Litlle cozy hideaway nearby Thapae gate, Chiang Mai

Every time when I visit this lovely city.......I'll look for new place for coffee, cakes & free wifi. I was introduced by my Thai friend to this lovely garden cafe in a secluded & quiet soi nearby Thapae gate. The environment was great, the price is cheap & the service is attentive although a bit slow when the cafe is crowded by the locals. This cafe serve alcoholic & non alcoholic drinks plus simple but delicious Thai food! Strongly recommended when you are in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Here are how the cafe looks like:-

 

 

 

 

 

Remarks:- The only thing I forget is the name of this lovely place. I guess I'll post the name & address of this cafe once I get it from my friend. Hopefully I'll be back here again when I visit CM next month.  

Trans Indochina 2010 #Update 12

It's just 312 hours away from my maiden backpacking trip in Indochina covering Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos. Necessary preparations are almost done.....and.......hopefully we can get more donations for those unlucky people in these 3 countries. I am sure there will be thousands of photos taken, liters of water consumed, tonnes of food eaten & miles of road being conquered! Hopefully everything works out like what we planned....and we arrived back home a very satisfy and happy man! It's ticking fast.....real fast!!!
Here we go dude.....once in a lifetime trip!

Tardmok waterfall in Mae Eye district

It's a lovely waterfall in a secluded area few kilometers from the Maerim district, Chiang Mai, Thailand. Very quiet and peaceful....coz its not frequented by the tourist.....a nice place to chill out in the evening and enjoying the cool breezing air!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remarks:- Tardmok waterfall is located within many others attractions like the Tiger Kingdom, Queen Sikrit Botanical Garden, Mae Sa waterfall, Orchid farm, elephant farm etc. etc. Entrance fees to this waterfall is 20 bath for Thai and 40 bath for foreigners! I paid 20 bath coz i (pood dai phasa Thai) literally means I can speak Thai! 

Tiger Kingdom @ Mae Rim, Thailand

My First ever body to body encounter with an adult tiger.......proved to be an experience of a life time! I lay on the stomach of a tiger.......for the first time.....touch a tiger for a first time....and of course.......it was my closest face to face action with a tiger! Got to say....it was great...and I am a cat family lover! here it goes...what actually happened on that day!

 

 

 

 

 

Tiger Kingdom is located in Mae Rim, Chiang Mai.(nearby Orchid farm & on the same way to Queen Sikrit Botanical garden) About 15 minutes drive from the city and almost everyone know this place. Its a bit touristy but that was the closet you can get with a tiger...huge one I mean! If you are afraid of the big one....those cutey & baby cubs are waiting for you to pamper them! Drop by if you are visiting Chiang Mai....there is a cafe here serving average and slightly pricey food!

Trans Indochina 2010 #Update 11

UPDATED Travel schedule for TransIndochina 2010 !!!!
12 days 11 nights 288 hours Trans Indochina schedule (11/2/2010 -22/2/2010)

Day 1 ( 11/2) - Kuala Lumpur - Saigon, Vietnam by flight

Day 2 (12/2) - Saigon city and surrounding area including Chu Chi tunnel/mekong delta etc.

Day 3 (13/2) - Saigon - Moc Bai - Bavet - Phnom Penh, Cambodia by bus

Day 4 (14/2) - Phnom Penh - Siem Reap by bus

Day 5 (15/2) - Siem Reap including Angkor Wat, Tonle Sap lake etc.

Day 6 & 7(16/2 - 17/2) - Siem Reap - Poipet - Bangkok by bus/Bangkok - Nongkai - Vientiane by train

Day 8 (18/2) - Vientiane and its surrounding (patuxai monument, temple visit etc)

Day 9 (19/2) - Vientiane - Vang Vien by bus (tubing in Vang Vien)

Day 10 (20/2) - Vang Vien - Luang Prabang by bus ( sight seeing & cave trekking)

Day 11 ( 21/2) - Luang Prabang ( whole day )

Day 12 (22/2) - Luang Prabang - Chiang Mai

Day 13 (23/2) - Chiang Mai - Kuala Lumpur

# day 13 onwards - A solo one week Issan (Northeastern Thailand) backpacking trip !!

Remarks:- We are just 18 days away from the trip of our life time! We are ready and here we go.....288 hours of pulsating, adrenalin rush & exciting trip waiting for us!

Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2009

I have just revisited one of the best flora exposition  I've ever been to! Admission fee is a mere 50bath and even though not as good as 3 years back it still holds its own charm! If you are lazy to walk then you can opt to take a ride on one of the many electric powered train. However if you want to discover more  about this huge garden then you have to walk around by yourself. I have my own agenda for the day...to take as many photos as possible! Here it goes.....:-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remarks:- Royal Flora 2009 is still open until end of January 2010. Soon after it will close door for visitors for further maintenance and up keeping works. Rumors said that some private company will take over the site and future entrance fees should be more expensive! If you are in Chiang Mai this month don't forget to pay this place a visit!

Trans Indochina 2010 #Update 10

It's about 21 days from our very first TransIndochina Trip 2010. All the necessary air tickets has been purchased and we are set to fly off to Saigon on the morning of an expected good 11 February 2010! Once we landed in Saigon we are bound to start a fast & furious 12 days journey covering 7 cities in 4 countries! Sounds great? Yes......we are on a super tight schedule....and any mistake or misfortune along the journey will ruin our trip! Hopefully luck will be on our side all the way till our last stop in Chiang Mai, Thailand! Guys...I am ready.....for my trip of a lifetime!

Flight Details:-
KL - HCMC by Air Asia at 8.55am (11 Feb 2010)

LP - CM by Lao Airlines at 1.10pm (22 Feb 2010)

CM - KL by Air Asia at 9.30am (23 Feb 2010)

Remarks:- Kindly wait at the KL Sentral at 5.45 am sharp on 11 Feb 2010. Your bus ticket has been purchased online at a very cheap RM 6.50 only!!!! For your information all air asia check in counter close 45 minutes before actual flight time!!!! lets do it!!!!
 

Orchid ------- its just so addorable

I guess orchid is perhaps one of the most beautiful flower in the world.........and guess Thailand have some of the most beautiful species on earth! Below are some of the photos I've taken around Chiang Mai during my recent trip.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Orchidaceae, the Orchid family, is the largest family of the flowering plants. Its name is derived from the genus Orchis. Sources of info: wikipedia

Lamphun - The city of many temples!

Lamphun is located about 30km south of Chiang Mai city. A relatively quiet city made famous by its longan plantation and ancient temple. A leisure 30 minutes drive using the super highway was indeed  worth trying. I am so attracted to this city as its full of nice and ancient temple, very easy going people and relatively nice local food. I shall share with you guys some of the photos I've taken here few days back! I am looking forward to visit Lamphun again soon. Here it goes:-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are just some of the many lovely faces of Lamphun. Its a nice city to visit if you are too bored with the city of Chiang Mai. walk around the city is relatively safe and easy. Mix around with the locals or sample some of the local food is one another a good option when you are here. For more info you can log on to Thai Tourism Website www.tourismthailand.org for more info on Lamphun.