March 27, 2017

We had decided to get up early and cycle to the Wats. Unfortunately, the rain and thunderstorm were still moving around the area and I woke up with a bit of a headache.

We went for breakfast, and I began to feel a little better. While we were sitting at the cafe Ralf suggested that because the weather was unpredictable maybe we should rent a scooter and ride out to the Wats. What a great idea, we rented a scooter for 150 Baht $5.84 we had to have it back by 8:00 p.m.

We were given two helmets that made us look incredibly goofy. I would have been better of wearing my bike helmet.

It started to rain a little as we set of, we stopped and put on our rain jackets and headed out to the Wat Hum Sua and Wat Ban Tham.

We decided to take the funicular (cable car), which was rather scary to the temples and walk back down. The angle that the “car” was at was well over 75%. It was a short but very steep ride to the top. I was glad that we got to the top safe and sound.

We were able to go in a Wat with a tower and were able to climb all the stairs to the top.

Each level had different displays from historical stories to pictures of each King. At the top were the bells.

We spent about two hours investigating the whole area. 

Ralf went into one of the buildings where a monk was giving some blessings, we often forget that these are active places of worship.  I believe Ralf and I are very respectful in these area, however, other tourists aren\’t.  Busloads of tourists visit this temple area.

I went one way and Ralf went another and we met up in the middle.  There was some construction and painting, the garbage was left at the back of the building.

We headed down the steep steps back to the scooter.

Where Ralf took this \”self-portrait\”.

After that we headed to the Wat Ban Tham (Dragon Wat).  This Wat was referred to as the Temple of Caves Village. 

It was built in the u-thong period around the 12 – 15^th century. As you walk past the small temples at the bottom of the hill you do not expect to come face-to-face with a large dragon snaking its way down the hill.  It is quite stunning.

 It was a tough climb – 720 steps to the very top and getting hotter and more humid as we got to the top.

 

Halfway up the stairs, there was a large cavern which had a large Buddha.

The view from the top was amazing, even with the misty cloud cover.  These buddhists have to be fit to go up and down these mountains to the Wats at the top.

On the way down I spotted a small opening into a cavern.  Ralf went to explore.

There were some interesting paintings in the stair way up to the first cave.

While Ralf took a few more photos I tried to hitch a ride, but no-one else would pick me up.

We made one last stop at a small Chinese temple.  These are very colourful.

We spotted this lady, with her dog.  The little thing balanced on the back of her scooter.  I hope she didn\’t hit a bump and the poor little thing bounced off.  We didn\’t see it down the road so it must have survived.

By the time we got back to the hotel, I had a migraine. I went to bed for the afternoon.

Later in the evening my migraine had eased off a little allowing me to pack up my bags ready for the early start tomorrow morning.  Checking my email, my neighbour Charity, who is keeping an eye on our place for us, had sent me a photo of the snowdrops I had planted – Spring is coming to Barrie Ontario.