Warm, loving, exotic, tropical, cultured and metropolitan, are just some of the adjectives Mansi Kohli of Rabbaz – Wedding Management & Special Events uses to decode the aura of Thailand. Radiating a golden hue of luxury, Shangri-La Hotel, Chiang Mai, and opulence par excellence packed with ever-comforting Thai smile of Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok, she finds out the reason why Thailand always is celebratory mode!

Thailand always finds a way to celebrate! Right from its stunning beaches, exotic cuisines, crazy shopping malls and traditional Buddhist culture, Thailand is one Southeast Asian country that has around sixteen million foreigners flying into the country each year. A perfect amalgamation of cluttered cities and rural heartland, tropical forests and gleaming temples, ultramodern cityscape and traditional Thai cuisine based around local ingredients, such as pungent lemongrass, searing chillies and plump seafood; Thailand is indeed Asia’s primary travel and wedding destination. Our recent exclusive trip to Thailand was organised by the immaculate Atika Gupta and the luxury travel connoisseur, Aarti Thapa, Founder of www.weddingfables.comWe had opportunity to explore Thailand’s northern capital Chiang Mai whilst our stay in the ultra-luxurious Shangri-La Hotel, Chiang Mai; and Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok that was scenically located with the enchanting view of Chao Phraya River.

1. Welcoming the World in Style, Thai Airways Experience is Indeed Smooth as Silk
Our journey from New Delhi to Chiang Mai was kick-started by the highly recommended Thai Airways. The flight offered us a great sense of space, wide sculptured ceilings, large windows with dimmers, indulgent in-flight entertainment across a wide range of languages and categories (with more than 100 movie options to choose from), sans any jetlag. The cabin staff was traditionally dressed in finest of silks, offering us a large size (soft and super hygienic too!) plush blankets and pillows and a foot rest. Our 4 hours 25 minutes DIRECT night flight was packed full of proper dinner service and timely beverage service. And yes, when you get piping hot meals and cold sugarcane and corn dessert you know you’re flying with a class act! Guiding us through the premier lounge access, assisting us on our currency exchange, visa processes, and mobile- sim purchase etc, Leena Duangruthai representative of Thai Airways was extremely patient and supportive in taking care of all our tiniest of requirements. While helping each one of us with a smile, vivacious and charming Leena made sure that each one of us were well taken care of all throughout our journey.

2. Exploring the Wonderland of Finest Thai Hospitality at Shangri-La Chiang Mai
At airport itself, we were welcomed personally by Vorapong Muchaotai (KOB), Deputy Managing Director of DMC Events Thailand and Shangri-La Chiang Mai’s managerial staff. Their warm smiles and firm handshakes truly made us felt WELCOME at the airport of Thailand’s northern capital, Chiang Mai.

But it was all just a sneak-peak of what we were about to experience! The enduring welcome we received just within a 20-minute ride from airport to the Shangri-La Hotel, Chiang Mai was rather mesmerising. Traditionally dressed staff appeared in a tuk-tuk, embracing our wrists with fragrant jasmine flower garland (a perfect boomerang opportunity) and refreshing welcome drinks. The moment you enter the hotel its façade immediately embodies the local flavour, with Lanna-style religious architecture characterised by steep, multi-tiered spires. Its serene gardens, and 281 rooms and suites so plush, you’ll be tempted not to venture back out into the crowds. Though the hotel features the luxury touches that come standard with the Shangri-La brand, the property seems deep-rooted in its cultural heritage. These cultural references run throughout the design, with Thai silks, teak-wood carvings, local celadon tea sets, bed runners, artwork and more. The lush garden setting immediately creates the sense of a hidden resort in the middle of the city. Along with the main swimming pool, there’s an outdoor jacuzzi and yoga pavilion, as well as sauna and steam room facilities in the large health club. As a Horizon Club guest, we had private check-in/check-out in your room, along with the option of a late check-out until 4pm (subject to availability). Horizon Club guests also get to use the private lounge – the biggest perk – where complimentary facilities include daily breakfast, evening cocktails and canapes, beverages served all day, newspapers and magazines, suit pressing and shoe shine service. We kick-started our day by satiating our roving appetites at China Kitchen (formerly Shang Garden); packed full of heat and spice and all things bloody wonderful. Originally a Thai fusion outlet, China Kitchen been re-launched with spicy Sichuan cuisine – a first for Chiang Mai. What’s most fascinating about our lunch was how the chefs manged to titillate our senses with both, vegetarian and non-vegetarian varieties. It was mind-boggling to see the types of tofu, mushroom and pad Thai noodle dishes this restaurant could come up with! We all could have literally cleared buckets of the staff, but that was also a tough call looking at the mammoth quantities they serve, perfectly suited to Indian king style of mehmaan nawaazi.

3. The Blissfully Meditative Shanrgri-La Chiang Mai’s CHI, The Spa
Our appetising lunch, was followed by the blissful experience of Chi, the Spa. We were welcomed with a local fruit drink by the lovely Napa, my personal masseuse for the session. After being presented with the sniffing tray, I chose my lavender-infused fragrant oil and selected the pressure I like (firm) and listed the areas where I wanted the therapist to focus. The entry area of the spa is a large tranquil, soft-lit room with private cushioned nooks and light music, where you sit and calm down and prepare for your treatment. My one-hour of blissful massage over an electric blanket wrapped bed was a completely exhilarating experience. The spa menu is not overwhelming but comprehensive enough to offer just about any treatment you want. The therapists are well trained and will spoil you right from the word go! By the end of the session we were floating in air while nibbling on some sesame bars, green tea cookies, Thai crackers, along with a hot cup of oolong tea.

4. Chiang Mai is City of Vibrant Contrasts
At night, we went to Waualai Walking Street, all ready for more adventures. Shanri-La Chiang Mai, located in Chang Khlan, is one family friendly hotel, which is just within a 10-minute walking distance from all of the major Chiang Mai tourist spots, such as the famous Night Bazaar, Tha Pae Gate and Sunday Walking Street. It is just about one kilometre from Chiang Mai Train Station. Hustling and bustling with the best of local and unique Thai handicraft finds, Waualai Walking Street is home to some of the best carved soaps, novelty dog collars, woodcarvings, Buddha paintings, hill-tribe trinkets, Thai musical instruments, T-shirts, paper lanterns and umbrellas, silver jewellery and herbal remedies. Tourists can also enjoy the local foods and Thai traditional performances. The next morning, after indulging ourselves in one of the most extensive buffet settings at the breakfast lounge, we were headed to the city tour orientation at 3 Kings Monument where we saw the sculpture of the ‘Three Kings’ — King Mengrai, the founder of Chiang Mai; his contemporary and reportedly good friend King Ramkamhaeng of Sukothai; and King Ngam Muang of Payao. It is an iconic temple representing Chiang Mai. Then we went to visit the Wat Chedi Luang Temple, which in ruins when the city began its modern renaissance, but a restoration project by Unesco and the Japanese government in the 1990s stabilised the monument. It is where worshippers convene for the evening candle procession. We ended our spiritual day tour, by visiting the legendary Wat Phra That Doi Suthep Temple. This temple visit comes with a lovely journey up the mountain as you make the half hour drive. Great views overlooking the city, and on a clear day, you can get some great Insta-worthy photos. We were taken on a tram to the top, but while coming back we enthusiastically climbed down 300 steps of the 630-year old temple. On reaching the top, we were greeted with the sight of the golden spire, which decorates the centre of the mountain top temple. The walls around the spire form a mini enclave and are richly decorated with historical murals and shrines.

5. Magical Gala Dinner Setting; a Joint Effort by Shangri-La Chiang Mai, Oriental Events Company Limited & DMC Events Thailand
The end of our second day witnessed the grand gala dinner setting amplified by the traditional Thai dance welcome, and two culturally rich and musically on-point live dance performances. We were taken aback by fine dining set up organised by the charming Gabriele Lombardo, General Manager of Shangri-La Chiang Mai, Wiyada Sornprapha, Director of Sales and Marketing of Shangri-La Chiang Mai. Heartfelt gratitude to Krittidech Srabua, Founder and CEO of Oriental Events Company Limited for showcasing us the luxury of exotic Thai-originated flower decoration skills and grand set-up for the evening, befitting an Indian wedding scenario. Vorapong Muchaotai (KOB), Deputy Managing Director of DMC Events Thailand also showed us how leisure group travel in Thailand can be packed with wow factor and creativity, especially keeping the preferences and desires of Indian guests in mind. Last but not the least, here I would like to give a special mention to Leena Duangruthai representative of Thai Airways, for giving a quick presentation on how Thai airways always stands true to its tagline ‘smooth as silk’. A memorable feel for only those who experience can witness! As the evening turned into midnight, we found ourselves getting high on free-flowing food all cooked to perfection and placed eloquently on the eclectic quicksilver cutlery, transforming into a romantic spot of candlelight ecstasy. Our third and last day in Chiang Mai was started by being friends with elephants in their natural habitat at Maesa Elephant Camp Show, Chiang Mai. This area of the Maesa Valley is home to the largest assembly of domesticated elephants in northern Thailand. We saw how elephants were painting like pro and then strutting their way out diligently carrying their paint boxes following their master like a diligent student! And boy, did they draw? One of their paintings was sold then and there for Rs. 6,000 Bhat i.e. roughly around 13,000 INR. In fact, Maesa Elephant Camp is the only place in the world showing the painting of realistic pictures by elephant artists. After this, we went to San Kamphaeng Road to visit the Bo Sang Handicraft Centre (8km south east from Chiang Mai). Here, we watched the whole process as the workers hand make the paper lamps, fans, umbrellas and parasols from start to end. From making the bamboo struts, covering them with paper, putting them out to dry and then hand painting them. Even very complicated scenic designs can be painted on your object right in front of you in minutes.

6. Accha Indian Fusion Restaurant Serves Exquisite Desi Food at the Heart of Chiang Mai
After these back-to-back events, our craving for desi, Indian food was satiated at our lunch at Accha Indian Fusion restaurant. Chock-a-bloc with excellent food in Jain, vegetarian and traditional Indian cuisine varieties, the restaurant has aromatic bold flavours and quality ingredients as its trademark. We tried the platter of dahi ke kebab, palak ki tikka, followed by fusion thai noodle bowl, pineapple and egg biryani, and finishing up with strong, masaaledaar chai. Our exquisite lunch was followed by surfing giant waves, crossing wobbly wooden bridges across waterfalls, fighting off dinosaurs and re-living the Egyptian 18th century era. No, this isn’t no April fool’s joke but reminisces of amazement and awe from the largest interactive art museum in the world, Art in Paradise. The 3-story museum collects a variety of paintings featuring sites like Angkor Wat, the canals of Venice and Egyptian Tombs to wildlife and dinosaurs and zombies to clever adaptations of works from famous paintings like Van Gogh’s sunflowers and the Mona Lisa. The last adrenaline-induced activity we witnessed at Chiang Mai was the Chiang Mai’s Night Safari. A visit to ChiangMai’s Night Safari was a perfect way to have a tête-à-tête with the nocturnal world. We ogled at all sorts of critters from the back of an open-sided tram. With African herbivores on display and musical fountains, it’s a must-visit tourist hot-spot, especially for wild life enthusiasts. We ended our day on yet another high note as Kad Kafé, Shangr-La Chiang Mai took good care of serving us the best of Chinese cuisine. Named after the local word for market, Kad Kafé offers food prepared à la minute with the freshest ingredients, in a pleasantly engaging atmosphere.

7. Shanri-La Hotel Bangkok is Designed to Weave Opulence & Luxury
Right from our molecular and distinct flavour welcome drink at Shangri-La Bangkok’s to its scenic 360-degree river location adding significantly to the majestic airs; The Bangkok Shangri-La is the largest hotel property in Thailand along the Chao Praya river. The rooms in the Shangri-La wing offer contemporary designs and paintings with compact and spotless bathrooms, all packed with a touch of ostentatiousness of brocade curtains, Thai silk wall-coverings and intricate chandeliers. The Shangri-La offers six restaurants, along with charismatic banquet halls giving any affair a huge and grand feel all while offering distinctive Thai flavour and plenty of pomp and show. My biggest tip when experiencing the magic of Shangri-La, Bangkok would be to make a reservation for dinner aboard the hotel’s private riverboat, the Horizon Club, and sail past beautifully illuminated temples as you eat. Also, do not forget to take advantage of the private butler service, riverfront swimming pool, and CHI spa.

8. Bravo to the Power-Packed Organisers of Thailand #FamTrip2017
To wrap it up, here I would like to thank the gorgeous, Atika Gupta for thoughtfully planning each and every well-spaced itinerary detail and arranging for meaningful meetings with various eminent honchos of Thai wedding fraternity; you were the real reason behind the grand success of our #FamTrip2017. Also, I would like to show my heartfelt gratitude to ARATI THAPA– the brain and heart behind WeddingFables – for organising this 5-day momentous trip, which is truly etched in our memories forever. Making us all experience a week full of Thai hospitality, aromas, cultures, colours, flavours and vibrancies – all characteristics we need to experience for a wedding from a wedding planner perspective! Thank YOU once again, Arati! Big LOVE always!