Asia — Chiang Mai, Thailand

After Cambodia we came back to Bangkok and Brentwood flew back to the states. I stayed in Bangkok for another day and then took the sleeper train to Chiang Mai where I've been for over a month now.

Largest Gold Buddha Statue

Wat Traimit

Hua Lamphong Train Station in Bangkok

Sleeper train

Friends from the train

I settled in to Chiang Mai to see it as a local and my days were spent just living as if I was home in the states. Here's some pictures from around Chiang Mai during my month-long stay.

40th Chiang Mai Flower Festival

Silver Temple

Saturday Night Walking Market-Wualai

Buak Hard Public Park

Fireworks and Decorations for Chinese New Year

Dancers at Chinese New Year Celebrations

Dragon Dance at Chinese New Year Celebrations

Here's a

video

from the celebrations.

Pigeons at the moat

Pilgrim's Trail up Doi Suthep is marked by orange cloth tied around trees

After 30 mins of hiking you come upon Wat Pha Lat

Not sure what this is

Pilgrim's Trail up Doi Suthep

These fish spas are popular here so I tried one out for 15 minutes

Here's a short time lapse

video

from the fish spa.

I ate dinner here regularly

I've been wanting to take a meditation retreat for the past few years and decided that Thailand would be a great place to try. I found out that there was a meditation center here in Chiang Mai and it all fell into place. I went to the temple on the mountain (Doi Suthep) overlooking Chiang Mai and started a 10 day meditation retreat. This center practices Vipassana meditation. While I was there I had to wear all white and there was no talking, reading, writing, listening to music, phone, or internet. We could use our phones as timers but I had mine in airplane mode so I had no outside contact. We also did not eat anything after noon. I practiced walking, sitting, standing, and laying meditation. The teacher would give me meditation instructions everyday and then I would meditate throughout the day.

If you're not familiar with meditation, essentially this style is all about mindfulness. It's about focusing your mind on the rising and falling of your breath or your steps while walking. As our mind wanders we are to recognize it and bring ourselves back to the breath. It's about knowing yourself and training your mind to be observant of your actions and feelings. Not dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. As for my experience, it was tiring, boring, and difficult. You get out the effort you put in. I definitely did not meditate during all the meditation times listed on the schedule and sometimes let my mind wander without bringing it back during meditation. Nevertheless, it was a learning experience and contributes to my personal growth. I would like to do more in the future and learn about other meditation practices.