Friday, January 13, 2023
Pharmacy and Two Temples

I have just two days left at The 3-Sis, then I pack and move to See You Soon, about 70-80 meters south on Prapokkloa Road at the intersection of Ratchamanka Road.

The 3-Sis is owned by three sisters, Poppy, Ice, and Uhey, and their parents. Poppy manages The 3-Sis and its restaurant, Poppy’s Kitchen. Ice and her husband Ball, and Uhey and her husband were in Bangkok. About 6 or 7 years ago, Ice and her husband Ball moved back to Chiang Mai and opened a restaurant, shop, and smaller guest house called See You Soon. Several years ago, when I sent Poppy an e-mail for a reservation for the upcoming winter, she replied asking if I might stay part of the time at Ice and Ball’s place, and she said she would arrange everything. Thereafter, I stayed about 2/3 of my time at The 3-Sis and then 1/3 of my time at See You Soon. It is all one family, and I feel comfortable and at home in both places.

Singharat Pharmacy

A small challenge after I moved onto Medicare for my primary health insurance is that I have a prescription drug plan to cover the one blood pressure medication I take, Lisinopril, and anything else that might be prescribed. Before leaving for Thailand, I requested a “vacation exception” to get a supply of Lisinopril for my time out of the United States. After trying a few times and being told it was on its way in the mail, I did not get it before I left.

Today, I ran out of the Lisinopril I had. And I do not have the original plastic container the Lisinopril came in. I went to Tine, the lady who runs the front desk of The 3-Sis, and asked her if the Loi Kroh Clinic was still a good place to see a doctor to get a prescription. (I went to Loi Kroh Clinic about 9 years ago, and was quite impressed. The doctor is from Britain, and has a clinic on a first-come, first-serve basis from 8 AM to 1 PM Mon-Fri.) She said yes, Loi Kroh was still considered good, but if I just needed to get a re-supply of medication, she could check with a couple of pharmacies to see if I needed a prescription.

When I returned from yoga practice, she told me there was a pharmacy she has used several times that has in stock what I need, and does not need a prescription, Singharat Pharmacy. (!!!!) And, it is an easy walk, being on the same road, Singharat Road, as and just north of Wat Phra Singh. I learned that in Chiang Mai, and maybe other parts of Thailand, too, not all pharmacies adhere strictly to the guidelines for prescriptions. I thought it best to not ask questions and walked to the pharmacy. I got the medication, 30-days supply for 150 baht, or a little less than $5.

I took my camera, and being close to Wat Phra Singh, thought I would return there. It is not a temple with whch I feel a strong connection, Really, I do not like it that much – it seems a little too touristy and almost gaudy, especially the more recent changes. Of the more than 30,000 active Buddhist temples in Thailand, there are only 20 classified as Royal Temples of the First Class. Wat Phra Singh is on that list, so it is a very important temple to the Thai people.

Wat Pha Bong

Just across the main street to the north of Wat Phra Singh is a small temple I have never visited – I have walked by many times, so today, I’m here, I have my camera, and I’m going inside.

I found almost no indication online about the history of this temple. One of its notable features is the shrine by the entrance dedicated to King Naresuan who is a well-known and loved warrior king, often depicted in films, TV programs, literature etc. King Naresuan lived in the 16th and 17th centuries and fought against the Burmese in the wars to liberate Lanna from Burmese occupation. And this statue does make him appear to be a strong and fierce warrior.

Wat Pha Bong is a small temple, on a fairly small, almost cramped space. I could not get a picture of the front of the viharn, as it is almost against the walls around the temple grounds. I did go inside, and while fairly simple, the inside of the viharn is quite nice.

Walking around the viharn, a side view shows that this is very much in the Lanna style, with a tiered roof naga decorations on the gables, and the roof sweeping fairly low.

Walking to the back of the viharn, there is a very white, recently renovated, fairly small chedi. It was also difficult to get far enough away to get the whole chedi in one picture. The dark red niches in the four sides stand out against the bright white of the chedi.

At the back of the viharn is rather nice Buddha image next to the red inset in the back of the viharn structure, that echoes the red niches in the chedi. I really liked this Buddha image, something between a dark pewter and bronze color, looking very rustic:

And by a large outdoor seated Buddha was this very colorful yak. I love the yaks (also known as yaksha). They are seen much more in central Thai temples than in the north, former Lanna. Not at all rare in the north, but not as common. A yaksha is a guardian, belonging to a broad class of nature-spirits, usually benevolent, but sometimes mischievous. They are connected with water, fertility, trees, the forest, treasure and wilderness. Yaks are most often depicted as fierce looking figures with large bulging eyes, fangs and skin of various colors, typically carrying a large weapon. And most often, there is one on each side of a temple entrance.

Time to cross the street and re-visit Wat Phra Singh.

Next: Pharmacy and Two Temples 2 – Wat Phra Singh