March 5, 2010 Sawat Dee Kah! We drive from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai climbing higher into the mountains and again the scenery changes to more lush forests. There are stands along side the road selling bitsy pineapples, (very sweet) and bamboo pieces filled with sweet sticky rice. When reaching Chiang Rai we visit Wat Rong Khun, which is a different type of pagoda with quite a different story. This Wat is totally white and was created by artist Chalermchai Kositpipat,who is an artist who grew up in Chiang Rai, attended the monastery, then the University for art. Rich, famous and known as one of the greatest painters in the world of Buddhist Art, he built Wat Rong Khun with his own money. Sharing his wealth with the community of his childhood. It was quite stunning and worth the stop.
Back on the road to the Golden Triangle, where Thailand, Myanmar and Laos borders converge on the Mekong River. This is a beautiful panorama, but beneath lurks a dark side. Much of the world’s opium, and human trafficking pass through these borders and down the Mekong. The Hall of Opium, was established in 1988 by Her Royal Highness the Princess Mother, the late mother of His Majesty the King, to educate the people on the history of opium, in the hope that this would strengthen their commitment against illegal drugs. In the museum, you see how opium is grown and processed, the equipment needed to smoke opium, how morphine and heroin are derived from the opium, and the mental and physical effects of smoking opium. In all, it was very interesting.
One of the first places I visited during my stay at hotel Chiang Rai Thailand was the White Temple. I was overwhelmed by its striking white radiance, its something I can’t describe.
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