Chiang Rai Flower Festival. Traffic conjestion

[lannaman]

Last evening (1st Jan) the traffic jam extended nearly back to Denha Market (about 2kms). I was on my motor cycle so after some tricky weaving in and out of the cars and coaches I got to the river with relative ease, although a little gased with all the exhaust fumes.
The festival site was surprising quiet, it was only 7pm and I surpose most of the hordes of Bangkokians were still in the trafficjam. Also the shows had not started, and there where many free tables in the Singha Beer eating area. By 8pm it was a lot busier.
Getting out again was worse, as the exit road (there's a one way system) was very narrow and so no room for Mbikes to pass the two files of vehicles.
I strongly recommend not going there by car, unless early in the morning. However I think yesterday was the peak day and today our BKK friends are speeding back to their congested city, leaving our streets a little clearer.
They will surely have to do something about the traffic another time, or maybe the Thais are a good deal more patient than Lannaman!

[lannaman]

[lannaman]

Some photos from the Flower Festival:

[jandajoy]

Mate, we tried it a couple of days ago. Shocking. Gave up and went home.

Good luck to anyone who tries. Better off with photos of the net.

[lannaman]

[lannaman]

Please excuse the messy posting of photos of the flower festival, but it is the first time I posted any. The proceedure seems a little complicated, could it not be simplified?

[lannaman]

A mate of mine drove back up north today and said there was terrible congestion at the T-Junction to Chiang mai south of Phayao. Anyone know what was going on there, or were they returning to Cmai from the Flower Festival by the scenic route?

[lannaman]

This morning we were near Denha so took ourselves to the Flower Festival site.
Most of the flowers are still in place and remain beautiful, although the tulips looked sad. Drove straight in and out and only a few other people milling about. Apparently they will stay watered and not moved until 10 days after the closure of the event. Worth another look without the hassle.
We also enjoyed a peaceful walk by the river.