Sunday, January 4, 2015 Up the Mountain to Wat Palad Part 2

This post will contain many pictures – Wat Palad is a favorite of mine, unusual, and set right in the jungle.

The entrance down the hill to Wat Palad is guarded by two mythical creatures, the aponsi, half woman, half lion.

Then there is the entrance to the area in which one of the open-air viharn (worship hall) are located, guarded by these ornate dragons.

Then the stairway to the viharn itself is guarded by two large singhas, a lion-like creature.

Finally, inside the open-air viharn. I often see monks here, but there were none today.

These thewada (angelic beings that live in the heavenly realms) guard the entrance to what appears to be an empty, open pavilion, too small for worship. Perhaps just a good place to sit for a meditation.

This is an interesting area, sort of a worship area, but not well-defined. The base is guarded by to large singhas, and it almost appears that a series of thewada are praying.

You can easily see from this and the previous photos that we are in the jungle here.

Going up a trail to a worship area, almost a lookout point, the path is held fast by the thewada.

From the worship area, looking back across the creek, a large stairway is seen. notice the two large singhas at the top-left.

The two large singhas, guarding the next part of the stairway, back to the main part of Wat Palad.

After some time taking photos of Wat Palad, and a short meditation, it was time to head back to town and a more familiar neighborhood.

Dinner at Jane’s Kitchen

I stopped at Jane’s Kitchen for a small dinner before heading over to the Sunday Night Market. Jane is a native of Chiang Mai whose family moved to New York City when she was 12. After college, the family returned to Thailand, eventually returning to Chiang Mai. They run Jane’s Kitchen, an organic small restaurant who uses local farmers exclusively. They also run the Kanjana Studio making very artistic tie-died women’s clothing. I had a tomato salad with wild rice, and it was better than I expected.

Walking Street Chiang Mai (the Sunday Night Market)

I have shown many photos of the Sunday Night Market in the past, also known as Walking Street Chiang Mai. The Sunday Night Market is held on two major streets inside the old city and man of the connecting side streets. To sell here, you must have made the items yourself, or they must be made in Thailand. There are many hand-made clothing, jewelry, and items of almost any kind. And there is food…lots of street food, but a better quality than outside.

Walking Street Chiang Mai is a large social event for the local Thai people and more than half the people on the streets are Thai. It is great fun, but into the evening it becomes quite crowded. In this picture, it is early, still light, and not too packed with people yet.

I almost always get a foot massage, and usually by the same lady, named Nam. It is a very nice way to end a long day of hiking all around the city, and Nam always has a big smile (especially when I take her picture).

Today, Sunday was a long day:

• breakfast at the Tamarind Village
• watched the installation of the new large Buddha statue
• visited Wat Fai Hin
• visited Wat Palad
• dinner at Jane’s Kitchen
• Chiang Mai Walking Street

Whew! I’m tired, and after the hour-long foot massage, I’ll sleep well.

Next: The first week of the new year