06-02-2020 – Back With Neil and Connie
Today we headed off to see the start of the Chiang Mai flower festival setup and then on to Siri Wattana markets. In no time it was lunch time so we found a great local lunch at the markets before heading back to the hotel to meet up with Neil and Connie arriving from Bangkok. Spent the rest of the afternoon chatting before heading out for dinner. A great night catching up was had by one and all.
07-02-2020
With the awesome foursome back together we grabbed a bus to the airport to confirm our Hertz rental car. We then found a great coffee next to the shopping centre before finding lunch at the same centre. Then back to the hotel for an easy afternoon. 4:30 we were off to the Chiang Mai flower festival when we ate and thoroughly enjoyed the displays, entertainment and food. A great evening was had by all!
08-02-2020
Hertz arrived at the hotel at 10 am for us to receive the car. We were on the road by 11. Our planned point for the day was Uttaradit. So to get ourselves ready for a long drive, about 4 hours direct, but we never go direct, we headed for Amazon.
By 1:45 pm we arrived at Wat Ban Som Poi where the celebration was in full swing. Before we knew it, we were sharing ice cream, papaya salad and cake. Then we were shown the dancing and we enjoyed some of the Thailand white spirits. Fantastic time and such beautiful people at this temple.
The next stop for the day was Wat Nam Lom where we again met some lovely people.
By 4 pm we arrived at Wat Phiphat Mongkhon, a huge temple complex that was stunning to see. You only understand the size of this place by looking at it from a drone’s point of view.
Uttaradit was in full party mode when we arrived so we picked up our hotel room key and headed off to join the locals. I don’t recall seeing another non-thai at the event. It was just enormous, with food, music, goods for sale and temples. Colourful lights everywhere. Thousands of people everywhere! Just a fantastic night!
Note – This was Māgha Pūjā the second most important Buddhist festival, celebrated on the full moon day of the third lunar month in Thailand on 8 Feb 2653/2020.