Wat Rong Khun (17th November 2011)

Wat Rong Khun

Today I’m going to head back to Chiang Mai for the next part of my trip but before I do so I’m going to visit Wat Rong Khun, otherwise known as the White Temple. A couple of people have warned me off of visiting the white temple and a couple have recommended it so mixed reviews so far on this one.

I decide to get the local bus rather than pay a fortune for a tuk tuk. As well, I could have hired a moped but I’m not really feeling the need for that at the mo. So it was off to the bus station to attempt to work out which bus to get. I needn’t have worried though as it was the only bus full of westerners.

I wasn’t first on the bus by a long shot but after I got on we then sat there for a further 45 minutes – at which point I was beginning to think a tuk tuk ride would have been a better option. I have no idea how long the entire trip is going to take so haven’t bought my bus ticket for Chiang Mai yet but I really don’t want to stay here another night.

Eventually we’re on our way for a journey that took all of about 15minutes. Brilliant!

One thing is for sure you certainly couldn’t miss the temple. It’s exactly where all the tourists and massive tour buses were.

It’s a very new temple so no great ancient history there but it is very pretty and very dazzling in the sunlight but as well it’s a massive tourist trap.

The temple was built by artist Ajarn Chalermchai Kostipipat who wanted to build the most beautiful temple ever and show the glory of modern Thai Buddhist arts. The most famous and striking part of the temple, once you get past the razzle dazzle, is indeed the art inside.

The white temple

The temple has been decorated, some still ongoing, by almost cartoon type murals including Michael Jackson doing a moon walk, Keanau Reeves in the Matrix and the planes going into the twin towers. It’s certainly a very unique temple.

Dad, I'm sure the black one in the middle is like your shark! Look how big he can get!!

What seemed to spoil it though was the fact there wasn’t any feeling of calmness or serenity about the place, it was just a continuous cycle of people wanting to get in, get the pictures and get out again.

The white temple

There were two men on PA systems at different points yelling instructions about don’t touch and go this way and don’t turn back etc in addition the whole temple area was surrounded by a shopping arcade and eateries and souvenir shops with more shops being built as we speak and it was all just a bit much for me. So sadly not quite the serene atmosphere I think I was expecting but very interesting to visit all the same.

The white temple

That's one way to transport trees I guess!

Back in Chiang Rai I book my ticket onwards and manage to get a bus in an hour. Just time to get back to the GH grab my gear and a bit of lunch.

Now I think she would say she's protecting herself from the sun.......I think she's protecting herself from the drivers scary driving!!

I had a plan of where I wanted to stay in Chiang Mai and after negotiating a good price with a tuk tuk driver from the bus station to the centre I headed straight for there, just to find it was actually not as nice as people were making out, very similar to a prison cell is how I’d describe it (!) so after a 10 minute wander around with both backpacs I found a very nice little place on the top floor with nice views of the city.

Tomorrow I want to do my cooking course. I’ve already worked out where I want to go to do it and fortunately for me it’s a school where my GH owner gets a commission from so I got a little bit of a discount. ;-) I’m really looking forward to this one, a whole day of cooking and eating Thai food, this must be heaven!