maggies_lens (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
maggies_lens) wrote2010-08-14 09:33 pm
maggies_lens) wrote2010-08-14 09:33 pm
Entry tags:
- chiang mai,
- me,
- photos,
- thailand,
- video
Exploring Chiang Mai
I woke up needing to MOVE!!! C&M were being lazy so I gave them a little time to see if they'd perk up. Went outside on the balcony (as opposed to, you know, inside on the balcony) and saw a SWEEEEEET little grey and white squirrel! He was going ballistic, playing on the rooftops, wires and stealing food off the little Shrines. I tried TRIED to get vid but nooooo, the G9 fogged up, DIDN'T IT!!! ARRRGH! :D C&M were still being lazy tarts and I couldn't stand it any more so I took off alone. That's right, ALONE! OMG alone in a strange city in a foreign land! What ever will happen to our hero now! You'll just have to click the cut and find out, in the next exciting installment of... THE NATURE NERD IN THAILAND!!!!
This just doesn't sound right to me from a Buddhist perspective, somehow, ya know? :P
When you are alone here, ppl GRAB you. I was walking past a Wat, on a mission to find something else, when this GUY just jumps out and was all over me. *rolls eyes* Basically they try to get you to go to some place they think is MUCH better than where you WANT to go because they will get kickbacks. Grrrr. I managed to walk off and ducked into the Wat to seek a bit of sanctuary. It was only a little Wat but it was VERY beautiful. I stayed a while. I think I really like Buddhism. I really do.
the statue within the little Wat.
Down the side.
So I walked along after I got away from Mr Evil and had a good old explore. I was aiming for the 3 Kings Monument. Found the rd it was on and was walking along when I saw a large gate way ahead. I glanced in, expecting to see the usual Wat. What I saw made me literally pause and gasp.
This is Wat Chedi Luang. It was built in the 15th century. Part of it toppled in an earthquake in 1545. They started rebuilding it but gave up half way through. I have NFI why. They did fix up a fair bit tho. This was the home of the Emerald Buddha for 80years before it was taken to BKK. It's just beautiful in there. There is a horrible hawker in there who tries tio sell you birds to release. They are caught very cruely, there are signs put there by the monks to warn you not to buy them.
see?
the East side, with a replica of the Emerald Buddha.
me :) I ran into C&M here!!! We thought that was quite funny :) We stayed together after that :)
Little ginger kitty :)
there is a moat around it, filled with tadpoles and these HUGE blue dragonflies I wasn't able to shoot no matter how hard I tried.
so beautiful
Oh look, I found my Mother in Law's FAMILY!!!! LOL! Funny coz this is actually where they are from :P
Farkin' Thailand, everything EVERYTHING is so BRIGHT! GAH! :D Anywhere else this would look garish, here it just looks awesome. :)
My lunch. I am eating SO well here. Have NO desire for any type of junk food although i do enjoy Poky sticks :) Tanya, Madz and Shar, you guys would LOVE this place, there are dedicated veggie restaurants. And there is usually at least 5-9 veggie dishes in the places that serve meat anyway. AND VEGAN! Aroi mak mak, girls!!!
Eventually found the monument. This is it. Seriously. This it IT. :P
I love these signs. This is right on the cnr to our leading Soi. I'm not sure what a bath 'tab' is, nor am I sure how one receives a massage via wireless :D
MCDONALDS DELIVERS HERE!!!!!! And they have pineapple hot pies. Oh yummo!
Tomorrow morning we take off the Elephant Nature Park! That is a rescue and rehab for the elephants of Thailand. We won't be back til the next afternoon. I can not wait. This is what I have been hanging out for the most, even more than the tigers :)
Must find banana man shortly...:)
That is the first little Wat
That's Wat Chedi Luang
This just doesn't sound right to me from a Buddhist perspective, somehow, ya know? :P
When you are alone here, ppl GRAB you. I was walking past a Wat, on a mission to find something else, when this GUY just jumps out and was all over me. *rolls eyes* Basically they try to get you to go to some place they think is MUCH better than where you WANT to go because they will get kickbacks. Grrrr. I managed to walk off and ducked into the Wat to seek a bit of sanctuary. It was only a little Wat but it was VERY beautiful. I stayed a while. I think I really like Buddhism. I really do.
the statue within the little Wat.
Down the side.
So I walked along after I got away from Mr Evil and had a good old explore. I was aiming for the 3 Kings Monument. Found the rd it was on and was walking along when I saw a large gate way ahead. I glanced in, expecting to see the usual Wat. What I saw made me literally pause and gasp.
This is Wat Chedi Luang. It was built in the 15th century. Part of it toppled in an earthquake in 1545. They started rebuilding it but gave up half way through. I have NFI why. They did fix up a fair bit tho. This was the home of the Emerald Buddha for 80years before it was taken to BKK. It's just beautiful in there. There is a horrible hawker in there who tries tio sell you birds to release. They are caught very cruely, there are signs put there by the monks to warn you not to buy them.
see?
the East side, with a replica of the Emerald Buddha.
me :) I ran into C&M here!!! We thought that was quite funny :) We stayed together after that :)
Little ginger kitty :)
there is a moat around it, filled with tadpoles and these HUGE blue dragonflies I wasn't able to shoot no matter how hard I tried.
so beautiful
Oh look, I found my Mother in Law's FAMILY!!!! LOL! Funny coz this is actually where they are from :P
Farkin' Thailand, everything EVERYTHING is so BRIGHT! GAH! :D Anywhere else this would look garish, here it just looks awesome. :)
My lunch. I am eating SO well here. Have NO desire for any type of junk food although i do enjoy Poky sticks :) Tanya, Madz and Shar, you guys would LOVE this place, there are dedicated veggie restaurants. And there is usually at least 5-9 veggie dishes in the places that serve meat anyway. AND VEGAN! Aroi mak mak, girls!!!
Eventually found the monument. This is it. Seriously. This it IT. :P
I love these signs. This is right on the cnr to our leading Soi. I'm not sure what a bath 'tab' is, nor am I sure how one receives a massage via wireless :D
MCDONALDS DELIVERS HERE!!!!!! And they have pineapple hot pies. Oh yummo!
Tomorrow morning we take off the Elephant Nature Park! That is a rescue and rehab for the elephants of Thailand. We won't be back til the next afternoon. I can not wait. This is what I have been hanging out for the most, even more than the tigers :)
Must find banana man shortly...:)
That is the first little Wat
That's Wat Chedi Luang