I wanted to write a separate post on our day to Doi Tung, because I felt like my Chiang Rai post would be too crowded and I wouldn't do Doi Tung justice if I combined them.
Doi Tung is a mountain close to the border with Burma, about an hour north of downtown Chiang Rai. Previously, it was known for its opium fields and participation in the drug trade that made the Golden Triangle (where Burma, Laos, and Thailand meet) region famous. However the mother of the most recent past king, grandmother of the current king, helped completely change the landscape, physically and spiritually. She created programs to end the opium trade, get people into drug rehabilitation, and grow a new economy for the people of the area. She also built a palace there, where she would spend time working on her projects and where her granddaughter continues her work today.
I got to learn all of this history through the audio guide of Doi Tung Royal Villa and the Hall of Inspiration, a small museum that tells her story and the story of the region.
But let's talk about the food, before we get ahead of ourselves. There is a fancy restaurant with marked up prices advertised next to information and prior to the entrance to the villa. We followed our noses to a small market closer to the entrance, and discovered small cafés (that's the best description I have) hidden down a set of stairs. Our driver, the younger brother of our normal driver, was already sitting eating lunch, and explained he is a regular there when he brings tourists. We were happy to find 40 baht price tags instead of 200 at the restaurant. And the food was delicious. I ate red pork with rice, covered in a yummy sweet sauce.
Hall of Inspiration - This is a small, free museum right across from the market. It details the life of the late Princess Mother, who I mentioned above, as well as all of the work she and her son did in the region and the country to help improve the lives of their people. It was great to get some history before visiting the villa, and of course enjoy some air conditioning.
Pricing - Upon arrival, we discovered that each of the three attractions were 90 baht. They included the Royal Villa, the Gardens, and the Arboretum (9 km away). Each had a 45 baht discount for seniors, children, and students with valid ID. Because it was so hot, and we had visited the gardens of the winter palace on Doi Suthep, we decided that the Royal Villa would be worth our time and out of the sun. I was lucky enough to have my student ID with me, and received the discount.
Royal Villa - After a steep driveway, and a pause for everyone to make sure they were dressed modestly, we arrived at the Villa. It is a very beautiful wooden building, with a small front garden. We were pleased to discover that our entry fee included an audio tour, making the steep price worth it for the others. We learned about the building, its former occupant, and her many projects and hobbies. I even learned that I could see Burma from the balconies, just behind the next mountain. I really enjoyed getting a history lesson in a more active way, without reading a boring book or spending hours in a museum.
Wat Doi Tung - This title is actually misleading, as there are two temples whose names can be shortened to this one. They sit next to each other across a valley from the Royal Villa, and are featured in paintings displayed there. We went to Wat Phathat Doitung, per our driver the better of the two, although "not much to see" in his opinion. The view was obscured by the steaminess in the air, but you could still make out the structures across the valley. The temple itself was simple but beautiful, and there was a long staircase from the neighboring town with bells all along it that was very pretty. It was worth visiting because we were already there.
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We added a few things into this day at the beginning and the end, because they were on the way to/from, saving us a separate drive. On a different day we may have toured the gardens or the arboretum, but it wasn't what we wanted to do in the heat on that day in particular.
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