This morning I awoke at 5 am. Todd and
I decided that we were going to explore Chiang Mai before our day-long tour of
Doi Inthanon National Park.
The Whitney's met us in the lobby, and
we decided to visit Wat Chedi Luang. It is a chedi built in 1441 in the Lanna
style. The building used to be the tallest structure in Chiang Mai until it was
partly destroyed by an earthquake or cannon fire a few centuries back.
We were one of the first tourist on
the compound. We had the place all to ourselves. When we arrived a group of
young Buddhist monks were sitting for a group picture outside the temple.
On the south side of Wat Chedi Luang
were displays of each of the Chinese animal mascots by year. Three of us were
born in the year of the Monkey. Todd was born in the year of the Dragon (or
large snake, as the sign labeled it).
We visited the inside of one of the
temples. They had a large Buddha in the center with large pictures of the royal
family next to it.
Elaborate columns covered in gold
stencils flanked both sides of the building. The room was illuminated by
several crystal chandeliers hanging along the center of the room. On the sides,
rows and rows of banners hung from the ceiling. It was a simple, yet opulent
space.
After leaving the temple we returned
to our hotel, where we had a great breakfast and got picked up for our day trip
to Doi Inthanon National Park.
Doing the one hour trip to
the park, our guide explained to us the history of Chiang Mai or ‘New City’.
Chiang Mai is near the border to Myanmar and Laos. Over the centuries these
countries have fought a lot of wars. There has also been several migrations of
tribes from China and other neighboring regions who have settled in northern
Thailand.
The are are several hill tribes in
forests around Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.
Our first stop was the entry
checkpoint to the park. On the side were local vendors selling their fruit and
flowers.
I saw one stall where they were
selling lychee, something I had eaten in Hawaii but not available in Utah. They
are not in season until June, but somehow this vendor had some for sale. I had
to purchase some.
We traveled up the mountain to the twin stupas (dome-shaped structures) dedicated to the king and queen's 60th birthday's in 1989 and 1992. The
Phra Mahathat Naphamethanidon means 'a magnificent stupa containing Buddha
relics’.
The king’s stupa is 60 meters in
height, whereas the queen’s is 55 meter signifying that the queen is 5 years
younger than the king.
The grounds around the stupa were gorgeous. They had flowers of all colors in full bloom. The rodadendum bush, which only blooms once a year was also flowering.
After our visit we rode further up the
mountain to view the heights spot in Thailand. There is a shrine marking the
spot. Superstition says that if you can place a coin standing up on the dome
shaped altitude marker, your prayer will come true. One of the people in our
tour group was able to do it. I hope she made a big wish!
Our next stop was the Angkha nature
trail a rainforest boardwalk with mossy trees and a lot of birds singing.
It is also the source of water for all rivers in Thailand.
Our last stop before lunch was the
Sirithan Waterfall. The royal family visited the falls in Thai year 2545. Their
calendar begins 500 year before ours with the death of Buddha. This is the year 2561 according to the Thai calendar.
The waterfall was beautiful but there
were a ton of mosquitoes at the viewpoint, so we didn't spend a lot of time
there.
Our lunch spot was right outside
Wachirathan Waterfall. The food was authentic thai, but ‘mo pet’ less spicy.
Our last stop was a village of Karan
white people. They fled Myanmar due to war and have assimilated into Thailand
culture learning their language, yet maintaining their culture.
The tribe of 300 people works
primarily growing coffee and manufacturing textiles. During the rainy season
they also grow rice.
Women spend approximately a week
creating a scarf from 100% cotton yarn in a variety of colors. They only charge 250 BTH (approx $8) for all of their work and materials.
The village received electricity eight
years ago, and because of it they now have television, cell phones, lights,
fans and a huge satellite dish.
Their homes are built on stilts. The
raised floors protect the home owners from floods, snakes and other wild
animals.
It was humbling to see the condition
these people live in, yet I know how that there are many people who are in
refugee camps away from home because of war.
