Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai holds a unique place in the history of Thailand, the former city of the Lanna Kingdom. Overlooking the city is the temple of Doi Su Thep, a site chosen when a fabled white elephant carried a relic of the Buddha into the forests. Where the elephant came to rest is where they built the temple.

Caring for elephants is no trivial issue in Thailand. Some camps treat their elephants better than others, and one of my favourites is in the north of Thailand at Chiang Dao. About an hour past Chiang Mai, this little camp gets far fewer visitors every day but enough to keep the elephants well fed and happy. There are good and bad aspects to elephant camps of any kind, but they're better than letting these majestic creatures starve on the streets.

Today I was asked to dig up an image of the Buddha from Thailand for a magazine. As I rummaged through some RAW files from recent trips I got a little nostalgic. The people of Thailand enjoy their Buddha in golden tones and magnificent temples.