Southeast Asia II: More temples and wats: Buddhism , WOW!

I just got back from the Chiang Mai Night Market which is different from the Chiang Mai Sunday Night Market. The nightly market is outside the old city and is much much larger than the Sunday market. However, I thought the Sunday market was more interesting with more authentic items. The nightly market had lots of ripoffs and not as interesting street food. The Sunday market brings in craftspeople from the hill villages and is in the old city surrounded my temples. The most interesting temple so far was Wat Phra Singh. Great wood carvings, artists painting the wall murals and an emerald Buddha. There was some military brass getting a tour of the temple. They were from several countries and didn't seem to be above the rank of colonel. My guess is they were the embassy military attaches. I took a tuk-tuk to the mall to get some more clothes and look for a new bag. The tuk-tuk driver spoke half-way decent English. When he found out I was an American he asked what I thought of Bush. He seemed to be a fan. He also doesn't like the new military junta and wants deposed PM Thaskin back. Thaksin is from Chiang Mai so the city is almost universal in wanting his return. Martial Law was lifted in Bangkok but not in Chiang Mai. Not that you can tell from all the chaos. Here are my pictures from today's temple hopping. Tomorrow is my last day in Chiang Mai.