Jan 19 Doi Suthep the temple overlooking Chiang Mai

After a restless night for Leo...very hot Thai dish the night before...we set out to find a songthaew (a red pick-up truck with a cover) to take us round-trip, for just a few dollars,to the highest point above Chiang Mai. We (Richard) negotiated a price for the driver to take us there...he was willing to wait at the base of the temple steps...and take us back. The songthaew swayed back and forth up a highway ...where the centerline was merely a suggestion, as usual in this part of the world. With great skill we made it...just benches, no seat-belts lots of polite honking as needed and lots of exhaust at no extra charge. [my comments are NOT to be taken as criticism, just observations to those who always want an expensive air-conditioned bus...remember you can buy almost anything in Thailand, you can even buy a police escort to give you celebrity status (fun and colorful way to get to restaurant)and not have the fun of being semi- local] By contrast one night I saw eight young tourists sharing a tuk-tuk for three for a short ride to a local nightclub...what fun they were having...not even drunk.
Note: p We are definitely traveling 'Rick Steve's Style minus ice cold water on the bus and we love it. When we reach the top of the 5,500 foot peak, we notice the last 290 feet were steps to temple...time to meditate...pics of little girls in costume...collecting money when they can to pose with tourists. Richard reveals the tram going to the top with a laugh...thanks. Then when we are on board the tram he relates the unfortunate story of this tram or the previous version of the tram...failed to make it to the top and went hurtling down to the base to the unfortunate demise of many passengers...bad karma?...they immediately improved the tram we rode on, just like Boeing is doing with the 787 project today.
So, later the day of our tram ride, Sandy released a few birds from a cage for luck...just a few baht...cheaper than insurance, and probably just as effective. I did not see her do this, but I was assured that it works and that she did indeed feel better about the rest of our adventures in South East Asia...particularly Thailand.
From the top, We can see Chiang Mai ...almost clear...it is somewhat hazy even this time of year due to smoke from cooking and burning nearby Chiang Mai. There are reportedly 300 other temples below Doi Suthep...this seemingly makes this one the best above' all the rest. [Have great pics of this one...my camera battery was low, but Richard had a spare ...thanks Richard]
Lots of commerce inside the temple grounds and my digestive tract gave out from the hot food the night before. Leo took the afternoon off...but recovered quickly with the assistance of Heather's Imodium supply. Thanks Heather ...to the rescue my friend.