All Jaded At Wat Buppharam

Wat Buppharam in Chiang Mai may not be the flashiest Wat in town. It's got a bit of a washed over patina to it. Yet wander around and hints at its high style start to emerge.

The complex, looking lived in. Fair enough, it's been around since 1497.

Figure details, Buddha with a delicate wrap in a rich red alcove on the main chedi and an elephant-human mashup. A Hindu Ganesh snuck in?
Getting fancy, an altar area in one of the temples.

The jade Buddha, a rare sighting in any of the Chiang Mai Wats. Old Thai texts.

Holy bookcases.

The Mighty Hands Of God

One of the pleasures of wandering Chiang Mai is visiting all the holy Buddhist Wats. There are dozens of complexes, each unique in terms of architecture, complexity. One feature is seen repeatedly, wax monks. That's right, life size sculptures of important monks can be found in many of the wats.

The look, costume and pose seem to follow classic guidelines. Close cropped hair, likeness in the age you died, orange robe, sitting. On to the holy hands.

In front and clasped is classic.

It's cool to go fist over fist or just relaxed on the leg.

A cradle position to hold ever changing holy items is a nice bonus.

Clasp and fist, Mach II.
An open hand to god is pretty, especially with a thick patina.

Fun Details At Wat Watcheatawan

For most of the Wats in Chiang Mai, Thailand the chedis, stupas and temples may look similar. It's the little details that start to differentiate the various Buddhist complexes.

At Wat Watcheatawan, one of the first unique features is the vivid red and mural covered temple interior. Flashy.

The murals seem to be teaching, of course, to heed a Buddhist way of life. By way of a Hieronymus Bosch-esque, never-ending parade of little genre scenes that hint at secular depravity. Heavenly. All chedis are ancient? Not so, they're building for the future at Wat Watcheatawan.
Flowers, monk and light fixture still life.

Melancholy figure. At least they're going green in their construction, recycling Chinese porcelain bowls into the chedi design. Nifty.

Buddha outside in a temporary structure, still finished in rich, gold fabric.

Wat Jet Lin In Chiang Mai

Every Wat is different. Is that a proverb? In Chiang Mai, it certainly could be applicable. Wat Jet Lin has plenty of unique features worth checking out.

It has a decent amount of space out back, big enough for a colorful bamboo bridge over a lily pad pond.

Fairly standard main temple interior, red carpet, gold sitting Buddha. Fairly unique figure outside. Just your typical five eyed panda monster thing.

On to the nice collection of wax monks. The beauty is in the fine details and expressions.

Back inside the main temple, the placed is ringed with 2D portraits.

Wandering Chiang Mai

Beyond wads of Wats, what else does Chiang Mai, Thailand have? Let's take a quick look.

Did somebody say Wats? Or watts? In Chiang Mai, you can't avoid running into gold chedis and also webs of power lines. Many times, both features at once, the clash of the ancient and messy modern.

A little taste of old Chiang Mai architecture, faded regalia. Faceless zebra.

Closed women's prison, now a big canvas for graffiti murals.

Curious stencil and glorious tree wrapping.

Back at a tourist hub, a weekend night market starts to get busy.

Wat Chedi Luang

If you're looking for the biggest chedi (stupa) in Chiang Mai, head over to the centrally located Wat Chedi Luang.

What you see today is only about half the size of what was once originally constructed in the 15th century. An earthquake in 1545 heavily damaged the chedi and it's only been partially restored. At about 30 meters tall, it's still a commanding presence.

Behold the big chedi!

Multiple Buddhas are hanging out at the stupa. Elsewhere at the complex, a wax monk.

More monks, a whole bronze army to infinity.

A shy little grey elephant. Gold leaf Buddha head.
One more Buddha, enjoying the lovely, intricate cover up.

George Segal-like Merchants At The Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Centre

Remember the American Pop Art sculptor, George Segal? He liked to create genre scenes in which the props might be real and the figures were left as raw, white plaster. The Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Centre appears to have been inspired by Segal's style.

Exhibition section that details Chiang Mai life in the 19th century.

The Segal-like figures emerge. A priest and muslim tailor.
Chinese dry goods merchant.

Working in the kitchen and a ghostly laugh.

At the street market, a lineup of women vendors.

Getting Some History At The Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Centre

Chiang Mai in Thailand has a nice museum in the middle of the city, a good place to get an overview of the local history. It presents a march through time by way of artifacts and, always a favorite, dioramas. History in miniature, yummy!

In the beginning, there was a tree. OK, maybe some bricks, the sign of the start of any civilization.

Clear some land, plant some of your own trees, commandeer an elephant for the hard work.

Establish some religion in a pretty area.

Create a royal family, enlist your elephants for a grand procession. More clearing and planting, now time for a little cabin and crops.

Back to work for the elephants, there is a forest to clear, timber to create.