Chiang Mai

Last full day of my Thailand tour. To start our day, we took a short tour of Chiang Mai. The city has many beautiful canals.

Wat Suan Dok

Our first stop was at Wat Suan Dok.

Cable Car Ride to Wat Phrathad Doi Suthep–Movie

We next drove up a mountain and then took a cable car (or stairs if you wanted) to get to the top of the mountain to Wat Phrathad Doi Suthep. This movie is of the cable car ride up.

Wat Phrathad Doi Suthep

The temple at the top. I have put my photos of Wat Suan Dok and Wat Phrathad Doi Suthep, temples that are linked by a 14th–century legend,  on a slide show. Go directly to

http://www.peggysphotos.com/chiang–mai–two–temples/

(Slide Shows, Asia, Thailand–2, “Chiang Mai: Two Temples”).

Orchid & Jade Factory

After visiting Wat Phrathad Doi Suthep, we walked down the hill to go to the Orchid & Jade Factory, where we were given a tour of the factory and shopping time.

Back in Chiang Mai

Sandy and I had a late lunch at Le Bistrot. I had the warm ham and cheese sandwich again. The Night Market was closed down. It would not open again until about 5 p.m. I had time to complete my packing as we would be flying back to Bangkok tomorrow.

On the Way to Dinner

We drove out of the city to the countryside for dinner. I saw this Hug statue on the way there.

Farewell Dinner

We were to have our farewell dinner at a custom–built traditional Thai teak house.

Farewell Dinner

After dinner, lanterns were lit and then released to fly in the sky.

I have put my photos of the day on a slide show. Go directly to

http://www.peggysphotos.com/chiang–mai–day–15/

(Slide Shows, Asia, Thailand–2, “Chiang Mai: Day 15”).

Lights in the Sky–Movie

A movie of the lanterns going higher and higher in the sky. Instant UFOs!

Flying from Chiang Mai to Bangkok

Our whole tour group flew from Chiang Mai back to Bangkok but half of us were going fly from Bangkok straight to Siem Reap, Cambodia, to see the Angkor temples, and the other half were staying in Bangkok. I had been to the Angkor temples two years ago so I would be staying in Bangkok. Photo: sign at the Chiang Mai airport––Buddhism praying, straight ahead; Muslim praying, also straight ahead.

Bangkok

Nu went with the group going to Cambodia. Our group was met by a new tour guide. Nu told us that we would be going back to our hotel via tut tuts as the protesters were causing traffic problems. However, a bus met us at the airport and we didn’t get another thrill ride in a tut tut.

Our new tour guide told us what areas we should avoid if we went out this afternoon. It had been nice to have been away from Bangkok and the protests for a time but now you had to think about them again.

Bangkok

Back in my hotel room. I ate lunch and dinner at the hotel and used the time in between to nap. I had a long trip flying home later that night.

I am glad that Gate 1 didn’t cancel the Thailand tour because of the political situation here, which is still going on. The situation did reduce the number of tourists in Thailand (Japan actually canceled all tours to Thailand while we were on our tour), making tourist sites less crowded for us. We also made out with the weather as it wasn’t too hot and it wasn’t humid as it usually is as Thailand was having a cold winter. And as Nu said more than once: “It was a great time to be in Thailand, as you didn’t know what was going to happen next.” Nu was a great tour guide and I really enjoyed having him show us Thailand.

Bangkok

At the Bangkok airport awaiting my flight to London.

London

At Heathrow Airport, awaiting my flight to Los Angeles. First thing at Heathrow, a big breakfast, actually an American–style one––so good.

London

I also had time to shop at Harrods at Heathrow. The new terminal at Heathrow was extremely nice––at least I say “new,” as none of the Heathrow terminals I’ve been in before has been as nice as this one was.

Last stop, Los Angeles, and perfectly beautiful weather. A great trip.