North Thailand Sakura Tour (part 2)

Northern Thailand Sakura tour from 6 to 13 Jan 2018 ... Places of attraction in this photo album:

Visiting Su Tong Pae Bridge; Tham Lot Cave; 

Viewing sunrise at Yun Lai Viewpoint; Chinese Yunan village;

Check in at Royal Agricultural Station Angkhang Resort; 

We experienced the cold morning at 7°C;

Walk around the park viewing Thai Sakura and Cherry blossom;

Transfer back to Chiangmai.

Do CLICK HERE to view 183 photos courtesy of yours truly (KC Leong).

 Crossing the bamboo bridge (Su Tong Pae Bridge)

 Visiting Tham Lot Cave

 Breast shape stalactite

 Viewing sunrise at Yun Lai Viewpoint

 At Yun Lai Viewpoint

 Royal Agricultural Station Angkhang Resort

 Thai Sakura in full bloom

 Thai Sakura in full bloom

                                       Thai Sakura in full bloom

Do Click Here for Part 1.

Posted by KC Leong

North Thailand Sakura Tour (part 1)

Northern Thailand Sakura tour from 6 to 13 Jan 2018 ... Places of attraction in this photo album:

The World War Memorial Bridge at Pai, Coffee in Love, Pai My Guest Resort, Karen Long Neck village; Lee Wine Ruk Thai Resort at Mae Hong Son; Pang Oung park; viewing sunrise at Lee Wine Ruk Thai Resort. Coldest temperature in the morning is 15 °C when we went to view sunrise at 5:30 a.m.

Do CLICK HERE here to view 180 photos courtesy of yours truly (KC Leong).

 Coffee in Love of PAI Thailand

 Overnight stay Pai My Guest Resort (at PAI Thailand)

At Ban Jabo for viewing the sea of clouds

  Visiting Karen Long Neck Village

 Overnight stay at Lee Wine Ruk Thai resort (Mae Hong Son). This is a nice place to stay nestled in between the tea plantation overlooking the village

 The interior of Lee Wine Ruk Thai resort

Visiting Pang Oung park with good campsites by the pond 

 Viewing of sunrise just 15 minutes hike above our chalets

 A misty morning at Ban Ruk Thai –  one of the most beautiful Chinese villages in Thailand

Another view of Ban Ruk Thai Chinese village

Do Click Here for part 2 ... Thai sakura in full bloom

Posted by KC Leong

Holidaying in Chiang Mai - Part 3

Please click here to view Album 3 (of 3) containing 160 photos taken by yours truly (KC). This is the final part of the Chiang Mai trip..

Click here for: Part 0, Part 1, Part2
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Next holiday destination: Bali in October. With bigger group and organises by the same team leader, Mr. Yau CH.

.. Bamboo rafting - The water is almost 20 feet deep due heavy rainfall in September
.The elephants here are well trained. Not only they can put hat on, they can also take hat off. Bananas and sugar canes are their most favourite food. However, if you give them dollar notes, they will pass it to their trainer/owner.
. Having a good dip in the river... almost submerged in water.
.Good show !
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This elephant is playing football with a (back) side-kick. The paintings at the foreground are drawn by two artistic elephants, having different design.
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Elephant safari ride
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A few pit stops for bananas and suger canes. Make sure you have sufficient notes of 20 baht as tips. Without the fuel, the elephant would not move.
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The returning journey in ox-carts. What a unique ride. Both types of ride are bumpy and choppy.
. Visiting the long-neck tribe. This tribe lady can speak English very well. As explained by our tour guide, Aor Wan, in olden days, the tigers would attack the women - the weak ones - and bite their necks. In order to protect themselves, they wear protective rings to shield them from attack. The whole ring can weigh up to 20 kg !!
. Panoramic view at the top floor (24th floor) of Centara hotel. Month of September registers heaviest rainfall. Every morning, the sky is gloomy but the rain would stop within half hour, and can rain in other hours. According to Aor Wan, the best time to visit Chiang Mai is from November to January with fine and cooler weather. That reminds me of John Tan who participated in Chiang Mai full marathon race on 24 December 2006. click here to read.
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Aor Wan, one of the tour guides, receiving a token of appreciation (in tips) from the Team Leader, Mr. Yau CH. He finds that this tour agent in Chaing Mai is the best after evaluating a few others.
. Choo YC - Farewell dinner at Kantoke dinner and hill Tribe show @ Khum Kantoke venue
. Lighting of Kung Min lantern. That evening, most lanterns are released by westerners in groups after a brief prayer. They seem to enjoy the activity very much.
. Looks like in Penang or Malacca - Lee NS, TanWK, Yvonne Goh and Chen KL.

Posted by KC

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Part 2 - Holidaying in Chiang Mai

Please click here to view Album 2 (of 3) containing 137 photos taken by yours truly (KC) during the Chaing Mai/Chiang Rai trip on 8 to 14 September 2008..

Converge of two rivers: from Burma (background) and from China (foreground). The Golden Triangle is situated here where Burma, Laos and Thialand are separated by the rivers.
. Paradise Casino at the Burma side
. Tasting the exotic drinks: the bottle on the right contains the penis of tigers soaked in alcohol; on the left, deadly snakes soaked in alcohol.
. This is shopping at Laos side. This photo was taken by JJ (the other tour guide).
. Sumptuous dinner at Chiang Mai, 10 p.m. amidst songs and dances
. Next day, visiting umbrella factory
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Visiting Lacquerware products. Lacquer is harvested from the lacquer tree
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Visiting honey outlet
x Visiting hill tribes
. One and only one poppy flower (planted in flower pot). In olden days, the tribe people planted poppies to make opium
. Unique and beautiful flower
.Richard, as usual, is adventurous in testing the local cuisine. Though the mobile stall (at the back of an old pick-up truck) does not look clean, the lady is doing her best to main hygine.
. A group photo at the temple on the top of a mountain near Chiang Mai
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May there be peace ... ChenKL, KwaNE, TanWK, TanYT and Kok FL
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This is a unique dinner where we sit on the floor to dine and watch the cultural show. Well, this is another way where we can get leg muscles cramp other than running... :-)
.Posted by KC

Holidaying in Chiang Mai - Part 1

Please click here to view Album 1 (of 3) containing 140 photos taken by yours truly (KC). Stay tuned for Album 2 and 3.x

At Hot Spring en route from Chiang Mai to Chaing Rai. This lady is boiling eggs for sales. The entire area smells of sulphur.
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The brand new, spacious and luxurous Toyota vans offered by the travel agent. For this trip, two vans for ferrying passengers while the third van for transport of luggage! Service by this travel agent and the tour guide is thumbs UP! click here
. At the White Temple... this artistic yellow structure, as informed by our tour guide, is actually a toilet (which is still under construction)!
. Cultural dance while having dinner at Chiang Rai
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Alice Chee and Choo YC - in front of Luck Swan Resort where we stay one night in Chiang Rai
. An expressive pose that is surrounded by beautiful flowers and plants admist the cool and fresh environment
. At the Garden of King's mother
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Visiting border market at Mae Sai. This is the Immigration Gate bordering Burma/Laos
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To view photos online:

a. when in Picasa photo album, click Slideshow (at top left)

b. press F11 key to expand the photos and view the captions

c. to speed up (or slow down) the display of photos, click "-" or "+" signs (at bottom of screen)

d. note: when cursor idles, the action panel (at bottom of screen) will disappear; re-appear when mouse is moved.

To exit Picasa Photo Album:

a. press F11 key again

b. click "x" sign at the bottom right (may have to click more than once)

Posted by KC