January 14, 2018

January 14, 2018

Last night our hotel put on a show of Thai dancing while we dined al fresco. The performance was a little lame but at least it was free.

In the morning as we are leaving the hotel, we watch and participate in giving a food offering to two monks. In Buddhist countries, the community supports the monks physically and in return they receive spiritual support. In Thailand, it is common for young men to become monks for a period of time before marriage and raising a family.

Today we continued our drive north. Shortly after leaving Sukhothai we begin climbing uphill along heavily forested roads.

We make one stop at Wat Phra That Suthoh Mongkhon Khiri, a modern temple with brightly colored figures including a giant reclining Buddha and a huge gold rooster with an elephant head. Aimee remarked that it looked more like a putt-putt golf course than a religious compound.


The forests of Thailand are Teak country. We ate lunch at a hotel that was decorated with teak furniture and teak wall carvings.

Just outside Chiang Rai we stopped at Wat Rong Khun, aka the White temple, This modern compound is less temple and more art exhibit. Built by a wealthy (and eccentric) artist, the many temple-like buildings are filled with symbolism. The white temple represents purity while the adjoining gold building (housing the restrooms) represent greed and materialism. This weird and strange exhibit was a good change of pace from our normal tour itinerary. We had to pay a few bucks to pass through the small temple. It would not have been worth it except for a seated monk in Buddha pose. Aimee thought he was real and remaining still while I was convinced he must be a wax figure. We left not knowing for sure.

Minutes afterwards we enter Chiang Rai and find the resort that will be our home for two days.