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Wat Muen Chiang
Legend has it that Muen Chiang Song, the ruler of Chiang Saen commissioned the temple to be built in 1488 for the purpose of housing 640 relics. |
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| We returned to the "epicenter" of Chiang Saen ie around Sin Sombun Market for breakfast. |
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| The noodles here are similar to Chinese Teochew style but the stock, being typically Thai is a tad too sweet |
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| Bamboo table and benches, free for all to use by the river promenade |
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| Boats moored by the local immigration jetty. This border crossing is for Thais and Laotians only. As mentioned earlier, foreigners use the border crossing at Sop Ruak. |
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| Wat Pong Sanuk |
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| Beautiful gazebos in Lanna architecture |
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| A yacht moored by the jetty |
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| While waiting for the arrival of Deng and Dr Ugrid, Claudine decided to explore the walled ruins of Chiang Saen, located less than 100m away from our hotel |
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| Ancient Chiang Saen was a fortified city surrounded by walls and moats as it was constantly attacked by Burma |
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| Today, modern buildings are built around the ancient walls. Note this is the outer wall designed with crenels to launch projectiles whilst offering defensive advantages |
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| The inner wall. Note the thickness of the wall |
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| Dr Ugrid and Deng came from Chiang Rai to pick us up for our road trip |
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| 4 Bromptons and 4 panniers at truck bed |
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| 4 of us seated at the back row seats |
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| Thank you, Deng for driving and thank you, Dr Ugrid for navigating! |
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| Our 1st stop was Mae Sai, The Northern Most of Thailand |
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| Mae Sai CIQ |
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A cyclist goes crazy seeing a fellow cyclist!
As at 2026, all foreigners are restricted from crossing for day trips or onward travel without a pre-arranged visa and special permissions via Mae Sai - Tachileik border crossing. This border crossing is strictly for local Thai and Myanmarese only |
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River Ruak - a muddy and narrow river separates 2 nations
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| Besides vehicles, you can just walk across the border! |
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| In July 2025, torrential rain causes the Mae Sai River to overflow. Down river, at the confluence between Mae Sai and Ruak, debris and flood waters choked the rivers and brought upon severe destructions. Some of the debris can still be seen in this photo |
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| As at every border crossings, security is tight. A border patrol is seen taking a rest here. |
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| Sky Walk Wat Phra That Doi Wao |
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| Sai Lom Joi Market |
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| At the mouth of the cave |
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| Some of the exhibits at the entrance to the cave. Besides photos and equipment used for the rescue mission, the displays includes the bicycles used by the Wild Boar team to get to the cave on that fateful day. |
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| Photo of rescue mission taking place in 2018 |
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Tham Luang Cave is only opened to visitors during the dry season. During the wet season, it is prone to flooding with water levels rising up to 5 meters in some areas
Above photo of flood waters pouring out of the cave on 11 September 2024.
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| Tham Luang cave is the 4th largest cave in Thailand with a length of 10.3 meters. The Wild Boars team was trapped about 4 meters from the entrance of the cave. |
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| Tham Luang Cave is a limestone cave formed over the years by seasonal surging rain waters thus offering a complex system of twisted tunnels, narrow passages and expansive chambers. |
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| There's a well designed museum but with hardly any displays in the national park which was specially dedicated to the rescue mission of the boys. Entrance to the museum and cave was free. |
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| Statue of Saman Kunan, an ex Navy SEAL who lost his life during the rescue mission |
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| After lunch, Deng and Dr Ugrid brought us to Blue Temple in Chiang Rai |
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| Entrance |
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| This main building was completed in January 2016, a span of 11 years in construction. |
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| Inside the main building, the Buddha looks serene |
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| When some people refused to move, we use them as models instead! |
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| The back portion of the main building with a Buddha outside |
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| The back of the temple also comes with an entrance |
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| After the Blue Temple, we visited the White Temple |
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| Wat Rong Kun or White Temple is a privately owned temple, created and funded by national artist Chalermchai Kositpipat. To date, he has invested over THB40 million of his own funds to build the temple |
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| Close up, the sparkles are made up of glass mosaics |
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The main temple by sunset.
The main temple is connected by a bridge over waters. In front of the bridge (in grey) are hundreds of outreaching hands that symbolizes unrestrained desire. Crossing the bridge symbolizes forgoing worldly temptations, greed and desires hence a rebirth! |
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| Tree of charms |
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| This gold building is a toilet! |
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| New extensions to the white temple, still bare |
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| Note the stupa is already finished with white plaster and glass mosaic decorations whilst the larger building behind is still relatively bare except for 1 column in the far left. |
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| Another stupa awaiting to be decorated |
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| Golden Ganesha Temple houses the Hindu God Ganesha, known as a remover of obstacles |
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| Iron bell |
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| A very serene garden with a Buddha in meditation |
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| We arrived at Singha Park just before 5 pm |
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| On the viewing deck above Cha Thai Cafe |
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| While waiting for Deng to park the car and the buggy to arrive, we took the opportunity to stretch our legs. |
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| It's a short distance to the restaurant but we were tired |
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| Thank you Deng and Dr Ugrid for suggesting such a grand place to end the evening |
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| Beautiful restaurant next to the golf course |
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| We were touched that Pastor Cheah and KH came to join us for dinner! Indeed a splendid evening |
Please click on below link for the full story of the Tham Luang Cave Rescue :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tham_Luang_cave_rescuePhoto credit : Mindy
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You can find them on Agoda
Rate : Standard Double, RM61.02 for 2 guests
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