This time we are telling about the major sights between two major cities in the north of Thailand: Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, around which we were biking along Mae Hong Son loop for 8 days.
Black House
Early in the morning we started off to the Black House Museum Baan Dam to the north of Thailand. We also advise you to start off earlier, since too many people gather there by the lunchtime. If you do not bike, you may take the bus from te bus station for 20 baht (ask for the black house bus, everyone knows it), or take the taxi for around 300 baht. There is no entrance fee, the museum is open 9.00-12.00, 13.00-17.00. Unlike most of Thai attractions, you will not see a single monk or stupa here, but there are indeed many tourists who make taking a good photo difficult.
Yet, the place is related to the religion. The obscure décor of Baan Dam was designed by Thawan Duchanee to visualize the hell. Inside, there are many skulls, horns, skins, and unusual furniture. At least, all these animals died natural death, as they say.
Behind the largest Black House there are other houses too, made from the same black wood, yet, less grandiose and with no possibility to enter.
Even the toilets are in the same style.
There are different sculpture around, you can only guess about their purpose and meaning.
The White Temple
The White Temple certainly contrasts the Black House Museum. This is a private territory, and its owner renovated the Temple after earthquakes more than once.
This place may be even more popular that the Black House: be patient when trying to make a photo. To go through the temple everyone has to pass a bridge.
Along the way, there are people with megaphones instructung the visitors to put on the shoe covers, not to stop, not to take pictures inside, return the shoe covers.
Around the White Temple there are many strange installations which do not seem too harmonic in style.
After all this craziness you may stop to take a photo, make a wish (but buy the heart for it before), walk around, and enjoy the views.
This is how our trip in the north of Thailand finished. The next day we set off to Bangkok.
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