Chiang Rai & The Golden Triangle

The White Temple

Today was a long travel day.

We drove for around three and a half hours north to Chiang Rai, with the main aim of visiting the White Temple.

Wat Rong Khun is impossible to miss. Blindingly white. So white it actually hurt our eyes. Designed by contemporary Thai artist Chalermchai Kositpipat, it’s a modern temple rather than an ancient one, heavy on symbolism and visual impact. I’m still not quite sure what I think of it. Parts were striking. Parts felt more like an elaborate art installation than a spiritual space. It’s undeniably impressive, but it also felt very much designed to attract tourists. Which, to be fair, it does extremely well.

Our pit stop. An odd place with hot springs where vendors sell eggs boiled in the water!

Eggs in basket

We made it! Although I think it is more bedazzling in real life

We actually felt hot for the first time we've been in Chiang Mai/Chiang Rai

What is this strange place?!

Uh...is that a TNMT?!? Why yes it is!

I feel like this guy was in a movie too

Thanos

And because a silver one wasn't enough, they built a gold one too

From there, we continued on to the Golden Triangle.

This is the point where Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar meet along the Mekong River, once infamous as the heart of the opium trade. Today, it’s calmer, more reflective, and very aware of its own history. We took a short boat ride on the river, drifting past borders that felt both significant and strangely abstract from the water.

And then… we got back in the car.

Another four-hour drive home.

Was it worth it? I’m not entirely sure. It was a very long day for what amounted to a handful of stops. But the kids can now say they’ve seen Laos and Myanmar, even if only from a boat, and sometimes that’s enough.

Not every travel day needs to be transformative. Some are just long.

I think the geography is best seen with the eyes rather than described..

Terrible photo but you get the idea

Time to get into the water

So we could marvel at the Chinese built apartment buildings and casinos in Laos across the water

Fresh coconut break. So cheap at under AUD2 each. It was icy cold too with handy spoon to eat the meat after, AND a tap to wash your hands

Traditional lanna meal to end our time in northern Thailand