After checking into our hotel, I took Lindso and Adrianne on a forced march to see the best wats in a city of a hundred wats. Ok, so it was 92 degrees, with high humidity, and the traffic was thick with fumes. Soon I had a mutiny on my hands.
Songthaew ride down from Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. This wat is on top of a 3000ft hill a few miles outside town. The twisty switchback ride up got Lindso carsick. She just barely held on till we stopped at the top and then hurled out the back of the truck.
Lindso at the bottom of the 300 steps.
Inside the Wat. Lindso still recovering outside.
Girls in traditional garb dancing to music
Ubiquitous picture of King and Queen Bhumibol 
Wat Chedi Luang was built in 1441. This wat has bells all around the exterior; for a small donation you can ring each of them for good luck.
Novice monks resting
The lone surviving elephant on Chedi Luang
A split second after I released two tiny sparrows from their wicker prison. All over Asia you see people offering the chance to set free birds they have captured for a dollar or two. I'm sure these birds are either very easy to catch, or are trained to come back to their owners. Still, it's a cool feeling to set free birds that are clearly very eager to escape their little cage.
Wat Phra Singh was built in 1385. We really enjoyed this wat. It has a peaceful shaded garden behind the old Wat with benches and tables where one can sit and reflect upon the Buddhist quotes that are posted on the trees. We walked among the trees and read the quotes while monks came and went from their nearby monastery. It was a great refuge from the hot sun.
A concept that must be believed for any serious distance runner.
Words to live by.
It's all mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.
A great sign for a poor but dignified country. Can someone post this one on Wall Street?
Wat Chiang Man is the oldest wat in Chiang Mai, allegedly built in 1296.
I enjoyed my short time in Chiang Mai, and would have liked to see more of it. It is a big city, lots of traffic and noise, much bigger than I expected. Starbucks was right next to our hotel. The night market was excellent. Lots of bargains, good food, and good music.
Wat Phra Singh was built in 1385. We really enjoyed this wat. It has a peaceful shaded garden behind the old Wat with benches and tables where one can sit and reflect upon the Buddhist quotes that are posted on the trees. We walked among the trees and read the quotes while monks came and went from their nearby monastery. It was a great refuge from the hot sun.
A concept that must be believed for any serious distance runner.
Words to live by.
It's all mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.
A great sign for a poor but dignified country. Can someone post this one on Wall Street? 
Wat Chiang Man is the oldest wat in Chiang Mai, allegedly built in 1296.
I enjoyed my short time in Chiang Mai, and would have liked to see more of it. It is a big city, lots of traffic and noise, much bigger than I expected. Starbucks was right next to our hotel. The night market was excellent. Lots of bargains, good food, and good music.In the afternoon I jumped in a red songthaew and headed for the airport and on to Laos.
