It is a province with a city of the same name in northern Thailand. The northernmost point – Mae Sai – is also in this city. Chiang Rai is called as the main gate to the Golden Triangle of 3 states (Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos). In the 1990s, tourists couldn’t visit this area. The reason was the business of the drug mafia. There were poppy fields everywhere and the place was famous for great opium production in the world. The police suppressed this trade, there were built hotel complexes and the door was opened for tourists. The city is surrounded by nature along with the mountains and is considered one of the oldest settlements in Thailand. Originally, it was the capital of the Lan Na kingdom, but the center was moved to Chiang Mai later.
11. 11. 2017
Today we had to wake up early because our bus to Chiang Rai left at 8:15 am. I woke up at 6:00 am and I did my morning hygiene (I spent one hour in the natural bathroom). Then I went to wake up Martin. Everything has been planned and calculated in detail this time. We had to go to breakfast at 7:00 am (time to eat was 30 minutes) then we checked out quickly and we needed to go out at 7:40 am to the bus station with 15 minutes in reserve. Well, what happened…
Martin was white as the wall and had stomachache (he ate hot curry for lunch last day). So there was a 15-minute delay. At breakfast, we were in a hurry, I didn’t have much time for my meal and Martin was able to eat about two spoons of dry rice and ran to the toilet again. Anyway, the check out was slow and we went out at 7:55 am. I prayed for Martin not to tell me that in this situation he didn’t go to the bus station at the last moment. Fortunately, it didn’t happen this time. Our coming was successful at 8:13, our backpacks were loaded and we came to the bus and immediately the bus left …… We had a big luck!
Approximate driving time: 3.5 hours
VIP equipment: air conditioning, wide seats, cold water and biscuits
After our arrival, we had to find accommodation first, because we planned to stay here and we didn’t want to walk with our big backpacks in the city. So we walked around 2 hours in the city center. We always came into a guesthouse or hotel and asked if they had a free room. We found Orchidea Guesthouse after several unsuccessful discoveries and accommodations which didn’t look good. Orchidea Guesthouse had a big plus. There was coffee, tea and banana included. Later after a short drive, we found our destination.
The Clock Tower
It was designed by the same Thai artist as Wat Rong Khun. The Clock Tower was finished in 2008 in honor of His Majesty King Bhumibhol Adulyadej (Rama IX.). It serves as a roundabout.
Wat Rong Khun
For tourists, more known as the White Temple is now called the White Temple in Chiang Rai Province, which was opened to the public in 1997. Still, it is not completed. Entrance is free for local people. Tourists pay 50 THB. When it will be complete, the complex will have a total of 9 buildings – residential quarters for monks, meditation hall, art gallery, relics hall, and existing Ubosot.
The main building of the complex is Ubosot
It is a unique white-temple. It has glass pieces in plaster and it sparkles in the sun. Color means Buddha’s purity and glass mean his wisdom. At the same time, it also represents the mind (making merit and not concentrating on the property and material things).
Bridge of the “Rebirth Cycle” in front of the main building
It is built over a small lake. There are several hundred hands, which symbolize unwavering desire. Bridge declares that the path is about giving up temptation, greed, and desire to happiness.
The Gate Of Heaven
After crossing the bridge, the visitor enters to the Gate of Heaven. There are 2 creatures and they decide about the destiny of the lifeless.
The Golden Building
It represents the body and symbolizes how people concentrate on money and worldly desires.
5.5.2014
The temple was damaged by an earthquake in Mae Lao. It was planned that the temple would be destroyed for safety reasons and wouldn’t build up again.The temple was not structurally damaged after evaluating from experts and it decided to open again after restoration.
After this unforgettable tour, we went to the local night market and the next day we went back to Chiang Mai at 12:15 pm.
