Wat Prathat Doi Suthep

Our final day in Chiang Mai: a trip up the mountain above the city to see the temple complex begun in the 1300s.  Additionally, it should be a fabulous view, but of course it was too smoggy... But the trip was worth it.  First you drive up and up and up the switchback highway

 

Then you walk through rows and rows of cafes and souvenir/tourist shops (where you can buy hand-crocheted angry bird hats):

And then climb 300 steps to the temple complex:

Where you are rewarded with a feast of sights and sounds 

Before us was an array of gold, glitter, colors and devotion.  An abundance of Buddhas and bells surrounded by incense, flowers and prayers.  Behind the main building was a museum filled with antique devotional items. Take a look!

The complex held hundreds of Buddhas of every material and pose:

Some people make offerings of gold leaf which they apply onto a statue:

Outside the main door was one of my favorite statues; not a Buddha, but a guardian with an attitude!

Before our flight home, we visited a village of woodcarvers,searching for my own "little" souvenir.  I wanted a gong stand and this is what I found:

Till next time!

The Mountains of Chiang Mai

The Lanna Kingdom
The Chiang Mai area from 1300s till 1700s


On Monday morning, our tour guide from Lannakingdom Tours picked us up and drove us up to the mountains.  After an hour and a half we reached a local village 



where we helped grind and then taste (well, only I tasted) their locally, grown coffee.  Hmmm, hmmmm, hmmmm!

Coffee Beans drying in the sun:

Other scenes of village life:

A local guide took us on the trail to the waterfalls - the tribe maintains the path and bridges, so they guide tourists, also.  In the fields around the village they grow rice and flowers (which replaced the poppies of previous times) Notice the proper guiding footwear of flipflops on the trail...

The bridges and handrails made of bamboo were amazing...

  And we reached a waterfalls that were gorgeous, cool and clear, even in the dry season. (and speaking of dry, it was the least humid air I have breathed for 6 months!)

We met up with our tour guide/driver again and he took us to the special twin mountains that are topped by Stupas dedicated to the King and Queen of Thailand.  I understand they will be buried there when they pass away (?)  The gardens were manicured with spring flowers but the view (which we went there for) was obscured by smog..

Then he took us to the highest point in Thailand with gardens filled with wild rhododendrons:

and then One More Waterfall:

We were ready for a shower and some local beer that evening.

Tomorrow:  Wat Prathat Doi Suthep 

Chiang Mai Holiday

At the end of a business trip to Thailand, John had 2 days off for Chinese New Year.  We looked at the map and chose Chiang Mai, north and near the mountains.  With only 3 days total there, we chose only a few of the many tourist hot spots around there.  We found our hotel on the internet and we happy we had chosen the Singha(Lion) Montra, a nice cross between local Thai and upscale 4-5 star accommodation; exquisite Thai decor with local roosters waking us in the wee hours of dawn!

Everywhere in Thailand, this is how you are greeted:

The bedroom part of our suite and the outdoor whirlpool.  The pool was lovely but the air temp didn't really tempt us to put on the heat:

Our first adventure was to the old part of the city, a perfect square surrounded by an ancient wall.  The best means of transportation from the hotel was by tuk tuk:

We walked and walked, had dinner and visited the daily Night Market:

 Most of the stalls sold regular tourist selections of "thai" silk, copy purses, watches, shirts. but also beautiful jewelry and one-of-a kind fashions, locally made.  These ladies sell jewelry made my their mountain tribes (maybe made my them, maybe in a factory....but their presentation made you want to buy)

On Sunday there is an different market, called the Walking Street, where they actually shut down a big street and more local artists and craftspeople sell their wares.  I didn't bring my camera that night, but I bought beautiful handmade cards and jewelry.

Chiang Mai is filled with Buddhist temples, an amazing array of golden spires and stupas.  We had a tour guide take us to 3 of the important ones.  I still don't understand it all, but I learned a lot.

I loved these life-sized elephant statues that surround many of the stupas, which hold relics, bones, and ashes of the most revered monks. This one is the oldest in the city and was broken by an earthquake centuries ago. 

Sometimes the offerings are big, and sometimes they are small:

We happened upon a ceremony as 3 young men were becoming monks.  They, dressed in white, go around the temple complex 3 times, followed by their families who carry their robes, and articles they will need as a monk:

 Finally, inside, the many varied statues of Buddha:

And famous monks from this temple:

Money offerings hung from the ceiling and a beautiful offering made from banana leaves:

Most temples have monks available for blessings, advice, prayers or just a chat: 

  

Tomorrow:  a trip to the mountains