Thailand has a way of outlasting every plan. We arrived in Chiang Rai for five days and stayed twelve, delayed by a cooking class that turned into a friendship and a slow boat across the Mekong into Laos. Our guides focus on the north and the Gulf islands — the regions we know best. Complete walkthrough of the Chiang Rai to Laos border crossing at Huay Xai, a family guide to Koh Nang Yuan, and a Thai cooking class we still talk about. Northern Thailand rewards slow travel.