Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
JK - Today we flew in to Chiang Rai in northern Thailand. Leaving the city behind and arriving in the more rural north was fantastic as was our first sight of the great Mekong River.
We started our day visiting the Golden Triangle - the tri-country boarder between Thailand, Laos and Myanmar, where opium used to be a major cash crop. We learned a lot more about this in the House of Opium museum. A small but fascinating place. Lunch was in the 'Riverside Bar and Restaurant' where more Pad Thai was eaten over looking the Mekong.
Next we took a short journey to Chiang Mai to visit Wat Chedi Luang a temple that collapsed either during an earthquake in 1545 or from canon fire in 1775 during the capture of Chiang Mai from the Burmese. Here a few of us were blessed by monks and given a 'bracelet' that is supposed to protect us, give long life and health & happiness, rather auspicious especially on 12/12/12.
A windy journey through rural northern Thailand has brought us to Chiang Khong and our hotel with a view of the Mekong. Tomorrow we cross in to Laos and take a boat trip down the river. So far we have only glimpsed Laos from the Thai side and so are looking forward to seeing it from the other side.
- comments