Hoping for a bit of respite from the high temperatures we soon found that the unseasonably hot weather was here as well. Again we opted for A/C accommodation, Linda did a fantastic job in finding one of the best budget places we have stayed at, Bann Nud-Kun. What a gem of a place.
As we are here to sort out our next steps we are not going off to do too much sight seeing, Our first detail was to get our Visas fro China sorted out, as usual the day we arrive there is some sort of local holiday and the Embassy is closed. Next day we trek across town to get them sorted, it was a doddle, so easy, we had our passports back later the same day complete with our Visa. Now time for some Sight seeing.
We hired a cab for the day as this was cheaper and much more convenient than getting on and off buses and hanging around. First up was an Orchid farm followed by an Insect Zoo !
After this natural excursion it was back to more temples and stuff, the Doi Suthrup temple overlooks Chaing Mai and is well worth a visit, a square courtyard with covered surround housing rows of tidy gold Buddha images, in the centre was a gold stupa.
Or next venture was to the North of Thailand towards the Golden Triangle and area where Myanmar, Laos and Thailand meet, its also the place where a lot of opium trade once ( and possibly still does ) take place, the local tribes openly boast opium as a main source of income ! an interesting Juxtaposition with the strict Thai laws on drug use !! As we were only a few hundred meters from Laos we thought it would be rude not to pay a quick visit, a 20 bhat one day visas ( 40p ) was all that was required, and a boat of course.
On the way to the Northern states we paid a visit to the touristy Hot springs and to the awesome White Temple, now this really is something ! A gleaming White construction with quirky sculptures combined with authentic designs, Brilliant.
Over the next couple of days we continue to make further plans regarding China before going to Bangkok to catch our flight to Hong Kong .... Bangkok did we say ? yep sure did, just as the Red Shirt protests are removed by the Army and soon we find ourselves in the middle of loads of armed police and soldiers, barricaded into shops, put under Curfew, not what we were planning but hey it makes for a change !!!
Orchid Farm
Butterfly
Jack Fruit.
Bangles.
Lychees
Indigenous Tribes Village.
Fishermens huts at the Golden Triangle.
Laos Ferry.
Laos Hooch !
A different sort of "Snake bite" not quite the Cider & Lager mix we are used to !
Ferry with tanker.
Myanmar in the distance.
Buddha on a boat.
Goldfish at the White Temple.
The White Temple.
White temple guardian.
Hands and one red fingernail.
White Temple sculptures.
The White Temple with reflections.
A unique health warning..
Reflections.
Hot Springs Chiang Mai.
Quail eggs cooking in the hot springs.
Hot Springs.
Orchids again.
Doi Suthrep Temple Chiang Mai.
Doi Suthrep
Jack fruit.
Doi Suthrep.
Chiang Mai from Doi Suthrep.
Bells Doi Suthrep.End of Chiang Mai Blog.
Next Hong Kong ( if we get there ! )
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