Remembering Nan
Facebook's "On This Day" feature reminded me that it's been a year since our trip to Nan Province. We often think that if, after a long time, we still want to return to a place, it means that it holds special significance for us. Nan is definitely one of those places that left a lasting impression on us.

Longing to return to Nan.
"Missing Nan so much."

This is our first trip to Nan. It's been a year since we traveled to Nan between November 15-18, 2016. We planned to arrive before the peak season because we knew there would be a lot of tourists after that. Throughout our trip, whenever we met uncles, aunts, and restaurant staff, they all said the same thing: "It's good that you came early, so you don't have to compete with other tourists. It's going to be crowded after this." It was as if they had all agreed on it beforehand, which was funny.

002 Travel
Traveling by plane is probably the most convenient and fastest way to get there. Besides being our first trip to Nan, another first for us was renting a car to drive ourselves around. We don't know if there are any other public transportation options, as we didn't research them at all. We barely saw any, or maybe we just didn't notice, haha. Most of the people we saw were driving rented cars. It was definitely worth it! We could go wherever we wanted and stop whenever we wanted. It was great.

003 Doi Samer Dao
We arrived in Nan around 6:00 p.m. The sun was setting, and the light was fading. As soon as we arrived, we rushed to buy some supplies at a well-known convenience store and then drove up to Doi Samer Dao. The road was relatively good, with some dark spots and oncoming traffic that made our hearts skip a beat. Haha, it seemed like they were building a new road at that time, and there were repairs in many places. It took us less than 2 hours to reach Doi Samer Dao. When we went, there was a super full moon phenomenon after the Loy Krathong festival. On the way up the mountain, we could still see that the moon was big, but we didn't have time to take a picture. When we booked the tickets, we didn't check what day it was or whether it was a waxing or waning moon. As a result, we could hardly see the stars. Haha, because the light from the moon was too bright. I recommend checking the day carefully before you go. But as far as we went, it was still a lot of fun.

We opted to sleep in a tent provided by the park. Well, "opted" might be a strong word. Due to some misunderstanding, the owner of the tent we had arranged to rent never showed up! So, we were left with no choice but to rent a tent from the park itself. We almost ended up without a place to sleep! The park tent was decent, not particularly clean but not dirty either. However, if you have time, I recommend renting a tent from below before heading up to the mountain. You might find a more spacious and cleaner option. I'll show you pictures in the morning light.

For now, let me show you a picture of the "mooガタ" (Thai BBQ) we enjoyed. It was our first meal in Nan, amidst the cool breeze. Indulging in hot "mooガタ" was pure bliss. Afterwards, we ventured up to the mountaintop, letting the cold wind hit our faces. But the wind wasn't playing around; it was a serious chill that numbed our faces. In the end, we humans were defeated by nature once again. We retreated to take a shower and brush our teeth before bed. I say "shower" to sound fancy, but I didn't actually shower. Haha!

004 Early Morning Wake-Up!!

We woke up feeling cold, the blankets were not enough. The alarm clock that we set for early morning was not as early as the surrounding tents. The sound of footsteps made us wake up. Almost all tourists were heading to the top of the mountain.

The first rays of sunlight began to illuminate the sea of mist before us, making it even more breathtaking. We all enjoyed taking silhouette photos, and the sky seemed even more beautiful than it would have been with the sun fully risen. However, our hopes were dashed as clouds quickly enveloped the scene, almost completely obscuring the view. We had already accepted that we wouldn't see the sunrise in its entirety, but that didn't stop us from feeling a tinge of disappointment. After all, even adults are allowed to feel a little let down sometimes.

005 is the living condition
This is our living condition. The tents are neatly arranged and there is a map for us to choose from. I can't remember the price, but it's definitely not expensive. The bathroom is at a national park level.

Looking down from the mountain to the camping ground, you can see that the area is not very large. The same goes for the parking lot. Looking up from the camping ground to the top of the mountain, after enjoying the view on Doi Pha Hom Pok for a while, the hot sun chased us to find shelter. We walked to the other side of the mountain to explore, and then went to have breakfast in front of the entrance. This is a private camping ground.

Continuing from Doi Pha Hom Pok, we arrived at another viewpoint, Pha Chu. There is a camping ground available for tourists. It is quiet and has fewer people than Doi Pha Hom Pok. In our opinion, the view here is not as panoramic as Doi Pha Hom Pok.

What's at Pha Chu? It has the longest national flag line in Thailand.
Oh, really? Wow, really?! Haha, so cute.

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007 Standing Bewildered Amidst the Earth Pillars of Doi Nang Non

The Earth Pillars of Doi Nang Non offer a bewildering spectacle, smaller than expected yet strangely captivating. One marvels at the wonders of nature, pondering the millions of years of erosion and sedimentation that have shaped these unique formations. During our visit, the site was relatively deserted, adding to the sense of wonder. We explored cautiously, mindful of the occasional presence of fascinating creatures.

Today's Destination: Pua

Our journey takes us to the Pua district, a scenic location nestled amidst breathtaking landscapes. Pua and Doi Samer Dao, our previous destination, lie on opposite sides of the region, requiring an approximate two-and-a-half-hour drive. To break up the journey, we make a pit stop in the city center for lunch and to pay respects to the sacred symbols of Nan province. Our first stop is Wat Phumin, renowned for its world-famous "Whispering of Love" mural.

For lunch, I recommend Khao Soi Gai, a popular northern Thai noodle dish with chicken. There are many restaurants to choose from. (Which restaurant in Bangkok is the best? Please recommend it to me.)

After a delicious lunch, we set off to pay our respects to the sacred symbols of Nan province, Wat Phra That Chae Haeng.

Phra That Chae Haeng, the sacred stupa for those born in the year of the Rabbit, according to Lanna beliefs.

After exploring the temple grounds and greeting four or five cats, it was time for us to head to Pua.

We are now in Pua District. We drove here leisurely without rushing. We stopped at our accommodation to drop off our belongings and rest for a while. Then, we headed to another place not far from our accommodation, which is Wat Phukiet.

Phuket Temple offers stunning views of rice fields, even though the farmers had already harvested their crops when we visited. The beauty of the landscape remained undiminished, taking on a different kind of charm. We spent a considerable amount of time admiring the view from the top of the temple.

It's time to explore the bottom. The sun is (strong) and we are tired from walking around, so we need to find some sweet drinks to refresh ourselves.

Notes:

• I am ready to translate sentences or phrases from Thai to English.
• Please provide the text you want me to translate.

Baan Tai Lue Coffee is a popular spot for tourists visiting Nan. It offers a charming and stylish atmosphere with views of rice fields at affordable prices. Additionally, visitors can admire the beauty of Thai fabrics from the Lam Duan Weaving Shop, which is located within the same area.

009 A New Day Dawns

We allowed ourselves to sleep in a little today, reluctantly joining the auntie for breakfast even though we booked our accommodation without it. She even stir-fried morning glory for us. Aside from the beauty of the natural attractions, art, culture, and architecture, it's the people of Nan that truly impressed us.

After finishing our breakfast mission, we drove to Doi Phu Kha. Along the way, there were many large and small trees that were quite dense (denser than the Doi Pha Hom Pok area), providing us with good shade. We rolled down the windows to enjoy the cool air, which, even though it was past ten o'clock, was still as cool as early morning. On top of Doi Phu Kha, there is a camping ground and park bungalows, which are very interesting. I think I'll try to stay here next time. The weather on top of the mountain at this time is still cool, while at Doi Pha Hom Pok, it would probably be scorching hot. This is a difference that we could feel.

Viewpoint 1715. We can't remember why we came to this point. Not sure if we accidentally drove past or saw the sign and followed it. But we're here now, and we're glad we came. Don't forget to stop by.

Life has its ups and downs… Let's go find something to eat.

Mushroom Cravings at Baan Hua Nam Mushroom Farm

I'm not sure what happened, but I must have been feeling drowsy and fell asleep. When I woke up, I was at our agreed-upon destination. This is my second visit to Baan Hua Nam Mushroom Farm. Yesterday, we had their mushroom pizza, and it was delicious. They have a wide variety of mushroom dishes, and I had to come back for more. I'm excited to share some photos with you now.

We descended to the rice fields below, where a path leads to the Sila Lang Palace. We reached the supposed entrance to the palace, but there were no signs, tourists, or locals. As we were only two, we decided not to proceed, fearing that if we needed help, no one would hear us. We only managed to take one photo from the front.

011 In the City

On our final night, we stayed in the city center, which was conveniently located near popular tourist attractions. After dropping off our luggage, we decided to explore further. We left our car at the accommodation and opted for a more eco-friendly mode of transportation: bicycles. The accommodation generously offered us bikes to borrow free of charge. We happily cycled around, taking in the sights and sounds of the city.

Sri Pan Ton Temple

Nan National Museum

Ming Mueang Temple, City Pillar Shrine

Sweet dreams after enjoying Auntie Nim's dessert tonight.

See you again, Nan.
There are no activities today. It's the day we travel back to Bangkok. This trip was impressive as always (we're always impressed whenever we get to travel, haha). But for Nan, we always miss it. This should confirm that we really enjoyed our time here.

Thank you, my lovely companions, for being as wonderful as always. : )
Circle.