Chiang Mai - Part 1

After a 6-hour journey on the comfortable express train including meals, we arrived safely in Chiang Mai on Sunday. At the train station, we shared a so-called Songthaew with some other tourists (from Israel, Italy, France, Netherlands, and Norway), which is a type of shared taxi with a fixed route, and checked in to our accommodation just south of the Old City. There is always a big night market on Sundays with stands partly right next to beautiful temples. Jana bought a pair of pants here and we enjoyed some delicious food once again.

The next day was all about exploring the city. We let ourselves wander and walked from temple to temple, discovering many other beautiful spots. Among other things, a man from Phuket approached us, who is currently on vacation here, and explained that there are over 400 temples in Chiang Mai, all of which are very old. He also said something very true: "Cheap and good quality - is nothing in the world", and he's right... except for Thai food, which is super delicious and can be found on every street corner for a small amount of money ;-)

The next day, it was time for us to visit a scooter rental for the first time. With Philip as the brave driver in the urban jungle and Jana as the brave navigator, we set out on the Monk's Trail. Just outside the city, we headed directly into the greenery. Our first stop was Wat Pha Lat, a meditation center in the middle of the jungle. It was beautiful there, with the waterfall trickling and a strong sense of connection with nature. By chance, we overheard a young monk in conversation with two visitors and joined in. He answered questions about Buddhism and his life. He has been living as a monk since he was 11 years old, now for 15 years. "If you are too active, if you live too fast, you can't control your monkey mind", which makes you think. His views and stories were very interesting, and in the end, he blessed us and wished us a life full of peace and happiness. It was a touching and unforgettable encounter. Afterward, we continued on to Doi Suthep, a temple at 1600m, also in the middle of the greenery. After a tough climb, we were rewarded with a large, golden, beautiful temple. It was much busier here, as you have a great view of Chiang Mai. As it was just before sunset, we quickly made our way back, sometimes accompanied by a friendly dog, and we arrived back at the scooter while it was still light. As a treat, we indulged in a delicious pizza in the Old City, and to end the day, we went to the laundromat with our laundry in hand.

We will stay in Chiang Mai until Saturday, a second blog post will follow :-)