Wednesday, 24 December 2025: to Chiang Rai

Our driver picked us up at 9am and we were on our way north for a 🎵three hour drive🎵. (I know that song is going through your head now.)

It has been significantly cooler here in Chiang Mai and now we are continuing north.   The biggest take away from Chiang Mai was that maybe I am not so much a city girl anymore.  Who knows?  I was here many, many years ago and , truthfully, I don’t remember it at all.  This trip, I’ll remember.  The city was manageable. The food was good, the markets were reasonable.  Our elephant experience was phenomenal and the cooking classes was great.  We didn’t get out to the old city walls so, no problem, we will save that for another trip perhaps.  

Today’s driver, Chian, drove us to the elephant rescue site a couple of days ago.  Justin was intrigued by his all electric JAC.  When he asked him, Chian told him he’d only had the car five days.  

Three hours out, so, really now in Chiang Rai, we stopped at The White Temple, Wat Tong  Khun. This was Disneyland. Wheelchair access makes it totally different that almost any other temple we’ve seen. That is good. But too new and too plastic. Designed and funded by a local rich businessman trying to gain his way to nirvana. 

my skirt was too short so I had to
rent a skirt -- the skirt of shame. 
At least it was white to go with the temple.  

The bridge that leads to the temple crosses over a sea of hands reaching up and skulls.  Way creepy.  We learned these hands beneath the bridge symbolize human desire, greed, and suffering (hell), representing souls trapped in the cycle of rebirth.  Crossing the bridge signifies giving up these temptations to enlightenment, purity, and nirvana.  The temple's white color reflects Buddha's wisdom.  Way too out there for me.  I’d much prefer the old stones even if crumbling.  

Next stop, The Blue Temple, Wat Rong Suea Ten. Designed by a local artisan who worked on the White Temple, construction began in 2005.  The architecture is considered unconventional “notational Thai art.”  Also, too weird for me. 

We passed on the opportunity to go to the long-neck village. It seemed too much of a tourist trap. 

Upon arrival in Chiang Rai, we checked into the Wangcome Hotel and about ten minutes later we were downstairs ready to explore.