Today was our second full day in Chiang Mai and everyone appears to be settling into the city easily. Compared with the hustle and bustle of Bangkok, we are noticing that the air is a little clearer, the streets are little quieter and life moves at a slightly slower pace in the north. We took advantage of a gorgeous (yet hot!) morning to travel up into the mountains for a visit at the Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep Rajvoravihara temple. The temple sits high above the city, providing breathtaking views for us to enjoy. The journey to the peak consisted of a windy and steep road that tested our drivers’ abilities and the our stomachs’ tolerance. Then, we began the 300+ step journey to the top, all of us huffing and puffing heavily by the time the statues were in sight. Once we began investigating the temple, we realized the journey was well worth the effort.
The detail and beauty of the many statues are hard to capture through photography but hopefully readers can understand how spectacular the site is by way of the few picture I was able to snap today. The view itself was incredible. Perched above the city, we felt like we were floating in the clouds as we gazed out at the buildings and forest far below. Inside the temples, we were pleased to find monks who were blessing visitors with sacred waters under the eyes of a golden Buddha. After being blessed, they tied a small, white string around each of our wrists that holds the good luck and prosperity bestowed upon us from the encounter. Hopefully the good fortune will carry with all of us into the next year as we begin our new careers in pharmacy!
We spent the afternoon visiting unique shops throughout the city selling items like umbrellas, silk, lacquer, and gems. The day concluded with a casual dinner near the hotel where we were able to deftly navigate the Thai menu courtesy of our recently acquired skills from cooking class. Looking forward to all the new opportunities this city holds for us this week!
Kob Khun Ka!
Kayla Harris
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