2016 Chiang Mai/ Chiang Rai, Northern Thailand

Chiang Mai, Thailand: Busy little city in northern Thailand, great night-market and foot massage!

After a few sweltering days in Bangkok we flew north to the mountainous region of Thailand. This is the land of jungle, cloud forests, elephants and opium. Chiang Mai is a densely populated city surrounded by rice fields and subsistent farms. For a few days we mainly explored the rural countryside and tribe villages by boat and by local truck. Crops are planted and harvested by hand. I am amazed by the substantial amount of work it takes to put rice on my plate. There is an eleven step labor intensive process that has to happen before rice is eaten. In the poorer regions this is done entirely without machinery.


We took a boat ride into the rural jungle and waved to local fishermen on the river

Rice fields

 In the city of Chiang Rai we went to a recently built temple (2004) called the White Temple. It was white, ALL WHITE. Tiny, reflective mirror tiles were liberally included in the architecture and sculptures. The thing practically glowed in the sunlight. Again the detail of the design was breathtaking and overwhelming.

wow!

The modern features of this temple complex were strange

to say the least

                                                           

Next Up: Chiang Rai/Chiang Mai