Chiang Mai

Mountain temples in the mist, jungle waterfalls, and a sky full of paper lanterns.

The north of Thailand is greener and gentler than I expected. I hiked to Doi Suthep before the crowds, cooled off under waterfalls in the jungle, and stayed for the lantern festival when the whole valley let go of the year at once. Watching a thousand lights drift up into the dark is a memory I'll keep forever.