1st Day in Chiang Mai, Thailand; visiting home industry factories, Selina's home & Sunday Night Market (Sunday, 11th May 2008)

Salam,

As I have mentioned in my previous post, Ayah has invited me to join him for his golf trip to Chiang Mai, Thailand. For your information, I know nothing about golf so my presence there would only be for sightseeing and shopping.

5 year old Hisham enjoying his biscuits during break

Ayah informed me about this on a very short notice that he was going on Sunday, 11th May. Supposedly on that Sunday I had to teach my students at KL Pac. So I had to think of a solution quick so I would not burden KL Pac but still manage to go to Chiang Mai for the first time. Fortunately one of my best friends, Nazlin was able and willing to replace me. Nazlin, who's the best in performing arts among all my friends in my opinion, is my friend since we were 14. We first met each other at a karaoke competition at Kelab Darul Ehsan where Nazlin was announced as Champion. Hehe yes I used to enter singing competitions when I was younger, I even made it for the quarter-finals of RTM2's Golden Teen Search in the year 2000 but I am way behind Nazlin when it comes to comparison of who's the better singer. Nazlin and I went to different schools, we only met that once. Just to recall, I was wearing my knee-length red dress while Nazlin was wearing body-fit long black dress with holes up to her thighs, haha those days. :p

More biscuits to go!!

On one fine day, during our Ta'aruf or Orientation Week at the International Islamic University Matriculation Centre where I went after high school, I went to the bathroom when she screamed "Suraya!!!!" and hugged me. I screamed too but on the other hand I could not recall who this fella was at all. She told me who she was, where we met and then only I screamed in joy "Nazlin!!!" Allah's ways are always unpredictable, we never knew we both decided to wear the hijab without any coercion from anyone else but ourselves when we were both 16.

We chatted like old friends, talking about how wonderful Allah has decided our lives, that we were destined to find each other again as students of this Islamic university, as our first choice for further studies, thinking of how when we were younger we had thought that this university would be the final choice for us to choose. UIA? Sorry la, kena pakai tudung (have to wear hijabs), but now we both embrace the things that we never thought we would love now. Other cool things were when we discovered that we have common interest in mostly everything. Oh yes the only difference between us that puts us apart is that Nazlin is super kepoh (such a havoc and very friendly) while I am the quieter one. By the way, Nazlin who is very much involved in theatres and has an amazing singing voice, fyi she was one of the finalists for Bintang RTM competing with Misha Omar and Siti Sarah Raisuddin, so I was really happy that she could help me this time because just like me, she loves to play with kids as well. :)

From back; Gaston and his sister, couldn't recall her name and the very hyper but super cute 3 year old Anish.

The below group photos were taken on Saturday when I trained Nazlin of how to teach the kids. Further more I had thought of having group photos with my students on my final day. The other 3 photos were taken from previous classes.

Happy faces!

Angry faces! Er..some are just not so angry it seems :p Owh..Teacher Sue is going to miss all of you so much kids, muah muah muah muah!! Love all of you!

So on Sunday, 11th May I departed to Chiang Mai, Thailand with ayah and his office colleagues cum his golfing friends. My uncle Uncle Zahar or I call him Che' Aa also followed us. We departed by Air Asia (if you can save more money for shopping why not hehe? :p) and the journey took us about 3 hours supposedly, but Air Asia is always proud to arrive early by half an hour to its destinations (not excluding delaying its flights as well but not this time).

Chiang Mai is located in Northern Thailand so the weather in November-February is usually very cool while the hottest season would be in April. In May it was still hot but I did not go there to play golf so I did not mind :p

Sue & Ayah

As soon as we arrived at Chiang Mai's airport we were welcomed by a pretty Thai woman clad in traditional Thai costume. She puts on each of us a necklace made from jasmine, a religious symbol of Buddhism in Thailand. Also a photographer snapped a photo of each of us with her. Apparently they were from the travel agency that Ayah has hired. I joked to my dad's friends that they were going to be in trouble since their wives in KL would found out that they already created some fling with a pretty Thai lady :p

I was told by Ayah that he has always hired CUE Travel Agency for his trips in Chiang Mai. The owner, Mr. Allan Chen is from Malaysia but he migrated to Thailand to start a business when he was 20 years old. Now he has been living in Thailand for more than 40 years. His daughter Celina, who's 24 years old works with his father and was introduced to me as my tourist guide in Chiang Mai. Yay I was excited to have a new friend in Chiang Mai (seriously she became my new best friend because we have so much in common!) :) As for ayah and his friends, other tourist guides would guide them to various golf clubs everyday.

Celina's father, of course is a Malaysian while her mum is a Thai, but you know what, she speaks excellent Malay with me. She went to Sekolah Kebangsaan (as she said) in Malaysia and when she was 18 she moved to Bangkok then Chiang Mai to work with her father. It's just amazing to see her a Chinese+Thai living in Thailand is still able to speak and write in excellent Bahasa Melayu instead of speaking in English with me. His father too, since he left Malaysia in the 1960s, so he's still a Malaysian that's very proud of using Bahasa Melayu. I even blushed when once I greeted him with "Good morning Mr. Chen!" but instead he smiled and greeted me with "Selamat pagi." By the way Celina, she's just amazing, she's able to converse and write in Bahasa Melayu, English, Thai, Mandarin, Hokkien & Cantonese.

Seriously after joining this trip with CUE Travel, I must compliment their service and would recommend to everyone wanting to visit Chiang Mai. Please feel free to contact me if you want to get CUE Travel's contact details ok :)

A part of the old fortress which defended Thailand from Burmese

Well, some briefing of Chiang Mai apart from it's location in the northern part of Thailand, it is also a place where Buddhism is strongly reflected by the hundreds of temples located here. There is also some remains of a fortress built during the age of Ancient Thailand, where the fortress was meant to defend Chiang Mai from the attacks of Burma (now known as Myanmar).

Chiang Mai is also very popular with tourists as well as locals to be the centre of arts & crafts in Thailand. Due to my observation, I dare say that the natives of Chiang Mai survives on their creativity in arts. They make using their hands of whatever they sell to buyers. You will understand as you read further of my posts in Chiang Mai. Celina told me that all the cheap & attractive things which you can purchase at the infamous Chatuchak Weekend Market in Bangkok are all came from the artistes in Chiang Mai. I went to Bangkok last December for the Black Eyed Peas concert and was fortunate enough to drop by at the Chatuchak market on Friday morning (it's usually livelier on the weekends itself) and discovered the interesting arts and crafts materials which are sold in shopping malls in KL are purchased there with very cheap prices. In Chiang Mai, since you may purchase them from the artistes themselves, so you are able to get wayyyy cheaper prices. Oh golly I SERIOUSLY can't wait to shop, shop, shop till I drop :p

I was curious why in this photo the Buddhist monk is wearing sunglasses

Yes, before I started my mission as a shopaholic (I am if I am on vacations), we checked in into our hotel, Rattanakosin Hotel which is very near to the airport. The hotel is not bad to me, not extremely posh like The Mandarin Oriental Hotel (which later Celina informed us that her company was the travelling agent for Datin Seri Tiara Jacquelina & Datuk Sri Effendy and their family members when they were in Chiang Mai. They lodged in that hotel which its normal room rate starts from USD 300.) Ayah told me he has been to the hotel before when we passed in front of it. Ayah told from the outside the exterior looks like a magnificent ancient Thai palace while the interior is extremely posh and modern. As for me, when I am on vacation, I don't mind whether my hotel is posh or not just as long as it is comfortable and clean because I will come back to the hotel to hit the bed. However yes, if one day Allah reward me with better fortune I will certainly bring my family to these very posh hotels for the luxurious experience :)

Enjoying the Welcome Drink, refreshing Pineapple Juice. Yum yum I love pineapple juice, I can’t understand of why most people don’t like it.

Posing with a stone-made elephant, the Holy Animal of Thailand.

Don’t you think that he is just cute?

The humble but nice landscape of the hotel

Our bedroom. One bed for me one bed for Ayah :p The room is fine to me, but I really complain about the very dim-litted lights of the room! It was difficult for me to pack the things I have shopped at night.

After we have checked it, we did not even rest, well why should waste any time right? Before Ayah left for his first golf game and left me in Selina’s good hands, DEFINITELY he would give me my shopping fund hehe. He reminded me to buy things for my sister Deena especially because she’s not with us for the trip because she’s working hard for her exam and not to forget to buy some nice things for my mother Ummi as well. It’s nice to know that Ayah still remembers to remind me to buy things for Ummi though they are divorced. By doing that, it just makes the children happy though that they are no longer together.

Ayah, his friends and I left the hotel in separate vans. They headed to a golf course while Selina, the driver (can’t remember his Thai nickname but it means Small or Kecik in Malay because of his small built :p) and I left the hotel and headed to San Kamphaeng District where it is specialized for Home Industries manufacturers to set up their businesses there. This area is famous for tourists to learn about the manufacturing process of each Thai craft business and also to purchase them at good prices. Most of the businesses have nice cosy bungalows as their business premise where the tourists will first be brought by their guides to the factory to know the step-by-step process and later go to the showroom to view the end result products and purchase them if you are interested. Good thing about the businesses premises here, even if it’s in the category of posh and exclusive you can always bargain, but of course do it with a smile always :) Hehe, do not forget that Thailand is known as The Land of Smiles, I think that is really nice, a smile would always light up anyone’s day and it doesn’t cost you a cent.

In front of Huanfai Daingam, the cotton store

My first stop was at a Cotton factory named Huanfai Daingam. Gee I just think that the name sounds more Vietnamese than Thai. The shop has the exclusive feel, so I made a mental note not to really shop too much at these exclusive stores because I bet that almost similar things if not the same might be available at night bazaars where I can get them at much cheaper prices and bargain even lower. However Ummi always reminds me, if I can purchase anything from the bazaars or villages where I can get the things directly from the persons that make the things for a living and I could see they’re not that well-off, and the prices are already cheap, don’t bargain but instead if I should just pay more to them to appreciate their work and regard the extra payment as Sadaqah or alms/charity.

Its factory

I noticed that Selina would always phone the next place that we were going to head, so the GRO at the stores would be ready to welcome me and serve me. As for here, the GRO has already waited for me and straightly brought Selina and I to the back of the store where the factory is located. However since I came on a Sunday most of the factories are not operating but Selina and the GRO would give me some good and detailed explanations anyway.

The Cotton Tree

One of the workers demonstrates the initial process to produce cotton. Starting from using the wood from the Cotton Tree.

Turning the cotton into thread.

Another worker weaving cotton to form a material

Cotton dyed with colourful dyes

I like the design here

The showroom cum store where most products use traditional Thai motives as the designs.

Various choices of blankets, bedsheets & table runners

A display of a bedroom where the bedsheet, comforter, pillow and cushion covers are made from cotton

Dainty cotton & rattan baskets for ladies

I bought about 10 of these keychains as souvenirs because I found that they are really preppy looking and adorable. Each cost me at about 89 baht each (approximately RM 9 plus, Thai’s currency is slightly stronger than the Malaysian Ringgit) but later I quite regret it because I could have bought cheaper but still nice souvenirs at Night bazaars. Anyways I was glad the people I gave these loved them especially my nieces Misha & Minda. I even bought them a little too many till I didn’t know to whom should I give them I gave them to Ong, our family’s repairman for him to give them to his children and he really liked them. Usually I like to buy souvenirs to my family and friends with a personal remembrance, for example buying the things that I know they would like so these keychains are the souvenirs without any personal note.

After spending enough time at the cotton store, we made our next move to a Celadon store. Celadon or better know as Thailand’s Jade because it’s green in colour is my mother’s most favourite type for dining ware besides the Blue China ware.

The store’s name is Baan Celadon which means Celadon House. You can see from the photo above that it offers exclusive Celadon and Selina told that it caters Celadon & Benjarong (another type for dining and home décor ware which has designs like Batik)ware for the Thai Royal Family as well.

Baan Celadon, the architecture of the building looks modern but has Thai traditional elements as well. I wish I can own a house this beautiful, not so big in size, but cosy and nice, and I wish to have Celadon as a part of my furniture because it’s just so calming and soothing to look at.

The landscape area of Baan Celadon

Hehe I wanted to snap some photos with Selina, but since she was still clad in her company’s uniform she didn’t want to, she asked me to wait until she changes into her cooler clothes :p As for preview, she showed me her gorgeously painted nails. My sis Nana would love to have this, Selina told me she did it with a very cheap price at the Night Bazaar.

The factory of Baan Celadon

As usual I would be brought to the factory first. Since it’s unoperating, at all factories they have huge boards displaying the step by step process of each product where tourists can read on their own.

A vase in the making. Usually the colourful hand-painted designs here are meant for Benjarong instead of Celadon. But only here I discovered that there actually exists Blue Celadon besides the original green ones.

Another vase. Selina told me that usually all designs are painted based on the story which the artiste wants to convey, usually regarding on Thailand’s history and tradition. That is why it is regarded as a piece of art, where it means the price could be pricey.

A decorative elephant

The showroom cum store

When I entered the showroom, I was stunned by the beauty of the Celadon and Benjarong displayed. Some of the vases and lamps were so huge I got very cautious not to topple anything. The Benjarong collection for the Thai Royal Family is so exclusive, although it is sold, a cup could cost up to RM 200. I was told not to snap any photo, but I just can’t help but to do it silently for me to put them up in my blog. However I managed to get more photos during my second trip to Chiang Mai in June with Ummi and Nana after Nana finished her exams. By the way, when I entered the showroom I was served with Iced Lemongrass Juice which was really tasty.

I did not buy anything for myself here but instead I bought 2 Celadon bangles each for Ummi and Nana that costs 500 Baht each (Slightly more than RM 50, remember to deduct a Zero when you use Thai currency to convert into RM) and an adorable dainty celadon elephant teapot which costs 500 Baht as well. I also bought Ummi a celadon mug which costs at about 350 Baht. Still remember, you can bargain here and I got some discount here as well. I think the prices at Baan Celadon are still reasonable and affordable because it is an exclusive store, I bet the prices if these products are sold in Kuala Lumpur would be much more expensive.

Our next stop was to a Silver Factory which I could not recall its name, but do not fret because all these factories are located nearby in the same district. I didn’t go to the factory because it was closed but the GRO, this time a man, explained to us the step by step process of producing silver. He informed us that silver must always be 92.5% with the remaining percentage is copper to make the silver hard or else it could not be formed into anything. He showed to us the samples of how many silver rings in different designs are made at the same time. The green plastic things in the picture above are used again and again to produce more rings.

The walkway to the showroom

The showroom

I think the showroom is quite spacious till the very back. The front part of the showroom offers the more modern designs while the choices at the back offers a range of traditional design silver accessories and silver ware.

Selina told me that some Italian tourists that she has brought previously told her that all the modern designs here are also the same new designs in Italy, so they think it might be that the vendors in Italy import the accessories from here. Only of course the prices there are sold with prices 4 times higher than in Chiang Mai. So one of them took the opportunity to buy all the birthday and Christmas gifts for his female family members and friends for this year and next year as well! :

Of course all the accessories here are beautiful, the silver are encrusted with emerald, diamond, ruby, pearls and also semi-precious stones. The prices are also reasonable and you can bargain. However I didn't buy anything for myself because I thought that I didn't need anything, further more I am not that crazy for accessories, only once in a while. However I did bought a pair of lovely drop earrings and a silver ring for my sister. Out of all types of accessories, I am more attracted on bracelets, bangles and rings because I wear hijab, and there I was seriously attracted on a bracelet which is encrusted with tiny pink diamonds, and Selina loved it too! Unfortunately it was priced at RM 1600, and of course I had to refuse, I didn't want to dump a huge portion of my shopping allowance on a bracelet and it would be too much to ask from Ayah for more money definitely so I had to leave the idea :p

The stylish modern designs of ladies' silver accessories

The more traditional designs displayed at the back of the showroom

Traditional Thai design necklaces, bangles & belts. Not excluding silver evening purses & dining ware. I felt like buying but since I won't have any purpose of wearing or using them so better not to waste any money. But yes bridal boutique owners and fashion designers are recommended to come here to purchase these accessories since the prices here are very reasonable.

Black Onyx. The designs here are funky such as teardrops, stars, butterflies, hearts and even skulls. I was quite attracted to buy one or two but I think the prices are quite expensive for my budget.

I am not sure about this type of stone, but I always find it in more native designs, you know like the Red Indian designs.

Our next stop was a traditional Thai umbrella & handicraft centre. All the products here are made from Sa paper. All the stores here regardless of the types of products they manufacture are located nearby so you would not waste any time stopping at one store and then another.

Of course must snap a photo here :)

The area of the handicraft centre which is full of greens

Check out the colourful umbrellas! Pretty pretty! :p

This is the Sa tree. The Sa paper is produced by flattening the wood and soaking them into hot water. Of coure there are other futher steps but I don't really remember :p

A worker in the midst of processing the paper

Working on the frames of the umbrellas

Umbrellas ready to be painted

Handicrafts suitable to place stationeries or made as cups for you to drink made from bamboo, sold at around RM 2

Colourful umbrellas ready to be sold

At this section, the artistes also would accept requests to do paintings on your clothes such as t-shirts, jeans, bags or anything you can think of for very cheap prices! A design starts from 50B (RM5++) and it will usually take at about 15 minutes or lesser for them to complete the job. I didn't do any though the designs were very tempting but I will suggest my sister to do it when she comes here.

An artiste painting floral designs on an umbrella.

Various of Thai traditional motives such as orchids, Buddha, elephants and others to be chosen by you as painted designs on your jeans, t-shirts etc.

This is not entirely traditional but I find it very funny, but this is not applicable for Muslims ok! :p

An artiste working on a huge umbrella

I like these umbrellas, the design and colours used made them look very exclusive.

Now let me bring you for a tour at the store. Most of the handicrafts sold here are made from Sa paper and wood. You may also purchase plain T-shirts here just in case if you want the artistes to paint the designs for you. However the prices are quite ridiculous I guess for a plain T-shirt from thin, cheap material but it's better than nothing. Only remember to bring your plain clothes if you want to have the designs painted on them so you won't have to buy any.

Dolls and pencilcases in the form of the hill tribes of Thailand.

Painted decorative fans. I bought some small ones which I can use in funkier colours and in the designs of cute elephants.

Hanging ornaments such as adorable windchimes are also sold in very cheap prices such as from RM 5.

Colourful paintings of the Buddha as a religious symbol.

Colourful lights made from Sa paper. However to be noted, you may get similar products with greater bargains at the Sunday Night Market or the Night Bazaar.

Ok people, after busy touring for half of the day, Selina brought me to a Chinese Muslim restaurant. The restaurant is like the typical Chinese seafood restaurants in Malaysia, quite big and comfortable, however the prices of the food are really cheap more or less the prices of food in food stalls in Malaysia. I am impressed with the businessmen in Thailand, I mean the rates for petrol and gas in Thailand is much more expensive there, if I'm not mistaken around RM 3.50 - RM 4 per litre for petrol (can't recall the exact price) but still business people sells their products in cheap prices. Even my Singaporean friends told me the prices of food at their food courts are considered cheaper compared to the prices in KL although their currency is stronger ( I agree with this fact after watching many episodes on food stalls in Singapore on Asian Food Channel) so we can drive to one conclusion: Malaysian business people always take advantage when the global petrol rate is increased! Huh!

Check out my first meal in Chiang Mai, from now onwards I am going to start my first ..

Jom Makan Halal! @ Chiang Mai, Thailand! :p

Fried Rice with Crab Meat and Bull's Eye Fried Egg (senang cakap Nasi Goreng Ketam dengan Telur Mata Kerbau)

350 Baht (approximately RM 3.50++)

Not too hot and spicy like the common Thai food that we know, the taste is a bit milder but still yummy!

Haa I bet even at Tom Yam stalls the standard price for a plate of fried rice in KL is RM 4.. see the difference.. this one I bought in a restaurant. However hehe, the next time I went to Chiang Mai in June this restaurant increased it's price since it is gaining more and more Malaysian tourists. The new price is 500B but hey, at least it's a restaurant you see..

Anyway regarding on the food in Chiang Mai, although it's spicy, but it's not as hot and spicy as the Thai food in southern Thailand such as Haad Yai. So for those who has a milder tastebuds and don't really dare to try Thailand's spicy food, I think Chiang Mai's cuisine would suit you. Still whether it is Northern of Southern Thai cuisine, Thai cuisine is always awesome! Aroyyy!! (Urm that means Delicious in Thai).

Snapping a photo with suwai (beautiful)Thai young ladies, beautifully clad in Thai silk attire

Alhamdulillah after feeding my face, I continued my tour in Chiang Mai by visiting the Gems Gallery. When I visited Bangkok when I was 12, ayah brought our family to its branch there but Selina told me the largest branch is the one in Chiang Mai. Perhaps as you have known, Thailand is famous for gems or precious stones as one of its natural resources. So here you may get jewellery encrusted with high quality diamonds, rubies, emeralds & sapphires just to name a few. The designs also are very exclusive and made very fine.

Hehe of course if you like to shop here you need some serious stack of cash (of course credit cards are very preferable too :p) but as a student here, I just come here to check out the jewellery. I was greeted by a GRO who was really friendly and nice, and she's excited that my name is almost similar to hers but unfortunately I can't recall her name but it was Su something as well. I told her with a laugh that since I am a student please don't expect me to buy anything extravagant because I won't have the right money..she laughed too but said it's ok she said she loved to even just introduce me to the different types of gems and educate me with the process of creating them.

She brought me to an area where some workers there displayed the step-by-step process of the making of these stunning jewelleries. It started from the extracting of the gems from the rocks, sculpting, washing, polishing etc. Firstly let me show you the photos of some exquisite creations displayed near the entrance before I entered the partial factory area.

A Jade clock.

117, 000 Baht

This is unique, a ship made from Fishbone. Don't ask me how they made it into a ship.

This carving is made from a certain type of wood.

The altar which has the statue of King Rama 5.

The current King is #9. I asked Selina why is that King Rama 5 is being so highly respected till now, because I noticed many lockets portrayed his photo and even some restaurants are named after him. Selina who's a hitory buff, see how good a tourist guide she is, informed me that King Rama 5 is regarded by the Thais next to God. He is known as a very noble character man, he freed the slaves in the olden days and due to his intelligence and courage, Thailand won the war against Burma (Myanmar) in the past. So Thais would pay some respect and made offerings whenever they encounter his statue. Indeed I saw Seline stopped for a quick minute in front of the statue and solemnly prayed, so yes the shrines of King Rama 5 is a common scene in Thailand.

After I went to the processing room, I was brought to the gallery where all the jewelleries are displayed under bright lights making the bling-bling looked more tempting. I was not allowed to snap photos, but stubborn Suraya did using her hp's camera silently so sorry for the poor quality. I heard French tourists ooohh-ed and aaahh-ed when they looked at the collection, and yes kept muttering 'Jolie!!' ie beautiful.

Selina told me that two of her clients, the Yang Amat Mulia Sultanah Kedah and Datin Seri Tiara Jacquelina did some serious shopping there. Haha I have no argument on that statement, it is believable.

The collection shown in the middle area are sold around hundred of thousands ringgit. The most expensive necklace which has gigantic emeralds, diamonds, rubies and sapphires encrusted in it is sold at RM 600, 000 or 6 million Baht. It was really cool and nice of the GRO because although she knew I would not afford to buy the jewelleries which cost tens of thousands of ringgit but she still offered me to try on the jewelleries just for fun, you know she did not show any annoyance or reluctance so that was very nice of her. :)

By the way, if you are like me, who just don't have the budget to buy gold or platinum gold, do not be disappointed because they also offer semi-precious stones which look so so so similar to the expensive precious stones on gold and silver that looks like white gold. Of course you could see more tourists flock at this area and really purchasing including me! :p Of course I did buy something for myself, a silver bracelet encrusted with Cubic Zirconia and a matching ring which looks EXACTLY like the one which was given from my loved one, and yes I have lost it away..or thrown it away to be exact. See how cruel I could be? But yes the purchase of it shows non other than my love for him which is still intact for him, and when he knew I bought it made him really happy because he got the sign.. hmm let just leave everything to Allah's wise decision.. Ok I am going astray from the original topic, by the way the 'bling bling' pieces that I've bought cost about RM 500 only but it made me feels like wearing diamonds baby! Hehe Ayah was really glad that I bought something quite pricey for myself and he said those are really nice and said he bet that I wouldn't get that kind of a bracelet with price that good in KL when I showed to him the things I shopped that night, so Ayah's compliments made me happier, thanks Ayah for the shopping spree :)

*to be continued