Further Reflections and Another Winter in Chiang Mai

I have been home from Chiang Mai for eight months. Reflecting on last winter in Chiang Mai, I have similar thoughts to those I posted six months ago: (1) it was quite different than I had expected, and (2) unexpected things occurred that changed the experience; not making it better or worse, just presenting different paths and experiences. I did not have firm expectations; my expectations or hopes were that I would do yoga, visit temples including my favorites from past visits, and walk around the old city every day. And those expectations were fulfilled – I did yoga, I visited my favorite temples and discovered temples new to me, and I did walk around the city every day.

I hurt my back after diving into yoga and general exercise too much, too soon, and too fast, so I was not able to fulfill my goal of restarting and energizing my yoga practice in Chiang Mai at Wild Rose Yoga. I am now practicing yoga and cycling regularly, my back is fine, and I am returning to some semblance of fitness.

Just before I was to return to the U.S., I learned that one could hike from Chiang Mai University to Wat Palad (the temple in the jungle). This was one of my favorite places to meditate, but not being easily accessible, I only visited Wat Palad a few times. And, I learned that Thich Nhat Hanh, the Zen master Vietnamese Buddhist monk lived at Wat Palad for several years after being exiled from Vietnam.

I am returning to Chiang Mai this upcoming winter, leaving from Los Angeles on December 26. I’ll spend a few days in Bangkok, and head to Chiang Mai on December 30 in time for New Year’s Eve. My 2014-2015 journey will be chronicled in a new blog at https://jamesgeiercamino.wordpress.com/category/2015-thailand/.