Abonzo Yama Mitsu

What is it: Set against the breezy hilltop at Abonzo Yama Mitsu in Chiang Rai, Marshmallow Restival bills itself as Thailand’s first ‘restival’ – essentially a festival where the point isn’t constant go but intentional pause. Blending live music, nature, crafts and sensory workshops around the concept of The Art of Rest, this is where you go to embrace the slow life without dropping out of the world entirely.   Why we love it: In a world of big, loud and fast lifestyles – the north’s ever-expanding festival scene included – Marshmallow Restival is a rare thing – a spacious exhale that focuses on the joys of downtime. Sure, the music still happens (with bangin’ sets from Friday, P.O.P and ETC. alongside the Marshmallow Symphony Orchestra and other local bands), but here it’s delivered in a way that invites wandering and absorbing the scene, rather than jostling for a space at the front of the crowd.    Interspersed between the stage performances are tactile experiences – from coffee, tea and wine tastings to postcard-writing calligraphy, scent workshops and a ‘bookshop on the hill’ curated by Passport Bookshop – all designed to slow the heartbeat without numbing the senses. Here the rest isn’t an afterthought, it’s the headline.   Time Out tip: Think of this less like a festival and more like a doctor’s permission slip for rest and relaxation all weekend long – no work emails allowed. Show up ready to drift between sounds and sessions, bring layers for cooling evenings in...