| Chiang Rai --- 5 December 2005 |
We took a walk through much of Chiang Rai, a very pleasant town for walkers. The streets are clean,
lots of trees and flowers, traffic is light, sidewalks along most streets is light, street names are
signposted, and a number of worthwhile attractions for visitors.
lots of trees and flowers, traffic is light, sidewalks along most streets is light, street names are
signposted, and a number of worthwhile attractions for visitors.
A city bus stop in Chiang Rai. All the bus stops we saw
consisted of small gazebos similar to this one.
consisted of small gazebos similar to this one.
Fruit and vegetable sellers on the sidewalks of Chiang Rai.
Our first destination was the local office of the Tourist Authority of Thailand (TAT), where we got
a good city map and information regarding buses to Chiang Khong (leave hourly on the hour, 4-hour
trip, 42 baht).
a good city map and information regarding buses to Chiang Khong (leave hourly on the hour, 4-hour
trip, 42 baht).
We happened to come to Overbrook Hospital and went inside. The place seemed well organized,
clean, safe, and efficient. The place to go if sick.
clean, safe, and efficient. The place to go if sick.
Next we cam to Wat Phra Kaew, the leading Buddhist temple in Chiang Rai. Like nearly all such
temples it was beautiful, with Buddha statues and much gold decor.
temples it was beautiful, with Buddha statues and much gold decor.
Then we visited Chiang Rai's Hilltribe Museum. The Hilltribes are a popular tourist attraction in
northern Thailand and Laos, much as Indians are in the American West. Each Hilltribe typically lives
in an isolated mountain village, has its own traditional attire, language, artifacts, etc. This has led to
the development of travel-agent-operated "treks" to visit selected tourist-oriented villages and in
some cases stay there overnight. Of Thailand's population of about 65 million, around one million are
tribals, most of whom emigrated from southern China, Myanmar or Laos a century or two ago. The
largest tribal group are the Karens, who account for about half of the tribals. The Hilltribe Museum
provided Hilltribe facts and figures and exhibited tribal costumes and artifacts, and showed a twenty
minute about the history and culture of the five or six leading tribal groups.
northern Thailand and Laos, much as Indians are in the American West. Each Hilltribe typically lives
in an isolated mountain village, has its own traditional attire, language, artifacts, etc. This has led to
the development of travel-agent-operated "treks" to visit selected tourist-oriented villages and in
some cases stay there overnight. Of Thailand's population of about 65 million, around one million are
tribals, most of whom emigrated from southern China, Myanmar or Laos a century or two ago. The
largest tribal group are the Karens, who account for about half of the tribals. The Hilltribe Museum
provided Hilltribe facts and figures and exhibited tribal costumes and artifacts, and showed a twenty
minute about the history and culture of the five or six leading tribal groups.
After visiting the Hilltribe Museum we went to lunch at one of the nearby restaurants. Like most
restaurants in northern Thailand and Laos, the "kitchen" is at the very front next to the sidewalk
(sometimes on the sidewalk) so that potential patrons can see what has been prepared, and what dishes
could be made from the available vegetables, fruits and meats. Most dishes are custom-stir-fried,
similar to Chinese but with more emphasis on tropical ingredients such as pineapple and coconut.
The staff at most of these small restaurants speak little or no English, but we seldom had a problem
communicating with the use of gestures. Prices for most dishes ran from 20 to 40 baht (US$0.50 to
US$1.00) and were generally very fresh and good.; the servings often were so large that we often
split an order, especially if we planned to also have some fruit or desert. We generally split a large
(approx. 65 cl) bottle of beer generally priced at about 30 baht (US$0.75).
restaurants in northern Thailand and Laos, the "kitchen" is at the very front next to the sidewalk
(sometimes on the sidewalk) so that potential patrons can see what has been prepared, and what dishes
could be made from the available vegetables, fruits and meats. Most dishes are custom-stir-fried,
similar to Chinese but with more emphasis on tropical ingredients such as pineapple and coconut.
The staff at most of these small restaurants speak little or no English, but we seldom had a problem
communicating with the use of gestures. Prices for most dishes ran from 20 to 40 baht (US$0.50 to
US$1.00) and were generally very fresh and good.; the servings often were so large that we often
split an order, especially if we planned to also have some fruit or desert. We generally split a large
(approx. 65 cl) bottle of beer generally priced at about 30 baht (US$0.75).