01 Mar Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai!
Thailand, Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai.
Chiang Mai, a famous city in Thailand both for being Thailand's second largest city after Bangkok Either because it has some success among the digital nomads.
In fact, this is exactly what drew me to the North. What strikes me right away is the very Western atmosphere and modernly designed coworking spaces, the range of drinks and food on offer in the venues is vast, and the wifi network almost everywhere!
This is contrasted by the majestic and colorful temples that bring me back to the purely Asian dimension. They are all very noisy and crowded with tourists anxious to capture in a photographic shot every tiny decorative detail of this very special architecture and, why not? to peek here and there beyond the doors that lead to the "houses" of the monks, sympathetic figures dressed in orange that arouse much curiosity in non-Buddhists.
Just a couple of tourists taking in the choral chanting of monks united in prayer, all in brown wood alternating now with green now with gold. All around reigns the peace of a small garden frequented only by monks and meditation students.
Passing between the various temples, from the Wat Suan Dorg at Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep until Wat Chiang Man, in the area of the Wat Chedi Luang
Chiang Mai has retained its Asian features while welcoming Western people and their Western customs and traditions in a mix that seems to work very well.
Welcome to Chiang Rai
ChangRai is another popular destination for those venturing to Northern Thailand. So after a 3-hour bus ride (which barely made it to the destination) the scenery finally begins to change.
Less city life and less tourism are the first impressions as soon as I arrive. I choose to visit the places I set out to see, including. Wat Rong Khun (known as the White Temple).
So after a brief visit to this temple, which is far too tourist-sponsored for my taste, I don't miss a couple of ChangRai's special features. We are talking about the adventure on the Elephants in the middle of the forest, until Village of the famous "giraffe women", famous for their long necks, forced in an obviously unnatural way by a whole series of brass rings.
Another attraction of the place is the Black House Museum (another very macabre temple that I am not going to explain, google it) but I have to say that what I like most about these areas is the nature with its flower gardens and endless tea plantations, which give the place a great charm so I decide to leave the hustle and bustle and enjoy the tranquility of the valley of tea that fades into the horizon.
Nature - Artworks 1:0
