Chiang Rai and the Golden Triangle

This past weekend we visited Chiang Rai, which is about a three hour bus ride from Chiang Mai. We spent most of Saturday at the White Temple on the outskirts of Chiang Rai. The temple is a very modern Buddhist temple, whose construction began in 1996 and its estimated completion isn't until 2070. The artist who designed the temple is named Chalermchai Kositpipat, and is an amazing artist whose work shows the evils of the world, including war and environmental issues among many other topics. At the entrance of the temple there are the evils of the world, and as you move back towards the Buddha, the images become more and more peaceful, symbolizing the cessation of suffering. Inside the temple were pictures of the world's bad temptations, including many modern and recognizable figures like batman, George Bush and Harry Potter. This temple was very unique and was very different than any temple that I've visited so far. We spent a few hours there admiring the work in progress and viewing the artist's gallery. 

Later we returned to Chiang Rai where we ate out for dinner before going to a place with live music and playing pool for a few hours. I was rusty at first and had an embarrassing game against  an older Thai man who was quite the billiards pro, but later got back into the swing of things and Jack and I played pretty well against an Australian and Indian pair.

Sunday morning we woke early and headed to the bus station to board for Chiang Saen, which is a town alongside the Mekong River. From there we hopped into a long wooden boat and were driven up the river for half an hour to the Golden Triangle, where Thailand, Laos and Burma (Myanmar) meet at the conjunction of the Mekong and Ruak Rivers. It was great to be back on the water enjoying the warm sun and nice breeze, floating between three countries. At the Golden Triangle we visited the Hall of Opium museum, which was a very impressive museum about the history of Opium in southeast Asia. It was interesting to learn about the role Opium played in history. 

boats on the Mekong

Caroline and me

our Captain

map of the Golden Triangle

house boats in Lao

the new clock tower in Chiang Rai, designed by the same artist as the White Temple

the White Temple

entrance to the temple

inside the temple

artists at work

Jack at the fanciest bathroom I've ever seen

Jack and I at the White Temple (they gave me a wrap skirt to wear, the dress I wore didn't cover my knees)