DAY FIVE JANUARY 14th 2026. CHIANG MAI, THAILAND. [<Click on title to see the entire blog]

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What a day today was. It started out well :) Seems that I am getting up VERY early and today I noted it was 8am [better than 6am LOL] I had packed lightly intentionally, so this morning I did hand laundry and hung it out to dry on my balcony. Then I headed out to the red trucks that sit by the old gate and take you places. I bargained with the guy and got this FORTY yes 40 minute WILD drive up the mountains to the temple, Doi Sohep for 300 Baht = $12.00 .

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Well after that WILD ride I was directed to a place where I rode up in a cable car to the top where the temple sits. What a beauty of a day. While I waited for my friend who was arriving later, I took it upon myself to explore. Here is the first video of the view and such.

After viewing the top area, I noted that there was a place to meditate. Off I went and followed the signs!! Did I make it LOL. Watch the two following videos.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/a046f6_9de74386ebdc4cdf9272e57493bd8f5d/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

After viewing the top area, I noted that there was a place to meditate. Off I went and followed the signs!! Did I make it LOL. Watch the two following videos.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/a046f6_fba1bb974515439c872d00f8f3f295ad/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

And we are still traveling down to the place that I am looking for LOL.

This is where I am :)

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Another video of the elephant and its history. Thailand has an exceptional amount of endearment to elephants. You will find a lot of clothes with elephants on them.

While waiting for my friend I went to the bathroom. Here was some advice on not what to do. LOL.

As I wandered around here are the pics I took of this amazing temple set high in the mountains.

Once my friend arrived, we decided to actually head back down those stairs and FINALLY LOL we reached the meditation center. Here was the sign outside. Spiritual people do not torture, kill and ingest the body of souls who just want to live like humans do.

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Very different driving home LOL. You jump on the truck and as you can see by the driver he is collecting money from everyone. I had paid in the first line up. He had a full truck and these ladies were from Russia working here in tech. I believe they had been here for 4 months or were going to be in Thailand for 4 months. BUT!!! either I paid to go to another old gate, or the driver was told wrongly, as I got booted off with 2 girls about 2 km from my hotel. One of the girls kindly downloaded Grab for me. You need to have your pic on this app. [thus she could not use her app to order me one] The Grab came and I noted that my phone was dying so I headed straight back to my hotel and TRULY wished I had NOT.

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BUT before I tell you the story, here is the traffic as we were driving home [before I got booted off] Note the many scooters as that is the main form of transportation in Thailand.

Because my phone had 1% battery left, I headed to my hotel and plugged it into my room socket. I then decided to go to the pool while I waited for it to charge. BIG MISTAKE.

After enjoying a few laps in the salt water what seemed like a heated pool, I climbed the metal steps to get out onto the cement. The air seemed a little chilly, so I stepped faster. My feet were wet and the right foot went out from under me and I fell. I fell HARD. Onto my right shoulder and lo and behold it popped out of its socket. Truly I have never ever felt so much pain.

Luckily there was one person there who jumped up and helped me into a chair and went to call staff who arrived within seconds.

Later I found out the only reason that girl was by the pool was because she had a headache and had gone there to rest and try to get rid of it. Otherwise, no one would have been around.

Staff took charge. We had to go to my room to get my passport, phone and credit card. And to get some clothes over my bathing suit. Man oh man the pain I endeared while doing this. Then I was rushed to the hospital where I have to say, if you are going to get hurt do it in Thailand.

The manager stayed with me the entire time. I was met with a wheelchair. Rushed into x-ray and by the time that was done a bone specialist doctor had arrived. I asked for pain drugs and was given a series of three. Within 3 hours I was x-rayed twice, blood taken to confirm I was not allergic, two nurses, one doctor and a back up doctor!! I must have passed out as I woke up in the x-ray place having the second one taken and the shoulder had been put back in place. Sure, there was still some pain but nothing like the pain I had endured. What a relief.

The manager drove me back to the hotel and helped me into my room. Brought me a menu and told me to order my supper which I did. Then I fell into the best sleep I have ever experienced. :)

Oh, by the way the entire treatment in Can. $ was $550.00. They have the same health care system we have, and no one was in the waiting rooms. Service was INCREDIBLE from start to finish. Why is this since Thailand has a way bigger population. Oh yes, could it be the food? Because people who live there permanently are not fat. Nor do you see them eating fast food or any type of crap food.

Maybe Canada and the USA should ban fast food places???