Chiangmai-Bangkok Trip 2006
We finally board the plane, without the use of an airbridge and was sleeping our heads off for the next 3 hrs...till we planted our feet in Chiangmai International Airport. Our guide and van driver picked us up and we continue on a road trip of 4 hrs to Chiangrai.14/12/06 - 1pm : Chiangrai
The GOLDEN TRIANGLE at Chiangrai
It's not the sight that amazes, but more of the proximity and implications this 'closeness' had resulted to the shaping of Thai history. The viewing platform belongs to Thailand, while the sand mass behind is BURMA.... like....close lor. Further up the river is LAOS.
Anyway, this river is da infamous MEKONG river. Vv murky that Loch Ness's cousin might still be residing in....
Han Bin and his fave monster, the NAKHA, aka the Mekong River monster, cousins of Loch Ness. He was so infatuated by the TV documentary 2 yrs ago which was in search of the Nakha, and has finally found peace by taking a pic posing alongside it.
Architecture is still my fave. Tina and I in awe of this BC temple, made of, Volcanic Ash!!! I dun really understand the material but Tina started this long lecture of hardening lava after so many freaking years and wadever. The blocks are vv porous, so it's a wonder it's still standing after so many years, playing host to million of visitors all these time.
After tad, we travelled down to the Hilltribe community to take a look at their crafts and lifestyles. Here's a pic with the Karen (aka Long Neck) Tribe.
The brass coil is like super heavy (5kg!!!)
Instead of joining Hanbin and I into the Hilltribe thingy, they lingered outside to take a breather and capturing memories with the skull of a...eeks.... MAMMOTH!!!
14/12/06 - 8pm : Back in Chiangmai
After checking in to our fab hotel, the shopping genes started stirring in all of us. Night market, here we come. But before tad, dinner first.
Vv touristy seafood restuarant. Although not expensive (SG standard), but I really think there's better Thai food around. But bring big family vv difficult to eat at authentic small stalls... So here we are.
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2nd Day: 15/12/06 - 9am : Chiangmai Elephant Camp
Waiting for the Elephant show to start. Touristy, but nice! Amazing Thailand... whahaha....
And my dad says he was NOT EVEN A WEE BIT AFRAID. *Evil Giggle*
Before leaving the Elephant Camp, we decided to take a photo with the landscape. (Read: Natural) Apparently, the girls still can't get over the whole Elephant thingy. And my mum did a secret *victory* V
My mum couldn't resist the fruit stalls along the road, so we got pineapples, apples, a cross btwn apple and jambu, and STRAWBERRiES!!! Vv sweet and tasty, juz a little smaller compared to its ang-moh counterparts.
We den headed to the handicraft tour. The guide brought us to Silk factory, Umbrella, Silverware and lastly the Leather factory. Not a fan of these stuff, we juz sat outside.
15/12/06 - 3pm : Wat Doi Suthep
One of my fave part of the Chiangmai leg, although i've visited before, it always have a calming effect on me. Like maybe how pilgrims feel. According to Guide Kob, praying at the Wat Doi Suthep is equivalent to praying 7 times at other temples. Pilgrimage indeed.
15/12/06 - 6pm : Royal Flora Expo @ Chiangmai
Leaving the hills, we arrived back into Chiangmai city for the Royal Flora Expo. This was done in honour of the King's 60th year on the Royal Throne. Plannings started 2-3 yrs back and, my, were they successful. Other than an amazing display of local agriculture, other foreign countries oso took part by displaying their best at allocated plots.
Here I pose with Hanbin before the Bottle Trees, specially freight in from Australia. Nice!
HUGE roses with many many petals. Here Bingo and I pose.
At the Japanese Garden (sponsored by the Japan)... So posed...
After the Flora Expo, it was back to the hotel for dinner and continue to do last minute shopping at the nite market. Had the final roti from the roadside stall to truly satisfy the thai junk food craving.
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16/12/06 - Travel from Chiangmai to Bangkok (full-force shopping)
At Chiangmai International Airport, waiting for the Airasia staff to start work and allow us to check in. Apple and Bingo showing off their Flora Expo's mascots. I muz admit they are cute, the mascots.
The silly flight was delayed and caused Jaaey and gang to wait for us for over an hour. Jaaey, Nuie and Nan were friends i made during the Poly Attachment Trip in Thai from 2002. So glad to have them still as friends.
Of coz, the new friend is TON TON !!! Jaaey's first baby!!!
He is SO ADORABLE. I tell u, U will fall in love with him at first sight. His laughter is EXTREMELY contagious. Nice to see ur friends settling down and having their kids. I wait for this to happen in the clique.
Hehe.... Btw, woman is my mum and backdrop is my uncle (mum's bro)
And Jaaey and Tong treated us all to this expensive seafood dinner and Nuie even remembered I like black pepper crabs and delibrately ordered it for me. Man, I'm touched. *Shed tears* No wonder Thais are well known for their hospitality. Love 'em!
They later insisted on sending us back to the hotel even though they have to get into the massive Bangkok jam. Upon reaching Asia Hotel, we said our goodbyes to Jaaey, Tong, dear Tonton and Nan.
Gearing up for crazy shopping at Chatuchak the next day!!!
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17/12/06 - Chatuchak Market and Dinner with Nuie
Din take any fotos at Chatuchak (how to, too distracted by shopping already lor)... Got back to the hotel at 3pm, washed up and headed to MBK to meet Nuie and family for dinner. Here I posed with Wah-Zai outside GV. Sigh...my hero on horseback....
Er Jie posing with Ronald. Oh, notice Ronald does diff things in diff countries. In Thailand, it's the 'Wai'. Anyway, in Thailand, Mac serves pork but no beef, due to the countries majority of Buddhist believers. They had pork fan-tastic, although it din look vv fantastic.
Y do we not have such interested posters or wadever u call it at our cinemas???
MK Steamboat dinner with Nuie, Nuie's sister and bro-in-law, who visited Singapore sometime ago. It was their treat, again........ so embarassed by all the treatment. Actually many things happened as there was a cork-up on which MK to meet, but i shan't say coz it's a really long story. Apparently there were 3!!! MK restuarant in 1 shopping centre. Okie.... demand i guess is great.
Before returning to the hotel, the girls did not passed up their Get-Fat chances at Dunkin' Donuts.
Look at their variety!!! Alot lor.... They bought many of the star-shaped ones. Incredible how pple can be so infuated with donuts.
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18/12/06 - Last day of Trip + Teeth Whitening Session
Tina and I woke up the earliest to find our dental clinic (with prior appt) and went to do our teeth whitening. The clinic is very foreigners-oriented so it was pretty high class and all. I was feeling juz a little jittery until the chairside treatment started. I tell U, it's PAINFUL one lor!!! I nearly wanted to stop the dentist, but becoz i already paid the S$400, I had to endure. The longest 1 hr.... I'm glad i onli paid 400 for the suffering compared to 1K, if i had done it in SG.
We later met Apple and Bingo at the hotel to go MBK to do the last last min shopping . Hanbin went to pray at the Si Mian Fo when i went for dental. We all eventually settled for lunch at Black Canyon, savouring the best coffee and great Thai service. Final 1 hr of shopping before we headed back to the hotel to check out.
At the new Suvarnabhumi Airport, q-ing for check in. Flashing that laser-polished smile at u!Next stop is Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Ciaoz!
posted by wiebbernme at 3:20 PM
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