Thailand. A new adventure. Day 10. January 3, 2008

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Thursday. January 3. Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai.
Before leaving Chiang Rai, we stop at Wat Rong Khun, the stunning White Temple, its facade shimmering in the sun from thousands of tiny mirrored pieces inserted into its gleaming white surface. One of the young group members, Aimee, suggests the temple looks like a wedding cake. And it does. A frothy confection that reminds me of a Disney ride--only without the ride. Just the wonder. This is a recent addition to Thailand's plethora of temples; built by an architect-artist it is a work of art in progress. White lace against the bright-blue sky--dazzling. And some of it--bodiless hands and forearms stretching toward the sky, so detailed they look like they've been molded--is moving. In the temple, across from the Buddha images, the artist has painted a montage of recent events, including the plane flying into the Twin Towers. An odd juxtaposition of the old and new, good and evil.
The marathon begins
Once in Chiang Mai, which is the second largest city in Thailand, we participate in a marathon tour of some of the city's factories: silver, lacquer, pottery, jewelry, and silk. There has been a constant array of vast quantities of goods everywhere we have gone since we arrived in Thailand.
We arrive at the Chiang Mai Plaza Hotel at 6 pm and have to leave for dinner at the Old Chiangmai Cultural Center an hour later. At dinner we're served sticky rice which we dip in a sauce. Delicious. There are several other dishes--Burmese Pork curry, fried cabbage. All good. Once again I'm not sure what I'm eating, but I eat it anyway. I avoid the fried foods since I seem to have gained five pounds since arriving here eating just two meals a day. But almost everything is fried--I've even eaten fried ice cream. I'm working on my laughing Buddha tummy.
After dinner we watch Thai dancers, their fingers splayed back in a graceful, impossible arc, sway to the accompaniment of haunting strains played on ancient stringed instruments. I am so grateful for my bed. This has been a long day.

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Photos

White Temple. Chiang Rai.
One of Thailand's newer temples and one of its most unique.

White Temple.
Sure was beautiful against that blue sky.

Garden Chiang Mai.
Small garden outside a pottery shop in Chiang Mai, Thailand's second largest citty.