Wednesday, 21 January 2015 Walking to Wat Suan Dok Again It is a bit of a long walk, but I wanted to return to Wat Suan Dok. Wat Suan Dok is a large temple out near Chiang Mai University. The term “Suan Dok” means Flower Garden. This area outside the wall was for a long time the royal flower gardens, thus the gate on the west side of the wall is Suan Dok Gate, and […]
Wednesday, 21 January 2015 Revisiting Temples Across the Street Wat Chedi Luang is across the street from the 3-Sis Guest House, where I am a staying. I do my morning meditation at the foot of the large chedi in the back area of the property (pictures in previous posts). The city pillar is also located at Wat Chedi Luang. Most cities in Thailand have a city pillar housed in a shrine. The shrine is believed […]
Monday, 19 January 2015 Elephants and the Flower Market After seeing Wat Kate Karam, I was headed across the Mae Ping River to the Warorot Market and the Flower Market. Going towards the bridge, I passed a shop in front of which is a large colorfully painted elephant. It is almost two meters high. Quite noticeable. I went into the shop. They are an outlet for a project called Elephant Parade to help save the […]
Sunday, 18 January 2015 A Lazy Sunday Sunday was a kind of lazy day, at least as far as walking around old Chiang Mai city. I met my friend Aaron at 3-Sis for lunch, and we walked down to the Khao Soi place a little way behind the Three Kings Monument. not really wanting more spicy food, I had just chicken with rice. The Northern Thai dish Khao Soi can be very spicy. It is […]
Friday, 16 January 2015 Afternoon / Evening After visiting Nimmanhaemin Road, on my walk back to 3-Sis, I stopped again at Wat Phra Singh. It was suggested that I take a look at the old, smaller viharn (worship hall) in the back and view the old paintings on the inside walls. There are always crowds at Wat Phra Singh, just like at Wat Chedi Luang. I made my way past the large viharn, back by […]
Friday, 16 January 2015 Nimmanhaemin Road, Shopper’s Paradise A very popular place for shopping is Nimmanheamin Road, outside the old city, about half a mile from the northwest corner of the wall. I have never been to Nimmanhaemin Road, and decided to check it out. If there is shopping, there has to be food. so at the worst, I should have a good lunch. It is quite a hike out to Nimmanhaemin Road, perhaps a […]
Wednesday 14 January 2015 The Wall and The Moat The word “chiang” in the city name Chiang Mai, is thought to mean “city”. Historically, however, it meant “walled city,” a city with a wall around it. King Mengrai build a city named Chiang Rai farther north of Chiang Mai, but it was close to Burma, and the Burmese too often fought with his people. So King Mengrai and two neighboring kings (there were smaller kingdoms […]
Tuesday 13 January 2015 Five Temple Journey Part 4: Wat Rampoeng Wat Rampoeng is a temple known as a meditation center south west of Chiang Mai city. It is not too far from Wat Umong that I have visited in the past (the temple with the caves). People go to Wat Rampoeng to do silent meditations for 3, 5, 7, or more days. The people meditating wear wight clothing, and can be seen walking around […]
Tuesday 13 January 2015 Five Temple Journey Part 3: Two Local Temples We headed north from the Chom Thong district back in the direction of Chiang Mai. We were soon heading up what is known as Canal Road, a highway on the west and south of Chiang Mai that runs mostly along a canal. I had two smaller, local temples on my list to see, and I do not remember why. I recall something about […]
Tuesday 13 January 2015 Five Temple Journey Part 2: Wat Phra That Si Chom Thong We headed west and a little south to the Chom Thong District of Chiang Mai Province for about 85 minutes. Most of the land between Lamphun and Chom Thong is farmland, with homes and other businesses along the road. Just like in the U.S., a slow vehicle can jam things a bit by not pulling over to let faster vehicles […]
Tuesday, 13 January 2015 Five Temple Journey Part 1: Lamphun I hired a driver and went on a bit of a road trip today to see five temples, first in Lamphun, about 60-70 minutes south and slightly east of Chiang Mai, second a temple in the Chom Tong district, 80-90 minutes further south and west of Lamphun, and then three temples on the return route back to Chiang Mai city. The drive from the 3-Sis […]
Monday, 12 January 2015 Hiking Up to Wat Palad I met Steve Epstein, the leader of the Green Papaya Sangha meditation group at the front of the 3-Sis at 8:15, and headed out to Wat Suan Dok in a Red Truck (driven by Ms. Ying, a driver I have used in the past) to pick up some other friends of Steve’s who would be making the hike with us. With the group assembled in the […]
James the Intrepid Pilgrim 