Chiang Rai charms

6 LIFESTYLE lite DECEMBER 2010

Travel:Chiang Rai

harmingChiang Rai

When in Thailand’s northernmost Chiang Rai, do like WONG MUN WAI and get out and about to soak in the cool surrounds.

C


Lite-Travel-chiangRai.indd 6 11/23/10 3:24:29 PM

LIFESTYLE lite DECEMBER 2010 7

Chiang Rai is a destination with a holiday personality all its own, offering plenty of activities to indulge everyone from the hammock-inclined to the adventure seeker.

The sky was turning to dusk, with golden hues fast staining the blue, as our coach rolled in to the capital Chiang

Rai, in Thailand’s northernmost province also named Chiang Rai.

After the almost three-hour journey from Chiang Mai, our coach pulled up to the entrance of the swanky Le Meridien. Set along the Mae Kok River, the 159-room hotel boasts generously-sized rooms, with the smallest measuring 53 sq m, and balcony views that scan a private lake, lush lawns and the river – setting the tone for a great time within the hotel’s interior and out and around the province.

Chiang Rai is a destination with a holiday personality all its own, offering plenty of activities to indulge everyone from the hammock-inclined to the adventure seeker.

Founded in 1262 by King Meng Rai, Chiang Rai was the fi rst capital of the Lanna Thai Kingdom (Kingdom of a million rice fi elds), and later conquered by Burma. Thailand had to wait until 1786 before Chiang Rai became a Thai territory, and in 1910, it was proclaimed a province during the reign of King Rama VI.


8 LIFESTYLE lite DECEMBER 2010 88 8 888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 8888888888888888888888888888888888888 8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 LIFELIFLIFELIFEFFEEELIFELIFELIFEELLLIFELIFELLLLLIFEIIFFFFEFFEFEEELIFELLLLLLLILIFELIFELIIFFFFFFFFEEELIFEELIFELLLLLLILIFFFFFEFEELIFELLLLLLIFELIFELIIFFFFFFFEELIFELLLLIFLLLLLIIFFFFEEEEELLLLLLLLIIFFFFFFFFEEELIFEEELLLLLIFELLIIFFFFFFEEEELLIFEIFFFFFFFFFELIFELIFELLL FFFFFFFEFEEELLLLIFELIFFFFFFEELLLLIIFFFFFFEFFEEEEEELLLLLIIFFFFFFFFFEEEEEELLLLLIIFFFFFFFFEEEEEEEEELLLLIIFFFFFFFFFEEEEEEEEELLIIFFFFFFFEEEEEELLLLLLIIFFFFFFFEEEEEESTYSTYLSTYSTSTYSSTYSTYSTSTYLSTYYLTYLSTYLTYYLSTYLYLSTYSTYSTYSTTTTTTTYLSTYLTTYLSTYLTYSTYLTYYYYLLLLLLLSTYSTYSSTTTTTTTYSTYTYYYYLLLTYLLTYLLSTYSTYSTYSTSTTTTTTYLSTYTYSTYYTYYYLLLLLLLSSSSSTTTTYTTYTTTTYYYYYLLLLLLLLSSSSSSSTTTTTYYLYLLLSSSSSSSTTTTTSTYYLLTYLSTYLSTYLLSSSSSSTTTTTTYTYLTYLYYYYTYLLLLSSSSSSTYLSSTTTTSTYYYTYLLLLSSSSSSSSTTTTYSTYSTYSTYLLLLSTYLSSSSSSSSSTTTTTYYLYSTYLLSTYLSSSSSSSSSSTTT LSTYLSTYLLLLLSSSSTYLSSTTTYLLLLLLLSSSSSTSTTT LLLLLLLLSSSSSSSTSTTYYYYLSSSSTTTYYYYSSTY EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE llitlllitlilitlitlllitlilliliiiiiitllllitlitlititiiiiiittttttttllitlitliiiiiittttttttlllllllitiiiilititttttllilitliiiiiittlitlititlitttlliiiiiittlittitttlllllititiiitittllllliiiiiiiitlittitittllllllitiiiiiittttitlitlllitlliiiitttttlitllitlitllliitttttlitlitllllittttttlll tttittlilliiitttttittlitittlilittlllliitittlllitlliittlitlitllititttllitlllliiiiiteeeee eeeeeee eeeeeeee eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee DDDDDDDDDDDECECECEEDECEECECECECEECECCCCCCECEECEDECEEECEDDDDDDDDDDDECEECEEEECEECCCCCEDECEECEEEEEDDDDDDDDDDECEECEEEEDECCECCECCCCEECECEEEEDECEEEDDDDDDDDDEEEEEEEEECCCCCCCEEDECEEEEEDECEEEDECEDDDDDDDDDEEEEEEECECCECECEEEECEEDDDDDEDDDDDDEEEEEEEEEECDECCCCCCCDECCECEECEEEEDDDDDDDDDEEEEEEEECECCCCCCCCDECECEEEEDDDDDDDDDEEEEEEEEECCCCCCCCCDECEEEEEEDDDDDECDDDECEEEEDEEEECECECECCCEEDECEDDDDECDDDDEEEEEECECCCCCEDECEDECEDDECEDDDEEEDECECECEECEEEDDDDDDEEEEEECCCEEEEDECEDDDDDDDDEDEEEEECCCEEEDECEEEDDDDDDDDDDEEDEEEEECCCEEEEEDDDDDDDDDDEEEEEEEEEECCCCCEEEEEDDDECEDDEEEEEEEECCCCCCEDECEEDDDEDDDDDEEEEEEEECCCCCCEEEEEMBERMBERMBERMBMMMMMMMMMBMMBERBEMBEBERMBMBERMBEBBBEBEMBEMBEMBERRRRRRRRRRRRMBERMBEMMMMMMMMMMBERMBERBBBBMBEMBERMBEBBEBEEMBEEMBERMBERRRRRRRRRMBERMBMBMMMMMMMMMBBBBMBEMBERBEEBEMBEEREMBEMBERRRRRRRRRRMBEMMMMMMMMBEMMMBBBBEREBEBEEREBERMBERRRRRBERRRRRMMMMMMMMBBBBERMBEREEBEMBERRRRRRRBERRRBERMBMBMBEMMMMMMBBBBBEEEERRRRRRRRRMBEMBERMBMBEMBERMMMMMMBERMBBBBBBEEEEEEBERRRMBERRRRRMBMMBERMMMMMMMBBBBBEEERRRRRRRRRRMBEMMBEMBEMMMMBBBBBBEEEERBERRRRRRRMBERRMMMMBEMBERMMMMBBBBBEEERRRRRRMBEMMBEMBERMMMMMBBBBEEERRRRRRMMMMMMMMMMMMBEBBEERRRRRRRMBERMBMMMMMMMMMBEEEERRRRRRRMMMMMMMMMMMBBEBBEEEEEEERRRERRMMMMMMBMMMMBERMBBBERRRMMMMMMMMM EERRRRMMMMMMBBEEEERERRRRRRR 201201222220222200202000000010111111122220222202020000000101010112022222022020200000000201010122220222000000012012022202222002000000220220202000000012022020202000000000012222200001001111202202222000001111111222000000011110122222000000100111111111220000000011111111112222000200001111111120222220000001111111111222200000000111111111 222222220000000000111111111 222222222000000000111111110000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000

Doi Tung Royal Villa’s concrete exterior is decorated with wood slabs cut from discarded teak trees while the interior, which invites a steady breeze, is panelled with recycled pinewood from crates that carried imported tools and equipment.

Gaze heavenwards for one of the Royal Villa’s highlights – the ceiling in the main hall features a handcrafted wood inlay of the Princess Mother’s favourite constellations. Lightbulbs, standing in for stars, in the centre of the ceiling show the constellations’ position on October 21, 1900, the birth date of the Princess Mother.

Not too far away from the Royal Villa, the Mae Fah Luang Garden, in the compound of the Doi Tung Pavillion, beckons. A serene scene of lush rolling hills over 10 acres and a variety of fl owers in the foreground reward those taking a stop in their step.

The most northern point in Thailand, Mai Sai is a short distance away from the Thai-Myanmar border. The main road leading up to the border is a hive of activity, lined with shops, and fi lled with locals and curious tourists. Mai Sai is famous for its gem market, with a precious display of Myanmar-mined rubies, emeralds and jade for sale.

Travel:Chiang Rai

To savour a slice of royalty, make your

way to the Doi Tung Royal Villa. Nestled high up

amidst greenery, the spacious Royal Villa

was built with the late Princess Mother’s own private funds, and she considered it her fi rst real home in Thailand.



LIFESTYLE lite DECEMBER 2010 9

Getting AroundA sâamláw (three-wheeled pedicab) ride in the centre of Chiang Rai should set you back 30B ($1.30). A Túk-túk ride costs double. You can also rent motorbikes from guesthouses. At ST Motorcycle, motorbikes rental is from 150B a day ($6.50) and bicycles are available for rent from 60 to 100B a day ($2.60 to $4.34). You may also like to consider renting motorbikes from Goodwill Motorcycle Hire/Joe’s Bike Team, Dang Hire Bike or C & P Service. Car rental is available from several companies near Wang Come Hotel at about 1,200B a day ($52).

Best Time t o VisitIn the north, winter starts in November and ends in February. These are the best months for a visit to the North and Northeast - fl owers are in full bloom, it is dry and cool, with mist-wrapped mountains for a visually stunning experience.

ShoppingChiang Rai’s night market, near the bus station, starts in the early evening until about 11pm. Fake copies of branded designer goods jostle for shoppers’ attention alongside hill tribe fabrics, silver, beads and needlework. lite

Thai Airways to Chiang Rai – one stopover Singapore Airlines fl ies – two stopoversCathay Pacifi c – one stopover

SilkAir – two stopoversBangkok Airways – two stopoversAirAsia – two stopovers

FLIGHTS TO CHIANG RAI – prices vary depending on carrier

If you fancy a whiff of opium history, make your way to the infamous Golden Triangle where the borders of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet at the confl uence of the Mekong and Nam Ruak rivers. Known to the Thais as Sop Ruak, visitors can also spend some time in the area marvelling at the impressive giant Golden Buddha, built to commemorate the Queen’s 72nd birthday.

Wat Rong Khun, also known as the White Temple and best viewed under the glow of moonlight, is about fi ve kilometres south of Chiang Rai. The temple was designed by Thailand’s famous artist Chalermchai Kositpipat. The construction, supervised by the artist, started in 1998 and features a unique blend of traditional Buddhist art with contemporary themes.

Mai Sai is famous for its gem market, with a precious display of Myanmar-mined rubies, emeralds and jade for sale.


Chiang Rai charms

Travel

Transcript of Chiang Rai charms