Lampang and train

We did a 8.5 hour train ride north.. much cooler and darker earlier. Many rice paddies and for over 100kms before here there was jungle areas - nice to see unlike in China.

Lotus one morning when we stayed in Ayuthya kept a mouthful of scrambled egg in her mouth while she leaned over the fish pond and and of course spat it out.. how embarrassing in a nice resort style accommodation all beautiful.. but the fish seemed to eat some.

We did about a 20 minute pony ride with cart tonight right outside hotel. Lotus and Charlotte both very excited about it.. later 3 lined up so no doubt there will be another ride tomorrow.

It seems so long ago we were home and we will all be glad to make it home again to familiarity.

In Lopburi the hotel offered taxi to train station for 300baht.. but smart girls got 2 mini-buses for 30 baht with a 14 baht tip included for large case/assistance.

We saw the temples in Ayuthya at night time with a nice lady. Learnt that tuk tuks with flashing shiny coat of paint/look nice charge more - go for the more derelict ones (not those that have pranged) with pics of family in back for much more reasonable rate. Worked out local rate using tuk tuk and stuck to my guns.

We are getting by very cheaply lately which is great. Cathie/Michael you can visit your sister in laws family in Thailand very cheap with her assistance using local transport/food options rather than tourist overprices.

The elephant rides in tourist spots are like 400-500 baht per person ($16-$18) and 200 baht for Charlotte, but Dreamworld was confirmed as cheapest at just 50 baht so we were lucky.

Lotus very noisy on train, actually she seems to get noiser each day and we sat near a NZ family with 3 boys who revved girls up. Many westerners on air-con 2nd class train today heading to Chiang Mai. It was a nice relief to have the coolness and other westerners so you could trust your purse a bit more.

Will try to find elephants tomorrow here somewhere - too tired for now. We have another night here tomorrow and then Xmas day move to Chiang Mai probably by train.