After I spent entirely too long at the first temple, we decided to try to find the horse and buggy rides in downtown Lampang, because that is one of the things Lampang is known for. We did see a bridge with a horse and buggy motif, but did not see a single live horse or buggy. Since it was getting late, we moved on to the next temple.
Wat Phrathat Doi Phra Chan is situated on a peaceful mountaintop called Doi Phra Chan over looking Amphoe Mae Tha.
We learned at the end of our time here, there were 643 steps to the top of this one, but we took the truck up instead of the steps. Praise all Buddhas ever made for the truck to the top.
There was really quite a lot to see here, but you must pay attention or you would miss half of it. Or, I suppose, if you come up the stairs, you would see everything in the right order, but the truck drops you off in the back.
The eye catcher – at the back – is a giant Buddha sitting on top… you guessed it, another staircase.
It was a very traditional buddha, and one that I hope some of the pictures turn out. I might frame some if they did. But beyond the big guy, there was, as so often is, another area with lots of little things. Including a STICKY! Statue.
Lots of sales booths along the path, none of them sold STICKY! statues.
I must have one now that I know they are mass produced. Internet, here I come…
Eventually, when you walked past the lines of golden buddhas, past a patio with more statues of odd and curious things, and are considering if you want to walk around the next wooden temple… walk around it. There is a gate with the breathtaking view of the city and area below.
This is also the point where the stairs from the bottom arrive, if you were brave enough to take the stairs. I am told they are an easy climb, not super high steps and there are many interesting things along the way. We could go down them if we so desired.
Hell to the no.
But the view was breathtaking. We took the road and truck down the mountain, but not before encountering 5 dogs at the top. I think I only got pictures of 3 of them, but where we have encountered enough random street doggos on this trip, you see them one or two at a time. Here there were 5.
I am not complaining. I like the doggos.
After we made our way down the mountain, we had more to see. We must go see the crystal buddha, it is worth seeing.
I was tired and done, but we went, and I will admit, the guardians outside the temple were worth the short walk. Giant blue guys with wings. I stopped, I took a picture.
Many, actually.
And the crystal Buddha was also very impressive, but more impressive were the warriors surrounding it. Different weapons, different poses. Very hard to photograph in mass because of the lighting, which I believe was intentional, but that is my photographer mind grumbling.
As a display, absent taking pictures of it, it was a very impressive display.
Although we only saw 2 temples, everyone was tired and it was after 4, so it was time to head back to Chiang Mai.
On the road between the cities, the speed limit is 80 km /hr. There are frequent elephant crossing signs, and we travel at least partly around Doi Sai them national park.
I am still not good with this driving style. This is nuts. I might be good on the left side, but the fact they are going anywhere between 60 and 120 km is nerve racking. There is no consistency.
On the way between Chiang Mai and Lampang is the elephant hospital. So that is the reason for the elephant warning signs, but it is not a warning that they are going to cross the road in my opinion. The shape of the sign is different, and there are other things on the same signs, Like no horns.
So, I think the noises upset the elephants, which may cause stampede. I have no idea, but the cow crossing signs are different than the elephant crossing signs.
We stopped for fuel on the way back, and I noted on several signs, there are 6 kinds of fuel here. This station only had 3, and not the right kind, so we got a little and moved toward the next station.
I was told to call it Petrol instead of gas or fuel, because that is the word they use here. Our driver had no idea what we were was being discussed, and when explained, he said he always called it gas.
Technically, it is fuel in my mind, because I do not know what kind of fuel he puts in his car, and since we have both diesel and gasoline engines in our fleet at home, I must be specific or general if I do not know.
But all of that is irrelevant and my tired mind wandering. Our next step was dinner, and when asked what I wanted to eat, I said I would like to eat in at least one restaurant in Thailand. Everywhere we have eaten has been street food. Vietnam and Laos I also ate street food or, very little to be honest because my stomach was upset.
But the point was valid in my mind. Could we please go somewhere where we sit down, are served food, and dinner is not staring at me from a bucket or stripped naked and hanging on a cart.
Okay, yes. I am tired and being snarky. Shocker.
So we went to an American style Burger and Shake restaurant, called Rock-me-Burger, where we sat down and ate Thai version of hamburgers and shakes. I bought dinner in an effort to be less snarky, and to admit that it was more money than others wanted or perhaps had to spend.
I forget, since I am traveling through, these woman are doing this now. They are living day to day as nomads, in affordable parts of the world and conserving their resources while experiencing life.
It is an entirely different world than I know, or will ever know, no matter how much I travel. Simply because I will (at least at this moment in my life I believe) always go back home.
Anyway, it was a sobering thought I was too tired to dissect. Might give it more thought later. Probably not.
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