These pics aren't so extraordinary I suppose, but it just goes to show that there is a little bit of magic just around the corner if you are willing to go and look for it.
I go out exploring on my bicycle from time to time in order to get some exercise and just see what is out there. Some days I find nothing of note, other days I find something amazing. Yesterday was one of those just above average days with a few gems.
There is something beautiful and serene about rice paddies. It is so quiet out there and it looks quite lovely. As someone from a part of the world where as far as I know rice isn't even cultivated as a crop, seeing these fields stretch out in all directions was a pretty sight. I also got to see the farmers flooding their fields and the process, other than the pumps, likely hasn't changed for hundreds of years. The water isn't contained by any sort of technology, it is simply dirt walls on all sides with sections that can be dug out to flood the adjacent square. It looks like hard work, that is for sure.
Then, even though I was essentially in the middle of nowhere, there was this rather large cafe / restaurant in the middle of all the farms. I stopped in for a chill and the place was nearly empty. Perhaps they get busier at night. To be fair to them it was around 4pm, so it isn't exactly peak hours.
I enjoy a good water feature, and this one was built out of bamboo and added a sort of peaceful rain sound ambiance to the entire dining area. It also kind of made a mess of the floor. I don't know if you have ever tried to build anything out of bamboo, but it isn't the easiest material to deal with. I wonder how many of those bits they destroyed in their frustrating attempt to get the holes in just the right places.
My total journey was around 25 km and most of it was filled with the usual concrete buildings and occasional street dog chasing me down the neighborhood streets. In Thailand, just like most of the world, you gotta get out of town a bit before things start to have some sort of beauty to them.
I love these adventures and each day I take off without a destination in mind. Sometimes I find something great, other days I find nothing, some days i get lost. I'm always happy that I did it though.