Early for breakfast this morning (7:30am) and packed up when we received a call from reception advising the Mr Sack, our driver was here. So we were off on the road out of Chiang Mai in our own personal minivan. Very luxurious.
The traffic was heavy for the drive out of the city, but improved as we continued. The country became hilly, and the roadsides were dotted with strawberry farms and coffee shops. Very popular attractions it seems. We stopped for a short time at the San Kamphaeng Hot springs. Suitably sulphurous, but rather touristy. We checked out the shops and had a durian ice cream during the 20 minute stop.
Then it was onward to Chiang Rai, where our destination was the ‘White Temple’ Wat Rong Khun, rebuilt on the site of the original building by local artist Chalermchai Kositpipat, who considers the project his gift to the Lord Buddha. The white structure, decorated with stucco and mirrored glass, is an usubot reached via a bridge across an ornamental lake. In front of the bridge, hundreds of hands reach upwards in unrestrained desire. To attain happiness one must forsake greed and temptation. The usubot’s interior is covered in orange flames, and images including Michael Jackson, Freddy Krueger and Hello Kitty! A jolly gent with a loudspeaker ensured that everyone ‘keep moving, don’t stop’, in English and Thai and I guess Chinese as well. There were pretty amazingly large crowds.
It was a fun half hour to wander around, after which we took lunch at the food court across the road. I had another bowl of khao soi (not as good as yesterday’s one), whilst Minuk chose pork and rice, which apparently was underwhelming. For desert we shared another mango and sticky rice. Yum. Bill came to about 180 Baht. The food court has a card based coupon system, which seems to work OK.
Two hours more on the road saw us in our hotel at Chiang Khong. We are staying at the Chiang Khong Teak Garden Hotel, and have a room with a little balcony overlooking the Mekong River, and the town of Huay Xai in Laos. Went for an afternoon stroll along the banks of the Mekong, checking out the various accommodations and eating places. A tour group were congregating at the dock where their flash looking double decker riverboat was just about to moor. Looked more swish than our ride tomorrow, with polished wooden decks, ferns and cabins with AC.
Many of the hotels seemed to have a restaurant, though none of them looked very lively. There were more choices in the one street town though. We chose to eat at a small stall called Muan Jai, which had a very cute Bichon Friese dog, but fairly ordinary freshly cooked food. So it was back to the hotel, ready for early start. Pickup to the border is at 7:30am.
The traffic was heavy for the drive out of the city, but improved as we continued. The country became hilly, and the roadsides were dotted with strawberry farms and coffee shops. Very popular attractions it seems. We stopped for a short time at the San Kamphaeng Hot springs. Suitably sulphurous, but rather touristy. We checked out the shops and had a durian ice cream during the 20 minute stop.
Then it was onward to Chiang Rai, where our destination was the ‘White Temple’ Wat Rong Khun, rebuilt on the site of the original building by local artist Chalermchai Kositpipat, who considers the project his gift to the Lord Buddha. The white structure, decorated with stucco and mirrored glass, is an usubot reached via a bridge across an ornamental lake. In front of the bridge, hundreds of hands reach upwards in unrestrained desire. To attain happiness one must forsake greed and temptation. The usubot’s interior is covered in orange flames, and images including Michael Jackson, Freddy Krueger and Hello Kitty! A jolly gent with a loudspeaker ensured that everyone ‘keep moving, don’t stop’, in English and Thai and I guess Chinese as well. There were pretty amazingly large crowds.
It was a fun half hour to wander around, after which we took lunch at the food court across the road. I had another bowl of khao soi (not as good as yesterday’s one), whilst Minuk chose pork and rice, which apparently was underwhelming. For desert we shared another mango and sticky rice. Yum. Bill came to about 180 Baht. The food court has a card based coupon system, which seems to work OK.
Two hours more on the road saw us in our hotel at Chiang Khong. We are staying at the Chiang Khong Teak Garden Hotel, and have a room with a little balcony overlooking the Mekong River, and the town of Huay Xai in Laos. Went for an afternoon stroll along the banks of the Mekong, checking out the various accommodations and eating places. A tour group were congregating at the dock where their flash looking double decker riverboat was just about to moor. Looked more swish than our ride tomorrow, with polished wooden decks, ferns and cabins with AC.
Many of the hotels seemed to have a restaurant, though none of them looked very lively. There were more choices in the one street town though. We chose to eat at a small stall called Muan Jai, which had a very cute Bichon Friese dog, but fairly ordinary freshly cooked food. So it was back to the hotel, ready for early start. Pickup to the border is at 7:30am.