Chiang Rai: bizarre bars, temples and foods

Chiang Rai is a place you should definitely go to, even though it's just for the white temple. At some point you've seen so many temples that you don't really feel like seeing an other one, but this one is very special. It's a completely white temple with amazing art on the inside. I have been wandering there for hours, trying to understand the artist's message. It's not finished yet, but already very beautiful!

I rented a scooter and drove around with an english friend I had met before in Pai. For me it was a good practice, the roads are good and the scenery is beautiful.  Green mountains with white Buddha's decorating the nature, tea plantations and many waterfalls to visit.

The nightlife here is not that vibrant but there are some nice bars around. The happy teepy bar is one of a kind. They play old classic rock songs and the owner is a crazy rock n roll chick whom you can have great laugh with. But what makes the bar even more special is that they have pets walking around. Two bunnies and a rhinobeetle. It's surreal, but true! You could just pick them up and cuddle with them. Offcourse I always did when I was there, and I even cuddled the rhinobeetle. Big accomplishment for me, I mean, it's still a giant black bug! But you could stroke it and let it walk over your hand. It seemed like he liked the attention to. Rhinobeetles are as cute as the bunnies!

Chaing Rai has many markets, the saterday and sundaymarket, which are really good. Every night they have a nightmarket with good and also unusual "bizarre" foods. My english friend eats and tries everything. I love food and I love people who love food so let's go and eat! Everything! We ate some bugs, they taste like peanuts. blue, red and green noodles filled with.. I don't know, but it was good! Something called the thousand year old egg.. wouldn't eat that again. We finished the evening dancing at the market with thai people on thai music.

I'm in Loas now, looking across the Mekong river. On the other side is Thailand. Thinking back how great Thailand has been. The Land of Smiles. Kapkunka Thailand, you have treated me well!