Sunday, September 18, 2011

White Palace, Chiang Rai

We left Maesai midday after breakfast, a quick look around and a stop into a Starbucks at a large mall Central Plaza, before heading to the White Palace.









This place is gaudy, grotesque and morbid ~ but at the same time, it sort of works. BTW, tap on photo if you want to see if enlarged.







See what I mean?





And the morbid...



The architect/designer life sized cutout with our flats...





He built this Golden Temple for the masses, his gift, if you will.








Complete with an attendant who directs you to either a western or asian style toilet, reminds you to take off your shoes and to put on slippers before entering.





Sony keeping the hot sun off her head while she waited for me.


On with the palace...









Details of the bridge to the temple.

























Details, details, details...





Once you get past the initial palace with all it's detailing the unfinished areas seem eerily odd...






and stark...


creepy.














This was another of those sights that was a juxtaposition ~ a monk in vibrant orange against this demonic white structure.







On the wing of a dragon...







Then on to an Lanna Onsen or hot spring to soak in hot sulfuric smelling water.















Another hot spring on the road home; this one had a huge geyser!










The temperature of the water is hot enough to boil eggs!






It's generally a tourist activity; these women await every car or bus.




Quail or chicken eggs...



In cooler waters, you can soak your feet or your body...










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