Thailand Christmas 2025

Vilnius - Chiang Mai (1 night stop over Abu Dhabi)

Christmas Adventures from Vilnius to Chiang Mai

Why We Chose Thailand for Christmas

During the summer holidays, I reflected on how hard I had found our first year living in Vilnius. People had mentioned the flat grey landscape and lack of sunshine during the winter months. Locals and doctors spoke of the importance of vitamin D (we all took supplements as recommended). Yet, we still felt low moods at times—something we only fully realised once we felt the sun on our skin again. During 2025, we seemed to miss the sun even in summer. With another year ahead living in Lithuania, we decided our Christmas break had to include sunshine. For the last few years, we’ve chosen Christmas adventures instead of physical gifts. Memories over stuff—largely everyone in the Traviss household agrees. However, Felicity is a magpie. Cute teddies, earrings, you name it—she loves stuff. After researching long-haul winter destinations from Vilnius, Thailand came out as the most affordable option for flights and accommodation. We’d also heard that travelling and eating there could be done cheaply. Once we narrowed it down, the real planning could begin.

Flights, Changes & Planning Challenges

Booking during the summer holidays and discovering a new flight route meant we could get a better price. Etihad offered a free two-night stopover in Abu Dhabi, which felt like two holidays in one. As plans turned into flights booked, itineraries created, and accommodation reserved, we began researching Chiang Mai. The options were endless—accommodation, experiences, and adventures. Too many choices for just ten nights. Finding a balance between culture, nature, and downtime took thought.

Then came the email: our flight had been cancelled.

Our original flight from Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai was cancelled. Etihad offered either a flight a day earlier or a refund. A refund wasn’t viable—prices had risen and we were now outpriced. Losing the two-night stopover also removed the main reason we’d chosen the airline. We kept the revised flight and paid for an extra night in Chiang Mai. Shortly after, we were told our Abu Dhabi accommodation had been cancelled entirely. I’d assumed it would simply reduce to one night. Instead, it was all gone. It felt unnecessarily complicated and far from customer-focused. It was very much a “take it or leave it” situation. I cancelled our Abu Dhabi plans, revised the schedule, and booked another night in Chiang Mai. Ironically, this extra night became our favourite accommodation of the entire trip, with the most welcoming staff we encountered.

Abu Dhabi Stopover (1 Night)

The holiday began chaotically when our house alarm went off the morning of our flights, and we couldn’t silence it due to a power outage. With little sleep, we were still excited to be off on an adventure. We arrived in Abu Dhabi and headed to the hotel we were allocated. Confusingly, we had two rooms for two nights, despite the cancellation of our original, nicer hotel. The hotel was adequate, and the staff polite. There were plenty of things around the hotel, and transport via the Careem app (similar to Uber/Bolt) was easy to access—a friend had recommended it before our trip.

Sunrise Desert Tour

The next morning, I’d booked a private sunrise desert tour. While no one was thrilled about the early start, it was absolutely worth it. 

We experienced:

-          Driving over sand dunes

-          Walking on the dunes

-          Watching the sunrise

-          Arabic coffee and dates

-          Camel sightings (they were less enthusiastic about us)

-          Sandboarding

Recent rain made sandboarding harder, but watching the sunrise in near silence was calming and grounding. It gave us space to reflect on how lucky we were to be on this trip together.

After the tour, we asked the driver to drop us at TeamLab instead of returning to the hotel.

TeamLab Abu Dhabi

TeamLab was fantastic and highly recommended. Some areas were stronger than others, but overall it was immersive and impressive. We were initially apprehensive as it was busy even for the first time slot. Allow plenty of time to fully explore. There’s an app that guides you through the installations—download it in advance, as Wi-Fi wasn’t great. Photos and videos capture moments, but they don’t do the experience justice.

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

The Grand Mosque was another real wow moment. We planned outfits carefully to adhere to the dress code: females must cover wrists, ankles, and wear a headscarf. At one point, the wind caught my scarf while I was taking a photo and a security guard reacted very strongly. While I respect the dress code, the intensity of the reaction to an unintentional moment surprised me. We managed to capture some beautiful photos while avoiding crowds. I like to experience a place fully with my own eyes before capturing it on camera.

We all had a great time in Abu Dhabi and all felt that we could have spent more time in Abu Dhabi. Elliott really would have liked to visit Ferrari World and Felicity a water park.

Thailand – Chiang Mai

Accommodation

Meliá – The Level

We discovered this hotel brand while searching for additional nights in Chiang Mai. We had never stayed at a Meliá before, but from the initial communication through to the end of our stay, I genuinely cannot fault it and would highly recommend it.

We opted for a The Level room, which felt like a real treat. It included breakfast, snacks, drinks, afternoon refreshments (when we weren’t out on the tuk tuk tour), and cocktails during specific hours. The staff were incredibly helpful and never made us feel out of place. We asked to view the sky bar, which wasn’t yet open, and they kindly allowed us access to see the city from the rooftop.

We booked a taxi through the hotel from the airport and were greeted by a friendly hotel representative on arrival. The staff welcomed us warmly, offered drinks immediately, and allowed us access to the lounge. It felt extremely luxurious—almost to the point where we felt like imposters.

The hotel and room were perfect: spotless, with great views and everything we needed.

High Residences – Veranda High Resort

Located approximately 35 minutes from Meliá in Chiang Mai (traffic depending, which can be extremely busy), High Residences sits in the mountains. There is access to a pre-bookable hotel shuttle running four times a day for up to ten guests. We didn’t use this, as we had pre-booked tours during our stay.

The accommodation was booked through Airbnb, but check-in was via the hotel reception. We were welcomed with a lovely drink and had the opportunity to take in the resort from the thoughtfully designed reception area. First impressions were excellent—it’s a beautiful resort.

However, once we reached the apartment, we were informed that we could not use the water. We had planned to do a shop beforehand but assumed we would be able to access what we needed later. Slightly naively—and because we hadn’t been informed otherwise—we hadn’t realised we wouldn’t have access to drinking water. We would have expected initial supplies to be provided under the circumstances. Later in our stay, we noticed other apartments receiving water from the hotel.

The apartment itself was spacious with a great view. There was some road noise, but this wasn’t a major issue as we were up early most days for tours. There was a drainage smell in the kitchen area, a lack of a deep clean before arrival, and a lizard sharing our shower. That said, the space was functional and usable.

The apartment pool was visually beautiful, but the surrounding decking needed updating—it was loose in places and not entirely safe for children or adults. We used the hotel pool one day; the views were stunning, though sun loungers were limited. We left our belongings poolside and ventured in. The pool seemed to be used more for posing than swimming, though we admittedly took a few posed photos ourselves, given the view.

We ate at the hotel twice, with mixed experiences. Prices were noticeably higher than local options, and the food seemed to have an unnecessary Western twist applied to otherwise delicious Thai dishes. Overall, however, the setting was lovely.

We explored the local area on foot, visiting a small coffee hut and a Korean-style BBQ restaurant. The local people were friendly and happy to see us. We also discovered we could walk to a nearby hilltop temple, Loha Prasat Sri Mueang Pong. After some research, we found the route and hiked up. It was far less touristy, which we appreciated—even if the monks opted to use a loudspeaker for their blessings. This may sound hypocritical given that we are tourists ourselves, but it was still refreshing to experience something quieter.

Starview – Mae Rim

Starview is a futuristic mountain homestay/glamping experience we found while researching accommodation around Chiang Mai. We were able to book a taxi through the owners and an extra bed for the children at an additional cost. Breakfast and dinner were included, along with a selection of drinks and a few snacks.

Everyone had requested some downtime during the trip, and this was our plan for the two nights booked here. With checkout from our apartment at 11am and check-in at Starview at 2pm, we asked to stop en route at Yoddoi Coffee for lunch. We hadn’t realised it was an Instagram hotspot, and there were many people and busy areas during our drive. The views were nice, and the children enjoyed waffles, but there were limited options for me.

I took a short walk to explore the area and found market stalls leading towards Mon Jam and a wooden go-kart starting point. These wooden go-karts involved sitting at the top of a hill and riding down a road shared with cars. It certainly looked like an experience—one we were happy to skip. There were several moments during this trip where we questioned health and safety standards, and this was one of them. There appeared to be no safety precautions in place.

Turning to the accommodation itself: although idyllic in appearance, it seemed to appeal more to the Instagram crowd—amazing for photos but less practical as liveable accommodation. The plunge pool and outdoor bath looked fantastic, but in reality the pool was freezing cold and appeared to double as a washing station for wildlife, judging by muddy paw prints and splashes around the bath.

We had hoped to enjoy a hot bath as temperatures dropped significantly at night. Sitting on the edge of a mountain with views across rolling hills sounded perfect. Unfortunately, the hot water system was underwhelming, producing lukewarm water at best. We let that idea go and instead enjoyed the sunset from the balcony.

The accommodation was cold overnight and in the mornings, often colder inside than outside. While this helped us wake early to watch a truly beautiful sunrise, the idea of a warm shower afterwards was again disappointing—the systems seemed under-specified.

Given how often we talk about a simpler life in a remote cabin, this stay highlighted that there are certain luxuries I couldn’t do without. A hot shower is one of them.

Later that day, we walked to a local coffee shop called Eden and then on to the Nong Hoi Royal Project Restaurant, around a 30-minute walk away. We received plenty of curious looks, waves, and shouted “hellos” along the way. It appeared that walking isn’t common in this area, and tourism in the mountains is less frequent. Add being visibly foreign, and we attracted attention. We enjoyed the coffee shop and a warm walk back.

The slower pace allowed me time to read and enjoy the sun, but we also realised how difficult it is for us all to simply sit and do nothing. Relaxation quickly translated into the children wanting screen time, which we try to limit. Felicity is unfazed by this and happily entertains herself with crafts, but for a 12-year-old boy it’s more challenging—especially as Elliott had finished his book. We hadn’t managed to order another English one to Lithuania before leaving, partly because my reminder to pack books was ignored.

Although we enjoyed our time in the mountains, we decided to bring our taxi forward and return to Chiang Mai earlier than planned. The journey back was longer due to traffic and at times unsettling, with the driver frequently checking his phone and responding to unpredictable road users. Driving in Thailand is not for the faint-hearted—something I say despite finding driving in Lithuania an adventure. It also explains why Dave had firmly declined my suggestion of hiring a car.

Mercure – Chiang Mai

We stayed at the Mercure for our final night. We were greeted by a very friendly receptionist who kindly allowed early access to our room and upgraded us to a suite. While basic, the extra space was appreciated.

What I hadn’t realised was that rooms advertised for up to four people do not include extra beds. The expectation was that two adults and two children (aged 9 and 12) would share one large bed. After years of bed-sharing when the children were younger, four people in one bed—even for a night—was not ideal. It ended with one person sleeping on the sofa, which I was informed was uncomfortable.

The hotel interior was quiet, and the staff were welcoming and friendly. The hotel offers a bookable airport shuttle, a shuttle into the Old Town, maps, and clearly advertised timings in the lifts. However, external noise early in the morning was noticeable. Although we were already awake for our 4am flight, delivery and service noise was disruptive beforehand.

That said, the hotel was clean and perfectly adequate. Given the very low price for four people for one night, it offered good value for money.

Adventures in Chiang Mai

Tuk Tuk Tour - Chiang Mai

We booked (by we, I mean I booked for us) an afternoon half-day tuk tuk tour of Chiang Mai for our first afternoon. This helped to orientate us to the local area and allowed us to see some sights that the children may otherwise have refused due to tiredness.

We were waiting outside the hotel for our tuk tuk when a very old, rickety one arrived. We all looked at each other in horror. Five minutes later, a quirky driver approached us and said our guide would be there soon. There was a short-lived sense of relief that we wouldn’t be travelling in the tuk tuk he had arrived in—or have him as our guide.

Another tuk tuk arrived with our guide, who informed us we would be using two small tuk tuks. We decided to split up—girls and boys—and I quickly ushered Felicity onto the tuk tuk with the new guide, leaving the boys to draw the short straw and take the other one.

Well, what an experience this tour turned out to be. In the first tuk tuk were us, the driver, and possibly the driver’s mother sitting beside him. In the second tuk tuk were the guide and another driver. The guide was excitable and shared information that was often repeated.

Our first stop was the well-known Tha Phae Gate. To say we were underwhelmed would be an understatement. A barrier blocked half of the gate, and there were tourists, equipment, and preparations already in place for New Year celebrations the following week. The guide explained that the historic wall was a reconstruction from around 50 years ago and that it wasn’t original. The wooden gate was said to be original; however, when we later fact-checked some of the information—much of which changed during the tour—we discovered the wall was reconstructed on the original site in 1985–86, meaning it is closer to 40 years old.

We then visited the Three Kings Monument and the old town map, where we heard a version of how Chiang Mai became part of Thailand as we know it today. After that, we visited Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phra Singh, Wat Sri Suphan, Ton Lam Yai Market, and Kad Luang.

We discovered that males could enter all temples and wear shorts and T-shirts. However, females were required to cover their shoulders and knees, which we adhered to out of respect. We are accepting of different world views and beliefs, but I would be lying if I said we didn’t find this frustrating. At times, the boys nearly refused to enter areas that Felicity and I were not permitted to access.

It was also interesting that monks and Buddha statues are often depicted with exposed nipples, yet on several occasions—when Felicity and I were preparing to enter temples wearing sarongs—I was met with some rather feisty older ladies pointing to the small section of skin visible above my knees. Looking around, I could see local people with shoulders exposed and more skin visible above the knee. Still, I covered the one inch of flesh to avoid causing offence.

This may sound insensitive, which I don’t intend to be. I am far more offended by littering and the excessive use of single-use plastics that negatively impact the planet. I try my best to role-model respectful behaviour and contribute positively to society, but I sometimes find myself conflicted by the inconsistencies in how values are applied and how this can hinder progression and understanding.

I digress. The focus is Chiang Mai and the opportunity to explore some of its many temples. The range of architectural features, interior designs, and intricate details throughout the temples is truly a privilege to see.

We were taken to a local market, which was interesting, with a wide range of products including clothes, fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, sweets, and other items we couldn’t identify. It’s worth noting that Thailand largely operates on a cash basis. As we had only just arrived, we hadn’t yet withdrawn any cash. We mentioned this to the guide, explaining that we would have liked to buy things but didn’t have any cash.

At the end of the tour, despite having clearly stated this, the guide lingered with the other tuk tuk driver as if waiting for a tip. This honestly infuriated me. We had already paid for the tour, one of the tuk tuks had broken down part-way through, the information provided was inconsistent and repetitive, and yet there was still an expectation to tip. Normally, I would reluctantly tip, even if the experience wasn’t great—but this time we walked away feeling baffled by the guide’s change in demeanour and her clear annoyance.

Later, we received a Viator request for a review. It stated that if we gave five stars, the guide would receive an additional 5% of the booking total. I debated whether to give five stars, as the experience wasn’t worthy of that rating. However, I was also frustrated by the system, knowing that Viator would retain some of the fees I had paid if I didn’t. Reluctantly, I gave five stars so the guide would receive the full amount. This has made me think twice about using the platform in the future, as I now wonder how many five-star reviews don’t truly reflect the experience.

That evening, we visited a local night market for dinner. Some stalls appeared to follow better hygiene practices than others, so it’s worth being mindful. I had the most delicious mango sticky rice and a vegan banana blossom dish, while Dave opted for what we believe was a simple chicken and vegetable stir-fry. The children weren’t quite ready to embrace Thai food yet and preferred to let us test the waters first.

After a good night’s sleep, we decided to explore the Nimman area, stopping at Roast8ry Lab—highly recommended for Dave’s morning coffee. Before arriving in Thailand, we had downloaded the Grab app (similar to Uber or Bolt) and thought it was set up and linked to our bank account. However, on our first journey, the driver requested cash after the trip. Without Wi-Fi, I was convinced the payment had already gone through.

To complicate things, we had only withdrawn 1,000-baht notes the night before. The journey cost just 300 baht, and the driver claimed he had no change. We suggested popping into the coffee shop to get change, which he wasn’t particularly happy about. We also found it odd that he didn’t have cash if he was accepting cash payments.

You live and learn. We made sure the app was properly set up on both our phones before using it again to avoid a repeat situation. We enjoyed mooching around Nimman—especially Felicity, who loves browsing shops and market stalls. Chiang Mai was lovely, but we soon realised that we prefer nature to densely populated cities.

Lampang Sky Temples – with Uncle Tong

We had another tour booked via Viator and were hoping for a more positive experience. We were soon put at ease by our tour guide, Tong—soon to call himself Uncle Tong. His sense of humour and kind nature immediately reassured us. Uncle Tong wanted to ensure we were comfortable and encouraged us to let him know if we needed anything.

He drove safely, outlined the plan for the day, explained timings, and even brought us some local rice cakes known as Khao Taen—crispy rice cakes with caramelised palm sugar syrup—which were absolutely delicious. He had bought them from a local lady in his village. We all loved them, which is a rarity, and we could easily have eaten them all during the journey.

Our first stop was Wat Phra That Lampang Luang. Uncle Tong was not only our tour guide and driver, but also our snack provider and photographer.

We also stopped at a local market en route, which was much quieter than those in Chiang Mai. People were curious about us but not overbearing. We found a teak elephant and more rice cakes before continuing on our way. Uncle Tong explained that it was a very local market and that they don’t often see foreigners. They were particularly taken by Felicity and her curly hair.

Next, we headed to the ‘Sky Temples’, which had taken some research to work out how to reach, as they are not as well known as many other temples in the area. Also known as Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat, they were the main reason for booking this tour. The pictures and drone footage had intrigued us—these temples are unique, not easy to get to, and not located near other tourist attractions, meaning they are less crowded.

We didn’t see any buses or large tour groups, just a few couples and local groups. Upon arrival, we had lunch at a restaurant in the parking area. Tong had spoken to the chef, who was able to offer a gluten-free option for me. We all had authentic Thai food, which most of us really enjoyed. Felicity wasn’t so keen on her dish—or any of the dishes—but we were happy she had at least tried the food.

After lunch, we discovered that local toilets do not necessarily have running water and that you must take your own toilet roll. A toilet roll and hand sanitiser are therefore essential when travelling in Thailand.

We then got our tickets and waited for the red truck to take us to the starting point of the hike to the temples. During the hike, we encountered several monks. The respectful thing to do—especially for me as a female—is to step back and give them space. The monks stopped when they saw the children and asked for a photo. We were told they don’t often see foreign children, hence the request for a picture with the “cute” children.

Whilst we love taking photos to capture moments, I rarely choose to be in them. Uncle Tong made it possible to take family photos when requested. He was encouraging but never pushy. We all felt completely at ease with him, and the children happily chatted away and enjoyed having a bottle of Coke—something we don’t usually encourage, as they both become slightly hyper on sugar. However, given the hike, we allowed it, only to be reminded later why we usually don’t.

The hike offered amazing views, lots of steps, a suspension bridge, and the delightful sounds of nature—from rustling trees to birds tweeting. We were really pleased to have taken this trip and especially thankful to have met Tong and had him as our guide.

Inthanon National Park – with Chay

Our next trip was booked through Absolute Travel. We had come across a vlog that recommended them—or so I thought. It turned out the recommendation was actually for Absolutely Fantastic Holidays, and I had only half been listening. Thankfully, our tour was with another lovely guide called Chay, who was knowledgeable, full of positive energy, and great with the children.

We first entered the national park to buy tickets, then stopped at Wachirathan Waterfall. We were lucky enough to be the only ones there, which allowed us time to appreciate the beautiful waterfall and the rainbow. We took photos and enjoyed the sound of the water, which I find incredibly therapeutic.

Afterwards, we continued deeper into the park and stopped at a forest trail. You are required to pay for a local guide here. The guide explained—via Chay’s translation—about the trees, including those that had been blessed, as well as traditional medicines used by hill tribes. We were also shown coffee fruit growing on several trees, which we would otherwise have missed.

We walked past farms and had the opportunity to buy locally grown produce, including delicious strawberries and more rice cakes. We saw another waterfall, crossed bridges, and were surrounded by nature—banana plants, rice fields, spiders, and much more. It was thoroughly enjoyable. Towards the end of the trail, we watched someone making scarves using traditional methods.

We then experienced local coffee, with the children helping to hand-grind the beans. Lunch followed nearby before we reached the top of the national park to visit the King and Queen Pagodas. This required another set of tickets and a truck ride to the pagoda area. The views across the national park were beautiful. The pagodas themselves were nice; however, I was more impressed by nature’s views.

Elephant Nature Park

Our trip to Chiang Mai originally came about after reading about an ethical elephant park in 12 Trips in 12 Months by Jen Ruiz. This led me to research ethical ways to see elephants. Elephant Nature Park was frequently mentioned as ethical, but I wanted to be sure.

Many places claim to be ethical but are not. I found that sanctuaries offering day or week-long volunteer stays are less able to hide unethical practices. After researching various options, we kept returning to Elephant Nature Park, which was also the one mentioned in the book. A sanctuary that helps injured elephants and offers a vegan lunch as part of the half-day visit seemed like the best option for us.

There was a hotel pick-up option if staying within the Old Town, but as we weren’t, we took a Grab taxi to the offices. We were told to arrive before 7.30am to pay the remaining balance, which we did. When speaking to reception, we then discovered pick-up wouldn’t be until around 8am. Being up and ready at 6am on Christmas Day, followed by waiting around, wasn’t anyone’s idea of fun.

This was our only group experience of the trip, and not long after boarding the shuttle bus, Dave was already indicating that this wasn’t his idea of fun. Elliott joined in with less-than-positive opinions, especially as others were chatting very loudly. To add to this, after the initial waiting, we stopped at a service station for 30 minutes, which felt largely pointless. We filled in an attendance register asking for lots of information, but everyone simply wrote their name and age. We were then handed it back and asked to add our gender. I laughed out loud, questioning whether that was necessary and why.

Eventually, we arrived to find an overwhelming number of people. It was incredibly busy, with tours starting everywhere. We were told we had more free time to use the toilets and apply suncream. Given that we were the only family on the bus, we had ensured we were ready before leaving the office. The extra free time wasn’t needed, especially with hundreds of people now crowding the main centre.

We were split into groups of around 15 and finally began the tour. It was great to hear the rescue stories and see the elephants. There were also rescue dogs, rabbits, and water buffalo. I don’t doubt that the sanctuary does a lot for injured elephants and rescue animals, and without them many of the elephants would not have survived. I understand the need to generate income to provide care. However, I believe there must be another option—perhaps charging more and limiting visitor numbers—which would be more beneficial to the animals.

Thai Cooking Class

We booked a private cooking class through Cookly for our evening meal. First, we stopped at a market where we were shown different fruits, vegetables, and food products common in Thailand, including several varieties of rice. We were able to try mangosteen and a couple of other fruits we hadn’t tried before. The children loved them and bought some for later in our trip.

As a lover of food—and a qualified nutritionist—the colourful fruits and vegetables immediately caught my attention. I would happily have bought more produce than I could possibly carry or consume during our remaining days. We bought fresh mango and pineapple before continuing to the cooking location.

Before arrival, we were asked to choose seven menu options from a list sent a week in advance. We planned to share the dishes, but this was short-lived for me as not all menu options could be adapted to be gluten-free. Nonetheless, we all thoroughly enjoyed the experience and tasting the different dishes. We also received a recipe book to revisit once home.

The staff were very friendly, and choosing a private class was again the best option for our not-so-sociable males. Before cooking, we had a short garden tour, smelling fresh ingredients grown on-site. It was a lovely experience for us all.

Pha Lat Temple, Doi Suthep Temple & Tea Plantation – with Chay

Pha Lat Temple became our favourite temple of the trip. Although there were tourists arriving early, it wasn’t overly busy and allowed for moments of calm. Elliott seemed particularly peaceful, sitting on a wall and later by the water, taking in the view. It reminded us of a temple we visited in Japan.

Located within a national park, the temple is surrounded by nature and partially reclaimed by it, with moss and a non-shiny exterior. On closer inspection, you can still see detailed carvings and paintings. It was a very calming place—perhaps due to its location, fewer tourists, or something deeper. We could have spent longer here had we not had other places to visit.

Doi Suthep Temple offered a great viewpoint over Chiang Mai. We found a quieter corner and a coffee for Dave. There was a lot to see, and it was understandably popular. We were glad we explored all areas but didn’t linger long due to the crowds and numerous photoshoots. The children enjoyed writing their names on the yellow sash placed on the pagoda. It’s always interesting to see what they enjoy when embracing new experiences. Elliott liked marking that he was “here”, whether on the sash or the previous day at the Queen Pagoda—unaware he had also written his name in a condolence book following the Queen’s death.

At Araksa Tea House and Plantation, we had lunch upon arrival. It was pleasant enough but lacked attention to detail. The tea house itself was beautifully presented, though the experience felt more focused on appearance than customer service.

After lunch, we learned about tea production—from growing and picking to processing. We joined a small group and walked through the tea fields, learning how all tea comes from the same leaves, with differences arising during processing. We watched an expert pick leaves, then observed them being sorted, cooked, rolled, and cooked again. We also saw more mechanical methods used by other tea makers. Finally, we tasted various teas produced at Araksa. It was an enjoyable experience for us all.

Chiang Rai – White & Blue Temples (with halfway hot springs stop) – with Chay

We were unsure whether to visit the White Temple due to the long journey and potential crowds. En route, there was a planned stop at hot springs. We told Chay we didn’t feel the stop was necessary, but it was scheduled as a bathroom break. It felt like a tourist trap, where tourists—but not locals—paid to use some of the worst toilets we encountered in Thailand. We declined exploring further and continued on to the White Temple in Chiang Rai.

Chay shared the history and suggested visiting the museum first. We were glad we did—it was quiet and offered insight into the artist’s journey. Photography wasn’t allowed, but Chalermchai Kositpipat’s work was displayed from when he was not much older than Elliott is now. Elliott was incredibly inspired. Although he once believed he wasn’t good at art, this past year—likely due to a positive teacher—has brought a shift. Whatever the reason, it was wonderful to see. We bought prints as souvenirs, and later that evening both children began drawing.

The artwork varied in medium and style and was impressive. Dave and I don’t claim to fully understand art beyond liking or not liking it, but we could clearly see the skill involved.

The White Temple grounds were busier, but we captured beautiful exterior photos. The interior—where photography is prohibited—was unexpected and playful, incorporating characters such as Harry Potter, Darth Vader, and Minions. The white, mirrored design against the blue sky was stunning, and we were glad we visited, though we didn’t feel the need to linger.

We chose lunch outside the complex at a small restaurant. Dave and I enjoyed an authentic meal, while the children opted for chips and fried chicken.

The Blue Temple followed. While the blue-and-gold contrast was attractive, we were less impressed. It felt crowded, smaller, and in need of some repair. After exploring, we felt we had seen enough.

We declined a scheduled hill tribe visit and market stop, having learned these are often inauthentic and tourist-focused. Instead, we stopped at a coffee shop in Singha Park on the way back. Though still touristy, we enjoyed drinks, ice cream for the children, and the natural surroundings.

Baan Kang Wat – Sawasdeecraft: Color of Myself

I discovered Baan Kang Wat almost by accident. When the Coconut Market wasn’t open on our final day, we decided to visit, along with nearby Wat Umong Suan Putthatham. Upon arrival, Baan Kang Wat was extremely busy due to a Christmas event. Entry was mandatory for everyone, which we hadn’t realised.

After paying, we weren’t given clear instructions and were simply ushered inside. We explored, had a snack and drink, and worked out the craft activity by observing others. It was a lovely place, but far too crowded to enjoy properly—people were shoulder to shoulder, with long queues for food and drink. Musicians played in different areas, which was pleasant, and the concept of Baan Kang Wat and the event itself was great. It was simply too busy at the time of our visit.

We then walked to Wat Umong Temple. Before entering, I was singled out by what I believe were lottery ticket sellers for showing a small part of my knees, despite Thai tourists nearby wearing shorts and sleeveless tops. I always dress respectfully for temples, but if visiting elsewhere first, I would cover up before entering.

I found the interaction unnecessary. Had we not walked in the heat to see the tunnels, we might have turned back. In hindsight, none of us were particularly impressed by the experience, and I left wondering why we’d made the effort at all.

Final Night

On our last night, we ate at The House by Ginger. Despite being underdressed and without a reservation, we were welcomed. The food was excellent, staff were warm, and it was a perfect end to our trip.

Highlights

I thought Elephant Nature Park would be the highlight — it wasn’t. Instead:

* Watching the sunrise in Mae Rim

* Felicity loved the forest trail with Chay

* Elliott loved TeamLab and Uncle Tong’s rice cakes

* Dave’s favourite was Pha Lat Temple

We leave feeling incredibly grateful for our time together and the memories made in Abu Dhabi and Thailand.

Quickly back to reality, returning to –7 degrees, snow, and no heating, followed by a flood of sewage. Just to keep life balanced – an amazing adventure, followed by some life challenges.