Thailand - My Chiang Mai Life

My orchids were not blooming so decided to attend an orchid seminar at Dokmai Gardens. The gardens are owned by Eric (not Thai) and he has opened them up to the public. The restaurant and bar area very nice with outside seating under thatched roof umbrellas. The garden has over 700 species of plants with 125 different vegetables (didn't know there were that many veggies) and 90 species of edible fruits and nuts! My orchids are now blooming! No nothing I did they just needed some cool weather to start blooming.... You can take a self guided tour or there is someone there that speaks English that will show you around. Plan to go back one day for lunch. 2 different kinds of vanilla plants. The Thai vanilla is the roundish looking leave at the bottom of the picture. A 250 year old mango tree with its own "Sprit House".. Walk-way in main garden -

Just about 16 miles south of Chiang Mai is the city of Lamphun. Lamphun is one of Thailand's oldest continuously occupied towns. It was founded in 660. The most important sight of Lamphun is the highly venerated temple of Wat Phra That Haripunjaya, near the river on the eastern edge the center of town. The temple was founded in the late ninth century, and its gilded chedi was started although the chedi as you see it today is largely the result of a fifteenth century restoration by the King of Chiang Mai. This represents the "footprint" of Buddha! Lunch time - Northern Style Thai Sausage cooked up outside the Wat. Supposed to be the worlds largest "GONG"!!! On top of the wats and chedi are "umbrella" like structures. This is one being kept inside the temple while the outside is being restored. All gold leaf!! This one is being kept behind bars. Just outside the western gate of town is the other important temple, Wat Cham Devi (also known as Wat Kukut).

Here is a typical trip into town without using the car. I enjoy doing this, as I meet a lot of local people and get to see a lot more on the trip then when I am driving. 10:00 a.m. - I leave the house on my bicycle and ride to the entrance of the "Moo Baan" (about 5 minutes). Ever try to take a picture of yourself riding a bicycle?? On the way I pass rice paddies that are just being planted for the 1st crop of the year. 2 weeks ago these paddies were dry and by using ancient hand dug canals the farmers divert water to their fields! Once I get to the entrance I leave my bike and walk across the road to flag down a "song tauw", called this as "song" is 2 in Thai and the truck has 2 benches to sit on. Usually one goes by every 10 minutes. Today I was Lucky as one came by in just a couple of minutes. Here is the entrance to my Moo Baan - Koolpunt Ville 9.... My "song tauw" arrives... Some times there is not not any room to sit so you stand on the b