James the Intrepid Pilgrim

Friday, January 20, 2017 Second Hike up Doi Suthep, Wat Phalad, and Thich Nhat Hanh After a class at Wild Rose Yoga a couple of days ago I met Elliott and Amy, a couple from San Diego, now living and teaching in China. They are here in Chiang Mai doing rock climbing, yoga, and wanted to see the temple Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. I told them hiking up the mountain was a possibility, and […]

Wednesday, January 18, 2017 Wat Srisuphan, The “Silver Temple” Today I took a long walk around the circumference of the wall/moat outlining the old city of Chiang Mai. This is about a 6 kilometer or 4 mile walk. At Chiang Mai Gate on the south, I headed south down Wualai Road, really more of a southwest diagonal road, to visit Wat Srisuphan, the so-called “Silver Temple.” To the south of Chiang Mai Gate along Wualai […]

Monday, January 16, 2017 Return Visit to Wat Lok Molee One of my favorite temples is Wat Lok Molee, I think this is one of the most beautiful temples in Chiang Mai. This temple is right along the moat, on the north end about 500 meters east of the northwest corner of the wall, Hua Line Corner. Wat Lok Molee is often overlooked by tourists even though it is so easily accessible and even close […]

Saturday, January 14, 2017 Hiking up to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep Part 3 A Visit to the Hmong Hill Tribe Village After spending time visiting the temple at Doi Suthep, and descending the 309-step Naga Stairway, we were ready for the hike down. As we passed the lines of taxi-trucks, there were signs advertising going up higher on the mountain to the Bhuping Palace Garden (the gardens owned by the Royal Family) and to […]

Saturday, January 14, 2017 Hiking up to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep Part 2 The second part of the hike is up a long, steep climbing hiking trail through the jungle to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep much of which is steeper than climbing stairs. The day was warm and humid, and I was sweating heavily. The trail goes along a set of power lines that serve the temple at the top. It may be […]

Saturday, January 14, 2017 Hiking up to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep Part 1 Today Tom Dickson, a friend from Sydney, Australia, and I are are hiking up Doi Suthep to the temple near the top of the mountain. Wat Phra That Doi Suthep This temple is often called “Doi Suthep,” although that is the name of the mountain on which it is located. Doi means mountain, and Suthep is the name of the mountain. […]

Friday, January 13, 2017 Around the Northeast Corner of the Old City All signs indicate that we are having a break from the dark cloudy and rainy days. Today is bright and sunny, but very humid. After breakfast, I then went off to yoga at Wild Rose. At Wild Rose, I saw Tom Dickson, a friend from Sydney, Australia whom I met last year at Wild Rose, and with whom I made a number of […]

Thursday, January 12, 2017 A Haircut in Chiang Mai and the Walk Back Every year that I have been in Chiang Mai, there is a lady named Eva from Estonia who is also here. I met Eva through Rose of Wild Rose Yoga, and Eva cuts hair…Yay! I need a bit of a trim after having been away from home for more than three weeks. So I contacted Eva through Facebook (many people here use […]

Monday, January 9, 2017 Walking to the Flower Market and Wat Kate Karam There was a small break in the rainy weather today, so I headed out on a longer walk. My intention was to walk from the old city down to Warorot Market (Kad Luang), walk by the flower market, and then across the new walking bridge over the Ping River to Wat Kate Karam. Walking to Warorot Market  Along the road from the […]

Thursday, January 5, 2017 Off to Lunch in the Old City Today was rainy and cloudy again. I did find a dry patch on which to sit for my morning meditation at Wat Chedi Luang, but it was still a little wet everywhere. Then it was breakfast and then yoga at Wild Rose Yoga with Ploy, a Thai teacher with the most beautiful poses. Ploy is elegant in her transitions between poses, settling into an […]

Wednesday, January 4, 2017 A first Walk Around the Wall & Moat Today, after a few days of rain, there are clouds but the rain has not come today. I go to yoga class at Wild Rose Yoga every day for about 90-120 minutes, and after yoga class today, I ventured out and embarked on a walk around the circumference of the wall. Chiang Mai was built as a walled city, with a moat around […]

Monday, January 2, 2017 Welcome 2017 in Chiang Mai I have been in Chiang Mai for a couple of days now, and it is nice to be in a familiar place even with many small and a few large changes. The weather has been dark, cool, and rainy, and has dampened my mood and spirit somewhat. I have walked over to Wat Chedi Luang for my morning meditation at the foot of the large chedi […]