2018- While living in Bangkok my husband and I traveled to the northern city of Chiang Mai to get away from noise and pollution. We loved the small city for its laid back vibe, tasty food, mountain access and its quintessentially Thai take on spirituality. Like everything else in Thailand, the temples, pagodas, and monasteries are open to all and extremely welcoming; whether you’re a Buddhist or a tourist. I’m not a Buddhist or particularly spiritual but I do have a deep appreciation for the journey and aspire to integrate it more into my life. The first time we visited Wat Umong, a 700 year old temple and monastery about 20 minutes outside of the city, was in 2013. The day before that first visit was the worst day of my life to date, fraught with physical and emotional pain. Since then we've made a point of visiting Wat Umong yearly, if possible, and plan on continuing to do so as long as we're able. It's my favorite place in the world. To me, Wat Umong is a kind and loving friend, there when I needed her most. It’s humble, quiet, and unrefined grounds are full of surprises and have become a place of refuge for me and my family.