K A N T O K E P A L A C E
S H O W
On our last night in Chiang Mai we went to this restaurant where some classic thai music+dance show are performed on stage.
M A E S A E L E P H A N T
C A M P
On our way to Chiang Mai from Chiang Rai in 2008, we stopped by this Elephant camp. Elephants are there breeded in a free environment.
They're also taught to be tourist friendly for taking photos etc, including letting you sit on their knee or even let you wear their hat.
N I G H T S A F A R I
In 2008 we went to visit the Night Safari outside the city, where you're driven on a bus to watch animals from the distance living in a mostly
natural and open environment (for what they can afford in such a park).
T I G E R K I N G D O M
On our first day in Chiang Mai, under my request we went to see the Tiger Kingdom, a tiger-only zoo (or almost, as you will notice) where the tigers are
grown up accustomed to humans and can enjoy some freedom outside their cages - although the environment looks a bit less "natural" than in the Tiger Temple in Kanchanaburi
region (visited in Dec 2008) with more fences and artificial "facilities" for the tigers.
W A T C H E D I L U A N G
This temple is famous for its big and most celebrated chedi, built in 1441. Unfortunately at the time of our visit, the chedi was not visible because of renovation
works. Anyway, we took another chance to see a beautiful temple - once host of the Emerald Buddha now kept in the Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok - and the colorful banners
of the Song Kran days.
W A T C H I A N G M A N
According to many archaeologists, the Wat Chiang Man temple is the most ancient temple in the city. Once you are there, it's difficult to believe though, goven the richness of colors and cleanness of the whole white, green and gold area.
W A T P H A N O H N
One of the - who knows how many are there? - hidden golden jewel temples we walked in by chance. The sky was my friend.
W A T P H A N T A O
The Wat Phan Tao, the first temple we visited, is a very beautiful temple entirely built in teak.
Far from the luster and gorgeous colors of Wat Chiang Man, Wat Phra Doi Suthep and Wat Phra Singh, the Wat Phan Tao is nevertheless considered one of the best hidden treasures in Chiang Mai and it catches your eyes and feelings with a more spiritual - and yet magnificent - environment, thanks to its wooden structure which gives you a better feeling of ancientness than a stone/painted wall would do.
M I S C E L L A N E O U S
Various photos taken around the city. That includes the Three Kings monument and the nice hotel resort in which we stayed one night in April 2008.
W A T P H R A T A T
D O I S U T H E P
The Wat Phratat Doi Suthep temple is located on the Doi Suthep mountain, 15 Km east from the city. It is one of the 2-3 top touristic spots in Chiang Mai, due to its suggestive location - from which you can enjoy a view of the whole city - and the wonderful golden chedi located at the center. It is nevertheless considered one of the most sacred sites by Thai people themselves, and we were there when ceremonies and prayers took place.
W A T P H R A S I N G H
The Wat Phra Singh is the most visited temple in Chiang Mai city. That's also because it hosts the Phra Singh (Lion Buddha) statue, the most celebrated statue in the city.
As for Doi Suthep, the weather was my friend when taking photos, and we witnessed a curious way of celebrating the Song Kran in the religious sense (see photos).
W A T U M O N G
M A H A T E R A C H A N
A small treasure temple we bumped into by chance, while walking from Wat Phan Ohn to Wat Chiang Man. It hosts a very old, charming chedi and an interesting buddha statue which expression is in a sort of "half-a-smile". Depending on your mood, it may show you either sadness, or happiness.
