Chiang Rai may not be the first destination that comes to mind when you think of Thailand, but it certainly is a hidden gem. The northernmost city in Thailand, Chiang Rai offers visitors a wide variety of things to see and do. Here I'm sharing my three favorite temples to visit in and around Chiang Rai, each different from the next! One of the oldest and most revered temples in Chiang Rai, Wat Phra Kaew or the Temple of the Emerald Buddha is situated in the heart of the city...

One of the most fascinating things about travelling to Chiang Rai is the chance to visit its border towns. Chiang Rai, the Northern-most province in Thailand, shares its borders with Myanmar and Laos in a few places, the most famous of which is the Golden Triangle. Today, I'm going to talk about the border town of Mae Sai, the northern-most district in Chiang Rai. It's quite literally the northern tip of the country, and shares a border with Myanmar. Depending on how slow you like seeing the sights, this could make for a great day trip and you can easily spend a couple of hours here....

Thailand has always been one of my favorite countries to visit. Flights are in abundance, VISAs are hassle-free, the people are kind and courteous, the food delicious, and the cities are meticulously planned, easy to get around and safe. Sure I've loved the shopping as well, but for me Thailand offers more - a sense of freedom and the feeling that I have everything at my fingertips.....

Historically, the term Golden Triangle was used to refer to the region's heavy opium production. Today, however, the Golden Triangle refers to a specific region at Mae Sai, Northern Thailand, which is the meeting point of three countries - Thailand, Laos and Myanmar. I had the opportunity to visit it recently on my Getaway Goddess trip to Chiang Rai and I thought I'd share some of the highlights from my trip.