Thailand , Myanmar and Laos - Day 3 Part I

So Day 3! After 2 days in Chiang Mai, I went to Chiang Rai up north of Chiang Mai. Chiang Rai is definitely different from Chiang Mai in terms of the size of the city and weather. Chiang Rai is more like a small town or village like a developed kampung but not big and the weather is much cooler. Imagine the difference of just 3 hours drive up from a tropical heat to you can see the water vapor after rain when exhale. 

There's a few places to visit while on the way to and fro Chiang Rai. Those places I went all are 1 hour apart. So it's not that tiring and bored in the car.

First stop of the journey : Hot Spring. It's not really big like Perak's but it is nicer because of the cold weather combined with the hot spring. The picture below is the water vapor of a fountain of hot water.

We went to a coffee shop nearby trying some Thai Coffee. It wasn't bad!

White Temple was next!

It is still under construction. Although it started 10 years ago and it is estimated to be completed in another 20 years to honour the King. Funding is also only by one person currently.

The entrance below.

Not really sure what is this representing..

There goes a bottle of whiskey.

There's no picture of the interior as they said it is prohibited. What's inside is for you to see with your own eyes ;)

Some plates of names for blessings

End of Part 1 otw to Chiang Mai. Part II will be in Myanmar and Laos.

Thailand, Myanmar and Laos 2015 - Day 1 & 2

The long semester break is here. Like finally, three weeks of holiday only before that and so much of studying. Couldn't imagine the working days in a few more years to come without real long break. Even that working in the office for 8 hours only had kinda made me mad. I wouldn't mind if it is just 3 hours..

Ignoring those work, there are so many to do during this holiday yet procrastination will also pull you back some times. I always have a topic or scene in my head to take those kind of photos but it is hard to really put in effort and time to do so..always have some things that will ruin the mood even in this holiday. It sucks. 

But managed to go to 3 more Asean countries in this holiday is quite fun. So as usual showing pictures is much better to express what i saw most. 

Ps : The whole trip i had been using manual mode on my 18-55 mm only, due to the gear had spoiled and i'm lazy to change the lens. 

So Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai first.

The first meal in Chiang Mai. Not really sure what are they called, all i know is they are for four person in each basket. They had refill of drumsticks too.

This restaurant have some stage for some dancing while we are eating. It is said to be the olden times where there is a performance while the king eats.

 

Exterior decos

The hotel lobby of Empress Hotel. Too bad the hotel have no free WiFi.

Out to the streets of Chiang Mai Night Bazaar.

To me it is not that big and not that many choices of shirts and food as compared to Taiwan and even Malaysia.

But it is much more safer in Chiang Mai!

The outside view of a red tuk tuk ( Red taxi ) Much more worth it if in a group about 20 baht per person.

DAY 2

Starting off to a orchid farm. There's so many orchid that could never be found in Malaysia! It is said that if got caught plucking one of the orchid will be fined 50000 baht ( if not mistaken ) and jailed at least 1 year.

All of these orchid to bloom needed at least a year.

A small area for butterfly farm.

Next : To the Elephant park!

I took the elephant ride but it was too bumpy.. so no pictures of it but there is ox cart ride when we go back to the entrance

Nearby there was a hill tribe living there. 

The picture below is one of the tribes which they believe wearing the rings on the legs will make it slimmer and more pretty.

Making scarfs for some extra income 

Around their living area

One of the few existing long neck tribe

The man or husband will work mostly as farmers or as craftsmen

Next : TO the snake show and monkey show

TWO REAL COBRAS

Such balls he got there..

Some venom

One of the restaurant. Most of their restaurant serve more like a Chinese dishes. Not really sure whether it is already been this way or due to the growing Chinese from China visiting.