Chiang Rai

**stroller** · 18-03-2007, 06:28 PM

This pearl of the North is a slowpaced, friendly place.

I usually stay near the Chinese temple on Yet-Jod Rd:

The bronze Buddha inside:

And one of the many mural paintings:

**stroller** · 18-03-2007, 07:15 PM

After I checked in, I had a little 'stroll' and came across this inviting little res with Jap food:

THere are lots of little boutiques, travel agents, and the town center is infested with 'proper' massage places for the farang loads which arrive with tour buses every day.

**stroller** · 18-03-2007, 07:17 PM

Bo's Place is my first stop, the expat meeting point in town, and various homemade delis and imported cheeses can be bought here:

They got one of these:

It's on Paholyotin Rd., next to Thai Military Bank.

**stroller** · 18-03-2007, 07:27 PM

Bo's got a Western menu with stuff like real cheese Lasagne, but I felt like a pizza and ended up at DaVinci's, further up the road towards the market:

Proper wood-fired oven:

Looks alright, quite nice in fact:

**stroller** · 18-03-2007, 07:31 PM

After dinner it's off to some places I inspected earlier.
2km South, there is the Inn Come Hotel and Entertainment Complex:

It has a huge disco, which rarely fills up:

On the adjecent Soi, there are many small bars and live-music venues:

Yes, that's right, "Sperm Pub".

**dirtydog** · 18-03-2007, 07:37 PM

YUK that is disgusting......

**stroller** · 18-03-2007, 07:42 PM

Anyway, even more promising was this Go-Go bar on the old airport rd, where I idled most of the evening away:

THe owner came along to inspect the farang taking pics:

A predominantely Thai place, but farangs are allowed to spend money there, too.

For a 'happy ending', it's back to Yet-Jod Rd., the "Lady Massage" has a range of ladies who look almost acceptable at the end of the night:

**stroller** · 18-03-2007, 10:29 PM

deleted drunk rambling

**Wayne Kerr** · 18-03-2007, 10:44 PM

That Pizza looks the delicious ... as for the sheilas, shit you'd need a decent set of beer goggles I'd say

**Alieusmaximus** · 18-03-2007, 11:39 PM

Good pictures. Thanx for posting.

**stroller** · 19-03-2007, 12:29 PM

15km towards Phayao near the A2 hi-way, we find Wat Rong Khun, designed by artist Chalermchai Kositpipat, a famous contemporary painter of the traditional religious school:

The first bridge crosses the Buddhist hell of the hungry ghosts:

The second bridge leads over a pont with giant goldfish and fountains, which symbolises a Buddhist heaven. No pic.

**stroller** · 19-03-2007, 12:33 PM

The entire temple is in white with silver mirror pallettes.
Some details along the way:

The inner santuary:

**stroller** · 19-03-2007, 12:36 PM

One of the surrounding buildings, it's all highly aesthetic:

Toilets this way:

And the inevitable complex with souvenir shops, eateries and juice-bars:

There is also an ongoing exhibition of the artists work.

**El Gibbon** · 19-03-2007, 12:57 PM

Wow, spectacular. Is it painted or built with white stone?

E. G.

Gotta spread some green

**stroller** · 19-03-2007, 01:22 PM

It's all 'modern' concrete, a bit disappointing, not much of "traditional values" there in this respect...

**Marmite the Dog** · 19-03-2007, 01:27 PM

Nice pics, Stroller.

Did you shoot any video?

**stroller** · 19-03-2007, 02:04 PM

From here it is only 20km to KhunKon Waterfall, the last few kms of road stretch along the river bank into the National Park:

**Thetyim** · 19-03-2007, 04:57 PM

Originally Posted by stroller

Wat Rong Khun, designed by artist Chalermchai Kositpipat,

I've met him. He did the temple in Wimbledon, London.

Tell me more about Khun Kon, I have never heard of it before.

**klongmaster** · 19-03-2007, 05:17 PM

Originally Posted by stroller

15km towards Phayao near the A2 hi-way, we find Wat Rong Khun, designed by artist Chalermchai Kositpipat, a famous contemporary painter of the traditional religious school:

that looks really nice...thanks for the pics stroll...

**stroller** · 19-03-2007, 06:33 PM

At the park entrance there are a few folks selling drinks and snacks from the back of their pick-up, it's a popular picknick spot for families:

A strong tree-spirit lives here:

**stroller** · 19-03-2007, 06:37 PM

It is a 20 min ute upward walk through the jungle

until the waterfall:

**stroller** · 20-03-2007, 04:15 PM

Another temple, can't remember the name, it's near the old airport:

**stroller** · 20-03-2007, 04:18 PM

In the surrounding walls, there are these curious Joseph-Cornellesque boxes:

**stroller** · 20-03-2007, 04:21 PM

The other side of the temple:

**stroller** · 21-03-2007, 05:41 AM

This wouldn't be complete without the CR night bazaar, touristy, but worthwhile none the less, much more compact than its counterpart in Chiang Mai.
Lots of stalls with fashion, handicrafts and the usual:

One can get their fingernails painted for 5 bt, and yes, the dust-mask provides max protection against the evaporating solvent.

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