Wat Rong Khun: The White Temple, 1

So if you're not into elephant riding, zip-lining, hill trekking, and such, Chiang Rai has another major attraction, the White Temple. Some people travel to Chiang Rai just to see the White Temple. Seriously. Anyhow, it is the work of one man, local sculptor Chalermchai Kositpipat; and his evidently many assistants and disciples. The original Wat Rong Khun was in disrepair and Kositpipat has come to its rescue, rebuilding and adorning the place, and enlarging it. An offering to Buddha. It opened to the public in the late 90s, but work continues, and it is not projected to be completely finished until 2070. Vicki and I were reminded, vaguely, of Antonio Gaudi and Barcelona and the Familia Sagrada (or the Familia Sangria, as we call it). Vaguely. Anyhow, if you're in Chiang Rai, you have to see it. Go early before the tour buses start arriving. And buy a bodhi leaf for me.

Checking out the departure times for the municipal bus

Thus; packed; the White Temple is about 10k outside the city

Mr. Kositpipat greets us; one-dimensionally

After the ticket office and entrance

The White Temple

There is all manner of symbolism about, warning us of
greed, lust, pride, etc., and the Path for avoiding these;
incidentally, the Wikipedia article goes into this a bit, more
than I have any interest in doing

Something about evil; the Dead Marshes?

'

Entering the Gate of Heaven: Death (note genitals); somehow
this reminded us of Gollum

Opposite Death, Rahu, sort of a Sorting Hat/Last Judgment
in (this version of) Buddhism; note breasts

Us, there, showing respect

Campanile?

Baptistry?

Definitely

Under a huge long arcade...good luck bodhi leaves hanging above, by the
hundreds of thousands

Good luck bodhi tree, one of several

At this point we succumbed and plopped down our 30 bhat (1U$D)

Thus

Depositing our good luck bodhi leaf; maybe I won't come
back as a dung beetle after all

Chiang Rai Night Scenes

The Clock Tower by night; yes, it changes colors every few
seconds; I'll spare you the rest of the spectrum

Street decor

Our first night we dined at the nice Accha Fusion restaurant

I love restaurants that give you more than food

The other two nights I ate the at night market; soup bags for take-out; plastic
is out of favor in Thailand, except in the poor eateries

I opted for fried prawns, fish, and other such fare, one night; and then Tom Yum
Goong the other; perhaps my last Tom Yum in Thailand

Mostly seafood at this market

Many people were doing these pot things,
dipping things into them

Fried fare

Dining area in the night market

Nicer dining area, with live entertainment

More of the market; Vicki is in there somewhere stimulating the local economy

Chiang Rai Day Scenes

On February 5th we decamped, so to speak, and made our way, via tuk-tuk, to the bus station and thence, via Green Bus, to Chiang Rai, another regional capital, and our second to last stop in Thailand. Much of the way was in the hill country and interesting to see. Not so much jungle as expected, but much agriculture, rice, fruit, etc., small holdings mostly.

Fashion statement

Rice paddies en route to Chiang Rai

Nice brand new Hi Chiang Rai, our home for 3 nights; two blocks from city
center

Indoor pool no less

Main north/south drag; we undertook several old city walking expeditions

Beautiful feline at a cat cafe

Main east/west drag, impressive street decor

Electric trike of Vicki's dreams; the city is over-run with motos and moto dealers

Really nice murals at the bus terminal

More street decor

The Clock Tower, by local sculptor Chalermchai Kositpipat, whom
we'll meet in a later post

We were sort of watted-out after Chiang Mai, so it was sort
of a relief to see this (note it still has the triple roof deal of
Lanna and later wats)

No clue, however, as to which Christian sect it followed

Still processing this: maybe it's a Muslim or Jewish resto and
the pig is gloating...?

School's out; note uniforms, backpacks

In a pretty public park

Sculpture that did not quite seem to fit the setting

Let's see, the five eyes could represent the five senses, except that in Buddhism
there are six...

Shrine in the park

And totem poles; sort of

Apparently there is also a Cabbages and Condoms resto