10th May - Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai via ....... Temples

We have a relatively early start due to the distance we need to travel. There are a lot of roadworks as they widen the mountain road. Our first stop is the Mae Khajan Hot Spring, It has clean toilets and a lot, sorry LOTS of cheap touristy trinkets to buy. There is a hot spring and it does have a geyser but it doesn't rival Old Faithful!

We have a two hour drive to the Wat Rong Khun, the White Temple. The architecture is amazing and it is quite a big complex of different shrines. It is a work in progress and will be added to for many a year. It really is a work of art rather than a working temple, but the tourist income is good.

After lunch we go to, yes you guessed it, another temple. However this is the apprentices work so a different colour. It is the Blue Temple, and it is definitely blue. Not as big a complex as the white temple, but a work of art as well. The paintings are vibrant inside the temple, the Buddha large and the tourist plentiful.

Our last temple for the day is Chinese inspired, the Wat Huai Pla Kung Temple. This one is dedicated to the goddess of Mercy so is a much more feminine looking "Buddah". She is standout girl, as she can be seen for quite a distance. Rather than walking up the steps we take the mini bus to the top. You can take an elevator inside the statue but the day is not clear to be worth the bother. That is our last temple for the day and we now retire to out hotel in Chiang Rai. Long walk of 100m to our local restaurant for some yummy food and beer (it has been a hot day) plus a stop for a Banana Roti with chocolate sauce on the way home. Always good to finish the day with some excellent local food.

Hot Springs

White Temple

White Temple

White Temple

White Temple

White Temple

White Temple

Blue Temple

Blue Temple

Blue Temple

Blue Temple

Wat Huai Pla Kung Temple

Wat Huai Pla Kung Temple

Wat Huai Pla Kung Temple