Charoenrat Road…..

by Mandeep Gaygoat

After a modest breakfast at hotel, and watching the dog Charlie be sick (after someone overfed him – wonder who that could be!!) we headed to the city in search of

Sri Singh Sabha Gurdwara.
134 Chareonrat Road.
Chiang Mai
Thailand

Waiting for the bus

Pai dropped us off at Bosang Village where we caught a white bus (looks like a jeep) which dropped us to the east of the old city, about 13km from our accommodation. It’s amazing how many people you can get into one if those things! There were 15 plus in there at one point! The bus charges 20baht per person (40 pence)

From there we walked through the hustle and bustle of some local markets, before heading across the bridge to begin walking up from where Charoenrat Road started (or where the map told us it started!)

An hour later we had reached the top of the road, not a Gurdwara or any Sikhs to be seen….so we began the journey back down the road deciding it must have been earlier on, where the street name changed to Charoenrajd, again as the map told us!

An hour (and a visit to Tesco Lotus and Zit Around cafe – due to the intense heat!) later, we found the Gurdwara.

It was around 1pm by this time. There is no diwan on a Sunday but the Giani was present and welcomed us to the Gurdwara. We talked for quite some time and were later joined by other members of the sangat. It was good to speak to Sikhs that live in Thailand, gave us a different perspective of the city.

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Gurdwara Siri Singh Sahib, Chiang Mae

After several hours, we parted company. Some Buddhist monks and other locals had requested a tour of the Gurdwara and information about Sikhi so the Giani and sangat showed them around. The monks seemed very excited and fascinated!

The Buddhist monks left their shoes outside the Gurdwara

After, we popped into a guesthouse next door to the Gurdwara. The rooms were clean and the location perfect so we booked in some nights for next week when we planned to be closer to the city.

We then carried on walking down Charoenrajd Road – nice road running alongside the Mae Ping river. it, along with the Nan River, is one of the two main contributaries of Chao Phraya River. It originates at Doi Tuay, Daen Lao Range, in Chiang Dao district, Chiang Mai Province. After passing Chiang Mai town, it flows though the provinces Lamphun, Tak, and Kamphaeng Phet. At the confluence with the Nan River at Nakhon Sawan (also named Paknam Pho in Thai) it forms the Chao Phraya River) with lots of nice looking cafes and restaurants.

We then crossed Narawat Bridge, heading down Tha Pae Road in search of dinner. We ate at a vegetarian restaurant
Taste Like Heaven
237-239 Tha Pae Road,
Chang Klan (at Muang, opposite Krung Thai Bank)
Chiang Mai
Thailand 50100
T: +66 53-208-803

Some items contain eggs but the menu is marked very clearly with vegan dishes. Roy runs the place and has done a great job. The food and atmosphere were excellent. I got chatting to Roy as I went over to pay the bill, he asked me if I am vegan, I explained that I am a veggie but that Sangeet is vegan. Roy said that’s why she is so beautiful. I accepted the compliment – after all she is my wife!! Sangeet joined us and we chatted for a while about veganism, Elephants, life…!! Roy also told me that other Sikhs in Chiang Mae have told him that vegetarian Sikhs wear white turbans. He looked at my turban and said your turban is black? I explained that the colour of the turban has no bearing to being vegetarian. After exchanging details, Sangeet and I set off for a wander around the Sunday Night market on Walking Street.

On the way we popped into a coffee shop which also sold clothes. Sangeet had a browse while the Sikh owner presented me with tea and gulab jamun, no complaints from me! Then on to the Sunday Night Market which was enjoyable. It goes on and on and on, lots of live music, food, interesting crafts. The people of Chiang Mai are friendly and laid back. At 9pm we headed to the bus stop. We ended up getting a taxi (red jeep) to Bosang Village, where Peter then came to pick us up. A great jam packed day.

Boy on the phone whilst doing the hula hoop!