Chiang Mai

Day 1

This time, I am flying off to Chiang Mai, northern part of Thailand. I don't mind dying while on board because I am flying off in the Manchester United Airbus 320 aeroplane. Only 2 person were allocated for this assignment so my colleague who was onboard with me is Tan Sen Yong (Tan).





It was almost lunch time when we reached the CHIANG MAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT so we head straight to the CENTRAL AIRPORT PLAZA which is a few minutes drive away from the airport. This shopping complex is quite similar to Midvalley and Sunway Pyramid.



We had our lunch in the food court where you can have almost all varities of Thai food. Some stalls don't display English in menu so I just had to look at the photos of the food that they serve. The practise here is that everything is self service. You wait at the stall while they cook and you carry the bowl to your table. After finishing your food, return the bowl to the stall.


Tom Yam Kung Noodle (30 Baht)


This stall sells all kinds of fresh fruit juices and it's 25 Baht.

The Thais really love and respect their King alot. Almost everywhere you go, you can see the potraits of their King and Queen. From roadside's billboards to framed photos in everyshops. This year is some kind of anniversary to celebrate the King's birthday, I think so now you can see Thais wearing this special yellow collar t-shirt everywhere. Tesco Lotus are selling for 299 Baht, I think.



The hotel that we are staying for the coming 5 days is Lotus Hotel Pang Suan Kaew. This hotel is situated just beside a shopping complex called the Central Plaza which is almost like Summit USJ Shopping Complex.


The reception


The lobby


Twin Deluxe room which comes up to 3500 baht per night

Due to the different power sockets that the Thais used, our made in Malaysia gadgets couldn't be used so we had to explore the shopping complex just to look for this item.


The promoter at the electrical shop couldn't speak English and thank God, we brought our laptop cable with us.

We were quite excited on our first dinner in Chiang Mai as we walked around and around to search for local cuisine but the stalls are almost closing and it's only 830pm. We ended up having KFC for dinner.


The KFC menu in Thailand


This lousy meal cost me 99 Baht and compared to our Malaysian menu, this is much more expensive with no salad and mashed potato. Their Spicy flavoured KFC chickens are TASTELESS!!!!

Anyway, there is nothing much we can do on the first night so we head back straight to the hotel to continue our work.


The night view of Chiang Mai from my room's balcony

Day 2


Good morning, Chiang Mai!

For the next 4 mornings, we are having our daily buffet breakfast in San Kam Pheang Restaurant. There's nothing to shout about for the buffet breakfast that they serve. The hotel provides free shuttle bus service to the airport every hour. Upon reaching the airport, it's all about work, work and work.

We went to Thai Restaurant in the airport for lunch.


Pork is called Mu in Thai.


Tom Yam Kung (shrimps)

After work, we decided to explore the famoust Night Bazaar in Chiang Mai. One of the staff offered to send us to the Night Bazaar and joined us for dinner. Maybe because she foresees that we will have difficulties in ordering food etc.


Fried eggs with sea mussels


The famous Pad-Thai. Fried noodle with mu (pork)


Green curry fried rice

All the above dishes are medium size and the bill was 310 Baht.

It was around 8pm after dinner, she is not joining us for the Night Bazaar walk so we are on our own now. The Night Bazaar is quite similar to the Ladies Market in Hong Kong but this Night Bazaar is much bigger compared to the Ladies Market in Hong Kong in terms of number of stalls and the length of the street which the stalls are operating.






This is the "red cab" which looks like covered pick up trucks where passengers sit on the back benches. Remember to bargain before boarding the Si Loh Daeng.


This is not cam-whoring session

Day 3

We went to Tesco Lotus in Kad Kamtiang and the whole concept of the hypermarket is the same as those Tesco(s) in Malaysia. The only thing different is their language in the signboard.



As for lunch, I had.....


Green curry chicken with rice. The curry tasted horrible. I am beginning to miss Malaysia's curry.

After lunch, it's time to explore Chiang Mai. Our first destination is the Doi Suthep Temple which is located on top of a mountain overlooking the city. We took the Si Loh Daeng and the journey up reminds me of Genting Highland. The temple can be reached by climbing a steep 306 step staircase with naga siderails and if you are lazy, you can take the cable cars. The temple is built in 1383. Remember to click on the link when you are free.


Small stalls selling souvenirs




I forgot to off my camera's flash when I took this picture. The kids' mom turned and mumbled some Thai words and I ran off quickly. Haha...


I ran with a laptop ok? That's why I felt tired. Living in self denial actually. Most of the tourists looked at us one kind because we were wearing formal and carrying laptop bag


The white colour signboard said, " Foreigners must buy ticket for admission. Only 30 Baht"

Before entering the temple, everyone must take off their shoes at the Rest Hall.


The Prabudha Srivichai Stayue


A closer look at The Prabudha Srivichai Stayue


The Stupa Pagoda




The Aon Muang Vihara where the monk sits inside and sprinkle holy water onto people who pray inside


They called this the Big Bell


The viewpoint overlooking the Chiang Mai city

Anyway, it's rainy season now in Chiang Mai and we are stuck in the temple because of the sudden heavy rain.





We had only one umbrella and I refused to walk under the rain in one umbrella with Tan because the chances of one of us rolling down the 306 steps are quite high and it's slippery. When the rain stopped, we quickly make our way down to the entrance where our Si Loh Daeng is waiting for us. The uncle charged us 300 Baht for bringing us up to the temple, wait for an hour and send us back to hotel.


Along the way, we stopped by this stall to buy the corn in cup. Cost 20 Baht each.

Before we head back to our hotel, we decided to watch Rush Hour 3 at the Vista Kardsuankaew. To our horror, the movie is in Thai language. I can't imagine Jackie Chan saying Sawadeeka etc. Ended up buying the 930pm slot for the movie, The Invasion starred by Nicole Kidman.




Thais love to play games. They can invest in so many TVs and Playstations and gamers only pay for 10 Baht per game.

Frankly speaking, I couldn't adapt myself to the local food, don't know why. Somehow we preferred western food. In Chiang Mai, you will notice that the numbers of The Pizza Company definitely outnumbered Pizza Hut. Probably the best pizza restaurant in Thailand.


The Pizza Company branch in Central Plaza

Currently they have this promotion where they give free 6 BBQ Chicken Wings valued at 79 Baht with purchase of any Medium Pizza at regular prize 220 Baht or more.


Very Alloi (delicious in Thai)


This is BBQ Pork Deluxe. The ingredients are Pork Sausage, Italian Sausage, Bacon Bits, Sliced Ham, Sliced Bacon, Pepperoni, Onion, Red and Green Chilli with Sausage & Cheese Crust. Their menu are bigger than our secondary school textbooks and the pictures of the pizzas really make you drool on the spot

The bill came up to 448 Baht with 2 refillable Pepsi at 39 Baht each and Pizza at 370 Baht. Now it's time for movie, the Vista Kardsuankaew cinema is like those old cinemas in town. The cinema hall where we are watching The Invasion is a 120 seater and only 5 people watched the movie including us. The 5 people were all foreigners.


70 Baht

Day 4

During the 3 days, we met Mr.Art is a freelance tour guide and he offered to bring us around by charging us a minimal fee. He brought us to the Maetaeng Elephant Park which is situated in the Maetaman Valley, some 50km north of Chiang Mai. We can witness over 40 elephants wallows in the brown water of Maetaeng River. We paid 1200 Baht for the elephant rides, elephant show and bamboo rafting along the Maetaeng River.


The trainer ordered the elephant to spray water to the crowd



Before the elephant show begins


The elephant drew this with their trunk and the painting is sold for 2000 Baht


I am on an elephant! I am on an elephant!

The elephant ride was around 30 minutes and it rained halfway during the journey. Throughout the journey, the elephant stopped by and ate whatever green plants along the way. If the elephant does not do whatever the master says or go the other way, the master will hit the elephant on the head or poke it. Sigh, quite cruel and I am not going to sit any animal rides anymore.


Bamboo rafting


It rained again during the bamboo rafting


After our lunch, Mr.Art asked if we want to go anywhere else. I asked him if there's is any place where I can go for Bungee Jumping.



Wahaha...I jump, you jump!!!!

This bungee jump costs 2000 Baht and guess what?!?! I was so disappointed when I saw the place where the bungee jump takes place. I was expecting the jump taking place from the Hanging Bridge and down towards the river.


I am not going to pay 2000 Baht to jump from this lousy crane and down towards a small pond!!! Yes....unattempted this time around!


We went back to hotel for an hour rest before making our way to the Central Airport Plaza for movie and dinner. We wanted to watch the ORIGINAL Rush Hour3 in English so we went to the Major Cineplex. This cinema is similar to GSC and TGV and 100 times better than the one in Central Plaza.


120 Baht


As for dinner, we went to the........





This Hot Pot Buffet offers patrons a variety of Dim Sum, Japanese Sushi, Steamboat ingredients, desserts, salads and almost 8 types of drinks for only 199 Baht






After dinner, we went to the Night Bazaar again for last minute shopping and MASSAGE!!


Our first Tuk Tuk ride



60 minutes of Thai massage for only 150 Baht

Day 5

Time to check out!


Something is very wrong! Check-out at 12am?




Again our return flight to KL are being retimed to 120pm instead of 1120am. We had lunch at Black Canyon Coffee. Surprisingly, wherever you go in Chiang Mai, you can find Black Canyon Coffee. Guess what, Black Canyon Coffee is originated from Thailand. Check out the link.

Goodbye Chiang Mai.

Time to pack!! I am going to Phuket tomorrow. Goodbyeeeeeeee!