Day1: Monday 20 Jul 2009 Singapore-Bangkok-Chiangmai
From Singapore to Chiangmai
Jiez says:
Set off once again with the ever-trusty Lonely Planets and Rough Guides, for some time away from city and to indulge in some major greenezzz. We transited via Bangkok into Chiangmai, tuktuked to Julie’s GH tucked away in the back corner of the main backpackers’ street, with simple and small $9 twinrooms. Thailand (and Thais) were generally good to us considering the “nit noi” Thai that Van manages and the exotic-enough Asian backpackers that we were. Afterall, the locals have seen their fair share of carefree bikini-cladded hardpartying falangs (thai equivalent of angmos) . I guess for the staff at Julie’s, we were a refreshing break from the typical falangs..that’s how we got pretty much extra-friendly reception, hung out abit during our stay with Pam and gang with much lols over Changbeer.
Streets of ChiangMai (Singaporean-owned Same Same GH!)
Wat Phra Singh, Chiang Mai
Had a slow first day around town. We were staying in the inner city walls, where most of the tourist action was. Headed to Wat Phra Singh, the largest temple in Chiangmai, with a Buddhist library, and a famous bronze Buddha image – Phra Singh Buddha. The temple is next to a school for novice monks so we saw small little ahboys playing basketball, soccer, rattan balls etc. Monks experimenting with their english proficiencies were seen conversing with falangs.We sat around in the main hall to read our RoughGuide about the history and just zen out in this genuinely peaceful temple. The trees in the backyard were hung with quotes, some of which were gayly inspiring, like ” Merit making calculated to impress is not real merit” and ” Do try to do good but not to be great, otherwise you will be in danger”. INDEED INDEED.
Chiang Mai Night Market
Headed to the night market for your usual touristy noise and crowd. Wasn’t too crazy about the night market, but we had pretty good Tom Kha Kai (coconut milk spicy sour chicken soup). Returned to the guesthouse and joined the gang for some BBQ where we talked to some fellow-travellers. We were like some high level PR throughout the trip and Van’s Thai really gets us around HAHA. Most of them were travelling longterm so our short 10day seemed really unimaginable in comparison. Welll one day when we have no strings attached, maybe we could do a longterm thing, but for now, guess this is it!
Van says:
- Got up super early to go Airport (BUDGET TERMINAL-1ST TIME IN MY LIFE)
- First major incident happened!- I dropped one side of my waterproof gloves in the stupid taxi. OMG…felt so depressed. I want to go home!!
- Checked in and inside departure waiting area second major incident happened- POSB ATM not working—chia has no money! Unable to withdraw money, she was super depressed… wait a minute, anyway whilst changing money,i.e. into Thai baht, I think I got cheated, rate was 1=1.21.6. the lady at the counter was shocked that I agreed to change all $400. Arghh….
- The departure gate and way up to airplane was cool…Chia got stopped by the police for taking some pictures of the aircraft (Suspected terrorism?) and was forced to delete the pictures in front of him. So scary..
- Reached bkk and transfer to domestic terminal for AirAsia flight to CHiangmai. The airport lounge food was so expensive. Had to share a bowl of noodles for 160B=S$8.
- Reached CHiangmai and walked out of the airport to main road to catch a tuk tuk to go to Julie Guesthouse.
- Julie guesthouse was so popular and crowded, full of farangs. Room was super small, no A/C, no hot water, but cheap.=)
- The reception guy was hostile until I tried speaking some thai to him and he became super friendly to us. A lady named Pan spoke some amazing Chinese (better than CHia’s) and they were really nice to us. I guess coz we were one of the few Asians and they are really quite sick of Ang-Mohs lah.
- Anyway, we managed to book a tour on Wednesday which includes some baby elephant camp thingy,trekking and whitewater rafting.
- Walked around the place for food and even saw Starbucks, so cool..(no chance to try because no money…boohoo..)
- Walked to visit Wat Phra Singh temple, got lost quite a few times, and I had serious stomachache along the way. Luckily managed to reach destination eventually. The place is so holy and serene and quiet and tranquil. Felt so nice, saw a monk stature which Jies thought it was real. They had like a shelter place with idioms hung on every tree, mmm so meaningful.
- We were invited by the Julie guesthouse people for some BBQ at night, but before that we went to the night bazaar to look around, it’s more or less like those in BKK but more things I guess.
- Tried to play some toy called Ploi which can be lighted with fire and it’s like a kind of performance thingy, quite cool. Met this Hongkong guy who have been travelling solo for about 2 yrs, cool..
