Thursday 5 December 2024 Seeing the Iron Bridge at night The Iron Bridge in Chiang Mai, known locally as Sapphan Khua Lek, is transformed for the holidays with vibrant decorations. These decorations are installed before Loy Krathong in November and remain on display well after the New Year celebrations. Loy Krathong, one of Thailand’s important festivals, takes place on the evening of the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar. […]
Tuesday 3 December 2024 A walk to Wat Chai Mongkhon I am in a good routine here in Chiang Mai. I practice yoga at Wild Rose Yoga about three times per week, go to the gym twice weekly for strength training with Ning my personal trainer (her Instagram is pt.ning, she posts several times per day, including a few videos of me). Mornings when I do not have a yoga class or training session, I […]
Saturday 30 November 2024 Returning to Wat Suan Dok a familiar and favorite temple It is the end of November. And November was a very eventful month for me: long travel from Southern California to Bangkok, exploring temples in Bangkok, overnight in a hospital in Bangkok, returning to Chiang Mai, and easing into an exercise routine of exploratory walks, strength training at the gym, and [next week] adding frequent yoga sessions at Wild Rose Yoga. […]
Friday 29 November 2024 Revisiting the Klong Mae Kha One of my continual fascinations is with the Kamphaengdin, the second wall around the eastern and southern parts of the original Chiang Mai walled city. As Chiang Mai grew and expanded outside what we now call “the old city,” to protect the expanded part of the city from flooding, an earth, brick, and clay wall (the Kamphaengdin) was built along the inside of an existing klong, […]
Wednesday 27 November 2024 Walking along the Ping River I wanted to walk along the Ping River to see evidence of the recent floods in Chiang Mai. The floods resulting from heavy storms in late September and early October were the worst in at least 50 years and affected 30 provinces in northern Thailand. As the flood waters receded, the national, provincial, and local governments launched massive cleanup efforts. By October 22, the mayor of […]
Saturday 23 November 2024 Revisiting a favorite temple Wat Chedi Luang Wat Chedi Luang is a very old and important temple to the Thai people. The 3-Sis guesthouse where I stay is directly across the street from Wat Chedi Luang, so I see busses of tourists, many Thai, arriving every day while I am eating breakfast. In years past, I would do my morning meditation at the base of the large chedi before breakfast. When […]
Friday 22 November 2024 Walking the entire circumference of old Chiang Mai For my first full day in Chiang Mai, I thought I would walk the entire circumference of the Chiang Mai old city wall & moat, about 8 kilometers (5 miles). Given my recent experience in Bangkok, I am wearing a hat and carrying water with me. Brief History of the Chiang Mai Wall Chiang Mai was built by King Mengrai in 1296 as […]
In a week, I leave home in San Diego, California, for my 12th yoga-focused winter in Chiang Mai, Thailand. I will be there for 12 weeks, practicing yoga at Wild Rose Yoga several times per week, strength training at the gym a couple of times per week, learning about the culture, and enjoying the food and people of what is called “The Land of Smiles.” I am considering taking a course on writing Thai while […]
Thursday 1 February 2024 Traveling Home and Reflections on My Eleventh Winter in Chiang Mai Traveling Home to the United States Being my last day in Chiang Mai for this winter, I spent a mellow day on Thursday. First I went to my last yoga class at Wild Rose Yoga with Annie as the teacher. I have known Annie at Wild Rose for at least seven years, and appreciate the way her classes have evolved. […]
Tuesday 30 January 2024 Wat Chedi Luang Wat Chedi Luang is an old and historically important Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai. Wat Chedi Luang History The construction of Wat Chedi Luang began in 1391 by King Saen Muang Ma to hold his father’s ashes. The chedi was not completed until 1475, much of its completion was managed by King Saen Muang Ma’s wife, the queen after the king passed away. It was finally completed under […]
Tuesday 20 January 2024 Wat Pan Tao Wat Pan Tao (sometimes spelled Wat Phan Tao) is a very old temple in the old city of Chiang Mai, on Prapokkloa Road next door to the more famous Wat Chedi Luang. It was founded in the 14th century and originally used as living quarters for the monks of Wat Chedi Luang. The name Wat Pan Tao is said to translate to “temple of 1000 kilns” referring to […]
Tuesday 20 January 2024 Wat Chang Taem Wat Chang Taem is next door to See You Soon, where I am staying for the last two weeks of this visit to Chiang Mai. I was at The 3-Sis for the first two months, so named because it is owned by 3 sisters (Poppy, Ice, Uhey) and their parents. The family also owns other properties in Chiang Mai. Poppy, one of the sisters, runs The 3-Sis and […]
James the Intrepid Pilgrim 