As it was Ursula’s birthday and we had changes rooms (once more and finally in the old one the air condition was barely able to keep the temperature at 25°…) the hotel had a nice surprise in stock:

And even a small cake

As it was a beautiful day we decided to take a tuk-tuk (that’s how the small three-wheelers are called) and explore the region

The bridge’s fence would need some refurbishment some time…

Dried fish along the roadside

The smell is rather strong but still nice

The raw material (caught, ok hauled in, just 10m behind)

Water buffaloes in a field

The natural predator here

A buffalo indulging in an old rice patty with some visitors nearby (the cleaning team)

Yes, 5-star super deluxe

It is really boring to take tourists around if they want to stop and shoot every 5 min…

Another hunter

A rubber-tree with the typical markings

the plantation (ok, a part of it…)

next to the manager’s estate a real nice example of a strangler fig taking over a victim

It’s starting as well…

Crossover buffalos’ way

The afternoon thunderstorm (around 15:30) is approaching

Buddhist temple

Here we started walking up the road to a hill

Where we found this baby chameleon on the way

And more and more rubber trees

Finally from the top the view over the hill country

Well… Just imagine the mountains and hills in the back, will you?

Ferns love water

So all in all quite common fauna

Here we came down… We still don’t know why we had to get up in the first place, but our driver thought it is nice up there. Saved us at least 30 min on the cross-trainer, indeed  

And the experience what we wouldn’t have done otherwise – hiking through thick ferns, mosses, etc. in a tropical environment… Brrr… I got a leech once in the jungle in Thailand – not nice…

Back down through oil palm plantations

A oil palm

rice patties (will be flooded next month again) after being harvested. They have 3 harvest a year…

And more oil palms

Driving in rain can be some fun as well

Everything is very clean, proper and crisp

A tea garden (no, this is no plantation )

more close up

A Buddhist shrine and worship place around a sacred tree (below which Buddha got his inspiration – no, not exactly this one – just the kind of it… )

Looking at the statutes an old saying springs to mind: Bring food, come naked

Evening was the time for more formal celebration with a special table, some nice decoration and atmosphere

Selecting the best fish for our indulgence

Lobster, prawns, fish, etc. – all you want

They even got us some flowers

And the lady is getting shy

No, not only for us but they played quite nicely

As humidity can reach close to 100% with temperatures at night around 28° air condition gets visible

modern art scenes

Thunderstorm over the ocean behind the shack

So a wonderful ending to a beautiful day!