A 700 years old city in Northern Thailand. A miniature of Bangkok, but cooler and free of dust, definitively cleaner air and less traffic jams. Good place for retirees to get settled and good base for venturing out to the nearby mountains. Attractions within the city vicinity includes the numerous temples, elephant farms and the botanical gardens with beautiful orchids. There are also a couple of small villages where they house the minority hill tribes from across the northern border (primarily the long necked tribes from Burma). These refugees are allowed to stay in these villages set up by local operators and are making a living by selling souvenirs and posting for tourists. It is difficult for a foreigner to pass judgment on these establishments because one cannot tell whether they will have a better life at their home land or as refugees here. Perhaps either way, they are the victims who have been subjected to exploitation by stronger forces...