‘Mother’s Pride’

… in the Jungle!!

Woken up to the sound of rain on the roof of our hut, on looking out it was misty just like home! Not quite the peace and quite expected, we could hear  the distant sound of traffic, then someone started playing loud music, but not for long maybe it was the breakfast call a bit like Butlin’s. A fantastic view greeted us in the restaurant the beautiful craggy mountains shrouded in mist. But unfortunately the elation didn’t last. They do not have gluten free for the Dame, even though she requested it with the booking and when we checked in. Of course we were spoilt at the last hotel, but this lodge has a lot to learn. Very little fresh fruit or cereal. The Duke orders French Toast with banana, Oh dear, soggy Mother’s Pride bread with a small bowl of Maple syrup. It gets sent back and a banana pancake is ordered, OK but made from a pre-mix and no sign of the bananas, perhaps the elephants had eaten them all. There are other issues such as not being able to make the hot water in our shower work. We asked to speak to the manager and are told he will be in late afternoon. Excercise is needed. We decided to do the Anurak walk, one hour through the National Park. So with a sketchy map and instructions, out of the Lodge cross the road, we do not see the sign or arrows we were told to look for. Bump into a Dutch couple looking for the same entrance. Giving up walked about 1km to a different signposted entrance. On the way we passed a new Café, eighteen workman are attempting to erect a huge sign ‘Bridge Hill Café on a really high scaffold. Solely with manpower and ropes, the guys on the scaffold were barefooted. We move on, this could take a while. Arriving at the entrance discovered there was  a 100 baht entrance fee. The lady who takes the money showed us a map and explained it is a 2 hour walk but we haven’t any money on us, as you know Royalty doesn’t carry money.

On our way back entering the Lodge by a different entrance we saw the original walk sign and arrows just by the entrance. We were very relieved that the other couple couldn’t find it either. A shower is needed it is very humid then refreshments.

The Dame has a Pineapple Frappe , the Duke ordered an espresso. Well the espresso went straight into the bushes. Lunch was good Squid and prawn with glass noodles and some satay. The Duke stuck to a beer they can’t mess that up. The wind has really got up, looks like rain on its way.

Spoke to the manager who is an English guy from Devon, he already knew about the breakfast problem and was very apologetic, but we had made up our minds not for us, so leaving on Wednesday.  Great Storm during a Thai curry dinner, well we are supposed to be in a rainforest.