Chiang Rai

21 Mar CHIANG RAI

This morning we drive to Chiang Rai. along the way we visit Wat Rong Khun perhaps better known as the White Temple. It is a contemporary, unconventional, privately owned, art exhibit in the style of a Buddhist temple. It is owned by Chalermchai Kositpipat, who designed, constructed, and opened it to visitors in 1997. He is a Thai visual artist. Primarily a painter, Chalermchai's works have been exhibited worldwide, and he is known for his use of Buddhist imagery in his art.

We then visit Wat Phra Kaeo, the city's most revered temple. According to legend, lightning struck and cracked the chedi in 1436 CE, revealing a plaster cast statue encasing the Emerald Buddha (actually made of jadeite). Today, Thailand's most holy Buddha image is housed in Bangkok; a replica, presented in 1991, is now kept here. The wat dates from the 13th century and one of the largest surviving bronze statues from the early Lanna period.

After a lunch at local restaurant we visit a museum on the hill tribes many of which migrated to this part of Thailand to avoid persecution in their countries. We then  take a boat trip on the Maekok River and visit a local Hill Tribe Village. The rugged, forested limestone hills of northern Thailand are home to some of the most interesting indigenous peoples in the world. The Lao, Karen, Hmong (or Meo), Mien, Lahu, Akha and Lisu minorities are a fascinating example of a vibrant pre-industrial way of life. They originated in Tibet and south China and live on the migration route that the Thai people themselves traveled 1,000 years ago.

Chiang Rai was founded in 1262 CE by King Mengrai. He decided that the site, in a basin between mountains, would be ideal for the new capital of the Lanna Kingdom. However, The capital was moved to Chiang Mai only 34 years later and Chiang Rai declined in importance. Today it is known as the Gateway to the Golden Triangle. With its varied ethnic groups and beautiful surrounding scenery, Chiang Rai, the capital of Thailand's northernmost province, feels far removed from Bangkok or even Chiang Mai.

We check into our hotel and go to a local restaurant the Moom Mia which is like sitting in a forest and listening to music and crickets chirping. We need to employ a local hotel to get us a tuk tuk back to our hotel.  He arrives with his wife and child, so Susan pays the wife and Tom pays the driver each the fare, happy to pay double fare.