Musings of a Massage Therapist: Doi Suthep

To get to the zoo I took a songthaew which is basically a modified pickup truck with two row of seats in the back and a roof overhead. It's the cheapest way to get around Chiang Mai and pretty easy once you figure it out. The driver was a little hesitant to take me all the way out to the zoo but we negotiated a fare (40 baht about $1) and he offered me the passenger seat next to him. We chatted quite a bit on the way there (it was a long ride) and he suggested that I visit Doi Suthep while I was out that way and told me about the buses that go up and down the mountain for 40 baht each way. I wasn't sure I would have time but when I finished at the zoo I decided to go for it - I was already out this way anyways. The ride up the mountain was breathtaking and I was surprised at the number of bicyclists that were heaving their way up - you'd have to be pretty hardcore to do this hill! Even negotiating the winding road looks dangerous, I don't know how they do it. Once at the top, its a long and steep set of stairs to the temple. And oh my what a temple! It's built on a site of mythical importance - according to legend the King sent a white elephant into the jungle mounted with a magical relic. It trumpeted 3 times before it died and, taking this as a sign, the King Nu Naone ordered the construction of a temple on the site. The original copper plated chedi (above) is the most holy area of the temple grounds and many Thais make the pilgrimage here - I witnessed many circling the chedi with a lotus flower, incense and prayer card as well as making donations and paying their respects. The energy here is palpable. Its a quiet and powerful ancient beauty.