Chiang Rai

Brr... it can be quite cold in the mornings in Chiang Mai during winter times. And that is even more true, as we travel up north for a day trip to Chiang Rai and the Golden Triangle.

Apparently the old Thai Kingdom use to has its administration back then in Chiang Rai, before they move down to Chiang Mai due to risk of being invaded by Burma and Laos. Thus the name Chiang Rai means "Old Chiang City" while Chiang Mai means "New Chiang City"





At the orange grove along the way to Chiang Rai

It is a long long drive there, took us about 3 and half hours. Fortunately, the journey there offers a lot of interesting site seeing. We got to sample sold at so many road side stalls: Stopped by at the Orange Groove for oranges, then bought the Taiwanese pears planted locally at one point, had chance to eat the bamboo sticky rice dessert (YUM!), honey-sweet pineapples. So, it wasn't so boring after all.




Stopped by at a hotspring


Finally arrived at Mae Sai


At the controversial border checkpoint between Thailand and Burma. Loads of gem shop here.