Thailand > The temple of Wat Doi Suthep

Singapore Airport has plenty of duty-free shops to pass the layover time. Prices are in Singapore dollars, and I have no idea what the exchange rate is. At a currency exchange, I check the rate and find that the cameras aren’t really any cheaper. At twenty past eight, we take off again for the flight to Chiang Mai with Silk Air.

Thailand - Wat Doi Suthep is the main temple around Chiang Mai

The service on board this Singapore Airlines subsidiary is good, but the quality is not comparable to the main airline. At Chiang Mai Airport, we meet Perry, our tour guide for this trip. Perry has lived in Thailand for many years and regularly leads tours in this region. We drive to the hotel in the city center in three minibuses. It’s half past eleven in the morning when we arrive, but it already feels much later. To adjust as quickly as possible to the new day-night rhythm, it’s not wise to rest—better to stay somewhat active. In the afternoon, we drive to Wat Doi Suthep, an important temple located sixteen kilometers outside the city at the top of a hill. According to legend, a white elephant trumpeted here before it died. Today, Wat Doi Suthep is a large temple complex with many golden decorations. We reach the temple via a long, winding road with hairpin bends. At the temple, we climb the beautiful staircase to the entrance, with the image of the Naga serpent serving as a handrail on both sides. I wander around the temple grounds, visit the temple, and enjoy the view of Chiang Mai, seven hundred meters below.

Thailand - The Doi Suthep temple complex on the mountain above Chiang Mai

At the base of the temple, we have a snack on a terrace. Back in the city, we visit a Thai massage parlor. I recognize the location from four years ago. Again, we go upstairs to a dark and very cold room. I change into a kind of pajama, and the two-hour massage begins. I relax and try not to fall asleep—it’s wonderful! In the evening, we eat in the city center near the night bazaar. While walking, we arrive at a small square with various restaurants, and afterward, we stroll through the night market.