Here's why there is much more to Thailand than Bangkok

In northern Thailand, Barry Coughlan sees a new perspective on life

Thai girl from village in rural of Thailand offering foods to Buddhist monks who go about with alms bowl to receive food in the morning by walking across rice field with palm trees.

A covid-interrupted trip to Thailand is finally rescheduled and begins — as all great Thai trips do — with a few nights in wonderful and wild Bangkok. 

Catching up with friends in the frenetic city is fun, but it’s the sleepy towns up north that are on my mind this trip.