On our second day in Thailand,  we visited the Wat at Rong Khun, commonly known as the “White Temple”, in Chiang Rai, about 3+ hours from our hotel.  Anyone who has seen the Gaudi-designed cathedral being built in Barcelona would correlate the White Temple to the “Gaudi of Buddhism”.  One of Thailand’s most famous artists, Ajarn Chalermchai Kositpipat, decided to build a 16 building temple complex with his own funds about 20 years ago.  The primary temple and crematorium are completed; however, there continues to be ongoing building.  Most temples in Thailand are gold but the only gold building in this complex is the “Happy Building” (restroom facilities).

The drive back, after visiting the Miramar, Laos & Thailand border(the “Golden Triangle”), was very long with a rest stop at an interesting small chain of restaurants called Cabbage & Condoms.  A portion of the restaurants’ profits goes to HIV/Aids victims.