If you feel that you are so distant with these things; tree, stream, star, mountain, sand, flower, wind, moon, sky and  rock, why don’t you  find some times to turn back to these good things?  They could uplift your soul and prevent it from injury due to too much living among buildings, cars, pollution and nightlight.  
       
Though the two resorts differ in styles and location, their owners have the same concept of genuine nature-loving.

Baan Maii Horm, Nonthaburi.

     Beautiful-shaped fragrant flowers like Plumerias emit their pleasant scent in the air at a side of Bang Yai canal. The white flowers fall on the beautiful well maintained  lawn. The crystal-clear water in the canal waves slightly when a townspeople’s boat passes by. This is not even includes boats selling noodles, Kuay Jabb (a kind of Thai noodles) and ice-creams in every afternoon. Thus, everyone can absorb in the pleasant atmosphere when sitting in a sala at a side of water.

   "Every kind of trees and flowers has its own fragrance.", Mr.Panich Jareaunpao said while giving us a tour at the flower garden. "Smelling their fragrance makes us feel fresh and happy." The owner looks so proud of the things he has been dedicated himself to. This is the history of Baan Maii Horm, a home stay resort surrounded by various plants. Some of the plants here might be unknown to us such as  Woodbine, "Mang Mao" tree, Ankota and "Fon San Ha" tree. Others might be familiar to us such as   Cork tree, Gardenia Crepe Jasmine, "Care Na" tree, White Champaka, Champa, White Meranti, Bastard Teak and Lamdman, competing one another with their own flowers and leaves.

If walking a little further from the pleasant flower garden, you will find a clubhouse with a swimming pool and a small room near a side of the swimming pool available for stay. The clubhouse is designed to be able to see both the inside and outside views.  So, the feelings when living inside the clubhouse can be linked with the lush landscape outside no matter where you are in the house. The clubhouse also serves as a multi-functional place where feasts and 20-people seminar can be held or where people can relax through listening to songs from home theatre system and swimming after the sunlight subsides.
      
If walking along the side of the clubhouse, you will find a Thai house in "Paan-Ya" style similar to townhouses. The Thai-styled house has 11 units, 22 rooms.  Mr. Panich placed the concept on the house as a welcoming place for friends. Cars can be parked both the front and the back of the house. Beautiful trees are planted at the front.   Red shoe flowers are contrast to their dark green leaves, creating a pleasant picture. Mr. Panich hopes that the guests who come to stay here might have an inspiration to grow plants at their own houses, which "Pae Dang" sees that it maybe work because after seeing the trees around Bang Yai, she really wants to take the trees here to be planted at her house. 
      
Don’t just feel pleasant with the outside view. Let’s come to see inside the house.
              
Being inside the house gives the atmosphere like you were at your own house. The downstairs is  sectioned to dining area, living room area and pantry for preparing simple foods, including a refrigerator and a bathroom.  The upstairs has 2 bedrooms with a bathroom inside of each. The back bedroom is placed with a big single bed while the room at the front of the single bed is small. Most of the furniture  are from office of The Civil Service Commission (OCSC). If opening the glass door to the balcony where you can feel the wind, you will see "Care Na" trees in lines with their scented white cone-shaped flowers and lush field at the opposite side, creating a pleasant view.   

Living close to nature is good like these!  Kum Pa Thammachat Mom Chailai, Kanchanaburi.

"She feel pleasant everywhere she sits." Mom Chailai takes up to 20 years to utter the words and then transform the words into letters putting in the dining area.
       
Under a tree shade at 4 p.m. at Kum Thammachat Mom Chailai, it looks dark more than other days. Mr. Veeranan Kaewruang, Manager of the resort, walks us to a narrow peaceful alley where we can hear only the sound of the wind and the sound of the moving  branches. If we had not seen the dispersed houses  , we would have thought that we were walking in the wood. The perennial plants were grown from young plants twenty years ago, which have gradually covered 40 rais and have replaced  sugarcane orchards and chili gardens in the past. This is  because the owner gives importance on trees. She planted trees before building houses, not building the houses first and then growing plants. 
       
Before walking into the wood, please visit the reception area. Many sets of wooden chairs and tables are placed on the left. You can choose to sit under the cogon grass roof or in an open space to feel the warmth of sunlight. Inside the building is a seminar room with 20-people capacity.  In the center is the counter used for giving information to the guests or borrowing books. Next to the counter is  Kum Pa restaurant which takes the outside atmosphere into the inside area. Wooden sets of tables and chairs were simply made, but are pleasant to sit on. Also, the recommended foods such as Kang Pa Morn, Tom Saab Morn and Kai Jeaw Morn (Morn omelet) are ready to be served.

Houses among the wood gradually revealed themselves after we walked into the shady jungle. Each house (16 houses in total) is differently decorated. The first house which "Pae Dang" sees that it is romantic is Baan Nam Touk. It is pleasantly cool inside the house. The floor is made from striped green tiles. Every pieces of furniture are made from wood, giving a heavy atmosphere. The facilities in the house are a television and an air-conditioning. When opening the door to the back patio, you will find a sink for washing dishes and a refrigerator at a corner. Also, at  the place, you can sit looking at Kwae Noi river below and listen to the whispering sound of the stream at the back of the house. The bathroom inside the house shows a perfect combination between clay tiles, sandstones, wood and rocks. The toilet is separated from the showering area that is able to provide hot water, which adds convenience to the guests.
       
Not far from the house is Baan Hor Koy, situated among shady trees. The house has 3 bedrooms decorated with wood and rocks on the 3-storey tower. Each room can accommodate 2 people. Baan Ing Pa is surrounded by trees as suggested by its name. A prominent area in the house is the spacious bathroom. The house is suitable for a family. Like Baan Ing Pa, Baan Chuan Pa can accommodate 5 people. Moreover, every area in the house is connected. The beds are dispersedly placed, giving a warm atmosphere. Baan Dong Sak is painted with orange color not like other houses. Baan Phu Pha is private and peaceful because the guests have to walk up to a real cliff foot.  Baan Chueng Pa has 2 rooms. Each room can accommodate 2 people.

 When arriving here, you have plenty of time to do many activities like walking in the wood along Kwae Noi river, riding a bicycle and driving a three-wheeled car. Or you just simply grab out your favorite book and read it in a corner which the place offers you a lot to choose. A perfect corner is at Tong Chang waterfall which requires people to go down the ladders to under the shed that has 2 chairs where people can sit on reading books, listening to the sound of the waterfall and looking at Kwae Noi river with pleasure. 

Trees, streams, stars, mountains, sand, flowers, wind, moon, sky and rocks…it’s time to get closer to them!!!
     
Baan Mai Horm 41/4 Moo.6 Soi Sankanchana 4 Jong Thanorm-Wat Ton Cheag  Road  Bang Yai, Nonthaburi 11140   Tel. 0 2449 7833-4  Price: 1,600 baht.

Kum Thammachat Mom Chailai  Tasao  Saiyoke, Kanchanaburi 71000. Tel. Office(BKK) 0 2662 0984-5, 0 1667 4830  Price: 2,900-5,800 baht.

Translated by Anchana Chotivanich