Chiang Rai: the White Temple and the Black House

We were advised against Chiang Rai in Chiang Mai. According to a staff member of our accommodation Chiang Rai would have nothing to offer except the White Temple and we could have a look at it during a full day tour (which he logically organizes).

Of course we went there anyway – by bus for 280 baht. All in all we were even four full days in the city. Why we liked it so much and what else we visited besides the White Temple, I tell you today and in the next days.

Coffee in Chiang Rai and the clock tower

On the first day we walked around the city and looked at everything. We noticed: what the fruit shake stands were in Chiang Mai, the coffee shops are in Chiang Rai. You can guess it – of course I did not miss the chance to drink my beloved Banana-Coffee-Shake.

The large golden clock tower is also striking. In the evening, on the hour, it lights up in different colors and plays music.

Pumpkin and fruit at the evening market

From the clock tower, it is not far to the evening market (starts around 4pm). The evening market (not to be confused with the very touristy night market) we visited every day.

There were again the delicious pumpkin vegetables and quite a lot of fruit stalls. For one kilogram of dragon fruit (that's four pieces) we paid 30 Baht (less than one Euro) and for one papaya 35 Baht.

Super room at Orchid Hotel

We ate the fruit for breakfast, because it was not included in our accommodation, the Orchid Hotel. For this we got a room with bathroom, air conditioning, towels, soap, two bottles of water per day and free bananas, tea and coffee for 350 baht (just under 10 euros) per night.

Breakfast in Thailand

Breakfast was here in Thailand by the way still in no accommodation with it. Sometimes we got some snacks from the 7-Eleven to have at least something in the morning. In Thai supermarkets there are u.a. individually (sugary) wrapped slices of white bread, which are already greased. Or small stuffed milk buns.

In Chiang Rai there is also a covered market where you can buy all kinds of things during the day. Among other things fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, flowers for the temples and curry pastes.

So, now you know that one does not starve in Chiang Rai. Besides all the food, there are also many beautiful temples in the city.

By moped to the White Temple

After our city day, we rented a moped on day two (for 150 baht) and went to the White Temple and the Black House. Both do not cost an entrance fee and are worth a visit – even if I had imagined the White Temple, or Wat Rong Khun (that's the name of the temple), to be much bigger.

Of course it is still impressive. It looks like a fairy tale temple. But on closer inspection you can see many skulls and other bizarre things (like creepy masks on the trees next to the temple).

Inside the temple it is unfortunately not allowed to take pictures. But I'll tell you what we saw, of course. The walls are full of familiar characters: Spiderman, Harry Potter, Captain Jack Sparrow, Michael Jackson, the evil mask guy from "Saw," etc.). Really very unusual, this temple.

The Black House

Just as unusual and bizarre as the White Temple is the Black House. Inside there are several crocodile skins, animal bones and skins. On the premises, two giant snakes are kept in a cage and there are even more strange huts to see (in which one could also shoot the series "Vikings" – or what do you think??).

For the fact that there is nothing to see in Chiang Rai (except for the White Temple), we got quite a few things in front of the lens during the first two days. In the next article there's less bizarre, but more nature.