A
Buddhist image for the year of the rabbit.
Preeyanoot Jittawong
Chiang Rai, the northernmost province of Siam or Thailand was established by
King Meng Rai 743 years ago. It was the founding point of the Thai Lanna
Kingdom and full of items of historical interest.
Chiang Rai provides many fascinating tourist destinations to attract
visitors to the land of Lanna culture, temples and its outstanding areas of
natural beauty in the province’s hills and waterfalls. There are also many
different hill tribes living in the province and trips to experience their
rural life style should be placed high on any visitor’s agenda. Local
mountain streams provide the ideal opportunity to enjoy bamboo rafting and
to see beautiful scenery along each riverbank; and there are many places for
tourists to buy the mandatory souvenirs of their visit before going home.
When visiting Chiang Rai you should not miss the opportunity to go to the
Mae Sai border trade area 62 kilometers away from Chiang Rai city. Here lies
the northernmost point of Thailand, at the entrance to the Friendship Bridge
over the Mae Sai River, which links Mae Sai with Tachilek, Burma. Citizens
of both countries are able to travel freely in both directions, including
tourists who are able to cross to Tachilek and enjoy shopping for the low
priced local products on sale there. The most notable of these are CDs and
DVD’s, electrical products, fashion handbags, jade and rubies. However,
buyers should carefully check these products before deciding to purchase
because much are fakes or pirated copies; nevertheless, tourists still like
to shop there, convinced they are getting a bargain.
Crossing to Burma reveals the Burmese lifestyle to be much simpler than that
of the Thai people. Burmese men like to wear a sarong while most women
prefer to wear a long skirt and cover their faces with powder and chew betel
nut.
A
Burmese man wearing a sarong.
Another noteworthy place in Chiang Rai province is Wat Rong Khun located at
Tambon Aw Don Chai in Muang, Chiang Rai. It is a temple created by a well
known Thai artist, Ajarn Chalermchai Khositpipat. This temple is very
beautiful with its many artistic decorations. Ajarn Chalermchai funded the
construction of this temple by selling his paintings. Each stage of the
construction was very delicate as he insisted on getting the most perfect
and beautiful art on the temple which consequently took a long time in the
creation. Ajarn Chalermchai said, “I will try to construct this temple
with the intention of creating the world’s most beautiful temple. I never
personally collect money from anyone and donations are limited to be a
maximum of 10,000 baht, so if anyone receives an envelope asking for
donations in excess of that figure they should decline to donate at all, as
the person making the request is certainly not bona fide.” Wat Rong Khun
will almost certainly be one of world most beautiful temples after
completion.
Another beautiful temple that is certainly worth a visit can be found on the
way to Chiang Mai when you pass into Phayao province; and is known as Wat
Analayo Doi Busarakham. It is located in San Pa Bong Village, Tambon San Pa
Muang in Muang Phayao and covers 2,800 rai of land. According to the history
of this temple’s construction, Phra Ajarn Phaiboon Sumangkalo, while he
was in Wat Rattana Wanaram had a vision of golden sand blowing into Wat
Analayo Doi Busarakham and the whole temple almost became a golden temple.
He then saw through the golden light and realized it was a hill. Residents
often see a circle of light on that hill which makes it appear to be a
golden. This phenomenon usually takes place on important Buddhist religious
days, so this temple was constructed for practicing the dharma and took six
years to finish. There is a circle at the head of the stairway to the
temple, which is divided into the 12 signs of the zodiac. People like to set
up a coin on their own birth-sign and pray for good luck and if anyone can
set up the coin, his or her wish will come true. Around the temple, there is
a beautiful Buddha image made during the Sukhothai period, as well as other
Buddha images in various postures fashioned delicately in Thai artistic
style.
Ajarn
Chalermchai Khositpipat, well known Thai artist.
Wat Rong
Khun and its beautiful art.
Pedicabs
are the fun way to go sight seeing.
Customs
house at Thai-Burmese border, Mae Sai.
The
bridge across the Mae Sai River linking two countries.
This is
Burma.
Music
and movie CDs favored amongst tourists.
Lively
trade on the Burmese side.
