We were due to go to the temple on the mountain this afternoon after our 12.00 checkout but changed our minds as we thought it might be too hot later. We asked for a later checkout which we got till 2.00 and then changed the car to 9.00. As we had been awake so early 9.00 seemed like lunchtime!
I had packed last night so not much to do and we left
The road to the temple was very windy and one side had potholes so cars were driving on the side that didn't all a bit hairy but our driver was good and the car was cold!
At the temple there are 309 steps to walk up or you can go on a little train/lift which most people do. At the top it is very impressive with views, if it was clear enough of Chang Mai however, it is the most touristy temp,e we have been to and Thai people come from all over to visit.
The taxi driver gave us his card and said call him when we were ready but we said we had no phone. So he said OK be back here at 11.00 but we had no watches with us so we would have to ask someone !
We walked round and took photos, Jon is amused every time he sees a monk with a mobile phone!
Something I forgot to mention in my blog the other day was we saw a guy riding his elephant along the road and chatting on his mobile. We were just not quick enough to get a photo.
We had a coffee and then set off to walk down the 309 steps
Half way down stood a little girl, no more than four and all dressed in traditional costume. I went over to her for Jon to take a photo and she put a flower into my hand and put her arms around me. Aww how sweet I thought as Jon took the photo. She then said 'hello money' lol! We gave her some and she said Thank you.. They start them young here!
We got down to the bottom and there re so many stalls it is unbelievable and lots of dogs.
We were very relieved to get into our waiting, cold taxi and get back to the hotel.
Jon stayed in the room and read and I had an hour by the pool before we showered and packed and had to check out.
We went to the restaurant and had a nice lunch. Mine was a chef speciality salad with vegetables, chicken, crispy onions and cashews and was really good but spicy.
We now had three hours to wait and so headed for reception. The lady who organises excursions from the hotel also has Thai craft sessions in the afternoon and she asked me if I wanted to help make a flower garland so I said yes. It took me over an hour and is really pretty made with tiny jasmine buds threaded on a needle and then pushed onto a thread, joined in the middle and rose tassels added to the end. They are made as offerings to the Buddhas or given to important people. She said it was for me to take. I am not sure if I will get it home before it dies but it is very nice.
I then sat with Jon and we melted and I did my blog until the car came to take us to the airport.
We checked in and waited in the lounge. I am glad the storm has passed and it all looks clear or our one hour flight.
Hopefully I will get this finished later tonight.
It has kaken me till today, Tuesday to get back to my blog.
Our flight was very good and a much bigger and newer plane than we flew up on. They served a meal which seems silly for a one hour flight, a sandwich or a cup of tea and a biscuit would be enough, we didn't have the meal.
When we landed we got through quickly and went to find the Novotel and discovered that although it is just across the road and you can see it, you hav to go on a shuttle bus which takes you all ove the airport complex and ten minutes late you arrive. How can you build a modern airport hotel an not have access via a walkway. You can get to the car park via a walkway so why not the hotel?
We checked in and it was on of those places that you could have been anywhere in the world. The room was big and spacious and for one night was fine but expensive just because of where it is.
We had no free wi-fi which really annoys me with big hotels as the little places can do it so why not hem, just a way to get more money. Even a half our free would be useful. This is why I didn't get my blog finished.
We went down to the bar for a drink and we had the biggest laugh I have had for a long time. There was a little Thai man playing a double bass and a girl playing piano but the voice that came from him was so funny, a bit like Louis Armstrong in pain and I cried laughing but everyone else in the bar didn't seem to notice!
We then went or dinner but we only needed a snack after ou big lunch.
We went to bed late for us due to the late evening flight.
FRIDAY
I got up very early so that I could go and have a swim. It took me ten minutes to find the pool. They said second floor but the hotel is divided into two blocks so it took a lot of walking but was worth it when I got there. There were only three other guys there and it was a lovely pool.
I dripped back to our room and Jon was ready so I showered and got ready and we went down to breakfast which was OK but not the standard of the Tamarind Village that we have had for the last four days.
We had a bit of time to kill so wandered around the market stalls they had in the hotel foyer.
Back in our room we finished packing and I put my flowers garland, which had spent the night in he fridge, in my case as I thought it would be colder.
We got the shuttle to the airport and checked in. Thai airways have seats at their Business check in would you believe!
We went through security and as Jon got his bag of liquids out a bottle of aftershave fell out and smashed on the floor - oops! They were very good about it and moved us to the other scanner, just as well it was only us there at the time. I am sure they will smell nice for a fe days to come!
We waited in the lounge which was very big and they had some lovely food but we wer not hungry.
Our flight was called and it was a very long walk to the gate. The plane was a jumbo instead of the Airbus and our seats were upstairs and nearly at the front with big TV s teens in the seat backs in front.
Sunny 36 degrees
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