-- From Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai
The road tracklog
from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai
from 23/02 to 01/03/2009
However thus the 23/02 while waiting for the arrival of the CPD in Chiang Mai, I did an
escapade at the border of Laos in the ex rebellious province of Nan. Indeed
Pathet Lao had promised the creation of an independent State to the rejoined
minorities. Mow peace obtained the promise was never held. In the 80’s the
government of Bangkok granted the peace of the brave to them. This mountainous
province is little populated; it is primarily agricultural, cultivating rice
and other crops.
Undoubtedly the artistic inheritance of Nan was worth a detour. Its museum
conceals some nuggets worthy of interest as “Black Tusk” in cover or the
Buddha of Nan style of Burmese influence and as well as others.
Black Tusk
Nan
23/02/2009
Buddha Subduing Mara
Nan
23/02/2009
Wat Phumin dating back to 1596 has murals of Jataka with scenes of the local life such as this woman fixing their hair.
Wat Phumin
Nan
23/02/2009
Wat Phra That Chang Kham back to 1458 with behind a splendid Chedi of Sukhothai style.
Wat Phra That Chang Kham
Nan
23/02/2009
Wat Hua Khuang is supplied with Chedi of style Lanna/Lan Xang.
Lanna style Chedi,
Wat Hua Khuang
Nan
23/02/2009
Finally at the external of the city the jewel of Wat Phra That Chae Haeng back to 1355 with a Chedi of Lanna style.
Wat Phra That Chae Haeng
Nan
23/02/2009
In the enclosure of one of monasteries a monk’s bungalow attracted the objective of my camera.
Monk's Bungalow
Nan
23/02/2009
Bis repetitat placent the 24/02 whereas I headed in Nan to leave the city I were stopped in my dash by the police due to arrival of the "royal char" with its escort already seen in Doi Tung the twenty this month. After twenty minutes of hidden waiting, I can take again my progression up to ten kilometres away before Phrae in Phae Muang Phi to see a sight of geological erosion. They were only chimneys of Fairies such as in Cappadoce, Turkey, in Borg-Les Orgues, France and in the Great American Parks. Here the site is pleasant without more.
Phae Muang Phi
24/02/2009
The town of Phrae is as Nan out off beaten tourists tracks, no coaches, no troops of tourists. I was alone with inhabitants who merrily greeted me while raising the inch by seeing my truck! At the entry the city Wat Jom Sawan dates from the 19th beginning 20th century, it is out of teak of Burmese style with Mandalay influence.
Wat Jom Sawan
Phrae
24/02/2009
Further on Wat Luang dates from the 12th century, it was at the time of my visit under repair, Chedi is of Lanna style and the veranda of Luang Prabang style.
Wat Luang
Phrae
24/02/2009
One more, Wat Phra Not, also under work is 300 year olds. There are others well.
Wat Phra Non
Phrae
24/02/2009
This teak house was built in the late 19th century by the Prince of Phrae.
I bivouacked at the edge of the river Mae Nam Yom.
Vongburi House
Phrae
24/02/2009
By leaving Phrae 25:02 I had decided to visit Lampang and to bivouac there. While arriving there I went to Internet to consult dhl.com in order to know where the CPD was, it was in process in Bangkok due to an incomplete address. I thus decided to head to Chiang May directly in order to make come the document at DHL in “Hold Collection”. The point service DHL located in Montri Hotel dealt with the problem. I took again my quartiers at the bivouac of January 2008.
The day of the 26/02 was carried out beating drum; most of the morning was to
solve small
recurring and throbbing problems, such as a bad contact of the connector of
the laptop charger and others for which it was necessary to look for a
suitable repairer.
Modern people are depending on technology which betrays them sometimes; that takes integral
part of a journey round the world unless taking a GMC of the WWII.
Then I revisited the four main temples in the old city. The first was Wat Phra
Singh whose mural paintings in the wihaan are sumptuous and in an adjacent
vault a Reclining Buddha covered not with pustules but with gold sheets posed
by devotees.
Wat Phra Singh
Chiang Mai
26/02/2009
Wat Phra Singh
Chiang Mai
26/02/2009
Then it was Wat Phan Tao built with gigantic teak pillars. There were also two other temples.
Wat Phan Tao
Chiang Mai
26/02/2009
Wat Phan Tao
Chiang Mai
26/02/2009
In the afternoon I went to take the Carnet de Passage en Douane arrived at DHL.
Finally I cycled to the Office of Immigration to obtain an extension of the 15
day VOA. I tried to negotiate a 15 day extension until the expiry date of
"Simplified Customs Declaration Forms", alas the officer did not want
anything to know and he applied regulations in force to knowing seven day
extension.
Also I have to exit the 11/03/2009 from Thailand but my truck can stay until
19/03, where the logic is!
Consequently there are few tourists in Thailand, if it is the
purpose, it is gained if not it is so much worse.
In this day of the 27/02 two points of organ decorated it. In the early morning I climbed the 306 steps of Wat Phra That DOI Suthep located at 16 kilometres away from Chiang Mai. The first built temple dates back to 1386 constantly renovated; moreover the Chedi covered with copper sheets (brass) was under restoration at the time of my visit. It is topped with a five-tiered gold umbrella. I had projected to bivouac on the carpark at more than 900 meters of altitude, but it was not welcomed.
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
Chiang Mai
27/02/2009
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
Chiang Mai
27/02/2009
I decided to head northwards to visit the caves of Chiang Dao supposedly to be in mountain,
they are but at only 450 meters of altitude. To visit them it is necessary to
take a guide with a gas lantern. Inside images of the Buddha were built. It is
regrettable that there are no light spots to emphasize multicoloured
concretions.
I bivouacked on the spot.
Tham Chiang Dao
Chiang Dao
27/02/2009
Tham Chiang Dao
Chiang Dao
27/02/2009
The 28/02 was a day of rest, of servicing my truck and of updating my website in Tham Chiang Dao. I drove back to Chiang Mai on 01/03. On the move little before Chiang Mai I fortuitously met the Dutch couple whom I had made knowledge in Kathmandu in November 2006. They live in Chiang Mai after having sold Trottermoggy Unimog. I found another carpark, Rest Park, before publishing the new pages of my Internet site.
From 02 to 11 March I have drove more than two thousand kilometres for reaching the border of Malaysia.
