DearTouring: Chiang Mai

Bright and early we started to explore the northern capital of Thailand - Chiang Mai. Its small streets took us by surprise with discoveries of one beautiful temple after another.

We watched people place candles and flowers next to Buddhist shrines, even onto the hidden ones in the markets.

Statues of Buddha were captivating by their elaborate designs and no two were the same.

The ceiling of Wat Ho Tham temple featured hanging strips the of the Chinese horoscope.

Panorama of the entrance to the old crumbled remains of the Wat Jedi Luang.

Sculpted dragons are placed on both sides of the entrance to Buddhist temples, they come from the amalgamation of Indian Buddhism and Chinese culture.

And then, inside of the temple, there were extremely realistic wax figures of distinguished monks.

You have to take off your shoes at the entrance of every temple and peoples houses as a sign of respect. I can assure you, Anna did take off her shoes...after the picture :)

Panorama of another hidden, much less touristy, temple off the circumference of the city.

Garden next to Wat Chiangmun, the oldest temple in Chiang Mai, constructed in 1296. There were signs with written meditations on every tree in the garden, illustrative of the Buddhist culture.