The aforementioned rice fields are supposed to be the distinguishing feature, with the resort built on the edge of a fake rice field, with rice farmers and water buffalo working the field every day in a very stylized tableau of rural life in Thailand. Since we lived there, maybe the thrill of seeing rice farmers and fields was lost on us, since the large majority of Thais are rice farmers. Beyoned the field there's supposed to be great views of the surrounding mountains, but in the monsoon those views weren't happening for us, so maybe that's another factor contributing to the letdown. But if you're looking for a truly Disney-fied approach to northern Thailand (which in fact I recommend in this case) check out the Four Seasons Golden Triangle or the Chiang Mai Mandarin Oriental, which are both over the top, in a good way I think. Speaking of Disney in Thailand, about the time of this trip there was front page news everywhere that Disney was going to open up a Magic Kingdom in Isaan, the Northeast of Thailand. As you remember from our Isaan discussion, it's the poorest, most remote part of Thailand, and it's only convenient for Laotians, who of course aren't allowed to leave their country, and certainly wouldn't blow their hard earned cash on Mickey Mouse ears if they could. I couldn't for the life of me figure out what they were thinking, but it turns out it was just a big lie, and the following year they announced they were opening in Hong Kong.

We stayed at the Regent Chiang Mai, now the Four Seasons. It was the only luxury hotel in the city at the time, although the new Mandarin Oriental is our new favorite (in fact we're having our fifth year anniversary celebration there and you're all invited!) One negative is it's pretty far from the city, but other than that it's quite a nice property. Interiors are typical Thai villa style, and the villas are scattered about a very lush property. Not much thought went into the public spaces, but the rooms are more intensely designed than the typical beach villas, and the restaurant is excellent and they have a very nice spa as well. Four Seasons Chiang Mai (8) Room-8, Facilities-8, Service-8, Wow -1, (it's supposed to be the working rice field discussed in the next entry, but the overall colourful jungle feel to the place was more impressive for me).