This was a spare day kept as optional day for either free day or Chiang Rai tourism. Both of us, Adam and me, opted for tourism.
We started after ten in the morning, needing late start after binge drinking previous night. Our first stop was at White Temple.
This temple designed and constructed by one man depicts man's journey/ path to heaven, with pitfalls in between which would lead you to hell. (My take on the design without any reference to books or material is as mentioned ahead, no pun or bad feelings to any one).
The gateway of the path to nirvana or heaven is guarded by ferocious looking guards, placed there to knock off undeserving people. Once you cross them you are welcomed by devis/ fairies which guide to to the inner sanctum, where true nirvana is there in its simplicity. The temple was damaged during earthquake a few years back and restoration work was in progress.
After White Temple we visited the wishing well in same sanctuary, with its lotus inside well and coins falling in the lotus head guaranteeing your wish to come true. Hanging of prayers in metallic trees nearby was also magical.
White Temple in all its glory
One for the memoirs
Another Golden praying wall near white temple
Souls in Pit before reaching Nirvana
Path to Heaven guarded by Guardians
We were here......
Guardian to the Pathway
Path to Nirvana.....
Devis welcoming you to Heaven
We are across the hell pit......
Walls of inner sanctum
Another view
Lotus in the Wishing Well
Tree of Prayers......
Wishing Well
This is the Toilet Complex.....amazing
After White Temple we moved for a buffet lunch with various Thai food on display. Post lunch we proceeded for promised visit to the Black Village, the anti thesis of the previous pristine white. This is place was constructed by a self styled guru with massive following. The basic concept what I could gather was that there is nothing in life which is not good. The basic theme being Black, to me an u trained eye it resembled a lot with few of our Indian tribes and some houses I saw in Indonesia. We'll to each his own......also saw giant pythons and sleeping owl...good place to spend few hours though.
Boat in water
Log Sofa
People listen to the Bossman......
What's the problem......
There were many places with No Entry sign boards
Musical instruments and skulls on display
Sleeping Buddha
Guardian of the Temple
House of somebody.....
Temple in its glory
Black design.....looks similar
Assorted things in basement
Sleeping Owl, where did I see it last.....
House of Village
Inner Temple Seating
Horns out of my shoulders....
One big Croc
Main Temple....
We were there
Main Temple Entrance
After this our last pit stop was a visit to Hill Tribes of North Thailand. A place where one can see and meet five main hill tribes of Northern Thailand. The place was touristee to the hilt with tribe folks having shops to sell their wares and women sitting in traditional dresses in front of their huts. Interesting part were two, first the traditional dance of Ankh Tribe quite akin to our Mizo one and second was witnessing Long Necks.....
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