Honeymoon trip - Chiangdao

The next morning, we got up early getting ready to go to Chiang dao. We took a local bus about 1 hour and a half to get there for 40 baht each. It was raining all the way from Chiangmai to Chiangdao and still raining when we got to our resort. We didn't do anything in that afternoon because of the rain but we did enjoy relaxing at the resort -- Malee's nature lovers bungalows


The resort area

It was about 4 pm when the rain seemed to stop. We decided to go exploring the nearest cave temple.


Not only us going to the temple that day


The way to the cave


Our destination! Up there! Keep walking!


We saw it on the half way pit stop.


Finally...we made it to the top!


The Buddha statue inside the pagoda

We were lucky that it was no rain when we went up there. The view up there was stunning, breathe taking view but hey! I'd love to breath more as the air was so clear unlike Bangkok's!!! It was worth taking long and deep breathe there.... Ahhhhh.....


The beautiful sky on the way back to our resort

510 steps... that's good enough for the evening work out! Then we went back to sleep..........zzzzzzzz

Honeymoon trip - Part II

After visiting the famous and 'must see' temple, we went back to our hotel and waited for my friend (my ex-roommate from the university), Money, to join us.

But after waiting for awhile, she hadn't shown up yet and we were hungry (again). We asked the hotel staff where to get cheap, local food nearby. He said the walkable area where we can find restaurants is on Nimmarnhemin road, so we headed there.

We tried to look for recommended restaurants in our guidebook but we couldn't find any, so we decided to walk into a restaurant where I saw many Thai folks hanging out there. (That should be a good sign, right?)

Here are our first dinner in Chiang mai:


The famous Northern style curry noodle called "Khao soi"


The Northern style sausages called "Sai ua"


Lemon grass spicy salad with shrimps (Not the Northern style)


Deep-fried soft shell crab with garlic and pepper (Not Northern but I liked to have it!)

Money arrived when we were having dinner, so she joined us and she was so kind to treat us that meal. Thank you Money! Kiss kiss!


Jane and Money

We were lucky to arrive there on Sunday as in Chiang mai, there is a special Sunday night market on the historical street. After dinner, Money was our guide to show us around the market.




It's great for shopping and sight seeing at the same time!

As Money had to drive about 1 hour back to her home in Lampun, so we had to split early that night. Jeremy and I had to get ready for tomorrow trip to Chiang dao too, so we went to bed early. The first day on our honeymoon was great!!! Good way to start!

Honeymoon trip - Day #1

Ahhh... Finally I have time to sit down and get all the photos out of the camera. Now it's time to talk about this honeymoon trip.

Jeremy and I decided to go to Chiang mai as Jeremy never been to the north before. We went there by sleeping train (because it's cheaper and we can sleep too!)


Jeremy on the train


Jane on iPod listening "On the train" playlist

We arrived Chiang mai at 7.30AM (On time!!!! My friend who lives in the north now said she never never experienced on time train!), we took a red mini truck to our hotel "Suan doi house"


The garden view from our front balcony

We thought we could sleep on the train but the train was too bumpy and too cold, so we didn't sleep well. The hotel allowed us to check-in early, and we crashed when we reached the bed.

Waking up from the nap, feeling hungry! Lonely Planet guidebook said the hotel we stay has a wonderful Vietnamese restaurant "Le Gong kum", we decided to try! And they're right!!! The food there was so good.... mmmm.... yummy!


Our starter... Vietnamese style Calamari


Nam neung... It's so goooood!


Vietnamese fresh spring rolls

After our first wonderful meal in Chiang mai, we headed to the famous temple on Doi Suthep. This temple is the 'must see' temple in Chiang mai, they believe that if you come to Chiang mai but didn't come to this temple, it's like you haven't come to Chiang mai yet!!!

So.... we did visit Chiang mai finally!


The most popular shot at the most famous temple

What we learned today on the first day in Chiang mai is taxi drivers in Chiang mai are cheaters! I didn't say all of them are but when they have chance to rip tourists off, they do! I was really disappointed even I've got the warning from my friend earlier but still... I expected that Northern people or Chiang mai people will be friendly and kind but the people I met on the first day are not. They cheated on the Thai people, so FOREIGNERS! BE CAREFUL EVEN MORE!!!

SinGing in the rain!

Hello folks!

This is just a quick update about my life! I'm now in raining Singapore... I will be back to Bangkok (probably raining too) tomorrow.

While I'm here, I'll try to experience the food in Singapore as much as I can!
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P.S. I already met PY and mistipurple in person... It's to confirm to you guys that they're real human beings. More stories to tell later...

Ni hao from Kunming!

Ni hao everyone!!!
I'm now in Kunming, Yunnan... China!!! I just arrived this afternoon... I will start my sightseeing tour tomorrow.

I'm here with my mom and Jeremy... It's our first time ever to China, it's so exciting! It's cool too!!! (The city and the weather is really cool!)

We just had traditional Yunnanian noodles... it's called "Over the bridge" noodles. I will show you the pictures when I am back home.

Now I should go, my mom is waiting...

Miss you all!
*By the way, next week I will be in Singapore.... Hope to see all Singaporean bloggers!!!!*

Nite nite!

Jane on the go!

Next month will be my busy month traveling for me! I have plans to go to China for 4 days and then go to Singapore for 3 days... and then I will be back home really broke!

I'm still planning for my Singapore trip, anyone has suggestion for me? Which hotel should I stay (budget less than 100 $US)? Which area should I stay? Which food or restaurant should I try? -- I'm sure PY would be the best source for this!!!

Just a quick update! I'm at work now... gotta get back to work! sigh...

Road trip to Khaoyai

My travel blog has published its first story!!! Go check it out NOW!!!

Enjoy!

What happened to me in the past week

There many things happened to me in the past week, I can't believe it! I will start with rough detail on my trip on Thursday 16th.

My boss and I made a road trip to the north of Thailand to Phitsanulok to cover a story there, we stayed there for 3 nights and then we went to Loei, visiting a vineyard and then drove to Udonthani, slept there 1 night before heading to Nongkhai, Thai-Laos border. We left the car in Thailand and crossed to Laos, took the plane to Xiengkhoung for another story. 2 nights in Xiengkhoung, we flew back to Vientiane and crossed back to Thailand. My boss drove to Khonkaen that night and we stayed in Khonkaen 1 night before heading back to Bangkok on Thursday 23rd. We arrived Bangkok around noon... It's 1,600 km we drove during this trip.

My mom got 3 new kittens as they were dumped in front of our house. There were 5 of them actually, 1 mother and 4 little kitties but the mother brought one kitty with her to another house and never come back for the rest. So my mom took them inside as the dogs on the street attacking them. One kitty got her leg broken because the dogs attacking her. Our veterinarian said she will be ok and will be able to walk within 1 month. We haven't named them yet... I will show you photos of them next time I go home.

I passed out...fainted... on the cross over bridge in the middle of Bangkok after I donated my blood. I didn't know what happened with me but luckily I was with my 2 friends, Ying and Auey. They told me I fainted and fell on the floor. I remember I was about to black out, I saw my friends walking in front of me but I had no voice to call them, I grabbed the bridge bars... that's the last thing I know. My friends told me they turned to me to see why I wasn't walking with them and they saw me about to fall... They were able to catch me before I hit the floor, but they couldn't lift me up as my body was harden. There was a guy walking by, he helped lifting me up to the shade where another woman gave me smelling salt to wake me up. My friends told me I fainted twice... well... I didn't know anything. I guess I should stop donating my blood for awhile until I'm stronger or healthier.

Now it's almost noon time and I'm hungry. I should go...

Miss you all....
Hugs

Pet (fish) shop

The other day (I don't remember what day!), I went to Thonglor Sky train station and I saw this man at the corner of the street. He was selling fishes and turtles and some water plants.

Isn't that cool?

Here in Thailand, you can buy your pet at any street corner!

As you're on the way to the pub, walking on the street, thinking 'Let's have some beers tonight' and then! Oh! Turtle! How lovely! Let me get one turtle before going for some beers!

Yes....You can.

Live music @ Saxophone

Last Friday, Jeremy and I went to a pub called "Saxophone" with some teachers he works with. I don't remember how many people were there but I know it's a lot and I only know a few of them...



Anyway... I like this pub... the live bands are good... (but their mojito wasn't) Here is a moment we had there which I want to share with you. Enjoy!

Polluted Maptaphut

As some of you may remember that I used to work for Greenpeace SE Asia for about 2 months. During the time I was working there, I had a chance to visit a place called "Map Ta Phut", an industrial estate in Rayong province.

"In 2003 Greenpeace took samples of wastewater from Vinythai and Thai Plastic & Chemicals at their point of discharge to the canal in Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate as well as sediment from the canal. The results show contamination of a range of highly toxic and carcinogenic substances."



I have some photos to show you.... I took these photos when I was there to do research on how many people effected from the pollution.




And not only human...who is suffering from the pollution, this little dog too!

The story from the south

I'm not sure that May and Simple American are still sitting there waiting for my story or not but to not keep them sitting too long, here is the story!

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/03/19/news/thai.php

Oh! and another story that I had been helping and working on... about Thailand. Thanks to everyone who gave me answers which some were used in this article. Thanks!!!

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/03/20/news/thai.php

Enjoy!





WAIT!!! I got tagged!!!

Hello from the restive south!

Hello!!!
I'm here in the South of Thailand... in a hotel in Pattani, I will spend a night here. I flew to Hat yai this morning and drove to Yala province... into the troubled area where there is curfew at night!

I just wanna let you know that I'm fine and safe here... We planned to go back to Bangkok this evening but as we had an unlucky day today that made us behid the schedule, so we couldn't drive back to airport as it's too late and too dangerous to be on the road after 5 pm., and that's the reason why I'm staying here in the hotel.

I haven't reserved the plane ticket yet! I should! Ok! Gotta go!
See you in Bangkok!

Ladies Rule!!!

Last night I went to a "Exclusively for ladies only" bar with friends... It was my first time going to a place like that, it's so interesting... I didn't know it was next to one of my favourite Thai restaurants! Now I know... maybe I should go more often!

I've heard that on Friday night there is a place which is also exclusively for ladies near my house, maybe that's the reason why the pub I went last night was a bit empty. I had only one rum&coke... (do not dare to order other cocktails as my friend got too sour margarita!)

Asking myself as I'm not a lesbian, going to a lesbian bar is quite interesting. I felt safe there though...and to find the restroom was so easy, no chance to walk into a men's room! (by mistake or intention).

When we left the place around 9 pm., I saw many ladies in the pub... maybe next time I should go a little late... I want to see the pub that's full of ladies only! And wanna see how they have fun in this kind of place!

'til then...

Lunch @ Huahin

On day 2, we drove to Huahin to find another beach to go... we actually did the beach hopping last week! After we got the place to stay, we started looking for food! We found one restaurant not far from our hotel, so we decided to try.... and these are our food!!! Mmmm.... yummy!

Well.... today's post is only about food, so I'm not going to tell you about the beach or anything else. Let's talk about food!!


First dish.. Somtam pu-ma, there is nothing related to Puma... not the animal or the sport wear... but it's spicy papaya salad with sea crab. Oh.... they made it really goooooooood!


Second dish... Somtam Thai, right! we ordered 2 kinds of somtam because we wanted to try the ordinary one which is this one, Thai style somtam and the one with crab (above). It turned out really good...both of them! Ahhh..... ooooohh..... mmmmm


Third dish... Tom saab kra-dook moo, it's spicy soup with cartilage bone (pork). It sounds weird, I don't eat the cartilage...only meat please! But for those who love the cartilage, I recommend this dish, they made really good soup..very spicy too! *sweating*


Fourth dish... Larb gai, spicy chicken salad with roasted rice (crushed). You may wonder now that every dish is spicy... these people are crazy! I can say...YES! We're crazy, we love spicy food!!! and you can see why? Don't they look so good? Delicious?


Last dish... Pla muek tod kra-tiem, deep fried squid with garlic. We loved it! The only reason we loved this dish because the golden chopped garlic.... treasure... Ahhhh... (you don't wanna be close to me when I said Ahhhh.. after having this dish!) Crispy, chewy, a little salty.... yummy!

Cha-am&Hua hin trip (Day 1)

*The main room*

*The Entrance (in the old days)*

*Sleeping Buddha*

Last long weekend, we went on a road trip with P Toy, P Hui to Cha-am and Huahin. On the first day we planned to stay in one resort on the beach in Petchaburi but as we didn't book the room in advance and all of them were full!!!! Can you believe that? We drove from first beach...all resorts were fully booked, the second beach (about 15 km. from the first one) was also fully booked!!! and we kept searching, looking for any available room... but had no luck!

We ended up on Cha-am beach which was too crowded and that's NOT what we wanted, but we had no choice. We found 2 rooms at a guest house in front of the busiest area of Cha-am beach, the price was a little too expensive but it's long holiday and we didn't book it....and most important we were too tired to search for better. We decided to stay there but the rooms were not available until 9 pm. that night, so we had to hang out on the beach for the whole afternoon. We've got the rooms around 8.30 pm after having such a good and (expensive) seafood dinner!.

I had a bad headache all afternoon and evening, so after I took a shower, I went straight to bed and fell asleep right away....

That's all for day 1, to have more side stories, please wait for Jeremy to write more on his blog! Here I have some photos of the cave we visited before going to the beach as it's on our way to the beach.

Enjoy!

The beaches were nice but I will tell you later!

Yes! It's late and I'm going to sleep....
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More photos and stories tomorrow, ok? Bleh!

Night night!

Off to the beach!

First of all..I would like to thank THHC™ master, L B for giving me new design of my THHC™ logo... HUGS for you!

And I have to say sorry as I've been busy and blank head for the last few days, so I didn't make any report yet! YET! I promise I will post it immediately after I come back from the beach!

Oh..Yeah... speaking of going to the beach... We are going to the beach this long weekend. I will be back on Monday, I hope it's not too late for the THHC™ report. Plus I will post some photos from the trip too....

So... please be patient with me. Thanks everyone!

Happy weekend and Happy holiday!

Floating Market and Crocodile farm

Jane loves elephants

Jeremy also loves elephants

And mama loves elephants too!!

Last Saturday we went to Floating market at Damneunsaduak, Ratchaburi about 120 km from Bangkok. There were 8 of us, 4 from Myanmar (Emily and her family), and 4 from my family (Mama, my brother, Jeremy and me).
Waking up 6 am... getting ready, the van picking us up at 6.30 am...going to Baiyok Suite hotel to pick up Emily's family and friend... 7.30 am we're heading to floating market!

Arriving there around 9 am... the weather was so nice.. cool.. we took the little tour (1000 baht for 4 people in one boat) along the canals for about 2 hours... then we were off to Sampran Crocodile farm& zoo in Nakorn pathom province. For the ticket... Thai 80 baht, Foreigner 500 baht!!! (Foreigner gets better seat for the show though)

We saw 3 shows: Magician show, Elephants show and Crocodiles show... it was very fun... we really had good time there... I have some videos from this trip which you can see in Jeremy's blog. I have only photos here... (too lazy to upload)

After that we stopped at Don wai market..for a little shopping on the way back to Bangkok. So many food there... hmm... love it!

Coming back to Bangkok...when the sun starting to set... it's another good day we had. Now we're planning for next trip not far from Bangkok, one day trip or weekend trip.. :-)
I can't stop traveling!!! More travel more fun!!! (and more photos)

Now I gotta get back to my work... Ciao!