Doi Inthanon and pagodas for photographers

We took a day tour package from Chiang Mai  downtown to visit Doi Inthanon, which is part of the Himalayan mountain range, highest peak at Doi Inthanon is the highest mountain in Thailand. Main attraction for me was to visit the photogenic twin pagodas, or King and Queen Pagodas.

Rock craft on traditional stories.

Pagoda and blue sky

Pagoda and nice landscape

King and Queen at the peak of the mountain, with nice surrounding of green and blue

Breathtaking view

Went to the peak of the Doi Inthanon, for a light hiking, 

and yes! this is kingdom of Elephant... 

70% imagination, 30% similarity. what do you see?

 Some thing you wont miss in national park, visited one of the waterfall; Wachiratan Waterfall. Strong stream flow,  misty, and rainbows...

Loy Krathong night sky in Chiang Mai

November is chill in Chiang Mai, and everyone expecting for Loy Krathong.
Not the hottest spot but many people were here, around iconic Iron  Bridge of Ping River celebrating Loy Krathong, river was filled with floating krathong, and sky were filled with sky lantern.














Sky were clear, making way for sky lanterns, a photo without description might be confused with sky missile attack to earth...

Happening and crowded iron bridge

Another view, further away of sky lanterns become star... i think many wishes made tonight...

Looks like attacking sky? this photo taken from swimming area of hotel

Iron Bridge crossing Ping River @ Chiang Mai

To escape from hustle and bustle of bargaining, live band, horn /peep and tour guide shouting of Chiang Mai's world famous night bazaar, you just need a 5 minutes walk from Burger King, toward Ping River. You will come this silent yet charming Iron Bridge crossing Ping River.









These photos were taken with Xiao Mi MI3, and steady hand. Played around few features from same spot.



Many youngster were gathering here, chit chating, laughing, and catching pokemon. Some individual just having a silent moment here, enjoying sound of streaming, and colouring on this solid Iron Bridge.

Phuket: Day4 at Karon Beach and cabut

Finally, i can sleep well last night without experiencing passion from street that never sleep... Compare to Patong Beach, you 'll fell peacefull at Karon Beach, hehe... building isn't that much, bike isn't that much, and people here seem more relaxing...
Again, i'm addicted with beach again, plus a good day that i can see the paradise kind of blue here... Is really impressive...
First Japanese drame that i watch is "Beach Boy", i admire the life as beach boy, after my STPM exam, i even think about finding at part time job at any beach...
I saw a warning board about Tsunami, let's don't forget about pain that Phuket experiencing... Let appreciate what we have now....
We didn't take van to go airport directly from our hotel, that shall be expensive but time saving, however we decide to choose option that is less expensive but time consuming... We (2 person) take a mini bus from Karon to Phuket Town with 50 batt, and get a bike taxi to another bus terminal with 60batt.
By doing that, we can have a free city tour on Phuket Town, there is some interesting sign board, mandarin notice, chinese temple, and some local delicacious. Their mee soup and char kui teow is really identical, that lunch cost us around 150batt, including some identical drinks as well...
From terminal bus, we took a bus to airport with 85batt per person...
At last, when the flight begin, don't miss the nice view on lovely beach of Phuket...

There is a lot of interesting activities you can enjoy at Phuket, but what really attract me is the beautiful beach... Nice place to go for relaxing and romance...

Norm Aotearoa: Phuket: Day1~3 at Patong Beach
Norm Aotearoa: Phuket: Day 3 Noon to Phromthep Cape

Phuket: Day 3 Noon to Phromthep Cape

Day 3, we take a bus from Patong Beach to Phuket Town (40batt), and get another bus to Karon Beach (50batt), we stay at Divers Inn, the bus driver is so good to stop us at Soi Bangla , where was closest distance of to our stay...

We rent a bike for touring around Karon Beach, 1 day or 24 hours rental might be waste as we don't drive at mid night, and so happy that we manage to find a bar who willing to rent a scooter 12 hours for 100 batt only... plus another 60batt for gasoline...

Once get our transport ready, we heading south to Phromthep Cape, on the way there from Karon Beach, after passing Kata Beach is a hill way or highland road, no worry, scooter can handled that.... We stop for lunch at a restaurant near Kata View Point, we ordered western food, 2 set with 170 batt, what special about this restaurant is it built laying on hill, you can enjoy your meal with a fascinating view of Kata Beach...

After that we drop by at a elephant park... we didn't take any elephant ride, but we enjoy some photo session with them, they seem like smile when we feed them with some banana, you can pay any amount for fund to support these elephant...
We reach Yanui Beach, when we miss a junction to Phromthep Cape, that beach is a bit non crowded... not bad if you look for some low density beach... there is some yatch here as well...

Back to the correct way, you can see "giant fan" waiving to welcome you....
Light house is an important role for cape, to avoid any crashing... But this Kanchanaphisek light house is a pretty one to accompany Phromthep Cape... As well, you can see elephant sculpture located here for local resident to pray.

Many people was here to wait for sunset... i never experience a sunset view together with that much of people... After what come after sunset is dark... so we have to leave in dark...

After shower at Divers Inn, we were so hungry to search for dinner, we pass by a Wat (should be Wat Suwan Khiri Khet from map infomation), and there is some event with a lot stall around, ( or night market, not really know that is temporally or permenant.... hehe...) so we hunt for dinner here, guess what, below as my dinner... what an attractive layout!! Innovative on simple food did add value to attract me... hehe... spending for the night is 60+30+50 batt accordingly...
There was a performance stage that making the event crowded, when i was there, group of children was performing some modern and classic dance... after that... the MC did announcement and invite next performance, i do not understand Siam but is sound like highlight of the match... a group of performer come with a costume of europe style, seem glories, bangsawan... but after some time when one singer start to sing with music in kara ok style.... i notice costume wasn't the only attraction... That was a free Simon Cabaret show...

Norm Aotearoa: Phuket: Day1~3 at Patong Beach

Norm Aotearoa: Phuket: Day4 at Karon Beach and cabut

Phuket: Day1~3 at Patong Beach

I thought Phuket is an island, until i look at the map, only i realize it is JUST almost an island, is it a penisular that extend out from mainland...
Day 1, from airport, i took mini van (150batt per head) to Patong Beach, but, that mini van stop half way at a tourism agent, gave us a drink and approach us on accomodation and tour package... hehe... don't have to suprise, maybe next time i take Limousime... hehe...
I book a room at Crown Hostel (450batt per night) from internet, it located at a strategic location, walking distance to many hotspot at Patong Beach, i can see this Bangla Boxing Stadium from my room... However, as the location was so strategic and crowded that make is bit noise even though mid night...


A luxury dinner with thai fried rice and pineapple fried rice... (150 batt per person)
Day 2, we get a day tour to Phang Nga Bay... This package include sea kayaking, lunch meal and enjoying fascinating view of Phang Nga Bay, as well to an island named after famous movie- James Bond.... Cost is 1400 batt per person, but i think this is not the only package available...

Day 2 night, we hang around at Bangla Road which was a center for night life... A road that never sleep...

Day 3 Morning, what i like most about Phuket was a pretty beach, clear water, blue sky, silky and clean sand, probably one the best i ever visit... Superb until hooping around...

After hang around here, we depart to Karon Beach....

Norm Aotearoa: Phuket: Day 3 Noon to Phromthep Cape
Norm Aotearoa: Phuket: Day4 at Karon Beach and cabut