Chiang Mai Break

An original corner of the former wall around Chiang Mai and the moat

 Tuesday, 29 November 2011

I went down to Lampang city, capitol of Lampang Province.  It's SE of here, one and one half hours on second class A/C bus. Lampang is kind of a nondescript type of place on the Wang River.

Not a whole lot of English spoken here but enough to eat and sleep. No Golden Arches or Starbucks My first night was in a very fine guest house – except there was a night club across an open space facing my room and the music was LOUD with a heavy boom box base. I couldn't sleep and packed my bags ready to leave if it didn't stop by midnight. A couple came back as I was just on my way out and said it would definitely stop at midnight or a few minutes after, else the police would come and shut it down. So back to my room and the boom boom did stop.

Of course there are many Wats in Lampang, one of which is an UNESCO heritage site. I followed a map until I came to a multiple street intersection with no markings. I was standing there, perplexed when a lady asked what I was looking for and had me hop on her motorbike and drove me to the Wat. There were no english interpretation signs (there may have been some in Thai, but it didn't appear to be). So I am not sure why UNESCO. I assume historical significance.

Part of Wat Pongsanook, Old City Lampang

Lampang is 'known for' it's ceramics, horse drawn carriages and the occasional heritage teak building and it's Ratsadaphisek Bridge:

I know, I know - it's just a plain, old ordinary bridge.  But wait...........

Verbatim from plaque on the bridge:

"Ratsadaphisek Bridge is the classic bridge with a white hen as the city symbol decked up right at the head of the entrance of the bridge. It was Built in reign of King Rama VI and Chao Bunyawat Wonmanit who ruled Northern Lampang. It was built with wood and reinforced concrete for celebrating the silver jubilee in Bangkok for King Rama V. Later the bridge tumbled down in A.D.1915 and King Rama VI has continued to rebuild the bridge with more of reinforced concrete for stabilizing permanency of the bridge. The main parts of the bridge are four historical posts which are the head and tail of the bridge. The decoration right on top of the spire that is the garland in commemoration of King Rama V and the lower part of the Royal Garuda in reign of King Rama VI and also the royal Hen.

Ratsadaphisek Bridge has gone through two generations of World War. Also by saying the bridge had no war strategy usefulness of Mrs. Lucy Starling, ex director of Witchanaree School who was the advisor of the Allies.

Ratsadaphisek Bridge is a reflection of the Royal Railways civilization and The Cement products of Thailand according to the royal remark of King Rama VI. Presently the general steel bridges for crossing the rivers of the same generation with Ratsadaphisek bridge on the Northern Railway have all been tumbled down.

Nevertheless Ratsadaphisek Bridge is still stable until today."

There is even an annual "historical memorial day" for the bridge. How to have a holiday!

One of the four pillars showing the royal Hen

Next morn I go to bus station, undecided whether to go on to Phrae, return to Chiang Mai or stay another nite in Lampang. While sitting on the step of the 7-11 across from the bus station having Yogurt and orange juice a motor cycle taxi driver asked where I was going. I said Phrae and he said “oh very cold there. Three degrees”. Well that sort of gelled my decision making. I had left my jeans in Chiang Mai and I needed to return by Friday for a dentist appointment and I was very tired. So I stayed one more night in Lampang in a one star Hotel ( not bad) for some quiet rest. Went for a short run the next morning, had coffee at Wawee and caught a bus back to Chiang Mai.

I am planning to go to Phrae on Saturday. Since this weekend is the Kings Birthday holiday weekend I asked the person here at Taicoon if she would call to make reservation for me. Done.