The Secret Garden, Chiang Mai, Thailand

This place ranks up there as one of the 2 or 3 most enjoyable stays during our 5 months so far. It is located fairly far outside of Chiang Mai city and it truly is a secret garden hidden down a few side streets past the small town of Bo Sang (famous for making decorative umbrellas). Peter and Pai have lived there for 25 years and only in the last year opened up their home and former artist studios (they made marionettes shipped the world over along with sculptures and other art forms.) The grounds are really lovely, the rooms spacious and comfortable and the service that they provide is really remarkable. They truly give their guests everything they have to make sure their stay is beyond enjoyable.  While it looks expensive it is quite reasonable.  If you every visit Chiang Mai, you need to stay here.

We arrived on a Sunday after a grueling 11 hour local bus ride from Chum Phae to Chiang Mai. No bathroom (a bit reminiscent of Ecuador) and stops for only a few minutes every 2 hours or so. We all rushed off the bus, pushing by the crowd of standing room only passengers to use the facilities as needed. I usually stayed behind to make sure that the bus didn’t leave without us, which it almost did on Kelli one time were it not for my shouting from the back of the bus to “STOP”. Anyway, we arrived at the Secret Garden and immediately sank down in our chairs taking in the peace and tranquility. It was if we were suddenly transported to another planet.

WGGSH - Most Definitely

WWSHA - Absolutely (This and Peuma Hue in Argentina are the only two places for which we posted our own Trip Advisor review.)