After an early morning flight, we found ourselves in Chiang Rai in Thailand’s north. Before this day, I was beginning to think that all temples in Thailand were basically the same. I was in for an eye-opening experience. Wat Rong Khun (White Temple) could not be more unique. Wow. It was stunning and jaw-dropping. It felt somewhat like a fairy tale land…only with dark undertones suggesting an unforgiving afterlife. I was stunned by its brilliance and sparkle.
The whole thing was surreal. There was really no way to categorize it, or describe it. It had all the Temple stuff going on, but in the midst of it all, you would find superheroes from virtually every comic book imaginable, along with souls reaching desperately out of the earth attempting to crawl back up out of the depths of hell. It was categorically one of the weirdest most fascinating places I’ve ever been.
The purgatory display was startling, terrifying, and absolutely the COOLEST.
At every turn there was something sparkling in the sun. When we got up close to the temple, we could see why…
Photos were forbidden inside the temple. There was a creepy man sitting lotus who looked real…you could see people staring at him waiting for him to move. When they couldn’t see movement, they held their breath looking for him to take his next one. Then, there was speculation that he was dead and stuck forever in that pose. Friends, he was bonafide FAKE. Inside the temple was also where all the superheroes were painted on the walls. The photos being forbidden was probably their way of avoiding the huge copyright infringements they were pulling off. ALL the superheroes, as well as some historic cultural persons, were splashed about those walls.
Buddha Baby…
There was also a golden temple on this sight.
Oh…and a short bus ride away…a blue temple. After a quick lunch at a local buffet, we went to Rong Suea Ten Temple (Blue Temple). It was quite stunning. Not like the mysterious and obscure White Temple…but it had subtle beauty where the White Temple had shock value.
The ceiling inside the blue temple…
Our hotel in Chiang Rai was gorgeous! I loved it. The Heritage Chiang Rai Hotel and Convention Centre. It was quite beautiful.
The group, having dinner on our first night in Chiang Rai. I was out of sorts at this dinner. I don’t know if anyone realized it or not, but I was just not having it. I felt miserable…but I don’t know why. Just grumpy and I did not feel like eating at all.
Another day in Chiang Rai was in store for us. I’d have to get out of my funk and get out of my own way in order to enjoy it. I don’t think anyone in our group realized I was in a mood, but I knew I needed to shake it.
We were going to the Golden Triangle…that place where Thailand, Myanmar (Burma), and Laos meet near the confluence of Ruak and Mekong rivers. It promised to be a big day. There were Buddhas, river cruises, an opium museum, and the Karen tribe in our futures. Chin up!
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