2019 Aug. Chiang Rai. Thailand (Part II)
My previous last minute trip to Chiang Rai in Dec 2017 left a good impression, and I wanted to return to explore more of what I did not see in Chiang Rai. Made another trip in Aug 2019 over National Day long weekend without much planning. This blog post can be read as a continuation of the previous post in 2017 Part I.
This ornate clock above is a landmark in the town centre. At another traffic junction while walking around, we encountered traditional dancers making ritual offering at the King Mengrai Monument in the evening.
For this trip, I made it to the Black House, aka Baan Dam Museum. The compound is a collection of wood buildings featuring works by Thawan Duchanee & other contemporary Thai artists.
I had plenty of free time for this trip, without any must-do itinerary in mind. Most days I would pick a destination to visit during the cooler mornings and spend the hot afternoon napping in the hotel room. This Goddess of Mercy statue was visible in the far distance from my hotel room balcony. Decided to visit in the late afternoon after waking from nap, and made it there mere minutes before it was closed.
Singha Park was not exactly a destination that caught my attention at first. I decided to check it out nevertheless, to do some morning exercise walking. I was pleasantly surprised to find what it had to offer. It is a scenic park in a farm-like setting with tea plantations, orchards, trails, and even a small zoo. The compound is huge, and you can take the ticketed farm bus around or rent a bicycle if you don’t want to walk long distance.
This picture had not been edited. The sky was so dark and gloomy, waiting to burst out raining at any moment. The lighting condition was so unusual but beautifully dramatic. If you find the iconic statue familiar, you probably saw it on a beer can before. Yup, the park is owned by Singha Corporation.
Very surprised to see animals, especially zebras and giraffe, in the tiny zoo.
For lunches, I usually prefer something simple, light and local. Barrab is a popular tourist choice for local food. In northern Thailand, you have to try the khao soi, which is a quintessential street dish of Burmese origin made with deep fried crispy egg noodles served with meat in a curry like sauce.
For more proper dining, of course I revisited my favourite Lab Sanam again, and food was still wonderful. I also tried another restaurant by the river, ร้านอาหาร หลู้ลำ เชียงราย (no English name) which had a beautiful view, but food standard was just so-so.
On Sunday nights only, Happy Street Night Market happens along Sankhongnoi Road, which I found to be much more interesting that the daily regular one in town centre.
Accommodation wise, I stayed one night in the city centre at Sann Hotel to enjoy convenience and proximity to restaurants and massage places in town centre. The hotel was new and simple but nothing to rave about. I then moved to Riverie Hotel for 2 nights away from town centre and next to River Kok, which had the beautiful river view I was looking for. Recommended if you are looking for a quiet hotel with a great view. Hotel prices in Chiang Rai are cheap and great value, based on international standards.
PSA: Travel tip on flight connection if you are not taking a direct flight to Chiang Rai, and transiting via Bangkok. You need not go through the usual customs clearance with super long queues. There is a small designated counter for transit passenger which is a long walk along the hallway, but with short or no queue. Don’t go to the wrong one, and waste precious time if transit time is short.
