May 30,

Up and about by 0630; had our Javas and breakfast of Muesli and yogurt; then went back to Chiang Mai Rai Hospital on the scooter for my 0930 appointment. Thankfully, this is the last time we should have come here! I’m seeing an Endocrinologist regarding my low vitamin D, and cholesterol. Long story short, I’m back on medication to lower my cholesterol but not a statin, and discussed other endocrine stuff. The doctor was informative and very nice – as all doctors and staff have been that we have seen. Anyway, with this finally completed our stuff here at the hospital dealing with our check up and overdue colonoscopies. Yahoo!!🎉

When we left, we went exploring as the weather was decent. We went to a couple of temples or Buddhist Wats. The first one was Wat Lok Molee (or Moli – it is spelled both ways on the temple grounds). We have passed by this – and the second temple we’ll see – many times. They are right across from each other, but divided by two one way roads and the moat that circled old Chiang Mai. Anyway, Wat Lok Molee is very ornate but has an older brick-style construction Chedi or Stupa. It seems, in some way to me, more comparable to the look of Angkor Wat in Cambodia, but it is definitively Thai. The Wat dates back to at least the 1300’s, because it was mentioned by King Kuena in 1367 CE, when ten Burmese monks were residing here, according to a placard.

The walk up into the temple from the road is very picturesque and ornate, with two monkey gods guarding the temple complex entrance. Then inside the complex it opens up: to the assembly hall that is currently filled with a class of kids – as the entry steps are overtaken by their many scattered shoes🤣;  to the left is another building with a smoke-hazed mist covering the front lawn that makes the building seem to be floating in a cloud; and behind the assembly hall is the Chedi rising up.

We meandered skipping the hall for now and past by other structures to the Chedi. It’s quite tall, brick made structure and had a golden spire piercing the dreary sky. According to the placard, the Chedi houses remains of several kings and at least one queen. While we were taking it in, we saw people putting water into a golden bird vessel and send it up to the Chedi and dump the water out onto a plant in an alcove with a Buddha statue at the upper part of the Chedi. I don’t know what it symbolized, but they gave a monetary contribution when they had done it. Questions!? Anyway after this, we noticed the kids had left the assembly hall so we went into it. It was very ornate inside with dark wood and white ivory-type embellishment. There were jeweled or stained glass framed pictures in the ceiling and on the walls. Center stage though, was a large sitting golden Buddha, flanked by smaller standing Buddhas.

The whole complex was gorgeous with its intricate craftsmanship. Now we left and crossed the first one way-three lane road, over the moat, and crossed the other one way-three lane road to our second temple complex, Wat Rajamontean. I could not find much info on this temple, and it has no placards. About all I could find – it is also known as the Dragon Temple, and it is said to be centuries old. The complex has a much different vibe and it is more “modern-looking”. We enter going up a dragon embellished stairway into its assembly hall. The building is white-washed and gold-gilded with red painted accents, giving it a rich, royal feeling. Inside its intricate carved doors the building opens to a display of Buddha statues with carved pictures flanking the sides. It seemed somber inside to me.

Once back outside on the upper level of this complex and to the left of the assembly hall is a very large white sitting Buddha draped with a golden robe. There were so many carved statues about… I got a picture of one that is so Thai to me. From here we went to the back side of the assembly hall that existed to a lower level building that is labeled as the “Monks Quarters” according to Google translate. Here we witnessed two monks and another guy (owner?) washing a vehicle in the parking lot.

Now we left and went back to our place because rain started spitting on us. We did quickly stop at the close by little Big C grocery store though as it stopped spitting. Stuff in hand we arrived back at our place. Jeff went back out for some carry out lunch. We had local made sausage with sticky rice and some Greek salad I made. Then we hung out at place the rest of the day. Supper was last of the Greek salad with some cheese and bread.

We enjoyed our day and seeing the temples!🛕🛕