Chiang Rai

We took a guided tour to Chiang Rai.  First stop was the White Temple.  I like to think of it as the La Sagrada Familia of Thailand... you'll see why.

This guy was here to greet us.

Even the pedestrian cones were styled up

The White Temple

What a lovely walk way

Here's a taste of the art inside the White Temple.  I like to think of it as a little Where's Waldo.  Hey MJ!

Is that Neo, a transformer, a Naavi from Avatar, scary Saw puppet, and Kung Fu Panda all in one painting?  You betcha!

Spidey and a minion

Ninja Turtle realness

Not really sure why 9/11 needed to be included in this bizarre mural.  It is not pop culture.  This touched a bit of a nerve with me since I visited on 9/12 in Thailand but it was 9/11 back home.

Next we visited the Golden Triangle.   We were at the very top of Thailand where one river separates three countries.  Our boat was on the border of Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos all at once!  We then popped over to Laos for 30 minutes. 

Weird Laos whiskey

Thailand on the left

Myanmar in the middle

Laos on the right

More Capri Sun water!

Our last stop was the village of the long neck women.

The giraffe women wear gold necklaces to stretch their neck but also weigh down their shoulders.  It is considered a sign of beauty.  The necklaces weigh 4.5 kg (10 pounds!)

We shopped around their market and talked to some of the ladies. They made BEUATIFUL scarves and I tried desperately to find one that was long enough to wrap around my neck.  They were all too short... the irony was not lost on me.  

Lady boy show... yep that's a boy!

Night bazzar in Chiang Rai

Weird cheesy curry... yep that's right it has cheese and curry.   It was interesting but I did eat it all.