Sometimes you just can not explain in words the beauty or feeling of a place, person or thing. Below is my Photo Gallery of moments during our time spent in Chiang Mai (read about it here), Thailand.
Typical Street Scene
City Market Fresh Seasonings
Canal Surrounding the Old City
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep Temple by Night
City Market Colors
Bus Bar – Ping Riverside & Iron Bridge
Basil Chicken – Restaurant Pad Thai Rachadumnoen
Our Room at C Hotel Boutique
City Market Meat Stall
City Market Stall
City Market Veggies
Green Curry, Restaurant Pad Thai Rachadumnoen
Golden Pagoda
Friendly Group Of Monks, Plus 1
Day Market Vendors
Lamphu Hotel Pool
Beautiful Temple By Night
Lek House Restaurant, Pad Thai Breakfast
Lek House Restaurant Chef
Little Girl on Tuk Tuk with Mother
School Boys
Monk By Night
School Girls Pass by Wat Muentoom
Papaya Salad, Restaurant Pad Thai Rachadumnoen
NIght Market Food Street
So Much To Do
Wat Phan Tao by Night
Spring Rolls, Restaurant Pad Thai Rachadumnoen
Wat Chedi Luang By Night
Street Vendor Watches a Soap Opera
Temple Grounds By Night
Wat Inthakin Temple
Ho Trai Library, Wat Phra Singh
Three Kings Monument at the Arts and Culture Center
Everybody should do a cooking class (Read about my experience here) when in Chiang Mai, Thailand. There is a wealth of knowledge to be learned, interesting people to meet and great food to eat! Here is my photo gallery from the Zabb-E-Lee Cooking School course I took. Enjoy!
Chef Bow of Zabb-E -Dee Cooking School
Panang Chicken Curry
More Fresh Spring Rolls Finished
All Ingredients For Pad Thai
Class Enjoying Our Finished Dishes
Final Touch Garnish, Green Curry
Finished Fried Spring Rolls
Finished Papaya Salad
Instruction Time For Thai Fresh Spring Rolls
Market Pre Packed Soup Seasonings
Lets Get This Curry Started!
My Cooking Station Is Ready!
Prepacked Spices at Market
Proper Plated Pad Thai By Chef Bow
Ready To Prepare Papaya Salad Dressing
Proper Removal of Fried Spring Roll
Preparation For Green Papaya Salad
Steaming Rice Basket
Stone Mortar and Pestle Ready To Make Curry Paste
Students Getting Comfortable at Their Cooking Stations
Tom Yum Soup Cooking
Typical Thai Vegetables
Zabb-E-Lee Cooking Stations
Students, Light Your Burners!
Stuffed Cabbage Soup Cooking
Sticky Rice Stirred Into Cream
Preparation and Concentration
Preparing Mango Sticky Rice Topping
Pounding Curry Paste
Papaya Salad Vegetables
Pad Thai Ingredients
Our Class Group Photo
Papaya and Carrots Shredded
My Finished Tom Kha Kai Soup
Pad Thai and Tom Kha Kai Prep
Mashing and Mixing Sticky Rice
MIxing Papaya And Carrots For Salad
Mango Sticky Rice Almost Finished
Learning How To Make Curry Paste
How to Roll Fried Spring Rolls
Khao Soy Chiang Mai Curry With Egg Noodles
Many Dishes Being Prepped
Green Curry Simmering in the Wok
Ingredients for Tom Kha Kai Soup
Happy Student
Hot And Sour Seafood Stir Fry With Tom Yum Kung
Chef gives Pad Thai Demonstration
Green Curry Almost Finished
Finished Fresh Spring Rolls
Final Preparation – Chiang Mai Curry with Egg Noodles
Cooking With Patience at Zabb-E-Lee
Green Curry Spices and Veggies
Concentration!
Cooking Tom Kha Kai
Chef Explains Method of Frying Spring Rolls
Cooking Students Concentrate on Pounding Curry Paste
Coconut Cream For Sticky Rice
Canadian Student Pounding Curry Paste – Chiang Mai, Thailand
Chef Bow Gives Explanations
Fresh Spring Roll Rolling
Chef Bow Demonstrates Frying Spring Rolls
Coconut Milk, Chicken and Eggplant Simmer – Green Curry
This riverside city is the gateway to incredibly beautiful Laos. Top things to do in Vientiane include visiting the Buddhist Temples, the Palace, the Patuxai Gate and watch a red Sunset on the Mekong River.
Monks Cleaning a Temple Curb
Following our wonderful stay on the Vietnamese Island of Phu Quoc, we made our way, via Bangkok, to Vientiane, Laos. Our Visa on Arrival was a painless process. Upon arrival, everyone is handed immigration papers to fill out. Be sure to have the proper amount US$ dollars on hand to pay the visa fees and a passport photo. The procedure was very friendly and fast. Costs: Canada $42, Germany $30. We did not have enough US$ dollars along, but they accepted our Thai baht without complaint.
Still in the terminal, we found an ATM machine for cash and purchased data SIM cards for our phones: 60,000 kip with top up card.
Currency: kip
Next, we went to the taxi stand to get a ticket for transportation. As we reached the front of the line, we were informed by an unfriendly character that there are “No more taxi”! Easy, we did the short ?walk out the terminal to the main street where we flagged down a tuk tuk for 40000 kip to our hotel. This was awesome luck, as the taxi stand had charged everyone US$7 to town center!
Our Friendly Tuk Tuk Driver
Our Hotel, RD Guest House was a dump; steep stairs led up to our room with stained walls, filthy mirror, dirty black broken air conditioner and a toilet that flushes with a bucket of water (you fill a mouldy container). At least the sheets were clean, as was the mattress underneath them clean. We had a fan in our room, but no soap or shampoo. Bonus, it was very quiet. Due to a mosquito infestation, we bought spray, fumigated and went for a drink while it worked its magic. This is possibly the dirtiest hotel I have ever stayed in! ? Cost US$17 per night.
RD Hotel Room
The locals seem to be unfriendly; we tried to book a tour at one place, but the lady started talking with a local man in the middle of our booking and she walked away, so we left. This became something we observed often, if they do not understand, they just walk away.?
For lunch we went to a restaurant called Aria Italian. They advertise with 2 for 1 stone oven pizza or 2 for 1 pasta. We ordered a large Super Vegetariana pizza and a large Prosciutto Funghi pizza. Also on offer was 3 beer for the price of one, so we shared some beers as well. Cost: 123,000 kip! HOT SPOT!!!! Worth every penny; delicious pizza and cold beer!
Two for One Pizza at Aria Restaurant – Vientiane, Laos
Chao Anouvong Park is a park along the Mekong River with coliseum style seating facing the river where one can observe the incredible sunsets. Music blares throughout the area with different levels of aerobic classes (mostly locals participating, but feel free to jump in!), ice cream vendors and people strolling complete the relaxed atmosphere.
Chao Anouvong Park, Mekong River Sunset
As the sun is setting, vendors are busy setting up their stalls in the park for the Night market on the River. Our experience wasn’t great; we tried several times to buy shoes for my husband – EVERY vendor was rude. In retrospect, we would try harder next time. ?
Stalls at the Night Market
While strolling around town, we came across a very inviting looking Khop Chai Deu Restaurant. Happy is good, so we went in and asked what was on offer for their advertised happy hour. Confusion broke out., but eventually, with lots of patience and smiling we managed to order a beer and the one and only cocktail of the day for happy hour.
Eventually, after enjoying several cocktails, the bill came and they told us no happy hour for the type of drink we consumed. ? This did not end well; we were not happy with this very awkward, embarrassing situation. We paid the happy hour total of 80,000 kip and walked out.
Monks in the Street
On our way to find a breakfast spot the next day, we came by the gold and red Chanthaboury Temple. It looked spectacular against the blue sky, surrounded by palm trees. ?Ladies, remember to always have a wrap along to cover shoulders and / or knees so you can enter the temples!
Chanthaboury Temple
At the Pricco Cafe Bakery Sandwichery, we grabbed a table outside and ordered a Tartine Ham & Cheese baguette for 30,000 kips, an Iced Latte 21,000, Cordon Bleu with fries 45,000 and a Passion fruit juice 25,000. This place was a piece of civilization amongst mosquito infested dirt ? and the food was delicious, albeit expensive!
Pricco Cafe Baguette Sandwich
Some sights we saw on our morning walk included the Presidential Palace,
The Palace
the Wat Si Saket Museum and temple with a 10,000 kip entry fee (I went in alone),
Sisaket Museum
and the Ho Phra Keo Temple with a 10,000 kip entry fee.
Ho Phra Keo Temple
Feeling adventurous, we decided to take the Bus to Buddha Park(complete how to guide). After a lot of wrong informations and almost giving up, we finally figured it out and arrived safe and sound for a great price. Entrance to the Buddha Park was free.
Our Bus to Buddha Park
We spent around 1.5 hours in the park, also known as Xieng Khuan. It is an eclectic mix of Buddhism and Hinduism. Don’t forget your camera. ?Tip: take a lunch and have a picnic! There are a few stores where you can purchase souvenirs and a restaurant as well.
To get back, catch the bus on the opposite side of the road. The last bus is at 4:45pm. (as of this date)
Buddha Park
For those interested or crossing from Thailand to Laos, the bus passes through the border area of the Peace Bridge. Tip: if you are crossing from or to Thailand, you can purchasephone cards here, do a Visa on arrival, and replenish at one of many food booths AND you can take this bus #14 to Vientiane city (best price – it is parked across from the Haven Duty Free)! Bus leaves border when it is full.
This time, a money collector came through and collected the bus fare money. (6,000 kip). ?Note: Make sure they do not rip you off; either have the exact amount or make sure you get your proper change back!
Friendship Bridge Border to Thailand
Our Tuk tuk from the bus station to Pha That Luang Temple, the great golden Stupa, cost 20,000 kip, too much, but we knew our time was running out. The Wat Thatluang Temple, in the same area is equally impressive.
Pha That Luang Temple
Our Tuk tuk to the hotel also cost 20,000 kip, this time a fair price. On the way we stopped by the impressive Patuxai Gate.
Patuxai Gate
After dinner, we sipped on Passionfruit Shakes with vodka at RD Guesthouse and chatted with other travellers, getting tips and laughs? for free. Cocktails 15,000 each ?.
The next day Bus ticket to Vang Vieng was 45,000 kip per person. See you there!
Costs for 2 persons, 2 nights:
Lodging: €32.14 for 2 nights or €16 per night
Food: €74.06
Transportation: €12.12
Entry fees: €3.49 Total cost per day for 2 persons: €60.90
Extra Costs:
Visas: German €28.36 / Canadian €39.72 ?
Sim Card: €7 each (data)
Bus ticket to Vang Vieng: €5.24 each
Examples of prices: Iced coffees 22,000 each Super Vegetariana 83,000 kip for 2 (Aria) Prosciutto Funghi 76,000 kip for 2 (Aria) Iced coffee 15,000 each At Tee Cafe, a balcony restaurant
Coconut Prison heartache, dream Beaches, friendly People, Fabulous prices, delicious Seafood, Markets and more. This is our Phu Quoc, Vietnam experience!
Palms and Sunshine at Sao Beach
From Ho Chi Minh, we had planned to go to Hue, Vietnam, but it was pouring rain as far as the weather app could see (2 weeks)?, so we looked for sun and found we had to book a trip to the sun island of Phu Quoc!
Skyscanner quickly located 2 Tickets from Ho Chi Minh to Phu Quoc on Jestar Airlines via Vueling for 1,555.000 dong or USD$66 ($33 ea.). As seems to be the theme, we had a 1/2 hour delay.
Upon arrival, we walked out the door and headed to the parking lot across the road. As there is no Uber on the island yet, we spoke with a taxi driver and paid the 150,000 dong from the airport to our hotel, Gia Thanh Phu Quoc Guest House. Read my independent review here.
Our Room – Gia Thanh Guest House
The restaurant adjacently joining the guest house is called Acerola Bar and Restaurant and this is where we had breakfast – every morning. We bought a jackfruit at the market and they prepared us a wonderful smoothie- we left a generous tip for their kindness. Can’t say enough good about this family!
Breakfast Pho Bo Soup at Acerola Restaurant
Dinner found us at a little restaurant just off the main street and a short walk to the beach called Thu Phuong. Read about what we ate, how much it cost and how it tasted here: Thu Phuong Restaurant Review. A romantic walk along the beach helped with digestion!
Barbecued Shrimp at Thu Phuong Restaurant
The next day, after a breakfast of beef noodle soup and an iced coffee to the sound of Vietnamese music, we walked down to the corner street and rented a moped for 122.000 per day, and filled in 60.000 dong of petro.
Our first stop was the Mui (Peninsula) Dinh Cau Buddhist Temple, located on a small cliff on the beach adjacent to a fishing village. We climbed the few stairs to the top, took some pictures and were on our way!
Gorgeous Water at Dinh Cau
45 minutes later found us at Bãi tắm Sao / Sao Beach, also known as Paradiso beach. This is an unfortunate stretch of a beautiful, long, white sand beach which is strewn with garbage and many people. Too bad they do not clean this up!
Beautiful Sao Beach
Dirty Sao Beach, The unfortunate other view
Lunch found us on the beach at a restaurant called Nha Hang My Lan – Not memorable, not great food, but a fabulous view.
Pho Ga (chicken noodle soup) 60.000 dong / €2.25 / USD$2.65, Mi Xao Rau (Noodles w/ vegetables) 80.000 dong / €3 / USD$3.50, Coke 20.000 dong / €0.75 / USD$0.90, Beer 25.000 dong / €0.94 / USD$1.10Total: 185.000 dong / €7 / USD$8
Mi Xao Rau Noodle Dish
A glorious, relaxed drive back through mountains followed the beach lunch. In the evening we went to the Phu Quoc Night Market for Dinner. After walking the market twice to see the offerings and prices, we settled on Quan An Mien Trung Restaurant. Thevery friendly owner is from Da Nang, speaks English a little and understands a lot!
Seafood at the NightmarketStreet action at the Night Market
Day 3 found us checking out Long Beach, about a 5 minute drive from our hotel. Trip Advisor had great reviews for RoRy’s Bar, so eventually we headed there to chill. It is a beautiful and popular location, but…
Long Beach
For Lunch we went to the Fabulous Bun Cha Ha Noi. This would become our favourite go to when it was open!
Bun Cha Ha Noi
My husband hit the Barbershop Duy for a 50.000 dong much needed shave.
After dinner, we went back to Rory’s Beach Bar for drinks on the beach. Fabulous atmosphere, bonfire, lots of people and a good DJ.
On Day 4, when looking for a local dinner spot, we discovered the restaurant Quán Ốc Bình Dân and this is where we ate every night after! Simply put, the food flavours are a music explosion on the tongue!!!!
Starters at Quán Ốc Bình Dân Restaurant
By Day 5 we had so fallen in love with Vietnam, we were frantically looking for an option to extend a visa, only to discover it can not be renewed easily ( German husband had only 15 days). If we would have pushed it, you need 3 days and $75. So we were sad to decide we would leave Vietnam after our Phu Quoc stay – very disappointed as Hue, Da Nang, Halong Bay were high on the top of our Vietnam list of where to go.
Drive to Kem Beach & Emerald Bay was on our 6th day in the morning. We had a backpack packed with drinks to take to the beach. We found our way in through the jungle on a dirt path and a big, almost private beach opened up. Only some fishermen shared the stretch of sand, trees and gorgeous water. We headed to a private spot and enjoyed the seclusion and scenery stretching through the bay.
Fishermen Sort their Catch at Kem Beach
After the beach, we stopped at a roadside restaurant calledBia Ruou Phu Quoc / Bia Tuoi Phu Quoc Craft Beer. It is located close to Coconut Prison and Emerald Bay so it was a perfect stop while waiting for the prison to open.
Bia Tuoi Phu Quoc Restaurant – Rice and Shrimp
After our delicious lunch, we went to the Coconut Prison; theentrance fee of 20,000 dong was worth every penny. The perspective does not change the the horror of what took place in this prison. There are plaques throughout describing what is happening.
Outer Perimeter at Coconut Prison
The next day found us at the huge Day Market in the streets by the fishing harbour. It was an interesting walk and we bought a Jackfruit (mit Thai) for 40.000 & a pear like bag of fruit called Rose Apple 25.000.
Meat Vendor Sits on her Stand Eating an Egg
Our 8th day found us at Suoi Tranh Waterfalls. TheEntrance fee was 10.000 dong per person plus a parking fee of 2000 for our moto. It is really nice gardens, a restaurant, colorful sculptures of animals and people throughout. We did the 1/2 hour hike over stones and rocks up to the waterfall. Not a lot of water this time of year, but it is a nice hike and pretty.
Almost Dry Suoi Tranh Waterfalls
Back in town we found a restaurant called Quan Ra Koi. It was packed with locals so we decided it must be good; we walked in and found ourselves a seat. Based on all the shocked and smiling stares, I do not think they are used to foreigners! Read about our experience here.
Ladies Selling Fish at the Market
Day 10 we went to get our Passport photos for our visa on arrival in Laos. Pho Bien, down by the Dinh Cau temple did our pictures for us. 200.000 for 10 photos – overpriced, but necessary. Our guest house said he ripped us off. The rest of the day was spent visiting our favourite spots and saying our goodbyes.
Fruit Lady – Long Beach
On the Last day, we had lunch at Acerola Bar Restaurant – read about prices and my review – before regrettably heading out.
Flight Jetstar Phu Quoc to Ho Chi Minh: 1,876.000 for 2 €77.49 or €38.75
1 hour delay
Flight Air Asia Ho Chi Minh to Bangkok: 3,024.000 for 2 €124.90
Flight Bangkok to Vientiane, Laos: $50 pp
Note: 2 weeks is NOT long enough in Vietnam- all nationalities with "free" visa, apply for minimum 1 month visaNote: It seems most locals speak NO English, not even in tourist places - everything works with pointing, calculators and smiles
Costs:
Flight from Ho Chi Minh to Phu Quoc: €32.23 per person
Taxis: €10.75
Lodging: €21.50 per night (€215 for our 10 nights)
Moped: €5 per day or €45 for the stay
Petro / Gasoline: €6.25
Entry Fees: €2.56
Food, Drink & Snacks: €211.19
Our Total Cost for 2 persons, 10 days in Phu Quoc, excluding flight: €490.75
Phu Quoc island on an extreme budget? Yes! For example:
– Stay at Langchia Hostel for $7 per night (includes breakfast & swimming pool)
– Buy fruits and veggies at the market
– Buy Noodles in the store & make your own noodles with a kettle and big bowl (borrowed or bought) – throw on market herbs and spice for great flavor
– Buy all beverages at the market (side street)
– Take towel and own food / beverages to beach
Maybe $10 per day???
Tip: book flights at least 4 days out for best prices!
The bus transfer from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang slowly snaked it’s way up, down and twisting around the mountains, as too many fellow passengers slept and watched movies, oblivious to the beauty around them. I caught myself holding my breath every time we passed a slower moving truck, gasping in awe at the incredible, breathtaking scenery. Below are some of my photos.
