Botanical Garden and waterfall

Both feeling a bit jaded this morning, we had asked Tom to take us to the Botanical gardens and two waterfalls. But decide over breakfast to skip the waterfalls so we can get back and have some rest. So cater a bit of bartering we set of.

This morning in Tom’s taxi it’s The Bee Gees! singing Words and other hits, quite a long drive to the gardens. We passed lots of temples with more ‘Bling’ than Footballers Wives. Also on route a number of tourists on quad bikes a go kart track and several Elephant sanctuaries. Arriving at the Gardens, half price for over 60s that’s good. There is a sky walk it is all metal, not like the one in Costa Rica which was a bit on the wobbly side. After sky walk back in the car and down to the main gardens. Tom asked us “do you want to walk up, or down” we decide up. “So I wait in car park at top”. There are several large glass houses containing different species of plants, then a row of smaller ones, again with different exotic plants. We wanted to go into the middle of the garden, the map shows interesting areas such as the ginger garden. but we couldnt find a path in, after several attempts we climbed up the hill and met Tom. He persuaded us to go to the waterfall which is close by. We are glad that he suggested this, it has 10 levels with steep steps sometimes just carved out of the rock to each level. On the lower levels quite a few bathers, we made it to number 9 And decided to turn back, as we hadn’t eaten. Very beautiful and definitely worth the effort. Back at the car park some much needed refreshments from the stalls. On way back to hotel Tom starts playing Rap, not our favorite and an hours drive. After a much needed siesta. The Duke went for a neck, shoulder and head massage, so the Dame headed to the pool for a swim. The massage was very good, and very thorough.

Glad rags on we head off into town for dinner. The Dame has looked out an Israeli restaurant. So we set of and before long manage to flag down a Tuk Tuk, it pulls over and a very old guy gets out and squashes up with the driver! Maybe his grandad. We see the restaurant, oh dear no one in it and not really Israeli food. Just down the road is an Indian, so curry tonight. Very good and for drinks they sent the order to a bar next door. Across from the restaurant was the night market and we could hear the sound of a live band. So dinner over we set of to find it. On an open air mezzanine above the market we discover the Boy Blue Bar. There is a band playing four guys two probably as old as the Duke a younger guitarist and much younger drummer, the vocalist is an Australian female and can she sing. It’s a shame we missed half their set, they were very good. Next band is 4 Thai guys, all in there 20s, very good blues. The bands rely on people placing money in a box, of course not all do, after all this is the era of FREE downloads. Tuk Tuk back to hotel, Chiang Mai is looking seriously like another visit needed.