Chiang Rai

On my first night in Chiang Rai I found the Teachings of Buddha from my hotel, and I read half of it in one sitting. It made me stop and think about myself, life and the world, and it made me realise that I'm very happy at the moment. I'm doing what I want to do, and I am who I want to be. Very good! After that I made a mistake of reading Cormac McCarthy's The Road before going to bed, and I got so scared in my little grimy windowless room that I had to sleep with the glaring halogen light on - wearing my airplane sleeping mask!

Yesterday I was totally knackered from the previous day, so I took it easier strolling in the market hall and a couple of beautiful temples. I also found a nicer guest house to stay - one with a dorm as well! I've learned to enjoy dorms a lot; you're bound to meet people. The cheap price (2.50 eur/night) doesn't hurt either.

Today I went to see the White Temple, Wat Rong Khun, which was blindingly shiny in its glory. I like seeing something so different to everything else! The inner walls were painted in the weirdest modern fresco of terror, chaos, superheroes, deadly fuel companies, all ruled by a calm Buddha on the top of it all. The same artist, Chalermchai Kositpipat had created a sea of plaster hands reaching from the lake around the temple. Although I was impressed by these pieces, neither them were something I'd take home with me. However, his more traditional Buddha-themed paintings were also displayed, and I bought a small print of my favourite one. I was tempted by the big poster-size prints, but getting them home with out ruining them would be too tricky!