Thailand Day 14 - Chiang Rai - White Temple, Black Temple.

Our full day in Chiang Rai consisted of renting scooters and driving around to a few sites. Our first stop at Singha Park turned out to be more of a family petting zoo than the tea plantation experience a few of the reviews and pictures showed it to be. Singha park was conveniently close to the White temple and we were blown away with the beauty and fairy tale atmosphere of this gorgeous building and property. Wat Rong Khun is a "contemporary, unconventional, privately-owned art exhibit in the style of a Buddhist temple" but was spectacular none the less. We sat in admiration of the main building through a passing bit of rain and then made our way back across town to the Black Temple, which is also not a temple but a museum of modern buddhist art. The artist, Thawan Duchanee, "expresses Buddhist wisdom with incredible versatility. His artworks depict the dangers of doubt, lust, fear, and lack of concentration, expose humankind’s pursuit of pleasure and escape from pain, and illustrate virtues exemplified in the previous lives of the Buddha." For more on this famous museum google search Baandam Museum. The stark contrast between the white and black temples was mind blowing and we were going to be taken for another turn at our final stop of the day. The Blue Temple formally known as Wat Rong Seur Ten had a very aquatic feel and was presented to us against the backdrop of the setting sun. We explored this area amongst hoards of other visitors eventually getting back on the scooters to head back into town for the night. Apart from the mediocrity of Singha Park, the day was filled with some spectacular sites and awe inspiring artwork.