Phu Chi Fa

 

The interesting and popular activity you do in this small agricultural village is to watch the morning sun rise at the  Phu Chi Fa summit. I wake up at 5.00 am to start my journey. The locals advice me to hitch a ride with the local pick-up for 30 Bhts. to the foot of the mountain but it is not necessary, what you need is a torch light and  umbrella. When you arrive in this town, make your research by asking the locals where is the road leading to the summit. It just about 20 minutes hike. DO not let the young children to swindle you to buy their services, they are there to cheat you. If you happen to visit during the weekend then you may have more companies and there are stalls selling coffee, light foods, instance noodles, etc..etc. Sometimes there is  a life concert by the local in the village center, Foods, there is a shop in villagecenter has good menu
  

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The Children Of Phu Chi Fa

Town Center Restaurant

Transport To Phu Chi Fa

Tips:    To visit this village you have to travel to Thoeng. Now there is a direct public bus service to the mountain  at the local bus station in Chiang Rai. otherwise you have to travel to the town of Thoeng ask around for the pick up station where it wait for passenger (the road before the wat, just behind this wat). Only one trip per day in the morning. It cost 50-80 Bhts. to the mountain. When the driver drop you  ask him to come on the day you want to return because there is no others service, the other option is to hitch a ride which is easy. A very good place to chill out.

Chiang Rai

Chiang Rai, Northern Thailand

 

Wat Rong Khun

 Before my visit to this contemporary wat in Chiang Rai I though this is just another ordinary wat, but I was totally wrong. This White Temple or Wat Rong Khun is more of arts than spiritual . That's why there are 'Controversy' about this temple. You can even find pictures of superman, spacecraft, US President and so on in their collection gallery, nevertheless it is a very beautiful temple with a very unique art done by Mr. Chalermchai Kositpipat, one of Thailand’s most renowned artist, whom want to build a temple in white to signify the purity of Lord Buddha. The artist continues to puts his religious belief and desire to enrich Buddhism in Thailand into his contemporary art design. The construction of the White Temple is Khun Chalemchai’s first master work, Wat Rong Khun is unique from other temples in that it has been constructed entirely in a radiant white color with sparking reflections from mirrored glass mosaics embedded in the white plaster. Wat Rong Khun is still in progress and it may take another few years to complete but it has bloom with tourist in Chiang Rai. It planned to comprise nine buildings including a ubosot, pagoda, hermitage, crematorium, monastery hall, preaching hall, museum, pavilion, to be built on an area of 7 rai (about 3 acres). if you have the chance to visit, remember the wash room which is in golden color, it is so unique and clean a public toilet which you do not have to pay and yet so...so...clean and beautiful.

                 

     

Most Beautiful Washroom

From the city of Chiang Rai, about 10 km to the west Directions: Route 1211, from the night food court get into Phaholyothin Road  turn right and straight second traffic light  turned left (Thanalai Road) keep on this main road it will lead you to white temple. You can also book a  Tutuk from the town center for the trip, Thb 300. two way, remember to pay only when he sent you back to the town.

Wat Phra Kaew

Replica Of  Emerald Buddha

According to the chronicle, Emerald Buddha was sculpted in India.234 BC., by god. latter it was moved to Sri Lanka, with the request of King Arunudha of Burma the Buddha arrived in Burma, when on the voyage home the boat carrying the Buddha was swept to the shore of Cambodia. From there the Buddha subsequently move to Angkor Sri Ayuthya then to Khampeng Phet, Thailand. At Wat Pa Yiah the Buddha was hid inside the stucco of a pagoda until 1434 when the lighting struck the pagoda and they discovered a hidden Emerald Buddha. After 45 years in Chiang Rai in 1436 it traveled to Lampang for 32 yrs, 1468 it was move to Chiang Mai and stay there for 85 yrs, In 1553. the Buddha was move to Laos for 225 yrs.until 1778 when King Taksin captured Viantiane and the Emerald Buddha was subsequently was place in Bangkok until today.  

Wat Phra Kaew artifacts

Night markets are always the most popular place for adventurous tourists. I never missed night markets whenever I visit any place in Southeast Asia. Always look for night markets that are frequent by the locals, it has cheaper and more variety with foods and portray a genuine lifestyles & cultures.

Night Market

Popular Yellow tables Foods Court

Local delicacies deserts 

Classy foods court beside the yellow tables foods court

Always walk around first then visits foods stall which has more customers then try a small portion for experience. This way you can indulge and taste more varieties.

One of the most popular activities at the night market for westerners is the massaging, only 200 Bhts for 1 hr. after walking around the night market you will definitely enjoy the legs massaging.

Night Market Chiang Rai

Foods at the Night Market
Chiang Rai is often used as the visa route, I found many westerners use Chiang Rai as their stop over when travel to the north to extend their visa in Burmese border or even cross over to Laos. There are not much to see in the city other than the wats, white water raft, a few night markets and the lifestyle is just as normal like any other cities in Thailand. The special lighting of the town clock tower is beautiful. If one is a very adventurous type you may take a trip or stay at the AKHA HILL VILLAGE HOUSE. and White Water Rafting is very popular in Chiang Rai provided you have company .There is a boat ride up river to Thaton every Tuesday.  Below is the Night Food court. There are two food courts at the same vicinity, one with the yellow tables and the other have a classic and expensive cultures shows and foods. The yellow tables are more popular with locals and travelers.

Jeen Chum  Foods cooked in a clay pot with soup over charcoal fire.  A very popular dish in Chiang Rai, a set costs 100THB which is enough for 2 persons.  This comes with a plate of marinated pork meat, two eggs, a basket of fresh assorted vegetables and some glass noodles and you can order add on. The soup is quite tasty with a herbal  flavor. You have to cook yourself as like eating steamboat. During weekend chairs are always hard to find.

The Musical Clock Tower

This is the landmark  of Chiang Rai. It has a special lighting during the festivals night. When I was there I manage to get the chance to see it.  I was told it only light up during festival time only. But I am not sure about it. NEED TO ASK. I could only post this one picture, I have lost other pictures. 

Tip: Chiang Rai is just a small town and a few places to visit only. If you want to roam around the city you can easily do it with a bicycle. Other than this you can extend your visit travelling to Thaton by government boat cost Bht350 and it takes six hours through Kok River. Travelling to Golden Triangle, Doi Angkhang, Maesai.