Temples & Tuktuks
We are now in Northern Thailand and it feels a bit more like home…except for the heat, the temples, the tuktuks and more motorcycles and mopeds on the roads than cars. Ok. Let’s just say it’s a lot greener up here. Chiang Mai is 730 years old and the city boasts 300 temples (36 of which are in the very small old town). There are still remnants of the old city walls, aided in its day by a moat in keeping out the ancient intruders.
Looks like they need to start a new gold leaf campaign. Some are peeling.
I guess not everyone gets the joke...
Following a Sagrada de Familia timeframe, construction of Wat Chedi Luang dates back to the 14th century when the then king wanted a place to bury his father’s ashes. Construction slowed and it took until the mid-15th century until it was complete. This was the original home of the most revered emerald Buddha which we saw in the Grand Palace in Bangkok. A hundred years later, it lost 30m off its top in an earthquake and then suffered further damage in 1775 when the city was retaken from the Burmese. But here it is, still standing proudly!
One of four stairs guarded by Naga snakes at Wat Chedi Luang.
Finally, a decent Hokkaido brown sugar milk tea!
The market at Wat Phra Singh, one of the most popular temples in Chiang Mai.
Fascinating group of elderly meditating monks in the main viharn (assembly hall) at Wat Phra Singh. It’s quite mind-blowing when you get close enough to realize that they are wax models! Astonishing detail down to the nose and ear hairs! Madame Tussaud could get a tip or two from here!
One of the meditating monks. His expression is prescient of the future smart phone holders snapping pictures!
Bells abound in Thai temples. The ringing of the bells has a religious significance offering protection from evil spirits and purifying the holy place. It gets a little much when kids are running around ringing bell after bell. There was quite a controversy in Bangkok a few years ago when expats living near a temple tried to get the police to get the monks to stop ringing the bells.
Add a bit of gold leaf and you wouldn’t be able to tell these two apart.
Our first ride in a tuk tuk!
Not enough room for Alex so he was hanging out the side.
I got to ride shotgun!
Dinner at the night market. A bargain for the scorpions on a stick but it just wasn’t enough to entice me.
Doi Suthep
Today’s hike up Doi Suthep along the Monk’s Trail was through another tropical forest and carried us to another time. We came out of the forest into the most amazing temple grounds of Wat Pha Lat. It felt like a well-hidden sacred place that only a few have the luck of discovering. A much steeper trail then continued on to Wat Phra That. This temple at the top of the mountain is much more touristy.
The “easy” part of the hike from the base to the first temple.
Heading up to the temple between fierce-looking lions. The one on the left has just his tongue in his mouth but zoom in and check what’s in the mouth of the one on the right!
Some of the statues are adorned with jewels and many have creative offerings left by locals.
Some of the statues are adorned with jewels and many have creative offerings left by locals.
Interesting offerings for this jolly fellow...a pack of cigarettes wrapped in a banana leaf and a bottle of water.
A more classic offering of flowers set against the crumbling brick base of the stupa.
Siblings!
A beautiful door to what feels like a creepy entrance. I’m not sure where this one leads....
Stunning view at Wat Pha Lat.
Lots of Buddhist inspirational messages on trees all over Wat Pha Lat. Words to live by that would make the world a better place.
Joy.
Wat Pha Lat is full of what seem like ancient statues and Buddha shrines. Much is outdoors, nestled among bamboo, palms, trees and rock pools fed by a small waterfall.
At the top!
The view over Chiang Mai from the top of the mountain.
Lots of colour at Wat Phra That, in comparison to the ancient-looking natural stone at Wat Pha Lat.
The songthaew stand at the top of Doi Suthep. This is the original taxi in Thailand. They are basically a share taxi for people heading in the same direction. Two benches face each other and the driver waits to be full before he departs.
Our first ride in a songthaew from the top of Doi Suthap back to Old Chiang Mai. We ended up being about 14 people stuffed in here...we were the only hikers, thankfully dried off by then!
Beautiful street signs in Chiang Mai’s Old City.
Light and extra light.