Chiang Mei

Well our stay in Hua Hin finally came to an end. We took another tour in the morning, heading north on the scooter to visit the Royal Summer Palace. The largest teak wood structure in the country, it is very cool. We spent about 2 hours there, after traveling about 15 kilometers from the hotel. Afterward, we headed back, turned in the scooter, grabbed our bags, and headed to the train station for the 4:00 express to Bangkok.

The entrance fountain at the Summer Palace.

Everything is open air, elevated, and connected by long canopies.

The palace is right on the beach.

Taking a load off on the seawall.

Beautiful grounds of the palace.

Nice digs!!

One of the main buildings.

Turned out it was delayed for 30 minutes, and the ride was 3 hours and 45 minutes to Bangkok station.
Checked out lots of farmland an the way. Looked like rice, corn, lots of exotic fruits, and actually some cattle. The ride seemed long, and by the time we got to the end of the line it was pitch dark. We grabbed a taxi at the station instead of trekking to the underground since we were beat. We arrived at our hotel at about 9:30 PM and crashed. But not before sampling some street vendors grilled meat, and buying a bottle of Italian Cabernet at a small convenience store. The bed in the room was sweet!

One of the Bellmen at the Centara.

Our Tuk-Tuk Taxi to the train station.

Couldn't resist taking a photo of this "redneck" front fender.
A water bottle cut in half, and wired on with tie wire!
My Dad would be proud!!

Figure out this train schedule.

Turned out our train was delayed 30 minutes.

Finally on board, but we had separate seats!

Bangkok at last!!

Next morning we were off to the airport via taxi to fly to Chiang Mei, and climbed aboard our Boeing 737 and off we went. It was much quicker than the previous nights train ride, only an hour. We landed and had arranged for a ride to our B&B then a tour to a famous Buddist Temple Wat Doi Suthep. We had the whole tour bus (12 passenger) to ourselves and a charming guide named Yai.

The Wat (temple) was incredible. So beautiful! Intricately carved and painted decorations. I won't try and describe it, I will just add a few photos....incredible!

Me and our guide Yai in the Temple grounds.

Many Buddahs surround the Wat.

The green is glass, the gold is.....gold!

The temple was built on the site chosen by a white elephant
 carrying a relic of Buddah. It wandered up the mountain from the
valley until it would go no further. The King built the Wat on the
spot. about 500 years ago! 

Dragons everywhere!

The gold covered structure in the background holds the
relic of Buuddah.

A monk ties a bracelet soaked in holy water on Kim's
 wrist for good luck.

I get my blessed bracelet.

Down the stairs (about 300 of them) with dragon rails,
 Yai and I head for the bus.

Afterwards we came down the hill and visited a few craft shops (silk and silver) my shopoholic wife is really enjoying life! When we got back the the B&B we were pretty beat. I flopped on the bed, by my energetic wife headed out to meet our friends the Hardy's for a night of.....you guessed it: shopping! I read my book and licked my wounds.

That's All!