The White Elephant

On Friday,  we visited the Hmong mountain village tribe overlooking Chiang Mai.  The gardens were great, many crafts were for sale and there were some interesting sights.  We bought some beautiful silver and jade bracelets along with several very elaborate  Hmong traditional hats.

We then toured Chiang Mai’s most auspicious gold temple called Wat Pratat Doi Suthep (aka the White Elephant Temple) high on a mountain overlooking the city.  Legend has it that Chiang Mai was not prospering after a king had designated it as a special place.  As a result, he sent his white elephant to roam the area alone for 7 days to designate the location of a temple so that the residents might be blessed.  On the 7th day after climbing the mountain, the elephant turned around 7 times and died.  The resulting temple is sheathed in gold.  Chiang Mai residents, after visiting the temple, were then blessed and subsequently became very prosperous.

We enjoyed a truly local Thai dinner with low tables on this second floor restaurant.  The restaurant signage was only in Thai and we were clearly the only foreigners dining there.  There was no floor underneath the tables so you dangled your feet.  Our young waitress (with no English skills) handed us the menus, immediately sat on the floor & didn’t get up until we ordered everything we needed (She upsold us to 4 dishes). The meal was spicy and great ($15 including beers!)

Garden at mountain tribe village
Garden at the Hmong  mountain tribe village
Chair at mountain village
Chair at mountain village
Carved chair head
Carved chair head
Interesting fruit
Interesting fruit (very airy with small hair-like spikes).  It is considered the “male fruit”
White Elephant temple
White Elephant temple
One of many Buddhas
One of many Buddhas

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White Elephant Temple
White Elephant Temple

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Naga (protective dragon)
Naga (protective dragon).  This one was called  called “mom”
Great wood carving
Great wood carving produced by the Chinese
Naga & Friends
Naga & Friends
Dangling Feet at the local restaurant
Dangling Feet at the local restaurant
Fish over wood burning stove on our table
Fish over wood burning stove on our table

 

 

One thought on “The White Elephant”

  1. Wow, we are so impressed with your blog! We almost feel like we are there with you. What a wonderful time you must be having, thanks for taking the time to share it with us all!!
    xoxo, Paula and Skip

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