Today we went to Doi Suthep temple (Wat Prathat Doi Suthep), the most famous temple in the northern part of Thailand. The locals would say that if you come to Chiang Mai and you don't go to Doi Suthep temple then you haven't really come to Chiang Mai.
Map napping at Doi Suthep temple
Map was napping when we arrived. We didn't take 309 steps to go up to the temple - the tram was much faster and more convenient with the sleeping baby in tow. After 10 minutes though, Map woke up and started to namaste ("wai" in Thai, or "show respect" in English) all the buddha statues around her. She knew that she had to namaste the buddha because we had big buddha paintings at home.
Map showing respect to buddha statues
Then Map joined in the procession to walk around the stupa 3 times to pay respect to the buddha.
The procession to walk 3 times around the stupa
Map taking milk break
Map finished the visit to the temple by lighting candles, burning incenses, praying and offering lotus flowers.
After Doi Suthep temple, we went to Doi Pui (Pui mountain). Doi Pui was famous for Meo or Hmong hill tribe village. The Hmong hill tribe village was pretty much now a big bazaar selling all kinds of handicrafts to tourists. Map went to the hill tribe museum and visited the flower garden and waterfall. Here at Doi Pui, daddy discovered the ancient-style black coffee for which Doi Pui was famous. Daddy had three cups of black coffee in a period of 2 hours because the coffee was so good.
At Doi Pui
Giant ants at Doi Pui
After Doi Pui, Map dropped by a small coffee shop along the way to see the view of Doi Inthanon (Inthanon mountain) which was the highest mountain in Thailand.
View of Doi Inthanon from the coffee shop
It turned out that this coffee shop was run by agricultural researchers of Kasetsart University. One of the researcher was Mr. Wett. Mr. Wett really liked Map and took a picture of Map to post on the coffee shop's wall.
Map's picture now on the coffee shop's wall
Map enjoying herself in the coffee shop
Map being serenade by Mr. Wett with the song "Take Me Home Country Roads"
We finished the day by visiting Phuping palace which was the winter palace for the Thai King. However, the King hadn't come here in the last 10 years, so the grounds of the palace were no longer as pretty as before. Mommy came here more than 15 years ago and remembered that it was much more beautiful back then. Now only the members of the royal families like the Queen or the youngest princess or the daughter of the crown prince came to Phuping palace. Normally tourists (mostly Thai tourists) came to see the blooming flowers here especially in the winter. Chiang Mai was famous for beautiful flowers in the winter and Phuping used to be the place to come to view the flowers. However, we were disappointed by the state of the upkeep at the palace - guess it was because the King hadn't come here for some time.
Family photo at Phuping palace
Giant bamboo at Phuping palace
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