My First Weekend In Chiang Rai

Yuhuuuu it is weekend and it is 27^th of January.

I and some of my friends from Indonesia want to meet in Central Plaza Mall.  This is a big mall with a lot of expensive clothes and food. But there are a McDonald's and a KFC which are great for me as an Indonesian living here. Also there is a movie theater that sometimes plays English speaking movies with Thai subtitles. As most of the other travellers would have pointed out, this is the only big sized shopping mall in Chiang Rai and similar to the other central plazas in Thailand, it has its fair share of fast food restaurants, banks, phone shops and branded clothes. That said, for those who would want to spend a few hours in an air-conditioned place, then you will be delighted to find out that they do have a decent cineplex and also a kids play area. The local food at the basement including the khao soy is also very good and gives u the chance to taste the northern cuisine in an air-conditioned and clean setting.

And we meet Indonesian who lives here in Central Plaza. His name is Deni. He is with his friend which comes from Brunei. Her name is Fem. They are very kind. They accompany us to go to our friend’s hotel. After that we go to the night market. We buy some snacks and go to the concert in Flower Garden. We really enjoy the concert.  

Before that, we pass the clock tower. Designed by Thai artist Chalermchai Khositpipat and unveiled in 2008 in honour of His Majesty the King, Chiang Rai’s elaborate golden clocktower (Hoh Nalika Chalerm Prakiat) is a work of art and tourist attraction in its own right. Chalermchai was the man who built the White Temple in Chiang Rai and that same distinctive architectural style from Wat Rong Khun can be seen again with the clocktower. The structure serves as a traffic roundabout and whilst it is distinctive enough during the day, the clocktower and setting takes on a whole new quality when it is lit up in the evening.

If you can time your visit for 7, 8 or 9pm you’ll also be treated to a light and sound show as the clock chimes the hour. The laser lights with musical accompaniment make for a surreal night-time scene as pick-up trucks, tuk-tuks and motorbikes continue to buzz around the clocktower as it changes in colour from gold to pink to green. The Chiang Rai Clock Tower is located where Thanon Jet Yot meets Thanon Baanpa Pragarn. Look out too for the elaborate gilded street lights which line Baanpa Pragarn road on either side of the clock tower.