Jill Thomas is a rambler, traveler, and storyteller with a big laugh who thinks it's funny how life leads you right where you need to be, however, the roundabout path.
Stormy and I have been in Chiang Mai, Thailand, slowly getting acquainted with this beguiling city for a month. We've fallen into a daily rhythm of exploring that suits the local climate (reading and working indoors during the hot afternoons) and our personal circadian rhythms (walking a lot during sunset and after dark).
However, yesterday, we left our air-conditioned cocoon mid-afternoon (for the 2nd time) to hike the Monk Trail in Doi Suthep National Park (located in the mountains that butt up against the city of Chiang Mai). It took us two attempts to find the trail's entrance.
The first time, we got lost and ended up Rambling the circumference of the Ang Keaw Water Reservoir on the University of Chiang Mai campus, luckily arriving at sunset. The reservoir was busy with groups of students strolling and hanging out while the sky turned pink and then purple behind the green mountains.
The reservoir and the campus are lush and expansive, with miles of blissfully unobstructed walking paths—a rare sight here. It's a great place to Ramble.
We eventually found the Monk's Trail entrance. It was a lovely walk—a serene 5 km there and back. The trail hosts huge bamboo plants that create shaded respites from the heat. There are also peek-a-boo mountain-top views with cliffs covered in bright yellow flowers and the city of Chiang Mai in the distance.
The path meanders uphill the entire way, with roots and stuff to climb over, so Stormy wasn't impressed, but I loved it.
It was our first time in a forest since leaving the Salty Isle (Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, Canada) a month ago. This is not a complaint—we are accustomed to being surrounded by nature, so we crave an urban experience when we travel.
The trail pops out at the lovely Wat Pha Lat temple. Temples abound in these parts, but this one is a bit sweeter than most. It feels mystic, with the jungle encroaching on all sides. It is a nice place to do a couple of yoga stretches on one of the forest platforms or sit quietly by a waterfall and contemplate something important.
Wat Pha Lat was traditionally where the monks rested when they walked from Chiang Mai to the region's most important temple, Doi Suthep, which sits at the top of the mountain. The monks who live in the 300 (ish) temples scattered throughout Chiang Mai still make this trek on special religious days.
These days, you can get to the Temple in an air-conditioned Grab (Thai Uber), and the trail has become popular with tourists, so the monks don't walk here as often as they used to. However, they still live in the temple and have a unique talent for going about daily tasks while serenely ignoring the multitudes of visitors.
I would love to hear if you have a favorite temple in the comments.
READ MORE > JT's Tales From The Trails, Rambler Cafe Blog
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