Songkran in Chiang Mai, Lampang, and Lamphun

This is a beautiful day for Songkran in Chiang Mai. I was invited by a local to participate in the water-pouring ceremony for the Buddha statues during the Pa We Ni Pi Mai Mueang Chiang Mai festival. I arrived in Chiang Mai in the late morning, and the procession of Buddha statues was scheduled to begin at 2 pm. Before the procession, I decided to visit a nearby temple, starting with Wat Mahawan. The beautifully decorated procession of Buddha statues was already parked there.

Crossing Tha Pae Road to the other side, you will find Wat Chetuphon. It's been a while since I last visited this temple.

Continue walking to Wat Pan Tao to pay respects to Phra Chao Pan Tao. This temple is considered to be very beautiful.

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Continue to Wat Chedi Luang Worawihan to pay homage to Phra Attharasa inside the main chapel.

Visiting Wat Intakhin and Paying Respects to the City Pillar Shrine of Chiang Mai

This sentence describes two actions:

1. Visiting Wat Intakhin: This is a Buddhist temple located in Chiang Mai, Thailand. It is known for its beautiful architecture and serene atmosphere.
2. Paying respects to the City Pillar Shrine of Chiang Mai: This shrine is located within the grounds of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, another important temple in Chiang Mai. It is believed to be the guardian spirit of the city and is revered by locals.

It was almost 2 pm. I hurried back to wait for the procession. Every time, I would wait for the procession in front of the governor's residence. When it arrived, I would stop by Upakut Temple first.

Standing in front of the pavilion, I had to change my mind because my old phone is not waterproof. Putting it in a plastic bag to take pictures would probably make things worse (it doesn't take good pictures anyway). Instead, I came to the Nawarat Bridge. The procession has already started with more than 50 floats. I will show you as many as I think are worth seeing. The procession starts with the Phra Buddha Sihing, or Phra Singh, the sacred Buddha image of Chiang Mai, and more than 50 other floats.

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The vibrant colors of the procession of the Buddha images from every temple, community, and organization in Chiang Mai impressed me with the joyfulness of the procession of M.C.U. every time I attended.

After the parade of over 50 floats, I walked to Pacamara to sip on a warm latte to ward off the chill. I'm not exaggerating when I say I was freezing from being soaked by the water.

After finishing my coffee, the procession ended, so I followed it until I reached Wat Phra Singh. I bathed the Phra Singh Buddha again.

After bathing the Buddha statue, they went inside to pay their respects and take more photos.

We checked into our accommodation early today. This time, we are staying at Tapae Inn Hotel. Even during peak season, the hotel was kind enough to find us a room.

On the morning of April 14, 2018, I set out for Lamphang. I arrived at the bus terminal and found it crowded with passengers. I had to wait for the third van before I could board.

Upon arriving at the Lampang Bus Terminal, I took a local bus to the Old Market for 40 baht, which seemed expensive for a 3-kilometer journey. From the Old Market, I crossed the Ratchathani Phisek Bridge.

The destination of this trip to Lamphang was the Louis House, located within the Forest Industry Residence. It was a short walk to get there, and the atmosphere was very peaceful and quiet. The sound of birds and the crowing of roosters filled the air. Although the house was closed that day, the tranquility of the surroundings made up for it.

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After enjoying the Louis house, we continued walking to Wat Pratu Ton Phleng.

After leaving Wat Pratu Ton Phee, we continued walking to Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao Suchada Ram, where the Emerald Buddha was once enshrined according to legend.

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After leaving the temple, I walked back to Kad Luang and stopped for wonton noodles at Makongta Noodle Shop (Makongta Noodle Shop). I loved the restaurant's decor, and the noodles were delicious.

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After a satisfying meal, we continued our walk. The Kad Kong Ta market was just setting up, but we had to return to Chiang Mai. On the way back, we decided to walk from the old market to the bus station. It wasn't far, and the walk was pleasant. When we arrived, all the vans were full. Fortunately, the green bus had an empty seat, and it was spacious enough that even when I stretched out my legs, they didn't reach the seat in front.

Today is Saturday, so I have to go to the Wualai Walking Street. I got both food and the broom flower keychain that I wanted since New Year's Day.

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Walk to Chiang Mai Gate and enjoy the usual coconut pancake.

I was walking back to my accommodation when I passed by Wat Chet Lin. Although it was late, the temple gates were still open, so I went in to take some photos of the impressive sand pagoda at night.

On the last morning of my trip to Chiang Mai, I stopped by the Kad Luang market for a quick bite to eat.

Purchase lucky flowers to offer to the Buddha. Lucky flowers bloom only during Songkran.

Today, I set out for Lamphun. After leaving my luggage, I waited for a van at Kad Luang. It was so crowded that I had to sit on an extra chair. Soon, I arrived at Wat Phra That Hariphunchai Woramahawihan.

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Stop for a coffee break at the temple's coffee shop, "Baan Kaffee Lamphun".

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When visiting Lamphun, I often stop by the restaurant in front of Phra That Temple to enjoy their beef khao soi. The beef is tender and flavorful, and the broth is rich and aromatic without being overly spicy.

Let's continue walking through the cultural market, which is conveniently located in front of Wat Phra That.

We ended the day with a coffee at Rok Street. I loved the cup and the coffee was strong.

Today is the day to return to Chiang Mai. There is a procession of offerings to the city pillar and the pouring of water on the hands of the city's elders. The procession will start from Tha Pae Gate and end at the Governor's House. This year's procession is shorter than usual, but it is still more fun than the procession of the Buddha image.

After the procession, we walked back to Wat Chet Lin to see the sand pagoda in the daylight. We also crossed the Toa Wa Bridge.

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My time in Chiang Mai has come to an end. After collecting my luggage, I made my way to the Arcade. On this occasion, I took a detour past Wat Ket Karam.

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Before returning to Bangkok, if you want to take a shower, you can stop by the Nakhonchai Air Service Center bathroom. This will allow you to sleep comfortably on the bus.

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