Chiang Mai 

We packed up and got our driver to drive us the 3.5 hours to Chiang Mai, and the ride was mostly under construction and dusty, but we ran into a really cool little hot spring (Mae Khachan Hot Spring) on the way with a mini geyser. 

Yes, the water was coming right from the ground, and we were invited to rest and soak our feet for a little while. The water was hotter near the source. Hotter as in too hot and more comfy away, and it was sulfuric. Nice and stinky but my favorite. 

We made it to Chiang Mai along with about a million other tourists, from backpackers to older people like us. The streets were filled, but thinned out as the weekend passed.

Back to the Wats, just a few interesting pictures.

Wat Chedi Luang sits right in the middle of Chiang Mai’s old city. The massive brick chedi has been standing here since the 14th century, since it was once the capital of the Lanna Kingdom.

Here, Kerry bought some gold leaf and is applying it to her Buddha of her birth year. Most of the Buddhas in this Wat were covered with gold leaf purchased by the patrons. 

And now a couple for my Mexican Friends

Wat Mok Molee 

This one is one of Chiang Mai’s older, less-hyped temples, and that’s what makes it appealing. It sits just outside the old city walls with a large brick chedi that dates back to the 15th century and once held the ashes of Lanna royalty. This was my favorite Wat in Chiang Mai. 

These are Mae Chi, similar in nature to a sister in a Catholic church. They are not ordained, but have duties around the Wat. In this case, they are doing a practice that develops focus and mindfulness. 

WhWhat Kerry and I realized is that in all of these Wats there are about a million ways to donate money to the Wat, just like lighting candles in churches. Below you will find one of the more unique ways I have seen yet. Look closely, basically there is a vessel filled with holy water being pulled to the top of a ledge on the Wat and the rope is adjusted so that the water spills/blesses the Wat and maybe makes your luck more likely to happen. 

Another night market

One thing I would like to capture that was funny to us: Marijuana is legal at the moment in Thailand. In the night market, they do not allow smoking of any kind nor drinking. Every once in a while, the police warning would come over the speaker, thanking the foreigners for being there and reminding them that weed and drinking are not legal. " If you are smoking the weed or drinking the alcohol, please stop now." I love Thailand!! 

And another band. This one is an alternative band, and because the Wat was hosting the party, people could drink the alcohol, but probably not smoke the weed. Sounds familiar to me when thinking about church festivals. The band that was playing was Klee Bho. 

On our way to Luang Prabang, Laos!!