Old City and Chinatown

We take it easy for a couple of days. On Thursday we tuk-tuk into the Old City in the afternoon to spend the Chiang Mai Historical Center and Lanna Folk Life Museum.

When we are done we walk to Wat Chiang Man, the oldest temple in the city dating back to 1296. In the Wat is Chang Lom Chedi or Elephant Chedi which sits on a square base supporting a second level of grey stone that is surrounded by 16 elephants that seem to emerge from it. On top sits the gilded upper part of the chedi.

​After the Wat the tuk-tuk we take back to the condo must be 40 years old - what it lacks in speed is made up by the daring of it’s driver.

​On Friday afternoon we tuk-tuk to Wararot Market, the bustling center of Chinatown. Tomorrow is Chinese New Year and I’m sure it will be packed with people. Today it is just busy with a combination of locals and tourists. We walk through the market observing the stalls filled with merchandise. There’s some scary looking mannequins and stores filled to the brim with yarn in between all the clothing and housewares.

Oh, and the food vendors! With this much meat on a stick we just have to try a little - William has chicken and I have pork. Mmmm. No, no, we do not partake of “dare foods”, such as the fried beetles or worms. As we are leaving William sees one of his favorite signs - No public littering, pissing or pooping!

​We haven’t been to a wat in almost 24 hours, so it seems a requirement that we make our way to Wat Upakhut. Unfortunately it is undergoing extensive renovations. Next on our trek is Masjid Hidayatul Islam Banhaw, which is a Chinese mosque with modern Islamic architecture. We can see much of the mosque from our balcony - actually a better view than what we have from it’s base.
 
After a late lunch we return to the condo. William chills out in front of the TV while I head up to the 16th floor and plunge into the chilly pool. Both feel very good.