This journal entry contains my reflections for the entire trip. Things that I want to remind myself when I backpack in future. I think some stuff I said here could be a little mean to alwyn. But no hard feelings brother!!! I enjoyed myself thoroughly. I know I am no angel too...bet that at times, I make you wanna scream at me too. hahaha...
This trip hasn't turn out as adventurous as I thought it might be. The most exciting thing so far was the climb @ THE PEAK and probably, the 8-hr Jeep ride? I think I am little sadistic here. IN a way. I like it when things have a certainty of going all wrong and forces me to panic like hell. Mad? Nah, it is this that makes life exciting and might as well enjoy it.
I told some friends before that there's a few thing I want to do when I go there.
(1)visit Pai and read a book over coffee while I'm there
(2)whitewater rafting
(3)caving
(4)ride a bike around Pai
(5)visit the Mekong River
(6)rockclimbing
Out of which,I only did half the list. I think when one travels, it would be best if both has the same objectives in mind. Or the objectives has been set right from the very beginning. Alwyn's into sightseeing and idling activities. It is different for me. I need the 2 ends of the spectrum to feel satisfied. I need both the adrenaline from adventures and also the coffee0-over-book thing.
Weiyang never understands why I love to go to exotic places. I didn't have a reason when he brought it up to me. On this trip, I found the answer. There's no point in visiting paris, london, new york when in Singapore I can get to see buildings all over. I don't need to see the working crowd when I can catch it right at shenton way. Seriously, I want to go to exotic places, the more ulu the better for one thing. To be able to see the other side of the world. I want to sit on the bus and see rice fields, mountain ranges. I want to try the different types of coffee from all over the world, reading my book at their cafes, experiencing the different ambience they offer.
I love to equate the kind of highness I get from climbing with travelling. When you travel, you get bored at one place, you move on to another. hahaha...just like my style of climbing. I love to try new routes. I get bored with trying the old easily lah...I will tend to give up after 2 or 3 tries. Candy swears by that!!! and I think the way I climb is slowly moving away from the conventional ways girls will climb.Most girls will go for techniques and those static kind of moves. I go for those kind of movements that requires me to jump and lose my balance, so whether I get to the next tile is altogether another problem. I don't mind jumping, missing the tile and falling onto the mattress. In fact, I get damn excited when I miss it. hahaha...
and yes, before I go on, I must always remember to bring the charger for everything when I travel. Nano charger, spare hp and camera batteries.
I have learnt a lot about myself over the past 8 days. Something I have never realised it until then. I am extremely intuitive and I don't like to do things by the book. I gave up reading the Lonely planet 3 days into the trip. I prefer to just explore. Refering to the book only for the maps of town, even guesthouses. hahaha....I rather just go into the guesthouse and look at the place rather than read the book for recommendations.
I have just came up with my retirement plan last night. While climbing. hahaha...=P after I am done with travelling round the world, I want to settle down at a place I really like.( At the moment, it would be PAI.) In there, I would want to open a cafe that sells fantastic cinamon rolls, quiche lorraine, tuna sandwiches and serves coffee that caters to everyone's taste. I will provide free internet stations and book corner for exchange of books. The cafe will cater to backpackers. Neat right? hahaha...*daydreams*
Next stop: back to chiangmai to complete my norther thailand tour. The Mae Hong Sun circuit.
After this, it will be to:
(1)Manila
(2)Laos, cambodia, Vietnam (all same ranking)
(3)India
(4)Definitely Papua New Guinea
Till, my next trip. *muakz*
Reflections
This journal entry contains my reflections for the entire trip. Things that I want to remind myself when I backpack in future. I think some stuff I said here could be a little mean to alwyn. But no hard feelings brother!!! I enjoyed myself thoroughly. I know I am no angel too...bet that at times, I make you wanna scream at me too. hahaha...
This trip hasn't turn out as adventurous as I thought it might be. The most exciting thing so far was the climb @ THE PEAK and probably, the 8-hr Jeep ride? I think I am little sadistic here. IN a way. I like it when things have a certainty of going all wrong and forces me to panic like hell. Mad? Nah, it is this that makes life exciting and might as well enjoy it.
I told some friends before that there's a few thing I want to do when I go there.
(1)visit Pai and read a book over coffee while I'm there
(2)whitewater rafting
(3)caving
(4)ride a bike around Pai
(5)visit the Mekong River
(6)rockclimbing
Out of which,I only did half the list. I think when one travels, it would be best if both has the same objectives in mind. Or the objectives has been set right from the very beginning. Alwyn's into sightseeing and idling activities. It is different for me. I need the 2 ends of the spectrum to feel satisfied. I need both the adrenaline from adventures and also the coffee0-over-book thing.
Weiyang never understands why I love to go to exotic places. I didn't have a reason when he brought it up to me. On this trip, I found the answer. There's no point in visiting paris, london, new york when in Singapore I can get to see buildings all over. I don't need to see the working crowd when I can catch it right at shenton way. Seriously, I want to go to exotic places, the more ulu the better for one thing. To be able to see the other side of the world. I want to sit on the bus and see rice fields, mountain ranges. I want to try the different types of coffee from all over the world, reading my book at their cafes, experiencing the different ambience they offer.
I love to equate the kind of highness I get from climbing with travelling. When you travel, you get bored at one place, you move on to another. hahaha...just like my style of climbing. I love to try new routes. I get bored with trying the old easily lah...I will tend to give up after 2 or 3 tries. Candy swears by that!!! and I think the way I climb is slowly moving away from the conventional ways girls will climb.Most girls will go for techniques and those static kind of moves. I go for those kind of movements that requires me to jump and lose my balance, so whether I get to the next tile is altogether another problem. I don't mind jumping, missing the tile and falling onto the mattress. In fact, I get damn excited when I miss it. hahaha...
and yes, before I go on, I must always remember to bring the charger for everything when I travel. Nano charger, spare hp and camera batteries.
I have learnt a lot about myself over the past 8 days. Something I have never realised it until then. I am extremely intuitive and I don't like to do things by the book. I gave up reading the Lonely planet 3 days into the trip. I prefer to just explore. Refering to the book only for the maps of town, even guesthouses. hahaha....I rather just go into the guesthouse and look at the place rather than read the book for recommendations.
I have just came up with my retirement plan last night. While climbing. hahaha...=P after I am done with travelling round the world, I want to settle down at a place I really like.( At the moment, it would be PAI.) In there, I would want to open a cafe that sells fantastic cinamon rolls, quiche lorraine, tuna sandwiches and serves coffee that caters to everyone's taste. I will provide free internet stations and book corner for exchange of books. The cafe will cater to backpackers. Neat right? hahaha...*daydreams*
Next stop: back to chiangmai to complete my norther thailand tour. The Mae Hong Sun circuit.
After this, it will be to:
(1)Manila
(2)Laos, cambodia, Vietnam (all same ranking)
(3)India
(4)Definitely Papua New Guinea
Till, my next trip. *muakz*
Day 7- Out of Pai, Hello Chiangmai
the band up at the temple
I hadto climb like 300 hundred steps up to the temple. It's Doi Suthep by the way...
last dinner in chiangmai at Aroon(Rai) Restaurant
my battle scars
I wanna be like her someday when I return to PaiDay 6- Road to Pai
Venue: Nunya's Guesthouse, Pai
It took us the whole day to get to Pai. Goodness. Missed the 1030am bus. Nua-ed at the bus station for like 2 & 1/2 hours, with my dying nano. I almost thought I saw fungus on myself. *lame*
the 1230 bus was late. And it left only at about 1315 or so. Why? 'Cos the whole damn bus was full of angmoh backpackers & even more locals. I thought they only allow sitting people onto the bus. NO! I WAS WRONG! Plenty of other people were standing on the bus. The passageway was filled with local goods, kids sitting on top of those boxes. Basically, the bus is filled to the brink (till the door cannot be closed). That's the cool thing about backpacking. You get to experience the local way of life. By the way, it is a 4 hour journey into the mountains. *salute to all who stood throughout*
I notice something interesting on the bus ride. I told you people had to stand right? It is all locals who were standing. In times like this, one will know who are the gentlemans and who aren't. *eyes alwyn* *sigh* There's this lady who was carrying a baby. She was standing next to an angmoh who's sitted. After a while, he gave up his seat to her. He's pretty tall and you know how short Asian buses are. Imagine having to bend your head for like 4 hours??????? Man! *t humbs up* Another angmoh who's sitting in front of me, he gave up his seat too. To a lady standing next to him. Kudos to these people!! I said before, I appreciate gentlemen a lot. Even in singapore, when someone opens the door for me, I will be full of praise for that person one. Especially when the guy is way in front of me, he just hold the door there and wait for me to saunter my way there. hahaha....there's rarely guys like this okie? One guy was especially memorable. I was making my way to the tutorial room. He was behind me. IN fact, about 5m away? He just rushed to the door and held it for me. I was so freaking impressed till I forgotten to thank him. hahahah...
enough about gentlemen. We reached Pai only at 5+ or so. We shortlisted 3 guesthouse from the Lonely Planet. And all 3 guesthouse were full?!!??!?!?! I almost in a state of panic. I don't want to sleep on the streets leh...Luckily, we found Nunya's guesthouse. It is pretty decent and I think it is quite new too. No lizards again!!! hahaha... After settling down, we went over to Angie's kitchen for dinner and Siam's bookstore to buy books to read. I absolutely love Pai!!!! It is so lazy & quiet, even though there were a lot of backapckers around. It is paradise... Now, I know why some people even termed it as legendary.
There's one time I wanna emphasis about Pai. On the journey there, I was asleep the entire time. (due to the effects of the motion sickness pills) till 10 mins before we reach Pai. The sun was setting into the mountains. It was awesome. I was totally mesmerised by it. It is like an alternative to see Grand Canyon. Freaking Nice!!!
Anyway, we have just decided that we won't explore Pai and will head back to chiangmai in the morning. *sigh* why? 'cos we bought nothing for anyone. And Pai is not the place to shop leh.
Day 5- Doi Ithanon National Park
supper opposite the ulu night market
@ THE PEAK
one of the many waterfalls in the national park
me at the top of thailand
coffee, tomyum, cig at the summit
Venue: Sarah's guesthouse, chiangmai
we didn't do much today, but I am really really tired.
Met up with candy and jiawei opposite Ratana's Kitchen. haahha....I nearly died when I saw the jeep they rented!!!! it doesn't have power steering!! goodness..But heng, not I drive. *phew* Jiawei got all of us up Doi Ithanon. What was really cool about the whole trip wasn't the scenery but rather drinking hot coffee at the highest spot in thailand. hahaha...oh ya, if you smoke and take spicy stuff, it would be a bowol of tom yum instant noodle, cig and hot coffee. =P
On the way down, the brake pads gave us problem. Lots of smoke man!!! at first I thought it was from the engine. Ended up the technician told us it is 'cos jiawei kept usingfoot brakes, instead of engine brakes/
After that we came back to chiangmai, went to the night bazaar for dinner and YES!!! CLIMBING!!!!!!!! AT THE HIGHEST ARTICIFICIAL IN SOUTH EAST ASIA!!! hahaha...it is damn high leh...I have no pictures for it now. It is with alwyn. Think I have climbed till I maxed myself out. One of the few rare moments. I hate candy for pushing me this far. kns...
went to some night market at a ulu ulu place in thailand. Then had ramen at the roadside for 30baht only. Damn cheap man...
HORROR STORY OF THE DAY: at the park office, I decided to go to the toilet to empty my bladder. It looks like just anynormal toilets you find in chiangmai. BUT NO!!!! The moment I closed the door, I saw the biggest lizard I have ever ever ever seen all my life!!! *bish* it is at least 10cm fat on it's waist and 50 cm long. Bloody hell, I just froze on the spot. Only after a few moments, I quickly reached for the door and ran out of the toilet screaming. =P
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