started writing October 8, 2010 (on the way to Chaing Mai to Chaing Rai), continued on 11 and 12 from Chiang Rai Chumphon to Ko Tao. Today I went
Luxury, I am taking the bus to go to Chiang Rai is fabulous, a 24 seater air-conditioned restaurant with seats that are more like sofas, reclining back and footrest, a luxury that I can not afford any time . It was Nattawat, my friend met in Chiang Mai who advised me to buy a ticket with this company because his right to travel between the two cities is already heavy enough by itself.
I am in fact in the northernmost region of Thailand close to the border with Laos and Burma.
Thailand is a land of endless and with a landscape variegante. They are very well known beaches and islands south of the country, but Thailand is not only beaches, diving and entertainment, there are many other wonderful things that this country can offer and to do all one can not travel enough. I decided to explore the northern regions, its temples, its culture, traditions, and its most authentic, before going to the South and enjoy the beautiful white sand beaches and dive into its clear waters much praised by all workers in the tourism industry. The impact
with Thailand was now very strong because the first city in which uploads or when you land you come by land and most of the time, and has been for me: Bangkok.
The City shopping centers of the 1000 business, markets, street stalls, restaurants, bars, night clubs, entertainment, fine food, but it is also the richest city of temples, monasteries and museums in the country, despite the chaos and the traffic Bangkok is considered the city more spiritual in Thailand, although in my opinion is easier to find spirituality in a small country town where there is only one ancient temple in a large and bustling city as Bangkok.
live here more than 8 million people, and is also very high percentage of foreigners who live here and this makes it a very cosmopolitan city. Here the young are the latest fashion, color taxis on the streets the city (if you can find a variety of colors), spices and smells that come from thousands of stalls selling all types of food on the street, smelling the streets and make the walk much more attractive for tourists.
I stop 3 days before starting my journey to the northernmost tip of the country.
In Bangkok you can stay there quietly for a week, do not you get bored here even if you want it, with so many things to do, what to see and experience one can not remain locked in a hotel room for the wisdom required eight hours of sleep. Chris, one of my many contacts around the world, who now lives in Bangkok, show me the nightlife chic, bringing in one of the bars nice city, nothing popódimenoché the twenty-eighth floor of one of the most expensive hotel in the city. From here you can see a stunning view, watching all the skyscrapers that emerge impressive upward, as if I were in New York. Unfortunately
tourist visa only lasts 30 days and given the many things to visit in Thailand, I can not afford the luxury of wasting further time in Bangkok, even in this city because the money is spent to beat hustle and bustle.
The first stage, left Bangkok, Ayuthaya, capital of the empire Ayutaya.
Being only 3 hours away from the capital, is a destination that many tourists make a return trip a day from Bangkok, I will decide to do so with calm and rest and sleep in a guest house. Renting a bike for 2 days and take the opportunity to see me with confidence all the ancient ruins of temples ultrasecolari which is close to the center of the country. Ayuthaya is a fairly small town, seeing it would not seem to have been the capital of a great empire, but when you visit the temples you know of that would have been great in his time. After having visited and photographed nearly everything there was to see, I take the train to another famous tourist resort in Thailand: Sukhothai. The kingdom of Sukhothai
flowers from the middle of the thirteenth century to the late fourteenth and is considered the golden age of Thai civilization.
Old Sukhothai is located in an enclosure of 45 square kilometers situated 12 km from new Sukhothai. The new town is not particularly interesting, but it is the base for visiting the archaeological park that is worth a lot. At the center of the park stands the Wat Mahathir, the largest temple of Sukhothai, Buddha huge here and in all positions overseeing the fence with a relaxed and meditative that encourage the visitor to walk in harmony and peace around the stupa, the columns and ancient ruins that surround them.
Here he rented a bicycle means you can see the remains that are found outside the central pens. In fact, in addition to Mahathir Wat are the remains of the north-east-west and south, a total of 5 45kmq areas surrounding the ancient city. Apart from the Wat Mahathir that is grand and impressive, certainly deserves a visit to the Wat Si Chum, this is in the north-west of the old city and this important statue of a seated Buddha, made of brick and stucco, 15 meters high.
After a journey of six hours by bus arrival in one of the most beautiful cities in Thailand: Chiang Mai. City of craftsmen, students, idealists and enthusiasts of culture, life here is easier than in Bangkok. The sacredness of the city is highlighted by the presence of almost 300 temples, a number that is competing in Bangkok, monarchical and religious center of the country. Despite this Chaing Mai is a modern and dynamic city, to make her look young and hip are his students, universities are recognized in this city almost on a par with those of the capital. The old town is enclosed by a wall surrounded by an ancient river. It is here where tourists usually stay in the backpacker accommodation supply and the quality and price make it an ideal location, as well as the ease of movement, the old town it is easy to explore on foot.
Chiang Mai Nattawat I make friends with a boy of 32 years owner of a Mexican restaurant franchise called Miguel's. He shows me the nightlife of the city, introduced me to his Thai friends and spend a pleasant evening listening to local bands in the many modern and fashionable around the city. In Chiang Mai there is an air of youth, fresh and a strong gust of modernity, without a doubt the feeling the damage, the many young students who fill the streets and clubs of the city with the will to live that only young people to have this 'ages. The three rest days in Chiang Mai pass quickly, I do not travel outside the city, the sultry heat and the comfort and beauty of this town make me choose to stay here and live the city, so I visit the many temples that located in the old city, including Wat Phra Singh, the most visited Buddhist temple CM, Wat Chedi Luang, the oldest in the city chedi, Wat Phan Tao and many many more.
I leave Chiang Mai to go further north, in the northern part of the country, destination: Chiang Rai. The bus trip, class, VIP, really comfortable, I do not feel the weight of the 3 hour trip along the hills with twists and turns that into a bus of India, for example, would surely have cost 90% of the sick passengers. Arrival in Chiang Rai in the late afternoon, I settle in Baan Bua Guest House, for the modest sum of 200B (5 euro) per night with bath room, this is one of the advantages of northern Thailand, prices for accommodation are not high as in Bangkok or islands.
The first night I go to the famous night market, where most of the inhabitants of CR come to dine and socialize. Stalls selling all kinds of specialties in the north, skewers of meat or fish, various tempura, soups, noodles, etc. ... you'll be spoiled for choice. In the central square stands at the center of tables and chairs with seating for guests and a stage hosting a local singer who strums his guitar with national songs.
quiet evening, I return to my room soon with the idea of \u200b\u200brest and wake up early the next day and rent a motorcycle for 2 days and take a ride out of town.
then the next day, after having leased the motion, I start my tour in absolute freedom, without constraints of time by bus or private taxi which cost you a fortune ... Returning first to the bus station (10 km outside the city) to book your ticket return to Bangkok and continue on my way to the south and islands. The book for the October 11, so I have 3 days to visit the province.
The first thing I do, because this place is near the new bus station, and visit the famous Wat Rong Khun is also known as "White Wat (Temples white). While most of the temples centuries of history, this has been built since 1977 by the famous Thai painter, who became architect, Chalermchai Kositpipat.
From a distance the temple seems to be made of shiny porcelain, but approaching it turns out that his particular issue is due to the combination of white limestone and mirror fragments. Inside, the place most sacred wat, instead of the usual scenes of Buddha's life, the artist has painted images that are very modern samsara (the realm of rebirth and delusion), or the plane crashing into the Twin Towers, or Keanu Reeves plays Neo in the Matrix films, and other superheroes who fight against the forces of evil.
On the way back to CR rate road, crossing the villages and the internal streets of the countries enjoying the countryside and the hills of the interior the province. CR came to devote much time to visit the temples of the city. The most beautiful of all the Wat Phra Kaew is the most revered Buddhist temple in the city. A legend says that in 1434 lightning struck the octagonal chedi temple, which opened to reveal the Phra Kaew Morakot or the Emerald Buddha. Now this is kept in the homonymous Buddha temple in Bangkok, but the city of CR commissioned the Chinese artist's sculpture of a new statue of Buddha in jade, jade Buddha of CR is very similar to that of Phra Kaew Morakot Bangkok, but not identical, nell'Haw is kept in the temple of Phra Yoke CR. Another peculiarity of this temple are the gardens external, two pools that are home to huge fish before the temple of freshwater turtles and many that seem almost too enchanted by the peace and serenity that this place radiates. I remain a good half hour enchanted by the sight of these amphibians of extraordinary beauty. After visiting other temples, I went to the outskirts of the city, across the bridge that connects the two banks of the Mae Nam Kok and immerse myself in country lanes in the middle of the green hills that have a backdrop of the province. Here comes upon the cave of Tham You and Buddha. Near the banks of the Mae Nam Kok is this cave that houses a Buddhist temple in small business, a Monaco Solitaire and several cats. Continuing for a decade of miles you can get at the Elephant Camp, a point between the green hills of the valley of CR that takes you to some beautiful trails for hiking. In the parking lot instead of 4x4 are huge elephants that take you around half an hour on their backs. I do this during my last day in CR with my friends Joe Boy and residents and friends of Nattawat CR, and in fact he puts me in touch with them and that lead me to travel through the countryside for a picnic and CR in a beautiful waterfall at 26 km from the city. With them on Saturday night will also assist the Walking Street Market, a market which is held every Saturday evening and that is really a party. The whole country is concentrated there and dance to the rhythm of traditional Thai music and eat the various delicacies that are sold in dozens of stalls that fill the streets of CR. It is truly a sight to see how much people pour in a weekly market on Saturday, the bands that sing their songs in the street masseurs who gather together in tents and offer Thai massages to passersby for only 4 or 5 €. Street vendors of fried insects, eaten as snacks by most Thais, and that for the first time I had the courage to eat it too. After the market with the two we go into a club with live music and we stay up late at night.
The next day another interesting excursion sees me doing almost 200 km on a motorcycle coming in the northernmost tip Thailand. I go in fact point called Golden Triangle (the golden triangle), which is where the Konk Me and Mae Nam Kok meet, as well as the geographic point on the border between Thailand, Burma and Laos. Now, many years ago, opium was the famous road, where you find long caravans of opium from this region and then drove to the 3 countries. Today, opium is a drug and is illegal and prohibited the cultivation, it is very rare to see poppy plantations, but this point is of historical interest and tourist destination which is fascinating, especially for the breathtaking scenery that can be seen along the way and once there on the spot.
short, the north of Thailand is an area that should not be overlooked. Of course the beaches and islands are what the country is most proud of as a tourist attraction but if you want to travel more within the traditions, history, culture and spirituality, north of Bangkok is a world to discover and people worth knowing. Here, too, what made the trip a unique addition to places were the people I met: Nat, and Joe Boy, 3 children from a heart of gold and with a single availability. Thanks guys for your friendship, will always take you in my heart.
