Chiang Mai#13 Night Safari

"Welcome to the Chiang Mai Night Safari****" says Linda, the cute elephant at the entrance . . . While we imagine her saying that, her trunk was swinging non-stop from left to right! Ha Ha . . so well trained . .

Got ourselves a tour from a booth at the night market to the night safari, costs 650 baht per person. It includes the transport and the entrance fee, and we only reach the safari around 6.45pm. It is recommended (if going in a group) that you go by yourself instead of a tour, taking your own transport i.e. tuk-tuk/ songthaew [about 20min drive from town] and buy the ticket at the entrance which only cost 500baht. 

This way, you can go to the park earlier, say reach around 5pm to do the walking trail where you can see animals at your own pace and take photographs of the animals [especially the white tigers =) ]. Then at 7pm, you can hop on the tram for night safari trail.

Part of the walking trail, we get to see a lot of interesting animals. The natural environment here is pretty good. For instance, we saw many deer on the way to the entrance of the park. Just lying and walking around. And visitors can get close to them. Then at the entrance, a cute jumbo was waiting for us there! Even this pair of black swan is having a good time around the tourists. 

the Lemur family

On the tram, here we go~~ 

Feeding the giraffes! It was pretty exciting to go on this tram ride. Because we get to feed the giraffe and zebras and deer and wild boars too~!! Zebras are quite shy though =) It was our first time getting so close to the zebras. Such lovely experience. Remember to buy the feeding food at 20baht per bucket. 

Group picture with pretty dancer

Soooo fierce . . .
He looks like staring on us...

Fire show

After the tram rides, there are dance performance, fire show and also the laser fountain show. The laser show is a little boring though. For the park ratings overall, personally we thought the Singapore's night safari is much more excited and up to standard. Their animal show is really nice too. But Chiang Mai's safari win on the variety of animals and the enclosures. 

A  picture with the white tiger cub . . . SO CUTE~ costs 250baht for this picture =) we get to touch the baby tiger for maybe 5 seconds? haha . .  but well worth for a memory. . .

To end our 5days 4 nights trip in Chiang Mai, what not better to do than a MASSAGE session !

So all, the farewell trip for Peter and his colleagues.. to continue P&A journey in

Australia, the land down under =))))

Chiang Mai#12 Chinatown

If you needed to stock the Thai snacks like pocky chocolate sticks, potato chips, crispy seaweed and instant noodles [tom yum noodles, yums!], this is the place to be --> Chiang Mai's Chinatown****

Look at US! This is what we meant by WHOLESALE~! There are a lot of wholesalers here in Chinatown for groceries, toys and food. The price u get here is a little cheaper than stocking yr food at 7-11 stores for sure [only if you buy in bulk]. But just make sure u know the price around, or else end up being charged for what tourists are suppose to pay~!

  

The market selling fresh fruits, desserts, snacks and some 'unknown' food...

The cheapest lunch of the trip -->> 7-11's instant noodle + reheated sausages + slurpees + herbal drink = cheap & NICE 

Flower street
majority of flowers selling here are main for praying purposes

Chiang Mai#11 Chiangrai Hill Tribe Village

Black = Beauty

After the buffet lunch, we headed to the village of the Long Necked Karens and Akha hill tribes.
The Long Necked Karens***** are from Myanmar who came refuge to Thailand many years ago. Till now, these hill tribes in Chiang Rai are not Thai citizens yet, and they have to stay within 50km radius in their village.

The myth as to reasons why Karens wear these brass rings: 1) to prevent tigers from biting them 2) a long neck symbolizes beauty 3) the ring identifies the Karens, so they wouldn't be taken by other tribes. Whatever it might be, their village have become a tourist spot all these years, and mainly this is their income source. Hope they are living comfortably with this much commercial influences.

Female Karens may wear these rings from the age of four and a new ring will be added every four years. The children have rights to choose not to wear the rings as well and they can choose to go to school or stay in the village.

The beautiful Karen Twins in the tribe : Maria & Marina

Lucky P&A has the chance to take photo together with most beautiful young Marina

Zoom into the ear of this Karen, Big eared Karen

Does she looks familiar to you all?
Yes, she owns the most brass ring, 27 rings!
And when you watch National Geographic show of this Karen Village, you will surely see her.

Happy kids playing wrestling..

what kind of post is this??

Haha, this post made all the Karen laugh hysterically...