Straight On To Todays Post,

as there are lots of pictures,

first thing as arranged 2 weeks ago,

 Diana's Valentine bouquet arrived,

 then we were off and this is where we are going, 

the annual flower and plant show, it is set beside the Wat Yansangwararam Temple complex,

 growers of plants, vegetables and flowers bring they produce and new varieties along for public scrutiny,

 as we made our way inside we passed one of the dried fish mobile stalls,

 once inside there was a huge selection of young plants to buy,

 as well as produce,

 we made our way along the aisle,

 and found some bonsai,

 and banana plants,

 we were pleased to see the mushroom stall here, they were great fun when we bought some on our last visit here, 

 more locally grown crops,

 stall after stall,

 some more bonsai,

 we watched this show put on by this gentleman as he poured or I should say mixed a drink,

 only 20 baht for a ice coffee with all day refills!

 no prizes for guessing what milk they used,

the aisles went around a central garden,

 where different flowers and vegetables were grown,

 like these sunflowers,

 I am not sure what these ones are,

 but they looked pretty,

 back into the aisles,

 with more sheep in braces,

 and lots of other garden ornaments,

 this stall selling medicinal herbs,

 opposite the central gardens vegetable plot,

 we decided to buy some of the centers tomatoes,

 which had been picked this morning,

 from these tomato vines,

these need a few more days,

 here were lots of different vegetables,

and flowers being grown, I guess growers supply seeds for growing trials,

 before being commercially sold,

 this looked like a bit of fun,

 a bicycle used as a water pump,

 for irrigation where there is no electricity or fuel for a conventional water pump,

 so Diana,

 and Dang had to give it a go, watering crops and getting fit at the same time!

 back into the aisles,

 a jewellery store,

 and a panorama of one part of the central garden,

 some of the stalls had locally made goods,

 whilst others had imported goods like these tea sets,

 the range of foods on offer seemed almost endless,

 candied sweets anyone?

 I should also mention there were a number of clothes stalls there,

 a general view of one of the aisles,

 now why is it that our amaryllis do not flower as nicely as these?

 a new one for us, orange skinned pomelos, which have significant health benefits, 

 there were also a number of artisans at the show like this sculpture,

 we moved on to one of the waterlily stalls,

 so many,

 to chose from,

 if only we had a pond,

 cactus,

 lots of them,

 as well as roses,

 and orchids,

 although we had not yet reached the main orchid section,

 the air plant stall,

 stack them high, sell them cheap, as Jack Cohen was reported to have said before he founded Tesco's,

 we were back to the fruit tree section,

 oh for a bigger garden!

 what a bargain, just 60 baht for one of these orchids, 

 and these are? not real of course!

 the glass animal man was here again, 

 it was such a delight to watch him at work,

 and to try to work out what he was making,

 now I have it,

 with the curly tail and black eye it must be a pig,

 time for a pose beside these flowers made of fruits and vegetables,

 a look along the aisle,

 and some roses,

 with bi-coloured flowers,

 on to the orchid section,

 so many shapes,

 and colors,

 all wanting to be taken home,

 the agony of choice!

 but tempted as I was I resisted,

 even these two beauties could not persuade me,

 we then went past the banana section,

 where growers have different varieties of banana on show and you can then buy the small plants if you want one for your garden, there are thought to be over 1,000 different varieties of bananas in the world,

 some happy shoppers make their way across the central garden,

 more cactus,

 and water lilies,

 beautiful,

 and if I read this correctly 3 for 100 baht,

 I just had to take a picture of some more orchids,

 and I bought a stinky cactus, one that we did not have,

 coconuts anyone?

 we made our way back to the truck,

 stopping to have a quick look at some dried fish,

 we both have two plastic containers each with mushroom spawn in, the race is on to see if Diana can grow bigger, better, faster mushrooms than me, to the winner the spoils!

 arriving home Diana put the flowers in water splitting them into 2 vases,

 then glad rags on, we had ordered a GrabTaxi at 3.00 in the afternoon to pick us up at 6.00 in the evening, at 5.57 in the evening we were called and told our taxi had been cancelled, as we are not anywhere near a baht bus route it was a long walk to the nearest motorbike taxi stand, we arrived there hot and sweaty,

 and by the time we arrived at Central Festival we were also covered in dust and vehicle fumes, I just wish there was a reliable taxi service here in Pattaya that will not let you down, but there it is,

 outside there was a promotion for the Philippines which was fun,

 and this is where we are going for our Valentines meal,

 the Hilton,

 peek a boo!

 we were dining at the Edge restaurant,

 so many dishes to chose from,

 to suit all tastes,

 salmon and seafood starters,

 a selection of cold meats and cheeses,

 the dessert station,

 and pizza selection,

 more desserts,

 yummy!

 there is a fish section where you can make your own accompaniments,

 and sushi,

 Diana tried to make a selfie with the camera,

 after our first couple of starters Diana wanted to take the pose,

 and then try some of this huge cheese,

 by now the salmon starters had been replaced by these prawn ones,

 so I picked a selection of seafood,

 and two of the prawn ones, 'Cheers!',

 Diana was all smiles, rock lobsters and tiger prawns in one hand,

 and some yummy desserts in the other,

 onto my third starter, mussels, prawns and sushi with soy sauce,

 Diana was still in dessert mode,

 so off she went,

 taking pictures,

 of some of the desserts on offer,

 most featuring hearts,

 next for myself, a salmon cocktail, with rock lobsters and tiger prawns,

 our charming waitress kept the glass topped up at all times,

 on to the main course, beef tenderloin,

 a slice of roast beef, 

 salmon and roast potatoes,

then desserts,

 by now we were full to bursting, diet starts tomorrow! a quick pose by the Flare restaurant,

 and we were on our way downstairs, but first a look at this light, it almost looks like we are under a shower,

 arriving downstairs there was a set,

 where people could get their prenuptial pictures taken,

 so Diana just had to have a pose, we used one of the blue and yellow taxis parked outside for our journey home, what a fabulous meal and there were so many things we did not try, arriving home a few from Judge Judy and we were off to bed.