Chiang Mai, Thailand
I love this place! There is such a good feel about it and I couldn’t be staying in a better location-
I was up walking around fairly early. It doesn’t get horribly hot in the day and the nights cool off really well-
Making coffee-
Chiang Mai, or Old Chiang Mai is/was surrounded by a partial moat and brick wall. There are many entrances such as Tha Phae Gate on the east side-
I wandered and came across Wat Muen Larn, a Buddhist temple-
My next temple, there are 75 in Old Chiang Mai, was Wat Phan On which was constructed in 1501, however this version was recently restored in 2006. It contains many relics of Buddah-
Every wat has a gong, used for relaxation, music or meditation-
Wat Sumpow-
Pot was legalized three years ago and there are stores everywhere-
It’s very weird because three years ago, possession was punishable by death and now….as well, you can buy pot from 8 am until midnight yet alcohol is not sold between 2 pm and 5 pm. They are correct because pot does not cause violent behaviour where as a drunk can reek a lot of havoc.
Wat Chai Phra Kiat-
Wat Phra Singh Woramahawihan. This is the only wat I had to pay to enter and I’m getting watted out-
Families receiving blessings from a monk. They bring some sort of offering such as a basket of food-
Statues are shiny because they’re covered in a mosaic of cut glass-
The monks look real-
This guy was real-
The front of the altar-
The back of the altar-
Stupas are used for meditation and devotion and where people can walk around them as a ritual practice. It can also be a sacred burial monument containing relics that are considered holy remnants of Buddha or his disciples-
A smaller temple on the same grounds-
Frescoes-
Bells are rung when one makes an offering-
Candles and incense are burned as offerings-
I kept walking. Amazon delivery-
A martial arts gym-
Suan Dok Gate is on the west side of the old city-
Leftover wall-
The moat around parts of the old city-
Saen Pung Gate is on the south side-
A stone stupa in the middle of no where-
One of the many markets-
A gelatinous dessert. When I asked the vendor what it was called, his translation simply said - a Thai dessert. It may be coconut jelly-
Slicing liver-
I had forgotten about these toilets. This one was difficult because it’s raised about a foot off the floor. It was quite a balancing act-
I’d forgotten about this too- papaya salad which is unbelievably delicious-
My dentist appointment was at 1 pm. After my checkup, the dentist determined I needed a panoramic x-ray-
She found an upper tooth that needs a crown more than the actual tooth I for. Plus, I have a cavity! I now have appointments booked next week on Monday and Thursday. The office is very modern-
My crowns will cost $641 each.
At 3 pm, my friend Don Hurst, whom I met on my West Africa trip, came for a visit. He has been living here since July and his son also lives here. It was great to see him and catch up. Our Africa trip was 6 years ago already, it was the toughest trip of all and definitely life changing for the better-
I had stopped in at The Master Tattoo shop-
earlier in the day to say hello because he did my sun hand tatoo last time I was here in 2014. I had an appointment this coming Tuesday but he was free so he did it-
After, we walked to the night market-
where they sell everything imaginable from Christmas decorations-
to soap carved flowers-
There are artists doing great work-
Seafood-
Dumplings-
Pork hocks-
and carnival games-
Walking home, so much was lit up including Buppharam Temple-
and the streets-
Supper was Tom Yum soup with shrimp. OMG! It doesn’t get any better than this-
I booked a big scooter for the next couple of days to do an overnight loop in the mountainous, actually hilly, north west however there is no accommodation available so I will rebook for the end of this week.
I had a full, exhausting but excellent day! Looking forward to what tomorrow brings!
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