On To Chiang Mai

Next morning we were off to the next stop on our journey, Chiang Mai, biggest city (c. 200,000) in northern Thailand.

Another day, another tuk-tuk ride, this from Old Sukhothai
to New Sukhothai

Does not love tuk-tuk rides, especially on open highway

At the bus terminal, to resume our trip to Chiang Mai

Bus terminal shrine; it's red Fanta, we learned, because red is a lucky color;
apparently He needs good luck

Helpful information at the bus station

Tipperary not even there, much less the US of A

Our bus; not as luxurious as the previous one, but fine

At the rest/lunch stop

The facilities not quite so luxurious

After arriving in Chiang Mai, another tuk-tuk ride, to the hostel

An auspicious sighting: on a Chiang Mai side street, a Volkswagen 1500, just
like our first car, bought in 1968!

Haven't seen one of these in nearly 50 years! Not even in Europe (they were
never exported to the US...it's a long story); I saw it again in various places
in Chiang Mai old city during our week there; apparently gets around just fine

Legendha Sukhothai Dinner And Show

So pleased were we, and so limited the other prospects in Old Sukhothai, that we elected to stay at the Legendha for dinner, and the show...

Bridge to the restaurant

My Tom Yum Goong, best ever, so far, until I cooked my own in Chiang Mai

Her pork chop

Little did we know we'd be slicing these pretties ourselves in just a few days...

Lost in translation: the Tom Yum was great, but I also ordered something else,
more substantial, which never appeared; an hour later (they were busy with
turbusses, which take priority over everything), they brought me this, minced
pork and basil and blue dye #4 rice, and some broth; Vicki was cool-headed and
face-saving, and the evening was preserved

And the show began...the kid on the boatish marimba was great

And they brought us fruit as a consolation prize for the meal not delivered (and
not charged for)

And the show went on

Women with baskets and men with poles

The symbolism was not lost on some of us

The real drama was in the grass--but not splendor--where a poor chameleon was
nearly trampled but then made his/her way to safety in a bush beneath our table

Tending our baskets

Together

The production values were diminished only slightly by the washing crew, stage right

The turbussers all had left by this point but the rest of us cheered and applauded

Wat Chang Lom

Sometimes the best things are right under your nose. Outside the back gate of the Legendha Sukhothai resort is another ruin, Wat Chang Lom, in pretty good shape, late 14th century. Wat Chang Lom also explains the elephants on the Legendha's front wall.

Neat swing bridge at the Legendha

Click to enlarge

Assembly hall

Nave view

Sukhothai Historical Park: Wat Sa Si

Continuing our day at the Sukhothai Historical Park...

Another ruin on the way to Wat Sa Si

Click to enlarge

Depiction of what Wat Sa Si would have looked like...

Part of the huge reservoir it sits in; the Khmers and their successors really liked
these water features

I no longer know what this means even in my own culture

Nave view of Wat Sa Si

Takin' her easy

Works, too; and in English

On the road now re-routed around Wat Sa Si; if you've ever lifted, or tried to
lift a hay bale, you know this little truck is seriously over-loaded

Walking back to our hotel through Old Sukhothai, we visited the local market

Roasting eggs on a stick