In the city of roosters

"Lampang people are wealthy," a friend once told me. "In other northern cities, you may notice the beautiful roads. In Lampang you notice the wealth." I did not understand what she meant till I spent a few days exploring Lampang. Though the town is not beautiful, but rather chaotic with businesses lining narrow roads, there are many houses, particularly those built a century ago, that mirror the town's prosperity. From teak houses built in traditional Lanna style, with gingerbread carvings (elaborate woodwork that decorates the trim of a house), to elegant concrete buildings with stucco works, there are remarkable properties that are scattered around town. Elegant houses in Lampang tell of the town's glory days when the logging business was in full boom in northern Thailand, a bit over a century ago. In those days, Lampang was a significant log centre of the North. Teak logs were stockpiled in the Wang River and transported downstream along the Chao Phraya River to Bangkok. Logging companies from the West, who had obtained concessions from the Siamese government, brought in labour from Myanmar. After making a fortune in th logging business, the people from Myanmar built houses and Buddhist temples, bringing their art to Lampang. That is why a number of temples in Lampang are constructed in the Myanmar style. Chinese merchants were also not far behind. The Chinese district and market were set up by the Wang River. Beautiful shop houses on Thanon Talat Kao or the Old Market Road is evidence of this past glory. As the northern railway was developed from Bangkok and extended to Chiang Mai, Lampang and the Wang River lost their roles as major transportation routes. With the advent of the road system, which allows motorists to travel faster today, Lampang became a pit stop for travellers to the North. Lampang is not extremely busy like most popular destinations; nor is it entirely quiet or boring. Every corner tells a story. Stroll along the back roads or drive around, and you may discover its unique charm. From bangkokpost