January 8, 2014 Wednesday

I am backing off from yoga for several days to really allow my back to relax and heal. Between all of the walking around, the yoga, and the general activity, even on the days I reported as being resting or relaxing days, I was pretty active. And with friends coming into Chiang Mai, I’ll have much to do and little time to rest.

Hot stone-oil massage

It was recommended by Dao (the Osteo-Thai massage person from France), Rose and her husband John, that I get a hot stone-oil massage to really help my back. Their favorite is Jang at Loi Kroh Massage out Loi Kroh road on Soi 3. When I saw Dao on Monday, she called Jang and booked a time for me on Wednesday.

Loi Kroh Massage is a peaceful little oasis in a busy part of the city with the entry covered in these lush bougainvillea. I had a 2-hour hot stone-oil massage. Jang and the massage itself was pretty amazing, relaxing, and the hot stones seemed to relax and soothe the tense muscles in my back like nothing else has. Jang is basically massaging with these beautiful, smooth, hot stones and her hands. She figured out quickly that my lower back was tight, I just agreed with her when she mentioned it, and she focused on my back and also my hamstrings. It was very nice, and I booked another slot for Monday. (Two hours, wonderful massage, $40…why not another?)

Cafe Crema

After the massage, I strolled back towards town looking in several craft and textile shops. I was lured in by this sign, and decided to take a little break and try their good coffee. Nice little place, many people.

And the coffee is good. I had the Cafe Crema Signature which is coffee sweetened with a little honey and some cinnamon. I was not too sure of it at first, but it is quite nice. There was just a hint of the cinnamon, and the sweetening was just right with the strong coffee flavor coming through nicely.

Wat Chedi Luang

I walk around Wat Chedi Luan every day at least once, one of my many favorite places. Translated to English, “wat” means temple grounds, “chedi” means pagoda or stupa (a stupa is a burial mound or pagoda), and “luang” means really big. So Wat Chedi Luang is the temple with the really big pagoda. And the chedi IS very big. The chedi was originally built in the late 13th century, and the large chedi first completed in the mid-1400s at a height of about 82 meters (270 feet) high, the largest structure in all of Lanna (the country making up most of northern Thailand and Laos). Sometime after its discovery in Chiang Rai, the Emerald Buddha was installed here at Wat Chedi Luang. In 1545, an earthquake destroyed the top of the large chedi, and some of the elephant statues along the sides. Later the Emerald Buddha was moved to Laos, back to Chiang Rai, to Ayutthaya, and now it resides at Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok by the Grand Palace.

Bodhi Serene

I thought I would check out the Bodhi Serene hotel where the yoga workshop I was part of stayed for 10 days two years ago. Being a very quiet place, I decided to stay for dinner. I had a very nice chicken with cashew nuts stir-fry in a tarro basket.