Chiang Mai
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Wat Phra That Doi Sutep (comely known as Doi Sutep) is one of the most famous temples ("wat"=temple) in Thailand.  Everyone told me that anyone who goes to Chiang Mai and didn't see Doi Sutep was not really been there so I thought that I had better go...
It was really very beautiful.  There were many gold buddhas there and not a few monks handing out blessings.  I got a piece of good luck string to wear around my wrist that was good for 3 days from a really old monk who also sprinkled a rather generous amount of holy water on my head.... 
The first of many gold Buddhas that I would see in Thailand.  Each one of them was donated by people from all across Thailand (and as I found out after looking at the plaques...from all over the world). 
Wat Pa Daeng is the oldest wat in Chiang Mai.  At each entrance is a golden Buddha facing one of the 4 cardinal directions.  On the ledge below the wat itself were the figures of elephants...most of which over the years crumbled off.  (Note the long rope going to the top of the temple...on it is a container to bring down rain water.  A lot of it spills out on the way down so take care you aren't walking underneath it when someone is pulling on the rope!!!)
These stone chedis are behind Wat Suan Dok.  They contain the ashes of the Royal Families of the old Lanna Kingdom.  There is a Monastery nearby so you can see lots of monks walking around in saffron robes...I also discovered that in any Wat in Thailand there are lots of dogs running around.  (Doi Sutep was the only exception I can think of...and a few in Bangkok).
This is also at Wat Suan Dok...the Buddha is from the old Lanna Kingdom and it is made of pure gold.
into the jungle
thailand
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