Saying our goodbyes to Hongkong and onto Thailand, Chiang Mai!

                                        

~ DAY 1 ~ Jan 3rd, 2026, a tiresome flight later to Chiang Mai...

> Chiang Mai Night Bazaar

If weren't for a nap after that heck of a flight, I wouldn't even be standing anymore... I haggardly comment to oneself, staring at the beaming lights coming from the stalls at Chiang Mai Night Bazaar. Staring would be a mere understatement, actually. Staring whilst starstruck would be more like it. I'd never seen anything like it. The atmosphere is bright, filled with energy as conversations fill the air. It's almost thrilling to me when I witness all of this, contagiously passing on its vibe. I unexpectedly find myself shocked at the number of tourists I see roaming around the night market, despite being in such a place before. This... this feeling. It's new. And I love it.

When you're enjoying yourselves a little bit too much, time feels like it's moving faster than it should, and no matter how tired you feel, it doesn't even cross your mind once. You just stop thinking about it, and have a great time. This is exactly how I felt. Admiring the break dancers doing what they're best at (wowing everyone, that is), sharing laughs in between moments, all of those emotions, it makes me feel rejuvenated inside. And I genuinely think that all of us needed this. We just needed a reminder that maybe you can enjoy things even if you feel like you've run a marathon for 3 consecutive days. 

Every 5 seconds, I contemplate on whether to buy an item I see as I pass by it, then if I do, I rush back, and persuade Mum or Ninang to purchase the item (50% success rate). But a mango smoothie is no negotiation required. People gripping onto their fruit smoothies, and one of them I find is... "MANGO." I tug on Mum's arm, pleading on my life. She nods. The price I find is 50 baht which if you think about it...

Mental calculation: 50 baht - 2.63 NZD

This smoothie vendor is heaven sent. Ninang hands over the cash, and in exchange, I eagerly receive my mango smoothie!!


update: Yes it was good. Almost too good actually...



~ DAY 2 ~ Jan 4th, 2026

> Royal Park Rajapruek

To my great relief, Mum and Ninang had planned our itinerary for today something a bit more laid-back rather than the whole "THAT LIVE DISNEY SHOW IS IN TEN MINUTES" or "The waiting time is 1 HOUR?!" sort of shenanigans. What is more relaxing than intently being entranced by the beauty of flowers? 

Mamu, my grandmother, has been a green thumb longer than I've existed on earth. She yearns to plant roses back home in the Philippines, but sadly, since it's a hot climate practically almost everyday, it's impossible to grow roses there without it withering or dying. So I knew when Ninang informed us about the Flora Festival, Mamu would be delighted. 






I'm extremely contented that I chose an appropriate attire for this day out, because the heat in day time is lethal. But with the occasional pleasant breeze that coaxes my exposed skin, it cools me down. After paying the entry tickets, we discover a golf cart with a driver maneuvering it, circling into a loop through the park grounds and available for all visitors to use. As the driver announces a last opportunity to hop on, we take it, and all of us swiftly take a seat in unison. The golf cart shudders into life, and we head onwards.

We drop off the golf carts at the first stop. We step into a rose garden, which is inside a glass encasing, and goosebumps cover every exposed part of my skin. I cross my arms, shivering. This is the coldest it's been since I've come here. But the cold doesn't stop me from looking in awe at the roses and tulips. 

 



Mamu delicately touches an flower with a purple hue. "This is... an orchid." With every flower my eye catches, I comment about how beautiful each one is. I just can't help it.

If only Mamu could plant roses in our home in the Philippines...





Moments later...


> Royal Pavilion (Ho Kham Luang)

The Royal Park Rajapruek houses the Royal Pavilion, or also known as Ho Kham Luang. This beautiful Northern Thai Lanna architecture was built in 2006 to commemorate King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 80th birthday. Luckily, it wasn't crowded when we first came, but I figured it would be before we came there, since it's the most scenic view there in the park. But the night was slowly creeping in, so tourists probably exited the park then. We took this as an opportunity to take some breath-taking photos!!








To be continued on our trip in Thailand...


Location: Chiang Mai, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Recreating K-Pop Demon Hunters Ramyeon!!! (DIY Craft Project)

Image
  *AGGRESSIVE SLURP OF PRE-GAME RAMYEON As you can tell, this blog post needs more... explaining to do.  I'll do exactly that. Picture this, me in my comfortable PJs, a few days after I've watched KPop Demon Hunters, and so obsessed to the point where I have learnt the Soda Pop dance, with nothing to do or to even given a sign that I've watched the show in my blank white room. I thought  Should I do something, and if yes, how?.  I run through things that I could possibly do... Buy merch of KPop Demon Hunters Do nothing because I can't be bothered to or...  I recall the pre-game ramyeon that Huntrix ate before kicking demon butt. It's a picture of them individually but in a more cartoonish style.  What if I... remade it into physical cup noodle form? I did a bit of researching, and eventually I came across a platform that sells homemade gifts and things. That's right, I'm talking about Etsy. From Etsy I saw a deal that was for $7.66 EACH, and it was just for...
Read more

And the Chiang Mai escapade continues...

Image
~ DAY 3 ~ January 5th, 2025 >  GINGER FARM kitchen at ONENIMMAN Chiangmai It took me a moment before realising that the ginger farm Ninang was mentioning was not in fact all about ginger. At a glance, if you see the words "ginger farm" at a location, your initial thought process would have been ginger farm = a farm that's thriving with ginger plants. But that wasn't the case. We stepped into the entrance, and by doing so, that also meant stepping into a restaurant. It was an open space area, spaced out with woven chairs and wooden tables, which held the ONE NIMMAN restaurant. This ginger farm is not just ginger. There's a restaurant and even animals! I phrased these words in irritation, almost as if I was angry to myself. What was I thinking... thinking it was just a ginger farm...  " Ah- Hallo! Have you guys... made a reservation for today?" A lady with a heavily-thick Thai accent gestured over to us, her grin soft and gentle. I stared at Ninang, Mum...
Read more

A New Years Eve spent in Hongkong!!

Image
December 31st, 2025 - Prologue, before main events * When Mum mentioned about the breakfast buffet   , it was excruciatingly hard to hide my enthusiasm over it. I beam ed as I enter Cafe Circles, fists out with a silent "Yess!" with the sight of food. I c ould eat an elephant. As usual, there is an assortment of pastries, toast, with choices of jam and spreads to go along with it. My eyes trail over to the Asian section, and my mouth is drooling just right about now. Porridge, soups, fried rice, but the main prize of all... "I'M GETTING TTEOK-BOKKI."  As a proud Asian, I stride over to the steaming pot of tteokbokki, grab myself a piping hot bowl of it, get back to my table, and consume it. This particular cycle continues before coming into the realization that... Several bowls of tteok-bokki later... " Uhm, guys? I think I ate too much tteok-bokki." I sheepishly admit as I pat my stomach, and all I get is a disapproving look from Mum. Fair enough ...
Read more