Boiling and then chilling at regular intervals over a couple of hours. The tub I am in is so hot that 5-10 minutes is the maximum I can stand. The scalding to freezing is an amazingly refreshing experience and strangely cleansing given the epidermal soup I am sat in.
The Trio Building (as usual) an Ant Island Colony, the cool stream beside the hot spring tubs.
Our little bungalow over the stream was idyllic and it was ‘home’ for the duration.
Local hot springs, picking our own farm fruit and vegetables, cooking our own thai food with Thai herbs from the garden, eating fresh exotic fruits like local papaya, mango, watermelon, sweet tamarind, dragon fruit and guava, eating an Enormous breakfast everyday prepared by Mr Vej and designed to negate the need for any other food intake that day, playing in the stream beneath our balcony, watching the boys dam building, listening to the deafening sound of frogs at night, eating under the stars, jungle walks, motorcycle rides en famille, illicit mountain trekking, more hot springs and then some more under the stars, swimming in waterfalls and streams , stunning caves at the mountain base, glittering hilltop temples, star gazing, bike riding at night, being chased by scary territorial dogs, delicious home cooked Thai meals by out host not to mention chilling out A LOT on the farm are amongst Some Memorable experiences from our 10 day long fabulous visit to Mr Wej’s Farmstay 4 km from Chiang Dao town.
Very humid hot caves, perhaps something to do with all the hot springs in the area. Spectacular.
Ready for take-off Ma’am, I learn to cart the Family about on a motorcycle.
Jungle swing
We did nothing of the sort. Safety first. Always.
Starlit feast on Samuel’s birthday
Didn’t make the top but it was a fantastically tiring and beautiful walk, we return ‘home’ to Mr Vej saying, “You must be very tired and hungry, I have cooked noodles for you, 15 minutes, dinner. We hurriedly clean our sweaty selves up and proceed to the most delicious noodle dinner Like Ever. We are Greedy again.
A beautiful walk in the woods, towards the summit of the very high mountain Doi Chiang Dao.
This is the mountain. We get to about 1800m (we started at 1100m). The top is around 2200m ish.
Our time here was better than amazing and we all absolutely loved it and felt totally at home. It was just what was needed after our brief but noisy, busy city sojourns. Our stay was made what it was because we were so incredibly well looked after by our hosts, Mr and Mrs (Siwa) Vej.
Every need was anticipated and catered for, including making sure we were eating well and had enough supplies, followed by a quick pickup truck ride into Chiang Dao where we didn’t. As soon as Mr Vej heard us speak of Samuel’s imminent birthday, he said he would prepare a special barbeque meal under the stars, he went into town and shopped up ingredients and had a birthday cake made up and decorated as well. If you’ve read Samuels blog, you’ll know the cake was greatly appreciated!
Having worked in the military in the local area for 27 years (which might be the reason for his efficiency and reliability in everything), he would draw us maps of the surrounding areas in the jungle and the mountain nearby (Thailand’s third highest) so we could walk safely and without getting lost. Thanks to these we had many a long and interesting walk in the countryside, though he tended to grossly underestimate the distances!
Long Jungle walk
Breakfast: Huge bowl of exotic fruits and red beans and sweet corn with homemade yoghurt or scrummy chicken soup.
We see Chiang Dao Doi from pretty much everywhere! Another long walk, on the way to the springs or back from the caves.
Thanks also to Mr Vej we also had a great attempt at climbing the nearby monolith with the kids, he organised everything. We made sure to do as he suggested from mountain trekking without a guide to renting motorcycles as what he suggested always turned out fantastically! Hey, did I mention he is a totally amazing cook, we all binged on whatever he brought to the table when he would cook and he would just keep serving more till we just couldn’t eat anymore!
Mr Vej drives us to the foot of this hilltop temple and then we walk home. It takes all day! We walk through the jungle, visit the caves and walk through the open countryside. We are the only walkers….
The children even adapted to having dogs around them (they have been on edge after India) and even almost got quite fond of Kai Dhtom (meaning boiled egg) and Mok. I seem to remember the kids spending significant time building dams and upmarket “ant islands” in any body of water, while Tim and I were being either boiled or chilled by the hot springs and adjacent cooling stream.
We parted with hugs all around from Mr Vej who off course was up at 7am to prepare as usual our scrummy nutritious and Huge breakfast, before taking us to catch the bus back to Chiang Mai for our connecting flight south. I felt quite overwhelmed by the care they showed us. I think we might just go back one day and stay at least a month!!
We couldn’t imagine our next stop would compete with our time here. Let’s see.