Thailand 2005-2006 Home Base and Eldertreks Tour

Karinthop Hotel breakfast was minimal. Vans were smaller than those we used from Bangkok so we readjusted. First stop at the Mesa elephant preserve was delightful. We visited the nursery to see cute elephant babies and feed their mothers bananas. We also saw an artful elephant show featuring about 30 well trained beasts with their native handlers. Some of our group bought paintings the elephants had done as we watched. Amazing!!

Our next visit was to the butterfly and orchid farm where we saw acres of orchids had a buffet lunch.

Our afternoon touring large craft showrooms began with a jewelry showcase featuring pricey gems but with more inexpensive tourist trinkets - rough carved elephant jade pendants were our purchase. On to a laquerware works, then a wood carving shop, another silk factory which we opted out of having been sated in Vietnam.

When we got back to the Hotel we took a long walk through the street market and beyond until we found the Panthip electronics center, but found no cameras we wanted to buy.

We had time for a stop at the Internet and a shower before we were vanned to the famedRiverside Restaurant for dinner. Our group was told to order anything on the menu we wanted, so most ordered steaks, but we ordered Thai food which was light and delicious and the steak eaters had fortunately been prepared for disappointment. We walked back to Karinthop hoping to find cameras in a night market, alas none, but arrived very tired and ready to sleep.

No slideshow today. Broken camera