Exploring Chiang Mai Thailand

Meetings ended yesterday and the flight to return to Phnom Penh is tomorrow afternoon. Today was a bonus day for our trip to Chiang Mai Thailand. Elder and Sister Ricks gave us names and contact information for a couple who was willing to take us around Chiang Mai for the day. Brother Pong and Sister Noi met us at our hotel just after 9:00 this morning and took us to several destinations throughout the city, allowing us to see the city in a way we would never have done on our own.

First we visited two temples or Wats. Like Cambodia, about 96% of the people in Thailand are Buddhist. There is a long Buddhist history in the country, there are many Wats. There is a lot of gold used in the Thai temples. We spent time walking around Wat Phra Singh Woramahawihan, then the temple and grounds at Wat Chedi Luang Worawihan.

Leaving the Wats, Pong and Noi next took us to visit a market. There were some similarities to the markets in Cambodia, but there were also some stark contrasts. Foods and soft goods were neatly displayed and this market was very clean and organized. There were no strong smells around the foods and meats, and no need to rush from the food area. We bought Sister Oveson a beautiful new skirt and Elder Oveson selected a set of pillow covers for our home. We were happy for this shopping experience allowing us to see the difference between Khmer and Thai markets.

For lunch, our hosts suggested a restaurant owned by a family whose son is a Church member and Young Men's President in the branch. This was a great idea. We had a wonderful lunch and visit with this young man. Lunch for the four of us was delicious and was only $7.

Our next stop was Streamworks fly tying business, owned by Rainy Riding and Ellen Clark. What a pleasant surprise to be able to visit with Rainy. We got to know Rainy and Ellen in Cambodia where they had a factory, Flyworks, until earlier this summer. Ellen is now in the U.S. and Rainy will be returning home in just a few days. It was good to see their operations in Thailand.

The number one industry in Chiang Mai is tourism. Somehow even the factories and artisan work shops have become recommended tourist destinations.  Elder and Sister Ricks had recommended we visit an umbrella factory. In about a half an hour we saw the process of assembling the typical oriental parasols as well as fans. The products were then enhanced with amazing art work. At one station there was an artist, so for less than $2 Sister Oveson now has a custom phone cover.

Carved wooden elephants were the subject of our last stop. This artisan craft shop was off the trail, but thanks to Pong and Noi asking questions we found just such a place. There meticulous carvings of several elephants made from one piece of wood, panels of elephant scenes, and individual elephants.  Pong and Noi decided this shop should be included on other Senior Missionary tours in the future. By the time we left the elephant shop it was quitting time. We returned to our hotel and said goodbye to our new friends.