Chiang Mai

I guess we don't need to go to Bangkok - everyone in
Chiang Mai told us that Chiang Mai is much better -
including the guy vacationing from Bangkok. According
to the folks around town it is more relaxed (we were
relaxed), less crowded (1.5 million people versus 8
million), less polluted (believable).

I think we are still going to spend a few day in
Bangkok, but CM was very nice. Chiang Mai was the
capitol of the pre-Siam kingdom of Lanna and so has a
large walled and moated area. Further more, there are
a lot of wats (temples) in town. Various "experts"
have told us 300, 1500 and 2500. I'm sure a real
figure is in our guide book, but who cares...?

The highlight is outside of town - Wat Doi Suthep.
Perched on a mountain, it was built in the 1500s
because a particularly special white elephant died
there. I'm putting some of our photos on the Flickr
stream.