Chiang Mai, northern province of Thailand. The first time I heard of this place was the first time I went there. However I know its going to be a nature travel, visiting elephants in the jungle, rivers crossing, mountain trekking, exotic Thai food eating and making new friends. From Sukhotai, it was a 9 hours bus ride, like going to Ilocos from Manila. But the best thing about traveling Thailand is the comfort of sleeper bus. I arrived in Chiang mai late night but the city is still lit. I walk around the bar street, tried some fried insect and had Chang, a local beer, very light taste. I also had San Mig Lite, not surprising as I every country I visited they have San Mig. The next morning I rented a vespa from the AirBnB, visited ruins of the old kingdoms. Now, being Pacific Islanders, we have had few rulers with kingdoms before but not as grand as this, plus the Spaniards killed most of them and demonized our tradition and culture. Sadly, what’s left are ambiguous artifacts of the past. Thailand for the most part of it’s history as I read and studied is part bravery and part being lucky. They are the only ASEAN that wasn’t tainted and exploited by the Europeans, a buffer country until the Japanese invasion of Asia. Chiangmai like Sukhothai has a lot of Buddhist temples and monks, if I stayed here longer, I might even practice Buddhism, I am really close to that point.