On the road again

  Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai, Thailand
Friday, March 18, 2005

Well we are back on the road again today. It is funny talking to those on the tour. They have been taking all of the optional tours. They have started to feel sorry for us because they believe that we aren't doing all of the optional tours due to a shortage of money. I think that they believe we are staying at the hotel while they are out seeing Thailand. Though guided tours are convenient and easy we prefer the challenge of getting out there on our own. We also find that we are able to go to more off the beaten path and meet more Thai people than the other Americans on the tour. We also like seeing things at our own pace. We are able to slow down for the things that interest us and pass on all of the shopping excursions disguised as factory tours. 

Today we are back with the group. Our first stop is Wat Rong Kuhn, It is a modern temple being built by Chalermchai Kositipat. We were able to meet and have our picture taken with the architect. It really is different from all temples in Thailand. The entire white structure is covered in carved Buddhist art and small pieces of mirrored glass.

Thailand had a quickly growing population so they were looking for some sort of population control. The Population and Community Development Association has developed extensive family planning efforts and the birth rate has gone from 3.2% to 1.1% One of the less subtle and more popular programs is Cabbages and Condoms. There are several in Thailand. The one that we stopped to visit has cottages that you can stay in, a restaurant that sells cabbage and other Thai delicacies and a gift shop that sells anything and everything related to condoms. There are condom candles, key-chains, and even little flowers made of condoms. Outside there is a billboard with cartoon condoms gesturing. The best thing about this place was our little methodist tour group posing in front of that billboard. Another sign announced that you had arrived at the rubber triangle.




The hills and the heat were just too much for our bus. As it chugged up one of the hills it died. We all got out and took in the beautiful view. The driver and his assistant got out of the bus and started pouring water on the engine. They even ransacked the bottled water from the bus. It was up and running in no time.

When we stopped for lunch we saw a woman with little tiny hand woven cages. Inside were little sparrows. For a few baht you helped support this young woman and receive a blessing for releasing the birds. This Buddhist tradition really is a beautiful moment. The process of letting this little bird fly free lifts the spirit.









No day on tour is without a factory visit. Today it is a Celedon Factory where we get to see potters throwing clay and using potters wheels. Cory has used a potters wheel before and this part of the trip was fascinating to him. Others were glazing the earthen ware. After every factory tour there is a shop. Cory and I found a set of Celedon noodle bowls that we couldn't resist. They had notches for your chopsticks. So beautiful. We also bought 4 little sauce bowls.  www.youtube.com/watch?v=jekS-CFbelA


Chiang Mai Plaza Hotel www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bz9KkYtr0bc

Our hotel was the Chiang Mai Plaza hotel. It was just a block away from the Chiang Mai market. We cleaned up and went out to the market to shop. Cory found a couple of pairs of pants and then we found a man who had made little balls out of colorful twine. You slip them over a string of Christmas tree lights for outdoor lighting. They were really beautiful. We did some bargaining and bought a couple of sets.  While we were shopping we ran into Nok who was out buying CD's for some of the people on our trip.

We are headed to bed now. It has been a long hot day and we will be going again early in the morning.