Canadian World Traveller Fallr 2016 issue Canadian World Traveller Fall 2016 issue | Page 9

t is a long flight to the other side of the world, but it is a small sacrifice for a true world traveler and after landing, we were greeted by our guides from Triyaka tours and began our trip with a drive through Thailand’s northern metropolis, Chiang Mai. I land On our way to the hotel, Tong, one of our guides, explained our itinerary and offered us an abundant choice of activities for our first night in Thailand. Our destination, the Ratilanna Resort, was magnificent and has the look and feel of Thailand, with temple-like roofs and friendly staff who warmly welcomed us. We were pleasantly surprised when we were informed that our room had been upgraded! At first glance, the room offered a stunning living room and space to relax. The living room gave way to a large balcony with a great view of the turquoise swimming pool and the famous Ping River. The second half of the room included a beautiful king size bed and a majestic bathroom filled with every accessory imaginable. The bathroom had a rustic yet artistic feel to it, and the decorations were inspired by a spa with a small waterfall pouring into the bathtub. That evening, our guide suggested a fine Thai restaurant, with authentic and traditional Thai dishes. From the free run chicken, to the slow cooked pork and the cashew rice served inside a pineapple, we were very impressed. After desert, we had a pleasant surprise and got to meet the owner of the restaurant who made sure everything had gone according to our expectations. This first taste of Thailand was nothing short of fantastic, and eating beside the Ping River offered a lovely romantic setting to say the least. The following morning, we had breakfast at the resort which consisted of a well assorted buffet that ranged from Asian cuisine all the way to American standards. >>> Canadian World Traveller / Fall 2016