Best prize

The garden is run by the equivalent of the RHS and we went to see the orchid competition that had been judged that day.
There were very few English translations anywhere, but this was my favourite and it won 'best prize'.
Also wandered by mistake into the judging of the cactus competition, but no-one asked us to help.

Royal Flora Ratchaphtuek

Would you believe it possible that Darren could cycle to a garden, spend all day there and love it that much that he would want to go again all day tomorrow as well? No - we must have arrived in some parallel universe!
Had the most fantastic time at this garden. It is like Chelsea but at least 30 times as big and on for three months to celebrate the kings birthday.
It cost £4 to get in, there was loads of drinks and snacks and a Ferris wheel. A lot of it has an eco theme, hence Darren driving the waterwheel on a bicycle.

Chiang Mai

Caught an overnight train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai which is way up in northern Thailand.
Spent a bit of time at an amazing temple complex called Wat Chedi Luang and watched the monks take down the new year celebration flags.
Also particularly liked these elephants that were half sticking out of an enormous semi ruined temple.

Bangkok Smarties

All of the taxis in Bangkok are brightly coloured.
The most common are pink, then yellow and green - which isn't really a Smartie colour.
Third are orange, which everyone knows taste the best.

Beautiful Lumpini Park

Stayed for the last two nights in a lovely apartment hotel where we had a living room and kitchen and it was probably bigger than our new house in Bath.
Set off on our journey today through Lumpini Park, which is so green and peaceful. The first thing we came across was three young girls praying by a lake full of water lillies. As we watched they released baby turtles into the water.
This is the same place four hours later and this 'thai alligator' must be about six feet long!
As I was taking it's picture it disappeared into the water with a massive splash.
I wonder what it's having for dinner?

Goodbye to Margs and Dave

Just said goodbye to Margs and Dave as they start their long journey home.
Had a nice morning catching the local ferry along the river and stopping off to visit a couple of temples.
We made the journey back to the hotel memorable for them by not realising there would be a huge traffic jam on the route.
We had to jump out of the taxi and march at top speed, in the hot sunshine for well over a mile to the underground station, catch the train for four stops, and then quick march the other end as well.
Luckily they made it in the nick of time for a quick shower and then a slightly more leisurely march back to the station half an hour later.