On Monday, I take you on a journey somewhere in Thailand—to discover a place, a flavor, an emotion, an experience—everything that gives depth to discovery and to life.
Sometimes a scent, a light, a sound brings back vivid memories. I have just arrived in Bangkok, on a lucky Friday the 13th, very early in the morning. The sun is barely rising, casting shimmering reflections along a canal. Bundles of flowers begin to appear, soon overflowing from stalls and shops, spilling onto the sidewalks. Fleeting visions, a magical moment.
We are at Pak Khlong Talat, the country’s largest flower market, stretching through streets, alleyways, warehouses, and backyards. Here, life begins when night falls. Vans arrive one after another until dawn, unloaded by hand; thousands of nimble fingers sort, classify, and thread delicate, fragrant jasmine and vibrant orange marigolds. Each flower, each plant is a journey—an invitation to discover another region, a renewed delight every time.
The north of the country is the heart of horticulture. The provinces of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Tak, and Loei are renowned for their nurseries and rose production. At the start of the cool season, a 4WD winds its way along dirt roads between Pai and the Angkhang region. Wild orchids cling to the forest trees, greeting you along the way, while the occasional village reveals itself with an ancient stupa. Along the ridgelines—the natural border with Myanmar—the landscape unfolds. At Doi Angkhang, forests are adorned with rhododendrons, while on the hillsides, Lisu, Lahu, and Padaung communities work among tea plantations and strawberry fields. In January, blooming cherry blossoms transform the scenery, captivating the senses.
Closer to Chiang Mai, just 25 to 30 kilometers away, the Mae Rim region becomes a destination in itself. In winter, local travelers flock here for its rolling hills, mountain views, and abundant horticultural farms—an Eden of colors and textures. At dawn, flower beds seem to melt into the mist: fields of rainbow hues, bright red salvias, marigolds, hydrangeas, petunias, gerberas, hibiscus, poinsettias, heliconias, and even orange orchards where you can pick fruit yourself, all set against emerald mountains and blue skies.
Everything invites you to wander. Easy trails lead through this landscape, with elevated walkways crossing the fields and offering sweeping views over Mon Jam.
You will have understood: the farmers here are painters, splashing the hillsides with colors that make the air vibrate and carry you into enchanted worlds. Are you in a mountain garden, at Pak Khlong Talat, in an orchard in Chiang Rai, or inside a painting by Arcimboldo? Are you picnicking by Mae Sa waterfall, or dining at sunset on a mountaintop, with champagne and musicians playing just for you… or for your guests?
Yes, everything is possible—and everything is real. Images drift from one region to another, flashes of memory awakening emotions, like echoes of the samsara.
Let us weave these memories together, revive and shape these emotions. The images are endless, shall we write the next chapter together?
Above all… dare!