January 7, 2016

Wat Kate Karam

I made a long walk on Thursday (17.000 steps according to my FitBit). And it was a good day. My first idea was to walk south the Chiang Mai Gate and then all the way around the wall / moat again.

Wat Fon Soi

Wat Fon Soi is a minor temple I pass when going to Chiang Mai Gate (south from 3-Sis). In the past year, much remodeling has been done, and the temple looks very clean and fresh. With the sun out and the tulips in bloom guarded by the thewada (angels), I could not help stopping and taking a picture.

I then went out Chiang Mai Gate. There are two gates on the south wall, the eastern-most is Chiang Mai Gate, which traditionally was the main gate into and out of the old city. Walking east along the inside of the moat, I got a good view of the back of Katam corner.

When I reached Tha Phae Gate, the gate on the eastern side of the wall, I changed my mind about my route for the day, and decided to walk out to Wat Kate Karam, across the Mae Ping River. I headed east away from the old city down Tha Phae Road towards the Mae Ping River. Most non-Thai people call it the Ping River. Water in Thai is “nam” (said with an up-tone, as if you are asking a question). The word for mother is “mae” (pronounced “may” but closer to “meh”.) A river in Thai is mae-nam, which translates to water from the mother, meaning from mother earth. So while “Ping River” is not incorrect, “Mae Ping River” is a little better.

And right as I start the walk down Tha Phae Road is (of all things) Starbucks! Even though the Thai coffee is very good, the Thai people want things they see as popular elsewhere (no different than us). I find the Thai coffee to be excellent, and better than any coffee in the states. I have no reason to go to Starbucks in Thailand.

I made the long walk down Tha Phae Road close to the Mae Ping River, more than a kilometer, and I knew I needed to turn left before crossing the river. I turned left at a large intersection, being a little unsure of whether this was the correct street on which to turn (I did not bring a map, oops). I knew I was close, and then, a familiar sight was in front of me, the flower market.

The Flower Market

This is a very large flower market, and while I have taken dozens of pictures in the past, I would not help myself from taking more.

The flowers are varied and beautiful.

The flowers go on and on and on. You can buy in bulk, and there are also flowers in already-made arrangements (of which I took no pictures).

New Walking Bridge

Then a pleasant surprise appeared. In the past, there was a wooden walking bridge across the river from the flower market to the street right near the entrance to Wat Kate. In 2005 a major flood damaged the bridge badly. But people kept using it. Because it was deemed too dangerous, the government took down the bridge, saying they would rebuild it. As of last January, 10 years later, there was no sign of the rebuilding, Nothing. It seemed an empty promise. Now, only a year later, a new bridge is there. Is is not quite complete, but will be very soon, maybe as soon as a few weeks. What a nice surprise. This will allow the people who walk to work at the flower market and the very large Warorot market a much safer way across the river than walking over the very busy Nakhon Ping Bridge.

Elephant Parade / Colour Factory

I crossed the Nakhon Ping Bridge, and went down the busy street towards Wat Kate. And there was another familiar sight, the entrance to the Colour Factory, a large art project to support and protect elephants in SE Asia. They have artists or celebrities design and/or paint elephant statues, and auction them off at large Elephant Parade events in places like London, Singapore, Bangkok, Taiwan, Brazil, and other places. The proceeds go to a foundation for the care and protection of SE Asian elephants. This has been very successful in bringing attention to the plight of the elephants worldwide and funding to help the elephants. You can buy this large elephant, I think for about $40,000 – $50,000, but it would not easily fit in my luggage.

There are small versions of the elephants for sale, for those of us with smaller luggage, as well.

Many styles and themes.

Very colorful elephants.

And, if you are artistic, you can get a plain white elephant and paint it yourself here are the Colour Factory.

Next: Wat Kate Karam part 2