Cei-Bwp Golden Pine Resort & Spa Hotel Chiang Rai

Monk Mobile...

by kenmerk

The silver monk mobile is parked just behind the famou s Wat Phra Kaew temple in Chiang Rai. Full scale and pure silver, it is complete with steering wheel, spoilers, and a pagoda.

This just goes to show that it is no sin to occasionally enjoy the pleasures of this world before you depart for a better place...

Population & Community Development Association

by aqazi

As explained Nancy and I went on our hilltribe visit through the PDA a charitable organisation in Chang Rai. They also have a museum where you can find out about the local communities and understand some of the pressures they are under. The money you pay goes into funds for village development and to replicate the project elsewhere.

Chiang Rai - Thailand's northern most province

by wondersF

"Chiang Rai - good memories of Hotel & food"

The development and growth in Chiang Rai was overshadowed by Chiang Mai 's immerse popularity as a tourist destination. In fact, when I first saw Chiang Rai in 1995, it was slightly larger than a settlement amidst of wild country, scattered with hill tribes and poor access roads.

The trunk road from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai was still monocarriage highway when I pass last. Forested low hills with little settlements and surprisingly also a vineyard. Then the stretch between Chiang Rai and Mae Sai was being upgraded. I can imagine would take some years.

Today, Chiang Rai is the northern most province with its provincial capital about 725 years old. The province has nothing but natural beauty in its mountain, klongs and rivers. It is a full fledged township with tall buildings and continues to play that important role as a spring board to selected touristy spots near the border with Burma.

I have driven through most cities of Thailand, the Highway Authority has a good strategy. Highway tries to avoid passing through built up areas of the city limits. Well, Chiang Rai near the border is one exception, the trunk road just cut across the eastern part of town. In the early years town was a settlement with 2 houses of 2 levels. Today, it is obvious many high rise were seen lining the river banks of that important landmark - Mae Kok River. Oh! it has a lovely original section, must be an Ox-bowl that created two small islands. Many hotels has sprouted and it is for this reason Chiang Rai is good for - a temporary home for visitors trying the penetrate the remote parts of Thailand with Burma.

Of course, the city provides good accommodations and food as well. As for night life, this is some thing I have to find out on my next visit. Right now I only know that the town itself unlike Chaing Mai has little to offer. If there is any thing worth mentioning is the sprawling night market extend up to 4 blocks long.

I tried hard to imagine seeing a silhouette of lady sleeping on her side when we pass by a range with low hills. This is a place about 13 kilometers before reaching Mae Sai. " Hhun-naan nangnorm" or the lagoon of the Sleeping beauty. Now this is another mystery I have to solve. What I was trying hard was to imagine the "figure of the lady". On reading up, the translation mentioned "lagoon".

Then there is this temple of Doi Khao Kwai, next to the old airport. On it is the viewpoint that one can get a magnificent view of the surrounding lowlands and rolling hills. My Thai language teacher in Kuala Lumpur excited about my trip to Chiang Rai, reminded me to bring back some bottles of water from the temple's well. Still, the temple is visible from faraway points but once up there, must be a nice place to view the surrounding valleys and plain.