In our last few weeks in Chiang Mai, we went to photograph Wat Phra Singh on Singharaj Rd, and to the Shrine of Meng Rai in the centre of the old city square. The story of Mengrai is probably sanitised in some of the tourist histories of Chiang Mai. I read the story that as a 21-year old he had decided that war was not the way to rule a kingdom, but that alliances were the way to go. I love the story, admired it, but in looking it up, he seems to have been as warlike as any other king. He did however set up an alliance with two nearby kings, so the story is enshrined by statuary in the centre of the old town. The possible true story is found in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mangrai
However, the story of his death is probably more correct: he was struck by lightning in the market. There was a shrine set up at the site, and near the formal Three Kings Monument there's a small shrine tucked away next to a car repair shop. It claims to be where Meng Rai died, and I suspect it might be the real deal, or near to. So I took lots of photos. Meng Rai is depicted as a rather dishy young man, with his fellow two kings likewise, in forms which are highly unlikely. It's an interesting idea, this idealisation of the founder of the city. For some reason the story of his life as idealised caught my imagination. It's a pity it's unlikely he was a pacifist. At Wat Phra Singh, we happened upon a crowd of people. Not speaking Thai, I can only say that it seemed to be the installation of a headstone or some other commemorative stone within one of the buildings at the rear of the main wat. There was a festival in the grounds, including three young men who seemed to represent women. There was wicker shrine which seemed to be being set up by some of the monks. They placed the bowls in various poses before being satisfied. A few weeks later, we were back in the coldest part of Australia. I miss Chiang Mai