With financial restraints limiting the nights I can spend away from home and therefore the distance I can go I look for events near my home in Tha Makhaeng. Having recently been made aware of a new temple construction just outside of Chiang Khong and told that a morning market on the banks of the Mekong was something I should visit once in my life I had all the excuse I needed for a night in Wieng Kaen. In a little over 2 hours I was down the 1089 to Mae Chan, along the 1016 to Chiang Saen and onto the 1290 now commonly known as Paradise Road heading to Chiang Khong. The temple I was heading for is Wat Thep Nimmit, up on a steep hill overlooking the river and about 7 kms out of Chiang Khong. A quick look at Google maps shows that this is not just a simple building but a small development clustered around some very steep concrete roads.
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I was told nothing more than it was big place under construction and on arrival I was surprised to find yet another massive temple with a cost obviously running into millions of dollars, not baht. There is already plenty of finished buildings but floor tiles are now being laid and some 20 or so workers were down on their hands and knees doing the work which I didn't photograph out of sympathy. There are a few stupas, lots of alcoves with Buddhist statues and some very intricate art work.
The pictures tell the story.
And as that last picture shows it has a glorious view of the big river that creates the border here between Thailand and Laos.
I had a slow lunch and coffee break in Chiang Khong and met up with a mate who was introducing me to Wieng kaen and the morning market about 7 kms north of that city on the river bank. Overnight was at the Daisy Inn right in the middle of town with friendly staff, pleasant rooms and the welcome price of only 400b a night. It was an early morning start, 5.30am for a morning coffee at the 7-11 right across the road, then a 6.00 departure for Ban Jampong relief point as it is referred to on Google maps, but better known as the Flea Market.
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A 10 minute ride and suddenly we are in a very busy village where everyone appears to be involved in selling something, mostly to the people who come over from Laos on Wednesday morning to get things to take home. It was weird to see so many people in such a remote village and hard to understand why what appeared to be ordinary household goods, foodstuffs and livestock were cheaper in Thailand than they were back in Laos. There was also a few Thai tourists and Thai buyers for goods the Laos' had brought over to sell. Long narrow Mekong river boats were coming and going all the time were there and a fleet of mbike/sidecars plowed up and down from market to the boats delivering purchases to be loaded. I was at one point told by a local, and showed the sign, that we shouldn't take photos which really took me by surprise than all became obvious when we realised we were in the section where Laos traders were selling 'wild' animal meat which is almost certainly officially illegal. Having said that there was a Thai guy who said he came every week from Chiang Rai to buy these products so its a trade local people actually want. Again Ill leave the pictures to tell the story.
There was something about this trip that I haven't mentioned so far. Due to my home location near the Kok river and also high hills I am always trying to get out into the sun and away from the cold wet mist that we get every cold season Dec to Feb. Yes, the temple did the job, lovely sun, but the as you may be able to see from the photos the weather at the market was just the same as home, misty. Even our 9am breakfast at the lovely Panorama, located for its terrific view across the big river was blessed by a thick mist. So I'll have to go back again. My ride home was uneventful and safe and Ill add this last picture because I have passed this village scene and never bothered to get off the bike and walk to a place where the electric cables are not spoiling the picture. Amazing how even the smallest of villages want something special at their temple.
.
I was told nothing more than it was big place under construction and on arrival I was surprised to find yet another massive temple with a cost obviously running into millions of dollars, not baht. There is already plenty of finished buildings but floor tiles are now being laid and some 20 or so workers were down on their hands and knees doing the work which I didn't photograph out of sympathy. There are a few stupas, lots of alcoves with Buddhist statues and some very intricate art work.
The pictures tell the story.
And as that last picture shows it has a glorious view of the big river that creates the border here between Thailand and Laos.
I had a slow lunch and coffee break in Chiang Khong and met up with a mate who was introducing me to Wieng kaen and the morning market about 7 kms north of that city on the river bank. Overnight was at the Daisy Inn right in the middle of town with friendly staff, pleasant rooms and the welcome price of only 400b a night. It was an early morning start, 5.30am for a morning coffee at the 7-11 right across the road, then a 6.00 departure for Ban Jampong relief point as it is referred to on Google maps, but better known as the Flea Market.
.
A 10 minute ride and suddenly we are in a very busy village where everyone appears to be involved in selling something, mostly to the people who come over from Laos on Wednesday morning to get things to take home. It was weird to see so many people in such a remote village and hard to understand why what appeared to be ordinary household goods, foodstuffs and livestock were cheaper in Thailand than they were back in Laos. There was also a few Thai tourists and Thai buyers for goods the Laos' had brought over to sell. Long narrow Mekong river boats were coming and going all the time were there and a fleet of mbike/sidecars plowed up and down from market to the boats delivering purchases to be loaded. I was at one point told by a local, and showed the sign, that we shouldn't take photos which really took me by surprise than all became obvious when we realised we were in the section where Laos traders were selling 'wild' animal meat which is almost certainly officially illegal. Having said that there was a Thai guy who said he came every week from Chiang Rai to buy these products so its a trade local people actually want. Again Ill leave the pictures to tell the story.
There was something about this trip that I haven't mentioned so far. Due to my home location near the Kok river and also high hills I am always trying to get out into the sun and away from the cold wet mist that we get every cold season Dec to Feb. Yes, the temple did the job, lovely sun, but the as you may be able to see from the photos the weather at the market was just the same as home, misty. Even our 9am breakfast at the lovely Panorama, located for its terrific view across the big river was blessed by a thick mist. So I'll have to go back again. My ride home was uneventful and safe and Ill add this last picture because I have passed this village scene and never bothered to get off the bike and walk to a place where the electric cables are not spoiling the picture. Amazing how even the smallest of villages want something special at their temple.
