| We flew from Phuket to Chiang Mai, 2 hours, and stayed in another Airbnb about 5 minutes from the centre. Chiang Mai used to be the capital of the Lanna Kingdom and is overflowing with Wats (temples) dating back to 1296. |
| At the last count there were 320 Wats, more than in Bangkok, we visited 4 in the first morning, they were next door to each other. |
| Wat Saen Muang Ma Luang |
| Donation with Gold Leaf put onto the round stone |
| Wat Lok Molee – this is a Buddist temple dating back to the 1300’s featuring a prominent chedi. The chedi holds the ashes of several members of the Mengrai dynasty. This contraption is being filled with water it is then hauled up to the chedi and then a bell rings and the water is tipped onto the chedi. I presume you make a wish and it is granted. |
I couldn’t resist a quick boing | Chiang Mai centre is a perfect square with a moat all around. There used to be walls as well, but many of those have been destroyed. Below is one of the old gates, Tha Phae Gate. |
| We used songtheuws, a passenger vehicle adapted from a pick up truck. These are common in Chiang Mai and most journeys cost 40p each. View from songtheuw towards another one. | Rickshaws were rare in Chiang Mai. This looked like an organised tour of about 20 of them. It caused quite a bit of congestion. |
| Art in Paradise - was established by Jang Kyu Suk, a Korean, with creative paintings by professional painters from Korea. More than 130 paintings inside the museum can be divided into six zones. Visitors can pose in the paintings. Very often shoes had to be removed so the paintings weren’t damaged. |
| Above – look hard there are two old people, plus two other people one with guitar and the other holding the his hat. Below – we didn’t get wet photo - taken by a very nice Chinese lady. |
| Hold your breath |
| The crocodile wasn’t very hungry. |
| I thought we were in Chiang Mai dear! |
| Chiang Mai University Art Museum – we visited here to see a display of Asian Lacquer Craft. Some of the work was very impressive. |
| After the Art Museum we walked to Wat Suan Dok – ‘flower garden temple’ we thought this was one of the more impressive temples that we had visited in Chiang Mai. |
| Following the last visit we needed some refreshment, it was about 35°C. We headed to Black Canyon Coffee (coffee chain) which we had found to be very good. The service here was excellent. Stuart’s cappuccino and cake. |
| Night market outside the Maya (shopping mall) centre. We could easily walk here from our apartment. |
| Sue taking a break in the Maya centre. |
| Night view from the top of the Maya centre towards the middle of Chiang Mai. |
| Back to Bangkok – I didn’t have a good start here. I went to buy a beer and I wasn’t allowed to purchase one because it was a Buddhist holiday – a dry evening. We were doing a few geocaches, along a canal, in an old part of Bangkok and came upon this monitor lizard. It was over 2 meters long. A good reason not to swim there. |
| Khaosan Road is where all the backpackers go. It all happens here in the evenings, but we settled for a drink during the day. |
| Our hotel Baiyoke Sky hotel – 85 floors. Our room was on the 31st floor – we had a good view. | Traffic in Bangkok – it doesn’t get much better. |
| Breakfast on the 81st floor |
| View from the 81st |
| We just had to go for a drink on the 82nd floor. If you look at the bottom left of the photo you can see the OUTSIDE balcony of the restaurant on the 81st floor! |
| We took 1200 photos altogether so you have seen just a small selection. I hope you have enjoyed them. |
