Children of Laos, Burma & Thailand

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Thailand and Laos (and Myanmar if I can manage it)

Hello, Sawatdee kaa and Sabai dee,

My next trip will be Thailand and Laos, and this is all about the before, the trip and the after - similar to my Malaysia/Cambodia blog. I am putting together from start to finish - tickets, do's and don'ts, tours, where to stay, places to see, things to do, as well as useful extras like transport, good places to eat, what to wear, climate, tourist traps, tricks and tips and whatever else I can think of that will be useful.

If you have any tips or advice, please, feel free to leave a comment and add your bit - whatever you think may be helpful or interesting.
Cheers.


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Tuesday, December 20, 2011

67. Golden Triangle Tour - Wat Rong Khun

The second stop was at the White Temple in Chiang Rai - real name Wat Rong Khun, but everybody (that is tourists) calls it the white temple. While it looked fantastic in pictures, in reality it is just like a great big Disneyland of temples. I mean, the artwork is fabulous, and there's just so much detail, but there's something lacking. There's no sense of peace here. It might be unique but it's like a nightmare dream in full technicolour.


Above: Wat Rong Khun
The exterior is all white (obviously hence the name) and the futuristic art swirls and twirly bits all hint at a mind full of artistic temperament with a dash of boldness and imagination run wild.

It was designed by Chalermchai Kositpipat and the building of the White Temple started in 1997 and was sort of finished in 2008. Our guide said it was "Still a work in progress."
More information here.

The Do Not Signs
There are a number signs saying do not drink, do not smoke - the smoking one I can understand, but drinking? That's the problem when confronted with a "do not" - it always makes me want to do just that. I just had to stand near the no drinking sign and guzzle my water bottle. Yes I know it's wrong - must be going back to my inner childhood!

 
Above: Wat Rong Khun
2nd photo top left is the "No drinking" sign.
2nd photo lower left is the White Monk Statue.
I had taken photos of the "Hands from Hell" and the ugly grotesque evil faces hanging from a tree but they gave me the creeps and I didn't like the feeling they evoked so I deleted them (the photos). Although I wish in a ways I'd kept them, part of me is still glad I removed them from the memory card. Ugly and dark they produce dark, sad thoughts.

A Most Magnificent Toilet
To the left of the temple compound is the most magnificent toilet building I've ever seen. Said to symbolise there is beauty in all things, this is an ablutions block fit for a king. Or queen.

 
Above: The Golden Toilet
If you didn't know it was a toilet block, you'd never guess from looking at it would you? The building itself is very impressive and resplendent with highly decorative roof.

 
Above: Buddha
This white statue with the large golden image in the background, makes a colourful change from the ever present white of the outer building.

After having had time to wander around, take photos we all met at the front section and were on our way to the next stop - the long awaited "cruise" in the Golden Triangle.
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