Adin Parks - Thailand

Nestled in the jungle in the foothills of the Himalayan mountain range, Chiang Mai is the second-largest city in Thailand. Culture, history, and religion are what make the city so enticing to outsiders and locals alike. The city itself is cramped; housing and apartments are stacked on top of one another. At the center of the city a moat runs around a four mile square of fallen walls protecting the old inner city.

I spent a week in Thailand with a documentarian team capturing the essence, cultural importance and the religious temperament of the cityscape.

A cat watches a man eat food in the midday sun on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in the Si Phum district in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

A lizard clings to a door above a no smoking sign at the Mountain View Guesthouse in the Si Phum district of Chiang Mai. The naturally warm area of the landscape makes it easy for wildlife to exist year-round in Chiang Mai.

The streets of Chiang Mai, Thailand, give way to the shops and business in the late afternoon. Chiang Mai continues to be a vibrant and bustling city, growing with tourism and business. Mopeds are the preferred mode of transportation by the locals because they can fit into smaller spaces and alleys. The next mode of transportation is Grab, a taxi service, or the Songthaews, which are red open-ended trucks that act like buses. Songthaews are unique to Chiang Mai and are mostly used by tourists.

A woman bows at the feet of a statue of Buddha in the Wat Umong temple. The underground temple was placed at the foot of the jungle-covered mountains right outside of Chiang Mai in Thailand. The underground temple was dug out to allow the darkness and stillness to provide peace for meditation.

A monk sweeps the stairs leading from the Wat Phra That Doi Suthep temple to the monk’s quarters on top of the Doi Suthep mountain. Chores are a a common part of a monk’s quiet and simple life. The monks live on the same mountain, not far from the temple.

Incense is burned at the Wat Lok Moli temple in the morning in Chiang Mai. The burning of incense is believed by buddhists to help purify the space and to invoke the presence of Buddha and other entities.

Buddhist monks engage in chanting rituals and meditation practices at Wat Chiang Man, a buddhist temple in Chiang Mai. Buddhist temples are often open to visitors and worshipers, offering services and religious practices to those who visit.

A mini statue of Buddha sits on a low rising wall in the Wat Umong temple. Numerous statues of Buddha were positioned in multiple places around the temple.

A tourist walks past a homeless man on the inside of the north wall of the Old City in Chiang Mai. Very few people in Thailand are homeless or unemployed. According to the Thailand Board of Investment, the unemployment rate in Thailand reached as low as 0.8% in 2024. Unemployment has steadily declined since the Covid-19 pandemic as the Thai government has created jobs and initiatives to bring more Thai into the workforce.

A young Thai boy looks both ways across a busy street before crossing with his father after school. Education is a prominent factor in Thai culture, with students studying into the summer months.

A street vendor finishes setting booth displays out on the street during a night market held on the East wall of the Old City in Chiang Mai. The night markets are a staple of the city, and local ones are held on the weekends. Vendors, shops and locals come together to sell goods, bringing the community in to walk and shop.

A local Thai dancer dances in a food court at the Night Bezaar. The Night Bazaar is a prominent night market open every night of the week, spanning over a mile in each direction of the street. Food and music are a popular part of Thai culture, with performers playing local hits and covers of popular songs, performing for those around.

School-children parade down the 306-step descent from the Wat Phra That Doi Suthep temple on top of the Doi Suthep mountain after a field trip visiting the temple. Educational institutions in Thailand often imprint Buddhistic values upon the students from an early age.

A group of young monks relax together in front of the landscape view atthe Wat Phra That Doi Suthep temple on top of the Doi Suthep mountain. Alongside education, children are often encouraged to study at monasteries. Often, impoverished parents send their children to monasteries to help save money for their children.

A Thai gardener plants flowers at the Doi Inthanon National Park in Thailand. Thailand lays at the foothills of the Himalayan mountain range, with the highest peak rising 8,415 feet above sea level. The national park is home to the Doi Inthanon temple, one of the most prominent temples in Chiang Mai.

A monk in white robes eats a meal before lunchtime at the Wat Phra That Doi Suthep temple on top of the Doi Suthep mountain. White-robed monks are very common around buddhist temples. The white non-traditional garb of the monks depicts a layperson, novice, or a ‘Mae chi’, which is a non-traditional female monk who is not ordained but follows a minimum of 8 precepts.

Thai worshippers walk around the Doi Suthep temple in Chiang Mai. Temples require modest attire, only allowing pants that extend to the ankles and shirts that cover over the shoulders. If a worshipper attends a temple with improper attire, they will be given a shawl to wear for their remaining time on the temple grounds.

Tourists look at each other on a bridge in the bogota garden outside the light bogota on the Doi Inthanon mountain as a cloud passes over the top of the mountain. The Light Bogota sits on the exact highest point of the mountain, making it the tallest landmark in Thailand and a popular tourist attraction.