Thursday 5 February 2026 Wat Phalad and hiking down the Monks Trail It is a hot afternoon. Temperatures in Chiang Mai gradually increase through February and March, culminating in March and April being the hottest months. Because we would be going up Doi Suthep in the afternoon, and the temperature will be over 32 C (90 F), it was too hot to hike up the Monks Trail, and especially all the way to Wat Phra […]
Sunday 30 November 2025 Returning to hike the Monks Trail to Wat Phalad The Monks Trail is a hiking trail from a little west of Chiang Mai University to Wat Phalad. The trail continues from Wat Phalad to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. The first section to Wat Phalad takes 45 minutes to an hour, and is definitely uphill, but not terribly difficult. The second section from Wat Phalad to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep […]
Tuesday 17 December 2024 A birthday hike to Wat Phalad on the Monks Trail Today is the 121st anniversary of the Wright Brothers’ first flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, USA on 17 December 1903. Their first flight was 12 seconds covering 120 feet at a speed of 6.8 miles per hour, and on their fourth flight that day, they covered over 850 feet in 59 seconds. I contemplate this when I am in an […]
James the Intrepid Pilgrim 