An afternoon at Doi Suthep Temple

Before our trip to Chiang Mai, my friend and I already spent countless of hours researching on what to do and what tours to join. I came across Travel Hub Chiang Mai while researching on the internet and found that they had competitive rates. Reaching them for inquiries was not a problem as they were prompt to answer my emails. We booked all our join in tours with them and we didn't regret with their fast, easy and reliable service.

The first join in tour we booked with them was Half day Doi Suthep Temple Tour. Since we arrived in Chiang Mai in the morning, we took the afternoon tour. Pick up time was around 1pm- 1:30pm. Being excited and ready, we settled in the reception while waiting for our pick up. 

Our guide and pick up arrived at 1:30pm and we settled into a van. There were 10 other people who were with us during the tour. The guide started to introduce herself. Her name is Moon and the driver's name is Sem. She told us that there is a total of 44 temples in Chiang Mai. More temples meant more power back in the days. Their kingdom - Lanna Kingdom, was not the same as that of Siam (Bangkok).

The first thing we did was visit the Doi Pui Hmong Village. We we were able to see a lot of stores with their hand crafted materials.

There was also a hill tribe museum and garden near the top of the hill. Entrance fee was 10 Baht.

Articles and display of tools where inside this crude hut turned museum. 

Upon exiting the museum is this cool garden at the top. 

We then headed out to Doi Suthep Temple. It is one of Northern Thailand's most sacred temples. There are 2 ways to come up to the temple. One way is to reach the top by a strenuous 306 step staircase. For Buddhist pilgrims, taking this climb will help accrue merits. Another way is to take the funicular style lift. Sources say that this is 20THB per person for the lift. We took the lift on our way up. 

We saw the top of  the staircase. I think the climb is not too bad.

Shoes are asked to be taken off upon entering the temple grounds. One must be appropriately dressed when going into the inner grounds. A sarong was handed out for guests who were wearing sleeveless shirts and shorts. There are numerous pagodas, statues, bells and shrines within the site. 

A lot of Buddha statues are around the chedi. They are in amazing variety of poses and materials. 

According to the legend, the relic of the bone said to be from the shoulder of Buddha was placed on the back of a sacred white elephant which was allowed to roam anywhere it wanted. The elephant eventually climbed to the top of Suthep mountain. It then trumpeted and turned around three times, knelt and eventually died. This was taken as the sign as the spot where the relic wanted to be.

This is the gleaming golden chedi that enshrines the relic. My friend and I walked around the chedi for 3 times as it is believed to be for good luck. 

Getting a blessing from the monk.

Outside the temple ground is the viewpoint overlooking Chiang Mai City. The airport and its runway is  visible from here.

We chose to try the staircase on our way down.

At the base of the temple and its streets are a number of stores selling souvenirs, food stalls and jade factories. It was fun to look at the different things available for sale.

Though it was a very short tour, it was still an afternoon well spent. Thank you and 'til my next blog! :)

Vote for Pinoy Aquaman

My cousin, Atty. Ingemar P. Macarine, has been advocating for clean seas, environmental tourism and climate change awareness by swimming in open waters. He was the first man to swim from Basul Island to Surigao City last 2013 and crossed the 13.4 km stretch from Balicasag Island to Panglao Island in Bohol. He also conquered the 2.8 km channel from Alcatraz to San Francisco City last 2014. 

image taken from globalnation.inquirer.net

The World Open Water Swimming Association has nominated him as 1 of the 12 swimmers all over the world for its annual WOWSA Man of the Year Awards. He would be the first Filipino to be accorded such honor. I am therefore writing this blog to ask for all of your help because I support and I'm proud of my cousin. Please help us let him win the award by voting for number 7 INGEMAR PATINO MACARINE PINOY AQUAMAN PHILIPPINES on this site: https://www.worldopenwaterswimmingassociation.com/2015-wowsa-awards/2015-wowsa-man-of-the-year-nominees/

image taken from sunstar.com.ph

After voting, please don't forget to click on the DONE button and leave a comment of "Philippines" at the bottom of the page to advertise your vote. Voting ends on December 31, 2015.

Thanks in advance for all your support! 'Til my next blog. :)

Christmas Eve 2015

So how was your Christmas Eve?

Me and 3 of my friends had an intimate Christmas dinner at one friend's pad. We stuffed ourselves with roasted chicken, lasagna, potato salad and oreo cheesecake. Of course, we had to have the obligatory Christmas photo before everything else.

Next we drove to St Joseph church located in Cherng Talay, Phuket. It was quite far but since we haven't been there before and we knew it had a Christmas worship so we headed there. The church was very modern and new. We arrived an hour before the mass started to secure seats.

After church, we waited for our friends to come out for all of us to have a Christmas photo.

Next we headed back home to eat again and open our gifts. Each of us prepared 3 gifts so that each can also receive 3 gifts.

Adults becoming kids again on Christmas day. Haha!

Afterwards, friends just played cards and had a couple of drinks to end the night.

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas with your family and friends! Thanks for reading and 'til my next blog. :)

Sending Holiday Cheers to One and All

It's the most wonderful time of the year again. This is my second time to celebrate the holidays away from my family and my home country. Even though this is the case, I found that wherever I am the holiday feeling is everywhere.

I found this huge Christmas tree while walking around the busy streets in Bangkok.

I found the Peanuts gang in their Christmas Village at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

Yesterday, 23 December, sweet little Santas came to sing us a medley of Christmas carols. I snucked out of the office for a couple of minutes to listen to their angelic voices.

And today, I found this on our hospital's Facebook page. Can't help saying awww to these cutees. :)

With this joyous season, I wish we'd never forget that Christ is the reason for the season. Merry Christmas from me to you and your family. :)

Congratulations, Ms Philippines!

Yesterday, 21 December 2015, was when Filipinos around the world went wild and surprised. After 42 years of waiting and aiming for that elusive Miss Universe crown, Ms Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach finally got it.

image taken from mic.com

I was actually busy with work and was not planning to see the pageant. When my colleague told me that she is in the top 5 and finally when there were only 2 of them left, I got very excited to know the result. I told my friend that she has gotten far already and I'd be happy even if she would only bag the 1st runner up. 

Steve Harvey announced Ms Colombia as the winner. My heart sank a bit but I was happy for her as she also did good. However, there was a turn of event when Steve admitted that he made a mistake in announcing the winner. Ms Colombia was in fact the 1st runner up and Ms Phillipines is the Miss Universe winner. It was a huge mistake of which Steve Harvey humbly apologized.

Now, the internet is full of bashing and hurtful comments to either Steve, Ms. Colombia or Ms Philippines. I have seen funny but bullying memes and jokes about Ms Colombia's embarrassing experience. 

It's almost Christmas and I wish everybody would be happy that Steve owned up to his mistake, Ms Colombia has accepted that she is not the one for the crown and Pia that all her efforts has now paid off. After all, these women and all those contestants have proven to themselves and to the world that they can own up to the big challenge of competing for the crown.

To Pia, you have made us very proud! You have become the concrete example of chasing up one's dreams no matter how elusive it is. Your hard work has now been recognized and it is my hope that you can truly stand up and prove to the world what confidently beauty with a heart is.

Ayutthaya to Chiang Mai by Train

My friend and I planned beforehand that we'd take a sleeper train from Ayutthaya to Chiang Mai. I was especially excited because it was my first time. With high recommendations from a certain blog that I am also following, I booked through 12go.asia for our train ride. I had to provide our details to their website and the following day their staff would buy the ticket on the train station. It was fast and easy as I was able to get a confirmation that the tickets were ready on the next day. One thing that disappointed me was that I had to send a couple of emails to remind them that they have to send it by mail to me here in Phuket. I was anxious but thankfully I got the mail 3 days before I was to depart to Bangkok.

The train originated in Bangkok and since there were no tickets from Ayutthaya to Chiang mai, it did not matter that our train ticket was marked Bangkok - Chiang mai. 

Our train was Train 13 which was supposed to arrive in Ayutthaya station at 2107H. We arrived at the station at around 2030H because we didn't want to be late.

A few minutes after we got to the station, the station masters announced that the train was delayed and will be arriving about 40 minutes after the expected time. No wonder our guesthouse staff told us not to worry on being late because the train was also late! With nothing to do but wait, we managed to make friends with a couple from Germany who was also travelling the same route. I'm amazed with the travel stories that they shared when they were in Europe. I wish I could go there someday.

When the train was approaching, the station masters asked us to stand on the second platform. They were very helpful in letting us know where our assigned car would be. I took this photo while standing and waiting for the train to arrive.

When the train arrived and we got on it, I was sad to see that the berths were already made. All we had to do was find our berth numbers. It was quite difficult as the numbers were written on the curtains. If the curtains were not stretched, it won't be seen. 

We found our assigned berths and immediately settled our things. There was enough spaces for our bags to be placed either near us or across us. The staff were eager to help the passengers. Also, a staff was asking if we would like to have some breakfast served by morning. My friend just ordered Milo for his morning drink. I didn't reserve anything as I still had a sandwich and water.

I was assigned the top berth which was smaller compared to the lower one. I would have wanted the lower one because it has a window view when morning would come. Anyways, it didn't matter because I slept right away. It was very cold in our train car and it would have been nice if I got my socks. Once in a while, I would wake up when the train either encounters a curve track or stops, nevertheless I had a comfortable sleep.

The next morning, I went down to the lower berth to wake my friend up. He said he was not able to sleep well. While he was waiting for his hot drink to be given, we just stared at the beautiful scenery unfolding to us through the window. 

We passed fields and mountains as well as other train stations.

We took a selfie while eating. We sent it to a friend and wished she accompanied us for this trip.

The train staff was slowly converting the berths to become chairs again. Glad I was able to see how it was done. It was cool. I figured she needed those muscles to turn over and fold the upper bed.

An hour later, we arrived at Chiang Mai train station. I was in shock. I thought that since we departed late in Ayutthaya, we would arrive late or by mid morning in Chiang mai. It was around 9 am when the train signaled it's arrival. It was surreal to have survived my first sleeper train ride. Not that it was terrifying instead it was fun and memorable for me.

He had to have something to remind him of his sleepless train ride.

Walking out from the platforms, this confirms that we have arrived in the correct station. I was so happy and excited.

It was perfect that a big booth wherein tourists can get a city map was directly visible before the station's exit. We lined up to get one. The staff asked us where our hotel was and he encircled it on the map. We figured the hotel is not far from the station so we just walked towards it. 

When we were out of the station, I felt the cold air hit my skin. The temperature was about 24 degrees Celsius. A far cry from the usual 30 degree Celsius weather we had down South. It was like walking outside but with airconditioning around. Well, it was the coldest place I've been into so far.

We found our hotel only in a few minutes. It was very near this iron bridge. Our hotel is Riverside Bed and Breakfast and since our room was not yet ready, the kind receptionist provided us with a map and told us where we can head to eat and exchange currencies.

When it was time for us to check in, we settled our things and freshened up to be ready for our first tour in Chiang mai. It was to be our tour to see Doi Suthep Temple.

Thank you and 'til next blog!

Astonishing Ayutthaya

I wished to go to Ayutthaya as part of my goal to visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites.  A friend of mine was kind enough to come and explore the place with me. I almost gave up the idea of seeing the place because of time and transportation constraints. Fortunately, we were able to set foot and enjoy what Ayutthaya has to offer.

We arrived by van to Ayutthaya from Bangkok. There were a lot of vans bound to Ayutthaya at Bangkok's Victory Monument. It was an hour drive and we had to pay 90 THB.

The view at Victory Monument Station, Bangkok

Arriving at Ayutthaya, we then sought out the help of tuktuks to take us to our hotel. We rented a room in Baan One Love Guesthouse. Renting a room allowed us to leave our things, freshen up and rest a bit before exploring. We also arranged for the hotel to get us a tuktuk to drive us to the temples. The price for the tuktuk to take us around was 200THB per hour. Quite expensive but this is the usual rate.

While waiting for our driver, we found this mobile stall with dried fruits being sold on it. I didn't catch the names of the fruits but the lady was kind enough to let me taste some.

When our tuktuk arrived, we asked him to take us to St Joseph Church first before heading off to the temples. As I standby what has been taught to me to put God first in everything that I do, I believe this is just the right thing. 

Taking a wefie while on board the tuktuk we rented.

St Joseph Church is a Catholic Church in Ayutthaya built in 1666 at the request of Vietnamese missionaries. It was originally built with bricks and mortar in European style between 1685 and 1995. Unfortunately, it was destroyed during Burmese attacks and so restoration was completed in 1847. The church has then been a place of continuous Catholic worship in Thailand for over 300 years.

We were lucky to get in and pray. This is what the inside looks like.

We then headed to explore some temples. The ancient city of Ayutthaya, formally designated Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya was the the Thai capital city for 417 years and is one of Thailand's major tourist attraction. 

First temple we went to was Wat Chaiwatthanaram as it was close to the Church we visited earlier. This is one of Ayutthaya's best known temples and a major tourist attraction. The temple's name literally means the Temple of Long Reign and Glorious Era.

After the total destruction of the old capital by the Burmese army in 1767, this temple wasn't spared and was deserted. Theft, sale of bricks and and beheading of Buddha statues were common. In 1987, the Thai Department of Fine Arts started its restoration and opened it to the public in 1992.

Wat Chaiwatthanaram was a royal temple where the king and his successors performed religious ceremonies. Also, princes and princesses were cremated here. 

We spent a long time in this temple as it was quite big. It was a mesmerizing and beautiful sight. Although I have already been to Angkor Wat in Cambodia, seeing a temple like this still makes my heart skip a beat. By the way, entrance fee for this temple is 50THB.

Our next stop is Wat Phra Ram. This monastery was situated outside the grand palace compound to the southeast. It was constructed by the royal command of King Rame - suan. Admission to this temple is still 50THB.

This is where we saw a lot of elephants being ridden by tourists. My friend would have loved to ride one but then I didn't want to ride an elephant again. We settled by just seeing them on the streets. We even joked about being careful of being run over by elephants and not by vehicles. I was lucky to have a photo of an elephant who still has his tusk.

A few steps away was Wat Phra Si Sanphet. In Thai this means Temple of the Holy, Splendid Omniscient and was the holiest temple in the Royal Palace in Ayutthaya until the city was destroyed. 

The three large chedis were made to contain ashes of Kings. The styles of these chedis are considered typical of the Ayutthaya style and several replicas of them have been built in Bangkok. Currently, this temple is regarded as the symbol of Ayutthaya province.

Outside the temple was a small market where snacks, drinks and souvenirs were being sold. We found these children selling toy grasshoppers made from plant's leaves. Interesting and unique idea for these kids to have extra money.

We also found this small temple at the South of Wat Phra Si Sanphet. It is where one of the biggest bronze Buddha images in Thailand is. 

Our last but definitely not the least temple visited was..

This temple which means The Monastery of the Great Relic is located on the city island in the central part of Ayutthaya. The structure has been registered as a national historic site by the Fine Arts Department on 8 March 1935 and is part of the Ayutthaya World Heritage Historical Park. Entrance fee for this temple is 50THB.

Apart from being the symbolic center where the Buddha's relics were enshrined, this temple was also the residence of the leader of the Thai Buddhist monks. It is believed to be built during 14th century A.D.

This is the foundation of the main prang which remains until today. It collapsed during the Ayutthaya period, was restored and collapsed again in 1911. It can be judged from the size of the base that the prang was quite high. The main prang was the most important edifice in the temple compound.

This temple offers the much photographed Buddha head embedded into a tree trunk.

After spending time looking around at the remnants of this temple, we headed to the street market which is located right across. Most of the stalls were still setting up but we managed to buy fruits and look at their products.

We had a hectic afternoon in Ayutthaya. If only we had a lot of time we would've went to other temples and explored more of the place. As we were tired, we went back to our hotel to prepare ourselves and our things for our next adventure - our sleeper train ride to Chiang Mai. I'm excited to tell you all about it as it was my first time to ride a sleeper train. 

Thank you for reading and 'til my next blog!