The Moon in the Mango Tree

Travel Guide

Thailand

The story of Barbara’s life as a newlywed living in 1920s’ Siam with her medical missionary husband is heavily inspired by the author’s own story – that of her grachmother which adds to the overall impact and historical and cultural aspects of the story.

NanValley

We had emerged this morning from the higher terain of the forested range of mountains that circled the Nan Valley and rode our ponies across the rice fields in the blazing sun. When we arrived at our destination, the missionary house in which I now sat just outside the ancient walls of Nan – known as the Jungle city of Siam – I slid from the pony and whipped the hot, heavy sun helmet, the topi, of my head.

Chiang Mai

The glorious city of palms. The city sat in the shelter of an immense mountain raising from the rice plain. the slopes of the monolith were covered with tea gardens that provided a living to the people of Chiang Mai who picked the leaves. I had it from good authority that at the pinnacles a temple marked the location of a true foot;ring of the Buddha

Chow Luiang is known as the king here but he sends a procession of emissaries once a year and gifts to the King of Siam

In Siam, lives revolved around Buddhism and where structured by it. Temples formed the centre of life in every ton and village; even the smallest village had one. Most young men served some time as Buddhist monks, if only temporarily. The people of the country were completely immersed in Buddhist principles. Buddhist thoughts give them a sense of peace in face of the ravages of nature”

The novel is also partly set in Rome and Venice but the main setting is Siam and the wonders of a country and culture both alien and  unique