| Well, here are the next four zodiacs-Dragon, Snake, Horse, and Goat. | |
Zodiac ::|:: Dragon
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| Wat Phra Singh Destination ::|:: Chiang Mai |
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| Getting there ::|:: Samlarn Road, Muang, Chiang Mai |
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| Located at the center of Chiang Mai is Wat Phra Singh, where Phra Buddha Si Hing is kept. The holy Buddha is priceless and has been with Chiang Mai for a very long time. | |
| It’s very easy to go to this temple. I recalled that last time I went there was with my friends from the university. We went there for a seminar and did not have our own transportation. We just simply took the red public mini bus, which ran around town. You just told the driver. They knew. So no worry. Then we walked for a short distance. It’s kind of nice to walk around and saw the way of life of local people. | |
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| On that day, I was lucky enough to be able to enter the inner temple and gave respect to Phra Buddha Sihing. I was so delighted sitting still in front of the Buddha. What a peacefulness! Inside the temple, the temperature was cooler then the outside, where the sun was so bright. I sat there for couple minutes trying to give myself some quiet moment. | |
Zodiac ::|:: Snake |
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| Bodhi Tree at Buddhagaya Destination ::|:: India |
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| Getting there ::|:: Gaya District, Bihar State, India |
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| Buddhagaya is the place where Buddha attained his enlightment when he sat under the Bodhi tree called Prasri Maha Bodhi. The temple was named as UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2002. | |
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| If you cannot travel to India, you can go to Wat Maha Bhodharam in Chiang Mai. Within the temple’s area, you will see Jedi Jed Yod (Seven Spires Pagoda) representing Buddhagaya. Or if you do not want to go to Chiang Mai, you can pay respect to any Bhodi tree at any temple of your choice. Well, I suggest, if you really have faith, you go to India. For me, I really want to go there in the future. | |
Zodiac ::|:: Horse |
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| Shwedagon Pagoda Destination ::|:: Myanma |
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| Getting there ::|:: Rangon, Myanmar |
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| As I said in my previous blog that I had visited Mynamar last year; of course, Shwedagon Pagoda was definitely in the program. It was so spectacular. I never saw any pagoda this huge and beautiful. The pagoda itself was made from golds, which I could not remember the total weight; but I knew it’s tremendous. (I think I will write about my trip to Myanmar later.) | |
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| I know that many people never thought about going to Myanmar. Well, I suggest you changing your mind. Just go there and you will love it. As for those of you who are born as a Horse zodiac and haven’t had a chance to visit Shwedagon pagoda, you can visit Wat Phra Borommathat at Tak Province as a substitute. | |
Zodiac ::|:: Goat |
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| Wat Phra That Doi Suthep Destination ::|:: Chiang Mai |
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| Getting there ::|:: Ampur Maung, Chiang Mai | |
| Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is the most famous temple in the North and Chiang Mai province. I still remembered my first time visiting Doi Suthep. That time, I think, I was about 5-7 years old. I went there with my family (of course). Walking on that naga steps toward the temple was always a challenge for kids. Whenever, I thought about it, I will always have a smile on my face. | |
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| Along those steps, you will find many different hill tribes people selling souvenirs and shooting photo for money. I guess nowadays most of them are not really from the hill anymore. Everything now is all about marketing. Sometimes it makes the sacred place like Doi Suthep lost its charms and gracefulness. Today, if you are too lazy to walk the steps, you can take a cable car going up to the temple. It’s your choice. Nonetheless, I want you to try walking and enjoy the surrounding. | |
Next time, it will be the last part of this story. I hope that at  least you guys will get something out of it. I wish you all good luck and good life for this coming Songkran Day or Thai’s New Year Day. |
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