Route Map Thailand

Today, we drove from Sukhothai to Chiang Rai––the green line on the map.

Lotus Pond

We stopped in Sukhothai to take photos of the lotus pond. One of my favorite photos of the day.

Rice Fields

This one I took from the bus of the rice fields. Also, one of my favorite photos of the day.

Over the Mountains

Our route to Chiang Rai took us over the mountains.

Wat Thai Watthanaram

Our first stop, at Wat Thai Watthanaram to view a Myanmar–style (Burmese–style) Buddha. It was put here in 1993 for the Tai Yai people. Most of the Tai Yai live in Myanmar but many also live in Thailand, Laos, and China.

Wat Thai Watthanaram

A close–up showing the Buddha’s very long eyelashes. For more photos of this Buddha and of the Wat Thai Watthanaram, go to

http://www.peggysphotos.com/from–sukhothai–to–chiang–rai/

(Slide Shows, Asia, Thailand, “From Sukhothai to Chiang Rai)

A Major Discovery

I took this photo at our second rest stop of the day. At the first one, only squat toilets and ones with no grab bar. This was getting depressing. We wanted a Western toilet so badly that even one with no seat attached was revered. However, at our first stop on my way out of the toilets (called Happy Rooms in Thailand), I discovered the handicapped bathroom. Not only did every rest stop have a 7 Eleven, they also all had handicapped bathrooms with Western toilets.

The Happy Toilet

The handicapped toilet was called a “Happy Toilet.” Yes, its discovery made us very happy indeed!

The Happy Toilet Sign

The pictures tell us the Happy Toilet is for pregnant and disabled women, but I am sure that if there was a universal symbol for Western women or one specifically for American women, it would have been included. I told some of the women on my tour about my discovery––so many smiles! The ones I didn’t have an opportunity to tell I thought they would figure it out when we started lining up for the Happy Toilet.

So at our second rest stop, we in the know formed a line. I was second in line. The first in line reported that the toilet couldn’t be flushed as when she tried to do it the handle fell off. Oh well, I was only second in line and no one got out of the line. Joyce, farther back in the line, knew something about toilet plumbing: since the top was off the toilet, she knew what to lift up to get the toilet to flush. Problem solved.

With the handicapped toilets at rest stops and at other places, all was now fine with me except that E day was getting closer (elephant riding day).

To be fair, outside of the rest stops, we found Western toilets at the restaurants we ate at, at tourist sites, and also, of course, in all our hotels.

Phayao

We ate lunch by Lake Phayao. Chinese New Year decorations were set up along the lake. To see more of Phayo and our drive from Sukhothai to Chiang Rai, go to

http://www.peggysphotos.com/from–sukhothai–to–chiang–rai/

(Slide Shows, Asia, Thailand, “Sukhothai to Chiang Rai”)

Wat Rong Khun: The White Temple

We made a stop to view Wat Rong Khun: The White Temple. An artist, Chalermchai Kositpitpat, started building this temple in 1997. It is his life’s work and he will work on it until he dies. It is his creation. It is whimsical and was designed to represent Buddhist riddles, teachings, and philosophy.

Wat Rong Khun: The White Temple

Paintings by Chalermchai Kositpitpat by were displayed in the Hall of Masterworks. No photos were allowed inside but I scanned this painting from a book I bought at the gift shop at the temple. I had seen a photo of it before and was very surprised to see it here. It is called “Love Each Other World Peace.” Google his name to see more of his paintings; there are others you might recognize.

For more photos of the White Temple, go to http://www.peggysphotos.com/wat–rong–khun–the–white–temple/

(Slide Shows, Asia, Thailand, “Wat Rong Khun: The White Temple)

Le Meridien at Chiang Rai

We have arrived at our hotel, the Le Meridien. A beautiful 4 1/2–star hotel. We were being well treated.

Le Meridien at Chiang Rai

The hotel had spacious grounds.

Le Meridien at Chiang Rai

And very nice views from the lobby.

Le Meridien at Chiang Rai

Another view.

Le Meridien at Chiang Rai

A piano–shaped pond.

Le Meridien at Chiang Rai

The terrace off my room. Put on DEET if you are going to sit outside as wherever there is water there are mosquitoes.

Chiang Rai

Our hotel was a bit out of the city. Nu said our bus would take us into the city to eat and then back to our hotel if we wanted to eat in town. Chiang Rai is the northernmost city in Thailand with a population of about 1 million. Photo: Chiang Rai at night.

Chiang Rai

Dave, Joyce, and I were across the street when we saw this elephant walking into town.

Chiang Rai

I think the man wearing a hat in the photo is the elephant’s owner. He parked the elephant in an empty motorscooter spot.

Chiang Rai

This brought a policeman to analyze the situation. Of course, the elephant was illegally parked. But the elephant seemed quite pleased that it was finally given a night out on the town and was perfectly happy where it was parked.

Chiang Rai

Another policeman came to help the first policeman. Nu told us that it was against the law to bring elephants into the city, so maybe its owner was going to be given a citation. Or maybe the big problem was how to back the elephant into the traffic on the street. Anyway, by the time we had eaten dinner, the elephant was gone.

da Vince Restaurant

Nu recommended two restaurants––one a Thai restaurant and most of the group went along with him to it. Dave, Joyce, and I went to his other recommendation: the da Vinci Italian restaurant. We sat outside at one of the tables in the photo.

da Vince Restaurant

We all had very good pizza with a thin crust for dinner.

da Vince Restaurant

I had an excellent margarita with salt around the rim to go with my pizza. The Italian breadsticks also were very good.

Chiang Rai Night Market

The day markets and the night markets are usually in different locations with different vendors. Many items are available including most times food. In most places and stores in Thailand, you bargain for the best price. Some prices are marked but that is the price before you bargain it down. Other prices you have to ask. The vendor brings out a calculator and you try to get the vendor to keep putting in lower numbers. So, often, the price you pay for an item depends on how good a bargainer you are.

Chiang Rai Night Market

T–shirts for sale at the night market.

Chiang Rai Night Market

A Hill Tribe vendor. The Hill Tribes make up more than 12% of the population of Chiang Rai.

Chiang Rai Night Market

I asked her if I could take this photo of her and also the last one.

Chiang Rai Night Market

I also asked that of this woman.

Chiang Rai Night Market

For sale at the night market.

Chiang Rai Night Market

Also for sale at the market. There are many items with elephants on them for sale in Thailand.

Chiang Rai Night Market

Little tut tuts for sale.

Swensen’s

We decided to complete our Thai–style meal with ice cream at Swensen’s, a San Francisco–based chain. I had a delicious hot fudge sundae. But we were not alone here. We found Nu sitting in a booth, both working on our tour and eating ice cream.

Swensen’s

On the wall at Swensen’s: “Ice Cream is My Life.”

Chiang Rai

We got back on the bus and passed this lit–up sight on the way back to the hotel.