Chiang Dao Cave and Doi Angkhang and the Royal Agriculture Project

We set off with Jack our driver at 8:30 am on Friday in a nice comfortable van. Heading north on route 107 we left the city behind and soon were in the rice fields and mountains that I longed for. Chiang Dao Cave was our first stop. For 240 Bhat we were guided thru the limestone and crystal cave by a local woman after reading a warning sign that said if we did not go with a guide the Thai government would not be responsible  for us.. Allan quickly reminisced with his youth with the smell and hissing sound of the oil lamp. The atmosphere was eerie as we entered the dimly lit cave of stalagmites, bats, iconic sculptures  and musty smells. The rooms lit up and were enormous with rock formations that formed odd shapes oozing water onto the floor of the smooth well trodden floor of the cave scattered with bat excrement. A lovely smell! but worth it. Some rooms were as large as a stadium and some areas we had to contort to get thru. One tunnel was 25 feet long on our hands, knees and butt. The formations were incredible and changing with each room we entered. The locals would say this is an Elephant, or a rabbit, and this is two candles and so forth.

 
 http://www.visitchiangmai.com.au/chiang_dao_caves.html

 We were lucky to be there right before rainy season as when the rains come they flood the caves and they are closed.

Bats

 The strangest thing we saw were a few mannequins sporting Thai dress! There were Buddha temples of worship with candles and ribbons throughout the cave.
 I couldn't help but think about the lantern going out or a tremor in the earth. There was a hermit that stayed in the cave for most of his life and I just couldn't imagine no sunlight.  The cool temperature of the cave was a nice break from the heat.

We boarded our van again and made the winding climbing trip up the mountain to Doi Angkhang and the Royal Agricultural Project Park

Ang Khang Royal Agricultural Station 

Most everyone knows my interest in Wild Plants and Gardening. 

Located in the valley of Doi Ang Khang, the station is designated for conducting experiments on possible temperate plants to be grown in Thailand. The experiment is aimed at promoting the cultivation of cash crops to replace hill tribes' opium plantations. Inside the station, there are beautiful landscaped flower gardens, a restaurant and plantations. We arrived during the off season and were the only people there. We walked around a bit in the flower garden,bonsai section and strolled past the fruit orchards up to the Tea packaging area where we found a few workers chatting in the back room. They offered us a tasting of some of their organic red tea. I of course bought a bag. I was expecting to find more vegetable gardens and organic produce for sale, but It felt like the off season was not the time to visit. 

The scenery was fantastic however, and there was some good information displayed about all the wonderful projects that were going on. I did find a great tractor that brought me back to days in Vermont.