Well, I guess its hardly surprising, but the extended weekend we had due to the Buddhist Celebrations of the Rainy Season, was characterised mostly by …..rain…lots of it. In fact once it started Saturday evening, it didn’t stop until Tuesday.
We actually braved the rain on Monday, putting on our macs and went into Chiang Mai to the Gym. I’m really on this fitness thing now, three weeks and I’m still doing it, shocker!
Stopping on the way for Kow Soi, we then went into Airport Plaza, before going to the gym, I needed to let my food go down properly first. So we used some time to go and check out a different Gym that my friend Jonathan had told me about. Well, a gyms a gym to me but the result of the visit is that I now have lifetime gold+ membership and will change to that gym on Sunday.
Tuesday saw things a lot dryer and we did go out for a short ride out.
Heading over towards San Kam Paeng on the Banthi road, I should have remembered from Saturdays ride out with Ally, the distinct lack of decent eating stops along this road.
We ended up all the way to the main San Kampaeng-Chiang Mai road, crossing it and riding a couple of kilometres towards San Kam Paeng itself, before we found a lunch stop. I should point out that its partly my fight for not being keen on Noodles, as we had passed a few other cafes but they were all Noodle places.
On the way back we called up to Wat Pa Tung and I got a photo of one of the possible sites for our Foundation plans.
We also spotted another big house for rent which may be another on the list of choices.
Yesterday was a much nicer day from the beginning and in the morning we rode over to Huay Tung Tao for lunch and a swim.
As apposed to the normal ‘splash about’, I actually did about half an hours serious swimming.
Had a great lunch.
We had to change tables once when Somboon started freaking out at the sight of a hairy caterpillar.
Can’t be sure if it was just his excuse but he assures me they make you itch a lot if you come into contact with them.
Our other lunchtime companions were the cafe cat, who happily ate our leftovers, and a beautiful yellow and black butterfly, possibly a cousin of that hairy caterpillar.
Later in the afternoon we called in at The Brick Road, where Boon, whoes eating like a horse these days, had Spaghetti Bolognese, and I chatted with a nice Dutch family.
On the way home we called in at Chompoo where we fed the fish and I bought a new Moneybox.
You may have read in a previous post, there is a stall that sells these plaster of Paris moneyboxes, along with a selection of paints for you to decorate it yourself.
At 30 baht for the largest, they are a bargain.
We also saw these amazing looking toads.
Quite a wildlife day.
So my evening was mostly taken with some relaxing, simple artwork;
to see the finished result and other photos from these past couple of days, visit our photobucket album here;
oh, and watching Wispa playing with her latest buddy, Fleabag.
Happy to report that my fitness campaign goes on.
We watched this isolated storm making its way across the hills infront of us.
Maybe I might even get to a level where I feel able to join in with the kids playing football. Good target to have.
From Maya Beach it was of for lunch on Phi Phi Island. Yet another idyllic location, although for me it was a little spoiled by its commercialism. But dont be put off, if you are looking for a paradise holiday destination this place should come high on the list.
It has plenty of cafes and restaurants to choose from, a great market village, resorts and all the usual Island tours, diving, snorkeling , trekking, etc.
Nearby Monkey Island was our next stop , where we moored a little offshore and went snorkelling around the extensive coral beds. We had enough time to swim into the beach if we wanted and a couple of our fellow passengers took that option, to check out the monkeys on the beach. Boon and I stuck with the snorkelling in the deep waters, so many more fish to see, especially when the boat hands threw bread. This made the fish come in from all over and we were in the thick of them , some literally brushing past our goggles.
This was our last stop before heading back to Ao Nang Beach. The weather had worsened and the seas were even choppier than on the trip out. I had to retreat from the bow position, about half way back, because it was just too much.
The activity the day before had been quite tiring so we had an easy start the next morning, heading out on the bike at around 10.30. We first went in search of the Tiger Cave Temple, just outside Krabi. It was a nice ride past many mountainous rocks jutting out of the flat lands. A long tree lined road took us into the Temple grounds and we parked up to take a look around.
Above the Temple is a huge mountain rock, on top of which is a large Sitting Buddha and viewing platform. You just have to climb the 1237 steps to get there.Puffing and panting I dragged myself up. I have to admit to almost reaching my limit around 3 quarters of the way up. Foolishly we had forgotten to take water with us and there was scant shelter from the blazing sun on the steps.
