We decided on the tour of the Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep Rajvoravihara. This is the pre-eminent Buddhist Temple in Chiang-Mai. Perched high on the secret peak of Doi Suthep, the temple is a grand example of traditional Thai architecture. According to legend, holy relics discovered by a holy monk were given to the reigning King Kuena (1355-1385). The king gave one relic to the main temple in Chiang-Mai and placed the other relic in a howdah on the back of a sacred white elephant, which carried it to the area where Wat Phrathat now stands. On reaching this area, the elephant dropped dead beneath a sacred Boda tree due to fatigue from the long journey. The King knew this to be sacred ground and built the first temple there. The present complex dates from the sixteenth century and has been expanded several times over the years. There are three hundred and six steps, bordered by a Naga balustrade, which leads up to the temple which has beautifully decorated buildings and a Lanna-style Chedi covered with engraved gold plates, flanked by four ornamental umbrellas.
Russell tests the gong - hmmm, softer than the gong in MAN buses!
The statue of the Venerable Monk Kruba Srivichai who was responsible for building the road to the Wat
The Golden Pagoda
Lidy with her "sleeping Buddha"
Russell with his meditating Buddha
Russell sets the birds free...
Lidy endures the hard sell
Thai restaurant for luncheon - Lidy and Nonny
Silk worms at the silk factory
Silk cocoons
Boiling the cocoons to extract the silk
Weaving by hand, Thai style
Lidy enduring the double hard sell...Walking Street
Later that evening, we went to "Walking Street". An area of Chiang-Mai that is closed on Sundays for the purpose of holding a five kilometre long bazaar.
As is usual: Russell, head and shoulders above the crowd.
Lidy enduring the hard sell... Again!
No, I can't take it any longer: I must buy it all!
The best coffee on "Walking Street"!!!
Visitors
1 comment:
Hooray, I have found a moment to read your blog! Mum, you look fantastic! Dad, you look like you have a uniform on :) Great, fun blog - keep up the good work! Love from Crystal xo
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