This Temple stands opposite Wat Umong on Ratchapakhinai Rd,(marked by place mark 6 on our Google map).
You can either walk down Ratchadamnoen Rd, turning right out of the cafe, across the first crossroads and then left at the second intersection; or if you have already found your way to Wat Umong Mahatcheran, then cross over the street from the front of that Temple.
At the time of my visit the site was in some disarray, looking somewhat neglected but I believe that it is yet another Wat on the restoration list.
Although there was no written history available, I had a very nice chat with a very friendly guy called ,Tong Chai.
Tong Chai informed me that the Wat and the Chedi behind it is over 500 years old and is built and decorated in the original Lanna style.
Despite its present condition, as with most of these wonderful buildings, there is no hiding the beauty, and I look forward to seeing this one again after restoration is finished.
There was a stunning painting on the side of the Vihara, and, I suspect, more inside the Temple.
For more photos of Wat Ban Ping visit our photobucket album here.
Making the age old mistake of not sorting the price first we then got a tuk tuk to the border crossing, stopping first at an agents where we booked one night in a hotel in Vientiane. We knew we’d be paying a little over the odds but i wanted to relax as much as possible.
Getting through the border was simple enough, and because we had booked the room the hotel had sent a minibus to pick us up and we were at the hotel by 11am. Having already decided to treat the trip as a mini holiday we were in no rush and spent the rest of the daylight hours in our room, showering and sleeping.
In the evening we found a very nice restaurant 5 minutes walk up the road. Well, the restaurant was nice, and the food excellent, shame that the service was very much on the slow side and barely a smile to be seen.
We had hired bicycles from the hotel and after putting in the application we went first to a nearby massage shop, for Thai massage, and then for food at a local cafe.
After some time at the famous concrete Gate and a bit more clothes shopping we returned for more scowls at the French Restaurant up the road, before taking another early night. We just didn’t find any inspiration for a decent night out there.
For 150 baht each we had access to the 3 pools available.
We ended up spending one more day, visiting Wat Phratat Luang, a large Temple complex.
Having booked into The Karin Hotel (400baht double aircon), we took a stroll around town.
Much higher on my list of return journeys than Vientiane.
Just this morning I spotted this hot little thing going through morning exercises around the back of the cafe.
We had an amusing start, when we got quarter of the way from home and realised that we’d left the train tickets behind. We went on our motorcy and sidecart so that Boons friend Son could come along and take the bike home for us.
Arriving at Kaow San, somewhat shaken but also totally exhilarated, our destination was somewhat of a let down.
Many of the cafes reflect the presence of these people with their prices but it was possible, we found, to search out more reasonably priced outlets and some very good food.
Luckily they were able to sort the problem in about half an hour….but be aware that this is not an uncommon problem with the Thai bus tours.
After a prolonged period of feeling a little under the weather, I’m back on form and ready to give you more daily trivia from our humble Guest House , here in the Heart of Chiang Mai.
