Off exploring

Day 3 Saturday started off really warm but a bit overcast which we were more than happy about after perhaps overdoing it a bit yesterday! We met our car at the front of the hotel at 9.15am and started out to the Emerald Pool. The standard of driving in Thailand is somewhat different to what we are used to, I don't think I've ever been in a moving vehicle traveling quite so close to the one in front! It was a white knuckle ride the whole way with overtaking on bends, cutting up other drivers and some questionable use of the horn! It seems that this was completely normal and we got there in one piece. The Emerald Pool was beautiful, not too busy and we were able to have a lovely cooling swim which we really needed after the drive. Getting to the pool from the car park was via a lovely walk along boardwalks through rainforest. The noise of the insects was deafening, it was so loud it almost seemed artificial but quietened as we approached certain areas. Colin spotted a large lizard just chilling out on a log in the water and the butterflies were stunning, huge and gorgeous colours. It really was an experience. After we had finished swimming we walked further through the rain forest to the Blue Pool. There was no swimming but it was exactly as it says on the label, a bright blue crystal clear pool that was Spring fed and bubbled up from time to time. There was quite a crowd on the viewing platform and oddly an elderly lady was holding up a small radio playing loud Chinese choral music. It was a strange combination of a beautiful environment and incomprehensible noise! After a lunch that cost the grand sum of just £3 each and included unlimited Thai red curry, beef with cashews, vegetables and jasmine rice, we jumped back in the car to go to the hot springs. This naturally hot water cascades over a series of smooth rock pools making natural jacuzzis. It was around 40 degrees in the water, a very hot bath, so it's not recommended to stay in for more than 15 mins or so. At the bottom of the cascade was a large pool that Dave jumped into and was really shocked to find it was freezing cold! Jayne thought he was pulling her leg so she followed him in and it took her breath away. As we strolled back to the car through the jungle I was so touched when Jayne told me that this day had been amazing and was up there with her trip to Abu Simbel. Our final stop was the Tiger Temple. Dave and I had already braved the 1200 steps to the top of the mountain last time we came so we didn't mind if we did it again or not. Colin and Jayne both fancied having a go at it so we started up. After two very steep sets of stairs we decided to have a rethink! It was hot, Jayne's hip started to hurt as did Dave's knee so we turned around and came right back down again. We opted instead to go into the Tiger Temple, when we were inside a lovely Thai lady explained that throwing money through the ornate gate and onto the table was very good luck. We all gave it a go but not one of us was able to do it, it seems we must all be lucky enough already! When we got back to the hotel Colin and Jayne went to cool off in the pool while we went to try and catch up on some of our sleep debt. Our evening meal was at the Nakamanda hotel next door, one of our favourite places and where we went on the evening of my 50th birthday. Poor Jayne made a bad choice for her meal and ended up with a bowl of pomelo and just three prawns, no wonder she was feeling acid burn for the rest of the night :( After a very busy and active day we were very happy to saunter back and crash out!