January 17, 2014 Friday

A long-time good friend, Linda, is visiting Chiang Mai on something of a tour of part of SE Asia. She has been to Vietnam and Cambodia, is now in Chiang Mai, and will soon visit other parts of Thailand. I am showing her around a bit, sharing my experience and some of my favorite temples. This is great fun in that it is forcing me to explain what it is in the various places I like that I like and why. I am also explaining some of the history I have learned. Some of the stories I have learned about the history of Chiang Mai and Thailand may or may not be completely true – some of the stories are distorted through history and also translation.

Linda arrived Thursday afternoon, and is staying at the Tamarind Village, a boutique hotel in the heart of the old city, very close to 3-Sis guest house, where I am staying. and I may join her there for breakfast some days. On Thursday evening, we both went to the Green Papaya Sangha meditation group at the Yoga Tree to cap off her arrival day in Chiang Mai.

Breakfast at Tamarind Village

Friday morning I did join Linda for breakfast at the Tamarind Village.

The breakfast is a buffet, and the food is quite good. Here  is my first course – a small croissant with freshly made pineapple preserves and freshly made coconut preserves (both are made at the Tamarind Village, and Linda learned that they will sell some in a jar, but that it only lasts three days, making it impractical to take home), fruit and yogurt and some muesli. Plus orange juice (this is freshly squeezed), and really good coffee. A very nice start to the day.

Walking, the Wall, and Temples

After breakfast, we walked over to Wat Chedi Luang (right across the street from 3-Sis) and then headed out walking to see some of my favorite temples. For part of the journey today, we used a tuk-tuk to keep from wearing out. Since I was talking a lot, I did not take many pictures. I’ll try to remedy that in upcoming days. We walked south towards Chiang Mai Gate, the gate in the south center of the wall. along the way, we stopped at Wat Jet Lin.

I have posted pictures of Wat Let Lin previously. But I did not show the fairly large pond towards the back. There are very interesting looking floating leaf-like plants in the pond, and the large turtles (up to about 1/2 meter in length, or 20 inches) like to crawl onto the leaf-like plants and sun themselves. We did not see any turtles today.

After a short view of Wat Jet Lin and hitting the large bells at the front (in previous pictures), we stopped at Wild Rose Yoga, to greet Rose and John. I am glad they were there, because this is the first time I have seen them since the drama of a week ago that left me at an overnight stay in the hospital. I wanted to show them that I have recovered fully and am fine. Rose and John are wonderful people, friends who would help in any way I needed. As I said in a previous post, I am very grateful for good friends, especially when one is a long way from home.

After viewing Wild Rose and avoiding interrupting the next class there, we walked down to Chiang Mai Gate for Linda’s first view of the wall that was once around the whole of what is now called the “inner city.”

We then got a tuk-tuk to take us out to Wat Suan Dok. We could have walked, but it would have been a long walk (about 3 km or 2 miles), and there is much to see today, so we rode. I have posted pictures of Wat Suan Dok also, and it did not disappoint – Wat Suan Dok is reverent, peaceful, dignified, and beautiful.

Another tuk-tuk ride to Wat Lok Molee, of which I have also previously posted pictures. Wat Lok Molee is quickly becoming my second favorite temple, after Wat Chedi Luang. (Or maybe Wat Suan Dok is my second favorite, or my favorite … or maybe I have too many favorites.)

Linda took my picture standing under the entrance to the large chedi in the back of the viharn (worship hall). So yes, I was there, and (for the fashion police) no I was not wearing a t-shirt.

After Wat Lok Molee, Linda headed back to Tamarind Village to rest a bit, and I headed out to Loi Kroh for another hot stone oil massage with Jang Niyomwong (say that three times fast). These hot stone oil massages seem to be helping my back problem the most. And at less than $40 for two hours, I booked another for next Wednesday. Jang will massage Linda, take a break, and then massage me. (There is good shopping in the area to keep Linda busy while waiting for me.)

For dinner, we were both feeling not-too-adventurous, so we headed down Ratchadamnoen Road Soi 5, past Kanjana, and to Boutique della Pasta, the Italian place. We started with the bruscetta, then both got ravioli (I have previously posted pictures of these dishes).

A very good introduction to Chiang Mai for Linda. So tomorrow, more temples, and more walking. It will be great fun!