leolejon in asia: Chiang Mai 3:d day

What to do this day? I rented a moto and took of. I wanted to see the surroundings of Chiang Mai and the book was hight lightning Doi Sethup-Pui National Park with Wat Phra That Doi West of the old city.

First I went thru newer parts of Chiang Mai and I passed the University and then it started to go up and up and up in nice serpentines. Almost 2000 m.a.s and I stopped some times before reaching the Wat. There was no doubt that I was at the right place. So many tuk tuk and minibuses etc told me - this was it! I parked the Moto and walked to the starting Point.

This place was established 1383 under King Kru Naone and has a mystical birth story. A visiting monk instructed the Lanna King to establish a temple with the twin of a miraculous Buddha relic. The relic was mounted on a white elephant, which wandered the mountain until it died at this spot, interpreted as the chosen location!

The temple is reached by a stenuous 306-step staircase and the climb is intendent as an act of meditation. It was more then worth going the stairs. The only thing was the hord of tourists. On the top there was a fantastic view of the city but the setting of this Wat and all the Temples, stupa etc was breath taking. The white elephant was there of course. I walked around and took a lot of photos, lighted two candles and when seen the most I walked down again and I had a wonderful cup of Latte, made in a small stall where I parked the Moto.

Going down felt easier then going up and soon I was down. I saw all those colorful things on the other side and decided to find out what it was. It was a book fair but combined with the University - lots of people. I finally came back and parked the Moto for the day.

I met this nice couple from Vancouver and we had a Long chat about travelling.

I walked out again and I was heading for the Flower and Food market down by the river. Very nice and beautiful Flower decorations and I always love Food markets. ( You shouldn't think about how they treat the meat or fish when eating it.)

I walked to the nice restaurant from Yesterday and had a nice dinner. I walked back with a feeling that I had seen what I wanted in Chiang Mai.

Tomorrow will be a whole day on the train and in the evening I'll meet Peter from Malmö and Sweden and we'll spend some days together.