James the Intrepid Pilgrim

Sunday, January 20, 2019 Four Local, Neighborhood Temples, Part 2 The second local temple is right through a small lane from Wat Duang Dee, Wat Umong Mahathera Chan. Ths temple was built by the three kings who founded Chiang Mai, early in the construction at about the same time as Wat Chiang Man (where King Mengrai lived and worshiped as he supervised the construction of the new city). Today, this temple is open for Thais […]

Sunday, January 20, 2019 Four Local, Neighborhood Temples, Part 1 After breakfast, a long, vigorous yoga session, and a shower, I headed out to visit some temples in the neighborhood that are the non-tourist, local temples. The four I visited are very close to the major tourist temples, not hidden, but overlooked by most tourists. And thus, they are peaceful due to the very low tourist traffic. All are quite beautiful. The old city, known […]

Thursday, January 17, 2019 Some of the East Side of the Wall/Moat and Restaurants After yoga today, I took my clothes to the laundromat because my yoga clothes were quite sweaty, so I took a whole load. On my way to the laundromat, I walked most of the eastern side of the wall & moat, and made my way to lunch. Katam Corner The southeast corner of the wall is called Katam Corner. A “katam” […]

Wednesday, January 16, 2019 Return visit to Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Phan Tao Later in the afternoon, after getting my camera settings back to normal, I returned to Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Phan Tao, two significant temples right across the street from the 3-Sis guest house in which I am staying. Wat Chedi Luang I have already written a little of the history of Wat Chedi Luang in my post a few days […]

Tuesday, January 15, 2019 Searching for Kamphaeng Din After yoga today, I went in search of more evidence of the second wall, called Kamphaeng Din, sometimes spelled as one word, Kampangdin. Chiang Mai was originally laid out by King Mengrai at the end of the thirteenth century as an almost perfect square fortress, with an inner wall of brick and a moat around the inner wall. There was also an additional, outer, earthen and brick […]

Monday, January 14, 2019 From Wat Chiang Man West Along the Wall After yoga and lunch, I headed out for a walk from Wat Chiang Man along the north and west sides of the wall/moat. Wat Chiang Man Wat Chiang Man is the temple built by King Mengrai as a place to live and worship, and his base as he managed the building of the wall and moat. Work on the wall and moat commenced […]

Thursday, January 10, 2019 Inside Suan Prung Gate After yoga this morning, Tom and Julie were off to a tok sen session. I returned to 3-Sis, cleaned up, and being time for a trim, decided to go in search of the barber that Tom liked so well. He described it as being in a soi (a small lane, larger than an alley) south of the 7-Eleven that is across the street and south of the […]

Wednesday, January 9, 2019 Temple on the Golden Mount In preparing for my trip to Chiang Mai, I stumbled across information about this temple very near Chiang Mai, one that I have not visited in my many trips to Chiang Mai. Partly that is because I walk almost everywhere, and this is to far to walk, about 30 kilometers southwest of the main city. It appeared interesting, so Tom, Julie, and I made plans to […]

Wednesday, January 9, 2019 The Famous Tha Phae Gate Today was another fairly busy day, with yoga starting the day. The instructor was a young Thai lady, Thom (pronounced Tom), and she calls her session “slow flow.” That is right, but it is really more of a crescendo, starting slowly, focusing on the breath, and continuing slowly with the breath, but the intensity of the poses also increases. It was (as are most) a warm […]

Monday, January 7, 2019 Temples across the street I have not posted for some time. I apologize. My daily routing has been quite full with yoga, eating, some part-time work, and socializing with friends. I am hopeful that I am getting a little more time to attend to sharing my Chiang Mai visit through my blog. There are two temples across the street (Prapokkloa Road) from the 3-Sis Guest House where I am staying and […]

Saturday, January 5, 2019 Hiking Through the Jungle Up Doi Suthep Tom and Julie, my Australian yoga friends, wanted to hike up Doi Suthep. And today seemed as good a day as any…no afternoon appointments, and no rain expected. It was a bit hot, and very humid, so I took along a few bottles of water and electrolyte replacement drink. Along the way we shall pass Wat Phalad, a little less than half way, and […]

Sunday, December 30, 2018 – Tuesday, January 1, 2019 Back to the old city of Chiang Mai It is a short flight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, about 45 minutes in the air. When I arrived at the 3-Sis Guest House where I have stayed each of the past six years, there had been a mistake made in my booking, and no rooms were available. Poppy, the owner (one of the three sisters from which […]