12 Days to Bangkok, Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai
9 - 20 Dec 2009
We booked our 12 days land tour to Bangkok, Pattaya, Kanchanaburi, Chiangmai & Chiangrai Tour with Confidence Travels & Tour S/B for RM1688 per person. This is inclusive of transportation by coach, return train fare from Hatyai to Bangkok, food and accommodation. This is our first land tour to Thaniland covering so many places and such a long duration. We went on this tour with my brother, sis-in-law and my nephew.
Day 1 (9th Dec 2009)
We depart KL by coach on the night of 9th Dec 2009 and arrived at Hatyai the following morning.
Day 2 (10th Dec 2009)
After breakfast we went to visit a Chinese temple on a hill top. After lunch we visited Songkhla Aquarium but we did not enter because we have been here before. We waited for the group at the beach restaurant. Later we had our shower at the hotel and early dinner before we went to the Hatyai train station to board the 7pm train to Bangkok.
Day 3 (11th Dec 2009)
Day 2 (10th Dec 2009)
After breakfast we went to visit a Chinese temple on a hill top. After lunch we visited Songkhla Aquarium but we did not enter because we have been here before. We waited for the group at the beach restaurant. Later we had our shower at the hotel and early dinner before we went to the Hatyai train station to board the 7pm train to Bangkok.
Day 3 (11th Dec 2009)
Our train journey to Bangkok. Our seats were converted to sleepers at around 9pm for us to retire. Similarly in the early morning it was converted back to our seats for breakfast.
Scene of Bangkok railway station in the morning of our arrival at around 11am
The group then proceeded to visit the Safari World and Marine Park but we did not join the group as we have been to these two places before. Instead the tour guide drop us at one of the largest shopping centre in Bangkok for the whole afternoon. We rejoined the group for dinner.
We had dinner at the largest restaurant in the world, according to the Guiness Book of Records
We were entertained by traditional dancers during the dinner
View outside the restaurant
Day 4 (12th Dec 2009)
We stayed in Grande Ville Hotel during our stop over in Bangkok. After breakfast we proceed to Kanchanaburi. After lunch we visited the metal bridge over River Kwai.
We spotted one of these well decorated Thai buses at the River Kwai
Bridge over the River Kwai
View from the bridge on the River Kwai
The bridge is still being used for rail transportation
The floating nun
Christmas lights along road in Bangkok
Thai traffic police's bike
After breakfast we visited one of the largest gem stones factory in Bangkok
One of the wall painting at the gem stones factory
Our next stop on the way to Pataya is the Tiger Zoo, crocodile farm, Pig Race and Scorpion Cave.
We saw the pigs racing and witnessed pigs that can be trained to count.
This lady's shirt is covered with live scorpions!
Crocodile show time.
Lili having her own showtime
Upon arrival at Pataya we visisted the Nong Nooch Village to see the Thai cultural show, elephant show and Orchid Garden. The arch is built entirely with earthen pots.
Car built entirely with earthen pots
Orchid Garden at Nong Nooch Village
Thai cultural show at Nong Nooch Village
Elephant show at Nong Nooch Village
"Beauty" at Nong Nooch Villlage
We had dinner at the Pataya Floating Market
The floating market is huge with many shops selling various Thai delicacies.
One of the boat vendors at the floating market
Day 6 (14th Dec 2009)
After breakfast the group proceeded to Coral Island by speed boat. We stayed at the Pataya beach as we have been to Coral Island before.
Christmas decoration is common in Pataya during this time of the year since this place is very popular with foreigners
After lunch we proceeded to the snake farm
Never know male snakes have penises!
Water snakes inside a glass tank
Day 7 (15th Dec 2009)
After breakfast we went to a hill country side to see how the opium poppy is grown. Opium poppy is the species of plant from which opium and poppy seeds are derived. Opium is the source of many narcotics, including morphine (and its derivative heroin),
Opium poppy flowers come in different colors. This is a red poppy
A purple poppy flower
A white poppy flower
One of the natives' children
There are many shops at the hill top that sell traditional handicrafts and clothes
These children are very business minded. They asked you for money when you want to take their pictures.
On the way down we stopped at the Doi Suthep Temple at the foothill. The temple of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is certainly one of the most important temples in Chiang Mai, as well as one of the most revered among all Thais. The temple is a major pilgrimage destinations during the important Buddhist holidays of Makha Buja and Visak.
To reach the temple there are about 300 steps to climb. The reward is more than worth the effort. You will see a beautiful a Buddhist Temple and you will experience a beautiful view from the top. Since we have seen so many temples in Thailand we did not climb the stairs. We hang around the many stalls at the foothill.
One of the stalls sell hats made from old aluminium drinks can
Ladies belts made from coconuts shells
After that we visited the Orchid Butterfly Farm where different variety of orchids are grown
After lunch we visited the local home industries like silk, umbrella and silverware factories
We saw how the umbrellas are made form bamboo and wax paper
Here the umbrellas are hand painted
Fans are being made from bamboo and cloths
A display of colorful fans
Silk worms are fed the mulberry leaves
Silk weaving
After dinner we walked to the Chiangmai night market which is a short distance from our hotel
Handicrafts made from coconut shells
Fried worms on sale at the night market
Day 8 (16th Dec 2009)
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| After breakfast we journey to Chiangrai, en-route we visited the hot spring |
The water is so hot that you can make hard boiled eggs
You can see the hot water and steam gushing out from the ground
We had lunch in a restaurant along the river that separates Thailand and Laos.
After lunch we visited the world famous Golden Triangle Region, border lines of three countries, Thailand, Laos and Myanmar.
We took a boat from the Thailand side and cross over to a village in Laos. We passed by this Thai Buddhist Temple that is shaped like a boat
This small village in Laos sells mainly handicrafts and souvenirs and cater mainly for tourists from Thailand
Snake and scorpion oils are sold in this Laos village
This is the type of boat that took us from Thailand to the Laos village
View of Laos from our boat
For safety reason we all have to wear the life jacket
Colorful hand crafted soap on the Thai side
Our next stop is Mae Sai the Thailand northern most district with Myanmar
Day 9 (17th Dec 2009)
The hotel that we stayed in Chiangrai
After breakfast we visited the long neck people village
We need to trek a short distance to reach the village
The traditional swing in the village
Dancers performing to welcome us
Handicrafts made by the villagers
One of many huts in the village
We continued our walk to the long neck people village
The long neck people are of the Karen tribe
Most of the ladies wear the rings on their legs and necks.
The kids wear the brass rods around their neck from young. They change the rods as they grow older.
This is the village toilet. We dare not look at the inside!
The people here are friendly. They don't mind posing with you.
Testing their swing
Most of the ladies do weaving for a living.
The brass rings are heavy. Wonder how they can sleep with the rings around their necks
One of the most beautiful temples in Thailand, done in a modern contemporary style, is undoubtedly Wat Rong Khun. This temple, which is in Chiang Rai in Northern Thailand, is more well-known among foreigners as The White Temple.
Various hair pins at the stalls near the White Temple.
Day 10 (18th Dec 2009)
We stayed at the Bangkok Central Hotel before boarding the train back to Hatyai
The Bangkok railway station platform
Day 11 (19th Dec 2009)
Upon arrival at Hatyai we had our breakfast before visiting the famous Samila Beach
Dragon sculpture at the end of Samila Beach
The statue of the man who founded the Royal Thai navy in the early 20th century, Admiral Krom Luang Chumphon Khet Udomsak, son of the accomplished Thai King Chulalongkorn
Crafter at Samila Beach making grasshoppers and place them on dried leaves
Day 12 (20th Dec 2009)
After checking out we departed for Kuala Lumpur by coach and arrived late at night
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