Mornthean Temple (Chiang Mai)

Wat Lok Molee (Chiang Mai)

Bhubing Palace

It is the royal winter residence in Chiang Mai where the Royal family stays during seasonal visits to the people in the northern part of Thailand. The palace is also the royal guesthouse for prominent state visitors from abroad. In the past Their Majesties welcomed or granted royal audience to State visitors only in the capital of Bangkok. Bhubing Palace was built in 1961. The construction started initially with only the royal resident building and the guesthouse. The other buildings were additionally built on later dates.

Wat Doi Suthep (Chiang Mai)

Built in 1383 and one of Thailand most scared pilgrimage sights. According to lengend, King Kuena of Chinag Mai placed Buddha Relics on the back of a white elephant then walked without stopping until it reached Doi Suthep and died of exhaustion. I met Anna (Gemini) & Christina (Aquarius) from Spain along my bus trip to Wat Doi Suthep. Since it's the low season, we couldn't fill up the Songthaew (Mini truck) thus we decided to pay a little more to get the bus moving. We choose the package of visiting three places along the way, Wat Doi Suthep, Bhubing Palace & Doi Pui (Hill Tribe)

Mae Thorani (Earth Goddess)

A statue of Mae Thorani protecting Buddha will be found in every Thai & Lao temple, sometimes beside or in front of the main Buddha image on the altar, or outside the viharn. She is also called upon as a witness during กรวดน้ำ gruat nam (lit. pour water), when people pour water into a container while chanting & then empty it onto the ground, to share the merit they have made with the deceased (during ceremonies for weddings, dead ancestors, ordinations, house blessings, etc).

The Earth Goddess is called to witness (also including the good deeds in the previous incarnations of the Buddha) during Buddha’s enlightenment. The Earth Goddess wrung her hair out with water that contained all the blessings from his many lives. This resulted in so many blessings that Mara and the demons were flooded and washed away. When the evil Mara sent his three daughters to seduce Buddha & then his army to stop Buddha from attaining enlightenment, the latter touched the ground (depicted as the 'calling the earth to witness' pose in statues) & Mae Thorani appeared. The water (representing the good merit accumulated by Buddha) she wrung from her hair caused a flood that drowned Mara's daughters & army.

Lao women all seem to have adopted her as their style icon - outside of the cities (& even within) it seems virtually impossible to find any Lao lady with short hair except for mae chee (nuns). Mae Thorani also appears in the logo of the Thai Democrat Party.

Thailand History

The events and places I mentioned are highly associated with their strong, rich and cultural history. Thus here is a little background of the Kingdom that have ruled Thailand so far.

Time Chart

Suvarnabhumi
Dvaravati (6th - 11th centuries A.D.)
Lavo
Hariphunchai
Singhanavati
Pan Pan
Raktamaritika
Langkasuka
Srivijaya (8th - 13th centuries A.D.)
Tambralinga
Sukhothai Kingdom (1238-1448 )
Ayutthaya Kingdom (1351-1767)
Thonburi Kingdom (1768-1782)
Rattanakosin Kingdom - Chakri Dynasty (1782 to present)

Regional history

Hariphunchai
Isan
Lanna Chiang Saen (Exist together with Sukhothai Kingdom)
Nakhon Si Thammarat
Phitsanulok

Major Kings of Thailand

Sukhothai
Intradit (1238 – 1270?)
Ramkamhaeng (1279 – 1299 or 1316)
Lu Thai (1317 – 1347)
Li Thai (Thammaraja) (1347 – 1368)

Lanna
Mengrai (? – 1311 or 1317)
Tiloka (1442 – 1488)

Ayutthaya
Ramathibodi (U Thong) (1350 – 1369)
Boromaraja I (1370 – 1388)
Ramesuan (1369 and 1388 – 1395)
Boromaraja II (1424 – 1488)
Boroma Trailokanat (1448 – 1488)
Ramathibodi II (1492 – 1529)
Chakraphat (1549 – 1565)
Naresuan (1590 – 1605)
Prasat Thong (1630 – 1656)
Narai (1657 – 1688)
Phra Petraja (1688 – 1703)
Boromakot (1733 – 1758)

Thon Buri
Taksin (1767 -1782)

Bangkok (Chakri Dynasty)
Rama I (Phra Phutta Yot Fa) (1782 – 1809)
Rama II (1809 – 1824)
Rama III (1824 – 1851)
Rama IV (Mongkut) (1851 – 1868)
Rama V (Chulalongkorn) (1868 – 1910)
Rama VI (Vajiravudh) (1910 – 1925)
Prajadhipok (1925 – 1935)
Ananda (1935 – 1946)
Bhumibol (1946 – Now)

July - Candle Festival

In July, the Thai people celebrate the candle festival. Coincidentally, while I was in Wat Jet Yod, I saw a bunch of junior and senior students queuing up with their teachers holding a yellow plate which I realized it's a flat piece of candle. They are using the tooth pick to write on the surface of the candle. They must be writing dedication of merits or some sort. Then they pour oil (which i presume) to a funnel. Too bad, I can't speak fluent Thai thus I can't really comprehend the meaning behind the festival but with some research...

During July there are two important Buddhist holidays. First, it is Asaha Bucha Day. "Asaha" means the eighth lunar month and Asaha Bucha means the ceremony in the eighth lunar month. On the full moon day of the eighth lunar month, the Lord Buddha gave his first sermon and one of his followers became the first Buddhist monk.

The following day is known as Khao Phansa which literally translates as "the day of entering Lent". The Thai authorities call this three month period "Buddhist Lent" because many lay people choose to be strict about keeping the precepts and even refrain from eating meat. Monks are not allowed to leave their temple during this period which coincides with the rainy season. They are not even allowed to disrobe until it finishes in October.

So much about the Thai culture...

Wat Jet Yod (Chiang Mai)

King Tilokarat built the temple in 1455. The temple was probably copied from the design of the Mahabodhi temple in Pagan, which itself was a copy of the Indian temple at Bodhgaya.

It had been predicted that Buddhism would decline after 2000 years. King Tilokarat's religious works, as well as those of other Southeast Asian monarchs of the time, were an attempt to prevent this decline. Wat Jet Yod was the site of the Eighth World Buddhist council in 1477, which revised the Tripitaka (Buddhist canon and teachings)

The temple gets its name from the seven chedis - jet yod - which sit on top of the old viharn. An arched tunnel at the center contains a seated Buddha image.

My Fav Milk - VitaMilk

For those who know me for quite a while will know that I love milk!!! My first taste of milk comes from...ermmm my mum's beautiful blossom thus whenever I'm in Thailand, I never fail to grabbbbb... not breast but A unique taste of VitaSoy Milk. It's unlike the Supermarket or Hawker Centre kind of Soya bean milk.

Vitamilk regular is a delicious, creamy drink that is full of the goodness from soy. It has been Thailand's most favorite soymilk for almost 50 years. Enjoy it hot or cold. Vitamilk has a long shelf-life. It can be kept fresh without refrigeration. Regular Vitamilk is available in 200 ml, 250 ml, and 1,000 ml UHT cartons, 300 ml non-returnable glass bottles, and 210 and 280 ml returnable glass bottles. Serious, you can make an ice-cream with this kind of Soya Milk. Altough the drink come in assorted flavors but I still love original the best! Enjoy!

Till then, Time out!
KN

Chiang Mai - What a charmer!

After checking into my guest house, Banilah in Chiang Mai, The lovely guest house that provides organic handmade Aloe Vera Soap & Shampoo for guest. Sort out you rubbish for recycling purposes. Talk about being Green, this guest house sure make a good role model.

For more pictures of the guest house, please visit http://www.banilah.com/

I changed into my shorts and begin to explore Chiang Mai. My first stop is Chiang Mai National Museum. Before you start to unravel any country, the best and first stop is always the museum. The history serves a great purpose for the cultural sights you’re about to visit. Thus, here is what I’ve discovered. The known early history of Thailand begins with the earliest major archaeological site at Ban Chiang; dating of artifacts from this site is controversial, but there is a consensus that at least by 3600 BC, the inhabitants had developed bronze tools and had begun to cultivate wet rice, providing the impetus for social and political organization.

The most important Kingdom you need to know for Northern part of Thailand for now is Lanna Kingdom. For more information, visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lanna

I visited the first wat (temple) in CM, Wat Jet (7) Yod which is 10min walking distance from the Museum. King Tilokarat built the temple in 1455. The temple was probably copied from the design of the Mahabodhi temple in Pagan, which itself was a copy of the Indian temple at Bodhgaya. It had been predicted that Buddhism would decline after 2000 years. King Tilokarat's religious works, as well as those of other Southeast Asian monarchs of the time, make an attempt to prevent this decline.

Wat Jet Yod was the site of the Eighth World Buddhist council in 1477, which revised the Tripitaka (Buddhist canon and teachings) The temple gets its name from the seven chedis - jet yod - which sit on top of the old viharn. An arched tunnel at the center contains a seated Buddha image. Three chedis stand in the spacious grounds. The largest contains the ashes of King Tilokarat. The small ubosot nearby has a fine carved wood gable.

In most Thai temple, they usually feature the 7 days Buddha. Certain events in the Life of the Buddha are thought to have occurred on certain days. People, who are born on a certain day of the week, may be most interested to know the different Buddha Image corresponding to that day. What's interesting is that whenever you insert coins to your respective day donation box. A chanting of the prayer will play from the speaker. Since I'm a Saturday baby, I'm happy to get some blessing from the Saturday Buddha in my first day of Chiang Mai. ;) See the Buddha with the 7 serpent heads, that's the Sat Buddha.

For your character analysis on the day you were born, please visit http://www.thaioregon.com/wat/buddha.htm

After the fabulous events of my rewarding day, I did a little shopping in Central Shopping Mall, which is 20mins walk away from my guest house. Just as the time in CM are more laid back, I decided to catch a Thai Movie, Friendship by this actor, Mario Maurer. It's a sappy love story. The plot of the movie is good enough to make anyone shed tears. Thai movie never fail to amaze me or should I say make me cry. Thinking about it right now makes me want to cry thus if you have a chance please do catch this movie.

In conclusion, the first day of CM lives up to my expectation. The ambience of my guest house is cozy. I love the balcony beside my private toilet. Not to mention, the TV that plays 24hr Thai MTV. It's denfinetly worth staying!The strong Lanna culture still lingers on in this prosperous town. I’ve yet to visit the special mention sights from my guide book.

Till then, time out!

KN

P/S: More photos will be uploaded in future.