Chiang Mai, Thailand - February 2020

Chiang Mai is often regarded as the Northern Capital of Thailand. It's only about four hours south of Chiang Rai by bus. February is a good month to be in Chiang Mai as the city held its annual Flower Festival when the beautiful tropical flowers in the area in full bloom. We were glad to be there the weekend of Flower Festival 2020.

All decked up for the Flower Fest

Flowers from the festival-view from Nong Haad Buak Park inside the Old City wall.

Flowers Festival

Old fort on the south-east corner of the Old Town

 

Chiang Mai is also famous for weekend markets. These markets attract as many locals as tourists. The night bazaar, especially the popular Sunday night walking market offers variety of local foods and many tourist souvenirs.

Crab cake stall at night market

Wat Phan On beautifully lit up in the middle of the night market

Our hotel, the Roseate located on a main boulevard across from the moat and walking distance to The Phae Gate, the Old City as well as The Suan Dok Gate (West Gate) 

View of the city wall across the street from our hotel. 

View of a temple behind the moat. 

The moat across the street from the hotel

The moat lit up at night

Flower festival lights by the old city wall at Suan Dok gate

Old city wall at West Gate

The old fort wall - West Gate (Suan Dok Gate)

Chiang Mai has a large concentration of ancient and majestic temples. From our hotel, it's any easy walk to the old city where we can visit many temples, art galleries, gift shops and a central market.

Wat Chang Yun

Wat Chang Yun

Wat Chang Yun

Wat Phan On - day time 

Wat Phan Thao

Wat Phan Tao - (bamboo) garden

Wat Phan Tao's pond - Buddha image sitting under a Bodhi tree.

Wat Phan Tao - Ceremonial stupa in the background with lots of orange prayer flags.

Wat Chedi Luang located next to Wat Phan Tao

Wat Chedi Luang

Wat Chedi Luang 

Other popular temples within walking distance from our hotel and central market.

Entrance to Wat Phra Singh

Wat Phra Singh

Many golden elephant statues in Wat Phra Singh compound

Wat Phra Singh - Golden stupas

Wat Phra Singh - sanctuary with wax model of meditating monks

Wat Chang Mun

Wat Chang Mun

Wat Chang Mun

Wat Chang Mun - Sitting Buddha

Wat Chang Mun - Sleeping and Standing Buddhas

Wat Doi Kham - a short distance from our hotel

Three Kings Monument - Located in the center of the city where palaces used to stand.

We went to a highly recommended restaurant in the old city for Khao Soi lunch. Khao Soi is a famous Chiang Mai traditional meal. It's spicy (from curry) but quite tasty. We're glad to know this local favorite dish.

Khao Soi, Chiang Mai's most popular local dish

We had three wonderful days in Chiang Mai. And could use at least one more full day to explore the hilltops around Doi Inthanon and Doi Suthep. But our time in Thailand has come to a close. We will fly back to Bangkok the next day to get ready for our trip home.

  

Chiang Rai, Thailand - February 2020

  It is time to leave Bangkok for Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai. As previously planned, we would fly to Chiang Rai to save time. Chiang Rai is the Northernmost major city in Thailand. It's about 500 miles north of Bangkok. We hope for much cooler weather in the highlands and less crowded.

Chiang Rai is not as big a city as Chiang Mai and not as crowed we soon discovered. Many business and tourist offices are located in the downtown center. There is a big central market with a lively night food market that attract tourists and the locals alike. It's fun to explore the market during the day and to eat at the food stall at night. We liked their BBQ chicken on bamboo sticks and Chinese pork buns, dumplings and fruit for a quick pick-up dinner on the go.

Down the street from the busy market is a popular clock tower square/plaza with many restaurants on both sides of the streets. People gather around the square to catch some cool evening breeze and watch the light and music show from the clock tower.

The clock tower in Chiang Rai downtown

Evening music and light show 

"Fresh" fish sold by the baskets at Chiang Rai central market 

We hired a private car and driver from a tourist agency to take us to Chiang Rai's popular landmarks. We headed north to visit the famous Golden Triangle area where Thailand meets Myanmar (Burma) and Laos. The Golden Triangle is known for its beautiful scenery. From an overlook, we could see the three countries on the Mekong river (Thailand and Myanmar on the Ruak river which flows into the Mekong). The hilly landscape with small villages and hilltop temples added to the serene beauty of the area.  

View of the Golden Triangle from the Thailand northern border.

Golden Triangle - overlooking Myanmar on the Ruak River

Thailand by the Ruak River 

Steps going up to the Hall of Opium Museum

Golden Buddha in the Golden Triangle Park

Sign at Wiang, the Golden Triangle Park

The Golden Triangle Border Gate

At Nang Lae entrance to the Hill Tribe Villages

Entrance to the hill tribe villages

... 

Yao Tribe

    Kayaw Tribe 
    

 Long Neck Tribe

Long Neck Tribe

On the way back to Chiang Rai, we made a quick stop at the Mysterious Black House.

The Mysterious Black House

The Mysterious Black House (Baan Dam)

We saved the White Temple (Wat Rong Khun) for the last stop of the day. The White Temple is a very popular place, worth a visit. It's about 15 km south of Chiang Rai and occupies a very large compound with many amazing buildings and beautifully landscaped. The White Temple is quite impressive. It's anything but traditional. 

The beautiful White Temple (Wat Rong Khun)

The White Temple in background 

 

The Bridge (the Cycle of Rebirth)

Lookout from the (temple) principal building

Lake view behind the main building

The Golden Building in the temple compound

A rest stop in front of the White Temple

Not far from the White Temple, we visited the Blue Temple at sunset. The Blue temple, also known as Wat Rong Suea Ten is a very pretty temple with vibrant blue coloring and elaborate carvings. The vivid blue was very dramatic under the sunset when we were there! 

The Blue temple

Inside the sanctuary 

Beautiful sunset behind the Blue Temple

That was our last evening in Chiang Rai. We'll leave the next morning heading south to Chiang Mai.