This was another of those “Pinch me, am I really here!”
moments as I stood in Thailand’s Golden Triangle. Below, Myanmar (Burma) was on
one side and Laos the other. It was quite a heady and breathtaking sight.
Ketsara warned me not to use my credit cards here! “This is the border,” she stated “and it’s
dangerous.”
She began telling me about China Road. Ketsara said that if
I moved to Chiang Rai, on her own time she would drive the two of us to Laos,
and then up into Mainland China. We could even go over to Viet Nam. I was
intrigued with the idea. However I never want to see another squat toilet
again! The bathrooms in Ecuador were challenging enough! I hated confessing I
was leaning more toward South America as my future home.
Crickets are sold as food in Thailand and much of Asia along
with other insects. -- No, I didn’t sample any! However, due to the exploding
world population and earth’s diminishing resources, in 20 years, we may all be
seeing crickets on our dinner plate, probably alongside baked cockroaches and
boiled beetles, too!
I was also informed that the Thai’s eat Cobras! I told
Ketsara & Pako I didn’t have a problem with that since it was a reptile.
I’ve eaten Alligator here in Florida! Besides, birds are descendants of
dinosaurs and nearly everyone eats fowl.
We continued to Mae Sai on the border next to Myanmar. We
explored the local markets and strolled thru shops before returning to the
hotel.
My suitcases were running short of space. I gave Ketsara the
cloth purse I’d bought at Claire’s after Christmas. Also I brought lots of
snacks, (granola & P-nut butter bars, cracker & cheese packs) I wasn’t
sure how much food I’d get on the planes. As it turned out, I was well fed
everywhere! So these were given away as well.
The following morning, we visited another world famous
Chiang Rai attraction; Wat Rong Khun called The White Temple. This WAT was the
one I longed to see! It stood out from
every other temple in Thailand. As pure white and intricately beautiful as a
snowflake, it appeared like a structure straight out of a fairy tale.
This temple, the Wat Rong Khun has actually been restored as
an art exhibit, created and owned by Chalermchai Kositpipal, a local
millionaire artist. In fact, HE WAS RIGHT THERE, sitting off to one side
surrounded by a crowd. His creation is an offering to Lord Buddha. To me, it’s
the most memorable of all temples. It is certainly unique!
It was smaller than it appears in photos, but no less
impressive. Guarded by dragons and mythological creatures, two gigantic Mastodon
tusks greet you as demons watch. Grim realistic looking hands reach up from
Hell as you cross its bridge. The imagery is spellbinding!
I thought anything this special would be sacred and remote.
It comes across this way in pictures. I was surprised to find it in the city
with businesses bustling all around. And
it was crowded, jammed with both Westerners & Asians, more so than any
other temple.
But what surprised me most was the large inside mural. The
images were current or rather semi-current along with movie fantasy. George W.
Bush and Osama Bin Laden were seated together on a missile riding toward the
stars, flames circled around. Planes were crashing into the Twin Towers. Featured also were Harry Potter, The Terminator,
Superman, The Matrix, and Hello Kitty. Below on this same mural I was puzzled
to see an image of Michael Jackson in Hell with Freddy Krueger!
It was worth a trip to Thailand just to tour this temple!
Outside close by, is an Art Gallery. Oh, and I can’t forget
the Golden Public Restroom, known as the most beautiful one in Thailand!
Departing the White Temple we drove south along a winding
mountain route. Our destination was now Chiang Mai several hours away.
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