Kwan Payao September 2013
Payao (also spelled Phayao, Pha Yao etc., always starting with a P sound) is one of the hidden gems of Northern Thailand. A tranquil town located on a vast lake (Kwan Payao) makes a great getaway from the bustle and ever worsening traffic and pollution in Chiang Mai. The town now has a full tourist infrastructure with many clean and affordable guesthouses (often callee "Home Stay"), friendly lakeside nrestaurants serving fish from the lake prepared hot and spicy, as well as as lakeside parks and funfairs that serve as a promenade. Payao is only about 150 kilometers from Chiang Mai and can be reached via a solid and scenic road by car or motorcycle. There are no train or plane connections to Payao, but the city is located on Highway 1 that connects Bangkok with Chiang Rai. Several buses travel to Phayao from Chiang Mai and other places numerous times per day. The panorama shows a typical monsoon rain front coming over the lake.