Diary - Thailand Side Diary

In Chiang Mai, I felt the loneness I never felt before. This feeling was again felt when I was on my way to Phi-Phi. This journey makes my understand how much important my family and friend to me and I really appreciates their presence around me. 

For the journey, I become more and more appreciates and values my family members and friend. And I must understand that the more I appreciate them the more I expect from them and this more will course me even easier to hurt or being hurt by them. While, I still believe that the true friend is not the one shown in front of you but is the one who stand behind you. And family will also be there for you no matter what. Along the journey, I keep thinking how wonderful God is by given all sorts of colour and people around me and all the earth. 

This is indeed the greatest gift for me to have this chance to make my dream come true.  With this loneliness I found more colours in my life. Now I understand why some people said that by going a tour or trip by yourself, you can learn more about yourself that you don't even know you knew it at all at the first place.

In Kanachaburi, I have this question in mind, why western likes to backpack? Along the journey, I saw only western, no matter English, American, Spain, France etc and where is all the Asian? I managed to see some Korean and Japanese in Bangkok and Phuket and that is. I realized that Asian like Malaysian, Singaporean, Taiwanese etc likes to join a tour guide or tour company rather than backpacking by themselves. I know that most of my friend will take such tour company and not self tour or backpacking. 

I understand one person cannot represent the whole group of people. The Asian, not all but majority likes to engaged tour company because in their mind, travelling is meant for relax and worry-free. So if you ask this majority Asian to do self tour or backpack, they will not do it because its time consuming, a lot of planning (not that they don't have enough planning in their work), many arrangement to be fixed before the actual journey start and many more to be settle. 

So the easier way is to engage a tour company, and no harm of course and I do agreed with this majority of people. But I think the weirdo is only people like me that like to burden our self with all the preparation just to enjoy our trip differently. What I called to enjoy not the trip but the preparation for the trip as well.

In boarder of Malaysia, what will be my next trip beside of self tour to Taiwan? My next backpack journey would be when? There are few places that I wanted to go for at least for within these 3 years until 2014 or 2015. First is Phimai, located in east north of Thailand, a city older than Angkor Wat. 

Backpack journey would be south-east Asia of Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. I hope can organize a trip to Korea on 2012 as promised with my friend when I was in my last in my law degree. Of course some local destinations like Lang Tengah Island and Sabah.  Also, trip to Macau-Hong Kong, maybe a 6 days tour to these two special region states of China. 

Well, to make all this come true, I need to earn more income and need a fit physical body to do all this tasks. Pray to God and may all this come true in future. 

Diary - Thailand Day 14

Day 14 – 6^th July 2010

Krabi s a town of rock climbing and mangrove tree. The famous rock climbing is located in Ao Nong, but I not good in active sport so I just head to town area. Nothing much as well in the town. I think after all the journey from Chiang Mai to Phuket and Phi-Phi, there is none that can attract my attention anymore. So, I head to Hat Yai, the major city in southern of Thailand. I arrived at the place around 4pm and managed to visit places in the town, near to the bus station. I just need to buy some more snack for my office and family. Because the stock I brought in Krabi were not enough.

Hat Yai has a lot of muslim and Chinese that can speak Malay language and Chinese, but mainly Hokkien dialect.  There are many Chinese style temples (like Penang’s temples as well) and now I know why many Malaysian like to visit Hat Yai every year, for the food, snacks, shop and some for the “service” here (mainly is for guys). I take the 800pm bus to the boarder and back to Malaysia.

I reached the Malaysian boarder around 10pm and Kuala Lumpur around 5am in the morning. I love Malaysia and sure miss Thailand.

Diary - Thailand Day 13

Day 13 – 5^th July 2010

The van came and picks me up for the boat ride to Ko Phi Phi. I felt alone while during the boat ride because everyone seem to have their friend or partner with them. And I left alone and I think I would be cherry if there is a friend or few friends with me. Well, I wanted to do this myself. The ferry provides free coffee and muffins during the ride.

The Viking Resort was waiting for me at the Phi Phi pier and transfer me to their resort. At instance I become very happy because the resort was what I imagine it would be. All the greenery with all the beaches and almost crystal clear beaches. The resort has its own private beaches (well 2 beaches) and because it was low peak season, so I have the beach all by myself, well sharing with 1 or 2 other unknow human passed by. Because over spend in Phuket, I was short in cash and in need of some once reached Krabi the next day.

I just lay down under the tree beside the beach the whole afternoon until evening. It was very relaxing and I need to do it again some time in future (I still miss that feeling now). The bed also very comfortable and just like my own bed and I fall to sleep from 9pm till 9am next morning. Wah.

Diary - Thailand Day 12

Day 12 – 4^th July 2010

Wake up in the morning, breakfast and head to Kata beach, which just 4 minutes walk from my hotel. I have my sun bathing for few hours and become red-dish whole body but not the face. I cant stand the sun any more, so go back to hotel, shower and take bus to town area. I met another tourist from Spain and both of us engaged local taxi tour guide with 1000baht touring some places in Phuket. The Big Buddha was the highlight as we managed to watch the view of whole phuket island and also the sunset view. But the place is just half complete because short of funding. And also some other places like bird nest making, chestnut making,   jewels etc. it was very “tourist” tour and I don't like this and it cost 500baht.

Diary - Thailand Day 11

Day 11 – 3^rd July 2010

Today is the last day with my friend before I go sole on my trip. We wake up early morning for Chatchuchak Market, the biggest market in Bangkok and some said in South East Asia or Asia. The local would call it JJ market. The things selling here are very cheap and from all sort of thing, from kitchen, clothes, outfit, plants, pets, books, foods, massage, fortune telling and many more. I think I will need at least 2 days full in this market. And for sure I will come to this market again in future.

We pack our thing and head to airport. My friends are taking flight back to Kuala Lumpur and I am taking flight also but to Phuket Island. Arrived in Phuket, I take the bus to phuket town because if by taxi, it will cost 800baht per way, but with bus only 85baht, of course time consume. Since bus service stop at 5pm, I have to take motorbike ride to my hotel, cost 300baht for journey 30 minutes. 

At night, I just walk around Patong road and Kata road for dinner. Patong road and its beach is like red-light-district in Phuket. At the night, I feel hot and might be fever, and so take some medicine and rest.

Diary - Thailand Day 10

Day 10 – 2^nd July 2010

We are going to Damoen Saduak Floating Market, located 2 hours from Bangkok also. There are few floating markets near Bangkok but mainly are small scale markets. We take the southern bus line to the market but in fact there are minivan services to the market in Victory Monument. The boat cost us 350baht each for 1 hour tour in the floating market. 

Our boat has roof compare with some other where they have to wear rain cloth. It was in deem a special experiences shopping inside a boat and eating inside a moving boat.

After that, we going back to Bangkok via minivan at the market and the journey was only 2 hours. The jacket we booked yesterday has arrived and it just fit and nice. That night, we going to Siam Paragon (like our Time Square) to meet with Pap and his friend, Dex. The dinner was recommended by them and the food was far better than that Mango Tree. The restaurant called Ban Khun Mae (or in thai means mother’s home).  

After that, we wanted to go to Siroco Skybar but we aware only certain outfit is allow to enter the tower. So, only ping is allow to go inside and since only him, so all of us abroad this plan and go someway else. We head to some tourist market where they have big screen showing the match between Brazil and Spain and Brazil lost the game. 

Diary - Thailand Day 9

Day 9 – 1^st July 2010

Early morning, we take minivan to Ayuthaya, located outside of Bangkok and the journey is around 90 minutes away. We engaged local tuk-tuk for 100baht per hour and it was a temple-visit-tour. The famous was the Buddha’s head inside the tree trunk. The story goes back to war time in Thailand where some people has destroyed the statue and left the head on the tree. 

As the tree grows bigger, it consumed the head statue in between its trunk.  We have KFC for lunch and take the same minivan back to Bangkok. We drop at China town, whole sale market and temples. There was one desert that my friend cant take off her mind, ice peanut desert with syrup thingy, nice.

At the evening, we go to Khao San road, mainly designated for foreign tourists and a lot Korean restaurant as well there.  If you don't mind the condition of the road side, the food at road side quite delicious and cheaper, and it is more local. Khao San is similar with our Jalan Bukit Bintang Changkat and nothing special but worth visiting of course. 

Diary - Thailand Day 8

Day 8 – 30^th June 2010

We enjoy our breakfast while waiting the van to Bangkok. We will meet with another 2 friend in Bangkok today. The 2 hours ride was fast, and we noticed that all transportation will have special area just for the monk. Inside the van, the monk usually will sit in front with the driver. We will be staying at this S2S Hotel during our visit in Bangkok for 4 days. 

There was a new MRT line connected with the airport but it was yet to open to public until 2011. It would be convenient if there is now. We were waiting our friends in Pratunam shopping mall. First stop is the grand Palace of Thai King which cost around 350baht and we still have 90minutes for the tour only. Although it was a bit rushing but we managed to visit the palace overall. We have this tuk-tuk especially for tourist and cost only 5baht per person but we need to stop at least 2 shopping shops.

Me and ping make a jacket each cost around 3000baht or RM300, which it is cheaper than in Malaysia as same jacket cost more that RM600 here. I will make again this jacket when I travel to Bangkok next time. Along the journey, we visited standing big Buddha, Wat Pho and pass by the palace where the king staying at the moment. As for dinner, we go to Mango Tree (recommended by many in the internet and some Chinese artist), but the food there was not so good as per said.

Near to the restaurant, there is Pat Pong night market and many “show” (tiger show, ping pong show etc). We get to know one of Sze Yee’s thai friend, Pap in McDonald across the night market.

Diary - Thailand Day 7

Day 7 – 29^th June 2010

It has been a week time for me in Thailand and love visiting the country. The tour guide picks us up in each guesthouse/hotel. First, we have this elephant trekking and it was a new experiences for me because first time doing it. The elephant managed to carry 2 heavy loaded guys at the back to hill side and through river side for almost 45minutes. Then we continue with bamboo ride in the Kwai River and those feeling to swim can do so but not me as I do not know how to swim in a river, fast running water (kind dangerous if you not familiar with the flow).

We have our lunch in Erawan waterfall and then Hell Pass which was built during World War 2 by Australian POW and Asian POW. Then, Sai Nok waterfall or small waterfall and Krasue cave with river Kwai train ride. Because it was world cup month, my friend wants to watch the match and at the end he falls to sleep in the guesthouse.

Diary - Thailand Day 6

Day 6 – 28^th June 2010

They museum was closed on every Monday which we suppose to visit at first. Thus, we just walk around and look-see look-see (in Chinese phrase meaning a short brief visit at a place in very quick move). The market, local breakfast, and we notice the school started very late as well, I think the class start at 830am or later. We were late for the bus and some local assist us by using motorbike to chase the bus to Suphanburi, 3 hours from Lopburi. Then we transit via bus as well to Kanachaburi, another 2 hours. We arrived to our next destination, Kanachaburi and check in to Blue Star Guesthouse around 4pm.

Put down our backpacking and going to the night market but suddenly it a heavy rain come and we run quickly for a cover, but at the end we were “dancing in the rain” (you know what). The rains almost stop at night, we then go out and have massage and internet later on. We managed to sign up a tour with the guesthouse for the following day.

Diary - Thailand Day 5

Day 5 – 27^th June 2010

Wake up by early of the morning and journey to Phitsanulok, a transit town before Lopburi. While still some times leave before the train, we managed to visit the second most important Buddha temple in Thailand, the Golden Buddha. There are many people, especially Chinese thais in this temple. 

By noon the train is ready and the journey took us 5 hours to reach Lopburi. But if we refer to travel books or internet, it is suppose to be only 3 hours. Well, it is a train run by diesel and many thing can happen and cause delay also. We have some train food ala thia style, mango rice, fruits etc. Along the way, there was only green plants, blue skies and white cloud accompany our eyes. 

Well it is something similar with our paddy field in west coast Malaysia. If they a coffee on the train it would be better…. Ehmmmm. We have a rest at this Noom Guesthouse in Lopburi. Our neighbor was a family with children from France. The wife can speak English but not the husband. Visit some temple while there is some sunlight and end the day with night market.

Diary - Thailand Day 4

Day 4 – 26^th June 2010

We start our journey to the historical park of Sukhothai by bicycle. It was hot sunny day and it was my first time to ride on bicycle. While I tried before when I was small and fall down every time. But I survive the day and managed to learn to ride the bicycle at the end.

Back to early of the day, we have our breakfast at his place recommended by Lonely Planet, Coffee Cup and the coffee was great. Less than 20 minutes and help form ping, I managed to master the bicycle. There are many historical temples, statues of Buddha, old buildings, palaces all dated back to 11^th to 14^th century before the kingdom of Thais. 

I would highly recommend this place for those who love historical sites and work-out-tour-a-day thing. Almost evening time and we go back to the new town and have a glass of coffee, also recommended by Lonely Planet, to his S&N coffee shop, and it was ok only. As for dinner, we head to this Dream Cafe and it was amazing. The environment is classical and antic mainly with items from 40s to 60s. I will come to this cafe next time but with my lover (if any)(hope soon).

Diary - Thailand Day 3

Day 3 – 25^th June 2010

My friend, Ping is taking a flight from Malaysia and joining me for the rest of my backpacking journey to Bangkok. Upon arrival, both of us start touring the old town of Chiang Mai, the temples or wats. I think we have visited almost 80% of all temples in Chiang Mai city. Before the touring ends, I have my favorite fruit juice, dragon fruit juice for only 20baht or RM2, so cheap.

We take local bus to Sukhothai which the journey take around 6 hours to reach and though it will be very tiring but I think it is worthy. We arrived Sukhothai around 700pm and the guesthouse that I have booked early has forgot about our reservation. This Baan Thai Guesthouse will be in my ban-list forever. Luckily there are few options around. We head to this TR Guesthouse run by Chinese thais family and the room was not bad at all, better that that Baan Thai. 

We have a very funny dinner today. The stall owner can not understand English nor chinses only thais. We can not speak thais and it was like a chicken talking with a duck (Chinese phrase). We managed to order soup mee and soup noodle. I really need to improve my thais if planning to come to rural area in future.

Diary - Thailand Day 2

Day 2 – 24^th June 2010

What a great day as I woke up naturally without the alarm like ordinary working days… but I starting to be a bit lazy to write everything in my diary. After late breakfast, I started my journey by taking local bus and go to Phrae and Lampang and maybe Lamphun. Phrae is 4 hours journey from Chiang Mai and Lampang and Lamphun is 2 hours away from Chiang Mai. 

Nothing much in both places, Phrae has few old temples that influenced by the Myanmar or Bugmis instead of Thais. Lampang was a city –liked-town and the only attraction mainly the local super market, store etc. I was a bit disappointed with today’s journey. Because I started the day late, now it is almost 500pm and I have to take last bus back to Chiang Mai.

Just 10 minutes walk from the bus station is the Chinese night market or China town of Chiang Mai. It was a night market and I settled my dinner here as well. But Chinese here, especially the younger one did not learn Chinese language. The grows up in Thailand also did not communicate in chinese nor the dialect of their clan. On my way back to guesthouse, I saw this McDonald and I just can not stop thinking about the pork burger. And so I brought one for supper.  Before going back to my room, I have little chat with the owner, Olaf and his wife Fong about Chiang Mai and my trip later.

Diary - Thailand Day 1

Day 1 – 23^rd June 2010

Arrived at LCC Terminal and is raining in Malaysia. The sky is still full with grey colour but with little sunlight. This is my first time travel alone and first time doing this backpacking adventure thing. What I have with me is my bag, myself, little self confidence venture the unknow adventure, scary with a bit anxious feeling and God’s blessing so that all will be fine. And suddenly, it is a small world, I met Thivina at LCCT (my classmate) whom on her way for her company’s trip to Bangkok.

Arrived at Chiang Mai, get a tuk-tuk and check in to the guesthouse, Thapae Gate Lodge, run by a Germany guy with Thai’s wife.  I start my journey by visiting the famous temple, Doi Suthep or Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep. The air is cold, moist but clean, the temple is very nice but I arrived at a wrong time as the local people are doing major renovation on the wall structure, roof and the statue. I can see whole Chiang Mai from this temple but because it was very cloudy and less sunlight, my camera can not take a good photo of the view. 

Then I visit northern valley, Mae-Sa valley to this Baan Tong Luang, the Eco-Agricultural area of the Hill Tribes people. There are 11 tribes at this place and of course the famous yet is the minority tribe is the long neck tribe. At the time of arrival, there are only 5 tourists visiting the place because this month is considered as low peak season.  After that, my tour guide brought me to Mae-Sa Elephant Camp for the elephant show. I managed to take few photos of the elephants because I was forgotten to re-charge the battery, too bad.

I started my journey around noon time and now is getting dark, 600pm or 700pm in Malaysia. So, I head back to the guesthouse, have a shower and going for dinner. Before dinner, there is a massage shop just 4 minutes away from my guesthouse. I tried the thai massage for 1 hour with only 200baht or RM20 only.  It was almost 800pm and I am hungry. There is a night market just 10 minutes walk. 

So, what else, food eating time, and I start with papaya salad, BBQ things, rice balls, northern tom yam (with chicken and not the prawns) and end with fruit juice. After that…. Good night. 

Day 7 Long Shan Temple

On our last day here, we visited Long Shan Temple. A little bit of the history of this place. In 1738, settlers from Fujian, China constructed a temple in Wanhua, Taipei on the site where a man left an amulet of Guanyin (Goddess of Mercy) hanging from a tree. Legend has it that the amulet gave off a bright light, even in the darkness and so, a temple was built. That temple is the Longshan temple.

In East Asian Buddism, Guanyin is depicted as a female diety. Her origins however are from the Buddha of Compassion, known in Sanskrit as Avolokitesvara, who takes the male form. The Tibetan name for the Buddha of Compassion is Chenrezig, and Tibetan Buddhists look to the Dalai Lama as a reincarnation of Chenrezig. While I won’t go into any more detail about Guanyin, I will mention an interesting aside. In Japanese, Guanyin is pronounced Kannon and this is where the name for the Canon company first came from, although the spelling was changed a few years after the company was formed. So to those who shoot with Canon equipment, you’re shooting with a Buddha.

Over the course of a couple of centuries, Taipei’s Longshan temple has been destroyed either in full or in part on numerous earthquakes and fires and in the spring of 1945 was even bombed by the US who claimed the Japanese were using the temple as an arms storage facility. As a result, the temple has been rebuilt and restored numerous times.

Day 6 At National Palace Meseum, Dan Shui & Shihlin Market

After the Flora Expo, we head to ShiLi District for the National Palace Museum, where it is an art museum in Taipei, Taiwan. It is the national museum of the Republic of China, and has a permanent collection of over 677,687 pieces of ancient Chinese artifacts and artworks, making it one of the largest in the world. The collection encompasses over 8,000 years of Chinese history from the Neolithic age to the late Qing Dynasty. Most of the collections are high quality pieces collected by China's ancient emperors. In 2009, it was the 11th most visited art museum in the world. The National Palace Museum and Palace Museum, located inside the Forbidden City in China, share the same original roots, which was split in two as a result of the Chinese Civil War. We spend quite a little time here and it should be at least half day tour in this museum. There are many famous collection to be seen, like the Jadeite Cabbage and the Meat-shaped Stone length. Shame that camera is not allowed inside the building.

After that, we head to Danshui (Fisherman’s wharf) and stop at Danshui Station淡水捷运站. Here, Danshui station (exit 2) can walk to Old street淡水老街 with all famous foods like 小卷,淡水鱼丸(fish ball) (可口鱼丸才是老店)(350gm NT100),糯米肠 (半屏店), 阿婆的酸梅汤NT35 (sour drink),珍珠奶茶(milk tea)(五十岚较好喝), 许义鱼酥 NT50 (fish biscuit)(味香鱼丸店), 阿婆铁蛋(iron egg), 黑店排骨饭(ribs rice), 沪尾豆花(tauhu hua), 碳烤臭豆腐(tauhubusuk), 烤鱿鱼(sotong bakar) etc. Old building back to late 18’s and early 19’s. There are many almost similar cafes’ at the sea/river bank. We just choose either one that we all feel ok with. There’s also starbucks over here for our sunset scene and bridge view.

Finally, Shihlin Night market and spend the rest of the day here as there are many to explore and to shop. We have separated into two groups and the gal will stay back at the hotel to pack their stuff because they have went to Shihlin a day before. Must try at Shihlin (士林夜市)- 刀削面, 猪肝汤,大头龙鸡蛋蚵仔煎(Booth 200),高雄肉丸,士林老字号大饼包小饼(Booth 501),升记士林大香肠 (Booth 308),蕃茄沾姜汁,东山鸭头,青蛙下蛋,忠诚号生炒花枝 (Booth 440),红油抄手等,生炒花枝羹,士林十全排骨 (Booth 78/310),士林青蛙下蛋 and etc.

Last but not list is the night view of Tower 101 of Taipei, the landmark of Taiwan. 

Day 6 Taipei Flora Expo

The 2010 Taipei International Flora Exposition (2010 Flora Expo) opened on November 6, 2010 and will run until April 25, 2011 in Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China. It is garden festival recognized by the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH / IAHP) and is categorized as an A2B1 horticulture exposition. It will be the first such internationally recognized exposition to take place in Taiwan, and the seventh of its kind to take place in Asia. It is located near Yuanshan Station.

The expo is divided up between four major areas: Yuanshan Park, Taipei Artist Park, Xinsheng Park and Dajia Riverside Park. It has 14 pavilions and occupies an area of 91.8 ha (0.000918 km3). Each area is also covered with many outdoor gardens, including a Global Garden Area (featuring exhibits from the Malaysia, USA, Greece, the Netherlands, Thailand, Bhutan, Hawaii, Belau, Hong Kong, Japan and more), a Fujian-Style Garden, and a Sea of Flowers. In addition, it features more than 800 varieties of orchids, 329 million locally-developed plant varieties, and award-winning landscape and gardening designs from 22 countries.