Thailand beyond Bangkok is a completely different, quieter experience, loved it.

White Temple exceeded photos, genuinely stunning, though the gift shop area right after felt a bit like a tourist trap.

Golden Triangle was interesting more for the history and the view of three countries meeting than anything else, worth the stop even if brief.

Bangkok to the northern hills in one trip completely changed how we saw Thailand as a couple, Chinatown at night for the street food chaos, then days later standing in front of the White Temple which looks like nothing else we have seen anywhere, pure white and glass and genuinely otherworldly in the afternoon light.

Northern Thailand paired with Bangkok made for a perfectly balanced couple's trip.

Went during the shoulder monsoon month expecting crowds to be thin and that is exactly what we got, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep at sunset had maybe a dozen other people there, watching the light change over Chiang Mai from up there with my partner was one of the best evenings of the whole trip.