Morning
Today’s hefty programme – and indeed the next couple of days as well – got off to a good start with an inclusive breakfast at the hotel. This was provided in a modern and attractive dining room.
Following the usual ablutions, we were ready to embark on a fairly intensive day of sightseeing in this new destination. Chiang Mai City itself is home to around 127,000 people, but this soars to to 1.2 million if the wider urban area is included. The Old Town is walled and contains multiple Buddhist temples.
Smaller temples
Our morning agenda involved entering the walled city via the Tha Phae Gate and proceeding westwards along Rachnadamnoen Road until we reached one of the largest sites, Wat Phra Singh. While walking along this road, we called in at two smaller temples, Wat Muen Lan and Wat Tung Yu.
Wat Phra Singh
Our final morning objective was to visit Wat Phra Singh, which dates from 1345. It contains the much revered Phra Singh Buddha.
Afternoon: Wat Chedi Luang
After all that activity, our next priority was a light lunch. (We didn’t need much after being generously fuelled up by the hotel breakfast.) The sole afternoon objective was another substantial site: Wat Chedi Luang. This dates from the 14th century, although it wasn’t completed until the mid-15th. My understanding is that a chedi is a Buddhist monument on a raised platform, similar to a stupa.
A well deserved beer stop was then made on our way back to the hotel. There, after all our exertions, it was good to relax in air-conditioned comfort for a bit, until time for our final foray of the day.
Evening: Another Night Market
As the late-afternoon air was still warm, we resumed proceedings by topping up on lubrication at Orion Bar, a friendly LGBT venue just the shortest of strolls from Le Méridien. That done, we headed for Katam Corner, the southeast corner of the city walls with its rather imposing fortification, and continued westwards for another ten minutes to reach Chiang Mai Gate Market, which took its name from the nearby entry point to the walled city. A familiar selection of tasty treats awaited us at this new venue!
