Chiang Mai based tour guide, and
now my good friend, Phil picked me up from my place of accommodation one
morning and drove me to Wat Ket Karam by the River Ping. According to a stone
inscription at this temple, it was built by King Sam Fang Kaen in the fifteenth
century. The Wat Ket Karam pagoda is worshipped by people who were born in the
year of the dog according to the Chinese zodiac system. The pagoda contains
Lord Buddha’s clothes and strands of hair, which he left behind when he joined
monkhood. It also contains one of his teeth.
The other attraction within the
temple premises is the Wat Ket Karam Museum, which was established in 1999.
This museum preserves the valuable items of the Wat Ket Karam community. The first
hall displays items from the community, including a shrine of Buddha images in
Myanmar style, household objects and Lanna musical instruments. Most of the
household objects are pottery items, placed on a wooden shelf and exhibited in
a manner in which they were used in the past. The second hall contains items
including a large ceremonial cloth displayed on shelves inside a glass cabinet,
books, religious items, glassware, bowls and contemporary items such as fans,
ceiling boards and water pumps. It also features a display of old pictures,
images of Buddha, a traditional Burmese fan, some works of Lanna literature,
wooden, stone and cement figures of Hindu Gods, ancient weighing scales and an
old gramophone record. There are displays of a dragon flag, ancient clothes and
traditional clothes, presented in cabinets of hung around the walls.
After spending a good hour looking
around the temple and the museum premises, we crossed the Nakornping Bridge and
walked over to the Warorot Market, or Kad
Luang, as it is known locally. This is the biggest and oldest local market
in Chiang Mai, the place to visit if one is looking for local products. The
market offers almost everything ranging from food, clothing and jewelry. I had
been here eight years ago, but what I hadn’t realized then was that the market
was spread out over several blocks. Phil gave me a proper tour of the market,
and because I thought it was so good, I went back there in my free time later
for several more visits. This market offers a delightful local shopping experience.
It is clean and well-maintained. The vendors are friendly and polite. The
stalls are literally uncountable and the market could get busy. It is not to be
missed when one is visiting Chiang Mai.
After our visit to the Warorot
Market, we hired a tricycle rickshaw for a short ride to the other side of the
river. It was time for lunch. They say that you have not been to Chiang Mai if
you haven’t had a bowl of khao soy (northern
Thai egg noodle curry) and visited Doi Suthep. So what was I waiting for? A
bowl of khao soy at a local
restaurant!
After lunch, we drove to the Tha
Pae Gate, which is a famous city landmark. It holds a historical significance,
standing as the remains of the old city’s fortified wall. Located on the
eastern wall, it dates back to the year 1296, but the present-day Tha Pae Gate
was rebuilt in 1985-86. It is a great resting area in the afternoon heat. It
offers a beautiful view of the canal and the fountains. There are also great
shops, restaurants and local markets in the vicinity. Tha Pae Gate is a good
place to visit especially on Sunday evenings, when a walking street night
market is organized along the Ratchadamnoen Road, starting from the Tha Pae
Gate, with roads closed to traffic. I have been to the walking street night market
twice and enjoyed myself both times. Also, this is the biggest walking street
night market I have seen so far, busy and with so much to see and buy.
After a cup of coffee in the Tha
Phae neighborhood, we ended the day tour, but having lived in Chiang Mai for
almost two months, I have gathered plenty of local experience, and one of this
is using rot daeng, or red taxi, for
local travel. I have used the red taxi several times to travel to the city
center and Doi Suthep. It’s a very inexpensive (and local) way to travel around
Chiang Mai. It could be a bit time consuming, though, as drivers wait for
passengers to fill the car to capacity.
Chiang Mai has a lot to offer, and
in one day there is only so much that one can cover. I am grateful to LJ Biz for
organizing the day trip for me with the major Chiang Mai attractions packaged
for me in a localized manner. Thank you!
Since 2004 , thousands of happy guests
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