The first half of this day was something I would have been happy to miss.
We visited a high end jewelry store and Persian carpet store.
I think it was Persian. I nearly fell asleep during the lecture along with a few other tour members.
Undoubtedly, the carpets were a good deal and extremely well made. I'm sure all those gem type jewelry were also good deals.
Maybe.
I just wasn't interested.
Although...
Yes, I did buy a $7 pair of earrings which I do love. I didn't buy anything else, certainly nothing that was over $1000. Most of the jewelry was out of my price range.
Lunch was a lovely Thai buffet at Nantawatsa Restaurant.
Folk Craft Factory: Dare showed us how mulberry bark is used to make paper.
This folk craft factory displayed how fans and umbrellas were made.
I could have used one of those fans in Bangladesh.
Information from Dare:
Dare also told us that smoking is not allowed at our hotel, but he realizes there are advantages to smoking. 1. No mosquitoes 2. Burglars don't come because they can hear you cough. 3. Your hair stays black. (because you are apt to die young)We visited a high end jewelry store and Persian carpet store.
I think it was Persian. I nearly fell asleep during the lecture along with a few other tour members.
Undoubtedly, the carpets were a good deal and extremely well made. I'm sure all those gem type jewelry were also good deals.
Maybe.
I just wasn't interested.
Although...
Yes, I did buy a $7 pair of earrings which I do love. I didn't buy anything else, certainly nothing that was over $1000. Most of the jewelry was out of my price range.
Folk Craft Factory: Dare showed us how mulberry bark is used to make paper.
This folk craft factory displayed how fans and umbrellas were made.
I could have used one of those fans in Bangladesh.
Information from Dare:
- In Thailand the year is 2557 because they count from the year after the Buddha died. You just add 543 to our years to get the Thai year.
- There are spirit houses in Thailand also to appease land spirits with offerings.
- Similar to Cambodia, Thai people clasp their hands together in greeting. They say Sawadeeka (women) or Sawadeekrup (men).
After the folk craft factory some people opted to stay at the hotel.
(I need to mention that although the tour director should have scheduled Doi Suthep Mountain for the morning and the shopping expedition only for people who were interested in the afternoon, I think I understand the reason. It wasn't because the view is better in the afternoon as Dare told us. I'm sure the tours are paid to bring people to their stores. That helps to keep the cost of the entire tour down. This was a reasonably priced trip, which means the cost had to be offset by these shopping stops.)
We were tired but decided to go on to Doi Suthep Mountain and see the Watprathat Temple. We were glad we did!
We were seeing such awesome sights that we felt sorry for our tour members who opted to miss this. They'd been worn out from the rather wasted morning of encouraged shopping.
According to legend, a monk named Sumanathera from Sukhothai had a dream; in this vision he was told to go to Pang Cha and look for a relic.
Sumanathera ventured to Pang Cha and is said to have found a bone, which many claim was Buddha's shoulder bone. The relic displayed magical powers; it glowed, it was able to vanish, it could move itself and replicate itself.
Sumanathera took the relic to King Dharmaraja who ruled the Sukhothai.
The eager Dharmmaraja made offerings and hosted a ceremony when Sumanathera arrived. However, the relic displayed no abnormal characteristics, and the king, doubtful of the relic's authenticity, told Sumanathera to keep it.
However, King Nu Naone of the Lanna Kingdom heard of the relic and offered the monk to take it to him instead. In 1368 with Dharmmaraja's permission, Sumanathera took the relic to what is now Lamphun, in northern Thailand. The relic apparently split in two, one piece was the same size, the other was smaller than the original. The smaller piece of the relic was enshrined at a temple in Suandok. The other piece was placed by the King on the back of a white elephant which was released in the jungle. The elephant is said to have climbed up Doi Suthep, at the time called Doi Aoy Chang (Sugar Elephant Mountain), trumpeted three times before dying at the site. It was interpreted as a sign and King Nu Naone ordered the construction of a temple at the site. --Wikipedia
We were absolutely stunned by all the glittering gold plating.
At this altar, you could pour water over the shrine. It reminded me of Hanamatsuri (Buddha's Birthday) when I was little. I remember water being poured over the statue of the Buddha. Since I am Buddhist, it was interesting to see how the religion is celebrated in other countries.
Dare said trees were tied with colorful ribbons to denote the tree spirits living within it. This is a Sala tree. The Buddha was supposed to have been born under a Sala tree.
Instead of riding in the cable car, we all decided to walk down the beautiful stairs.
Dinner was again at an outside restaurant.
The food was delicious. I had to have a Thai iced tea. Yum!
The security chain on our door was hilarious. I tried to secure it but the chain on the frame just couldn't reach the door.
We would be flying to Bangkok the following day. I should have taken a vitamin pill because we would all need energy for the terribly exhausting day it would be.
