9th May - First day on tour

We meet in the foyer for our first day on tour. The first port of call is the Baan Tong Luang Agriculture Village where a number of displaced tribes have settled to make their home. One of the tribes is the long neck tribe where the women wear brass rings in what appears to be a neck stretching exercise. There are a number of handicrafts available for sale, but none really catch the eye.

We move on from the village to the orchid and butterfly farm. Here the orchids are displayed hanging in rows while the butterflies have their own display. The orchids are beautiful. This is also our lunch stop.

After lunch we have two temples to see. The first is Doi Suthep Temple which is the most famous in Chiang Mai. It is of course the busiest as well. Instead of climbing the 306 steps, we take the funicular and then wander around the temple at our leisure. There are countless Buddhas, lots and lots of gold and many people. The second temple Wat Palard, is quiet and serene. It is not as showy as the first one, but still has impressive carvings plus a sacred well.

Dinner tonight is at Nun Restaurant, another hidden gem in the old city not far from our hotel. The food is exquisite and so cheap for the amount we get. A fabulous day on tour.