Day 14: Chiang Rai & the White Temple
Claire: Only in Chiang Rai for 1 night, we ventured out early this morning on the physcedelic rainbow bus (travelling like a local is very entertaining!) to visit the White Temple, the towns major attraction who’s real name goes by Wat Rong Khun.
Greeted by bright white skies and a bright white temple. If it wasn’t so warm, I’d be convinced it’d snowed.
I must admit I didn’t know too much about White Temple until our visit but I left totally in awe. Designed and constructed by local artist Chalermchai Kositpipat, he rebuilt the temple after it fell into a state of disrepair and it reopened for visitors in 1997. Funded with his own money, he’s had full creative freedom over the project and the murals inside feature Superman, The Matrix and Hello Kitty (I wasn’t allowed to take snaps of those!). Such a surreal place and so different from the other temples we’ve visited. Works are ongoing and not expected to be completed until 2070. It’s like the Sagrada Famila of Asia!
13:30 — Chiang Khong bound
Back at the station, we board another bus to begin our 2hr journey to the Thai/Laos border of Chiang Khong. It cost us 60 THB per person (about £1.50!).
17:00
Our home for the night is a lovely quiet hotel with pool just a few miles from Chiang Khong town. Greeted by owners husband and wife, they cooked us dinner and brought us beers. Happy.
Gav's day takeaway:
- Got the oldest bus in the world
- Drove north for 2 hours with my legs squashed against a stair rail next an open door bus. Quite enjoyed it though actually.
- Our hotel has a little family of dogs that welcomed us like family!
