Exploring Thailand: Beyond Bangkok to Spiritual Chiang Mai
Who wouldn't be charmed by Thailand, with all its temples glinting with gold, its tranquil beaches and gleaming islands, tangle-headed markets, pulsating cities, rural peace, and above all, great food? The choice between Bangkok and Chiang Mai was not easy, so we opted to see both.
Bangkok provided us with more than just a glance away from the beaten track. With Michai guiding us, we wandered around residential streets and alleys, getting a feel for how people live. In the blacksmith and goldsmith neighborhoods, shops overflowed with giant Buddha statues and religious artifacts that would supply temples and private collectors. We wandered through Bangkok's Little India, a bustling enclave filled with shops touting textiles, spices, electronics, and more. Chinatown socked it to us with gold jewelry shops, Chinese herbs, and busy eateries lining Yaowarat Road.
Certainly, one of the highlights was the Wat Traimit in Chinatown, which is also known as the Temple of the Golden Buddha. This lovely temple houses the 5.5-ton solid gold Buddha statue dating from the Sukhothai dynasty. Having beheld the view of such resplendence with the Buddha enshrined under a golden pagoda was indeed mesmerizing.
Our travels then took us to some unconventional markets. This included the Mae Klong Railway Market in Samut Songkhram Province, famously known for stalls set up along active railway tracks. It was really something watching the traders' express retractions of umbrellas and awnings every time trains passed through. At Amphawa Floating Market, the energy from locals pounding the streets for street food and dining by the canals was a culinary journey that put our senses on merry mode.
Chiang Mai, the "Rose of the North," blew its cultural heritage to charm us. Once the ancient capital of the Lanna Kingdom, it is now vying for UNESCO distinction as Creative City. Constructed around the Ping River, believed to be guarded by mythical dragons, Chiang Mai is replete with stunning Lanna architecture and very lively artistic expressions.
Its spiritual heart is the temples, the best known being Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, perched on a mountain overlooking Chiang Mai. This site was founded in 1383 and commands great panoramic views with serene surroundings for contemplation. At Doi Inthanon National Park—Thailand's highest peak—we trekked through cloud forests and made stops at small shrines in honor of the royal family.
Another enlightening temple in Chiang Mai had to be the Wat Phra Singh, an epitome of beautiful Lanna workmanship. Despite being so ornate, gilded roofs and pagodas, intricate murals, the artistry spoke volumes to attest to the artistic legacy left behind in this region. In between these great architectural works sat monks in their saffron robes, meditating peaceably, adding serenity to the atmosphere of the temples.
In Bangkok and Chiang Mai, what we chanced upon was a tapestry of culture, spirituality, and natural beauty that makes up a Thailand so singular as to turn one's journey into a memory of tradition blended with modernity and serenity with vibrancy.
