… The Trip From Nan.

Phayao City is almost due west of Nan City, so you’d think that going west would be a good idea. You can’t do that. There’s a mountain range in the way. So, you have to go pretty-much due north for a couple of hours before heading vaguely west on on some serious wigglies…

Along the way, in Phayao Province, is Wat Si Chum…

As you can see, it’s built very much like Wat Ban Rong, the white temple, in Chiang Rai Province, but on a smaller scale. Where they really differ though, is the interior…

It features spectacular carvings in golden teak.

From there I tootled on to the Phutthakhaya Pagoda and the adjacent Wat Phra Kaew. The pagoda was mildly interesting at ground level…

…but nicer from the air, as the surrounding countryside is visible…

It’s a tiny version of the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, India, the place where the Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment.

As for the adjacent Wat Phra Kaew, the less said about that the better. Abandoned, derelict, spooky. Enough.

So, onwards to Phayao town. First some aerial views…

And of course, if you have a lake, you have to have a “floating” temple…

I have to say, Phayao was one of the highlights of the trip. Smallish, friendly, beautiful lake and views, with more temples than I could visit. There’s nothing there that you have to go see, but rather, you have to experience the whole place.

I think I shall put it on BucketList2.0.