Chiang Mai, Thailand --- 28 Nov to 2 Dec 2005
Upon arrival at the Chiang Mai railway station we took a shared pickup truck to the Galare Guest
House.  We had stayed there on a previous visit to Chiang Mai and from home we had made reservations
over the internet at a rate of 1050 baht (about US$26) per night.  The Galare is on the scenic banks of
the Ping River, has a nice garden, a restaurant, and is a convenient walk to the Night Bazaar, the railway
station, a public market, a modern supermarket, several tourist attractions, and easy access to public
transportation.  Being at the end of a short narrow lane helps keep things quiet.   Our room, one flight
up, was comfortable and had a small refrigerator.
Garden of the Galare Guest House, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Galare Guest House, hidden behind the trees, viewed from the
opposite side of the Ping River, Chiang Mai, Thailand
After checking into the Galare we took a short neighborhood walk and then had brunch at the Galare's
restaurant overlooking the Ping River.  We than spent the afternoon resting from our 36-hour trip
from home to Chiang Mai.
During our first evening we walked through Chiang Mai's famous Night Bazaar, which from previous
trips we remembered as specializing in selling at low prices fake designer-branded clothing.  On this
trip we found few garments bearing famous brands, and the quality was generally poor.  We saw
nothing we wanted to buy.
After the Night Bazaar we walked to the adjacent Anusarian Night Market, consisting of a large open
plaza surrounded on all sides by restaurants.  Serving meals to diners sitting at tables in the plaza.   I
had pad Thai, Virginia had fried rice with pork, and we shared a bottle of Singh beer before walking
back to the Galare Guest House
The following day we walked over the Nawarat
Bridge (shown to the right) located on the other
side from of the Ping River from our guest house,
then downstream a few hundred meters to the
Tourist Authority of Thailand (TAT) where a very
helpful employee provided us with maps and tourist
brochures, as well as suggestions on how to get to
some of the tourist attractions.
In the late afternoon I went to the nearby Warorod Market and bought two immersion heaters (which
we use to heat water for instant coffee or tea).  Those heaters were to replace on which earlier today
had shorted out and had blown a fuse, darkening our room and possibly others.  The fuse was promptly
replaced by the guest house staff.
From the TAT office we walked to the nearby modern upscale Rim Ping Supermarket and bought
bread, milk, a papaya, a packed leaf salad, peanut butter, orange marmalade, Chang beer, water, etc.   
When we stay in the same place several days we like to have some food in the room for the occasions
when we do not feel like going to a restaurant for meals.   Around 2:00pm we went back to the
Anusarian Night Market for lunch, but the restaurants were not yet open, so we walked back to the
Galare Guest House, snacked on our supermarket goodies, and took a siesta.
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep offered a magnificent birds eye view of Chiang Mai.   The wat's complex
has a huge golden chedi (religious monument) visible for miles around and includes many sacred
sculptures, shrines, and monastic buildings.  The many pilgrims and monks added to the scene.  It is a
place well worth visiting, but which we had missed on our previous visits to Chiang Mai.
The next day we went on an excursion to Doi Suthep, a mountain peak about 15 km from Chiang Mai.  
At the top of that peak is Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, one of Thailand's most sacred temples; about
four kilometers beyond the temple is Phra Tamnak hu Phing, a winter palace of the Thai royal family.  
  On the way to Doi Suthep we decided to visit the Chiang Mai  Zoo, where we saw some interesting
statuary as well as some camels, giraffes, tapirs, tigers, leopards, and ostriches.   After seeing the
Zoo we arranged with a taxi to take us up Doi Suthep to the Wat, wait an hour while we visited the
Wat, then drive us another 4km  to the Royal Summer Palace and wait an hour for us there, after
which he would drive us back to our guest house;  all for 450 baht (US$11).
Some of the religious structures at Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.
Giant Stupa at Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.
The stairway to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.
Above is a shrine at Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.  Wife prepares
an offering while husband is on the cell phone.
Golden Buddhas at Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.
The interior of the Royal Summer Palace on Doi Suthep was not open to visitors but we enjoyed viewing
the exterior of the Palace and related buildings and walking through the beautiful botanical gardens of
the Palace.
A garden walk at the Royal Summer Palace.
Facade of the Thai Royal Summer Palace
While in Chiang Mai we also visited the Chiang Mai Arts & Cultural Center, located in the former
Provincial Hall.  Excellent historical displays, multi-language audio presentations, many on-demand videos,
well-made dioramas, etc.   On that day we also went to the Central Department Shopping Center; very
much like a major American shopping center.
Another interesting Chiang Mai visit was to Wat Phra Singh, containing Chiang Mai's most revered
Buddha sculpture.  There we also saw the surrounding buildings including a large chedi (Stupas), chapels
monastery facilities, monks, a religious ceremony, etc.
Men's religious ceremony.
Novice monks learning their lessons.
In center of photo is the Jade Buddha at Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.