How often I found where I should be going only by setting out for somewhere else.
R. Buckminster Fuller
Chiang Rai was a logistic necessity: we needed to pass through here on our way from Chiang Mai to catch the Mekong river boat from Huay Xai, on Thailand’s northern border. We hadn’t heard much about the area, so we decided to stay and explore for a couple of days. After the action of Bangkok and the festivals of Chiang Mai, we needed a break before our adventures in Laos, and so stopping here made sense.
Guide books on the area recommend trips out to the Golden Triangle, where Thailand, Burma and Laos meet – and historically an epicentre of the opium trade – or up into the mountains to visit the hill tribes. The only big tourist attractions around the city itself are its famously gaudy temples.
Our homestay had double-booked us and we lost half a day to finding and moving to another one. With that time lost we decided against long day trips to the countryside and rather to explore the city.
I am not sure what to tell you about the White and Blue temples. Both are modern temples built in the last couple of decades by the same local artist and both put a modern pop culture spin on traditional Buddhist themes. You’ll find statues and murals of Freddy Kruger, Neo from the Matrix, Michael Jackson, Kung Fu Panda, Angry Birds and Hello Kitty in there, but I’ll be honest, the deeper spiritual meaning was lost on us.
We had a fun and relaxing few days exploring the food, streets and river of Chiang Rai. Next stop, the Mekong River and the mountains of Laos!
The Whiteleys in Asia 