There is a floral festival running just outside Chiang Mai until mid March – full details here. I had been warned that it would still be busy (despite the holidays having ended today), but I had no idea… absolutely packed.
As it was so busy, it could hardly be called relaxing; and its quite a noisy place, with lots of loudspeaker action trying to get you to the various attraction pavilions. Nevertheless, it will definitely be worth a visit once it has calmed down. Its 200 Bht to get in, but a 300 Bht deal gets you in with a ride on the wheel and the shuttle bus (perfect for when you have had enough and want to get back to the entrance/ exit).
There are a few craft and farming exhibits (which were interesting for a foreigner – but probably quite mundane for a Thai). The main attraction is the flowers, and particularly the orchids; some of which belong to the Royal collection.
Stylised and highly posed photos are very popular (across most of South East Asia from what I have seen)…
And another thing… I know for a fact that I will appear in at least 6 peoples albums; there was some very indiscreet snapping of my good self when I was eating my lunch (sort of a spicy chicken noodle broth with vegetables) using chop sticks. Westerners were very thin on the ground here, so I suppose I was a bit of a novelty – should have charged…