Eat, pray, love in Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai

Chiangmai is one of the destinations in our vacation list. Since hubby and I never been to northern Thailand and it was a long time we never been to Thailand, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai had been pinned down. 

Though we could find good thai restaurant easily in Malaysia, but we really missed the authentic street thai food, you know it if you ever been to Bangkok, one of the best street food city in the world.  It is surprisingly to find that northern thai food is not quite similar to what we have expected, it is more creamy, sweeter, less spicy, less sour, more meat and less vegetable.

Mango with sticky rice, coconut milk makes the taste richer, love it! 

The famous northern thai food, khao soi with some pickles. To a penangite like me, it is more like a thai version curry mee. 

Thai version kueh chap, soup taste sweeter and more stuff like fish balls, deep fried pork slices, tau kuah (dry bean curd), hard boiled egg and some pig offal.

Chicken fried with thai basil, do not miss dishes fried with thai basil when u come to thailand, you will definitely want another bowl of rice.

Like most tourist, we spent the night at weekend night market in Chiangmai, which selling everything from clothes, wood craft, handmade stuffs, food to street music. But do not miss the morning market too, it can be a little crowded, but it provide opportunity to mingle with local people.

Exotic insects serve as snack,  commonly eaten in Thailand. Tried this once on my first trip to Bangkok in year 2000, but not this time. I am not young and dangerous anymore to put everything in my mouth. LOL!

Aromatic pandan leaves folded into flower.

Fresh white lotus spotted! Holy and sacred!

Jasmine on ice, a good way to preserve flowers in such a hot weather.

Instead of elephant riding, we went to tiger kingdom, less energy exhausted and more relax. We just bought the lunch buffet, watching the tigers while having our lunch. I was too coward to be up close and personal with tigers after watching the movie 'Life of Pi".

Lunch area was close enough to capture this picture of tiger. Oh my Richard Parker!

Another relaxing tour, village of the famous long neck tribe, not far away from the tiger kingdom.

Lovely cottage at the entrance.

Hubby playing with the handmade bow and arrow in the village.

Cottage by the paddy field, sometimes the simplest life is the life that closest to heaven.

A long neck woman was playing a guitar while a baby sitting on her laps.

 A man riding on an elephant down from hill. Here, elephants being used as transportation.

Like other places in Thailand, Chiangmai and Chiangrai have huge range of buddhist temples. One temple that could not be missed - Wat Rong Kun, the white colour contemporary unconventional Buddhist temple.

Wat Rong Kun

India golden triangle - Delhi, Agra & Jaipur

India has been rated the most dangerous country for women traveller, due to the reveal of the notorious rape cases recently. However, my friend Henni and I had made a 11 days free and easy trip to the India golden triangle - Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, October last year.

We received many advices from friends and family members not to enter India due to a lot of safety and hygiene issues. Therefor, we planned the trip cautiously. We stayed in high rated hostels and hotels, booked upper class seats for train, avoid night out (even if we need to do so, we would ask the hotel to call taxi for us) and had our meal in the restaurants that top rated in trip advisor or lonely planet or recommended by the hostel. Although we met some bureaucratic difficulties, culture shock, problems with scams and et cetera et cetera problems, but we handled it with open minded and keep up our spirit of adventure, the trip turn out great and fun. One big surprise for us was that both of us did not get food poisoning during the period! Thanks God to give us the braveness and experience. It was a trip to let us know more each others and ourself. Namaste!

Delhi

Nice caption by Henni, thanks!

Tuk-tuk is a common transport among local and tourist. Price is cheap but be careful of scam.

Restaurant at Lodhi Garden, food was good with cozy and lush green environment. Luckily this was the first  restaurant we had on the first day we arrived in Delhi. Good start.

Inside Lodhi Garden. I planned to do Yoga practice with local yoga enthusiast during our stay,  but too bad I can't wake up too early. lol!

Walking on the busy and bustling old street of old Delhi town.

Colorful saree and spices!

Try to ride on the trishaw, a different experience it would be!

Life in Delhi.

Masjid Jama at New Delhi. 

Agra

Magnificent and heavenly Taj Mahal. I can't believe my eyes at the first sight, in heaven, I thought I was!

It's prohibited to bring any pencil and pen inside the area in Taj Mahal, lucky me to have time finish a quick sketch before the guard noticed me. 

Entrance to Taj Mahal.

Me and Henni, finally we did it!

Our shadow over white marble of Taj Mahal.

Peeped through the hole of the delicate pierce work, and saw one of the great gate. 

Side view of Taj Mahal.

 Agra fort. It was said that Shah Jahan spent his last few years in this tower with a marble balcony and a view of the Taj Mahal.

Exotic view of Taj Mahal from Masammam Burj.

Once a pool, inside Agra Fort.

Street food, I dare not take the chance, would you?

Our nice spicy meal in Agra - vegetable curry, chicken curry and briyani rice.

Small version of Jama Masjid in Agra.

Caught a young couple dating in Fatepuh Sikhri. 

 Shot Henni's silhouette at Fatepuh Sikhri.

Jaipur

Jantar Mantar - a collection of historical architectural astronomical instruments.  

Nice geometrical layout. Remember to bring your hat if you visit to Jantar Mantar, there is no shade inside! No shade is allowed because these are astronomical instruments.

Two lovely guardians of City Palace. A beautiful and delicate palace in Jaipur.

Jal Mahal - Water Palace.

Our second major destination - Hawa Mahal, the Palace of Winds in Jaipur.

The royal ladies watched the life of street through the small window,  Hawa Mahal.

Great view of Pink City from Hawa Mahal.

Amber Fort

Love this rustic ancient look of Amber Fort.

Street view - Jaipur

Jaipur city view from a temple on top of hill.

Monkeys and pigs alongside of the street of Jaipur.

Last day - Delhi

In red Punjabi suit at Qutub Minar, about to say good bye to India. 

Qutub Minar, world's tallest free-standing brick minaret. 

Humayun's Tomb, the little Taj Mahal.

End our journey with a good meal at The Olive Bar & Kitchen at New Delhi.

Pizza and spaghetti, so yummy! We were so craving for these, after so many days of indian food.

And of couse some sweet cocktail to chilled out and celebrate for the completed trip we had planned for many many years! Many more to come, Henni! Namaste!