A few more wats and some rain

It's raining!!  And a very welcome rain it is for me and more so for the locals. They've been in a drought for years and had another poor monsoon this year so this is very welcome.  And it's cooled things off nicely.  It's been unseasonably warm they say, lower 30s and I've been struggling with it. 

Wats are so photogenic.  It's hard to stop clicking away.  But, according to Wikipedia, there are some 40,717 in Thailand so I'll try to restrain myself from showing you too many.  Yesterday and the day before I visited a few more.  

Wat Chedi Luang, the old, crumbling stupa of which can be seen from my balcony, was originally constructed in 1401 and was damaged and not renovated after the earthquake of 1545.  The wat lay in ruins until 1991-92 when it was reconstructed.  

                      Suan Dok Temple, "flower garden temple".  
The sight of these brilliant white mausoleums caught my eye as I was cycling around exploring

The large 48 meter high bell shaped chedi - built in a Sri Lankan style - can be seen from far.  

In the main sermon hall is a large, gold Buddha.

 I sat in there for a long time, cooling off, meditating (these places are conducive to that, this whole country is).  After a while, as I attempted to take a selfie (I know, I know), a young monk came over and asked if I'd like him to take the picture.  He did and then used the opportunity to engage me in a discussion about Buddhism.  I guess you could say it was a pitch and, yes, it was one I'm receptive to.  He couldn't have been more than 16 and spoke halting English but was very intent.  

The other sights around that temple were quite arresting.

Yesterday I cycled the several kilometers to the university where I caught a songthaew (covered pick-up trucks have that have two long bench seats in the back (songthaew means "two rows" in Thai), and travel fixed routes picking up passengers en route who are going the same way) for the ride up Doi Suthep.  You have to wait for a minimum number of passengers to show up before the driver will go.  As I waited, a young, friendly Chinese woman struck up a conversation with me in good English.  She worked for a stock trading company and was studying English.  This was interesting in that, for the most part, Chinese tourists have not endeared themselves to the Thais, or any other southeast Asian people, as they come in increasing numbers and often lack cultural sensitivity.  In any case, she defied the stereotype, at least to me, and was very nice and helpful, taking me under her wing when we arrived at the temple and showing me the way to:

Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep

The quintessential image of Chiang Mai with its large gold-plated chedi, visible from the city on a clear day, 

Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep is 18 km from town, sitting at a 1,073 m elevation on the slopes of Doi (Mount) Suthep. Built in 1383 during the Lanna Thai period, legend has it that the temple's site was selected by an elephant sent to roam the mountain side, where upon reaching a suitable spot, it trumpeted, circled three times, knelt down and promptly died, which was interpreted as a sign indicating an auspicious site.  

300 stairs lead up to the wat and the place was thronged.  Hard to really enjoy the beauty with so many people but it was beautiful.

 Kids ready for photos in their hill tribe garb

 Temple roofers

Later that day, a trip to the summit.  Stay tuned...............