As one of the world’s favorites tourist destinations. Thailand has long been known for various

cultural and entertainments are very rich, and there are always new things that you can find. The

tour guide tried to summarize some of the sights and activities you can experience in the country

known as "Land of Smiles". Kingdom of Thailand located in the heart of Southeast Asia, making

it the gateway to Indochina (Vietnam, Cambodia), Myanmar, And South China. This fertile

country consists of 76 provinces, are generally divided into four natural regions, namely forest

and mountains in the North (eg provinces of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, Lampang, Mae

Hong Son); granary areas in Central (including Bangkok, Ayutthaya , Kanchanaburi, Nakhon

Pathom) and East (Rayong, Chantaburi, Trat); agricultural land in the Northeast (Isan region), up

to the tropical islands and coastal areas in the South (Krabi, Phuket, Songkhla).

Meaning of the word Thailand (Or Muang Thai) is the "land of freedom", because it was never

colonized other nations. CurrentlyThailand headed by King Bhumibol Adulyadej, or King Rama

IX, the ninth king of the Chakri Dynasty. He is the oldest monarchy in the world.

Chiang Mai, Thailand, is often known as the Rose of the North, but it really blooms into flower

in February, towards the end of the cool season. Every year on the first weekend of February, the

Chiang Mai Flower Festival is opened. The flower beds in public spaces all around the town are

especially beautiful at this time of year. Everywhere there can be found gorgeous displays of

yellow and white chrysanthemums, and the Damask Rose, a variety found only in Chiang Mai.

Also, the pink and purplish Dendrobium orchids, and the yellow Daoruang. The real focus of this

Chiang Mai festival, however, is the public garden of Suan Buak Haad on the south-western

corner of the moat. The road next to the moat all around the park is closed to traffic, and vendors

of plants, Thailand flowers, Thailand orchids and garden decorations set up their stalls there.

This is probably the nicest corner of the moat, well supplied with shade trees, and a good place to

spend an hour or two looking at what is on offer. Chiang Mai, affectionately dubbed the ‘Rose of

the North’, prides itself on the natural beauty that it possesses as well as its slow paced lifestyle

and friendly hospitality. This is evident when ambling along the historical moat road with local

residents in unhurried appreciation of the spectacle - floats covered in a rich mosaic of flowers

One of the highlights of the year in Chiang Mai is

the annual Flower Festival held in the all too brief

cool season. It’s a fragrant and colorful affair

where locals come together to parade magnificent

flower studded floats as well as an incredible

variety of decorative plants for which prizes are

awarded. The festival began in 1977, and as well

as bringing in locals from around the province, it

also attracts a good deal of interest from

international visitors.

intricately arranged in harmony with the chosen theme, ranging from an eco-tourism message to

a tribute to the King of Thailand. The parade of floats ends with a beauty pageant in Suan Buak

Hart Park, where the Queen of the Flower Festival is chosen.

The flower festival is a great opportunity to get a feel for the unique culture of Chiang Mai,

originating from the days of the Lanna Kingdom with its own rule, language, dress and customs.

Women wearing traditional Lanna dress, Lanna food and music are all on display. Local

handicrafts are also featured and are available to buy. The diverse hill tribe cultures of Northern

Thailand are also seen in their unique traditional dress, and include the Hmong, Lisu, Akha and

Karen ethnic groups.

Admiring the prize winning roses, bonsai and orchids is one of my favorite ways to spend time at

the festival. Many of the 3,000 or so varieties of Thai orchids are present, some of which have

amazingly long aerial root systems.

The festival is held in February and this is arguably the best time of year to visit Chiang Mai.

Cool mornings and evenings, warm sunny days, clear blue skies, and especially buoyant spirits

combined with the beauty of the Flower Festival make it a special time of the year. Thailand has

appeared in international media in a negative light in recent times - political protests in Bangkok

coupled with the recession has reduced the number of visitors to Chiang Mai considerably and

local businesses are feeling the pinch. The truth is though that Chiang Mai remains an untroubled

place and is a very safe and cheap tourist destination with a lot to offer.