Date : 27th December 2006
Time : 12pm – 6pm
Destination : Pakse, Loas
Distance : About 50 Km
Before we visit Loas this morning, we had a wonderful breakfast at the resort.
TohSang KhongJiam Resort is a 5 star resort built by the side of Moon River in KhongJiam District, Ubon Ratchathani. The beauty of this resort is its natural environment by the river.
We arrived in the evening yesterday and did not had an opportunity to have a good look of this resort. We we wake up in the morning and having our breakfast in the open air restaurant next the Moon River… here is goes…
Zheng Ni enjoying her breakfast..
Not enough, go for 2nd round.
Getting ready to Pakse, Loas..
We part our car at the Thailand custom car park and boarded a bus to visit Pakse, a border town of Loas. Crossing the border is easy for Malaysian as we do not need any visa to enter Loas.
This is the water fall with 1000 ft depth into a valley.
After visit the waterfall, we proceed to visit a local coffee farm to enjoy some Loas coffee, I am not coffee drinker, so cannot commend on it.
Beutiful waterfall by the restaurant in Pakse, Loas.
Loas tour guide carrying Zheng Hao.
Traditional Loas Kampung House
Traditional Loas dancing.
Manage to capture some photo while crossing Mekong river, it is huge…..
You will like this… Not XO, Not Vsop, Not Black Label… Snake wine selling in almost all the shops next to the Loas custom.
Look at it closely… a cobra..
All snake wine behind Zheng Hao..
Back to the hotel safely and enjoy our dinner and pool for the rest of the day…Drive Around Thailand in 14 Days – Day 1
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Date : 26th December 2006
Time : 12pm – 6pm
Destination : Ubon Ratchathani
Distance : About 250KM
Today we had a half day free and easy period to discover Mukdahan, a border town next to Loas. We visit the Indo China Market next to Mekong river. This is basically where people from Thailand and Loas trading their goods.
A lot of speed boat ferrying passenger and goods to and fro the 2 countries.
The Indo China market selling all kinds of goods from food to sundry goods.
My lady shopping again ….
These are the shops next to the Indo China Market.
These are the speed boat ferrying passenger and goods. Notice that Loas is just accross the Mekong river.
A temple near the Indo China market at Mukdahan.
We left Mukdahan at 12pm and proceed to Ubon Ratchathani. We stop by a river side rest area to have a short break. Fishing is one of the major source of income here as you can see various kind of fish product selling at the store.
This is dry fish.. looks like a flower
Arrive at TohSang KhongJiam resort at 6pm, check in and proceed to enjoy our candle light dinner. The food here is cheap and good, RM14 for a fish and chip in a 5 star resort.
Drive Around Thailand in 14 Days – Day 1
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Date : 25th December 2006
Time : 8.30am – 8pm
Destination : Mukdahan
Distance : About 500KM
After breakfast, we had some group photo session before moving to our next destination, Mukdahan, a border town next to Laos.
We had our lunch at a restaurant call ” Good Everything” serving Western food. The food is just like the restaurant name, Everything is Good.
The setup of the restaurant is very nice as well.
We reach Mukdahan at about 8pm, check in and had our dinner at a near by local stall and zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzDrive Around Thailand in 14 Days – Day 1
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Date : 24th December 2006
Destination : Phu Ruea National Part, Loei, Isan
Wake up in the morning welcome by very cold weather about 6 degree celcius. Had our breakfast at the resort and decide to visit the Phu Ruea National Park.
Phu Ruea National is just like our Taman Negara where no development is allow in this forest reserve. I do not remember the exact entrance fees, I guess it about RM10-RM15 for adult and RM6 for children.
We park the car at the designated parking place and track up to the mountain overseeing Laos. This distance is about 2KM and the scenary is very beutiful, the strong wind and cold weather make it more comfortable walking up the mountain.
On top of the mountain is a small temple with a buddha statue. You may notice there is a small truck parking next to the temple, that car is use by staff working in the park. How I wish I can drive up there as well.
Zheng Hao and Zheng Ni.
Zheng Yuan learning how to fly at Phurua Peak.
We left Phurua National Park about Noon and went on to explore the near by area, we went to the local market to had our lunch and back to the resort about 4pm, had a quick nap and get ready for our highlight of the tour, Chirstmas party.
We had nice barbeque dinner and karaoke session as well, everybody had and wonderful time.
Merry Christmas !!!!
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Date : 23rd December 2006
Time : 8.30am – 6.30pm
Destination : Chiangmai -Phu Ruea, Loei, Isan
Distance : About 400KM
Check out from Central Hotel Chiangmai, we are heading to a resort near Phu Ruea National Part, Loei at Isan, Northern part of Thailand.
We had our lunch on this floating restaurant.
Finally arrive at the resort about 6.30pm, the environment here is totally different from others part of Thailand where you do not see tourist from others part of the world. The place is cooling and the temperature drop to 2-6 degree celcius at night.
The environment of the resort is quite similar to Kinabalu National Part where building are surrounded by forest.
We had a very special dinner here, mushroom dinner – all the dishes on the table is mush room.
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Date : 22nd December 2006
Destination : ChiangMai – International Flora Fest
Morning call at 8am, after breakfast at the hotel, we are moving to the International Flora Fest, a floral fest hosted in conjunction with Thailand King’s 60 birthday celebration.
To be honest, I just admire the way how Thailand government encourage the creativity of their people, look at theirs buses, it painted with all kind of pictures. Can you immagive it happen in Malaysia ? Not just white and green tour bus, it just boring here.
Arriving at the flora fest, a lot of people mostly Thai queuing up to buy tickets, a lot of students coming wiht uniform as well. The setup at the entrance is grand and it does not look like a temporary setup at all.
At the entrance, students are performing to welcome the visitors.
Look at the crowd.
Following are the landscape setup by countries from all over the world.
Landscape decoration by corn.
Landscape design by Holand
Vietnam Zone.
The attention of the entire setup is the building in the middle, by Thailand.
The interior of the building, just like a palace.
The view from Thailand Zone sorrounded by lake.
We spend almost the whole day at this flora fest. Since we had not enough shopping at Ban Tawai, we returned and continue our shopping.
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Date : 21st December 2006
Time : 1.00pm – 9.15pm
Destination : Nakhon Sawan – Chiangmai
Distance : About 450KM
Morning call at 6.30am, after breakfast at hotel we left Nakhon Sawan to Chiangmai at 8am – the venue of the International Flora Fest in conjuction with the King’s birthday celebration.
Zheng Yuan still in his sleeping outfit….. ;)
As usual, having our lunch break about 1pm at one of the fine restaurant recommended by Thailand Tourism Board.
The set-up of the restaurant is just like a tropical resort, unfortunately we do not have much time to spend as everyone is eager to reach Chiangmai earlier.
Before reaching Chiangmail, we detour to a small town call Baan Tawai, it is basically transform from a handicraft village where hundreds of stall setup to sell all kinds of handicraft from woodcarving, painting, vast, toys, furniture, decoration item etc etc.. you can spends days just walking around admiring the art work. The price is very very reasonable and it is a good place if you enjoy shopping and bargaining.
If you are looking for good bargain, go all the way to the village where you can park your car and start shopping around. Please do not stop at the shops before you reach the village as the price is much more higher and targeting different group of customer.
There are transporters in Baan Tawai where they can assits you to send the goods to your preferred location by freight or sea cargo.
There is only 1 sentance I can describe Baan Tawai – Shoping heaven of Thailand Handicarft product.
We spend 3 hours at Baan Tawai before proceed to Chiangmai which is about 30 mins away.
There are a lot of laundry in the tourist hotspot and it is much cheaper compare to what the hotel can offer, the price also cheaper than what we pay at Malaysia. Please double confirm the pick up time so that you can have your clean and iron cloth on time before your next destination.
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