28 January 2023 – RM Day 16
Steve and I said goodbye to Nan and set off up into the mountains to visit the tourist attraction named Curve 3. We stopped at the viewpoint at 10:00am and discovered that the road snakes off in the shape of a giant 3. It was an amazing sight, and we couldn’t wait to see what else the mountains had to offer.
We continued along route 1256 and came to the little village of Bo Kluea (Thai for Salt Pong) at about 12:30pm. The villagers make a living here by drawing salt water up from a well and then drying it over a fire. There are now only 2 wells left, but the villagers have been extracting salt from them for over 800 years. The salt is used for a variety of purposes, including spas, soap, and even toothpaste.
By 2:00pm we were at the viewpoint 1715. This point is 1715 meters above sea level, and the views were incredible. We could see for miles in every direction. I celebrated our arrival with an ice cream, which was delicious in the warm weather.
Further on at 2:30pm we discovered some workers husking corn with a machine. The papery byproduct was being thrown into the air, and it looked like it was snowing. It was a strange but fascinating sight.
By 3:00pm we had arrived at Pua Panorama, our hotel for the night. I love the outlook from this hotel, as it has views over the farming fields of the area. We were all exhausted from our day of exploring, so we decided to relax in our room for a while before going out for dinner. Alison went off to find her local hair dresser for a shampoo and cut. Happily she was still in business.
By 6:00pm we were at the local night markets enjoying Thai nibbles for dinner.
29 January 2023 – RM Day 17
We all awoke to the sound of a thousand roosters crowing and the sight of a beautiful sunrise over the mountains. We had a lazy day planned, so we decided to take a stroll through the local area. We wandered through the fields, taking in the sights and sounds of the activities going on. We stopped to chat with the friendly locals. By evening, we were both feeling hungry, so we found a small street side cafe to enjoy a meal of Pad Thai and a quiet drink. As we sat there, we talked about our day and our plans for the future. We were both feeling relaxed and happy, and we knew that we would never forget our time in this beautiful place.
30 January 2023 – RM Day 18
Steve and I woke up to another beautiful sunrise of pinks and oranges. Today we said goodbye to Pua and took the back roads through to Chiang Rai. As we drove through the mountains, we stopped to have a look at Near Yot. This was a peaceful place with majestic trees. Tham Pha Lak is a priests’ camp, and we were lucky enough to get into a conversation with one of their priests who spoke a little English.
At noon, we stopped for a temple specifically chosen by Mikey. This was Wat Nantaram, a temple built entirely from teak. Out the back of this temple is a museum, which was an interesting place.
At 2:30, we arrived at Wat Rong Khun, or the White Temple as it is known. The Buddhist temple is situated a few kilometers out of the city. The designer, Chalermchai Kositpipat, was a local artist who designed and constructed the temple all by himself using his own money. He completely rebuilt the temple after the original had gone into disrepair, and it still isn’t finished yet! The aim is to have 9 buildings in total in the complex, so I guess we need to watch this space!
The temple is spectacular and shines brilliant white in the sun. You can find mythical creatures, gods, and goddesses in the designs as you explore. The detailing is extremely impressive, and it must have taken years and years to perfect.
By 4pm, we ventured on to Wat Huay Pla Kang. Wat Huay Pla Kang is north of the Kok River in Chiang Rai. It is easy to find as the immense statue of Kuan Im, the Goddess of Mercy, dominates the landscape. It is one of my favorite temples in Chiang Rai because it is a center of social welfare.
The story goes that there was an old temple at this location. A monk, called Phop Chok Tissuwaso, chose this place and founded a new temple. He constructed the first building in 2007. This is the 49-meter high Phop Chok Dhamma Chedi. The design of this pagoda shows influences from Thailand, China, and Europe. It’s a building unlike any other in Chiang Rai.
Our hotel for today is the Sirimunta hotel in Chiang Rai.
At 7:30pm, we had a great dinner at the night market cafes in Chiang Rai.
We had a wonderful day exploring the temples and sights of Chiang Rai.
31 January 2023 – RM Day 19
Today was an incredible day in Chiang Rai. Steve and I started our day by showing Mikey and Robbie the Blue Temple, which is one of the most beautiful temples we’ve ever seen. The temple is made of stunning blue glass and is decorated with intricate carvings. It was amazing to see such a unique and beautiful piece of architecture.
After visiting the Blue Temple, we drove to the mountains on the border between Thailand and Myanmar. We stopped at a military outpost to enjoy the beautiful views of Myanmar. We also had some coffee at the outpost’s cafe.
From the military outpost, we drove to Mae Rai, stopping at many military check points to have our IDs check and photos taken. We stopped at Pha Have Village to take in the stunning vistas. The village is located high in the mountains and offers panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.
We spent the afternoon exploring the markets in Mae Rai. We bought some souvenirs and gifts for our friends and family. We also enjoyed some delicious Thai food.
In the evening, we drove to the Golden Triangle. The Golden Triangle is the border region where Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos meet. We visited a viewpoint overlooking the confluence of the Mekong River and the Ruak River. It was amazing to see three countries at once.
