This morning started off late. We rolled out of bed about 12 PM, got our stuff together, packed and unpacked to find and store stuff and then headed out on a walking tour of temples of Chiang Mai. On the way, I bought an excellent mango shake- I really tasted the mango. Then it was off to the first temple – Wat Phra Singh, with the city’s most revered Buddha image (Phra Singh – lion Buddha) and its Lanna architecture.
Then we went to Wat Si Koet and Wat Thung Yu, before heading to Wat Chedi Luang – a temple dating from 1441, and thought to be one of the tallest structures in ancient Chiang Mai.
A jade Buddha now sits where an emerald Buddha used to sit. This temple is still being rebuilt. There were other chapels on the ground. Lunch was yummy Thai food. Then, to Wat Phan Tao, which was once used as the royal residence. Here some of the Buddhas were wooden (teak) as was the entire outside. Above the front door there was a mirrored mosaic of a peacock standing over a dog.
From there we continued to the Three Kings Monument, where the statues of the three kings who came together to form the alliance between the three northern kingdoms in the founding of Chiang Mai are displayed. This monument has become a shrine and we saw incense, flowers, candles and people bowing. Apparently, they believe that spirits of the kings will return with blessings.
We then detoured to Wat Chiang Man, the oldest wat in the city. The last wat of the day was Wat Lamchang. We then went to find the cooking schools to see about options and we signed up for a full day of cooking – they’re going to pick us up at 9:30, and we’re going to finish at 4PM. We will be able to make all vegetarian dishes (have our own woks) and we’ll get a cookbook in the end. The place is called the Baan Thai cookery school. Then, as we were walking down the street I saw a neighbor from my parents’ block in Ardmore, PA, who was sitting at a Café. She is here for three months taking a thai massage course and traveling. She told us about her hostel, which is right across the street from the cookery school, and we went and checked it out. We will be moving there tomorrow and plan to stay for the rest of the week. We also contacted Chabad about Shabbat and meals since we decided not to do a trek. We will spend a full day mountain biking in the jungle. Thankfully (although non-negotiable in our book) is that helmets, elbow and knee-pads are all included. Tonight while on internet, I registered for a scuba course and am super excited.
Lessons from the day:
- Pad Thai is yummy and can be eaten at least twice a day.
- Where as in Egypt (re crossing the street) we were advised to close our eyes and run, here in Chiang Mai you find a monk and cross with them. It’s either because they are revered or because they are wearing bright oranges and yellows that the cars stop.
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