A Trip to Chiang Mai

We recently spent a week vacationing in Chiang Mai, Thailand’s second-largest city, which is located in the northern part of the country. Some very good Thai friends of ours, Fong and Kaew (pictured below), accompanied us on the first part of the trip and did an outstanding job of navigating us around the city.

The key attraction in Chiang Mai at the moment is a huge floral exposition in honor of the king. We spent most of one day touring the expo with Fong and Kaew.

The umbrellas that you see are to ward off the baking hot sun, not rain.

This group of Thais in colorful costumes were part of a cultural show.

We did so much walking during our visit to Chiang Mai that, when we visited some nearby hot springs...

a soak in warm water followed by a foot massage was much needed and appreciated.

We also enjoyed shopping at the night bazaar...

visiting a crafts center where artisans produce hand-painted umbrellas...

and having a delicious Sukiyaki meal (our first), which you cook at your own table in boiling water, somewhat in the style of fondue. Fong and Kaew guided us through this new experience.

Later in the week, after Fong and Kaew had returned to Bangkok, Doris and I took a trip up Doi Suthip, a mountain overlooking Chiang Mai. There’s a temple at the summit...

where we took pictures of, among other things, monks taking pictures with their digital cameras. I don’t know why this strikes me as odd—it just does.

I’m told that the rows of bells outside the temple are rung by visiting Thai Buddhists in the belief that the pealing sound will grow and spread the individual’s fame and success.

We did our part to contribute to the health of the Chiang Mai economy by buying a carload of souvenirs, including a miniature, carved teak elephant (about two feet tall), a painting, a textile wall hanging, painted umbrellas, a marble vase and marble bird bath, a floor lamp, etc.

For our trip home, we just barely were able to squeeze all of our purchases into our Mazda van, pictured below with our latest (and hopefully now permanent) driver, Khun Akachai.