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| At Moom Mai Restaurant for brunch with KH Wong and Muay before we head for Chiang Rai bus station to catch our bus back to Chiang Mai. Muay is the supervisor at the restaurant @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZvfqgLLCKxfYzzpt9 |
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| On San Khok Chang Rd with the bicycle shop to our left @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/HBP9WDfjmjkLW7BY7 |
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| We finally get to take a photo with the famous Chiang Rai clocktower! |
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| KH gave us a treat at his family's favourite breakfast place. As we were parking our bikes, a lady came in motorcycle and Claudine immediately recognized her! It was the first time we met Muay in person though she has helped us numerous times in bookings and payments. In fact, without Muay, the trip would not have turned out so smoothly! |
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| Typical Thai breakfasts served in a pan |
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| Authentic old coffee shop operated by 2 old ladies @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/yjHYFmib1UxznPoR8 |
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| This is how the coffee shop looks like |
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| Opposite is Si Biao Panich Bakery & Breakfast @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/DxwzQHz11swsAfkf7 |
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| Streetview from our breakfasts place |
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| Photo credit : Google streetview Funnily, the building on the right has been on sale since June 2024! |
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| Uttarakit Rd @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/e4YFXtyEhy62pzdR8 |
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| The green roofed building is the Overbrook Hospital |
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| Wat Phra Kaew This temple now houses a replica of the Emerald Buddha. The original piece, found in this temple after a lightning struck an old Chedi in 1434 is now sitting in the Emerald Buddha Temple in Bangkok's Grand Palace. |
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| Several Buddha figurines housed in the main ubosot. The largest image in the center is named Phra Jao Lan Thong and is believed to be 700 years old |
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Hongluang Saengkaew Museum, pays homage to the temple and its history. Located within the temple grounds, it houses Lanna artifacts |
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| Bells and chimes |
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| More bells |
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| Not sure about the significance of this hollow wood |
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| Behind the main ubosot houses the Emerald Buddha aka Jade Buddha |
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| A replica of the original Emerald Buddha now sits in Wat Phra Kaew. The original Emerald Buddha was initially found hidden in a chedi that fell to the ground after a lightning strike in 1434. The Buddha was subsequently moved to Laos in 1552 during the times when the Kingdoms of Lanna and Lan Sang merged. Later, in 1779, the Siamese invaded Laos and the Buddha was seized and taken to Wat Arun where it stayed for 5 years before finally moving to its current home in the Grand Palace. |
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| Mae Fah Luang Bridge @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/x62bFqTg5m6wb1P59 |
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| Kok River |
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| On Route 1207, the white statue of Kuan Yin, Goddess of Mercy looked like a divine image floating in the sky @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/XKcwsdPtkYy1zYnw5 |
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| Wat Huay Plakang Hospital |
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| It is a steep climb to the temple |
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| Wat Huay Plakang All the food and drinks sold in this complex are subsidised by the temple hence they come with lower price tags. You can also pay more as a donation or pay forward for the next customer to enjoy. |
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| Phop Chok Dhamma Chedi (9-story Chinese Lanna pagoda) You can climb up to the top of the pagoda for a nice view. Entrance is free |
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| Prayer hall |
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| Statue of Buddha inside the prayer hall |
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| Dragon stairs leading to the prayer hall and another set of dragon stairs leading up to the statue of Kuan Yin |
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| View from the prayer hall |
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| In Thailand, Buddha statues are a common sight in most temples. At Wat Huay Plakang, the image of Goddess of Mercy is used to help believers relate to divinity instead of Buddha thus the temple is thought to come under Chinese and Vietnamese influences. The statue is about 79 meters. Visitors can ascend the statue and look out through the eyes of Kuan Yin at the observation deck on the 25th floor. There's a stairway and a lift to use for this purpose. While the stairway access is free, the lift comes with a cheap THB40 fee. To get to the base of the statue, visitors can climb the dragon stairs or use the free buggy service. The buggy starts from the car park and stops at the base of the statue |
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| To avoid traffic jams, the roads are designed one way in and one way out. |
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| After our ride, we adjourned to Restaurant Moom Mai |
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| Muay busy supervising the kitchen staff |
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| The entire restaurant ground was beautifully decorated |
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| Another amazingly good Khao Soi, our 2nd breakfast at 10 am |
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| Thank you Muay and KH for hosting us |
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| Bikes and bags in the trunk |
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| KH decided to surprise us at the bus station! So another goodbye and wefie was called for before we boarded our 12 pm bus to Chiang Mai |
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| As it was Mindy's and Claudine's birthday, we decided to go to for cakes and coffee at Chouquette @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/fVXXAHMvWptRqBzv6 |
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| Thank you Zoe for the birthday treat. |
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| Tha Pae Gate @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/yWvD7oAbZoyGoMcB6 |
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| Tha Pae Road beautifully decorated for Christmas |
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| Wat Mahavan's beautiful outer walls. At 6 pm, the sun was dipping below the horizon |
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| Foreigners actually travel all the way to Thailand to practice Muay Thai! |
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| Tha Pae Gate brimming with visitors |
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| Catching the last lights at 6.20 pm |
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| Dinner at Kat's Kitchen @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/rQfZUP5YW7g9rn9t6 |
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| This time, it was VT's turn to treat the ladies |
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