time to revive my blog! =p
actually im writtin this for myself to recall this in the future..
had one of the best family vacation ever last week =) 8th till 11th of march 2012..
i've been sayin that we need a family vacation since im leavin soon.. and we came across these air asia promotions.. indecisive where to go at first, mom choose chiang mai..
we booked the cheaper flight which was b4 esther's holidays started.. we went on thurs.. which cost esther's maths and moral exam.. and some scoldings from the school vice principles for me and mom when we went to her school to sort things out..
actually the whole trip started off really horrible with tons and tons of arguments..
mom and sis booked the air asia flight by themselves.. and didnt know abt the whole sky bus thing that they paid for.. we always drove and parked at the airport especially when we've got dad's car.. but havin paid the sky bus, we had seats paid for to go to lcct at kl sentral.. oh ooo.. major problem.. coz if we drove to lcct we still had to pay for parking fees.. after a lot of arguments the night b4 the flight, we decided to drive since it would b cheaper overall if we had to park at kl sentral..
and.. mom and sis booked the hotel themselves on9.. i went for joggin that time and jogged back jux to remind them NOT NOT NOT to book the hotel until we've seen more and comfirmed the places that we would go.. but when i came back, they said they've booked.. then we argued.. there was the cancellation button.. but it was non refundable.. we said nvm la book edi jux go only la no choice.. then.. esther went and click the button.. oh ooooooo.. our room was cancelled.. wit no refund.. major panic.. we tried to call the agency agoda but apparently no one was in.. we called the hotel who said they had to confirm wit agoda.. and the next day we called agoda and they said they had to confirm wit the hotel.. after a few days only everythin was settled and we got our room back.. wit no extra charges.. thank God! =)
we were also worried abt the room capacity.. coz they stated that one room for 2 ppl only.. wat if we had to pay for an extra room coz we hav 4? =o wat if the room wasnt big enough? but honestly thank God.. the bed was so big.. it fit the 4 of us nicely =)
on the 8th mornin.. our flight wat at 6.55am and we were to reach chiang mai at 8.45am.. as we were flying over chiang mai, the haze was sooo terrible that we were flyin in circles in the sky for abt 30 min to an hour.. wit the pilot informin us whether the air traffic allowed us to land.. finally he said we had to divert to chiang rai to land.. sooooo.. we flew to chiang rai for abt 30 mins.. i thought we could leave the airplane when we landed.. but nooooo.. we were all stuck in the plane at the chiang rai airport for abt 2 hours.. all of us pacing up and down.. hungry.. bored.. HUNGRY! we were like criminals.. illegal ppl.. who couldnt leave the plane coz we werent approved to do so..
finally.. literally FINALLY.. we flew back to chiang mai.. we reached at abt 12.30pm.. the driver who was supposed to pick us up left (obviously) so we took the cheaper 120 baht airport taxi to star hotel..
the weather was super hazy.. due to the burning somewhere in thailand..
we reached our small hotel.. but thank God for the absolutely lovely room.. =) wit LCD tv and super big bed..
w/o resting we left for LUNCH.. we asked the door guy where was the restaurant that uncle poy sin recommended which was nearby.. and we walked there.. the food there was reallllyyyy good! =) and super cheap! we had 4 main big dishes that costs only rm65+.. takin in account of the expensive-big lookin restaurant, this was cheap! =)
then we scouted for taxi to the zoo/aquarium.. coz esther said we promised.. at first we asked for the red taxi.. he charged 100baht.. then we decided to ask a cab.. he charged 200 then 120 baht.. we argued again and were super indecisive.. walkin in btw the two cabs.. makin the drivers annoyed as well.. and finally choosed the cab since it has air cond..
we reached the zoo/aquarium.. and since we had super limited time (2 hours) and money.. and the zoo entrance is inseparable from the aquarium.. only esther and i went in while mom and dad waited outside.. the zoo is superrrrr big! =O since we actually only wanted to go to the aquarium.. we took the mini van.. we passed the elephant and stopped to feed it (we didnt)..
excitedly we went in.. i was sooooo happie! =p i was more like the kid compared to esther.. seriously.. i was wowing and ooing and pointing at everythin.. while esther was so engrossed in her camera.. it was a lot of fun really.. all the AMAZING creatures that God created made me realize how seriously amazing my God is.. He is so super creative.. and to think that He made all these creatures so amazingly.. jux puts me at awe.. =)
and it was really really fun wit esther.. we were ooing at so many things =p especially in the tunnel.. we saw the sharks and fishes and turtles.. and she also was amazed.. =)
we came out and waited for the van.. for quite some time.. then we stopped at the middle stop to look around for the animals.. we saw big fat animals like tiger, lion, jaguar, cheetah etc.. we walked all the way to see the birds but to no avail.. no birds geh.. =/
and esther was really cranky and wanted to go back.. so we left after only abt 1.5 hours..
we bought a 10baht strawberry cup outside the entrance.. and took a red taxi back to star hotel for 80baht.. and oh my.. didnt we regret that so much.. it was soo hot! and apparentely it picks up more ppl on the way.. the 'nice driver' stopped us at some random place and told us to walk back to our hotel.. which was WE DUNNO WHERE! we asked the pharmacist and walked.. and walked and walked and walked and walked AND WALKED! for abt half an hour.. =(
when we were back we were so tired and annoyed at the fact that we paid 80 bahts and had to walk so far and w/o air cond..
after showering we went out to the night market super nearby..
i had one food on my mind.. MANGO STICKY RICE! =)
after refusing the seafood restaurants.. coz mom said she wanted hawker stalls not big restaurants.. we stopped by a small stall.. and.. bought..
MANGO STICKY RICEE! =) =) =)
and it tasted awesomeeeeee! =) for 50 bahts..
esther and mom bought fruits shakes at 30 bahts each.. we walked out of the 'market' area and scouted for hawker stalls.. i spotted a mini one behind the stalls.. next to burger king.. and we ate there.. noodle soup for us 3 and tomyam for dad.. and it was awesome! =) clear soup thai noodles and meat stuffs etc.. niceee.. satisfied =)
then we walked the night market and the place is actually like petaling street actually.. everyone selling almost the same things.. bargain lo.. and we could actually bargain up to 70% =p
mom and i bought silk pjs.. and we had them at 800 bahts when it was actually abt 1800 bahts =p
we went to a food court.. and ate roti banana wit choc.. which was actually roti canai wit banana and choc.. not bad =) at 30 bahts..
then mom passed some thai ladies eatin mangso sticky rice which looked really nice and asked them where to buy.. then we bought another pack from an aunty at 70 bahts.. this was nicer and we had a whole fresh mango! =) we ate this at mcd where dad and esther went.. we had ham and cheese pie and ice creams as well.. and get this.. the vanila cone is only rm0.70 =) while the oreo mcflurry is only..... rm2.90! =O
2nd day..
we went to mae theng elephang safari! =) at first we picked up a few ppl.. all together our tour had 13 ppl.. =O when we reached we started off wit rafting along the mae river.. us 4 plus grace from taiwan plus 2 jap.. front and back of the bamboo raft got 2 ppl.. coz the weather was kinda hazy we couldnt enjoy the view as much.. we even got to raft the raft! =) i washed my hands in the river water coz the toilet had no water =O the water was colldddd! and ltr on we saw somethin floating in the river and only to realize that it was elephant poop.. lol.. the ride was abt 45 mins.. it was sunny.. and we chatted away wit grace..
then.. we went for the elephant show.. as talented as the elephants were, i wat thinkin abt how much they had to go through to b like this.. how much trainin and pain.. but none the less they were smart animals =) and they reallyyyy know how to paint.. even better than me! =p
when you giv them food they'd gobble them up but if you giv money they'll pass it to their masters.. =o smart smart! =p
then we went for buffet lunch.. very very niceee! =)
then ox carting.. the 4 of us in a cart wit a lady in front.. we named our white and brown ox ding and dong =p after a bumpy ride up.. we took the elephant ride down.. dad and mom.. me and esther.. dad and mom's elephant's name is FUMBO! =p =p =p (jumbo from dad and fifi from mom =p).. we had this decided in the hotel.. sooooooooooo funnie! =p me and esther's is named resame (sesame from esther and raisin from me).. so ironic.. we already said resame was ironic for an elephant coz it sounded small.. then even more ironic coz fumbo sounded big.. =p
resame was the only elephant that had big long husks.. and when we were in the river.. grace and the girl from china's elephant put its trunk behind me and esther when they were close and huffed out air.. eeee.. elephant breath! =p then we gav it a sugar cane =) and resame's sugar cane and bananas were all fed by the guy ridin him on the way.. coz it was hot, me and esther used the red broken umbrella on the way =)
mom was soooo scared of riding the elephant since like forever.. and she indeed was screaming a lot.. =p
the whole trip was really good.. fun and enjoyable =)
at nite we walked to the largest market.. wararot market.. it was more of a wet market.. although it really was big.. the 3 didnt like it.. so we went again to the chiang mai nite market.. this time we had our dinner at the food court.. we ordered mango sticky rice, fried rice wit crab, fried noodle wit egg, fried rice wit pineapple, watermelon juice and mixed fruit juice.. then we walked around more to buy bag, and shirts.. we finished up at mcd again.. this time we ate mcflurry, ice cream cone, fillet o fish, roti banana wit nutella.. yuuuummm! =)
esther really wanted hagen daaz though =p
3rd day..
morning.. me and mom went out for breakfast.. dad and esther went to eat some porridge the day b4.. so we wanted to try tooo =)
we ordered two porridge and a plate of yao za guai and a plate of coconut something that a lady was selling in a cart next to us..
apparently.. this stall was famous for pig insides soup wit rice.. wit all the intestines and blood and wat not.. eeeeeeee.. ><
then i learnt that ppl buy breakfast/snacks for the monks who walks around.. they would take off their shoes and kneel and present their food.. the monks would then pray for them..
ltr on we went to doi inthanon national park.. this time we had 9 ppl in total.. we walked up the stairs.. took some photos.. saw the worship place.. and then went to the souvenir part.. we used the highest toilet in thailand =p esther drank hot choc wit fresh milk.. then we went to the king and queen's pagoda.. dedicated to them for their 6oth bday by the royal airforce.. the flowers were beautiful! =) in the pagoda they had these buddha stories and all.. we spent too much time in the queen's area.. especially in the garden..
then we went to the lil market.. we bought rashberries and berries and black rice..
then we went to the waterfall.. not bad la.. =) it was named after the queen i think?
then we went for lunch.. lousy lunch compared to the past day.. we had long beans, tomyam soup, virgin chic fried egg, mixed vege.. not nice actually..
the next waterfall was within walkin distance.. and wow did it now wowed me and esther.. it was soooooooo preetyy and big! very very super nice and windy.. we took so many pix here.. esther took a lot of pix of the waterfall.. mom was too lazy to come up to see..
then we went back.. they dropped us off at the sat nite market.. but we were too early.. it was only 4 + and most of the stalls were only starting to open.. esther kept complainin that we should go back.. but i said we should wait at a restaurant for the stalls to open then we could walk.. we bought fresh mango to eat.. a man was selling wit a cart.. very nice =) then esther bought her twist potato.. then we stopped at the chic rice shop to wait and we ate the chic rice and rashberries..
then we walked.. we wanted to eat there but didnt.. me and mom bought ice cream in bread from a lady pushin a mini cart.. it had peanuts.. nice! =) esther bought spagetti.. then me and mom bought waffle wit choc and choc waffle wit chesnuts.. niceee! =) then we bought the crispy thing for koinos.. then.. we went to eat a bowl of beef noodles while findin out how to go back.. after debating to walk or ride and how to go back (while i was regrettin eatin so much waffles for dinner), we finally took a tuk tuk back to the hotel.. esther sat on my lap on the side.. hahhaa... fun ride! =)
we were sooo exhausted.. after some rest.. esther and dad went to the nite market for fried rice wit crab again while me and mom went for massage near the hotel.. at first it was packed.. so we walked around.. and scouted for souvenirs for my cg peeps.. we managed to find a whole sale place and bought them.. nicee =)
then we went for the massage.. thai massage.. for 250 baht each.. a bigger sized lady massaged me.. ironic.. lol.. halfway through.. mom said this wasnt wat she wanted.. she asked whether we could change to oil massage.. they said we couldnt.. only after one hour thai massage then only can do oil massage.. then ltr on.. they were like 'shhh.. sample sample..' they took the oil for oil massage and started to massage me and mom differently.. i was sayin 'sample sample' so loudly to mom whom i thought didnt heard wat they said.. then they were like shhhhh.. hahhaha.. it was so ticklish.. i kept laughinnnngggg.. =p mom was like shhhhhhhhhhh.. =p
so we had both thai and a taste of oil massage.. niceee =)
4th day..
we woke up really early.. 5.30am coz the van would come at 7 to get us to the airport.. flight was at 9.30.. me and mom had the american breakfast.. which doesnt look as bad as it seems.. while esther and dad didnt want to..
sighh.. couldnt believe how fast time passed.. we were goin home edi =(
i saw the shortbread in the airport.. the one from scotland.. esther had her surprise one slice of pizza on the airplane.. and thank God that we didnt experience any pain at all for both flights.. although durin the first arrival.. i felt pain near my eye ball.. =O i did not know that pressure that would hurt =O
anyways.. it was a reallyy really good holiday.. one of the best.. coz we didnt argue much and everyone literally got along really well =) thank God for this awesome-possibly last family vacation..