Forest Monks vs City Monks, Hot springs, Wat Pa Mai and Wat Pa Darapirom

Today was a day of service for the monks. There are two main types of monks - the Forest Monks who live - you guessed it- in the forest and are in the Thais eyes the serious monks and then there are the city monks . The latter being all over the news because of some sort of corruption - go figure corruption in Thailand!  Our day began by going to P's house for coffee. He owns an indigo and cotton plantation in the north. His family grows both then spins and weaves the cotton into fabric. I bought a piece of fabric - maybe turn it into a skirt or if all else fails a tablecloth , cause I cannot sew.

Beautiful indigo cotton

We left there and headed to the hot springs ...another hair raising drive through the mountains. Buddha boxes line the road from previous accidents....would like to take a picture of them but we go to fast!

The hot spring tubs are really nice and the view spectacular.

After a half hour in the hot spring I watched as the truck was loaded with mineral water for the monks. They use it to bath in.

All your eggs in a basket ready to boil in the hot spring!

Taking advantage of the hot water for laundry.

Hot Spring expansion:

The hard /manual labour in this particular construction zone was being done by the women. Thirty four degrees out and the are wearing jackets and covered head to toe. The men operate the machinery...say no more.

I think there is a break coming up - not sure how they were going to rectify this!

Once we arrived at the forest temple the men walked down the road first, followed by the women.

The water was unloaded and then a one hour ceremony took place . I did not understand one word.

You are not supposed to take pictures of the monks but I did manage to sneak a few shots.

Do you think he knew I was sneaking a shot of him?

Was trying to discretely get the tattoo!

On the way back to Chiang Mai we stopped at the Royal Temple built for Rama the fifths wife. Wat Pa Darapirom.

The army via elephant.

That was a very full day!  Hope you enjoy the pictures.

Life is good and travelling is fun!