Saturday 14th October

After a wonderful night’s sleep, we enjoyed breakfast of eggs and bacon, fresh fruit and coffee before being picked up by our guide Noom. We were headed for the mountain top temple of Bat Soi Duthep via a hill tribe village.
Once again it was just the two of us in an air conditioned mini bus with Noom and the driver, Tiger.
The journey took about 50 minutes climbing up winding roads through a national forestry park. Beautiful trees and plantations but with no views in the distance because we were shrouded in mist. Passed a spectacular waterfall and crossed a number of rivers and streams. As we neared the temple area we came out of the mist into sunshine. At the temple, we had to change vehicles because the roads into the hill tribe area were very narrow and we needed a driver who was familiar with them.
The hill tribe village was geared up for tourists with winding lanes lined by stalls selling a multitude of items ranging from tea through hand embroidered clothes to jewelry and postcards. Everyone was wearing traditional dress. The little children offered to pose for photographs for money by singing in English “We are poor. We have no money. Please give money for food for my baby.” They were all under 10 years old!
The people lived in this village in very basic houses. There were loads of children and Noom explained that after dark as there was no electricity for lighting there was not much to do except make babies!
We descended in the back of our bakkie to the temple. There were 318 steps up the hillside so we opted to take the funicular up and walk down. As always the temple and its supporting buildings were exquisite, all the flooring was beautifully tiled and spotlessly clean. We had to ring at least one of the temple bells as a visitor. There should have been a view over the whole of Chiang Mai but it was very hazy. A Thai bride and her English groom were posing for photo’s. She kept calling “Briiian” when he was needed to pose.
Noom got the driver to stop at the Orchid & Lavender house on the way down the mountain. We thought we were going to see orchids but it was a jewelry shop. Oh dear! The items were exquisite with a price tag to match. (Would someone at the office please ring Mamut and get me another assignment! And Pete, for the next two Saturdays and Sundays would you please go and sit in the market for Mim!)
Back to the hotel for a snooze and swim before going out to the evening market in our street. We were the only tourists as it was aimed at the Chiang Mai residents and prices reflected this.
We love our guest house and Chiang Mai so much, that we decided we would follow Ed’s suggestion and extend our stay by two days if possible.