This weeks trip out with Ally was more of a work day as I was visiting many establishments around Chiang Mai trying to find Sponsors and collection box locations, for The Stratton ABC Foundation, in and around Chiang Mai.
Still there was some early interest factor to the trip as we headed into the city via the River road from Sarapee. The recent heavy rains continue to turn the River Ping into a swirling brown torrent that clearly has its benefits for the people who live along its banks.
At a bend in the river we spotted some fishermen and ladies using nets on long bamboo, close to a canal outlet into the river.
When I stopped to take photos one of the men eagerly pointed me towards a huge fish, caught earlier, being held on the end of a rope.
Later, just before we took Coffee at Vittoria Coffee, opposite Wiang Kum Kam, Ally took me to the riverside at a weir point, where we saw the full force of the river in action.
We also came across a group of chickens;
including this stylish fellow.
Part of the work day included a trip To Wararot Market area, on a search for collection boxes. Our search didn’t find what I was looking for but its always fun to visit Wararot, so many different stores, so much colour and atmosphere.
After visiting many different places I counted the day as a success having acquired 4 new sites for our collection boxes and having had our first offer of monthly sponsorship by a prominent local company. More details will appear soon on The Stratton ABC Foundation website once all the boxes are located and sponsorship details finalised.
Happy to report that my fitness campaign goes on.
We watched this isolated storm making its way across the hills infront of us.
Maybe I might even get to a level where I feel able to join in with the kids playing football. Good target to have.
Continuing past the up market looking riverside restaurants close to the Lamphun city moat, we crossed the nearby intersection and took the first left soi that appeared to follow the river.
Taking advantage of their location the restaurant appeared to have its own fisherman, who popped his catches into a holding net in the cafe pond.
After a lot of riding in baking hot sunshine we spotted a large riverside restaurant that looked over the river towards a small Doi that turned out to be Doi Lo.
And I am so glad we did. Not that the Temple itself was much to shout about, but the views were fantastic.
Just long enough to get some great shots of the views and the obligatory ‘cute pose’ from a group of local boys who followed us everywhere practising their English.
Our start point was Wat Pang Yuu, which you will find by taking the Hang Dong turn off Highway 11, the one that actually carries on to Samoeng. The Temple is on the left with the entry road being just before the river bridge.
Ally informed me that, although it was not the first time she had visited , she was very impressed with what is clearly a relatively recent facelift. On her previous visit it had apparently been a very run down and neglected place.
Also, don’t miss the ancient looking Buddha scene, under the trees to the left of the pond. Though not lavishly painted like the newer statues you see from the road, for me this image has the real Buddha spirit about it somehow.
And very nice it was to. The River Ping, away from the city centre, certainly on this stretch towards Lamphun, has a wonderfully relaxing effect and a look that belies its size and strength. With the many ancient overhanging trees, floating water plants and its many twists and turns it feels more like a beautiful winding stream.
Didn’t actually get the name of the place but it appears to be a Thai concern, that, the lady who served us our coffee informed us, specializes in fish dishes along with other common Thai options. It is right on the river bank, looking towards the large weir we would visit shortly after. A lovely quiet place for coffee and a very likely meal out place in the future, being not so far from home.
after coffee it was just a couple of minutes ride before we reached the impressive looking weir, which looks to be a fairly new addition, or has at least been recently refurbished and acts also as a river crossing for pedestrians and motorcys. It is at this point that the canal system for Lamphun starts. The surrounding area is quiet lovely, with a nice size gazebo on the banks of the canal, which was occupied by a friendly bunch of local youngsters at the time.
All along the way, apart from the river there are several amazing buildings, from lavish homes to ‘wild shacks’ as Ally calls them.
On the way back to Chiang Mai we spotted a few fishermen in the water hauling nets; stopped for lunch at a local Thai outlet, very tasty food and only 20 baht!;
and shortly before parting at 1.30 , took a short detour to a very nice coffee shop just off the super highway.
Here’s yet another great day out for you. Quite a special one with lots of historical and cultural interest. We tend to start these days out at around 11am, due to business commitments, but if you were to set off a little earlier you’d give yourself even more time to take it all in.
When the River Ping changed course, during the Burmese period,the area became flooded and was buried under river mud and silt. In the 1980s, after rediscovery during construction of a football pitch, the ancient site was developed into an historical park.
There are several Temple sites revealed over quite a large area with a wonderfully rural feel to it.
A popular way to get around the whole site is by taking one of the pony and cart tours available.
So, after our brief visit to Wiang Kum Kam, it was a short excursion on the outer ring road (Rte 121) towards San Kampaeng and taking a lunch stop at Inter – Mini Golf, an 18 hole pitch & put obstacle course, on the San Kamphaeng Road opposite the turn off to Bo Sang.
Once again, even having been in Chiang Mai for 3 years now, I got that ‘newcomer’ feeling as we entered Bo Sang from the opposite direction to the one I have used previously.
Lo and behold I finally saw the main Umbrella factory that I have always missed on my previous visits.
Much more ‘touristy than the smaller affair mentioned in my previous Bo Sang report, from my family visit, it is nonetheless much more interesting, with a much better insight into what goes into the making of the famous Umbrellas.
Behind the huge shop is the ‘factory’ area, where you can stroll around at your leisure and watch the five stages of the manufacturing process.
If you are wanting to find out more than just what you get from looking it is possible to get a guide to go around with you, who can answer your questions.
A nice touch to the set up is that the artists, of which there are many, will, for a small fee, paint one of their many designs onto to virtually anything you give them. One present craze is mobile phones.
All that said, Wat Doi Saket is one of those that can be considered to be on ‘the tourist trail’, as many of the larger mountain Temples are.
Most notable for me was the Chedi ‘within’ a Chedi, something I’ve never seen before.
And the artwork inside the main Temple is another mind blower, with some quite surreal and futuristic works included on the huge walls.
At the top is a recently landscaped area with terraced lily ponds and even better views than you get from the Temple that it overlooks.
It has a grand statue of the Buddha aboard a multi headed pink elephant.
There are tables spotted around the terraced garden and it is a perfect place to sit in meditative thought. For more photos please visit our 
Just the other day I had another day out with Ally and was introduced to the wonderful site of Wiang Kum Kam. 
We also went on to visit Bo Sang Craft village and Wat Doi Saket. You can read a fuller account of this day out in ‘Places to Go’ later today.
I would like to add an early note; although wanting people to get a taste of this colourful corner of Chiang Mai life, I would also point out that this is a very busy, working, local market, and whereas you are sure to be met with friendly smiles and banter, do try and keep any visit down to small groups and make yourself aware of the local people around you, going about their normal daily life ; don’t get in the way!
Do your best to keep to the sides of the busy walkways that are also used by motorcys and trucks delivering more produce.
The market is huge and there is a lot to see, from the recognisable favourites, bananas, mangos, watermelon, coconut to the ever more exotic fruits and vegetables, new varieties of which I am still finding after a year of daily visits.
As well as the foodstuffs there are various other outlets, such as pharmacies, fabric shops, etc and guys like the one seen above selling his chopping blocks.
The market has its own special aroma, not only the mix of fruit, seafood, meat and flowers but something much more; you can almost smell the boisterously happy atmosphere amongst these hard working, playful people.
From pigs heads to Lotus seed pods;sweet potatoes to fish drying in the sun; garlic mountains to shredded coconut palm; the sights , smells and sounds of this glorious hub of city life are something to behold.
After over a year of market runs for the cafe, I count myself privileged to be seen as somewhat of a local.
