สวัสดีเจ้า… รอบนี้ขอเป็นเวอร์ชั่นภาษาไทยละกันนะพี่น้อง อันเนื่องมาจากเมื่อช่วงปลายเดือนกุมภา ได้มีโอกาสไปทำธุระที่เชียงใหม่ ก็ด้วยความที่ชอบถ่ายรูป พอมีเวลาว่างก็เลยหาโอกาสไปเที่ยวหาที่พักสวยๆ ที่กินเก๋ๆ แล้วก็ถ่ายรูปมาเป็นที่ระลึก และเอามาฝากเพื่อนๆกันด้วย เผื่อใครสนใจจะไปเที่ยวก็จะได้เป็นตัวเลือกเพิ่มด้วยค่ะ ไปดูกันเล้ย…

ที่แรกที่ไปมาก็ที่นี่เลยค่ะ บูทีคเกสเฮาส์สุดเก๋ Banilah ฺ(บ้านอ้ายหล้า) ห้องพักน่ารักมากๆ แล้วก็ไม่แพงด้วย คืนละ 300-600 บาทเท่านั้นเองค่ะ บรรยากาศก็ดี แถมบริการนี่สุดยอดเลย เป็นกันเองมากๆค่ะ มาพักที่นี่ คุ้มเกินคุ้มเลยค่ะ

ทางเข้าเกสท์เฮาส์ ฺบ้านอ้ายหล้า

ตรงกลางที่พักมีบ่อเลี้ยงปลาด้วยค่ะ ร่มรื่นมากๆ

ภายในห้องนอน ห้องนี้แบบเตียงเดี่ยวค่ะ ที่นอนนอนสบายมากๆ นุ้ม..นุ่ม

สิ่งอำนวยความสะดวกต่างๆภายในห้องค่ะ

ประตูไม้ขัดสุดเก๋ ยกให้เค้าเลยค่ะ ไอเดียบรรเจิดสุดสุด

ส่วนต้อนรับแขกกับห้องอาหารด้านหน้าค่ะ

มีโอกาสได้คุยกับคุณออฟ (เจ้าของ) คนสวย (สวยจริงๆนะ) แล้วก็น้องนกแสนน่าร้าก ที่ชงชาเย็นแสนอร่อยให้ชิม คุณออฟนี่ถือได้ว่าเป็นกูรูที่เที่ยวที่กินในเมืองเชียงใหม่เลยค่ะ สืยเนื่องมาจากที่ตัวเํธอเองก็ชอบตระเวนหาที่กินใหม่ๆ เธอแนะนำที่กินมาหลายที่เลย ลองไปอ่านดูกันได้ค่ะที่

คุณอ้อฟกับน้องนก มาแล้วเจอสองคนนี้สบายตั้งแต่เรื่องที่ กิน เที่ยว นอน กันเลยค่ะ

นอกจากสวยแล้ว คุณอ้อฟเธอยังชอบเลี้ยงแมวอย่างมาก มีตั้ง 15 ตัว ที่เห็นบ่อยๆก็เจ้านี่ล่ะค่ะ เจ้าของบอกว่าคิดผิดที่ซื้อมันมา เพราะมันไม่ช่างเอาใจเหมือนแมวไทยบ้านเราน่ะค่ะ 555+ น่าสงสาร แต่มันน่ารักมากเลยนะ ไม่เชื่อก็ลองดูสิคะ…

แมวเปอร์เซียของคุณอ้อฟที่เลี้ยงไว้ ชื่อเจ้าเออเรอร์ค่ะ

Funny Family

@ Big Knit 49, The Knitting Café at Sukhumvit 49, Bangkok. With the homy atmosphere where most of knitting lovers always come to visit. Here, there provide a wide range of imported yarn and all knitting concerned such as needle, books, patterns, etc. with the Japanese knitting expert. Not only that, the shop also provides coffee, food and bakery corner to all visitors who may spend the whole day doing knitting. “All your knit is love” – Said by Khun Nice, a young and energetic owner of this shop – . That’s true, all we knit is love… 

@ The front of Big Knit 49

Interior design of the shop

@ The bakery and coffee corner

Plenty of Yarn, all imported from international countries

Main table

Various yarn displayed around the shop

Mix & Match Knitting Bags

Sweaters and Scarfs

Knitting Hat

A variety of Yarn

With the shop owner -- Khun Nice

Part III

Last but not least, where I stop over..@ Baan Dinso, don’t know how to express..Like an Oasis in this busy city..Bangkok..that’s it!

In front of Baan Dinso

Baan Dinso - The Entrance

Deluxe Room with Double Bed

Inside the room

Wooden Oil Painting in front of the room

Shared en-suite downstair

Souvenirs Corner

American Breakfast Set Menu

One of the guest's comment (ours ^ ^)

Next Destination…@ Big Knit 49

Winter Trip 2008 (Chiangmai – Pai – Chaing Rai) Part II

I didn’t drop by at any places, just kept straight forward to the resort at Chiang Rai, until then, I arrived around 6.00 pm. A bit late as I was finding the way to this mysterious resort..555+, it’s not difficult to find actually, but I just didn’t familiar with the way..ei ei. Cheers, finally, I arrived to Mohn Fah Sai Home Resort; the owner of the resort was greeting me by herself, and also led me to my lovely room. I got Deluxe Room with all well equipped room’ amenities. How cheap it is! – It was just @ THB 1,500 nightly.

Mohn Fah Sai Home Resort - The Entrance to lobby

Mohn Fah Sai - The Main Building

Deluxe Room - Twin Bed

Ideally well designed inside the bathroom

Relax for a while, I was getting out for dinner and join the festival in the town which is 10 minutes far from the resort. I was dropped to make a pilgrimage to Phor Khun Mengrai Monument, pity that I couldn’t attend the Loy Kratong Festival as it was very crowded and there was not enough parking space, then I was just driving for sight seeing around the town and on the way back to the resort, however, I stopped at the lake near the resort and letting the Floating Lantern as I wished.

The teenagers were praising for their wishes.

Floating Lantern in the sky

Morning….and breakfast again, the atmosphere at this resort was resembled to a ‘Home’ like their name. If I could have had more time, I might stay longer, but I still have the next mission to achieve 555+ so I need to go. I depart to my next target “Doi Tung”. It’s took me approx. 1.5 hours to read there, not far from the town.

I checked in at Baan Ton Nam 31 (Doi Tung Lodge), a very nice and cleaned lodge, look simple but convenient. The room rates was quite high (@ THB 2,000) even in the high season. However, high up as I was up high hill 555+

Flora in Mae Fah Luang Royal Garden (Suan Mae Fah Luang)

Flora in Mae Fah Luang Royal Project (Suan Mae Fah Luang)

Flora in Mae Fah Luang Royal Project (Suan Mae Fah Luang)

Fauna in Mae Fah Luang Royal Project (Suan Mae Fah Luang)

One of the member in Mumu Family 555+

Doi Tung was well known for Doi Tung Royal Palace, Mae Fah Luang Royal Garden –many species of rarely found flora and fauna here, Doi Tung Buddha’s Relics (Prathat Doi Tung) which was located at the highest point of this hill, here, the ladies were not allowed to enter into Prathat area, it’s local belief. Apart from Buddha’s Relics, another unique thing at this place was a thousand of the Bell along the way to pay homage to the Buddha’s Relics. The Royal Project (Doi Kham Product) was first established here; for the purpose of create the profession to all hill tribes and also aimed to prevent them to grow opium that caused of drug problems. There were many things being sold here, i.e. Plants, Doi Kham Products (dried Strawberry, dried Logan, hazel nut, organic plants, Tea, etc.)

Doi Tung Buddha's Relics

Tung - The symbol of the victory for Lanna

Compared with other places I visited, I spent the most time here as there were many things to absorb…..I took a thousand of photo until then, already two memories card were used ha ha !

It’s time to go back; I was trying to memorize everything I have been passed through since the first day I arrived to the North. The charming region with the kindness of all the people here that being offered to me…never lack of smile…makes here more and more attractive places to return, as I promised with myself…I will come back again in one day..

On the way to go back, again, I stopped at Wat Rong Khun (Rong Khun Temple), the ever magnificent temple’ architecture I have seen. This temple was build up by Ajarn Chalermchai Khositpiphat, the very well known artist in Thailand and his team.

Wat Rong Khun (Rong Khun Temple)

One of the fantastic architecture in Wat Rong Khun

The Gate to Lanna Territory

The time was limited, I need to go…another big journey to explore, it has been awaiting for me in Bangkok..

P.S. Guess what??? Who is Nong Mungme, here’s the answer…

Here it is -- Me with Nong Mungmee, the golden brown Toyota Hilux Vigo 555+

To be continuing in Part III

Welcome to my Winter Trip 2008,

And the review of chic & cheap accommodation in North, Thailand.

Part I

Chiang Mai White Chalet Bed & Breakfast

First of all, I just would like to say Hello and Thanks for your visiting…Please join me this funny trip with this below review 555

I started my trip on the 8th November 08 together with my Dad, my Mom, ‘Nong Mungmee’ and ‘Nong Mumunoi’ which you will know what the latest two are..ei ei

I arrived to my 1st accommodation — Chiang Mai White Chalet Bed & Breakfast which is very very chic & fun place to stay, highly recommended to all young and teenagers, the price is not expensive — cost me @ THB 900 per night included breakfast (very tasty).

I was staying at Chiangmai White Chalet for 2 nights, before depart from here, on Sunday, I visited to Prathat Doi Suthep, Phuphing Palace, and Chiangmai Walking Street –

Early morning in the next day, after I had a very delicious breakfast, I checked out and left Chiangmai to my next destination — Pai

From Chiangmai to Pai, it took me around 3 hours. On the way to Pai, I was dropping at Huay Nam Dung National Park, here, I also visited Doi Kew Lom — the most blissful view point I have ever seen.

Pong Dued Hot Spring, Huay Nam Dung National Park

I arrived to Pai at 4.30 p.m. and then I checked in at Pai River Mountain, I got villa no. 7 which very closed to the peaceful Pai River. It cost me @ THB 2,000 per night at this place, not expensive once compared with what I got… After relax for a while, I left out and find something to eat near the resort. I went to a very nice restaurant – Sapanpai, a wonderful dinner with a very very nice view and fantastic food again.

Sapanpai Flower Field

In the evening, I also visited Pai Walking Street, with everything unique, chic, outstanding art gallery, make up here being a fantastic place for every tourist to come. The Mitrthai Art Shop is now becoming a landmark of this walking street, all their selling items were very unique and in-style, i.e. postcard, T-Shirt, Bag, Note Book, etc. The people who come to this shop are normally write their own postcard and send it to their friend from here (there is a cutie post box in front of the shop).

Early morning with tasty American Breakfast (again), I left the resort and continue to check in to another resort I have already booked, still in Pai — Aqua Resort. The accommodation here was very unique — The round shape villa with 360 degrees view, amazed that I can see everything around me only staying inside the room oHHo. Surprisingly price, the accommodation was cost approx. @ THB 900 per night excluded breakfast, that’s fine as there are many places to go for a nice breakfast in Pai.

Aqua Resort - Bedroom

A 360 Degrees Villa

Taking a rest for a while (again), it was a coffee break time…I heard one good coffee house not far from the resort, not delay, I went there. Around 10 minutes far away, I arrived to the nice coffee house named ”Coffee In Love”, and the lovely house next door, most of the tourist who comes to Pai must drop off here, even they didn’t buy a cup of coffee, but just to take a photo for souvenir like here is the Landmark coffee shop for Pai.

In front of Coffee In Love

Coffee In Love - The House

Coffee In Love - The House

Lovely garden on the roof

In the following day I prepared and packed up all of my belongings for the next destination — Chiang Rai. But before I depart, I went to ”All About Coffee” to have breakfast, here, there were the plenty of menus to try, like Fresh Brew Coffee, Any Styles of Egg, and highly recommended for Wholewheat Bread. Believe me, just pick up one or two, any..all at best.

All About Coffee - Inside the shop

Breakfast Menu at All About Coffee

Coffee Brazil -- One of the menu in this coffee shop

A Yellow Jar, the unique point in front of All About Coffee.

The weather during this period was very cold in Pai, at this time I was walking out at the Pai Morning Market in early morning after I finished breakfast; it was around +/- 12°C degrees – very cold and very foggy. I need to keep my mumunoi carefully inside my bag to prevent it being wet ha !! While I was walking along the road, many interesting thing here, not enough space to express, you may try once in your lifetime.

Farang singing a song at Pai Morning Market

Late morning (which was still foggy), I left there, before I left Pai, on the way of departure, I dropped at Wawee Coffee House, another great coffee shop (again) near Sapanpai, in front of an Ancient Pai Bridge. I bought a cup of Iced Wawee Coffee, took some photos, and lastly I did before I left here was dropped all postcards to many friends. Truly said from most of the tourists who have been here that Pai was the small town but with its fascination, uniqueness of everything, made all people love Pai. I promised with myself that I will come back here again in some day…Absolutely yessss!

Wawee Coffee

The entrance of Wawee Coffee House

The unique wooden chair inside the shop

The uniqueness of this coffee house is the 2 red bicycles and a lovely post box

Ancient Pai Bridge

Mae Nam Pai -- The Pai River

On the date I travel to my next destination – Chiang Rai, it’s was Loy Kratong Festival day, just couldn’t wait to Loy Kratong in a different way 555+ (Northern people also Loy Kratong by using Floating Lantern or locally called Come Loy — the round shaped dome made from local paper with the candle light inside, while lighting them with fire to push the air out, that was made it flying away..and away..and away).

It’s was a very nice scenery view along the way to Chiang Rai as well, the wide spread golden rice fields; you can’t find it in such a big city like Bangkok.

Plenty of Rice Field along the way to Chaing Rai

To be continuing in Part II