Happy December. Hardly seems like it here, but there are a few Christmas decorations here and there in businesses that deal with Westerners. An occasional Christmas carol as well...
Good thing we are early risers, as the hotel's gym is just above us and someone runs on the treadmill about 6:30, which creates a rhythmic thumping that is difficult to sleep through!
Spent early AM working on pictures, checking email, catching up on news, etc. Dropped off laundry - they do a great job.
Decided to do the Mae Ping River Cruise this morning, so we walked the mile or so to the site. The boats leave from the Chai Mongkul Temple, home to a heard of cattle. They are selling small birds in small cages, which you are to release for good luck. Poor birds!
We boarded a boat and headed 8 km upriver. The guide/driver was a little difficult to hear/understand between his accent and the noise of the motor, but we did glean some information. We passed some familiar landmarks initially, then got into less populated areas. Saw lots of fishermen, variety of homes from stylish condos to basic shacks, sometimes right across the river from each other. Passed the US embassy and several others.
We stopped at a Farm/Market/Restaurant and our driver walked us through the area, pointing out many vegetables, fruits and spices that are grown there. From lettuce and long beans to mangos and starfruit to cinnamon, basil, ginger and more. We were served juice (i had lemongrass which was tasty) and fresh pineapple and watermelon. There were many old farm implements and tools some of which our driver demonstrated and explained. Many had to do with rice, since that is their main food crop. Part of the movie Rambo 4 was filmed here.
Cruised back and walked up the river a bit to Riverside Market, a rather upscale place in an upscale neighborhood featuring several resorts including 5-star ones. Lovely table setting by the river and the food was good with larger than normal portions.
We took a tuk-tuk back To the hotel - 100 baht for the four of us (about $3.00).
We decided to do the Night Safari tonight, which our hotel arranged. Young man in small toyota picked us up and drove about 30 minutes. Night Safari began in Singapore. Basically there are small trams which travel through the park in the dark and they stop and spotlight animals along the way. Many antelope and deer, giraffes, zebras, hyenas and other animals, some of which we could feed the carrots and bananas we had. A few bears and lions and tigers as well.
Overall we were not terribly impressed, but it was an interesting concept. In other areas they had some dancing and other entertainment including a circus-like tiger show which we opted out of. (Had to chuckle as one of the groups performing were dressed as cow girls and sang some western song while a cowboy did rope tricks :)
Back to the hotel with "win some, lose some" attitude. The river cruise was a win, the night safari a lose.
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