver and his taxi, and this video is of a trip to a hot springs garden, and also to an eco hotel up in the hills, for lunch.
		On the way back we were taken to one of the refugee villages, Baan Tong Luang, where we met members of several tribes including the Long necked Karan.
	Our driver also took us to two out of town temples, Wat Suan Dok and Wat Chet Yot, both very different.
		One of the most interesting excursions was to the demonstration workshops for the paper umbrellas, which also included a visit to a lacquerware workshop and a silk factory.

	Phuket Island - Karon Bay We stayed in a lovely (but exhausting) hotel just outside Karon, Centara Villas, set on a hillside overlooking Karon Bay. Karon town was not particularly attractive, but walk along the beach road and there are some good restaurants.
		Phang Nga Islands - These are amazing limestone karsts that rise sheer out of the sea, with many caves and lakes inside them. Make sure you book a trip which includes a kayak tour, which will take you underneath the caves and into the lakes inside, a truly mind blowing experience. Most of the day trips also feature a visit to the 'James Bond Island' and ours also gave us a really good lunch.