In 1296 AD, King Mang Rai built a new city called Nopburi Sri Nakornping Chiang Mai or today’s Chiang Mai, 

where he lived until his death. By then Chiang Rai had become the city for the crown prince. 

After the founding of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai’s status was diminished to that of a minor city 

while Chiang Mai became the center of the kingdom. 

With Chiang Rai’s reduced political and economic status, the city became an important center for culture and arts, 

which importantly were less influenced by foreign cultures. 

Being isolated artists from Chiang Rai were inspired by their natural environment and the local culture.

Chiang Rai’s rich cultural heritage has also attracted artists from elsewhere to settle in and around the valley. 

The art community plays a central role in Chiang Rai society and the community has been united 

with the establishment of the association of Chiang Rai artists. 

Many of the artists exhibit their works at galleries adjacent to their homes and studios, 

which in many cases they have designed themselves. Their homes reflect their personalities and aesthetic, and as such are the ideal environment in which to display their work. 

These studios and galleries have become popular meeting places for friends, art lovers, critics and collectors all year round

What we gonna do in our road trip ?

we start travel to Chiang rai in early morning. It take time to drive around 3 hours cross mountain.

we take a break at Mae Kachan Hot spring where is a half way of our journey.

We walked around to stretch and recover , take a coffee , soak your feet into hot spring.

Then, we go ahead to White temple to enjoy '' What the Wat !!! '' and break for lunch. It's quite crowded because most tourists do 1 day trip from Chiang Mai like us.

we gonna walk entrance the gate to take a nice shot picture of White temple and enjoy art gallery of ''Ajarn Chaleomchai'' who built this temple.

In the afternoon, we gonna visit Blue temple where take time to drive 15 minutes. Artist who build Blue temple used to work at White temple.

That 's way style of temple is similar. But, It is different with color and concept. He said Buddhism same as sky that embracing our world.

Then, we drive 30 minutes to visit Baan Dam where is Black museum of '' Arjarn Tawan '' who is close friend with Ajarn Chaleomchai. Style of Art is quite abstract.

It is a time to say good bye Chiang Rai. We gonna leave this small city back to real life with good memory.

Along the road back, you will see a big Guanyin sitting and waving us for good luck :)