Polly and I went up north to Chiang Mai city for four days. We started our trip off at Hua Lumphung train station, keen on taking the sleeper train. The train tracks south of Chiang Mai were being renovated so we ended up booking an over night bus. The bus was a double-decker and from a company we have never taken before. It was not bad at all.

僕たちは四日の連休で北のチャンマイ市に行きました。最小、寝台車で行こうとするがチャングマイの南から鉄道工事だった。だからバスで行った。長い間、寝ずにとうとう着いた。寝不足なのに僕たちは有名なお寺を探すためにバイクで山を登って行った。

We arrived in Chiang Mai and checked into "House Number 11" hostel. Even though we were very tired we rented a motor bike and drove up the mountain to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. It is the most famous temple in the region and one of the oldest.

ワット・プラタートドーイステープ

Entrance


walking up to the temple

Jack fruit on the tree

タイコーヒはうまい！！


チャんマイの名物カレー。。うんまっか！！	Chiang Mai's famous curry!

After checking out the temple we rode up the mountain and into a small hill tribe village. There are many hill tribes in Chiang Mai. The royal family started programs to export and sell goods and textiles made here.

そしてタイの先住民の村へ。。

Another temple with a beautiful statue

Wat Chiang Man, the oldest temple in Chiang Mai.

Chiang Mai street art.

Chiang Mai sausage, one of the best foods in Thailand

On Tuesday we took a song tao taxi through the southern hills towards the temple Polly lived in for three months.

We finally arrived at Wat Tam Doi Tone monastery. This place is incredible. The abbot, a charming old man with good English and a warm and wise presence greeted us. Its no wonder why Polly spent three months here. The place is surrounded by lush forest and animals, quiet streams and waterfalls, and immaculately clean temple grounds. The monks, though few, are very friendly. The sole purpose of this monastery is to facilitate meditation. It is one of the most peaceful places I have ever been.

ポリは三月間このお寺で瞑想を学びました。こんな自然いっぱいあるところはすごく平和的です。お坊さんもとても優しく知識いっぱい持っているからいろいろ勉強できました。


Miki. He made some very famous and controversial video's while living in Okinawa as an English teacher like myself. Now he is a monk in a far remote monastery in Chiang Mai. It's a very small world.