{"id":2699,"date":"2016-01-19T23:44:43","date_gmt":"2016-01-20T07:44:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jeffersonscher.com\/ttw\/?p=2699"},"modified":"2019-12-27T20:37:20","modified_gmt":"2019-12-28T04:37:20","slug":"into-gridlock","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jeffersonscher.com\/ttw\/2016\/01\/into-gridlock\/","title":{"rendered":"Into Gridlock"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pua has been relaxing, but it’s time to move on. Since our vans are so heavily laden, we’ll take the lower of two mountain routes, which nevertheless will be a strain on the engines as well as our stomachs. On our way to Chiang Rai, we will detour to the little town of Chiang Kham to visit a picturesque temple before settling in at our big city lodging for a night.<\/p>\n

\"Map<\/a>One last run through the Oopkaew Resort’s breakfast buffet, one last stop for fancy coffees at a gas station, and we were on the road. We reached Chiang Kham around 12:30, which meant we had to have lunch immediately. It’s difficult to appreciate art and architecture on a growling stomach. A simple roadside shophouse offered chicken over rice (rice cooked with chicken fat), crispy pork over rice with a red gravy, red-cooked pork over rice with a red gravy, and stewed pork leg over rice. I ordered the red-cooked pork, which is somewhat similar to Cantonese-style BBQ pork, but less colorful and very tender, and sampled the crispy pork. Both were good.<\/p>\n

Thus fueled, we walked down a side street to Wat Nan Taram, a Shan-style (Burmese-style) temple centered around a large and elaborately ornamented teak building. Even before we reached the gate, we heard a loud buzz like a swarm of angry bees. It turned out to be a drone, a Phantom quadcopter similar to mine, and we eventually found the operator standing near a hedge with a monk behind him (supervising?). All seemed to go well until the craft was about 1 foot off the ground and he accidentally flew it into a wall, causing it to flip and grind its propellers into the pavement. Having done something like this myself, I know how painful it is. But it was time to turn our attention to the temple itself.<\/p>\n

We ascended the stairs and admired the Shan-style Buddha image. As our heavy bodies caused every board to creak, we were easily heard wandering the museum-like rooms, filled with a mix of statues, bells, photos, and seemingly random knick-knacks. It was as though decades ago someone donated for a garage sale but no one bought. Elsewhere on the grounds there was a naga fountain and what seemed to be a shrine to Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy. Something for everyone.<\/p>\n

\"Red-CookedRed-Cooked Pork over Rice, Chiang Kham<\/span><\/a><\/p>

\"PilotingPiloting a Phantom at Wat Nantaram, Chiang Kham<\/span><\/a><\/p>

\"ElaborateElaborate Teak Building at Wat Nantaram, Chiang Kham<\/span><\/a><\/p>

\"Shan-styleShan-style Buddha image at Wat Nantaram, Chiang Kham<\/span><\/a><\/p>

\"KneelingKneeling elephant lamp post at Wat Nantaram, Chiang Kham<\/span><\/a><\/p>

\"SinghSingh guarding teak building at Wat Nantaram, Chiang Kham<\/span><\/a><\/p>

\"FamiliarFamiliar monkeys at Wat Nantaram, Chiang Kham<\/span><\/a><\/p>

\"NagaNaga Fountain at Wat Nantaram, Chiang Kham<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n
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