"Bon Appetit" with the flower parade Bloemencorso 2013!

 

Even if all flowers are delayed here in the Netherlands with 2-3 weeks this spring due to the cold and longw inter the famous and lovely-smelling flower parade started last night in Noordwijkerhout. The topic this year was "Bon appetit" and as every year I was again impressed how created the artists are...enjoy my pictures, they made me smile even if I was freezing while taking them:-)))

 

On the picture below you can see very well that the "banana" is made from daffodils and the monkey from purple hyacinths.

 

Dutch spring sky in Rijswijk, Holland

 

The Dutch sky always impress me with some fantastic blue shades, fluffy clouds and yesterday with tons of contrails (white-stripes left after airplane)...
As yesterday was the official first warm spring day I decided to share the beautiful sky with you:-) Happy new week!

Doi Mae Salong, the tea plantations of Thailand: Oolong tea

 
As a big tea-lover (and of course tea-drinker) I was very curious to see and vist the Oolong tea plantations north of Chiang Mai. Back in 1960-ies some thousand Chinese soldiers got asylium from the Thai government and were allowed to stay and leave in this area. Due to the fact that the Maesalong reagion is in te muntaina nd not so well accessible it was the perfect place to grow opium. According to a CIA report in 1971, Mae Salong was then one of the largest heroin refineries in Southeast Asia. Only in the late 1980s the Thai government was really able to make any headway in taming the region – part of which involved crop substitution plans (from opium to tea) and giving the area a new name (Santikhiri meaning "hill of peace")..

 
Nowadays one may enjoy hilly drive, fantastic green tea-sceneries and (if lucky as we were) also the teapickers with their big baskets...In the village itself onemay fill a bit overwhelmed with over 15 shops selling more or less the same tea, but its nice to take the time for some tea-tasting...Its the first time I was served a tea in two cups, see picture attached! In one word: its worth the drive (around 80 km from ChaingRai):-)

 
The Oolong tea is a sort of black tea usually grown in Taiwan. Due to the similar climate its ispossible to grow it in this part of Thailand...

Sukhothai by bike: breathtaking and majestic temples of the first Thai capital

 

One of the most magical places I have visited in Thailand is without any doubt the old city of Sukhothai. Located half way between Bangkok and Chiang Mai the early kingdom of Sukhothai existed between 1238 and 1438. The old capital (now 12 km away from the new city) is in (well maintained) ruins and has been designated as a UNESCO World heritage historical park. Due to the huge area of the park we have opted for a guided bike visit. Miaow, our simply adorable guide from Sukhothai Bike Tours, is a local (born in town) and bursting of knowledge and interesting stories to tell.

 
We had an amazing day starting on the bikes and passing through peacefull rice fields full with storks. Did you know that storks are very loved by the rice farmers as they offer pesticide-free-snail-removal. We also saw locals fishing in the river. Once in the park we had visited the most famous Central part, Wat Mahathat (first picture), as well as the Wat Si Sum (fourth&fifth pictures). Simply fabulous day outdoor in the middle of culture, history and in very pleasant company! I have learned a lot myself and now I know for example that because the kingdom of Sukhothai was prospering most of the Buddhas heads have a subtile smile. And also that the long ears of some of the Buddhas means they are good listeners. Last but not least I can recommend the old capital to everyone and a big Kobkun-kaaa to our great guide:-) .

Cuttle fish & octopus dance in Similan islands, Thailand

 
I was a bit inactive on my blog the last month but NOW its time to catch up...As it is extremely cold for end of March in Holland now I will warm you up with some images from Thailand again. Today I will take you again underwater (this entry is specially dedicated to Koryn who asked for more underwater photography:-)

 
It is simply breathtaking to see how cuttle fishes and octopuses change their colours underwater when they move or want to adjust themselves to the environment. At the Bonsoon wrack I met this cute baby cuttle fish. Whilediving at island 9 of the Similan islands at around 25m depth we have spotted the octopus. First it was hiding in a rock and its was white-grey, when it leaved its hole it change quick to brown-dark colours! Enjoy the video too:-)))