Mae Rim

Getting Out of Chiang Mai

Since Chiang Mai was filled with visitors for the Loy Krathong festival, we couldn’t find any accommodation in the city after our first hotel reservation expired. Plan B was heading one hour up into the nearby mountains to the town of Mae Rim. We stayed at the Mae Sa Valley Resort, and we were so glad we did! Mae Sa Valley is even higher up in the hills above Mae Rim town. There is a great stream with many waterfalls flowing down the valley, and the scenery is so lush and green.

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The Mae Sa Valley Resort
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Gazebo at Mae Sa Valley Resort
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This River Runs Down the Valley, Right Through the Hotel Grounds
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Green Thai Curry
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Hanging Around the Hotel
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Yellow Thai Curry
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Curry on Rice
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Pad Thai
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Craft Village at the Hotel
Elephants

The biggest attraction in the Mae Sa valley is the Mae Sa Elephant Camp. The elephants there have many talents and skills that seem impossible, but are perhaps most famous for their artistic abilities. They paint amazing artwork using their trunk to hold a paintbrush! Elephant kisses are very slobbery, and they are super strong.

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Entrance to the Elephant Camp
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A Big Elephant Hug
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Elephant
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"Elephant is My Heart"
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Slobbery Elephant Kiss
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Texting While Driving
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Double Elephant Hug
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Side Profile
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Lin Gets a Hug from a Baby Elephant!
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So Does James!
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Altar to Ganesha, Hindu Elephant God
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Welcome to the Elephant Show
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Hula-Hooping Elephant
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Elephants Playing Soccer


Watch the Elephants Playing Soccer!

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Yes, This Elephant is Painting a Picture
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Elephant Artwork
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An Elephant Masterpiece
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Elephants Thanking the Audience After the Show
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This Woman Was a Bit Scared to Tip the Elephant Trainers
Tigers

After such a fun visit with the elephants, we decided to make a slightly more dangerous visit to the Tiger Kingdom. We got very close to some Bengal Tigers of all different sizes, as you can see.

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Just Like a Giant Kitten!
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James Pretending His Name is Sigfried (or Roy)
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Nice Kitty, Please Don't Eat Us...
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Another Sleepy Tiger
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This Cat Was Just Relaxing Over in the Corner
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Sleepy Tiger!
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Lin with Another Big Tiger...
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...and a Baby!
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Closeup of the Baby Tiger
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Another Baby, Taking a Nap
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Medium Sized Tiger (Maybe a Teenager?)
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One More...
Heading South

Our next adventures in Thailand would take place in the South, known for its many marvelous islands and pristine beaches. We left Mae Rim and Chiang Mai to go to the Krabi area. More on those stories next time…

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Leaving Town with the Whole Fam

2 thoughts on “Mae Rim

  1. Mom

    Fabulous! Thanks for this post on Christmas day. It makes a wonderful present.
    Merry Christmas and missing you.
    Mom

  2. Anne Watt Massey

    MERRY, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! I loved this post…the elephants were amazing and I cannot get over the pictures of y’all lounging around with the big cats…very cool.

    I love you!

    Aunt Anne