Paradise Found

We are fortunate to have dear friends living a couple hours drive outside of Chiang Mai in the town of Chiang Dao.  Around seven years ago after a long search Pla and Ricardo bought 4 acres of land well out in the countryside.  They drove to Chiang Mai and spent one night here with us before taking us back to their property. We went for a wonderful lunch in a classic antique filled restaurant, one of our favorites. Pla ordered many dishes so we could sample the more unique Thai flavors. There was a really colorful crafts fair and we continued eating there. The best fresh coconut water, deep fried chicken with sweet chili dipping sauce, homemade ice cream and incredibly, a complete coconut ball of just the white “meat” as the outer hard shell had been filed away. Placed in a carry away plastic bag,  given a straw to drink the water and eating the soft young coconut with my fingers.  Very unusual according to Pla. Sadly I forgot to take a photo so your imagination will have to suffice.  Later we set out on the drive north, to their property, the “Healing Gardens”. As we arrived after driving the final couple miles down a rutted private dirt road I was completely in awe!  There wasn’t a tree or plant on the land when they started landscaping. Now it was lush with large trees, flowering scrubs, rose gardens, a running stream with homemade bamboo bridges, a large rice paddy, an even larger pond and the prolific vegetable garden that Pla tends. Their helper Ivan has created whimsical primitive animal sculptures out of the chunks of wood he digs out of the dirt.  Deer, goose, a bull, birds… they are delightful.  Their house is an amazing!. Unlike most houses here, theirs is made with rammed earth and cement. The floors, doors, and windows are dark hard woods. A staircase of thick teak steps floats up to the main living area.  The walls are warmly colored a soft glowing terra cotta with vanilla layers running through them.  What an astounding achievement so far out in the countryside! Very quiet and peaceful!  I could have just wandering around the garden and sat under the “king” tree on the teak benches for hours. All this is encircled by the surrounding mountains.  They made a heroic effort to take us to all their favorite places in the five days we spent there.  Several small cafes, a friends studio where she masters in the art of Shibori. Another friends cleverly built guesthouses and wine bar.  We went to a simple restaurant and sat by a small pond while the local woman made us pad Thai encased in the thinnest omelet with fresh chives just picked from the garden.  This is a very old style presentation.  One early morning we reserved a private circular pool with fresh hot spring sulfur water. There was a bamboo ladder if you wished to climb down to the very cold running stream. No thanks!  It was really cold up there and I loved soaking in the warm waters.  My favorite thing was cooking with Pla in her kitchen.  All the wonderful vegetables and fruits from her garden combined with the rice they grew and the bread she baked kept us very content and full!  It’s remarkable what they have achieved.  I am so honored to have had this opportunity to explore another way of life here in Thailand outside the city.  Always the best when your friends take you on a magical journey that isn’t available to most tourists.