Goshhh.. always pack my back last minute.So I packed till 2am...i have got only 2 hrs to sleep comfortably before boarding AA flt.
Well, this is my second trip to Chiang Mai.Been to most places by motorbike (within Chiang Mai)and infact I have travelled to outskirt like Mae Sa,Mae Hong Song & Pai district by 4 WD.It was indeed interesting and adventurous. One should try this. It's very beautiful & worth the money .Paid around 4500THB 2 years ago for this trip.Inclusive of 3 nites accomodation,2 meals, 4WD with driver (you can drive yourself too) plus all the entrance fees to where ever we go.
The main reason, I was in Chiang Mai was to travel to Chiang Rai to attend a wedding. I always love to see the local culture. and ...yeah dreams come true.
I reached Chiang Mai around 9.30an (local time). There was a delay of 20 min as announced by the captain.And he also informed us that there was a military exercise and the plane has to stay out from the Chiang Mai Air space.My heart was pumping when I heard this cos I thought there was a riot going on in Chiang Mai and the plane has to stay out
Finally when the captian announced "Cabin Crew, please be seated for landing"...it was such a relieved. We took a taxi (approx 2300 THB).We sat comfortably in something like Toyota Innova.Made a stop in Chiang Mai City to grab some food.Driver took us to eat thier famous congee...real yummy indeed. We had some Thai version Dim Sum...no chili or sweet sauce but gave us black vinegar...taste funny but OK.
Chicken Congee ala Thai (very smooth like cantonese porridge)
It says Roasted Pork Rice..I guess this is Thai style
Thai Dim Sum
It took us abt 2 1/2 hr to reach Chiang Rai. On the way, we saw many small stalls selling grilled corn and grab 2 sticks...YES stick they have got this bamboo thrust into the corn. Very easy to eat instead of holding the corn itself that made it hard to eat like our version.Hands got dirty and messy.Love it very much.They don't grilled it at the stall and they kept the corn hot in a styrofoam box.FYI, the corn tasted DAMN good...very sweet and not dry like ours.It is a MUST TRY. The scenery to Chiang Rai was awesome...reminds me of going to Kedah via the coastal road.
Finally we reached our hotel - Palm Garden http://www.thepalmgarden.com/ . Paid abt 767THB per nite with bbf. Very clean (room & bathroom -m very particular), friendly staff including the GM who is an American married to local Thai wife.They will greet us whenever they see you of course with Amazing Thai hospitality. They are a bit out fr the main city however I really don't mind since m staying in the city already and I just don't want to land myself in the city again. Tuk tuk is easily available.Just get the receptionist to call for you.The hotel is over looking the paddy field .What a view! Basic facilities.Only 1 restaurant that serves b'fast every morning. FYI, No elevator.Choose to stay on the 1st floor.
At around 3 pm the bride & bridegroom (bro in law) came to the hotel...bought us some local food (kuih)...macam macam ada.Like some only. Then took us to Wat Rong Khun which is just 10 - 15 min to from our hotel. It was WOW!Just take a look at the pix. It is all white.Still under construction.They are building something beside which is GOLD in color. A must go place.
Wat Rong Khun
Then later we head to outskirt which took us 45 min to reach. It was the bride's house. Errr...can't recall the name.Is a simple village. And directly outside the house is a market. So easy if you wanna grab anything.And there's mini mart beside the house.Behind the house is a river. The bride's father breed cat fish there. There were lot's of ppl at the house helping out to get ready for the big day. All the villagers came voluntarily to help out. They were bz cutting veges, pork, beef etc.When we reached there,we had a lot of food to eat but what it is I had no idea. Then they served hubby some spirit (HOMEMADE)....GOD KNOWS WHAT IS THE ALCOHOL CONTENT...I guess is worst than tuak...it is made of glutinous rice.
Some kuih muih ala Thai
Neighbours & Relatives came to help on the pre-wedding day
The bride's mom make us BBQ pork with special chili sauce.Then later in the evening the aunty made us cat fish soup and had it with glutinous rice (sticky rice) They hardly eat steam rice.The fish was fresh and the soup tasted like Tom Yam but it wasn't spicy...specially tailored made for us. Mind you Chiang Rai people eat EXTREMELy spicy food. M a fan of spicy food however I couldn't take it. It felt like the volcano is going to errupt....yeah! Because of the spiciness, I had gastric pain for 2 days and lucky me to have brought along Zantac and restrain myself from eating chili for the last 4 days I was there. Drink milk every now & then
Grilling Pork
Cat Fish Soup.
Their Som Tam too tasted different...very salty & spicy, they used fish sauce and prawn sauce/paste (very strong smell of belacan & Kelantan's budu. I do eat belacan however I have stay away from this one). I prefer the one I had in BKK or Hatyai. Sweet, Sour & Spicy.
Zzzzz...To be continued.
No comments:
Post a Comment