Escape to Chiang Mai

Wat Palad half way up Doi Suthep was the first temple I really fell in love with. It’s 500 years old, was abandoned once but has had a quiet resurgence of late. It was buried in the forest, overgrown, mossy and wonderfully atmospheric. It’s crumbling buildings surrounded by water, faded orange robes all adding to the Indiana Jones feel especially as you approach first the waterfall and then cross the rickety wooden bridge from the monks trail. We have been many times, it used to be called the ‘secret temple’ but no more.

We came first 8 years ago. Every year they have done major building works, more landscaping and really tidied it up. I really liked it how it was and was disappointed when everything became newly refurbished, bright and shiny.

We got to the base of the trail early before it got too hot. Lots of cars and bikes already parked up and soldiers on duty in a hut. It starts at the back of the zoo, never seen it so busy. It was the original path for the monks before the road was built.

It takes an hour walking up rock strewn paths for the first part and then smoother steeper paths inundated with tree roots and hanging vines. It’s straight up through dense green undergrowth. The scuttling lizards and insects rustling in the leaves. Birds heard but never seen, too dense. You eventually emerge, almost into the light, onto a new bridge, the wooden one long gone. Here are a few now and then photos.

I’m pleased to say the newness of the buildings is starting to fade losing its brashness and is returning to the forest. Moss covered statues, streaks of water from rainy season turning it back into an Indiana Jones backdrop once again. I must say the toilet block is way better than it was and the savage temple dogs are less aggressive, older maybe.

Huay Tueng Thao Lake is a big reservoir at the base of the mountains about 20 minutes out of town. Entrance is £1. It’s an enormous site with people fishing, walking, cycling and always eating (all the time 😊 ) There are dozens of restaurants to choose from.

You can hire 4×4’s go up the mountain on a muddy, ridged trail. I did it once on a motorbike, never again……

There are straw animals, enormous, built and rebuilt after every rainy season. We like to come and see what’s new. we weren’t disappointed.

It’s been fun being back in Chiang Mai, now we’re moving on to Siem Reap in Cambodia for the next adventure 🙏