Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai: Christmas 2023

Now that international travel is back on the cards, it's really hard not to get out the country every chance I get. As we get a Xmas holiday in my school, this was no exception. 

I booked into a snazzy hotel in Chiang Mai and set off for a few days of chilled relaxing. The winter semester is intense. From the second week in October straight through to Christmas is just non stop with chaos at work, including Midterms and annoyingly preparation for finals and parents. This year we are very lucky to have an English fair to prepare for too. Just Yay! 

Anyway, the last time I was in Chiang Mai (with Dan in the summer) we stayed in a fantastic hotel, which was sadly booked. So I booked the one next door. Also very nice and well located in the center of the old town. 

I have been to Chiang Mai many times so touristy sight seeing is not a priority. 5 days is therefore too long. So I planned a trip to nearby Chiang Rai famed for its temples. I booked into a beautiful looking garden inn thing and set off on the three hour drive. 

The hotel was indeed beautiful but so quiet. It turned out to be way out of town, next to the university, which was handy but closed as it was the holidays. 

The staff were amazing and so friendly. By the time I arrived, the kitchen had closed but they went and cooked me something anyway and refused to let me pay for it. 

Chiang Rai is all about the temples. So many temples. Just so many temples! I saw three, White, Blue and Black. Some helpful soul color coded them so that the tourists can keep track of where they have been. My hotel was a long way north of the city so I started at the furthest away and name my way back. 

The white temple is more of an art installation than an actual temple. It is stunning but there is no information on site. What I know, I found out after the fact on google. Turns out in the 1970's the temple was a bit of a mess and no-one could really afford to repair it. So a local artist paid for it himself with the intention of making the local area a bit of a meditation retreat. I think that plan has gone slightly sideways as it was packed with people taking pictures and making videos. It's a very cool place but like I say, packed. I got there about mid morning so I dread to think how busy it gets later. 

Once you arrive and go through the very complicated ticket gates, you get the only full view of the temple. Like I say, it is very pretty. 

From there you walk over the bridge with creepy hands trying to drag you to hell (I assume, not sure) and basically follow a trail through a series of rooms that get progressively stranger. By the end, it's hard to take it all in. It sounds silly but it really is too white and shiny. At one point there were mirrors too. 

From the white temple I got in a shuttle bus to the Blue temple. This one is free and actually seems to be a functioning and in use temple. There were still loads of people here but less pictures and video makers which made things a little less intense. 

I stopped in a small cafe across the street and had something to eat while chatting to a couple on an epic round the world cruise. 9 months on a ship! 

From the blue, I went to my last of the day, the Black Temple. Again this is not so much a temple as an art gallery. There was a small market street outside selling cool T-shirts and leather goods. Overall just much more chilled and relaxed. 

I found a seat and watched the world go by for a bit before walking back to my hotel and another very quiet night in the world's most romantic hotel. 

I got to listen to monkeys fighting outside this this though so some entertainment was on hand.