Chiangmai: Animal Planet

We knew Thailand peoples love elephant the most. Therefore, I took my opportunity to Chiangmai & Chiangrai this time to experience riding elephants, and of course seeing some other animals.

I've went to almost half of Thailand already when I was working in travel line, unfortunately it's a shame that I didn't ride elephant before. Most of the time I have to take care of my customers. Auuu! The elephant riding activity is already included in our ground package, so if you happen that your package doesn't include this, I think you will need to pay at least Baht 600 for 30 minutes ride in any part of Thailand like Phuket or Krabi.

Welcome to Maesa Elephant Camp.

Elephant at work.

Elephants are bathing. Cute to the max and they were super playful.

Show time.

After show time, they will ask for reward. Audiences will tip them or give the elephants some bananas. lol

Thanks to the trainer who actually offered to take picture of us with the elephant.

He took a lot of pictures and the elephant was moving here and there so you can see I took up the stick but not dare to hit him. I am very scare actually hahaha. 

Riding on it 30 minutes was like 30 hours to me, and omg-ly the weather was super hot that day.

Besides elephants, we also visited Monkey School.

I got to see monkey shows like riding bicycle, plucking coconut, doing mathematics and so on.

Interesting enough eh?

And this is Edward's dad holding a snake and kissing the snake at Snake Show.

Disgusting enough. hahaha

Alright, gonna end my post with a picture with this cute little baby elephant.

Aww he is so cute and I think he likes me until must play with his nose. loll

Thanks for reading!

Cameron Highlands

Another throw back post to Cameron Highlands during NYE 2012.

Forgive me because I just back to blogging life since March and I really have too many things to write here for my own memories. For God's sake, this is my first time to Cameron Highlands. Friends around me had been there since their age of 6 or 7, I am just too late. I think I just spent my childhood to study lolll.

I took express bus from Penang to Cameron Highlands that costed me RM 40 per way, then took Air Asia flight from KL back to Penang. Forget to mention, Edward and his friend was already there few days ago before I arrived. We stayed at his friend's apartment.

As what I knew about Cameron Highlands are cool weathers, steamboats, vegetables, fruits, flowers, tea and all those green green view hahaha! When I reached there, besides what I've mentioned, I also saw many peoples, schools,clinics and a Starbucks Coffee! lol #craps

It was quite foggy at the end of the year that time.

Tourist shot vs Selca shot.

Actually there's nothing much to do up there, planned to try strawberry picking but cancelled did not go because the strawberries were all plucked due to school holidays and peak season on December. Save some cash go high tea hehehe.

Ended my first day noon at BOH Tea Farm for afternoon tea sessions.

 Our tea sets.

 Nom nom Butter Lemon Cake.

Perfect combination with my Peach Tea.

The only entertainment at night - chilling at Starbucks.

The next day, woke up quite early and went to the local market just for this!

STRAWBERRY~!!!

Half of them were eaten by me. I swear they were big and juicy, but if compared to Korea strawberries then "sorry lah".


A girl will take 6 pictures of herself with only one strawberry then choose the best to upload loll. That's me!

Me and my Mimiyan.

In the afternoon, we got nothing to do again, so GO HIGH TEA again.

 Carrot Cheese Cake.

Scone. Yummy

Perfect combination with my Rose Tea on the second day.




Night view from the apartment we stayed. So pretty and they won't sleep awww <3.

If you wondered why no steamboat pictures or any proper main course meals here, I gotta tell you that I did not snap any pictures because was too hungry when every time comes to lunch or dinner time lol. Cooler weather just made people extra hungry-ier. We actually had steamboat with "chapalang" ingredients, home cooked curry chicken, home cooked soya sauce chicken feets, instant noodles, chicken with coke and etc etc etc until burppppp :D

Well, still I "managed" to remember to snap pictures of this famous 源珍鸭腿云吞面 @ Bidor, Ipoh.

Address: Lot 60，Jalan Besar，35500 Bidor , Perak ., 35500 Ipoh, Perak (Restaurant Shin Thean Thean)

Contact: 016-561 2194

Business Hours: Mon - Sun: 7:30 am - 6:30 am

The taste of herbal in the soup is so heavy until you must drink all only can. =P

And also this very famous "芋泥" (Taro Mud) is a must-try item.

Thanks for reading!

Chiangmai:Introduction + City Tour + Doi Suthep

Throw back to February 2013 during CNY period, I went to Chiangmai and Chiangrai for the first time with bf & his family.

Introduction:

Chiang Mai is Thailand's principal northern province.  It is some 700 kilometres north of Bangkok and covers an area of 20,000 square metres.  The city is located in a fertile valley some 300 metres above sea level.

Chiang Mai was founded as the capital of Lanna Thai (Kingdom of One Million Ricefields) in 1296.  It flourished as a major religious, cultural and trading center until 1556 when a Burmese invasion reduced it to a vassal state.  The Burmese were expelled in 1785, whereupon Lanna Thai once again became part of northern Thailand.

Many lowland Thais regard Chiang Mai as being something of a national Shangri-la, thanks to its distinctive festivals, historic temples dating from the 1300s, arresting scenic beauty, temperate fruits and a crisp, invigorating cool season climate.

The people of Chiang Mai enjoy one of the most distinctive cultural identities in the whole of Thailand.  Largely farmers and artisans, they have their own lilting dialect, their own indigenous handicrafts, their own dances and their own distinctive cuisine.  Hilltribes also lend a great deal of character and color to the crisply beautiful mountanious landscape.

From March to October, the north's climate follows the pattern of the rest of the country -- hot and dry followed by hot and wet. Yet, from November to March, it's almost like another country, with cool breezes blowing down from China, bright sunny days, and rarely a cloud in the sky. During these cooler months, Chiang Mai is an excellent base for exploring the north.

***

We caught an early flight from Kuala Lumpur to Chiangmai Airport. Upon arrival at the airport, we were met and greeted by our personal local guide, Mr Sayam aka Max, a very handsome and friendly Northern Thailand man ;) There were only a total of 7 in our group, really thanks to Standard Tour Chiangmai (a very big tour operator in Chiangmai) who upgraded our group to private group and provide us with comfortable and clean vehicle, plus another friendly driver.Thumbs up!

Our first flight together. *took with my 4s, sorry for the bad quality*

Told you we have a very handsome good looking tour guide, believe it!

He speaks good English and of course, very knowledgeable. 

He told us that tour guiding is just his part time job, in fact he is a lawyer O.o

Eyes on you. Haha! This silly funny guy is our driver for 5 days, and behind him is our private van.

We were starving because our flight was very early and we asked Max brought us to have some local delicacy to fill up our drumming stomach.
This stall is actually selling something like meat balls noodles and porridge.

It's very famous according to Max, so you can see some articles of celebrities visited this stall.

 Pork noodles.

 Pork porridge.

Later on, we were taken to few local product shops, like Thai Silk Factory, Umbrella Factory, Honey Shop and Gems Gallery. This is compulsory to visit if you are following scheduled tour. What to do, already got used to it since I was a tour leader before this. Anyway, the silk thingy quite impressed me.

Thai - style building.

 And here's the explanation of how silkworm created silk cocoon. Feel free to read if you are interested.

It's like magic seeing the lady pulling it.

Weaving tools for silk and all of these are very traditional way. They still keep it and use it to produce silk products.

Edward & I.

Ticket counter to Doi Suthep Temple. You can see Max (the one with black cap) purchasing tickets for us.

Tram entrance to go up to the temple.

Grumpy face while waiting because started to feel tired already, plus the weather is not cool that day.

In any part of Thailand, it is a basic knowledge to know that you must not wear shoes to enter and must cover your knees if you are wearing shorts or skirts.

Therefore, you can see I am barred foots and covering my knees with my scarf. In case you did not bring your own scarf, they have a counter to rent to visitors especially ladies.

More info of Thailand Temple Etiquette at here.

With Edward's family.

You can enjoy a breath-taking Chiangmai city view from Doi Suthep view point. The air here is fresher and cooler compared to when we were at land just now. 

 There is also a man dancing in Northern Thailand traditional costume. Are you a phoenix?

And in my following Chiangmai post, you will also get to see a lot of beautiful colorful floras. 

They can grow beautiful floras most probably is because of the weather, soils and natural resources there.

Random cute monks mini statue.

 Fyi, Doi Suthep Temple is known as "双龙寺" in Chinese. You will know why in the picture below.

As the name suggests, there is really 2 Dragons at it's another entrance.

Obviously, we took the tram up then walked down. Hahaha lazy bum bum!

I will put a stop on this Chiangmai post now. Hope you guys enjoyed reading and please come visit again for my updates!