Day 8
This morning we have arrived early in the morning about 7.30 am and took the taxi back to the hotel. At the hotel some of us stay few more night in Bangkok and some are flying back home tonight. After everyone checked in there room we came down to have breakfast and spending one last morning together. Most of us went out shopping and explored Bangkok - The trip is all over!
Monday, May 17, 2010
Leaving Chaing Mai
Day 7
Today is our last day in Chaing Mai. We had a relaxing time today just enjoying the afternoon at the pool, lunch and doing some shopping
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We meet back again at the hotel at 5 pm for our pick up to the train station. Our train leaving at 5.50 pm then we have sometime to get our snack at the station before leave. Most of us have dinner on train at the dinner car. Tonight we have a comfort train with air condition!!
Today is our last day in Chaing Mai. We had a relaxing time today just enjoying the afternoon at the pool, lunch and doing some shopping
.
We meet back again at the hotel at 5 pm for our pick up to the train station. Our train leaving at 5.50 pm then we have sometime to get our snack at the station before leave. Most of us have dinner on train at the dinner car. Tonight we have a comfort train with air condition!!
Chaing Mai
Day 6
Chaing Mai is a nice and easy city where the people are nice and calm, and nothing seems rushed here. Today everyone agreed to do some relaxing activities - which could be cooking lessons (one of the most famous activities in Chaing Mai) enjoy the nice and natural scenery or take part in other outdoor trip activities. 9.30 am is a pick up time to the market then we picked up what they would need for their dishes and we are ready to go to the cooking school. This would take about a few hours and everyone get to choose what they wanted to cook (about 4 dishes).
By the time everyone came back to the hotel they all very full from their party lunch! After they came back its time to relax - some of us spent the afternoon in the pool, some are walking and having a good afternoon with coffee in the coffee shop. We were back together again for dinner as its our last night dinner together. We had a great time in the nice restaurant and some of us stay out longer and went shopping, some went back to sleep because they were tired from all day in the hot sun and wanted to get ready for tomorrow's train trip back to Bangkok.
Chaing Mai is a nice and easy city where the people are nice and calm, and nothing seems rushed here. Today everyone agreed to do some relaxing activities - which could be cooking lessons (one of the most famous activities in Chaing Mai) enjoy the nice and natural scenery or take part in other outdoor trip activities. 9.30 am is a pick up time to the market then we picked up what they would need for their dishes and we are ready to go to the cooking school. This would take about a few hours and everyone get to choose what they wanted to cook (about 4 dishes).
By the time everyone came back to the hotel they all very full from their party lunch! After they came back its time to relax - some of us spent the afternoon in the pool, some are walking and having a good afternoon with coffee in the coffee shop. We were back together again for dinner as its our last night dinner together. We had a great time in the nice restaurant and some of us stay out longer and went shopping, some went back to sleep because they were tired from all day in the hot sun and wanted to get ready for tomorrow's train trip back to Bangkok.
Day 5: Bike ride
This morning we wake up early to go to temple for food offering to the monks at the local temple just next door to our homestay. Everybody was ready in appropriated attire and we started with our food which our host prepared for us this morning - fried rice, pork soup with eggs, sticky rice and few more things. The temple is just only 1 minute away across the road. 'Aoy' our local host showed us how we can we offer food to the monk. Then it was time to do it ourselves.
After finished our offerings we heading back to the house to have lovely breakfast and get ready for the bike ride around the village.. Our bike ride today passed corn fields, rice fields, mushroom farms, rice mill house and a school. We have a chance to join the class, teach them a dance and give them some snacks.
After lunch we packed up our bags and said goodbye to Aoy and her family . She took the truck and sent us back to Chaing mai which is our next destination!Thursday, May 13, 2010
Day 4: - Elephants!
This morning we had an appointment with the elephants! We woke up early and finished our breakfast. Our destination today is "Lampang Elephant Conservation Center". We left early in the morning, it took about an hour to be there. We jumped on a tram in the center and this sent us in front of the elephant bathing show, just before the show started!
Then it was lunch time & the food came out not long time after we had ordered... umm yumm!
We had finished our lunch quick then we walked up to see the elephant dung factory, here they make the paper from the elephant dung in this center. After we bought some souvenirs back from the factory then we took a truck to our homestay which was our accommodation for this night.
After an hour we had a stop at the hot spring near by the homestay. At hot spring, some of us had put themselves in the pool where the hot spring water was transfer to this pool and many pools around this area. About 15 minutes later most of us moved to have a massage next to the pool. Not only the pool for people to swim and put their feet in there were also very hot pool where was hot enough to boil the eggs as well!
Then it was of to our homestay which was only 10 mins away. We were arrived at homestay at about 5.30 pm and not too long after we had arrived then its time for dinner. Today we had a very nice meal along with the norther Thai music show.
As soon as we finished our lovely meal, the musicians taught us how to play and gave us each a different instrument and asked us to follow up with a few shows outside. Such a great day & night.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Day 3:
We wake up in the morning, had a lovely breakfast. Miss Na, was our lovely guest house owner and she was very friendly to us and very helpful, made us the breakfast. We all leaving her with her smile while we heading to Sukhothai heritage site. Transport today is a "Big Songteaw" - made of wood and we can only find it in Sukhothai.... We were just chilling in this truck for a 30 mins, was a quiet street, not many cars but a lot of motorbikes! - Then its time to have some exercise for the day.
We grabbed bikes which matched our size (high!). The bike at the rental shop around this area is a kind of city bike, so I can imagine that we don't have problem with the physical condition today trip for sure.
The bicycle is a highlight and easy way to look around each temple as well. After everybody is ready - sunscreen on, hats, and water ready, then we take a photo and started cycling. Because we were on the other side of the entrance so the lovely lady at the bike shop have to stand in the middle of the street to make sure we were cross ok. We riding to Mahatat Temple which is the most important in site therefore its the first stop for today. It was getting hotter even though we start quite early to get away from the day sun but by the time we were there we felt it hot!
We've been stopping in front of the temple to park our bike and walked to take a photo from the famous postcard spot! - good photo hey!
Then we headed into the main hall which was used to be housing the big Buddha image on the platform but what we've seen was an empty platform, brick column which was used to hold the wooden roof in the 13th century. We were trying to take a good picture from each corner of this hall.
On the way to the parking we bought some desert from the old local lady at the front door to be our lunch desert as well - yum!
We were moving to the next temple called " Sri sa wai " which wasn't too far away from the 1st temple, it took us about 10 minutes ride to this little place. On the way there were so many tamarind trees. After 10 minutes ride we arrived at Sri sa wai temple. As soon as we walking inside we've noticed that there are many big mango tree shading around this place as this temple is well know as the "Mango tree temple" for the local people around Sukhothai. Also the temple itself is differerent in architecture . It is more of the Cambodian style and there is no other temple in this site just like that.
Because the temple is quite small, after everyone got a picture then we were all ready to move to " Sri shum Temple" where the biggest Buddha image in this area is. This is quite small temple but the size of main image wasn't small at all with 15m in height!
Now its time for our picnic lunch ...and what we had was lovely and so delicious. We had " Massa man chicken, Stir fried mixed vegetable, Fried chicken or TFC... better than KFC(!) Stir fried pork with oyster sauce and brown rice." All so really yummy. After lunch we had the dessert from Mahatat temple - Sticky rice with coconut custard on top and coconut jelly stuff with sweet coconut ball inside - also even better with some Rambutan and Mongosteen fruits at the end of this delicious meal. After we got ready for the bus trip to Lumpang for our accommodation for tonight...
We left and said a big thank you to Mr. Kreang, who cooked us all the food and organized all the bike for us. The bus journey to Lumpang wasn't too long. Finally we arrived at Riverside the lovely place which is right by Wang River. Very quiet and nice!
We grabbed bikes which matched our size (high!). The bike at the rental shop around this area is a kind of city bike, so I can imagine that we don't have problem with the physical condition today trip for sure.
Then we headed into the main hall which was used to be housing the big Buddha image on the platform but what we've seen was an empty platform, brick column which was used to hold the wooden roof in the 13th century. We were trying to take a good picture from each corner of this hall.
On the way to the parking we bought some desert from the old local lady at the front door to be our lunch desert as well - yum!
We were moving to the next temple called " Sri sa wai " which wasn't too far away from the 1st temple, it took us about 10 minutes ride to this little place. On the way there were so many tamarind trees. After 10 minutes ride we arrived at Sri sa wai temple. As soon as we walking inside we've noticed that there are many big mango tree shading around this place as this temple is well know as the "Mango tree temple" for the local people around Sukhothai. Also the temple itself is differerent in architecture . It is more of the Cambodian style and there is no other temple in this site just like that.
Now its time for our picnic lunch ...and what we had was lovely and so delicious. We had " Massa man chicken, Stir fried mixed vegetable, Fried chicken or TFC... better than KFC(!) Stir fried pork with oyster sauce and brown rice." All so really yummy. After lunch we had the dessert from Mahatat temple - Sticky rice with coconut custard on top and coconut jelly stuff with sweet coconut ball inside - also even better with some Rambutan and Mongosteen fruits at the end of this delicious meal. After we got ready for the bus trip to Lumpang for our accommodation for tonight...
We left and said a big thank you to Mr. Kreang, who cooked us all the food and organized all the bike for us. The bus journey to Lumpang wasn't too long. Finally we arrived at Riverside the lovely place which is right by Wang River. Very quiet and nice!
Day 2!
We're heading off to train station for morning train, our destination was Pitsanulok located in the upper central of Thailand. This morning our train was quite comfortable, with aircon, and a big window enough for us to enjoying the scenery of countryside along the way.
Sweet and sour chicken on train was nice and filled us up before we arrived in Pitsanulok in the afternoon. Our journey was smooth and all the friendly welcome from local people on the train which was impressive.
We were finally arrived at Pitsanulok where we took " Song teaw" or the truck with 2 long rolls of seat along by each side. Basically we were sitting face to face and off to Sukhothai, the 1st capital city of Thailand in 12th century.
Today we were arrived at the guest house in a good time after just 1hour on the song teaw, then we have enough time to relax before dinner. However we had a long day travelling in the hot weather but everyone refreshing up so quick after had a nice shower then get ready for a real massage which is served to you in the room.
It was a long day but we were enjoyed our journey all the way to Sukhothai...
Dinner time!!! We had plan for the local food which is also the highlight in this trip as well. Then we cross the bridge to the other side of the river where the food market is.
After nice dinner and conversation we crossed the street to the other side to the fruit market. It was full of colourful fruit and closed late at night ( in this town actually every shop close about 8.30-9.00 pm ). On the way back we were also grabbed some " roti " which is a flat and crispy pancake . A perfect dessert!. We will sleep well - full of food, fruit and dessert... I am ready for tomorrow!
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Sweet and sour chicken on train was nice and filled us up before we arrived in Pitsanulok in the afternoon. Our journey was smooth and all the friendly welcome from local people on the train which was impressive.
We were finally arrived at Pitsanulok where we took " Song teaw" or the truck with 2 long rolls of seat along by each side. Basically we were sitting face to face and off to Sukhothai, the 1st capital city of Thailand in 12th century.
It was a long day but we were enjoyed our journey all the way to Sukhothai...
Dinner time!!! We had plan for the local food which is also the highlight in this trip as well. Then we cross the bridge to the other side of the river where the food market is.
After nice dinner and conversation we crossed the street to the other side to the fruit market. It was full of colourful fruit and closed late at night ( in this town actually every shop close about 8.30-9.00 pm ). On the way back we were also grabbed some " roti " which is a flat and crispy pancake . A perfect dessert!. We will sleep well - full of food, fruit and dessert... I am ready for tomorrow!
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