I didn’t spend much time sightseeing in Chiang Rai. I’d just come from a busy couple weeks in Chiang Mai and the Elephant Nature Park, so I visited the White Temple but otherwise relaxed in this small town in the northeast corner of Thailand.
Night market eats
A full food court at 10pm
I’d met another solo traveler at the bus stop in Chiang Mai, and together we found the hostel I’d booked and hiked the four flights of stairs to the dorm rooms on the roof. Julie, from Belgium, spoke more English than I speak French, but not much, so our conversations were a hodgepodge of our native grammars and what little vocabulary we could remember from the other’s mother tongue.
I did not eat these
Or these
We stumbled our way through a conversation at the night market and then gave up and just enjoyed the end of the lip-synching performance taking place on the stage at the end of the enormous food courtyard.
A gown and a cape–winning
Then we wandered among the various tables with their homemade crafts and mass-produced goods, and of course bought at least one souvenir each.
Tempting
NOT tempting. What the hell?
On my last night in town, I saw a man wandering through town with a small elephant; he led the elephant up to tourists, who could give money to feed the elephant or to climb up and perch atop the elephant. I steered clear of this man and his captive elephant; I knew from my time at the ENP that he likely had a nail hidden in the palm of his hand to use as a goad behind the elephant’s ear to get it to go where he wanted it to.
Sad sight
Happily, my last image of Chiang Rai was a nicer one. As I waited for my bus out of town, I saw a couple leaning into each other, sharing one set of headphones between them as they waited for their own bus. It was sweet.
True love means sharing an iPod?
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“I did not eat these……or these” …made me laugh out loud!
Haha, glad to hear it!
Me too!
Irene
But that first dish looked interesting. What was the flavor of the sauce in the little cup?
Hmm I can’t remember. I think maybe it was peppers that I was going to bravely try and then wimped out on at the last minute.
Wow, Lisa!
I am soooo enjoying your travels in places that I have never even considered travelling, so I feel as though I am joining you, although without the smells and sore feet! Thank you for letting us join you. Your comment about “not seeing many sights” and just being there reminds me of those days when I had seen enough Sights, and just wanted to stay put and read and make a coffee of my own. Those days allow those others to happen. Keep on keepin’ on!
Irene
Yep, it’s all about balance. Hope you’re settling into home okay!
Hello, I live part time in Chiang Rai and have never ever seen a wondering elephant begging on the street. I was feeling bad to read about that small elephant’s plight.
As a tourist police volunteer, I’m sure my colleagues and I will be able to do something to make sure no such thing will happen again.
That’s great to hear that you’re looking out for such things. Thanks for writing in!