Hello lovelies! Today will be the last day of my stay in Thailand :( time now is 4.15pm Thailand time. Currently, I've just checked into Chiang Mai airport, and am waiting for 5.45pm Thailand time to board the plane! Will land in Singapore about 10pm Singapore time!

Today, had a little tour around Chiang Mai! Woke up bright and early @ 6.30am, and prepared to leave the guesthouse where our driver-cum-tour guide came to pick us up @ 8.15am! Headed to their local market first, where we bought more than 10kg of mangoes! Not the usual yellow ones we see in Singapore, but green mangoes!

Proceeded to elephant farm next! At first I was rather excited, but gradually, I start to feel heart ache for the poor elephants. At young age, they are being trained to listen to their commands, and will be punished with harpoon-liked equipment if they are disobedient. All the elephants looked skinny, and they do not look happy at all. Was so stoked to ride on the elephants when we just arrive, but I was happy I made the right choice, of not buying the ticket to ride on them. Bought bananas and sugarcane for the poor creatures and they gobbled down like they havent eaten for days! :( managed to get upclose to one of the elephants, and I can see tears from his eyes. As I petted the elephant's head, he just leaned forward, and lifted his trunk, and placed it on my face. Everytime I stroke his face, he just keep placing his trunk near my face, really make my eyes wet. Bought more bananas and sugarcane for the older elephants, and really make my heart ache, in chinese: 心酸.

Left the elephant farm early and proceeded to the long-neck tribe. The woman started using brass to twine around their necks at the age of 5, and slowly increase the wire till 26 rounds. It was kept at 26 as then doctor feels its not healthy for the spine, neck and shoulder, if it was to go beyond that. They are really good at handicrafts and both me and my godmum was so tempted to get them! Halfway through, my stomach decided she wanted a clean-out, and I had trouble looking for a toilet. :/ so I had to hold it in till I found a toilet near the entrance of the tribe. The people there are very friendly, and they do not mind tourists who keeps taking photos of them. Left the place and proceeded to a temple on the top of the mountain - Doi Su Thep (translated to English would mean "Sacred Mountain".

After enduring about 15mins of winding and turning, we finally reached the bottom of the temple. Only manage to reach the top after 209 steps! The temple is just so beautiful and sacred, with all the gold Buddha statues all around. Walked around barefooted and at the back of the temple, overlooks Chiang Mai. The scenery is just indescribable! Its a birds' eye view of the entire Chiang Mai city, with slight fog and rain. Everything is just so peaceful. Walked barefooted down the steps and back to our transport, and a short drive later, we're here at Chiang Mai airport. Time now is 5pm Thailand time, and another 45mins, we will be departing Thailand.

Will meet up with my friends soon after I land in Singapore! So many things to share, but its just so difficult to narrate to them, without them seeing personally how beautiful the place and people here are! I will definitely come back here again! Gonna work hard and save up, probably ask one or two of my INTERESTED close friends along to experience what I've experienced for the past 2 weeks!

More than 60 videos to be uploaded, so please be patient with me! Will upload them on Facebook when I get home!(:

Gonna be boarding the plane soon!

xoxo darlings!

<3 <3 <3

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Time now: 9.00pm Singapore time!

Been experiencing huge turbulence on our way to Singapore. Just heard from our pilot, that we'll be landing in Singapore @ 2130 hrs! Thinking back, I cant believe me and my sister used to think that turbulence is fun! Lol! We are out of our minds! Been planning with my godmum, about our next trip! Im really stoked for it and im gonna save up loads of money for it!

Current song on my ipod: What Are Words by Chris Medina!

Couldnt sleep a wink, because a kid on the plane has been whining the moment he board the plane. -.- the parents couldnt really do anything about it, so they just have to give in to whatever he wants. Can feel the plane slowly descending, and its pitch black outside, cannot really see a thing. So I guess we're reaching soon? (:

Labels: reflection, Thailand

Today is our second, and considered the last day here in Mae Sai? Its a very nice place here, with nice people and nice food! Anywhere we go, there are always people who welcomed us, make us feel comfortable and taken care of!

Today, woke up @ about 9am Thailand time? Started to pack our luggage, as we will be taking an early bus back to Chiang Mai. Had godmum's sister to packet breakfast to our guesthouse! So sweet of her! She bought my favorite: kway teow soup! (Please dont be tempted Mr Goh! Hee hee!) After breakfast, left the guesthouse and went over to Burma, also known as Myanmar now on the map, all thanks to the Thai government!

Their customs is just so different from us, and its really a whole new experience! The moment we stepped into Burma ground, literally, a huge group of tour guides surrounded us, offering to bring us around Burma. They only stopped following and crowding around us, when we turned towards their local streets. Headed upwards to visit my godmum's siblings.

Arrived at their house, and received a warm welcome! They are all very nice people, and as usual, they are trying hard to communicate with me! Super adorable bunch of people! My godmum's elder sister, was trying to tell me about the flood that occurred here, and she was so comical! Her body actions, her trying to speak to me in English. Super duper adorable! Their lifestyle here is pretty hard I would say? Like they have to work very very hard to feed themselves and their family. But to me, probably because im born and raised in Singapore, such a lifestyle is very laid back to me. You can just sit back, attend to customers, take a short walk and you will get to see wonderful sceneries. Life here is really what it is - what you see is what you get. People here have strong bonds with each other, and they dont let issues get to them easily.

Time now is 3.45pm, Burma time and im still at my godmum's siblings house! Fyi, Burma time is half an hour earlier than Thailand time, whilst Thailand time is one hour earlier than Singapore time! So now, it should be 5.15pm in Singapore? Currently im just lying on the rattan chair, listening to the adults conversing and joking around! Will be going back to our guesthouse later in the evening, probably 5pm Burma time!

p/s: I dont know if I smell bad, or because im friendly. The houseflies seemed to love to land on my body and clean their wings. No matter how much I move about, they still stay on my body, without moving an inch! Houseflies are just so interesting to watch upclose, and its the first time I can observe them right in front of my eyes!

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Time check: 9.05pm Thailand time!

Just finished bathing after packing our luggage and 2nd round of dinner! I can feel myself getting fatter! :/ bought food for tmr's 5hours plus bus ride to Chiang Mai! During this 2 weeks, had spent ALOT of money here and I hope we have sufficient for our little our little tour in Chiang Mai! Gonna post up photos in Facebook in a while! For now, im going to watch Thai horror film on tv! :DDDDDDD

xoxo darlings!

Labels: Mae Sai, reflection, Thailand

Currently in Mae Sai guesthouse, and as I said, it's not as cozy as the one in Mae Sod. I felt it was dirty? So I went to extreme measures, by laying the towels over the bed, slept on it, get another towel as blanket for my legs, and my jacket as blanket from torso up! And, I was dirty enough not to bathe after a whole day of travelling!

Woke up around 7am in the morning, changed and got out for breakfast! Mae Sai is really different from Mae Sod. It's much more bustling here in Mae Sai, with alot of roadside stalls, and also local markets (a.k.a. Pasar Malam in Singapore). Walked around and bought quite alot of things! Had breakfast in the market and it was reaaaaaally good! Had 2 servings for breakfast: Youtiao + soya milk, and kway teow soup! I tell you, their kway teow soup here is really different from that of Singapore's! It's just super addictive, and you will keep wanting to have more! (that's for me, because i'm such a glutton!) The youtiao is also different, because its crispy on the outside, soft inside. Unlike Singapore's one, it's all hard and chewy.

Walked around in the market for a couple of hours, and we decided to head to the temple! Had to climb about 200 steps (or more!) before we reach the temple, and I say, its the best experience ever! It's only in the movies or tv show, that I see a long climb before a sacred place is reached. As I climbed up, as expected I was panting but the moment I reach the top, it was just an awesome and breathtaking view! Apart for the majestic statue of Buddhas and deities, the view of Burma and Thailand was just indescribable! It just makes me wanna migrate to this place even more! After which took a walk downhill - barefooted. Just wanna experienced how its like, and a couple of times I almost slipped and fall because the road's slippery! But alls good!

Walked down to another temple and stayed there for quite some time! Took a few photos, before walking barefooted downhill again! Walked around the marketplace for the next few hours, and bought back to the guesthouse dinner! Had 2 servings of dinner to be exact - one at the roadside stall, one was when we packet back! Sat outside the guesthouse, which had such a good atmosphere (apart from the mozzies!)! Realised that lizards could jump (yes they can, all to catch their meals - mozzies!), and in that instance, I find them adorable. Lol! Took out the uke and played a few songs - Hey Soul Sister, I'm Yours and When You Say Nothing At All. Really falling in love with sucha lifestyle, and its really reluctant on my part to leave Thailand, because it seemed like sucha short stay! :( Wanna extenddddddd~

So on the way to Mae Sai, 2 strangers praised me:
#1. Bus conductor: Praised that I looked beautiful
#2. Routine police check in Mae Sai: Praised I have a beautiful smile

HAHA! Omg so shyyyyyyy~ First time, I have strangers praising me! Okay I should stop being such a thickskinned person already! Really don't know what to blog about today, so thats about it! Gonna wake up early tmr and do more walking and sightseeing!

xoxo darlings! <3

Labels: Mae Sai, reflection, Thailand

Today is the last day of our stay in Mae Sod! Early in the morning went down to the landlady's house to visit the refugees! They are all doing fine! And one more great news: the flood has subsided and nothing is destroyed in the school, apart from the books and musical instruments! The landlady took me on her motorbike while I carry a 5mths old baby in my arms! His name is Jasper, and he has the most beautiful eyes!

Reached the school, and we helped to air all the wet books and stationeries! Sat down together with a couple of women and we started doing handicrafts! Made alot of different designs, and I would say, they are all very creative and fast learners! Afterwhich took a short walk around the neighborhood and bade goodbye to the kids! Am really looking forward to coming down to the school again, probably next year!

So me and my godmum proceeded to the airport 3hours early, and we got so hungry, we went to get food just a short walk away from the airport. Their bbq chicken and pork are awesomezx! Seeee Mr. Goh, you go for Korean bbq, I also having bbq here! :DDDDDD almost fell asleep while waiting for the plane to land, and guess what! The plane which we took is like some kinda private plane! Its super cool and it flew low, so all the while we get to see Thailand, in a birds' eye view! The clouds were all so white and fluffy!

Landed in Chiang Mai airport at around 2.10pm and took a cab down to Arcade bus station, where we bought bus tickets to Mae Sai! Its 7.25 Thailand time, and its been 4 hours since our bus ride @ 3.3opm and we are still on the bus, on the way to Mae Sai yet! Both of us are cold and hungry from the bus ride, but we dont know how long more its gonna take! Another problem is, its super dark here, even when its only 7.25pm, and we have to find a guesthouse asap! Not sure if there will be wifi or not, but I just hope everything will turn out fine!

p/s: received a text from singtel, saying my estimated data roaming i.e. 3G or whatever you call that, is close to $500! Can someone please tell me im not screwed? Lol!

p/s/p/s: Both me and my godmum realised we've gotten much tanned! I kinda liked it, but my godmum on the other hand didnt. Lol! Always wanted to get tanned, and finally I am!

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Time now: 9pm Thailand time!

Just had dinner from roadside stalls in Mae Sai, and it was good! Really love the lifestyle in Thailand (apart from the bullying of the refugees!) and im considering migrating when im old enough!

Found a guesthouse, with wifi! The guesthouse is not as nice looking and cozy as the one is Mae Sod. Its more stuffy and looks dirty? Lol! Gonna make do with what we have! Gonna shower and online in a while! Many photos to be uploaded! :DDDDD

Labels: Mae Sai, reflection, Thailand

Received good news today: the school and refugees are all alright! Lucky for the refugees, the flood came gradually in the afternoon, giving the refugees time to move their belongings! Made a boat trip across the flood to see the condition of the school. The school, although slightly flooded, but alls good! Everything is still intact and the construction is stable.

My godmum asked around, and we finally got the reason behind the flood - the Thai government. The government always wanted to chase all these Burmese refugees out of the country, as they are like illegal immigrants there. They are not allowed to leave their houses after 6pm, for fear that they will be mugged by gangsters, or get caught and jailed/fined by the police. In short, they are being bullied and no justice is done to these people. So the government "cleverly" thought out a plan: to release the accumulated water from the mountains down to the rivers, as the refugees all stay alongside the river banks. In the end, the plan backfired, and caused deaths and missing THAI locals, while on the other hand, the Burmese refugees are all safe and sound. The thais basically suffered heavy losses.

This is just inhumane. I mean, when the Thai locals realised their loved ones are missing or dead, they are devastated. But have they thought about the refugees? So just because they're refugees, their lives are worthless, so much so the government would release water to flood their village? This is just ridiculous. I wont say im gloating over the outcome of the foolish act of the Thai government, but in my mind im just: Good begets good, evil begets evil. Furthermore, the rundown houses refugees are staying in, they still have to pay a monthly 700baht rent. The condition is really unimaginable, and the government still dare to collect so much from the refugees, while they are slogging so hardly just to meet ends needs. If the Thai government really want so much money, I hope they choke on the hard earn money of the refugees. Basically, money in money out. Collect so much from refugees, now the destruction from the flood. You darlings decipher what I mean! Wont go into so much detail!

So today, we went to a house, where most refugees are gathered. Bought bags of garlic and onions, 6 full chickens and medicines. Despite what had happened to their houses/village, they are all still cheerful and in high spirits. Its like, nothing can bring down their morale/spirits. They still joke with us, take very good care of us, and make sure our needs are taken care of! They are really a sweet bunch of locals!

Before we left today, me and my godmum went to hug them, kinda like a goodbye hug. They were really happy to meet us, and thankful that we would help them to this extend: rebuild school, buy musical instruments, buy medicines and stationeries, buy food, give them money to tide them through the flood period where they are not able to work and earn money to support themselves. Leaving for Chiang Mai tmr, taking the 1.20pm plane, and will go down to godmum's hometown! How I wish we are able to extend our stay here! :/

4 more days in Thailand before I fly back to Singapore. I really feel im more independent and responsible as a person now. I wash my own clothes, pack my own things, make sure I look after the belongings, be in charge of big bundles of cash and etc. Will be learning to cook a couple of local Thai dishes from godmum, especially bai ka pou! :DDDDDD

Going off to meet Mr. Win Cho later at restaurant!

xoxo darlings! <3 <3 <3

p/s: been using my hands to eat my meals! It really makes the meals so much tastier, especially when you are sharing with someone else because you both have to "compete" to get the last mouthful! :D

Labels: Mae Sod, reflection, Thailand

Today is a rather solemn day for me and my godmother, because we witness a flood around the vicinity of the school. As we were happy about the close-to-completion of the renovation of the school, we heard from a grandmother, that the river bank is slowly spreading in. We went down to take a look, and the water was at ankle level. Walked around and saw the condition of the houses that the villagers/locals were living in. It was really overwhelming for me, to actually see it personally myself, that such living condition actually exists. After a walk around the neighborhood, the water slowly rose up, and it became below knee level. Me and my godmum decided to explore around, to see the severity of the flood and we were speechless. People frantically placing sandbags to prevent water from going in; carrying their valuables to higher grounds; dogs crying out for their babies; children trying their best to walk out of the flood.



If that is not bad enough, the rain today got heavier by the day and currently, it is said that the houses are fully submerged, and the school is also partially submerged, with the renovations and musical instruments slightly destroyed. Refugees are currently moving to higher grounds and have totally lost their homes. All they can do now, it to wait to the water subsides, and they can go back home (if it's still there) to clean up. It's really heart-wrenching for me to see this. It made me think back: What are my problems to them, when they are facing such calamity every year during this particular period? It becomes so insignificant and redundant. They do not know what the future has in store for them, while there I was in Singapore, brooding over say r/s problems.

This adorable baby here, is only 4 days old. She came to this world, not knowing what kind of environment she is living in, what kind of challenges she is going to face in future. She is just sleeping peacefully in my godmother's arms, at times yawning, at times smiling; not knowing that the people are busy keeping the flood waters away from their homes. While on the other hand, the fortunate ones (aka rich ones) are having their parents to send them to and from home; building mansions for the family to live in; Life is just so unpredictable.

Really having alot of emotions right now. Really feel so lost, not being able to do anything to help. I just hope, tmr will be a better day for each and everyone of us. I strongly believe, everyone and anyone needed that.

Labels: Mae Sod, reflection, Thailand

Hi lovelies! Day 5 has been an awesome day for me! It was parent-teachers day, and all the children's parents all came down in their traditional wear, and the children all wore reaaaaaaal nice also! Took one to two photos of the children, and loads of videos! Speaking of which, I have not been able to upload videos, because the videos are really taking way too long to upload. Probably its because of the internet connection here? Hmmm.

After everything, started playing with the children! Played sepak tekraw and games like modified bowling, soccer and dodgeball! After which the children just went crazy with me, and started pulling me, asking me to play catching. Lol! So basically its wherever I go, the children will just follow. So the moment me and my godmum are going back, they quickly ran out and send us off! So sweet of them! And I braided my hair out. It was all nice and neat. But after playing, my hair was all over the place; in short, super messy!

Day 5 made me realise, even the simplest thing, like a hug, can really make their day! They may not be the most obedient kids, but they will listen, and they will really know responsibilities. In short, despite being younger than me, I find them much sensible and intelligent than I am. They may not be books smart, but they definitely are street smart!

Today: Day 6! So fast, one week's past, and I soon will be going back to Singapore! :/ so anyway, today we helped to revamp the school! More of like expansion of the current space they have! Had lunch with the locals and let me tell you, it was super nice! They were all very hospitable, and took very good care of us! Everytime me and my godmother reaches the school, they will ALWAYS prepare a cup of coffee for us. How sweet!

Taught some of them how to make jewellery. All of them are very fast learners! Also taught Mr. Win Cho, the teacher of the school, how to play 小微 on his guitar! Not exactly teach, but just let him familiarize with the lyrics. In less than half an hour, he already knows how to sing and freestyle already! Helped to pave the road outside the school because its uneven. Didnt exactly helped to revamp, because they engaged about 10 guys to help out? The progress is super fast! Hope the school will be done by tmr! :D btw, all the photos are uploaded into Facebook, so you darlings can go take a look!

And on this day, I've got slight breathing difficulties. :/ guess its the sawdust and everything. Couldnt really get air into my lungs, and I could feel tightness in my chest. Should really go for body check up already!

Just six days here, and I finally understood the meaning of this Chinese phrase: 人生简简单单两比画. Life over here is just so simple. I admit, despite the simple life there, the locals still have problems that they will be bothered by. But the thing is, they know how to let go. As the Chinese saying goes: 拿得起放得下. Only when we do that, and not be too full of oneself. This way, we will be more able to live life happily, and be able to see the other side of the world - the beauty of human nature.

p/s: sorry for this late post! Had been dozing off halfway through the post for both days! Will try to post everyday and update you guys on my trip! :D

xoxo darlings!

Labels: children, Mae Sod, reflection, Thailand