Thailand - My Chiang Mai Life

Lamphun is about 24 miles south of Chiang Mai. Lamphun is one of Thailand's oldest continuously occupied towns. It was founded in 660 by Queen Chama Devi, the daughter of the King of Luovo (now known as Lopburi). It wasn't until 1281 that the city finally came under the influence of the Lanna Kingdom founded by King Mengrai, who made Chiang Mai its capital.

Loy Kratong Festival - On the full moon night of the twelfth lunar month, the tide in the rivers is highest and the moon at its brightest. The Thai people choose this day to hold the 'Loy Kratong' festival, or the 'festival of light.' Loy Kratong is one of the two most recognized festivals in the country. Loy Kratong is probably the most picturesque and beautiful of all Thai celebrations. 'Loy' literally means 'to float,' while 'kratong' refers to the lotus-shaped receptacle which can float on the water. Originally, the kratong was made of banana leaves or the layers of the trunk of a banana tree or a spider lily plant. A kratong contains food, betel nuts, flowers, joss sticks, candle and coins. The making of a kratong is much more creative these days as many more materials are available. The Loy Kratong ritual is a simple one. One needs only to light the candles and the joss sticks, make one's wishes and let it float away with the current o...

Pics of Charlie and Jonathan my house Eleuthera. Lobster Dinner at Karen's Where's "NEMO"? and Singapore Airport......

Some pics of Doi Inthanon on 3 September. Very cool at top of mountain as in the rain clouds.... There is a Temple Complex almost at the top of the mountain with 2 temples, complete with escalators to get to the top of temple, and a nice garden area. Pictures of the last waterfall look out of focus due to all the mist in the air from falls.

14 Aug -- I spent the day exploring the Mae Sa Waterfalls and Queen Sirikit Botanic Gardens. The Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden in Chiang Mai is one of the most beautiful botanical gardens in the whole of Thailand. The location of the Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden, situated in the foothills of the Doi Suthep – Pui National Park, is simply stunning with the forest lined mountains providing the perfect background for botanical gardens. Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden was opened in 1993 for the study, conservation and research of Thai flora. In 1994, H.M.Queen Sirikit gave the royal permission for the garden to be named after her. The waterfalls - 10 in all - are all reachable by trails that wander through the jungle. Very cool walk even on a hot day. Wawee Coffee shop on the way to the waterfalls. Wawee is the name of a Thai mountain where coffee is grown. Coffee Shop - Art Gallery - and gift shops all in a scenic mountain seat...