It matters

The weather here is getting crazier than ever. It started raining few days ago and it didnt stop for the whole of yesterday.

Anywayz, Mdm's keeping track of my weight again cos it's getting noticeable that I have piled on a bit of weight. Yesterday, P and I were calculating the calories we consume on an average day and realised that my theory of relying on mung bean vermicelli was a total flaw. Apparently, it's higher in calories than any other noodles (egg, rice etc.). In any case, I guess I had been able to keep my calories intake slightly above 1500. So on days that I do my 3.5 km on the treadmill, I am managing 1500 calories intake per day. As I was happily thinking of the possibility of shedding that extra 2 kg, we went groceries shopping today and I came home with half a kilo of durian. I know it's a sinful indulgence but I only had a bowl of noodle for lunch and a plate of vermicelli salad for dinner. And I was still hungry. So, I sat and munched on that half kilo of durian (btw, Thai durians suck big time), thinking that it's ok to add on 500 calories for today. I was wrong. According to this guy, you get 357 calories in one piece of durian. ROOOOOAAAAAAAARRRRRRR. I think I consumed, at least, 8 pieces of fleshy tasteless durian. I should just live on water for the next few days. *Burp*

Drama nerd

Finally, we've decided not to rely on the XBox and gotten ourselves a DVD player. Mdm can now watch the VCDs/DVDs I brought from Singapore. I'm now into episode 4 of Corner with Love (轉角*遇到愛) and I'm loving it!!! I know the storyline is very cliché but Mdm is a sucker for dramas like this. I guess I would just need another 2 days to finish the serial. =..=''

Dead Tiger

It's official!!! I had a casual chat with Mr Singapore this morning and according to him, Tigerairways had withdrawn their fleet out of Chiangmai permanently!!! ROOOOOAAAAAAAAARRRRR.

That leaves me with the following alternatives:

1. Flying by Silkair
This is going to be the preferred choice but a return trip is going to cost me S$600.

2. Flying via BKK
A return trip will cost approximately S$300 but time travelled will be at least doubled, depending on the mode of travel from Chiangmai to BKK (i.e. bus, train or flight)

From my experience, the SG-CNX-SG flights have always been quite packed. We figured out that since both Tigerairways and Silkair are SIA affiliates, this must be some kind of business strategy to sustain Silkair's operation of the CNX route.

ARGGGGGHHHH.

Water madness!

It's over.

The streets were jam-packed and I guess if the festival was to last for a week the streets of Chiangmai is going to flood!!! By the way, it is so super duper hot here now that I am developing very bad rashes. My precious skin is too delicate for this tough weather. LOL.

My folks arrived on Monday evening and we had dinner with P's family. On the following day, we stayed in town and went to Wat Phra Singh for the Buddha showering, had a tour at my university and P's workplace then headed off to the hotspring. We got a room for a hot bath even in this crazy hot weather. In the afternoon, we were caught in 2 2-hour traffic jams in town. The Thais had congregated around the moat and we were driving around town to watch the water splashing fun from our car. It was actually quite interesting people watching from inside. People on the streets were super high and they were drinking and dancing while getting wet. Dad was obviously very excited and exclaimed profusely.







Our plan to Chiangrai, Mae Sai and Golden Triangle was fulfilled on Tuesday. We took a 5-hour car ride with multiple stops. First was at this ridiculous hot spring beside a newly built Wat that wasnt opened to the public yet.





Next stop was at this super magnificent white temple that was being constructed by a famous Thai artist. Although parts of the compound were still undergoing construction, the place was packed with tourists. Check out the fusion of surrealism with Thai art, it's pretty cool.






We reached Chiangrai at 2 and checked into our hotel. After a tour around Chiangrai city (which was as good as dead) we decided to move on to Mae Sai. Although we didnt really use the hotel (except for the quick shower my Dad took), the hotel refused to let us check out without paying and we had to fork out 1000 baht for cancellation. So we paid and off we went! On our way we stopped at Doi Tung and visited the King's Mum's holiday home in Chiangrai. Check out the pics and my clothes! Apparrently I wasnt properly attired to enter the Royal's compound. ARRRGGGHHH.





The trip from Doi Tung to Mae Sai was ultra eventful. Half way, there was a huge storm and we had to stop cos visibility was really poor. When the storm did pass, electricity was off for the whole town and we had a hard time driving around looking for accomodation for the night. We settled for a really cheap place (600 baht per night) and went hunting for dinner at 7.

The following morning, we drove to Golden Triangle. My folks were pretty excited about the boat ride along Mekong River at the Golden Triangle. The boat took us to Laos where we stopped over at a local market. We were back at Mae Sai in the late morning and we walked over to Myanmar. We spent about 2-3 hours at the Tachilek Market at Myanmar and bought lotsa stuff (clothes, food etc.). 3 countries in a day! Cool or what. In the afternoon we headed back to Chiangmai with occassional stops at fruit stalls where my folks bought lots.











We went to Warorot market at the back of the house on Thursday morning. My folks obviously enjoyed the walk in Chiangmai's largest market. We spent like 3 hours and they bought lotsa goodies. We headed to the plaza in the afternoon for another round of quick buy before having farewell dinner with P's family in a traditional Thai restaurant.



And then it was the send-off at the airport this morning. It wasnt uber teary and all although I knew that my mum didnt want to look right at my face before she turned and walked towards the gates. I was glad she didnt cos I cant bear it either. Most of the time they were back facing me and I really hoped they understood that it was tough for me too. Although they made me had fits in this week and I had as usual display my sucky attitude at them, I still miss them lots and want to spend as much time with them as possible.

Ciao and see everyone back home in July!

Yummy boys

The two Chongs are definitely meeting in BKK over the long weekend. Yuppie! Check out our accommodation. It's a new hip hostel in Bangkok. MM wanted a room that we can "sleep and shit together" and we'd settled for a really expensive twin ensuite (considering it's a hostel). There are so much raves about this new place and it looks really impressive so we didnt mind spending a bit more. Anywayz... I'm sooo looking forward to my short trip!!! Plus, we will shop till we drop in JJ and catch our first Thai boy show. *Slurp*

This is going to be like my 6th trip to BKK. Frankly, I wouldnt mind doing it for another 100 times if I can be meeting my love ones in BKK over long weekends like this. I havent seen MM for like 2 months now! I know she's probably having jitters now (cos MM is travelling by budget airline, which she is not very keen, and my mere mention of the availability of express bus service from Suvarnabhumi made her shouted "huh? I dont even take bus in Singapore!!!" aloud over the phone). Anyhow, this is our first trip together and I really can't wait. =)) I remember how when we were younger, we would go shopping together then end up heading home separately cos we fought over some trivial matter. I doubt this is going to happen cos we had obviously mature over time and our tolerance level for each other have increased (I think).

It's Songkran tomorrow and I'll be seeing my folks in the evening. Although we have booked our accomodation in Chiangrai but our plan is still pending. For now, I have to start clearing up the mess in my room before mum sees it and goes into hyperventilation.

Black Hole

We bought the Black hole mosquito trap for 2900 Baht and guess what... In a night almost 50 mosquitoes were trapped!!! This is so incredible. We even have some moths in the Black hole. See how it works. Isnt it genius??? Although the mosquito population in the house had significantly decreased (I suppose), I am still not spared from their attacks!!! Hopefully within a month all these irritating insects will be sucked by the incredible trap.

Check out this test... got it from MM's blog. Very interesting. I can't believe there are people out there who can easily average 70-80 words per minutue. Enjoy! =)

55 words
Speed test

!@#$

FUCK!

Holiday!

It's longgggg weekend for me!!! Yuppie! I really dunno what's on but I know that it's public holiday on Monday. =))

It has been a busy week. I was preparing to leave work yesterday and realised that I had forgotten to strike off the dates since tuesday. Songkran is coming in 2 weeks' time and we are kindda preparing for my folks' arrival. They will be around for 6 days and we would be bringing them around and most probably out of city. I was hoping that I can meet MM in BKK mid-May.

It's summer time in CNX. It's extremely hottt. The weather is so stifling and unbearable. I think it was like 40 degrees yesterday. Somehow, I miss the weather back at home. Humidity makes me sweat but at least it doesnt make me feel like I'm baking in an oven.

We were at the shopping complex last sunday and realised that we have so many wants. I so want to get ITouch!!! And then there are lomo camera, super big LCD TV, GPS phone, new bags etc. I know my birthday is like 6 months away... but I think it's plenty of time for saving up. MM, listen up!! =P

I was thinking about my past half a year spent in Thailand and tried to sum up my amazing experiences with animals/ insects. Yup... animals and insects! Check out the following (I would think that the list will just keep growing!):

+ Gotten the most number of mosquito attacks
Mdm's legs are badly scarred and you wouldnt believe how vicious the mosquitoes here are until they attack you. I was bitten while doing the most mundane stuff like cooking, having food in the living area, doing laundry and even showering and poo-ing. ROARRRRRRRRRR.
+ Seen the most number of squirrels, cows, buffaloes, elephants in non-captivity
At least once a week, I will see cute little squirrels on the roof or grid cable.
+ Had numerous encounters with rats/ geckos/ lizards
+ Seen the largest gecko alive!
+ Drank ants' egg soup
*Burp*

Have a nice weekend!