Chiang Rai Things to Do

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Chiang Rai has many thermal springs, where water comes at high temperatures.

In the way from Chiang Mai, it's possible to stop and see water and vapor springing from the soil, or the people boiling eggs in dug trenches.

This Temple takes your breath away when you first see it, it is BEAUTIFUL!

It's a modern Temple that was designed and built by artist Chaloemchai Khositphiphat started quite rescently in 1998, so it is not old.

THE ARTIST SAID..... "It is my strong intention to build a temple in imitation of heaven. I wanted it to be a heaven on earth."
Wat Rong Khun is unique from other temples as it is white in colour. Combine the white with glass mosaics and this Temple sparkles!
The construction of the White Temple is Khun Chalemchai’s master work, which he refers to as an offering to Lord Buddha and his beloved country.

There is a beautiful white ordination hall which is decorated with silver glittering pieces of mirrors. Then there are large mural paintings of the Lord Buddha in different gestures and the decorated leaf-shaped gable-edging – in the shapes of Phya Naga, dragon and mythical creatures, which are entirely made of white stucco.
There is a Viharn, a small hall for recitation surrounding the ordination hall, museum and reception pavilion.

There are still more buildings to be built, its estimated to be 50 - 60 years, before it is completely finished.

The gallery exhibits paintings. You can also buy a book with nice photos and history of the Temple, plus the usual T-shirts and other souvenirs.
This money goes towards the fund for building the temple.

I was there on a stormy day, and I really think the White Temple stood out more with the dark skies behind it.

OPEN DAILY 8.00 a.m. – 6.00 p.m.
Tel: 0 5367 3579

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The Black House, alias Baan Si Dum, alias the Baandum Museum is not on the itinery of most tours. We just happened to read a Time article in the White Temple souvenir shop that referred also to the Black House, and asked our driver to take us there.

If you see the one, you should see the other. The Black House is in many respects the perfect opposite of the White Temple:
- both are private projects of wealthy Thai citizens;
- both owners are continuously adding to their project, no end in sight when it will be finished;
- as the names suggest, the colour of the White Temple is predominantly white, that of the Black House pedominantly black;
- the White Temple lies some distance south of Chiang Rai, the Black House a few km to the north;
- the owner of the White Temple is a devout Buddhist and the temple an expression of his devotion, whereas the owner of the Black House professes to be non-religious and has been accused of blaspheming Buddhism.

The Black House is not just one house, but an estate with numerous buildings, big and small, mostly of wood and mostly black. A few of them are locked, but most are open and freely accessable. They contain many curious objects, among them many buffalo horns, animal skins and bones, shells, wood-carvings and benches shaped from one piece of wood.

The estate is owned by famous Thai artist Thawan Duchanee, born in 1939, who studied art in the Netherlands. His grotesque and erotic paintings have been exhibited in may countries and evidently made him a well-to-do man. A short biography of Thawan Duchanee can be read here .

The pictures with this tip are of the exterior of several buildings.
For pics of the interiors, see our travelogue.
For more pics see the website below.

Admission to the 'museum' is free. Adjacent to the parking is a shouvenir shop, where there are also paintings of the artist for sale - not cheap!

Open: 9am to 5 pm. Groups by arrangement, call: 08-9767-4444 or 05-370-5834.

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Another private museum. But unlike mr Paithun who established his boat museum in Ayuthaya through a lifetime of hard work, the founder of the Oub Kham Museum - Khun Julasak  Suriyachai - seems to have the money and leasure to travel and collect pieces for his museum from all over South-East Asia.

The theme of the museum is Lanna culture, the kingdom that existed in Northern Thailand and beyond its present borders from 1292 to 1774. Mr Julasak Suriyachai is descendant of a Lanna dynasty and has done a formidable job in gathering unique artifacts that might otherwise have been lost. Among these are an elaborately decorated throne moved here from Birma, and a golden bowl used by the royals, the 'Oub Kham'. There is a room full of tribal costumes, and an artificial cave with Buddha images.

The compound counts several pavilions, inside which one is not allowed to roam alone or take pictures. The compulsory guide knew her story in English by heart, yet was still enthusiastically telling it. So we can only show some photos from outside the pavilions, for pics of the collection we refer to the website (mainly in Thai).

Open: Daily 9 am to 5 pm
Admission: Adults THB 300, children THB 100.

Address: 81/1 Military Front Road Tambon Robwiang, Muang district, Chiang Rai 57000
Directions: 3 km south of the town centre, best take a tuk-tuk.

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The most significant moment in Chiang Rai was a boat ride along the Mekong river.

Passing between Laos and Burma, closed countries at that time, provided a feeling of excitement, enhanced by the Laotian kids swimming in the muddy and dangerous waters to approach the boat, asking for something (coins, I presume).

Feeling China in background (announced by several boats passing and anchored) the place is really a dramatic joint of nations, cultures and policies, in a luxurious landscape.

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In my travels I have been in literally thousands of churches, mosques, temples, gurdwaras, synagogues etc. but Wat Rong Khun is really the most unusual of them all. It has little history, having only been started in 1999 and is the brainchild of a famous Thai artist called Chalermchai Kositpipat. His style is a mix of traditional Thai styles mixed with sort of comic book fantasy art and he has carried this style into the temple complex which is pretty big.

The central wat (temple) has the most beautiful murals on the wall but they are really strange for a Buddhist holy place. Religious images are interspersed with things like spaceships, nuclear bombs, wristwatches, the bombing of the Twin Towers and perhaps most bizarrely the central character from the film The Matrix. I really am at a loss to describe this place to you. I will try to post a few photos of the outside which is impressive enough although photography is not allowed inside so you will have to take my word for the murals.

Despite what I have written elsewhere about only posting one photo per tip until I get home, I will post a few here to give you some idea of just how unusual the whole place is. th slightly ghoulish image of the hands is where the bridge goes over them leading ot the wat, apparently symbolising man's path through human misery until he attains Nirvana. The rest of them, I think speak for themselves, including the one showing you the painstaking work involved in constructiong such a place. It is estimated it will take until 2070 to complete, and having seen the amount of work, I can well believe it.

A magnificent waterfall.

OK, I have to start this tip off with an apology. Due to reasons far too boring to go into here, I was without my camera for a couple of days, so the photo attached is merely of the sign leading to the Khun Kon waterfall. Frankly, when I recovered my camera, I didn't fancy the long hot walk back up just to take a photo. You will have to take my word for how wonderful the fall was, even in the relatively dry season of December.

I hadn't actually intended to visit the fall but I was out on my hired scooter and saw the sign so, always curious, I decided to take a run up there. I owuld suggest the road is not great for novice riders and you may be better taking a tuk-tuk if you are not sure of yourself on a bike. For people who hqve ridden before it presents no major problems. Most tuk-tuk drivers will negotiate a price for this in association with wat Rong Khun (see seperate tip) so let them take the strain.

There is a small admission charge and you park your vehicle, then begin the 1600 metre trek to the fall itself. I did it in sandals (flip-flops / thongs) although I would not advise this, training shoes at least would be a better option as the path, whilst well-defined, is a little tricky in parts. There are helpful signs every 200 metres charting your progress, and you can't really lose your way. I visited at the weekend and it seemed to be a popular spot for youngsters to spend the afternoon. It is indeed very pretty (again apologies ofr the lack of visual proof) and I would recommend a visit here. I would think it must be quite some sight in the wet season although I do not know what access would be like then.

Whilst in Mae Salong sample the fine Chinese Yunnanese cuisine offered by most restaurants in town. Typical dishes include mantou (Chinese steamed buns), chicken blackbone soup, pork leg, and sour vegetables. All washed down by the famous locally produced Oolong tea.