Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai

Golden Buddhas

I know I know...I've been lagging in my posting..am trying and doing very very hard to keep up before the next trip next month......grrrRRRrrrrrr....

While we were in Chiang Mai, JS and his family golfed every day from sun rise till sun set *Oh well almost, u know I'm a drama and exaggerate Queen* That leaves us the non-golfers free and easy leisure time...woohoooo...so apart from shopping and exploring this city, we whacked bowls after bowls of noodles, have all the snacks and street food we wanted and Massage + Spa all we want. What a bliss~~~~

Monkey read that this temple on the mountain of Doi Suthep is a must visit for its view. Located about 15 km from the city, on a clear day u can actually see it from the hotel. As the sun shines on its golden chedi reflecting the glimmering golden glare to ur eyes. It's so sacred and beautiful that it made me so so so drawn to it.

so one morning, our driver was at the lobby greeting Ms. Monkey as usual. He speaks no english and I speak no Thai.
"Doi Suthep.....u know go to the Wat...I don't know what Wat...but that WAT on top of Doi Suthep!!!"
Wat = Temple in thai
Driver looked at me with a puzzled face *_*"

soon our gigantic vehicle was climbing the mountain and Monkey knew she wasn't taken for a ride to somewhere unknown...this got to be the way to Wat Phrathat.


When we arrived....oh my holy gawd...we have to climb this???
anyway if u are lazy there's a funicular which u can ride all the way up to save some leg work. But u gotta purchase ticket to ride it.


Multi heads scary face snakes or some mythical reptile at the base of the stairs
GAH!!! Don't eat me!!!!! I'm just a Monkey

oh wait...u guys were being eaten too huh?
hahahhahahaha


On the way up, there was a doggi begging for money
ohhhh ouch!!! how did they train the dog to sit here all day to beg??????
:"((


When we arrived, the first time we saw was this Golden Chedi
really stunning!!!
this was the very same Chedi that reflects sunlight everyday

built in 1383 by King Nu Naone of the Lanna Kingdom, the location was selected when the White Elephant used to carry a piece of a very very special relic with magical powers climbed up to this mountain, the white elephant stood on this spot, trumpeted 3x times before collapsing and died.

hmmmm wat a bedtime story hahahaha. Anyway this was the legend written all over including wikipedia.

This must be the mutli-head-snakes-eaten-by-bigger-snakes' mother....
Hello Auntie....do u know ur lil kids are being eaten by a dragon down there?


From the top u sure can see the whole city of Chiang Mai


and the Chiang Mai Airport

Monkey ran to these rows of huge thick heavy brass bells and started Ker-tong Ker-tong Ker-Tong
:P
from left to right.....right to left
top bottom and so on
to the disapproval parents with kids who wanted to do the same too
heeeeeeeeeeee sorry I'm such a bad influence.

Think we spent about an hour here mesmerizing the calmness of this place
and the beautiful views :)))))

On our descend, we saw these cute lil gals....
I felt like pinching their cheeks
hehehehehe
U wanna follow me home? *evil grin*

 There were stalls selling local fruits such as baby green apples, Wild strawberries the size of raspberry and bigger ones...it's so cheap.

 Freshly squeezed local oranges juice was everywhere for RM 2 a bottle.

Yummy fried quail eggs to be eaten with fish sauce and white pepper....wow these looked so good and cute.
bite size...yummy!!!!

deep fried local bananas with fragrant pandan leaves
it is quite normal to find sesame seed in their fried bananas. Just elevate the toastie notes.

If u are thirsty after all these yummy food, get some local passion fruit juice..
oh yummsss!!!

Our descend took so long....bcoz there were just so many distractions!!!!
FOOD!!!!
our driver was -_-"
hehehehehe
sorry Mr. Driver that we took so long just to visit a small temple. He must be wondering if we made offerings to every single Buddha up there. hehehehe...More like we made pit stop at every single stall that sells food.:P

Okie Mr. Driver...now next destination....u know khao soi? KHAO. SOI.
bring us to the best Khao Soi...the one that you will go to.
Kao Jai Ma???
he then nodded his head....but before that we need to go and pick the men up fr the golf course.
hehehehehe