is spot on. Stay in a couple of spots so you can get immersed in these areas. If you're feeling adventurous rent a bike and ride to Pai for a couple of nights. The road to Pai is one of the nicest road if ever ridden on.
The Thailand Education visa might work mate. Minimum 4 hours a week study to meet your requirements. Visa is cheap and you can study thai cooking, language, massage, budism, kick boxing or hand to hand combat. You can get a tourist visa and convert it to a ed visa in country but it needs to be renewed every 3 months. Was thinking of doing it myself
They ask for a place of residence on the application form. I just booked a hotel in Bangkok for a week and gave them that address. My visa got approval straight away.
Mt test and go 60 day visa took 3 hours for approval and 3 days registered express post round-trip to the consulate but I have heard of people's taking two weeks,so? Passport is easy just take a clear photo with no shadows etc and make sure it's a jpeg.
I followed this video, took all the guess work out of it. Good luck.