Chiang Mai - My Month of Massage.

On the way to Burma....

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So, when someone says I will be visiting a hot spring - I imagine a wooded path up a slope, or even mountain, surrounded by woods, and hot steam rising out of dark boulders. But no. These two geysers are surrounded by a U-shaped strip mall on a busy highway. Mmmm, and the sign: HOT SPING. I love it.

Mini faithful.

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bubbling and gurgling.

Incredible Edible

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Chicken and pheasant eggs - boiled after a few minutes by women.

LUANG CHEDI

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Means Large Chedi. Quite nice. Similar to others I've seen in Chiang Mai though...but this one is much older (14th century) - and, rather than typical Thai style, it is Lanna (One million rice paddy fields) Kingdom style. It was restored by UNESCO and the Japanese government.

Sacred Arbor

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Wat Luang Bodhi. No doubt the great-great-great-great-great-Grandtree of the original.

Preparing for the Golden Triangle...

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Still at Wat Luang, we follow our journey on this map from Chiang Mai up to the Laos border.

Staring out toward Laos.

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The "optional" boat ride for this 800 Baht trip (including all transportation, a delicious lunch buffet, three different cultural stops) was 300 Baht (about $10) for an hour ride on the Mekong. I explained that I had spent about 3 days on boat rides along the MeKong (from Chiang Khong to Luang Prabang, and from a tiny town in Vietnam to Phnom Penh) and that I would rather enjoy the view for an hour). Barbara agreed with me, and we walked around the area.

Golden Peace of Mind.

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Staring from the building near the dock toward the HUGE Buddha on the Thai side of the MeKong.

The gate to enlightenment.

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Probably my favorite photo of my entire time in Chiang Mai.

Yoo Hoooo.

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silly Buddha. popping his head out of the foliage.

And...we're here?

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MMmm yes. I suppose there's value just being here, but for all of the build up, I'm underwhelmed.

Wading in Murky Waters

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They bathe on the Thai side of the small waterway. Staring over to the Burmese side - about 25 feet in front of them.

My 8th Country in Asia.

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Grinning - expanding my world view. Sadly, I'll only be in the country for a VERY short time. (Visa extension trip!)

International, Over-Water Post.

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If I lived/worked in the buildings on one side, I would make a friend just across from me, and we would throw a string between the two buildings, and send letters, apples, anything between the two countries.

Myanmar flags just beyond the Thai.

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Shows the exact meter of the border. "You can't conquer us, we're a nation of 5 million people!" "Well, do you have a flag????!" "No flag, no country. These are the rules, the I have just made up!" ahhhh Eddie Izzard. Amazing cross-dressing comedian.

The Smoking Devil

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At the entrance of the White Temple - warning about the dangers of smoking to both your lungs and to the pristine white columns of the temple.

national artist Mr. Chalermchai Kositpipat

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So, we arrive on a random day, a random late afternoon to the famous White Temple (the Chapel of Wat Rong Khun) and THE ARTIST has made an appearance. He is incredibly famous in Thailand, and I have met him. (See next photo)