Our Retreat

06/03/2024

This week, we are taking advantage of the dry season and upgrading the streets storm drain in our Car Park area.. last year saw this dry bed drain through a fencing and water log the lawn.. can’t have that!

24/02/2024

As we head into the HOT season, poor coco struggles to drink by the pond step as the water level drops.. she could walk around where it’s easier though lol

19/02/2024

Hi, a popular YouTube couple traveler have reached thailand from Malaysia.. they have driven! From the UK.. I thought it might be interesting to follow..

Driving our UK Van in Thailand we see what it's really like! Get an exclusive Surfshark deal! Enter promo code treadtheglobe to get up to 6 additional month...

13/02/2024

Delicious pork soup noodles made from the kitchen of the Retreat ❤️

03/02/2024

https://youtu.be/My_Dcd7tJ7I?si=nH1xYUNcZuMDxVDA

Head to https://squarespace.com/floraandnote to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code FLORAANDNOTEWe will always love Chiang Mai...

31/01/2024

https://www.facebook.com/648093452/posts/10161744650823453/?mibextid=cr9u03

31/01/2024

I’m thinking that a TV in the B&B room is a must.. access to Netflix too.. what do you think?

29/01/2024

29/01/2024

26/01/2024

It’s market day for us today, it’s always an event wandering around the many markets. Fresh vegetables by market and the rest from Makro delivery.. (so happy we have the Makro app now)

13/01/2024

It’s my Homestay page, please kindly like and share, thank you
ทำบ้านพักเป็น Homestay ค่ะ กรุณาช่วยกด like แล้ว share ด้วยนะคะ ขอบคุณค่ะ
🙏😊

12/01/2024

Shared kitchen and dining room

12/01/2024

Bedroom 4 with dedicated bathroom

15/12/2023

We are excited to add 8 coconut trees to our garden..

15/11/2022

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=495059185990973&id=100064606877258

Seven years ago we rescued an old female elephant named Phacharee from a riding camp. On arrival at ENP, we changed her name to Sri Pai.

Sri Pai was like many old elephants who come to us in poor physical and mental health. We introduced her to the Herd of Khamla and she became part of Khamla’s family. Every day the Khamla herd would travel to the grassy fields up river from the Park. With her body still infirm, Sri Pai found it easier to stay in the Park and formed a strong friendship with Yai Bua. It wasn't long before they shared the same shelter.

When Yai Bua passed away, Sri Pai was alone again. We introduced her to the family of Mintra, Yindee’s mother. Sri Pai quite enjoyed her time with these new friends.

In the last six months before her passing, SriPai was having abnormal urination. The vet team took both blood and urine samples and found that she her kidney function was poor. She also suffered from arthritis due to longevity and a life of debilitating work.

The veterinary team provided daily care. Her energy level was still strong. She was still walking with her friends in the fields as usual. Eating and drinking was normal. Two weeks after the flood, she refused to walk to the field again and preferred to stay by her shelter. She was continually monitored by our vet and mahout team, even through the night.

Today, Sri Pai lay down and made no effort to get up again. She slept, and then she left us. In the seven years with us, she re-learned the meaning of friendship and family, after more than seven decades of forced labor.

Sri Pai is but one of our herd who has been rescued in their latter years. More than seventy percent of our elephants at ENP are elderly. Today SriPai has left us. In spite of our heartache and sorrow, we have seen her walk away from this world with dignity. Her sojourn with us is filled with memories also of freedom and happiness in her final years.

R.I.P beautiful soul.

13/11/2022

It’s a beautiful evening, blue sky, a warm 27-28’c right now, dropping to a comfortable 16-17’c duvet snuggling at night.. I’ve started taking the dogs out for a walk in the front garden walking up a thirst for a beer for 5pm

12/11/2022

Feeling happy and appreciative- today we have a new house keeper join us and have found a skilled window fitter that can repair our broken windows..

Living out in the countryside is so beautiful & peaceful but it’s very difficult finding skilled tradesmen.. well done Angie for finding him after a three shop treasure hunt in the village this week..

10/11/2022

Coco sunbathing now that the sun has cooled down to a nice 28’c

10/11/2022

We were asked by Lanna Care for Animals Foundation to take care of 5 puppies aged around 45 days old who were in real danger of being run over by a very busy road..

Teresa from the charity spent days tracking and capturing these little babies despite the dangers to herself! (I’m totally amazed at the dedication and hard work these kind souls do)

They were infested with Ticks & fleas which had introduced blood parasites that would eventually kill them.. so a few visits to the vets with daily meds and a few weeks later they are responding very well..

I’m trying so hard not to get attached! But it’s so hard..

We will be looking for new homes for them very soon

19/10/2022

Life on the retreat has been a little busier with the arrival of our 1st friends to visit from the uk. Claire & Neil spent time in Phuket before visiting us for a few days and will head down to bangkok for a few days of city life before heading home.

We have thoroughly loved showing off to our friends, Mountain View’s, Elephant hugs & horse & cart touristy visits around the old town of Chiang mai and of course delicious food

We are hoping that now the world is opening up again that we have the chance to do this again with other friends from Europe Soon

23/09/2022

Back to the tropics, leaving the cooling down UK season behind. Deciding on when to move to & from the UK is new so choosing the right time is going to be trial & error but not a bad thing to have to do..

The gardens here have grown beautifully thanks to Angie & the gardeners and the life giving rainy season too. The rain season has given the newly fitted water drainage system a great test of which I’m pleased to say has performed brilliantly.

My trip home became very sad with the passing of my wonderful dad & the horrendous choice to find a dementia home for my mum. My poor sister working tirelessly with keeping things all together.. life in the UK just won’t be the same again..

With chin-up, I am pleased to hear from a friend who is planning to be out 1st visitor from Europe! So we will unwrap our new red carpet in preparation and plan a fantastic time for them..

I hope that now the Covid crisis is ending, we will see many more visit so we can show off this side of the country..

21/06/2022

Hi, work has continued here on the retreat, focusing on the long 80m driveway and our outside car park.. The fencing work has been completed and we now have a new pedestrian gate..

The weather has dropped a few degrees and the humidity has risen.. we have a free sauna now just by sitting outside

19/06/2022

https://youtu.be/ylowkWyJBWk

There was a lot of big news this week regarding travel into Thailand, entry rules, mask mandates, etc. Get all the updates in this one breaking news video.F...