July 3,

Up and about- around 0700. We quickly readied as the weather looked… well, let's just say, it's not raining right now. We both felt good – Jeff’s knee doing lots better, and I went without my soft cast. So we loaded up in the trusty Yaris and headed out just before 0800.

We drove up the mountain, Doi Suthep, which is just outside of Chiang Mai. It makes up a big part of the western skyline. Google says it’s a 5,499 feet mountain. We headed up here because we wanted to go to another vlogger's (that we follow) recommendation for Kao Soi. He, Joe Parrilla, said it was the best Kao Soi that he's had in Thailand! We also wanted to visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. Jeff remembers going there 14 years ago. Of course he does!!! 😆

We were arriving a bit early, as the cafe didn't open until 0900. So we stopped at the Bhubing Palace first, but it was a paid entry and only included the rose garden and grounds. We nixed this and went on up to Hmong Doi Pui Village. We found a coffee shop, called Hmong Coffee. It’s right next door to the cafe that wasn’t open. So we had our Javas- me a Mocha, and Jeff a Hot Chocolate. It was just right as the weather is crisp! We climbed a bunch of elevation to get here. As we were enjoying our drinks and the view, the owner brought us both a hot tea!

We finished our Javas and paid 110 THB, which is $3.40. We went out and the cafe was still closed!! So… we walked a little ways up the street, finding another restaurant that was open, and decided to eat here. I don't know the name of the restaurant – the menu just said Kao Soi Noodles. Neither one of us ordered Kao Soi though. I think it was because we were wanting to eat at the other place. Anyway, I had an omelette with pork and rice; Jeff had crispy pork and rice; and we shared a bottle of water. Both dishes were good and hit the spot. We paid our bill of 140 THB, or $4.33.As we backtracked to the car we discovered the other recommended place was open! AHW man! That was a fail, or maybe a chance to come back up here.👍

Now we back-tracked down the road a little ways to the Buddhist temple, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. It was around 1000. Jeff paid our entry fee of 20 THB (62 cents) each. As we entered the temple ground, it vaguely seemed familiar to me. Maybe? We have been to so many temples… around the world… it’s hard to say. Jeff remembered it – as he thought it to be. We explored around, and went out to the viewpoint over Chiang Mai. It was pretty hazy and cloudy so not the ‘bestest’ view. I found a placard that said…

“The temple was originally built in 1384. There was also major restoration in 1538.”
Paraphrasing the sign: there have been minor renovations/additions throughout the complex over the centuries. In 1934, the road from Chiang Mai to the temple was finally built. The main stupa is gold-gilded and quite something to see.

Finished reloaded back up in our car and headed all the way down the mountain. There have been quite a few bicyclists that had been coming up but we didn't really see any coming down. that would have been a bit fun I would think… the coming down part not the going up.😂  And as always there's Soi dogs lying on the side of the road or in the road!! At one point there were three dogs and two pigeons. I jokingly sang out:🎶 three soi dogs, two pigeon doves and one caterpillar for me!!! 🎶

Once in town we went to the Central Chiangmai Airport Shopping Mall. We got food stuffs for today at the grocery store, Tops. Then Jeff sat as I got some steps in. He didn't want to push his knee. I put my cast back on my hand before we entered the mall. While doing my steps I did stop at a couple of pharmacies, but this was to try to find Carmex, thankfully not any more medications. Once I got enough steps in, we left the mall and went to a local sausage stall. Jeff bought a grilled sausage.

We arrived home. Lunch was some sausage on olive bread, and the last of the fruit salad. Yum! Then afternoon turned to evening. For supper, we made a Greek salad with more olive bread. It turned into a good out and about day!