Southerners in Singapore: Virkler/Horton Family Adventure

From Siem Reap we took a plane to Chiang Mai, Thailand (via a quick layover in Bangkok). Chiang Mai definitely seem a much more development city with a more organized city center and streets that weren't quite as chaotic. Our hotel, Yaang Come Village, was in the middle of the city and was a pretty setting.

Our first morning in Chiang Mai we headed out with our guide to visit a famous Hindu temple, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. This is a very holy site for the Thai people and is visited by thousands and thousands of people each year. According to legend, a monk had a dream where he was told to find a relic in a place called Pang Cha. Upon waking he went looking for this relic and found a bone that many claimed was Buddha's shoulder bone. He took the relic to the King where it broke into two pieces. The larger of the two pieces was placed by the king on the back of a white elephant which was then released into the jungle. The elephant apparently climbed up the mountain (Doi Suthep), stopped at a spot, trumpeted three times and then dropped dead. This was interpreted as an omen (not sure I would have thought it was a good omen!) so the king proclaimed that this temple be built on that spot.

Suffice it to say that you have to climb a lot of stairs - 309 to be exact - to get to this temple (we were offered a tram ride up but we turned it down, much to Papa's chagrin). The temple and other buildings are very ornate and gold and copper plated. A very interesting looking place with amazing views. The day of our visit was also a national holiday where thousands of Thai people come to Chiang Mai to visit this temple - yes, clearly not the best day to be tourist. We were definitely in big crowds but very cool to see.

Starting the climb

At the top (legs covered of course)

The whole family trying to get in one pictures without anyone walking in front of it!

Ringing the bell (for wealth!)

After leaving the temple, we were tempted by these tasty roadside treats but decided to pass them up in hopes of finding a Diet Coke further down the road. Typical Americans.

Fried grasshopers

Fried silkworms

So many fried bug options!

From this temple we headed to the Chiang Mai zoo for an afternoon of entertainment. Suffice it to say that this is unlike any zoo in the US - simply because there were no rules, no one making sure you were safe or that the animals were safe either. To say we were up close and person with the animals in some instances would be an understatement. But it certainly made for some fun photos!