Oh Dear Another Large Post,

with lots of pictures,

so I have split this post into three parts, first off to the bank, where does all of the money go?

we then picked up Donna's boyfriend who arrived at 01.00 this morning, Albert, so second stop for me of the day,

 

Nong Nooch Tropical Garden for a day out, we made our way to the elephant enclosure,

but first past a new stall in the gardens, this one selling small plants,

then on to the elephants,

all looking for bananas,

Donna being brave with one of the elephants,

this one had a little one with her,

we walked past the aquatic display,

then Mum got brave,

very brave!

next it was Albert's turn,

who thought it was easy,

as did Diana,

who had fed the elephants a few times before,

next it was Dioshane's turn,

there were still a few bananas left so Diana gave them to one of the elephants, notice I hung well back behind the camera? well these things are huge!

then a photo opportunity for the family,

I noticed this strange plant growing beside one of the cafes,

the flowers start as small ball like circles,

they get bigger and start to burst,

in red leading to a yellow colour,

until they look like a a large spiny red caterpillar,

we took a walk through the elephant park,

that had lots of different types of elephants and their relatives like this mammoth,

I am not sure if it was scale size, but if it was I would not like to meet one on a dark night, well not in broad daylight either!

a group of happy piggies,

the gardens were immaculate,

also if you were up to it you could take a canopy top walk along raised walkways, like the one in the distance,

every where you looked there were displays of flowers and palms,

then it was time for the cultural display,

show times vary so it is best to look on the Internet first, having said that I noticed that an extra show was scheduled for today,

as you might expect the costumes were first class,

as was the presentation,

next a comedy Thai boxing match, great fun that made all of Diana's family laugh,

one of the set pieces was next,

again every thing just as it should be,

a village set with ladies dancing,

and a exhibition of drumming,

another village scene,

followed by a dance where one mistake will cost you a sore ankle if you mistime your step,

a fight with swords,

was followed by a fight on elephants,

where previous rulers used these beasts in warfare,

the indoor show over we moved outside to another area, to watch the elephant show,

first a parade with young and old,

all leading each other by their tails,

after dart throwing some of the elephants rode tricycles to amuse the spectators,

I was impressed with the 'T' shirt painting,

after putting in the trunk a few leaves were added,

the tree filled in with colour,

some grass around the ground added,

no tree would be complete with out some fruit,

and there it is finished, I must admit I always have a chuckle when I see this, I remember only a few years ago when people with way more money than sense were paying small fortunes for elephant art, when over here this original 'T' shirt would today cost you just 350 baht!

I wonder if I should buy it and try to sell it for a small fortune on E-Bay!

the football match was next,

nearly a goal!

Diana's family were captivated, they had never seen anything like it,

basket ball was next,

followed by twirling streamers,

and twisting hul-hops,

10 pin bowling was popular,

using real bowling balls,

then the final finale,

and time for a soft drink,

whilst that was being prepared I looked at the way sugarcane is crushed to make a drink,

 then back to the ice shake,

 just chose the selection of fruit you like, give the lady 40 baht, she will add ice and in a short time it is ready to go,

 Diana and Dioshane take a break,

 as does Sandio and Mum,

 along with Donna and Albert,

 then me too,

 as we were waiting for the bus to arrive to take us around some of the park,

 every where you look there are wonderful displays of plants and trees,

 even a terracotta,

  cactus garden,

 with terracotta being used everywhere,

 even for making walls,

 the lake looked as beautiful as ever,

 I am still not sure why there are so many Hummers here as no Hummer rides are advertised,

 we continued on our tour of the gardens,

 this house being the highest point of it,

everywhere you looked,

 there were greenhouses and growing frames,

 the selection of plants,

 and cacti were huge,

 with row after row as far as the eye could see,

 we then came to our first stop, near some more terracotta cacti,

 and large couloured ants,

 they were everwhere,

 the ants seem to be a theme in other parts of the gardens,

 here there were hundreds,

 Dioshane strikes a pose,

 as does Mum,

 a ice coffee for me, 

then Diana said I had to pose as well, then the girls went for a walk, so if you want to see where they have gone click on the 'older posts' button at the bottom of the page.