WAX FIGURES INSIDE TEMPLE - CHIANG MAI

WAX FIWAX FIGURES INSIDE TEMPLE - CHIANG MAI - LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

GANESHA - LORD OF ALL BEINGS

GANESHA - LORD OF ALL BEINGS - LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

TEMPLE BAS RELIEF - CHIANG MAI

TEMPLE BAS RELIEF - CHIANG MAI - LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

TEMPLE DRAGON - CHIANG MAI

TEMPLE DRAGON - CHIANG MAI - LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

BUDDHIST TEMPLE COMPLEX

BUDDHIST TEMPLE COMPLEX - On the second full day of the February 2010 trip to Chiang Mai, Chuck, Curt, Peggy and I paid a visit to a Buddhist temple complex located just south of the Old City. The next set of posts were taken during that visit.

SIAM COMMERCIAL BANK

SIAM COMMERCIAL BANK - LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

BILLBOARD - CHIANG MAI

BILLBOARD - CHIANG MAI - This billboard advertises TIGER KINGDOM where tourists can have their picture taken cuddling up to s tiger. The unfortunate truth is that these animals are drugged and physically abused in order to render them docile. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

GIRL IN DRAGON COSTUME

GIRL IN DRAGON COSTUME - LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS CHIANG MAI

TUK TUK - CHIANG MAI

TUK TUK - CHIANG MAI - A tuk tuk is a three wheeled taxi, sort of a motorized rickshaw. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

BAS RELIEF OF ELEPHANTS

BAS RELIEF OF ELEPHANTS - LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

YOUNG WOMAN READING BY THE CHIANG MAI MOAT

YOUNG WOMAN READING BY THE CHIANG MAI MOAT - LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS

OLD CITY WALL - CHIANG MAI THAILAND

OLD CITY WALL - CHIANG MAI THAILAND - This is a portion of the old wall that once surrounded the city. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

THA PHAE GATE - CHIANG MAI

THA PHAE GATE - CHIANG MAI - One of four ancient gates, each situated at a compass point. These gates once provided the sole means of entering and exiting the walled, moated city. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

CHIANG MAI

CHIANG MAI - Just outside the Old City - LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

FEET OF GOLD

FEET OF GOLD - The lower portion of a larger than life temple statue - LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSOHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

TEMPLE OFFERING - CHIANG MAI

TEMPLE OFFERING - CHIANG MAI - This offering of incense sat in front of one of the temples situated on the northern edge of the Old City. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

TEMPLE STATUE - CHIANG MAI

TEMPLE STATUE - CHIANG MAI - LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

BUDDHIST TEMPLE - CHIANG MAI THAILAND

BUDDHIST TEMPLE - CHIANG MAI THAILAND - This temple is situated at the northern edge of the Old City. On the morning of the first full day of our stay in Chiang Mai last year, we all set out separately to explore the Old City. We knew we couldn't get too lost as we were surrounded by a moat. The photos appearing in my next several posts reflect what I encountered on this, my first exploration of the Old City. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

HIGHWAY IN CHIANG MAI

HIGHWAY IN CHIANG MAI - This highway runs along the north border of the Old City. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

HOME SWEET HOME

HOME SWEET HOME - This somewhat tiny, colorfully painted residence provides simple, albeit most likely comfortable, shelter to the family that resides there. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

EAT YOUR FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

EAT YOUR FRUITS AND VEGETABLES - Several internet sites warn Americans not to eat raw fruits and vegetables WHILE IN THAILAND.. We totally ignored that advice, ate fruit and vegetables to our hearts' content and suffered no ill effects. Thai tap water however, is quite another matter. We noticed that even most Thais drank bottled water. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

CHUCK FEIL'S TAO OF PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP

CHUCK FEIL'S TAO OF PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP - This is Chuck Feil, operator of the Tao of photography workshops. Chuck led our little expedition to S.E. Asia. TRAVELING WITH AN EXPERIENCED INSTRUCTOR WHO ALREADY WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE LAY OF THE LAND MADE EVERYTHING SO MUCH EASIER. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

DR. CHARTCHAI SKIN CLINIC - CHIANG MAI

DR. CHARTCHAI SKIN CLINIC - CHIANG MAI - This unassuming skin clinic is located not very far from the Khumsiphaya. Dr. Chartchai holds a certificate of dermatology from Harvard Medical School. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

EXPLORING THE NEIGHBORHOOD TEMPLES

EXPLORING THE NEIGHBORHOOD TEMPLES - FEBRUARY 2010 - This was one of two Buddhist temples I discovered our first morning in Chiang Mai within two blocks of the Khumsiphaya Grand Hotel where we were staying. Chiang Mai hosts about 300 Buddhist temples as well as a small number of Hindu, Islamic, Jewish and Christian houses of worship. Photographing the colorful and exotic temples was one of the highlights of our trip. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

CHIANG MAI SUNDAY BAZAAR

CHIANG MAI WEEKEND BAZAAR - On the February 2010 trip, we arrived in Chiang Mai somewhat after mid day. That evening, we took in the Sunday Bazaar or as it is also called, the Sunday Walking Market which is held each Sunday from 3 pm - 10 pm on Rajdumnen road between the Thapae Gate and the Three Kings Monument. Art, handcrafted items, entertainment and exotic foods abounded. Needles to say, our first evening in Chiang Mai was delightful. And Tao of Photography Workshop leader Chuck Feil unexpectedly footed the bill for dinner which was not included in the workshop description. Of course, meals from there on out were our individual responsibility. And since dining out is incredibly cheap in Thailand, we wined (or rather drank CHANG beer) and dined with total abandon during our subsequent stay. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

7 ELEVEN - CHIANG MAI

7 ELEVEN - CHIANG MAI - In Chiang Mai, there are so many 7 Elevens, it's difficult to avoid stumbling over them. While there are certainly a number of similarities between Thai 7 Elevens and the ones here in the States, there are also noticeable differences. One of my favorite items purchased at 7 Eleven was sliced pickled unripe mango. It was absolutely delicious. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

KHUMSIPAYA GRAND HOTEL - CHIANG MAI THAILAND

KHUMSIPHAYA GRAND HOTEL - CHIANG MAI THAILAND - The illustration above is a photograph I made during the February 2010 trip to Chiang Mai. We had a wonderful stay at the Khumsiphaya and my plans are to, at least initially, rent lodging there on a monthly basis upon my arrival in Chiang Mai. This hotel is located just within the original walled and moated portion of the city a short distance southeast of the north gate. Quite reasonable monthly rates and twice weekly maid service make this a lodging arrangement you can't beat with a bamboo stick. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

ELKINSPHOTOS CHIANG MAI INTRO

ELKINSPHOTOS CHIANG MAI INTRO - IN FEBRUARY 2010, I PARTICIPATED IN A PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP THAT INCLUDED A TEN DAY EXCURSION TO THE CITY OF CHIANG MAI IN NORTHERN THAILAND. IT WAS A FANTASTIC EXPERIENCE, AND I IMMEDIATELY FELL IN LOVE WITH THE CITY. IN FACT, I WAS SO TAKEN BY CHIANG MAI THAT I HAVE DECIDED TO RELOCATE THERE ON A RETIREMENT VISA SOMETIME THIS COMING SUMMER. USING CHIANG MAI AS A BASE OF OPERATIONS, I PLAN TO SPEND THE UPCOMING YEARS PHOTO DOCUMENTING THE NATIONS OF S. E. ASIA. FOR NOW, THIS BLOG WILL ALLOW ME TO SHARE MY PHOTOS AND EXPERIENCES FROM THE 2010 TRIP AND TO POST UPDATES ON MY PLANS TO RELOCATE TO CHIANG MAI. ONCE I'M IN CHIANG MAI IT WILL SERVE AS A JOURNAL AND SOURCE OF INFORMATION THROUGH WHICH I CAN STAY IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS. AS THE CHINESE PHILOSOPHER LAO-TZU ONCE SAID, "A JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES BEGINS WITH A SINGLE STEP." LARRY ELKINS - ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

WELCOME TO ELKINSPHOTOS CHIANG MAI

WELCOME TO ELKINSPHOTOS CHIANG MAI - HI. I'M LARRY ELKINS AND THIS IS MY BLOG.