Chiang Mai photo essay

I love the photo of the sky right after it opened up and unleashed a furious storm. Moody and gorgeous. It’s been awhile since I shared some favorite photos, so here we go.

Yellow

Below: photo of the outside of a motorbike repair shop’s yellow wall with green shrubs facing a busy street, and a yellow flower growing in front of a Thai-style mail box. I find Thai people have an innate aesthetic sense and also incorporate wild greenery for beauty, for shields, for shade. They don’t feel the need to contain and control nature into carefully curated gardens. I resonate with this spontaneity, this idea of “found beauty” as it is.

Discretion

Below: examples of trees, plants and shrubs used to decorate, shade, and provide privacy in front of a convenience store.

Below: there’s also a statue of a woman and a welcome mat. The plants cover the window screens, but I’ve glimpsed a counter or bar, tables, a shaven-headed man smoking a cigarette listening to loud metal music.

Temple

Below: a man enters the temple. In front, an area to light candles and burn incense.

Below: intricate craftsmanship in the carved wooden temple scene, and the gold work.

Below: a monk reads; a woman prays.

River Ping Ferry

Below: the temple above sits on the banks of the Ping River. This is one of the launch points to catch a river ferry.

Only in Thailand

The recycle bin in front of 7-11 offers two different sized holes for different sized containers and bottles. However, they both empty into one big bin, so why the holes?

Bring your child to work

Again, seen at 7-11, this child sits on the floor near the register where his mother worked her shift. He’s eating lunch off of a banana leaf, has a little drink, and is watching a cartoon on his mother’s device. No utensils; sticky rice and grilled chicken are eaten with the hands.