our trip: thailand temples

Our first full day in Chiang Mai began with some temple tours.  Temples ("wats") seem to be everywhere in Thailand, with each being beautiful and unique in its own way.  One thing I wanted to be cognizant of on the trip was to engage in things I couldn't do anywhere else - eat foods of that country in local restaurants, see attractions like the temples, and try to comprehend how everyday life is in each country.  The temples were at the top of my "to do" list!  T

First stop - Wat Phan On.  Built in 1501.  Seriously.  A few people were setting up a farmer's market outside of the temple, so we checked it out quickly.  The walls were lined with bells, and the welcome breeze blew the bells and flags.  This is the chedi, and the actual temple building (viharn) was behind us.  

 

 

On our way to the next temple, we saw this restaurant decorated for Chinese New Year.  Stunning!

Wat Phan Tao.  This simple temple was constructed of dark teak wood - much different from the lavish gold and white-painted temples we saw.  It was built at the end of the 14th century.

Next door is Wat Chedi Luang.  This is the first temple we had to pay to enter (I think it was about $1 per person) and consisted of multiple buildings within the temple complex.  Locals don't have to pay an entrance fee, as all of the temples we visited are still in use daily for worship.

That's just the gate!

                                     

I cracked up when I encountered the first temple - I wasn't allowed in!  Men only, as you can see below.  In unity, the hubs didn't go in either.

More signs warning that women weren't allowed, in case you missed the giant red sign out front!

This temple is the original in this complex.  You can't climb the steps or go in, but you can stand outside it and stare in awe, which is what we did.

We wandered into a different temple, and found the monks chanting and singing!  I noticed a monk standing in front of me (in the photo below, to the left, in maroon), so I became very apprehensive about taking photos.  There are so many rules when it comes to the temples, and rightly so, because they are places of worship.  You can't: show your knees or shoulders, wear shoes, point your feet towards Buddha while sitting, say or do anything disrespectful towards to monarchy (including stepping on money since the king's portrait is on the money), point at Buddhas or pictures of the monarchy, and more I'm sure.

We were getting templed out at this point, but wanted to see a couple more.  Next step - Wat Inthakhin Sadue Muang, translates to "temple of the navel of the city."  It was erected in 1296, when the city of Chiang Mai was founded.  This isn't the temple's original location - it was moved there much later.

Finally, as my feet were getting sore and the blister on my fourth toe was increasing in size, we decided to make one more stop - the Three Kings Monument.  The statutes are situated in a plaza, and when we walked by we saw people leaving oranges at the alter.

Next door to our hotel was the Wat Dokkham, so we figured we should go ahead and check it out.  From our balcony, we had seen the monks wandering the grounds, and visitors taking photos.

This little statute is the epitome of Thailand - smiling, friendly, inviting.  More adventures in foods, markets, elephants, and one more temple to come!