Chiang Mai is the most important city and central hub in Northern thailand. Home of tens of "wats" (temples), this was the base for a great exploration of the surrounding national parks, hill tribes and elephant camps!! Yeah!
I got up to the Golden Triangle, the legendary place where opium has been traded for gold inbetween Thailand, Laos, Myanmar and China for ages... Mekong River is the border of 3 countries around here!