Wanasom Wellness And Aesthetic Resort

I was presenting a paper at a conference in Chiang Rai and the organisers put me up in the Wanasom Wellness Resort. I had no idea what was in store; but if you are offered this opportunity, just say yes and go! The campus of Mae Fah Luang University (named after "The mother who came from the sky"; the present king's mother, who used to visit hill tribes by helicopter, working tirelessly to bring alternate occupations to the rampant drug trade, back in the day) is beautifully landscaped and planted and the Wanasom Resort is tucked away on a winding country road within the campus. Many of the staff are students learning their trade, eager to please and happy to help. The foyer has a low table cut from the centre of an enormous tree: a single slab of polished wood; with a feeling of calm elegance provided by the high ceilings and wide-open sliding doors. I was driven down the hill by golf cart to my room, which was predictably enormous. I arrived after nightfall which is always the best, because when i awoke and lifted the blinds it was to find that my personal verandah overlooked a photogenic lake with mist drifting on the surface and a boathouse tucked into the corner of the view. Jaw-dropping, an ethereal Chiang Rai hill-top experience. The room had polished wooden floors, the bathroom was huge, and everything spoke of elegance and calm. I had some local friends who joined me for the weekend after the conference and I put them up at the Resort to say thanks for driving over; they too were so impressed with the beauty of the location. Breakfast was in an open-sided building overlooking the amazing lush vegetation and the lake. You do need your own car as the hotel is well out of town; but if you seek calm, quiet luxury in a beautiful part of the world, this is a great choice. Chiang Rai is about 20 km away and the Myanmar border is not far north, or Lao PR to the east; masses of amazing locations to visit and spectacular hills rising steeply from intensively planted fields. There is even a 'beach': a bend in the river with food stalls...