DOI SUTHEP

Doi Suthep
There are many Temples in Chiang Mai, but none is more highly revered or more beautiful than Doi Suthep.

Doi Suthep is a mountain, about 15 kilometers from Chiang Mai, and on it stands Wat Prathat Doi Suthep, a Holy Buddhist Temple. Every Temple with a name starting with Wat Prathat contains Buddha relics and therefore is considered most Holy to Buddhists.

It 's easily reached by red bus, the first will take you to the base of the mountain next to Chiang Mai zoo. Here you will find a shrine and if you walk to the back of this area you will find a park and waterfalls and a very good restaurant with views of the Falls.

From here you can take a second red bus that will wind it's way up the mountain and deliver you at the entrance to the temple. Now you have 2 choices, you can either walk the 300 or so steps to the top or there are 2 cable cars for the less adventurous. Foreigners are charged an entrance fee.

Once you reach the top you will enter the outer area with small shrines, beautiful flowers and a view point that let's you see the whole of Chiang Mai, and the basin it sits in, stretching for miles in front of you.

In front of you there are steps leading up to the inner temple area and you MUST remove your shoes before entering this area. Here you will find murals, shops to buy a bell that you can dedicate with a message and hang at various points. Within this area you will find a hall where you can get a blessing from a monk. After the blessing you will receive a string bracelet that should be worn til it falls off. If you are male the monk will tie this onto your right wrist, if your female an official will perform this task, as women cannot have physical contact with monks under any circumstance, and it will be tied to your left wrist. When entering the hall for the blessing this should be done whilst kneeling making sure your head is not higher than that of a monk or Buddha image and to leave the room stay knelling and back out keeping your head facing the monk. If you are unsure then watch the locals do it and you will know how to do it in the correct manner.

There is a box to leave a donation here and at many points in the the temple and the money goes to the upkeep of this most precious of Temples.

http://picasaweb.google.com/GARETHANGEL/DoiSuthep

John Cooley's Birthday Party

As much as Mistress Glitter kiss only celebrates a birthday once every 4 years, due to being a leap year baby, we were not fooled, he looks nothing like 17.75 years old. Joerg at To Nobody German restaurant on Tewan Changpuek rd held an amazing Mississippi BBQ, and the food and the beer flowed till we poured ourselves out of the restaurant. We all wish John a very happy birthday. The dogs even got a doggy bag thanks and scoffed the lot in seconds. Check out the pictures we even got Steve once or twice, an achievement in it's self. Oh that beer has gone to my head so time for BED.

The next day update! If anyone can remember more than me please inform me and i will post it, like how i got home would be interesting.

http://picasaweb.google.com/GARETHANGEL/JohnCooleySBirthday

Nawaree

Monday 6th March 207

Great news for those of us who live in or near Nakornping (actually for anyone in CNX who loves Thai food).

Nawaree Thai Restaurant has re-opened after a few weeks holiday. They have a new menu. Along with the wonderful fried chicken and fried shrimp (Becky says the shrimp are the best in Thailand), they have added some interesting new items. (Take a look at the attachment.)

We have had a couple of dinner parties there this past week. The food is simply the best Thai food in CNX. This is not your usual preparation. The staff is very creative and come up with some interesting variations on old standards - like stir fried chicken with cashew nuts; always a favorite of mine - never had better.

If you wonder why I am trying to promote Nawaree, it is simply because it's great having a really good place right under my window. Really good place for dinner parties.

Give it a try. I think you'll like it.

John Cooley

Makha Bucha Day Saturday 4th March 2007

Makha Bucha Day marks 4 events that took place during Buddha's lifetime:* 1250 Buddhist monks from different places came to pay homage to Buddha, each of his own initiative and without prior notification or appointment.* All of them were enlightened monks.* All of them had been individually ordained by Buddha himself.* They assembled on the full moon day of the third lunar month.On Makha Bucha Day Thai people go to their local temple in the morning to make merit, listen to sermons and also to take part in a candle-lit procession around the chapel. However, judging by the number of people in the shopping malls and restaurants it seems that going to the local temple isn't as important as it was in the past. Most bars will be closed this Saturday.

Royal Flora Chiang Mai

2006 brought the 60th Anniversary of His Majesty The Kings accession to the throne.

The celebrations were numerous, and in Chiang Mai it was especially marked with the Royal Flora exhibition.

On the outskirts of the city a once barren and desolate area has been transformed into the most stunning of gardens with around 2,500,0000 plants and trees.

Many exhibits demonstrate the many projects supported by HM The King to develop the quality of the Thai peoples lives. These are numerous and cover many aspects of life from fuel to farming. Many countries contributed to the event, building exhibits portraying a typical garden from their homeland.

For a more in depth view of this project visit http://www.royalfloraexpo.com/ where there is a wealth of information, plans of the site and glorious pictures.

http://picasaweb.google.com/GARETHANGEL/RoyalFlora2006

Loi Krathong

Colorful Water – Loi krathong Great Festival
“Loi Krathong” is traditionally performed on the full moon night of the twelfth lunar month, which usually falls on some day in November. The floating of a ‘Krathong' – a banana–leaf cup – is intended to float away ill fortune as well as to express apologies to Khongkha or Ganga, the River Goddess. Some believe that the ritual is meant to worship the Buddha's footprint on the bank of the Narmada River, while others say that it is to pay respect to Phra Uppakhut, one of the Lord Buddha's great disciples.
The Loi Krathong Festival is celebrated nationwide in Thailand, especially where there are rivers, canals or sources of water, with different unique characteristics.

It really is one of prettiest festivals in the world.

The Lakes Rivers and even the moat in Chiang Mai are used to launch the Krathong's and the skies are ablaze with paper lanterns that raise like hot air balloons often with firecrackers set underneath and ignite when high in the sky.

In the streets you will find carnival style processions, floats of flowers and Thai people and tourists alike enjoying this most popular of festivals. Fireworks fill the air and the city is adorned with floral exhibits.

Certainly NOT TO BE MISSED

Last year i spent it at River Ping Palace ( see food glorious food) and Khun Esther provided a great buffet and plenty of Krathongs and Balloons for all to enjoy. I had my Father and friends of the family Howard & Heather here which made it extra special.

http://picasaweb.google.com/GARETHANGEL/LoiKrathong2006

Rude behaviour

In Thailand there are a few Do's and Dont's. The beginning may seem boring but it gets better.

Never point at images of the Royal Family or Buddha.

Always respect your elders even if your 70 and they are older, and those in high official positions.

Always remove your shoes before entering someones home or a Temple, even some local village shops, now you know why so many people wear flip flops!

Never point with your feet or sit with your feet pointing at people, and never never never at an image of Buddha, they are considered the worst, most dirty part of the body. Strange how there are so many places to get a foot massage.

Never touch males on the head, it is considered the height of rudeness as this is akin to stealing their positive energy, especially in children.

Keep yourself covered up apart from on the beach, cities are not the place for topless men (or women) never enter a temple in shorts or sleeveless tops.

Do not be affectionate in public, really not the thing to do.

When using a tooth pick cover your mouth.

However it is not frowned upon to pick your nose or blow snot onto the street. Told you it got better.