29-Dec-2013 Sunday

Today I felt very tired and, listening to my body, spent most of the day sleeping or generally resting. Missed the Sunday Night Market (called Walking Street Chiang Mai), but I am better for having gotten some much-needed rest. The market will be back next Sunday, as it is every Sunday, rain or shine.

30-Dec-2013 Monday

Feeling quite revitalized after a rest day, I went for a long walk around part of the wall/moat, and outside the old city to the Warorot Market and the Flower Market area along the Mae Ping River. This was a pretty long walk, and I also stopped to visit Wat Bupparam, just to the east of the old city.

Wat Bupparam

Wat Bupparam is a highly regarded and very old temple, having been build in 1496 and closely connected to former Chiang Mai royalty.

In this picture, I love the mom (pronounced moam, serpent-like creatures) guarding the entrance to the old viharn (worship hall). they are Tua Mom or Singha Mom and are a vehicle of Puchoona, the angel of cloud and rain. These are less frequently seen as prominently, and these are beautiful, very detailed examples.

At the newer viharn, there are also very detailed naga / pitaya characters on the stairway entrance, and then, to the left is an icon I have never seen before, similar to the Tua Mom or perhaps a Singha Mom, but with longer legs and a differently shaped head. It is all in the mythology and folklore; the challenge will be finding the information.

At the back of the temple is the old chedi, obviously very old, yet strikingly detailed in its workmanship.

Flower Market

I made it to the Flower Market area of Warorot Market. This market area is quite large, and quite busy all the time. There are all kinds of flowers here, and many of them.

You can get pre-arranged flower bouquets, this is just a small sample of some I saw.

 Or you could get orchids in bulk. This purple orchid is practically symbolic with Thailand, and they are plentiful and beautiful.

Or if orchids are not right for today, there are all kinds of other flowers. This looks like a large group of chrysanthemums, but I’m no expert and the signs were in Thai.

How do people get around here? 

By motorbike. This is a common sight along many streets, especially near markets. There are plenty of cars and small trucks, and the Red Trucks, and Tuk-Tuks, but there are more motorbikes. Traffic is a challenge in parts Chiang Mai, especially near the markets. It is easier to walk.