We love exploring new cities and Chiang Mai was no exception. We also love escaping the hustle and bustle to get some fresh air and exercise. Thus, Doi Inthanon was the perfect daytrip – ‘doi’ is Thai for mountain and Inthanon is the name of a beloved king in the late 19th century whose ashes are buried beneath the shrine.
Elephants stand guard at the entrance to the shrine.
They also form a little procession along a path leading up to it.
We did some hiking at the top of the mountain (which was, by the way, quite chilly hence the quickly-purchased sweatshirts from the ranger station that Joel and I are wearing. Alex was properly prepared with her puffy jacket.)
One of the hiking paths led to a shrine honoring a Thai Air Force pilot who crashed his helicopter in this area many years ago. The engine of the craft is incorporated into the memorial as well as new and old tributes placed by visitors – flowers, incense, toy helicopters and soldier figurines. You can see a photo of the pilot through the front door of the little house.
We also took a five kilometer hike along the Kew Mae Pan Nature Trail. 
Our guide for the day, Bird, enlisted the help of a soft-spoken, 15-year-old girl from the nearby Hmong village who knew the trails well. Her name was Nut-tee-dah (phonetic spelling only.) She said we could call her Nut. So Bird and Nut guided us gracefully along our way. Every so often Nut would stop to tell us something in Thai which Bird translated into English for us. She was so knowledgeable and we were duly impressed that she was only 15.
Some gorgeous images of the wooded part of the trail.
A few reminders along the way.
At one point we turned a corner and opened into a beautiful meadow. The path followed the edge of it – sometimes on a nice dirt path and sometimes a little less traveled. We never saw another person on this hike which was really wonderful (not that we don’t like people, but you know what I mean.) Lots of gorgeous views.
There were the most beautiful rhododendron trees.
One of Alex’s panoramic photos. (Click on it to see it larger.)
At the base of the mountain trail was a little hut where we enjoyed a simple and satisfying lunch shared with Bird. This is where we learned to eat sticky rice with our fingers, rolling it into little balls and popping into our mouths. This is typical fare in the north of Thailand as it is easy to pack and carry on long days in the fields.
On our way back down the mountain, we stopped at the impressive dual chedis – one called Naphamethinidon meaning “by the strength of the land and air”, and the other called Naphaphonphumisiri meaning “being the strength of the air and the grace of the land”. These temples were built to honor the 60th birthdays of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit in 1987 and 1992 respectively. They are the current king and queen of Thailand and, according to our small sample size of guides, are very loved and respected.
The king’s chedi with its very cool mosaic around the entire outer facade.
The queen’s chedi with her own mosaic creation as well as breathtaking gardens.
The king and queen. There are images like this everywhere in Thailand. Everywhere! Parks, sides of buildings, billboards – many of them financed by them and some just honoring. It’s good to be the king!
The next short stop was a lesson in contrasts from the above – a very simple Karan village, one of the hill tribes in Thailand. They are known for their beautiful weavings, the sales of which goes directly to the artist and her village. The one we purchased is lovely and actually fits our unusually shaped dining room table so will be cherished for years to come.
Last view – one of the gazillion waterfalls amid the cliffs of Doi Inthanon. Joel and Alex got distracted – shiny! – by one of Thailand’s also gazillion stray dogs. This one, unlike every other, wanted to be pet.
Next blog is the Elephant Nature Park, also outside of Chiang Mai.
