Wat Umong

Wat Umong

I visited Wat Umong west of Chiang Mai on November 28. It is very quiet and has a lot of old ruins. My intent was to join the International University monks for part of their meditation retreat. The Wat is entirely different from others in Chiang Mai. Other Wats are covered with glossy tiles, mirrors, bright colors, and dragons with a few plants stuck here and there and one or two large trees. Wat Umong is nestled into a hillside just outside the city with simple buildings tucked in and around stands of trees. Footpaths with signs containing philosophical says are all around. 

A Fluent Talker
Makes a Great Liar

            

Today is Better Than Two Tomorrows

Buddha Garden

Its a quiet and very peaceful at this Wat. I walked around and saw a lot of old Buddha statues in a sun dappled garden.

Buddha Garden

Buddha Garden

Buddha Garden

Temple Guardians and Broken Buddhas

There were several fierce guardian statues around the temple.

    Temple Guardian

Temple Guardian   

I was particularly struck by one headless Buddha with a symbol like a sun in his open hand.

Buddha With Symbol in Hand

Symbol Detail

More Broken Buddhas

Stone Reliefs and Goddesses

A vendor gave me a tasty coffee ice cream covered in chocolate. It was cold, sweet and just what I needed on this hot day. I walked a bit more listening to hens cluck as they pecked about the ruins and chuckling as a couple of roosters competed for the loudest crow. 

Women In Prayer

Detail from Women In Prayer

Duck, Duck, Goose

In addition to the relief carvings, there were a number of goddess images around the Wat.  Check out this beautiful face at the left and the statue at the reflecting pond.

Reflecting Pond Goddess

Goddess Detail

Meditation Niche Under Central Chedi

At the center of the temple there is a very old chedi with tunnels running underneath. Inside the tunnels there are niches with Buddha statues and places for one or perhaps two people to kneel/sit and pray. While I was in the tunnels there was a young Thai woman with orange streaked hair meditating at one of the cross connecting tunnels. I passed by several times within a few inches of her in the small tunnel and never saw any sign that she even noticed my presence.

Meditation Among the Trees

Meditation and Reflection at Last
I gave up on finding the meditation retreat and began walking out. As I did I noticed a group of monks sitting amongst the trees. I sat with them for a bit and then they went into a small veranda/hall. I went in with them, sat and joined in with their chanting using the English translation book one of them handed me. 

As we left the chanting hall, a senior monk suggested I stop in at the office to sign up. My intent was to participate for a couple of days but the coordinator kept telling me had to sign up for at least five days. I thanked him and left. 

I treated myself to a Tuk tuk ride back to the city.

Riding the Tuk Tuk

Tuk Tuk