Royal Flora Ratchaphreuk 2006

Day 4
Time to see the Royal Flora expo. Woke up in the morning to see the overcast sky. Bummer. I've already bought the ticket in advance (it's double the price if u buy at the expo site) so didn't want to change my plans. The guesthouse staff told me these words that immediately brightened my day: "Maybe it's good luck!". That was so Thai and brought back memories 2 years ago when I 1st heard those words. And it was so true. It was good luck because I got to walk around the gardens comfortably without getting cooked by the sun. Well, at least for 2 hrs, then the sun came out and it was hot! Lucky me.

There were many ways to go to the expo, other than taxi:
1. By red songthaew (20B). Can get 1 from the Central Airport Plaza, I think.
2. By calling a private transport. Saw a number at some hotel with the flyer.
3. Public Bus #13 & 11. Both will pass by the Black Canyon Cafe at Thapae Gate.

I chose the 3rd as I wanted to try out the public bus system. It was quite new, probably only a few months old. The most popular transport in CM is still the songthaew. But I enjoyed the bus. It had air-con, and u can have a good view of the street. It's hard to see anything when inside a songthaew. Though you'll spend a longer time on the bus as it goes on its long and winding route around CM.

Finally reached the expo site and boy was I impressed. Very grand and you're welcomed along the road leading up to the site by big banners on the lamp posts. Feels like you're going into a big theme park like Disneyland.

The place is HUGE. Toured the entire grounds on foot, starting at 11am and finished at about 5pm. It was really tiring, and I skipped quite a number of areas. U can take a tram ride, but I didn't have time for that. Anyway, you'll have to get off the tram anyway if u want to see the gardens.

Here's a quick review of the zones:
1. Corporate Garden.
My 1st stop. Lots of greenery, ponds, waterfalls, flowers in these gardens. All beautifully done up.

2. Orchid Pavilion
Lots of them! Small ones, big ones, even smelly ones! Orchid landscaping too!

3. International Garden
Honestly, I was a little disappointed. Lots of concrete in most of these gardens. Belgium was unique. Japan was my fav.

4. Royal Pavilion
The pavilion was beautiful. Loved the architecture. And u can see nearly the entire expo site from here. Give a miss to the food hall next to the pavilion though. Operated by THAI (Airways). I felt like I was eating airline food at restaurant prices. It IS a good idea to bring your own food and picnic. Lots of nice scenic spots for u to picnic.

5. Thai Tropical Garden (final stop)
My favs were the air-con greenhouses. Cooling, and lots of flowers too!

My back was killing me by this time. Hopped onto a red songthaew going to the Central Airport Plaza as I didn't want to look for the public bus. Good thing they've excellent massage in CM.

PS: Hmmm... some problems with Blogger this weekend. Can't post my photos! I'll upload them once the problem is fixed.

More Loy Krathong Babes

Day 3
Giant Krathong parade. Just enjoy the photos. ;)

Chiang Mai (continued)

Sunday is Loy Krathong day(1st full moon of Nov). So every year a mini Krathong parade is held on this night. This is a preview to the Giant Krathong parade that will be held on the next day. So, you'll see a smaller scale of the brightly decorated trucks, floats and participants in costumes. Even so, they still draw a big crowd, especially near Thapae Gate. And as promised, here're the babes on the "krathongs".

This guy here is a chronic fire breather. He'll walk/dance a few steps, then spit his mouthful of oil, gasoline, whatever into the flame he's holding. (That's why I could catch this big fire!) And he had to do this for the whole length of the parade.




Other than launching krathongs on the river, u can also launch kom fy (hot air balloons). This is alot of fun, especially when u launch one with your friends. Holding the kom fy up together, waiting for the balloon to fill up with hot air, and then release and see the kom fy rise up into the sky. Every loy krathong, the night sky is lit up full of these kom fy and it's really a wonderful sight.



Accidents do occur, and quite frequently too. I was watching the Miss Yee Peng beauty contest. This kom fy came flying in at a very low altitude and landed right in front of the audience, and caught fire! Lucky the security personnel was well prepared and put it out quickly.


Oh, talking about beauties, here're some of my favs:



By the way, u can click on the photos for a bigger view.

Free wireless access islandwide starts tomorrow!

If u haven't heard, the Singapore free wireless internet access islandwide starts on 1 Dec 06! Not only does this come a month ahead of schedule, the offer has also been extended for three years, one year longer than announced previously.

Click on the title above to go to IDA's site for the official news and to get your account.

Note: Islandwide does not mean 100% coverage. Come on, you're not expecting places like Choa Chu Kang cemetery to have wireless, right? Though, this may change in future. But for sure you're not going to get wireless in your HDB flat for free. Here're the limited coverage areas available: Coverage(IDA)

Back to the Land of Smiles Part 2

Day 2

Woke up late, and went to Thapae again as there was a Krathong (lantern) making competition. These boys and girls were making giant krathongs! Not the ones u can hold with just one hand. These are double, triple deckers! With wine glasses and other decorative stuff! Definitely a team effort and takes an entire day to complete. Here are some pics of the finished products.

This is Ping River in the evening. This particular spot is beside the Riverside Restaurant/Bar. During Loy Krathong, the locals will set up stalls by the river selling krathongs, food and drinks. There're many people launching their krathongs into the river at the banks of the river. Good place to sit down, relax and enjoy the festive feeling, with occasional shooting of mini fireworks from the bridge and the river banks! The frequency of shooting will increase as the night falls, until it becomes so chaotic that if u closed your eyes, u might think u were in a war zone!

To be continued...

Coming up: Mini & Giant Krathong Parade babes!

Back to the Land of Smiles

It's coming to a month since my vacation in Chiang Mai, Thailand. I was there for the Loy Krathong Festival and it was my 3rd time in as many years. I know I'm not the only one who keep returning to this wonderful festival. Even the locals say that Chiangmai is the best place to see Loy Krathong. Why? Maybe this little travel diary will show you.

Day 1
Flew by Tiger Airways. 0605 flight. Gosh! Gotta wake up at 4am and then rush to the Budget Terminal by taxi. Not that budget here after all, because taxis are expensive in SG, especially after midnight. Touched down at Chiangmai airport and passed through their new extension. It must have been built just in time for the huge legions of tourists that are expected to flood the Royal Flora expo. Took the Songthaew to my hotel. 50 baht, after some bargaining. And slept for much of the day.

Evening came and it was time to check out the Loy Krathong festivities around Thapae Gate.

It was Sat, but the Sunday Walking Street was open! The street was closed off to traffic and the street vendors will come and set up their stalls on the roadsides by evening. Lots of goods here, mostly home decor, fashion accessories, art and food (of course!). Many more varieties and handmade trinkets here than at the Night Bazaar.

At Thapae Gate, a stage was set up for performances to entertain both the locals and tourists. I saw this traditional dance and look at the GIGANTIC crown this dancer had to wear! She was supporting and balancing the heavy thing with one hand all the time and still manage to keep on the megawatt smile. Amazing!

It was getting late, and time to check out the local clubbing scene. After all, it's a Sat night! Went to a club just 5 min walk away from Thapae. Boy did I regret my choice. Spent about 1 hr in there watching soccer on the TVs inside as there wasn't a big crowd yet. They do have a cute lady DJ though. The Thai singers and dancers then came on but the entertainment value has dropped since the last time I visited this place. Not to mention, the ratio of guys to girls is about 7 to 3. Saw many gays and lady boys too. Definitely feeling out of place and called it a night before the clock hit midnight.

To be continued...

PMS for guys

Watch this, guys. This can save your life!