Chiang Mai, ThaiLand (Jun'07)

my 2nd trip 2 thailand..hehehe! ;p
there must b sumthng dat made me choose thailand as my destination, again! ;0

it was a 4d/3n vacation..went on a tour wit my mum & a bunch of her friends..but it wasn't juz all elderly ppl, there were a few 'young adults' tagging along, including me :)
since i've already been 2 bangkok & pattaya last year, i was really excited..a more eastern culture & heritage, rather than the usual western culture (lovely memories, wish i could relive dat part of my life)..but i'm not complaining abt asia vacation, it's part of my dream 2 conquer the world, hahaha being dramatic..wen u love 2 travel, u juz wanna go everywhere!!! & all u have wen u reach home is the precious MEMORIES & experience..

the vacation 2 chiang mai was more relaxing than bangkok & pattaya..it's juz like going 2 cameron highlands but more of the culture bit all around..i think i went 2 a few temples, it was fascinating coz it's not juz a plain temple, it was covered in all those unique carvings, wit gold linings..there was even a gold temple!! serious! i mean if u're the type 2 b interested & awed by the arts of history then u'll enjoy it..anyway, the buddha statue is also in gold, all sizes..at 1 of the temples there was a gold turtle, gold chime bell, gold dragon..even a gigantic gold statue of buddha by the river of the 'golden triangle' at chiang rai (a place dat is abt 3-4hrs drive from chiang mai)..i 4got 2 ask my tour guide if it's real gold, i kept wondering wen sum1 or any1 would dare 2 steal the statue or at least cut a part of it..man, i would b 1 happy rich lady by selling it, hahaha! yeah right, like i'm so brave & dat desperate! duhhh ;p

the best part of the tour was the visit 2 the famous 'golden triangle'..the connection btween thailand, burma & laos by a river..it was like country hopping! i got the chance 2 set foot on laos but not burma :( once in laos, there was a flea market, selling shawls, clothes/accessories, local souvenir, but the main attraction 4 me was the snake & scorpion medicine..it's real, trust me! they were sold in bottles, according 2 the seller, it helps 2 improve ur inner strength or 'upgrade' ur sex life (4 men) hahahaha! ;p mayb i should have bought a few bottles 4 my guy friends, at least dat'll keep their partner happy in bed, hahahaha ;)

chiang mai is also known 4 having an 'elephant school'..a school where they train elephants 2 obey human commands, teach them 2 play soccer/dart/basketball, paint a picture (using their trunks), dance & wiggle their bumbums! hehehe..cute, chubby ass, loud, quite smart, smelly creature :) but u gotta give them credit tho, i mean they can really entertain us human beings..plus i was amazed they can paint, the complete setup of dipping the brush & the perfect stroke of artistic ability! i can bet sum of us human cant draw a simple nice pic dat u would immediately recognize wat it is, huhu congrats elephant! the talented elephants working in bangkok had 2 graduate from school 1st..i think they get a diploma or certificate ;p haha how cute can dat b..if i was a proud owner i would frame dat piece of paper!

hmm, the next visit was 2 the 'long neck' community..way in the jungle..had 2 hike thru the bushes, up & down small hills..i was out of breath & sweating wen i reached their little village..was greeted by these village ppl wit a traditional dance..i was fascinated by the young & old women wearing these large heavy gold steel rings around their neck & ankles..their neck is really long & shaped according 2 the size of rings they wore..1 of the young girl was famous wit tourist, it turns out she was once featured in 'national geographic'..the upsetting part was my dearest mum 4got 2 recharge the batteries for her camera, so no pics of dat, but i manage 2 capture a few wit my pda phone, which isn't dat beautiful, plus i haven't transfer it 2 my laptop..but once i do, i'll upload it wit the other pics..& no i didn't bring my own camera..hehehe lazy me & serves me right 4 not being a back-up camera girl..hehehe! ;p

other than these culture visits, i went 4 a cruise in 1 of the shopping malls..not bad, i was tempted 2 go in2 all the shops, but luckily my mum was holding a rein on me, hehe..still, i managed 2 buy a few thngs,huhu ;) the nite market was also a blast, a long stretch of stalls, i mean u can bargain the price & they have a variety of stuff u juz know u gotta get..along the stalls, they have shophouses as well..wit starbucks! my fav place, can't live a day witout coffee..yes, i'm a coffee addict! ;p give me my dose of caffeine & i'm all smiley & happy & hyper..mmm, yumyum, yeahyeah :)

hmmm...also went 2 an umbrella factory, they make umbrellas out of tree trunks..went 2 the jewel factory outlet, there was a display of a big ring, as big as my arm! it was named ' the princess ring'..u gotta c it..wit all the diamonds & other gems/stones in gold setting..i juz wanted 2 snatch it & wear it as a bangle, hehe..the jewel outlet was heaven 4 sore eyes, all those bling-bling made me drool, seriously i wish it was all mine..u name it, they have the gems, in gold/silver/whitegold setting..ok, enuff of dat..i think my last pit-stop was the orchid & butterfly garden/farm, lovely! wen i walked in, i felt so calm & relax..it was like being a happy butterfly, attracted 2 the beautiful orchids, variety of colors, all healthy ;) well, once i get a house wit a garden, i'll make sure i have an orchid corner, hehehe..i didn't even check-out the butterflies, they didn't seem alluring as the orchids..

overall, i had a great time, coz wen i decided 2 join my mum, i only wanted 2 relax my mind, nothing too hectic (like the bangkok & pattaya vacation)..wanted 2 get away from the bz hectic life in the city..& i got it :)