June 29th, 2010
What a great day!!
Riam came to see us at 9 this morning just as we were finishing breakfast. She did remember us : )
We quickly packed up our stuff–jammed it in her trunk and hit the road! First to see a silk factory, then a jewelry/gem place (hoping to find the magic matching ring and earrings for my bracelet). I think it would be cheaper for me to pay Riam to drive me up to the hot springs to go back to the place where I got the bracelet, than pay what they want in a jewelry store…we will see…
We went to an orchid/butterfly farm also. Beautiful orchids–bought some jewelry there and had lunch–amazing buffet. Cost us 520 baht ($16.25–so major clip–that is about what we have spent in food total since we got here!) Oh well…live and learn : )
Then we headed up through Mae Rim and to the Mae Sa waterfalls we had heard about. There are 10 levels or stopping points–WOW–I do not think I have sweat this much in…well…in EVER! Well worth the hike I must say though!
Riam offered to take us to her garden to show us what she is growing. How exciting! It was a very quiet and peaceful place. She said she bought the land for 8,000 baht about 8 or 9 years ago. That is $250. That sounds like cheap cheap price…but I believe that is what she said. It is 2.5 rai (that is about 1 acre). At any rate–this was a very good investment for her as I believe that someone just bought land across from her for about 120,000 baht ($3,750 USD) Still a VERY good deal by my estimation…
One quick stop at a cashmere store (so that Riam can get gas money) and we were on our way back to Chiang Mai to check into our new hotel. All she charged us was 500 baht ($15 USD) for 6 hours of touring around. WOW eh? She said she has not had a customer in 1 and 1/2 months. So sad what all that trouble in Bangkok has done to tourism in other parts of the country. Riam is going to come back and get us at 8:30am tomorrow and we are going to go to Doi Inthanon. That is the highest mountain in Thailand. I believe it will not be nearly as hot there–and I am looking forward to that!!
Here is the new resting place for the bears…at the Na Thapae
