Exploring Chiang Rai’s Unorthodox Temples, Chiang Rai, Thailand

I woke up on my last morning in Chiang Mai feeling very sick. I had been trying to fight off a cold, but clearly, my insistence on sightseeing and inability to stay in my hotel room resting didn’t help. On my last day in Chiang Mai I even headed to the countryside to do a cycling tour – which was great, but very tiring, with the harsh sun and the hot temperatures.

Looking back at how few photos I took of Chiang Rai and its main attractions, I can truly appreciate how sick and tired I actually was. Makes sense – I had pushed myself quite a bit and I was suffering the consequences. I remember how hard it was for me to breathe, it hurt. How my back complained, as if I was carrying sacks of cement. And whilst I was hoping I’d slow down in Chiang Rai, I was painfully aware I was really not in the mood for sightseeing. Yet, I only had two nights there. And there was so much to see.

The main reason to go to Chiang Rai was to visit the Black House and the White Temple. Both are very famous both in Thailand and internationally, with the White Temple specifically serving as a backdrop for many Instagram photos. I later found out about the Blue Temple as well, which I predict will become as famous as the latter in the coming years. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).