February 26th / 27th

Friday morning we caught the 1pm bus to Chiang Mai. After 762 mountainous curves and 3 1/2 hrs later, we arrived at the bus station. Terapat picked us up and took us to his hotel. Dinner and early night as we will be getting up at 3am.
Saturday morning we all gather approx 3.30-- We're on Thai time-- and a bus takes us to the shrine at the bottom of a mountain. We will all walk 14km up the mountain to a famous Temple and received a blessing from the monks for the purchase and future of Terapats hotel. First we had to light candles and hang offerings of flowers on the shrine, then onto Doi Suthep Temple.
We actually made the walk in 2hrs!! It was dark, but nice and cool at that time of the morning. Just 6 of us were leading, and had to wait at the temple for another hour before the rest of the congregation arrived. There were about 20 of us doing this walk.
There are many smaller shrines around the Temple.

Our Pai crew were the first to arrive.
On the temple grounds they have a Jack fruit tree. ( blog showed a lady at our resort in Pai cutting open one of these fruits.) I thought the fruit grew on the branches of these trees, but they grow out of the trunk.
Here the monks are collecting their pots before being bussed down to the town to collect the offerings from the towns people. Mostly, food and drink. Anyone that is poor, can go to the Temple and get a meal as the monks can only eat so much food.
Not sure why this creature is called mom!
Sunrise at the temple.

The real mom.
Before this picture was taken, I was instructed not to touch the monk. If a woman touches a monk they have to go through a time consuming ritual to purify themselves.
Inside one of the shrines.

This is really common throughout Asia. Any tourist attraction, has a seperate entrance with an admission fee. Even buying anything at the market, we are always told the foreigners price. Thai's can purchase the same goods cheaper!
Some of the congregation that made the walk. We're now on our way to a celebration breakfast.
After we climbed the mountain, we then had to climb 250 steps up to the Temple. I think this was harder than the walk!
This little girl from a hillside tribe, dances and sings at the bottom of the steps for money.
One of the entrances.
After breakfast, we went to the Ymonk hillside tribe village. Their income is mostly handicraft goods which they sell to tourists.
Hillside garden was designed to attract tourist to the village, which is works very well.
One of the gardens had Opium and Marajuana!!! (not sure if I spelled this right, sorry I'm a niave mum!) No wonder the tribe is happy!
This tribes costume is worn by all the women, even in town families were walking around doing their shopping in full costumes.


View from above.



Our Pai crew taking a rest.


At night, we had a party opposite the hotel, to celebrate our blessing. Entertainment was a karoake machine. Even Derek and I got up and sang " Yesterday once more" by the Carpenters. We thought we were terrible, but not as bad as some of the Thai crew that had had a few beers!