Day 8 16 July 2012 Arrival Chiang mai

Arrival Chiang mai 

We you in day 8 out of 21 Thailand tour.

Upon arrival in Chiang Mai, meet up with your guide and transfer to the hotel for check-in 

Chiang mai top view

Chiang Mai (New City) was founded in 1296 by King Mengrai as the capital of the first independent Thai state, Lanna Thai (Kingdom of One Million Rice Fields). It became the cultural and religious center of the northern Tai, those who had migrated from southern China to dwell in Thailand, and remained so throughout the turbulent period of recurring Burmese attacks. The Burmese finally captured Chiang Mai in 1556 and occupied it until King Taksin retook the city in 1775, driving the Burmese forces back to near the present border. Burmese influence on religion, architecture, language, cuisine, and culture, however, remains strong. The city stands on the Ping River, a major tributary of the Chao Phraya River. Many activities in Chiang Mai area such as cooking class, Zip lining, sunset at Doi Suthep do not miss night market.

Check in at Chang Thai Hotel

Inf font of Chiang mai Hotel

 Yes, time for swim again

Small swimming pool at Chang Thai House but good enough for relaxing.

At night, walk to chiang mai night bazzar for dinner

Nowarat bridge, one of major of land mark of Chiang mai

Lot of thing you can do in Chiang mai.
Check this out , Chiang mai day tour.

LJ Biz , Soft Adventure & Cultural Tour

www.lets-tour-bangkok.com

Since 2004 , thousands of happy guests

Thailand  : Cambodia : Laos :   Myanmar : Vietnam : South East Asia

 1-21 days trips *  Private group  with excellent guide  *   Get close to real life of locals

*  Yummy local food *  Seamless connectivity between cities  *  Luxury & boutique hotels

* Cruise passenger stop over trip *  All inclusive *  Outback town *  Relax  *  Solitude

 * Fun  *  Romance  *  Beach *  Trekking  

Day 7 15 July 2012 Thai train from Ayutthaya to Chiang mai

Leave Khanchanaburi to Ayutthaya , ancient city and take Ayutthaya train to Chiang mai

We are in Day 7 of 21 days Thailand tour

This morning , after breakfast in Koh Kasem resort , river island , say good bye to Kanchanaburi. They took a trip to Ayutthaya which is around 3 hours long. On the way, stop at rice field.

Rice field , after harvested

Monique picked the ear of paddy which is the left over after machine harvested the rice grain  

 It was smooth ride with no accident. The first stop was Bang pa In summer palace. This is where the former king of late Ayutthaya period use for relaxing. After Ayuttaya kingdom collapse, this place was abandon. Later King Rama VI (the king and I) visited and started to renovated this place .  

Topiary in shape of snack head 

Another topiary which is in royal play ground area

 Many interesting building with lot of stories.

The Chinese shrine palace build buy King Ram V

Chinese interior design was made in China craftsman. 

Then, another 30 minute ride to Ayutthaya, the ancient city and capital of Siam Kingdom since 1350-1767.

The stunning former palace of Wat Phasrisanphet

The remain of the main chapel

Walk to Wat Benchamaborpit.

Money tree which Thai donated for temple expense

 Continue to temple which is not destroy by the Burmese, Wat Napharmain

Beauty of main Buddha in Wat Na PhaMain

Any luck Ivar, This is call siamcee , for fortune tailor after one stick come, look at number and go to read the prediction. Yeah ! 

 Another way of merit making which pay respect by incense stick and apply gold leave on to Buddha statue.

Place to put incense stick on and plate the cancle

Apply gold leave any where you want, normally people do apply gold leave on lap or chest of Budha statue

After all long day, ride on the train to Chiang mai. Get on the train around 19.00 hrs and arrive Chiang mai in the morning. Play card is fun thing to do .

Comfortable train lower seat. It is normally fit for 1 persons.

Good night everyone.

LJ Biz , Soft Adventure & Cultural Tour

www.lets-tour-bangkok.com

Since 2004 , thousands of happy guests

Thailand  : Cambodia : Laos :   Myanmar : Vietnam : South East Asia

 1-21 days trips *  Private group  with excellent guide  *   Get close to real life of locals

*  Yummy local food *  Seamless connectivity between cities  *  Luxury & boutique hotels

* Cruise passenger stop over trip *  All inclusive *  Outback town *  Relax  *  Solitude

 * Fun  *  Romance  *  Beach *  Trekking  

Day 6 : 14 July 2012 Etawan waterfaill and go to Koh Kasem resort

Day Six in Thailand of 21 days tour

Breakfast at hotel

Early rise , a wake up call that you may hear from water flow sound, and bird sang and then ready to move.

Guide Phet and everyone enjoy simply breakfast. 

Erawan Waterfall in Erawan National Park

08.00hrs Depart for Erawan waterfall. Erawan Waterfall, the famous 7-tiered waterfalls are located in the Erawan National Park which is 65 km from Kanchanaburi on Highway 3199. The falls are situated amongst rough jungle and are truly one of the most beautiful falls in Asia.  

Starting of trail to Erawan waterfall

The narrow street to Erawan waterfall has a lot of interesting plantation.

This is the First level of Erawan waterfall

This area is one of the biggest waterfall area to swim. It is also very busy so keep walking to upper level.

Hymke and Ivar was not tried yet. Keep walking !!

Well, a nice day or early morning is always pleasant to walk.

Upper level of Erawan waterfall

There are 7 levels of waterfall. Continue walk as you like, It take about 1 hour for quick walk to reach the top. Level 3 and 4 of Erawan waterfall is very nice to swim.

It was time to swim now. 

Then travel back to Kachanaburi, stay overnight  Koh Kasem resort.

Koh Kasem Resort

Koh Kasem resort is located in river island in center city of Khanachanaburi

Our ferry driver was ready for us

Boat ride take just 5 minute ride to Khanchanaburi

Here we are at Kasem Island Resort

The room face to river Kwai.

Time to explore the island

Small farm in the back of the island, visitor can find their own way to relax.

Swimming poll and observation hall.

OK lets swum again.

Cheers ! everyone, Dinner at resort

sweet drink for ended photo of the day.

LJ Biz , Soft Adventure & Cultural Tour

www.lets-tour-bangkok.com

Since 2004 , thousands of happy guests

Thailand  : Cambodia : Laos :   Myanmar : Vietnam : South East Asia

 1-21 days trips *  Private group  with excellent guide  *   Get close to real life of locals

*  Yummy local food *  Seamless connectivity between cities  *  Luxury & boutique hotels

* Cruise passenger stop over trip *  All inclusive *  Outback town *  Relax  *  Solitude

 * Fun  *  Romance  *  Beach *  Trekking     

Day 5 : 13 July 2012 Leave Eastin hotel for Kanchanaburi

Day 5 : 13 July 2012  Leave Eastin hotel for Kanchanaburi

07.00 hrs Guide pick up clients from Eastin hotel to Khanchanaburi, 

This is Eastin hotel lobby is the meeting place

Hotel lobby is on the seven floor of the building

Comfortable van with lot of seat available, anyone want to join 

Floating Market 

Along the way visit Floating market. Damnoen Saduak in Ratchaburi Province is the most colorful of Thailand s floating markets , about 104 km southwest of Bangkok. Visit the famous floating market, then board a canal boat and view native life along the canal banks and arrive at the market, where boats of various shapes and size, carry goods for trading. 

Yummy ! fresh coconut meat

Look like Camiel enjoy fresh coconut, especially the soft meat. This young coconut meat is great for making dessert. The old coconut meat is  coconut milk.  

The complimentary before boat ride.

The floating market is in Ratchaburi province.

Everybody on board

The Wijffels arrive the floating market in early morning.  Taking small private and exclusive boat into canal.

Why this boat is exclusive ? Because , it has a roof and soft seat , and only private small group can go. 

Damnern saduak canal

A ride along the canal, view on the side is farm and Thai house which is different from Bangkok Canal. Canal is totally man made.

Thai kings hired the Chinese to work as labor and dug all network of canal by hand and primitive tool. So the water is just 1.50 meter deep in average. Isn't it cool, they made canal over 150 years but still usable for now a day. 

Merchant selling fruit. The red color fruit is rose apple

after entering the floating market , you can see a lot of small boat selling all kind of products.  This is another type of traffic jam in Thailand, we can call boat traffic jam. 

Top view of floating market and paddle boat service on the right

The market is not so busy in this area.

The floating market was smaller than they think. After arrival the market , it took little time to  walking around. Taste a Thai snack , fruit and shopping.

Rice soup boat vender

They cook the food on the boat and serve right after order. Amazing Thailand.

Go West
Continue for one and half hour to visit bridge over River Kwai which is located in Kanchanaburi province.

The bridge on River Kwai

Taking a walk on the bridge 

Thai food for lunch at floating restuarant

After finished human food, Hymke, Sybren and Ivar fed the food to fish too, right inside the restaurant.

Around the bridge you can also find the blood diamond too. You can buy one to your home. That was why , the Japanese come here during World War II , hahaha, ! I am joking.

Monique and Ivar walked along the war cemetery  

Then take long-tailed boat to Jungle raft resort. The resort has not electric city as well as very low mobile phone signal. Wow, it was very exotic and natural.  Looks  at photos of Camiel, they should have a very good time here.

Bell boy of the resort help us for luggage. On their free time, the bell boy possibly fishing at the resort waiting area.. What 's a wonderful life? 

Safety first

Look ! Who's here !! Enjoy swimming ? 

Arrival a wonderful resort , River Kwai jungle raft

Wow ! nice floating resort 

Basic room with no A/C , fan, electric but offer nice mosquito net.    

Walking tour with Guide Phet began after unpacked. 

Visit the Mon Village people who work and live right next to resort.

Small kids in basic typical house , So cute

Visit villager big friend. Yummy ! He want more food ,  Hymke ! . He eat around 100 -200 kilogram a day.

Relaxing 

This is the wijffels way to relax.

Sybren enjoy the nap

Swim , reading and a nap in the middle of jungle is a nice relaxing.

Wow , this wonderful resort is really breath taking.

Help !! , Camiel , did you for get that you ware safe jacket.

Ivar enjoy the river

Entertainment

At night , this is entertainment time. No No No, it is not television program. It was Mon dance. Mon is minority group move from southern of Yangon in Myanmar.  A lot of them move to Thailand since late of  1800. Big migration occurs when  political problem.

It was nice night to see them dancing rap in Mon custom.      

Mon dance at night 

LJ Biz , Soft Adventure & Cultural Tour

www.lets-tour-bangkok.com

Since 2004 , thousands of happy guests

Thailand  : Cambodia : Laos :   Myanmar : Vietnam : South East Asia

 1-21 days trips *  Private group  with excellent guide  *   Get close to real life of locals

*  Yummy local food *  Seamless connectivity between cities  *  Luxury & boutique hotels

* Cruise passenger stop over trip *  All inclusive *  Outback town *  Relax  *  Solitude

 * Fun  *  Romance  *  Beach *  Trekking