A taste of Thai.

[drron]

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[mrs.dr.ron]

 

[RB]

I love orchids-.

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You would really enjoy the Orchid House at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kandy. See third part of this Botanical Gardens | SRI LANKA

 

[drron]

Now heading toward the garden exit-

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Memories from my childhood-delicious.

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[drron]

The last of the gardens-

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And last.A wet spider-

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[mrs.dr.ron]

 

[VPS]

When Dr Ron does garden pictures with flowers he does it well!!

 

[drron]

Thanks VPS.
And RB I think I would enjoy the Kandy gardens even without the orchid house.
But for anyone who enjoys gardens I certainly can recommend Doi Tung.There is also the Royal Villa which we didn't go through this time as we had been there before.Also surrounding the area are a few "tourist"villages of different hill tribes and the Nationalist Chinese village-a Kuomintang general set up here in 1949 after being driven out of China.They were interesting 20 years ago but I fear now totally tourist orientated.
If over 65 it is half priced entry.An ID necessary but they accepted a Qld seniors card.
It could be visited on the way if you are travelling from Chiang Rai to the Golden Triangle.However there was one other reason we found for visiting-

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Really good Thai food at a very reasonable price-

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The Khao soi was among the best I have ever had,the pad Thai and the beef with macadamia nuts(sorry it was gone by the time I remembered my camera)were delicious and so fresh.With the Chang beer + tip it came to $15.10.

We also bought some mangosteens from the locals and then headed back to the hotel.When you hit the valley pineapples were obviously commonly grown and in season with a stall every 100 metres.Also passed trucks full of pineapples.This one a B double.

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Naturally the rain had eased off once we left Doi Tung.Also a lot of cattle and water buffalo being moved-

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This farmer was either rich or considerate.Most such vehicles had at least 4 full grown animals in that space.
Not long after getting back it was time for Happy hour.Our last.

 

[drron]

Naturally when we left Doi Tung the rain stopped and there was even some rare blue sky.Despite the lack of good weather the colours and contrasts in the evenings were beautiful.This was during our last happy hour-

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But looking the other way showed the weather that would be with us soon-

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But we had our wine and all was well.A couple of fellows across the river were keeping us wondering.

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They had nets on long branches and obviously were catching something.

 

[drron]

What a hard life drinking wine watching for a sunset you know is not going to happen-

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Or watching the river roll by whilst the swifts are flying-

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Or eating an amuse bouche of salmon and a pizza with mushroom and basil-

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Or having a citrus pannacotta or a plate of gorgonzola-

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Oh well just sit back and keep drinking-

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[drron]

So Friday and time to fly back to Bangkok.The flight wasn't until 1320 so a late breakfast and a last walk about the property.Then got a taxi back to the airport.Now it was a metered taxi and we had been told it was going to be 120-130 baht to the airport so I figured I would give the guy 150 baht.I think he was surprised I agreed to the price without comment.So he got the 150 baht he would have got anyway.
Now at the airport we go to checkin and told there will be an hours delay.Took some time to checkin as a few backpapers were totally unorganised.Walking away we got a little confused about which gate our plane was going from.We were on PG234-

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I noticed a good place for lunch.Mrsdrron wasn't impressed-

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Is Brisbane airport short of funds and needing to set up shop in Thailand-

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This is all the PG lounge is at CEI-a desk in the gate lounge-

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Some interesting snacks for sale-

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We have to wait until near last to board.
PG 234. CEI-BKK. ETD-1520. Push back-1556. Take off-1604. Seats 6C,D. A320.
ETA-1620. Landed-1715. At gate-1721.
The meal-

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Not too bad.duck salad and fresh fruit.
A fair wait for our bags.Some Chinese pax come and push in front of me at the carousel.But karma and our bag out quickly so I Push through and get it off the carousel.Soon in the Limo to the SGS but because of the delay the traffic again is awful and only at the SGS ~ 1900.A quick change and down to Happy hour in the Living Room.Tonight they have a special jazz performance starting at 8pm-

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The first group is the Minions and they play some of the late King's compositions.

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[drron]

We weren't feeling that hungry so once again just shared a pizza-

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Next came the New Orleans Jazz All Stars.They were introduced by the Cultural Attache of the US Embassy.They were good-

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At the end of their act they bought up the trombone player from the Minions plus Dr.Pat a saxophone player who was part of the late King's Jazz band.

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[drron]

Then came the Living Room's resident group headed by Randy Cannon with his brother Steve on trumpet,Thersdak on Bass and Willard on drums.Some may have seen him before because for 12 years he was Musical Director and pianist for Princess cruise.He then featured in TV series "Hotel" and naturally "Love Boat".

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We have been listening to Randy for 10 years now and call him our friend.
The highlight of the show was when 3 members of the All Stars came back on stage and there was a fantastic jam session.Over 45 minutes playing just 2 tunes-Watermelon Man and Sweet Georgia Brown.It really was good.

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[drron]

So back to the food pics.First some more brekkie dishes.First fried eggs served on top of the bacon etc,baked Mediterranean eggs(delicious),waffle and a simple omelette-

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Saturday and disaster.Across to Terminal 21 to have our oyster omelettes.The business has been sold.Now the price has gone up to 60 baht and the number of oysters halved.

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On top of that they use a lot of oil and not too long after mrsdrron is feeling very queasy so back to the SGS so she can lay down.
Sunday and she feels very much better so we head off to Central Embassy.There are quite a few good restaurants here but we decide it is French today.Off to the Water Library Brasserie-there are a few Water Library restaurants.They are all different but well worth trying.Not to bad as to cost unless you have a bottle of wine which of course we do.
Mrsdrron starts off with the foie gras with beetroot and peach which was very good and I the mushroom soup with truffle oil-divine-

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For mains mrsdrron has the smoked duck with mango salad with a spicy aoli or a tamarind dressing.She enjoyed this.I had a pork pot au fer.Pork belly,pork loin and pork knuckle.Really good-

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[drron]

Unfortunately bad fortune again.Mrsdrron takes a fall but fortunately comes down on her good leg.Eventually some bruising which means Monday becomes another easy day.We just go over to Terminal 21.This ice cream just doesn't do it.Bamboo charcoal,green tea and mixed berries.No thanks-

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We go to Sushi Express for lunch.Not too bad and all plates are just 30 baht.

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That night our living room snack was Waygu beef tartare and green pea risotto with waygu beef cheeks-

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Both were excellent.
On to Tuesday night and it was dessert night in the Living Room.Coconut crème brulee for mrsdrron and greek honey pannacotta with raspberry icecream for me-

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The pannacotta was disappointing.Quite bland.
To finish photos with staff who will be off for our last night-

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[love_the_life]

Hope you are feeling better mrs.dr.ron and not too sore. Lucky the fall wasn't worse.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Hope Mrs Drron is feeling better.

 

[rogerkambah]

A gastronomic delight and no reported thai tummy.

 

[Happy Trails]

Keep up the good work drron and JohnK.

[h=1]Thailand Wants More Tourists Who Act Like Australians[/h]https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...es-embody-thailand-s-new-strategy-for-tourism

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

Keep up the good work drron and JohnK.

[h=1]Thailand Wants More Tourists Who Act Like Australians[/h]https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...es-embody-thailand-s-new-strategy-for-tourism

Yes, according to the Tourism Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul "“Maybe they’re the ones who are like: this is my time -- I eat, I shop, and I eat, and I shop," said in an interview." That's us !!!