After not much sleep. It is strange when you need to get early it is very hard to sleep. So down to the reception at 5am to meet our driver, there was a security guard on a camp bed sound asleep, never saw us leave! We met our driver Tom we liked the music, he was playing Maroon 5 as we started our journey.
Driving through Chiangmai is a pleasure this time in the morning, no traffic, Our climb up the mountain, it’s only 19 km but takes 30 min was so twisty. Tom leaves us at the bottom, we now have 306 steps to climb and the Duke hasn’t had his Shreddies. No problem we make it to the top. 30 baht entry. Of course it’s still dark but the temple was very well lit. One of the temples has monks chanting, as it is a working temple, this creates a great atmosphere. We find the viewing point and await sun rise. At the allotted time there it is rising behind the distance mountains a truly amazing site and not many people to see it.
Another wander round the temple, we’ve never seen so many different Buddha’s, then back down the mountain. Traffic in Chiangmai is back to normal as people and students hit the roads. Back at our hotel we book Tom for a trip tomorrow. Breakfast, again excellent. A well needed sleep is the order of the day. Been sleeping for just over an hour when a knock on our door wakes us.
The Dame doesn’t look to pleased and gets up to answer. There is a girl with a birthday cake complete with one candle, probably the correct amount would have been a fire hazard. It is a beautiful cake with decorations. “ Is this gluten free” asked the Dame, “oh very sorry not gluten free madam” the Dukes eyes light up. But after a slice it is very rich so the Duke puts the rest in the fridge.
As we are up we decide to go to the pool, Very hot today. Shopping this afternoon, well it is the Dames special birthday. On this occasion we walk to a road without crossing the river. No pavement a bit tricky. In this area several shops that weave their own fabric and make unique garments, cushions, scarves bags and more. In one shop there was a camera crew from Taiwan, did they know the Dame was coming, so fame in Taiwan!! The Dame purchased a little hand made jacket. We then crossed the river to see the Flower Market, here we saw so many flowers and flower stalls, very busy, back to other side. Our feet were tired so we enter a river side restaurant, this place was vast, not for us, so we left
On the walk back the Dame picks up her new glasses. Just time for a siesta. Tonight we are eating at David’s Kitchen this side of the river. Another road with broken pavements or none at all, should have got a taxi. The entrance to David’s is very nice a pergola of tiny lights, past a moat with enormous koi carp in. Cocktails are served next door in the equally nice bar. Excellent drinks. The restaurant is very nice and on our table is a card with Happy Birthday. They offered excellent gluten free choices for the Dame. The maitre’d tells us the history of the restaurant. Food and wine all excellent. During our meal the waiter’s come out with birthday desserts for 4 different people. So by the time the Dames arrived people had given up clapping! A last drink in the beautiful grounds, then a Taxi back to the hotel a fantastic night.
Dame ‘Awkes Travels 