Monday, June 29, 2009

Jewel of the North of Thailand - Re visit!

The trip back to Chiang Mai is always the most welcome one! A vibrant and beautiful city as ever with lots of surprises waiting for those adventurous visitors like me. Well I am not really a tourist in CM, as I got enough of knowledge about this city and have more than a dozens of friend. Nothing much has changed for the last 6 months since my last trip is December 2008. Well with the exception to the F&B business. More and more cafe, bar & restaurant has open,closed,revamped & reopened! The energy inside this city is enormous! Here are some of the faces of Chiang Mai:-



"this statue really caught my eye on my very first encounter with it" Located on the 2nd floor of boonthavon court!



"I can't believe it when I saw the lady owner of this muscular Defender!" you are one lucky woman for owning this big toy!



"this is where I always go for my late supper at 3 am when I am in CM!" very good noodle soup and the lady owner is very friendly!



"one of the famous brand in Chiang Mai........great coffee with equivalent nice ambiance!"



"I was stranded at this local eatery joint at 4am with my Thai friends after a long night clubbing at fabrique club. 2 guys standing on the left of this photo is my friend making "som tam" or papaya salad!"



This mobile cafe' was found at the Sunday walking street. I noticed that the owner are selling some quality Thai arabica coffee even though i do not try it! will try on the next visit for sure!



"this is my temporary home whenever I am visiting CM! cozy, comfortable & affordable enough for a budget traveler like me!"



"took this photo when I am walking around the old city. nicely decorated and there is a small garden inside this cafe'! Will try it out soon.....hopefully :) "



"This is where I took a crash course on cooking Thai food." Good activity and you eat what you cook!



"Siriphum soi 1........walk in here and there will be surprises!"



"Chiang Mai latest attraction:- the CM aquarium and kim7 told me that it is better and bigger than Aquaria KLCC!" photo courtesy of kim7



"nice and clear CM city view from Wat Prahtat Doi Suthep" photo courtesy of kim7



"Chiang Mai Airport international departure hall.......smoker's room is available....hehe"



"when u see this alley.... remember u r on ur way to fern forest cafe!" my #1 cafe in Chiang Mai!



"motorcycle revolution on the street!" normal scenario outside school and university around Chiang Mai.



"I found this tree inside Yang Come Village in Sri Donchai road."

Remarks:- I have to thank kim7 for some of the remarkable photo. I am planing for my next trip to this beautiful and vibrant city in Dec 09 and hopefully this time around I can stay longer and discover more about Chiang Mai and its surrounding area. It was a great trip and I met a few really nice & polite Thai people like Khun Yai the owner of fern forest cafe' and so on! Phom rak Chiang Mai mak mak!

Friday, June 26, 2009

Foodie ParaDisE in Thailand!

Sawadee kap and welcome to my Thailand's foodie adventure blog!Thailand has been a very good place for food lovers like me. Those who love spices and spiciness on food will love this country. The food is cheap and delicious....where you can have the best from both the luxury and ordinary way! Even a bowl of 25 bath noodle soup is full of surprise! Below is a small photo's collection of what I've savored during my 7 days 6 nights twin city Bangkok & Chiang Mai tour 2009:-



"Thai Mc'breakfast is surprisingly good but definitely not the cheapest & most delicious breakfast you can find in the land of smile!"



"the coffee is perfectly brewed and much better than the Malaysia version!"



"this bowl of wantan mee found in front of the Siam TV station in Chiang Mai is heaven! notice the chu yau char that i added myself......super good and must try!"



"The extra large chu yau char is super good and full of aroma!" Only 10 bath per small plastic bag! One of my favorite snack and recommended to eat with your noodle soup!



" aroi mak mak pork porridge at a very popular local eatery "jok somphet!" this place also serve delicous dim sum. photo courtesy of Kim7



" This beef noodle stall is new in Chiang Mai and taste very good and it is just 30 bath per bowl!" location:- Kad Klang Vieng at Ratchadumnern road behind Wawee coffee.



" Thai noodle soup in Petchburi Road, Soi 9 (if I am correct) Bangkok beside 7-11 store" Cheap cheap at 30 bath per bowl!



"Pork noodle soup with char siew, pork ball, taugeh, pork meat etc" 25 bath only with complimentary iced water.location:- Moon Muang Road just opposite Spicy Disco!



Famous chiang mai noodle/northern noodle or whatever others called it,is a original food of the northern Thailand! a must try for the first timer in CM! photo courtesy of Kim7



"fried rice with pork @ coffee day" It cost me 80 bath and honestly I can find much better and cheaper fried rice at others place!



"my little lunch at duang champa boutique hotel inside the old city!"



"my yummy breakfast at a little restaurant inside the old city area...can't recall the restaurant name!"



"charcoa is one of my favorite breakfast venue in Chiang Mai" very nice and quiet place to start your day!



" fried chicken knuckle, neck, feet and basically anything u can name of!" A great snack to accompany your cool singha beer!



"this is very good at only 5 bath per piece!" You can get it anywhere from the food peddlers around the old Chiang Mai city!



"iced mango tea by Mc'cafe at Changklan road, Chiang Mai" Do we have mc'cafe here in Malaysia???? I don't think so and I don't know why!



" it melts in your mouth and u feels like heaven!"



" latest entry to the Chiang Mai coffee scene" A cup of espresso top up with milk by The Pizza Company.



"by tate cafe' at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok" Only after I paid 145 bath for this!



"Beer Chang, Leo, Singha & Heineken" My favorite must be heiny!!!!



"Even a box of junk food like Pocky is better than our Malaysian version of rocky!" No doubt about this....just ask anyone that have been into Thailand and tried it!

Remarks:- Thailand is a well known foodie paradise in the world. You can basically eat non stop 24 hours a day. From the street hawkers, food courts, franchise based restaurant, fine dining and 5 star hotels........you will never short of choices, instead you will be spoil by choices! You can spend 100 bath 3 meals a day or it can be 1000 bath or more per day! It depends on what you like and prefer! A balance in between expensive fine dining and cheap street foods will be advisable! Book your ticket now and start your own foodie adventure in Thailand! email me shall you need any info on Thailand! choke dee.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Cafe' in Chiang Mai Update #2

What's new in Chiang Mai? The answer is there are a lot of them and it seems like the cafe mushrooming syndrome is not slowing down at all! I have searched around the city area with my rented 50 bath bicycle and found some old & new one which I have tried personally and made some review:-



Its the cheapest way and easiest way to move around the city! Only RM5 per day!


Here is the list of the cafe' that I have visited during my stay in my "kampung" Chiang Mai :-


Mokador cafe' @ Samlan road neaby Wat Phra Singh



"Mokador coffee is scouted from all around the world and roasted in Italy"



"service is top notch with reasonable price"



"hot americano with a piece of cookie"

Coffee Day @ Loikroh Road



"its abit expensive by Thai standard although the drink taste good"



"modern setting & dubbed as a boutique hotel"

Mont' Blanc @ Nimmanhaeminda Road



"a meeting place for the elite and Thai businessman"



"setting is good with lots of choices for drinks and cakes"

Cafe' De L'Amour at Sridonchai Road at the entrance to Yang Come Village



"coffee is brewed to perfection and cheap"



"small & chic cafe at sridonchai road"


The white chalet bakery & cafe' at Siriphum road opposite Chiang Mai Ram Hospital



"white chalet boutique hotel & bakery"



"its a nice place to sit down and do some blogging and surfing"



"the lemon cheese cake is just so so but the imported twinning tea makes up for the losses!"

Remarks:- All the opinion and comment on this post is strictly based on the writer's own opinion. A great cafe' must have first a perfect cup of brewed coffee, second a piece of delicious and fresh homemade cake & third a good environment with top notch service. Why go to starbucks where you can have the cheaper & better quality coffee in Chiang mai city, Thailand?