 1 Khmer style temple at Mae Ka Dam district south of Chiang Mai |
 2 Becoming a common roadsde site now |
 3 Time for lunch! Another rice field turned into a farm to table restaurant. Delicious and then we moved on to the White Temple. |
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 6 Stunning from a distance |
 7 Getting stranger as we get closer |
 8 It was built to shock and to please - privately funded to encourage all technically skilled but perhaps underrated artists to contribute, it mixes baroque with sci fi with anime and Disney and maybe a little Cocteau.. You just have to take it in. No photos allowed in the actual temple. |
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 14 You missed the majority. Be sure and see it if you're in Northern Thailand. |
 15 Almost at the end of the journey - Tomorrow the Golden Triangle, the Opium Museum and a wonderous Royal gift to the people of Thailand - if they can get here... |
 16 But first, a little shopping, some (hokey) music to keep the shoppers buying and noshing, and a beautiful night to be out walking. |
 17 So the last day in the north starts with a high altitude trip to Doi Tung Development including the Roayal residence of the Princess Srinagarindra, mother of the late King Rama IX. On approaching the Doi Tung region we were met by an annual Winter Festival in full swing. Dancers, kites, craft and food sellers, After a windy walk with beautiful vistas we got to the residence. |
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 24 The Queen Grandmother conceived and built this as an occasional residence (she lived in Switzerland) but also as a study area and resource for the people of her country. This is the casual Dining Hall if I remember correctly |
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 27 Princess srinigarindra affectionately called Mae Fah Luang. (I don't remember why! On her left is her son, Rama IX who ruled for 70 years and on her right the current King, Rama X |
 28 She brougjt Petangue to Thailand and started national games to encourage school children to get involved with athletics and team sport. |
 29 She had the Buddhist Dharma reproduced in small chunks and in easy-to -understand language so more people could take advantage of the teachings. |
 30 This wall is dedicated to literacy - she thought every citixen should be literate. No picture, but she also believe dental care was vital and made sure free dental service was available in every town and village in Thailand. She seems like a pretty cool lady for an aristrocrat. |
 31 the Exterior - somewhere between a Swiss Chalet and a Thai house. |
 32 I enjoyed the signage back down the hill |
 33 This is the transport that took us up to the jungle to an incredible restaurant and art gallery. |
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 37 A fascinating museum - just short of the northernmost point of the Golden Triangle. Opium and its use 'imported' from the West, was the cause of much trouble for many years. This museum shows the history and the various solutions put into play. |
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 40 A map of the opium trade |
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 43 A scene of the burning of the fields. |
 44 a model jail cell. (he is not real) |
 45 Last gasp to use up Bahts - a shopping mall that seemed more interested in holiday entertainment than selling anything. Well, it was New Years Eve... |
 46 And for our last meal, a Chinese Seafood Restaurant back in Bangkok as we plan for tomorrow's airport trip to our various destinations. It's been a great adventure. |
