<--Sleepless Society-->

No one would deny that Chiang Mai is such a lovely town with calm and easygoing people as well as nice weather compare to Bangkok.  Never bored getting around town to enjoy an ancient stuffs such as an old houses, old gates, old walls, old temples, traditional life-style and etc.

This time I have chances visiting some old temples in Mae Cheam District on the way back to the capital of Chiang Mai.  They are impressive and detailed with the unique architecture found only in Chiang Mai.   

This time my journey started from Bangkok to Chiang Mai again for volunteer work with people from Chomthai.  We reached Doi Inthanon early in the morning where the highest spot of Siam located. 

Changing the transport from van to pick-up car to the trekking trail heading to the small village where we will do the work there. 

This time we built small dam for the village which we as well as learnt from the villagers on how to build it simple but usefully. Before reaching the village there are a few waterfalls suitable with the scenery where we rested a bit before continue our journey. 

About 3 hours in total, we finally reached Baan Samsob village surrounded by mountains with simple living style. 

Really warm welcoming from the villagers last till the end of the trip throwing away our freezing night at Baan Samsob with their warm hospitality.  They prepared many sets of show sharing their culture to impress everyone. 

The next day leader of village taught us how to build the dam, see how we have done it.

From the picture you could see that we don't need those expensive materials, we got them all from its natural.  And before leaving the village back to Bangkok we have passed all the donation stuffs to the villagers. To see everyone happiness is something hardly describe, of course its eventually my happiness.

And here is the detail of Baan Samsob Homestay, the fees and rules you should pay respect.

Fees Detail:

- Dormitory 100 Baht per person per night

- Homestay for 1-8 persons at 500 Baht per night

- Meal 50 Baht per person per meal

- Daytime activity 500 Baht per group (weave, seasoning cultural activity)

- Nightime activity 500 Baht per group (local cultural performance)

- Sightseeing 200 Baht per day for a single tour-guide

- Village fee 20 Baht per person

More information please contact: Mr. Wisit Sinpermthaweephong 

Tel (66) 053-828-128 , (66) 053-828-334 (other officers are also available to take your call)

To give you guys some roughly idea on how much I have spent for this trip, it was only 1600 THB for all the expenses (transportation (BKK-CM-BKK), meals, accommodation)

More picture pls visit: http://community.webshots.com/user/yuimo or http://yuimo.multiply.com

This time our journey started at 10 pm from Bangkok to Chanthaburi located in the east of Thailand. The destination to Khao Khitchakut where the strong belief created to the buddhist.  On the top of this mountain has the footprint of the Great Buddha, that's where we were praying and made a wish.

We arrived at 2 am, weather was a bit cold with the crowd as that day was the Makha Bucha Day.

Everyone started to pray at the first level before catching a pick-up car to another level of the mountain. Remember to wish for the same thing while praying. 

The road condition consider bad but quite fun while sitting in the car thus cold weather and I remember so sudden my nose had the snot. After the second level we prayed again with all the buddhas then took another pick-up car to the upper level.

After that we walked for another 15 mins and reached the level where the footprint belongs.

It was very hard to walk inside to see the footprint, so we decided to go upper to the top level by foot. It was really dark so we must used the torchlight, eventhough I felt many times cos the way was so slippy...haha  

Once we hit the top, there was a red fabric where people wrote their wishes on it.  The wish they asked since the very beginning have to be written on this red thing.  So, I did the same as everyone.

That was all about so we walked down hill back to where the footprint belonged and that time it was early in the morning nearly 6 am. 

From the picture below you could imagine that it was hard to walk any closer to see the footprint of the Great Buddha. So, we were just looking around and paid the respect from the out layer of crowd.

And its time to walk back....really tiring journey since we didnt sleep for a whole night till the sunrise.

On the way up hill I have seen thousands of josssticks everywhere, but just had a few shots on the way back,  impressive!

I have heard that this place only operate for a few months a year.  So, I was lucky to have a chance to visit. :)

More photo: http://yuimo.multiply.com

This trip had not ended yet cos we stopped at Rayong for the nice sunset. New artical is coming up!

Just 1.5 hour drive from Bangkok we reach Lopburi the province fulls of MONKEYS!!!! and located approximately 154 kilometers north of Bangkok.  Departed from BKK on Feb 15 night reached Lopburi capital, partied at Song Sa Lung Pub till 1 am then went back to sleep at Aore's house.

He has pets and they are so cute....wanted to take them back to Bangkok with me.

Golf, Toon, Yui, Aore and Pum

Early in the morning we drove Aore's car to Pa Sak Cholasit Dam.  It is 4,860 meters long with a capacity of 785 million cubic meters.

Pa Sak Cholasit Dam offers a unique opportunity to travel across the reservoir by train. So we took a train just a stop to Khok Salung station paying 3 Baht for the fare.

Then we headed to Wang Kan Lueng Waterfall which is about 100 80 kms away from the capital of Lopburi.

And moved on the Sub Langka Wildlife Sanctuary before it getting too dark.  On the way, we saw too many groups of cows blogging the road.  It was fun to give the way to those animals and enjoyed the nice scenary.

We reached Sub Lungka about 6 pm and started to find where to camp.

The wind was really strong till our tent collaped as we didn't dig the holes to put the metal pins to make it stronger (I really don't know how to call the equipment in english).

We escaped people and camped near the National Flag.  And at 8 am all the officers were standing in front of the flag to sing the National Anthem...so funny cos we were sleeping inside the tents right next to them.

We didn't join any activity while camping at this place.  And early in the morning we headed back to the capital of Lopburi cos Golf has had some urgent issue to solve with his family.

After a few hours drove we reach Lopburi capital and the first place to pay a visit was Sal Prakan.

Then we walked across the road to visit Phra Prang Sam Yot located on Vichayen Roadwhere and this place is is Lop Buris best known landmark and provincial symbol. A former Hindu Shrine built in the 13th century in the classic Bayon style of Khmer architectur. Entrance fee 10 Baht for Thais and 30 Baht for foreigners.

There were so many monkeys sitting under the shadow and some were looking at human as if you carry some foods they will try to steal it from your hands.  I was a bit scared of their habit.

Just 5 mins drive from Phra Prang Sam Yot we reached Phra Narai Ratchaniwet (King Narais Palace) built in 1665 and 1677, when King Narai the Great decided to make Lop Buri the second capital of the Ayutthaya Kingdom.

After this place we took the van back to Bangkok fare at 100 Baht only. Just an hour and a half we reached Bangkok safely.

Total spending for this trip is 800 Baht

More photos visit http://community.webshots.com/user/yuimo and http://yuimo.multiply.com  

special thanks to Toon for some photos to share on my blog.

The same old disease returns tonight!  I'm so drowsy but couldn't sleep until this time at 4 am, can't take it no more so decided to get up after trying hard to sleep

This disease happened to me before when I worked in SG last year.  Awaken till 5 am and got up at 7 am to start working.  That time my face looked fine like had enough sleep but the fact was I slept just a few hours a day.  It was last for a week till I thought of taking sleeping pill...!

How to cure it??? Who can help me pls??

From Bangkok by van at Victory Monument (130 THB per person) heading to Kanchanaburi where we stayed at Pum's house on the first night.  This trip we have P'Pel, P'Danny, P'Diaa, Toon (M), Toon (W), Pueng, P'Por, Yui and Golf who taken van from BKK to Kanchanaburi together.  We departed at 7:30 pm and reached Kanchanaburi at 10 pm, pretty fast though.  From the capital of Kanchanaburi Pum and Aor picked up us by pick-up car heading for dinner.

After too busy with work, party, traveling, etc.  Then again I have time to write about my trip in Prachuap Khiri Khan, the province near to the south of Thailand.

7 am everyone were ready to leave BKK by van that we hired for 1500 THB per day.  This trip we have P'Tui, P'Bud, P'Ying, Aor, Pum, Aont, Sun, Pat, Yui and Yeepoon.  This is my first trip for my brother Yeepoon, he was really excited as he has his own tent!

This time we gonna camp at Wannakorn National Park, before reaching there we stopped at Wat Huay Monkol where the big statue of monk locates there.  I could feel that this is the biggest statue of the monk I have ever seen. 

Departed Bangkok by bus from Ekamai Bus Terminal at 11:30 pm and reached Trad province at 4 am of Jan 5, 2008.  We had breakfast very early at 4:30 am (maybe) while waiting for another transport to pick us to the ferry terminal.

This trip we have Danny, Toon, Pueng, Yo, Dear and I.

We took Song Thaew (pick-up car) about 40 minutes from Trad where the bus dropped us to ferry terminal, early still so we waited for the first ferry to depart at 6:30 am.

On the ferry we were enjoying nice sunrise (pretty hard for me to catch one...lol), taking pictures and eatting BBQ pork with sticky rice....yummy

About 25 mins we reached Koh Chang and started to rent motorbike for 6 of us, we got 3 motorbikes from 3 different shops charging the same price of 200 THB per day excluded petrol (about 36 THB/L). 

We started our journey with motorbike by heading to Kai Bae Camp where we stayed for a night while traveling there.  Charging 50 THB per tent and 50 THB per person.  You can rent cooking equipments as well as for BBQ.

After rest for a while everyone ready to go to the waterfall and having lunch there.  Two persons on ONE bike riding follow each others to Klong Plu Waterfall. 

It was a bit unimpress when people stopped us and said we must park our bikes outside of the waterfall park charging 10 THB for each bike.  And when we walked inside the park, we asked an officer if we can park inside, he said YES, ITS FREE PARKING....damn!!!!  (Thai cheats Thai)

Anyway, we paid 40 THB each for the fee to entry the national park.  And it was a bit unpleasant cos no water due to dry season.

Disappointment couldn't stop travellers like us, we headed to Tree Top Adventure Park for some fun.  On the way, I stopped to buy mango and discovered that another bike of my two friends (Toon & Dear) didn't shown up.  We waited for a while and they appeared with herrible faces as they just fell down on the road...oh dear!!  From here, I decided to ride this bike instead of Toon so he could rest and ease the nerves. 

We reached Tree Top Adventure Park got special offer at 350 THB per person instead of 700 THB.  Dear couldn't play as she felt pain from an accident.  So it was only 5 of us enjoying this place which we spent about 3 hours for 3 sections (Training, Red and Blue).

Very exciting and tiring but deep fun games we had there.  Rushing to Bang Boa Market to buy seafoods for our BBQ dinner.

On the way back to the camp we stopped to watch the sunset, pretty nice!  Then quickly rode back before it getting too dark as it will be more dangerous to ride.

I didn't have any photos of our dinner so skip to the next day.  After breakfast we rented canoe for 2 hours at 100 THB per hour.

Some were enjoying on the beach.\

At 12 pm we packed and took some photos at Kai Bae Beach before leaving.

Then headed to White Sand Beach for lunch and some jumping shots.

Never forget to stop by at The National Park Office to get the stamp for my postcards, got one shot here of everyone before leaving.

We took the ferry at 5 pm at then took song theaw back to Trad to catch the bus at 6:20 pm, reached Bangkok, Ekamai Bus Terminal at 11:20 pm and just nice for us to get skytrain back.

We shared 1700 THB per person for this trip (incl everything), money was nothing, friendships and great memories we have..... priceless!

Photos: http://community.webshots.com/user/yuimo

Video: http://yuimo.multiply.com/video/item/1/Koh_Chang_Trad

Special Thanks to Toon and Pueng for some photos to post here. xx

ได้อ่านบทความสั้นๆ แต่ได้ใจความนี้จากหนังสือ Seventeen และชอบมากจนไม่อาจเก็บไว้ปลื้มคนเดียวได้ จึงต้องนำมาแบ่งกันอ่านตรงนี้

ปาฏิหาริย์แห่งการให้

ปาฏิหาริย์ที่ 1     ให้ "เวลา" แก่คนที่คุณรัก

ปาฏิหาริย์ที่ 2     ให้ "ความรัก" แก่คนในครอบครัว

ปาฏิหาริย์ที่ 3     ให้ "ความกตัญญู" แก่บุพการี

ปาฏิหาริย์ที่ 4     ให้ "ความรับผิดชอบ" แก่การทำงาน

ปาฏิหาริย์ที่ 5     ให้ "อภัย" แก่คนที่หลงผิด

ปาฏิหาริย์ที่6     ให้ "ความรู้" แก่ผู้ที่ยังเขลา

ปาฏิหาริย์ที่7     ให้ "ทาน" แก่คนที่ยังขัดสน

ปาฏิหาริย์ที่8     ให้ "อนาคตที่ดี" แก่คนรุ่นหลัง

ปาฏิหาริย์ที่9     ให้ "มิตรภาพ" แก่คนทั้งโลก

ปาฏิหาริย์ที่10   ให้ "ความทุ่มเท" แก่องค์กรที่ตนสังกัด

ปาฏิหาริย์ที่11   ให้ "ความจริงใจ" แกสัมพันธภาพ"

ปาฏิหาริย์ที่12   ให้ "ความซื่อสัตย์" แก่การทำราชการ

ปาฏิหาริย์ที่13   ให้ "ความเสียสละ" แก่ประเทศชาติ

ปาฏิหาริย์ที่14   ให้ "ความยินดี" แก่ผู้ประสบความสำเร็จ

ปาฏิหาริย์ที่15   ให้ "ความปล่อยวาง" แก่สิ่งสุดวิสัย

ปาฏิหาริย์ที่16   ให้ "ความเป็นธรรม" แก่ผู้ถูกกลั่นแกล้ง

ปาฏิหาริย์ที่17   ให้ "มรรคา" แก่ผู้ที่ยังหลงทาง

ปาฏิหาริย์ที่18   ให้ "ที่พึ่งทางใจ" แก่ผู้สับสน

ปาฏิหาริย์ที่19   ให้ "อิสรภาพ" แก่ผู้ถูกกิเลสครอบงำ

ปาฏิหาริย์ที่20   ให้ "โอกาส" แก่ตนเองได้ลิ้มรสสัจธรรม

ว. วชิรเมธี

 On Dec 28, 2007 departed from Bangkok at 8 pm by van at Victory Monument (fare 200 baht) reached Bann Pae, Rayong province at 10.30 pm. Spent time getting our dinner before heading to Ake's auntie shop on Suan Son Beach.  We camped there resting before heading to the island in the next morning.

This trip we have P'Diaa, P'Ake, Aont, Aoe, Pel and I, 6 of us knowing each other from Chomthai (www.chomthailand.com)

Early in the morning we couldn't miss to have many shots of sunrise (hardly happen to me as I'm a lazy woman...haha), it always a must to have some jumping shots...haha

Then we had coffee by calling an old woman riding passed by

Followed by boiled rice.

And P'Ake, Aont and I went to market to buy our foods and drinks to bring over to the island. It was our first time taken this kind of vehicle...haha pretty fun.

After back from market, we packed everything and took speed boat pulled banana boat to Khudi Island which we spent about 25 mins. P'Diaa and I took speed boat and the rest were on banana boat.

We reached the island and people on the beach were looking at us as we came on banana boat...haha Anyway, we shifted our stuffs and carried everything to the place where P'Ake suggested.

Here is the picture of the beach in front of our tents.

Then we had lunch foods we bought from Suan Son Beach. And everyone rested after full...happy time!

Time passing by quite slow and we had nothing to do, so we started to cook some things to eat...

And we did a bit of trekking to explore the whole island which is not that big.

Not so long we did a turn and started to enjoy the sea.

We almost missed to see sunset, I didn't have many shots as much as I wanted.

After fancy cooking then we had plenty of foods to eat for a whole night, we drunk till 2 am during quiet surrounding but our voices were really loud...haha  P'Ake picked the right place to camp otherwise others may complain.

Next day I remember P'Ake calling everyone to see the sunrise, for me I refused to get up so only this shot I've got before heading back to sleep again...haha

It kinda relaxing day indeed as I slept peacefully in the tent under nice weather.  This morning Aont cooked almost everything and the taste of foods pretty good!

Time to pack our stuffs ready for leaving, remember to keep all the junks and bring back with us. It was on Dec 30, many tourists everywhere this time while we were waiting for the boat.  Once again we took speed boat pulling banana boat and people looked at us as it seem to be fun.

We reached Suan Son Beach, everyone get showered and had lunch ready to leave to take the van back to BKK.

While waiting for the van, everyone enjoyed shopping at the shop recommended by Aont

We reached Bangkok at 7.30 pm P'Diaa, Pel and Aoe grabbed another van to Ayutthaya to visit another friend which I couldn't join as I have had a party with my friend on Dec 31. 

We shared 1480 Baht each for a whole trip, pretty smiles...priceless! 

More photos visit: http://community.webshots.com/user/yuimo