Chiang Rai: The Goddess of Mercy

A giant statue of the Chinese Goddess Guanyin

In these pictures you can see:

A hospital that has been built for locals as Guanyin represents social welfare.

The many steps up the goddess. What was difficult about climbing these is that they curve and are always at an angle, we suspected this was to deter you from pointing your feet directly at the goddess which is seen as disrespectful.

The view from another temple, back towards Guanyin while the sun sets.

Once at the top of the stairs, you can go into the building underneath the lotus flower that Guanyin is sat on. Here, you can pay to go in the lift to the top of Guanyin, where her eyes are and look out across Chiang Rai and the mountains surrounding. You get welcomed by traditionally dressed people and blessed as you take in the carvings inside.

Some of these carvings, like at the White Temple (read about it here), include pop culture references and fun animals, however this isn’t done to chastise in a way that Chalermchai Kositpipat and the White Temple.

The views from the head of Guanyin made my knees ache.

We had just enough time before dark to go visit the last temple, next to the Goddess.

There were shuttle buses that ferried you up to the Goddess if you didn’t want to walk up the many steps.

As it was towards the end of the day, and people were going home, these police were helping the traffic from the hospital and the tourist traffic. I captured this photo of a local dog that kept coming to check that everything was in order. I think we all know who the boss of this area is!