So here’s the geography lesson you’ll need to understand this day.
The Old City of Chiang Mai had a wall build around it with a moat at its base. It sits squarely with walls that run north, south, east and west. Each wall has a single gate, except the south wall which has two, which, historically was the only way to enter the city. And apparently each gate was for a specific purpose or population. I’m thinking the wall was build in 1300’s. What has been kept up are the gates and the corners.
Martha lives outside the South Wall a few blocks further south. So we started our day by going up to the South Gate.
The market over the moat west of the easternmost South gate. (Okay, think of a square and think it through geographically--you can do it!)
Approaching the easternmost South gate.
Thanks for Leslie B. for a lesson is taking photos of signs! Much appreciated.
The Gate House.
The moat is still there!
So then we walked down along the south side of the city...
No railings to keep you from falling into the moat. I suppose if you fell in, someone would fish you out and you’d go home ashamed of yourself...not looking to sue the city!
Scattered throughout the city are these old wats (temples) whose dynasties have come and gone. They are not active temples, but kept out of respect.
For all my fireman folks...we walked by this city fire station. I can’t say this for 100% sure, but while much of the city is filled with color...pinks, purples, blues of all shades, the city services buildings--fire, post office, police, etc--seem to be white, which really makes them stand out.
As we approached the other gate on the South Wall, I could see a good example of something you see all over the city...
...Spirit houses. I haven’t looked them up, but Martha thinks they are maybe animism, where you are showing reverence for the spirits of all living things by bringing offerings--pretty flowers and incense--are what I’ve noticed.
The other western most gate on the South Wall.
Walking west along the wall of the gate.
Walked past this construction site.
While I’m not sure of the actual government model currently, Thailand has a very well respected monarchy. The King was the longest ruling living monarch until he died 8 weeks ago or so. We missed the 30 days of mourning, but the country will stay in mourning officially for a year. This black and white bunting is everywhere along with lots of pictures of the King. This was at entrance to a public park.
Here we’re approaching the South-West corner of the wall with its battlements from inside the city. If you’re seeing way more wall pictures than you want to, blame it on Cyrus. I’m sure I didn’t take enough to suit him!
This drops straight down to the moat...I’m on the outside of the city now.
And around Ku Ruang Corner...
...and now we’re headed north.
The history of the name.
We had discussed all the possible destinations we might attempt on our Old City exploration the night before and Martha had carefully planned out our route...where we would walk and where we would take the songthaew-the red trucks. Next on our list was the Akha Ama Coffee Shop...a mountain village socially responsible, etc. enterprise we’re happy to support. I don’t mean to sound trite..you know what I mean. We took a shortcut toward the area we could pick up a songthaew by walking through the park we had passed earlier.
As we walked through the park, all along the edges was all sorts of exercise equipment and folks taking advantage of it. If you were working out on this and not facing the street...
...this was your view. Very restful!
Our path took us by another of these ancient wats.
The old wat was beside this small currently in use temple.
Somebody make sure Andrew sees this photo! It’s here just for him. These two dragon-wolf type statues guard the doors to the temple. I thought they were pretty cool.
Everything about the temples is gilded with gold or silver and colorful trims.
Out in the temple gardens were some great banana trees. Of course, just like there are varieties of peaches, there are varieties of bananas. I thought this was so neat...as each petal of that pointy flower type thing opens the rows of bananas emerge underneath it...
...each individual banana with it’s own blossom, of course.
And then just across the path was a completely different variety that grow curling upward.
We got to the main street were the red songthaews run. Martha flagged one over, asked if they would take us to the corner by the coffeeshop? Yes, they would. We hopped on(remember two of us are 60+, so I say hopping a little tongue in cheek) and off we went. See the windows along the bed of the truck, and the back door opening. No door. Hold on tight! B20 for a ride north.
Our goal was this coffee shop...an industry of a mountain socially ethical way of growing and marketing coffee.
Cherith, I thought of you...when Martha’s Thai tea came!
We met some friends of Martha’s originally from Australia, “retiring” here in Thailand and had good soup with crunchy noodles on top--Khao Soi--pronounced cow soy.
Martha and her friends.
Next on our list was the London Tea House! Yes, right there in Chiang Mai! So into a songthaew we went.
The view out the open back.
Part 2 coming up when I have more time.
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