Chiang Mai, Thailand: Night Bazaar

Starting at 6PM and ends at 12MN, the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar is definitely a must visit for tourists when they visit the wonderful Chiang Mai. With fancy lights, beautiful souvenirs, bags, t-shirts, gift items, tea, Thai clothes, thai food and massage areas, one would really enjoy his/her visit.

It will take you a lot of time to go around and look for stuff and personally, I think six hours is not enough to see all the displays. It will be very tiring to walk around for hours but, there are many massage stalls around the area if you feel like taking a break for a while.  

When we entered the "gate"(picture below), we were surprised by the many stalls inside. There are also restaurants that offer a wide variety of selection, bars, and street foods aside from the usual products they sell. Since the food they serve in the restaurants inside the Market are expensive, we went to McDonald's instead before we continued with our shopping.

The picture above is the area where they sell the products at a more affordable price. Same products as the ones being sold at the front area but they sell it cheaper at that area. Of course, you still need a little charm so that you can haggle well with the vendors. :)

 A lot of tourist were buying this(I think this is fried ice cream) so I also tried. They sell different flavors but this one is what enticed me the most. It costs around 80-90 baht each :)

I'm not usually taking pictures of the stalls but I took a picture of this stall because I appreciate how intricate the details are in their products. I didn't buy one though since I'm a practical girl. I only buy a product if I'll be using it someday. :D


Night Market thingy
1. Haggle. A friend told me that you start the haggle at half the price the seller told you.
2. If you're on a budget, it's better to eat at McDonald's which is around 50meters away or any stall that sell street food around if you're looking for an authentic thai dish.
3. Some close at around 12MN but some stalls close at as early as 11. I guess it is better to do all your  shopping before 11PM.
4. Try thai massage. It's only 180baht per hour. Totally worth it!

Chiang Mai, Thailand: Starbucks

A self-confessed coffee addict and a loyal Starbucks customer, my eyes sparkled like how a kid's eyes sparkle when they see a shop full of chocolates when I saw a Starbucks sign while walking one Saturday morning.

This Starbucks is located conveniently. It is also near the second-hand bookstores so, after buying books, it's really nice to relax and sip some coffee and read the book you just bought. :) This Starbucks is three-storeys so there's enough space for a lot of people

With 500baht left in my wallet after purchasing Brida by Coelho, Frank McCourt's Angela's Ashes and a Grisham book, I decided to give myself a treat after a long walk and a long book search.

What I appreciate the most is that it has a great ambiance for a person who would like to just read or write or study because it is not that crowded.

The Devil and Miss Prym

second floor of Starbucks. I was alone.

I read around 40-50 pages of the book and I stayed for a while before I left. I love how friendly the staff are and how helpful they are on whatever things you need.

Although there is also a Starbucks near Le Meridien where our conference was held, Chiang Mai Night Bazaar where I was at every night, and Rux Thai Guest House where I stayed, I still chose this because of it's ambiance. The one near the night bazaar is not that spacious and is always crowded.

Boracay 2013 Day 3: Jonah's Fruitshake and Ariel's Point

We woke up early on the third day because we wanted to roam around the island and buy some stuff for our friends back home. We also had to look for a pharmacy because my hand was inflamed and my friend is aching all over because of the water activities we did the day before.

We looked around but no store was open as we were too early. We then walked around D' Mall instead. We enjoyed our morning walk there because it was only us two in the place. 

at D'Mall, looking at that Pharmacy that is still not open

We then had breakfast at McDonald's. The food there are at least around P10 higher than the "real" price so there's no McSaver Meal and that broke our heart. haha

Since our trip to Ariel's Point is at 10:30, we went back to our hotel after our breakfast and after buying some meds. We rested for a while, prepared our stuff and we went to Jonah's Fruitshake and Snackbar. Our friend recommended the place because he said they served the best fruitshake he has ever had. I though he's just exaggerating but I gave it the benefit of the doubt. :)

my mango avocado shake

We then walked to Ariel's Place(the meeting place) and waited for the time(and the boat that will take us to Ariel's point.

the baller and our "ID" pass

The travel to Ariel's Point was roughly 30-45minutes. Quite long but thankfully, with the high energy of everyone in the boat and the overflowing drinks, the trip didn't feel very long.

yes. I was wearing a skirt!haha

watching the ones already jumping/diving

We had buffet lunch, overflowing drinks(softdrinks, beer, water, vodka, rhum and rhum coke) and banana cue for dessert. The thing I loved so much during that trip to Ariel's Point aside from the sumptuous food and the drinks are the people we went there with. They're all very friendly and energetic and very supportive to the people who are scared of jumping(and I'm one of them).

after standing at the cliff for 30minutes, I finally jumped! weehaa!

that 15m board!will try that next time I go back :)

We left Ariel's Point right after I jumped. That jump I just did was a last minute one, actually.haha!

We got back to Boracay at 5 in the afternoon. Tired, exhausted and sore, we didn't join the pub crawl anymore. We just had dinner when we woke up at 9 in the evening and slept after we had dinner.

Realizations:

-cliff diving(or in my case,jumping) is fun. I realized that right after my jump. Since my jump was the last, I was not able to do it again. The next time I go there, I'll jump to my heart's content

-Traveling with a friend who is not the type of person who mingles with other people hinders me from establishing connection and friendship with other people. So there will no longer be a next travel for me and Dex. ;)

Boracay 2013 Day 2- The Fun Activities in Boracay

At 5:45 in the morning, my friend and I left our hotel for a morning leisurely walk near the beach and to the grotto as some of the locals there suggested. They said that it is better to go there early in the morning so that we can appreciate the beauty of the place because visiting it at around 7AM is not really that good already because there will be a lot of people.

that long, challenging road to Station 1.

early morning view :)

the grotto

After that long walk, we decided to take the main road route because the water current was strong. We had breakfast at Andok's, stayed there and planned what to do for the day before we went back to our hotel to pick our stuff.

We contacted the person who was offering a package of different activities in the island. We told him the things we want to do then he told us how much it would cost us for the different activities. We met him in front of Starbucks then he led us to the place where they do the water activities. We took a tricycle and we paid him P50.

We did the Flying Fish first. 

after our first fall

that third round. faster, crazier, scarier.haha

 Although during my first fall, I honestly thought I was going to die because I don't know how to swim but,it was actually fun. We held on for dear life because we didn't want to fall again but I guess, sometimes, it's the aim of the guys on the speedboat to really make us fall. hehe

After the Flyfish, we went to the Station for the helmet diving. Sad thing though that we were not able to get the CD of our pictures underwater and at the boat while preparing because we immediately left for our next activity.

When we left the helmet diving station, we went to the lake to wait for the shuttle ride that would bring us to the ATV/buggy ride. We originally opted for the ATV ride but my friend got scared so he said we should take the buggy and I drive. As the kind, loving friend that I am, I said yes. haha!

buggy! :)

I'm such an excellent driver ;)

 There's this option of taking gazillion steps to the main view where you'll truly see the beauty of Boracay from the top but, since we were already tired because of the Flying Fish and the Helmet Diving, we opted not to go.

the breathtaking view :)

After the three activities, we went back to Station 1 and walked all the way to Station 2 as we looked for a place where we could have lunch

after the water activities, we're darker, hungrier and happier :)

It was around 4PM when we got back to our hotel. We took a bath, slept and woke up for dinner and some fun fun night. :)

with his singapore sling, my zombie and our emptied plate of tempura :)

Realizations:

-I discovered that I am not that fit. Just those water activities made me really tired.

-A glass(or a plastic cup of cocktail) is already good for me. Back in college, I can drink up to 5 glasses. An improvement! :D

-I just appreciated Boracay even more :)

Boracay 2013 Day 1

Last July, I went to Boracay with my dear college friend, Dexter.

Boracay isn't the place that I'd exactly want to go to here in the Philippines. I guess it's because it is more known for it being an island where most people go because of it's night life rather than it's magnificent beauty(and it's popular white sands).

Since I'd like to travel with my friend and that's the place he wanted to go to, I agreed. We had our travel booked 3 months earlier and thankfully, that time when we booked our flight, they're on sale. Our roundtrip was only P892. 

We left NAIA Terminal 4 at 6:50 in the morning. It was a 45-minute flight to Kalibo Airport. When we arrived at the airport, we saw a lot of information booth about Boracay and how to get there. We just walked straight to the exit and there we saw a lot of vans and some buses going to Boracay. We opted for the van ride because we were offered the front seat ^^

We paid 250 and that amount included the boat fare to the island. From the airport to Caticlan Jetty Port,it was roughly 1hr30min-2hours ride. 30 minutes of it is like the road going to Baguio, long and winding. ^^

At Jetty Port,we paid some fees first before they allowed us to go to our boat. When we reached the island, we took a tricycle to Frendz Resort(where we stayed) and we paid P100 for it.

inside the boat while reading the Boracay Guide booklet

We reached Frendz Resort at around noon.

The owner and their staff greeted us warmly and they even gave us welcome drinks. They also allowed us to go to our room even if the check-in should be at 2PM.

For an airconditioned room with two queen sized beds, a television, a balcony and a spacious and clean bathroom(with hot shower) for 1000/night, it's quite cheap. :)

inside our room

Since we didn't plan anything for this trip, we just went at the seaside, took a little dip then we went around. We walked from Station 1 to Station 3. Quite a long walk but it was fun walking around.

After that very long walk, we went back to our hotel and we took a nap. At 8 in the evening, we went out for dinner and we had a few drinks at OJ's Roast Bake and Grill. We enjoyed it there because of the live music and the fun atmosphere created by the customers.

at OJ's :)

Day 1! :)

Realizations:
-it really is better to plan a vacation ahead of time so that you know what you'll do once you're there. It saves time and energy. teehee!
-things in Boracay are pricey. Before you go to the island, buy the things you might need for the duration of your stay there(even snacks and water)
-Boracay is truly beautiful :)

The Remaining Hours in Davao- At People's Park

Like any typical tourists, we spent the last day looking for things that we can bring to our family. Good thing, Ate C has a friend in Davao that's why we didn't get lost and we were able to experience a part of Davao is just a little time. After looking for key chains, ref magnets, paperweights, t-shirts and sweets to bring home, we went to People's Park.

During the jeepney ride, people were staring at us because we look and dress(maybe) like we're not from the place. Also, we were a bit noisy.

The picture below is when we started calling ourselves "illegal loggers" because it showed our logs--I mean, our legs. ;)

Me, Ate J and Ate C.

the mini forest in the park

Davao is also known as the home of many Philippine eagles so we may not have been able to see an actual, live Philippine eagle, we settled for the big one at the park

walking around the park. soooo not loving the bag I was using.haha

we just love taking pictures with us in it.haha! :)

our "tour guide" Shieba, Ate C and Me (bulding behind us is the Durian Dome)

inside the Durian Dorm, the top floor

we're bringing sexyback.. ;)

After going around the park, we went around a mall in the city then had a quick dinner since we still had to go back to Samal Island and the last trip of the barge is around 8 or 9PM. It was pretty tiring because we walked around all afternoon(and we didn't know that Davao is a big city!).

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Weekend at Liliw, Laguna

This weekend, I went to Liliw, Laguna with a friend to look around the municipality for some shoes, slippers and sandals. The trip was pretty tiring but it was definitely worth it. From Vizcaya to  Manila, it took us 8.5hours then another 4 hours to Sta. Cruz, Laguna and 20 minutes from Sta Cruz to Liliw. 

We reached Liliw at around 9:30AM and we immediately went to the first store despite the hunger and the tiredness. At around 10:30, we decided to have breakfast then we roamed around again. Honestly, I was thinking that there are only a few stores in the municipality and that the place is like the usual municipalities in the country so I didn't bother bringing a camera(big mistake, really!). As we went around, I noticed that some of the houses and stores there  are preserved houses from the 19th century. Below are some pictures of the products they have in Liliw. Wasn't able to take much photo though because my phone finally lost all its energy.

Since I am tall and I love running and walking around, I didn't buy any pair of wedges or heels. I only bought two pairs of sandals, a pair of slippers and a pair of flats.The good thing about the product is that, even at a really affordable price, the product is of good quality. 

In between walking from one store to another, I took some pictures at the street as well.

(Top photo):infront of the municipal hall,(bottom left):me inside one of the stores,(bottom right):cute slipper decor of one of the stores

(top photo):a young girl selling fruits,(bottom left):a vendor preparing the ferns she will sell)

At around 3:00PM, me and my friend already left Liliw and we went back to Vizcaya. Because of the very little time we had, we were not able to go around the town which is really sad. But, mom said that we will go back to Liliw on the first weekend of October. Something to look forward to! :)


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