BOLD enough to ENJOY life now!: 29 NOV 2006 WED

Most impt thing to bring - mama's survival kit:

TR128 SIN/CNX 0605/0800
Packed luggage till 1+am, slept for 2 hours, woke up at 3:30am to get ready, called for taxi at 4:40am, reached airport at around 5:25am.
Tiger Airways, budget airline, so got to pay cash separately for the meals. Paid S$8 for the Minced Chicken Noodles (1 of the 2 hot meals of the day).

After breakfast, last minute read up on Thai Massage notes. ST has completed the 5-day course in Bangkok, though different Massage School, I asked her to print me a copy so that I can more or less get prepared for my intensive [3-day Authentic Thai Traditional Massage with Medicinal Herb Packs Course] in Chiang Mai, Nerve Touch Massage School. I'll be starting the course today from 10am to 4pm.

8:20am (S'pore 9:20am) Thai Immigration

8:40am Our luggages loaded on top of the "Song Taew". A "Song Taew" is a small four wheeled vehicle with an open air cab used to transport passengers, serves as an alternative to a taxi used to get around the city. We hired this to transport 6 adults, 2 teenagers & 4 children and our 10 pieces of luggage from airport to Baan Kaew Guest House for Baht200 (about S$8.60).

My bro-in-law - Leo, my sis - Sally, their 3 children - RenHao (12), RenMin (10) & RenYi (8) and their domestic helper - Suki:

My sis's sis-in-law - 英姐 (this is the way my sis & I address her) with her 3 grandchildren - Bennett (around 16), Reline (10) & Chloe (8):

That's mama & me:

RenHao, RenMin, Renyi and mama on board the "Song Taew", I sat opposite them:

9:10am Arrived Baan Kaew Guest House (www.baankaew-guesthouse.com). We reserved 4 double rooms (at Baht750 per room) with no additional bed for 8 adults (6 adults + 2 teenagers age 16 & 12) & 4 children (age 10, 10, 8 & 8) for 2 nights via Amporn Tour (www.amporntourchiangmai.com). We had bad experience when checking in. The staff wanted us to pay for additional beds for the children. Told him we dun need additional bed, he insisted we must pay even if we dun need additional bed. I wasn't happy with his attitude. In the end, we asked him to call Ms Tuey, Amporn Tour, to clarify. The rooms were not ready, we left our luggages in the Guest House, paid additional Baht50 for the same "Song Taew" to transport us to Amporn Tour which is about 5 minutes drive away.

9:30am-10:30am At Amporn Tour, clarified the additional bed issue, enquired & booked the Khantoke Dinner for tonight. Enquired other 1-day tours & the accommodation for the rest of the days. Precious time wasted, inevitable when the group is big, sigh... my Massage Course gone!

11am Lunch at Gia Tong Heng Restaurant

This restaurant is diagonally opposite Chiangmai Holiday Hotel.
shot from entrance of restaurant & shot from Chiangmai Holiday Hotel:

Mama & I shared a table with my sis's family, total 5 adults & 3 children, spent about Baht700+ (about S$30). Each had a plate of Noodles or HorFun, Tomyam Soup:

Salted-Vege DiKa (Pork Trotter), Cold-Dish Pork Cubes, Duck & Oyster with Egg:

Inside the restaurant and haha the very clean toilet:

1pm We resting outside the restaurant while my sis, her husband and her sis-in-law went sourcing for accomodation for the rest of the days ; Mama was so excited, she din sleep last night, haha she got a big pimple:

On our way to People Place Hotel (PP II) which is about 4 buildings away from the restaurant.
Haha me imitating the mermaid:

1:30pm We paid 1 night deposit and secured the 4 rooms (at Baht800 each) for the rest of the days at People Place Hotel (PP II). The 4 rooms were also available for tomorrow, we were asked to call back to confirm if we are able to cancel our accommodation at Baan Kaew Guest House. This is a rather new hotel, the 2nd People Place Hotel. The 1st People Place Hotel is just nearby. Renyi posing at entrance of PP II:

2pm Back to Amporn Tour to check if able to cancel our 2nd night accommodation at Baan Kaew Guest House. Ms Tuey (the always smiling lady below) is always so helpful, no additional charge for the cancellation. We also booked the Elephant Safari Tour for tomorrow.

3pm Checked in Baan Kaew Guest House:

Nothing much to do after shower, photo-taking session:

"Camel Pose":

6+pm Khantoke Dinner at Khum Khantoke, an exquisite northern Thai House with its beautiful Lanna setting surrounded by rich assortment of unique traditions and exotic products of Lanna arts and crafts. (www.khumkhantoke.net)

Renmin & Renyi joined me dining in the traditional way, sat on the floor while the rest had it on the "Japanese Style Table & Chair":

Lanna dining with "Khantoke" or "Toke", a round rattan tray, where various kinds of authentic northern Thai food, as well as some from other parts of the country, are served. The food includes Burmese style pork curry, deep fried chicken, chilli pastes with raw vegetables, fried vegetables, pork cracker, sticky rice,...