HOT Magazine February 15, 2015 | Page 62

The route up to Doi Wow is around 1,674 meters and you will pass an evergreen forest where you can really absorb nature. In the evening before sunset, three mountain peaks will appear with different shapes, Doi Chang, Doi Wua and Doi Paaji. Nan Province has three seasons: the hot season, the rainy season and the cold season. The hot season lasts from about March until May and is characterised by sweltering temperatures, dry weather and high humidity. The rainy season lasts from June until October and is similar to the hot season except that it rains a lot. The rain does give everything a chance to cool off though so it is definitely a welcome change. After the rainy season, temperatures start dropping in the cold season, which lasts from November until February. Temperatures in the cold season drop down low at night. If you’re camping then you’ll need to bring warm clothing, and if you’re staying in a hotel or guesthouse then don’t bother getting an air-conditioned room, you won’t need it. There is no rain in the cold season so this is by far the best time to visit. To see the best scenery it’s best to visit in November or December. Everything is still lush and green after the rainy season and the weather is cool enough so you won’t break a sweat. The popular food here is Khao lam (glutinous rice roasted in bamboo joints) which is called Khao lam Jang locally. They use 70-90 centimeters of bamboo sticks and burn them. After burning, they peel the bamboo off and eat the rice inside. There are many kinds of sticky rice inside such as sticky white rice and sticky black rice. Visitors can find Khao lam at the roadside all along Amphur Taa Wang Paa. A hidden gem of a province, Nan was once an independent kingdom and is now a refuge fo