We spent three days in the city of Chiang Mai, which is situated in Northern Thailand. It is located on a river basin inside a valley of the mountainous region referred to as the Thai highlands. In addition to being the largest city and capital of the Chiang Mai province, it is also the second largest city in the country. And, I may add, a fun place to visit. With a population of over 1.2 million people, spread out over six neighboring districts, roughly two-thirds of the province's inhabitants call this city home. Chiang Mai means 'new city', although it has been around since 1296 when it became the capital of the newly established Lanna Kingdom, an Indianized state that ruled present-day Northern Thailand from the 13th to the 18th century. By the end of the 1800s, what was left of the Lanna kingdom (or vassal state by this time) was brought under the control of Siam (Thailand). The city is a very popular tourism spot, drawing over ten million visitors annually, of which 35-40 percent are foreigners. The city still has some remnants of its Old City walls dating back to the Lanna Kingdom. There are a ton of historical Buddhist temples and monuments within the city limits. Chiang Mai also has a thriving nightlife, with numerous food and vendor markets (the food is delicious and cheap) and a large selection of reputable (and less-than-reputable) bars and nightclubs catering to every fancy. Our hotel was conveniently located near a popular night bizarre and just walking distance from the historic quarter. The following photos were taken over the course of my three-day stay in the city.