Temple Mania

There are well over 300 temples within the Chiang Mai city limits. I spent hours walking around and visiting temples yesterday, and I saw maybe 10. In 95+ degree heat, you are crazy if you try to do more. Sick of water, I chugged 2 bottles of sprite in 5 seconds flat. (BTW, I love that soda is served in the old-fashioned tall glass bottles.) As beautiful as the temples are (and they are very beautiful), they all start to look the same after a while.

On my way to the first temple, I realized that I forgot to put my cardigan in my bag. Easy mistake to make in the blistering heat. I was worried I wouldn't be allowed in the temples in my tank top. Everything I've read says that you must be dressed modestly, and I remember that I wasn't allowed in a Japanese temple in a sleeveless shirt a few years ago. I don't know if the farang (Thai for foreigners) are especially disrespectful, or if the rules have changed, but I looked like a pilgrim compared to most of the temple visitors. I purposely wore below-the-knee capri pants, but many people were in their daisy dukes.

While I'm on the subject of pants, I'll confess that I'm considering buying a pair of those giant balloon-style gaucho coulott (sp?) pants. It will cost about $4. They look ridiculous, but they are very popular here and I now understand why. It is way too hot to wear anything remotely tight. You want something lightweight and flowy. I only packed one pair of shorts, but damn if I am going to wear anything denim in 100 degrees.