Royal Flora Ratchaphruek, Chiang Mai

The scale of the event is unbelievable & I had planned my trip months ahead to Bangkok with the intention of travelling by train to Chiang Mai to catch the sunrise over the plains & the hillside. As Pek Ling(Evie) & I boarded the plane which was delayed, my excitement grew in anticipating my pick-up at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok to get us to the train station. As the plane took off, we heard a loud racketing sound below, possibly coming from the landing gears of the Airbus, spanking new craft of Air Asia. I thought it wasn’t normal at all. About an hour after we flew, there was a sudden drop & the plane experienced about five minutes of turbulence. Shortly after that, the captain announced that we were experiencing a technical difficulty & will be returning to base – which means, LCCT back in KL!!! By then, those who understood or heard the announcement, were in angst & began to pray in different tongues. So technical difficulty actually meant engine problem……

Our lives were literally in the hands of God & when His hand guided the plane to land safely, I had the shakes (hypoglycaemic symptoms). Pek Ling fed me with a Fuji apple & a fruity bar for a quick fix. I informed the ground crew about missing our connections & upon them asking for our connecting tickets, I made several calls to Bangkok & had them faxed over. Within half an hour, Air Asia bumped us on the KL – Chiang Mai flight the next morning & fed us with McDonalds before sending the rest of the Bangkok-bound passengers on another plane to resume their journey! (Bummer, I missed my sunrise over the Kingdom of Lanna….) Kudos to Air Asia for prompt & efficient customer service! And praise God for keeping us alive!!!

Next mornings flight to Chiang Mai after spending a night at KLIAs benches….taken with my new E500!!!

The huge umbrella at the entrance of Royal Flora Expo….

Looking at the map (& each other), we were bound for an entire day’s walk around the 7.2km route spanned over 80 hectares. This place is huge. Never before in history has a floral expo been planned & executed on such a grand scale, possibly the only kind in the century. You would be crazy to miss this if you are an orchid-lover, let alone a nature lover. We walked & walked & walked in this great expanse of beautiful vista…..

At the orchid competition, rare & hybridised species were being pilfered by covetous orchidophiles so they had to cordon off & put people to guard these magnificent varieties……

I had to use my zoom lens in the expo!!! Sorry, couldnt capture any of the rare kind to show here so let me give you my favourites instead, the phalaeonopsis, cattleyas, bulbophyllums & oncidiums in no particular order……

The procession walkway leading to the Royal Pavillion. Hah! I wasnt kidding when I told you 7.2km over 80 hectares…..we walked & walked & walked….

For more of the expo, please click on this album.

The Corporate Gardens are themed gardens by countries & establishments like Toyota, gas companies & such. Overall, we must have walked more than the stipulated 7.2km because we explored the gardens & what-nots in the hot sun. The sky was so blue, there wasn’t a cloud in sight. I also wondered what in the world were the people thinking about when they come, clad in jackets, pullovers or long sleeve shirts when the sun is shining brightly……

Nearing dusk, the temperature dropped & we pulled our pashminas over ourselves. Within the next half hour or so, we had to put on our jackets & wrap the pashmina snuggly around our necks. It was getting cold. And I loved it!

I had a grand time, feeling so good surrounded by flora in such a huge area. We were certainly bedazzled with the flowers! Our idea of fun? Being in a country where we don’t speak their language & wildly gesticulate our wants & desires when we want to buy something….. 🙂