Bangkok 2024 Day 5, 6, 7

We had breakfast on our own. Me and Angus went to this Myanmar tea cafe, then we joined the rest at some art gallery cafe and headed back to the hotel to check out, air asia back to Bangkok. 

Angus made a friend while alighting the plane lol. We grabbed back to Neab's place and Angus was so wowed by how big Neab's house was lol he's just being a villager as usual. Neab drove us out and we met the others for dinner at our favourite restaurant Som Boon. It was amazing as usual, I can eat this everyday at Bangkok.

We headed for some cocktails at BKK social club and then to his friend's bar, then we headed back. 

Next morning we drove out for lunch at Momo paradise, then Emsphere for the Gucci exhibition which was meh compared to the LV one.

After that it was shopping time for me at Siam Pharmacy as usual, then Angus went to his hotel and we went back to wash up. First time I took grab bike from his place to the BTS station lol and my hair was in a mess. It took about 1 hour from his place to the city urgh. Met the others at Commons for dinner and we had a lot of drinks, then we went to club and I was gone lol.

Apparently we changed to another place and I was like drunk gone and there were some small drama happening between Jason and Yi Tian but I totally didn't know what happened and then the next thing I knew we were in grab and I fell asleep on the car. 

The next morning I woke up, still in yesterday's clothes and apparently I didn't shower and just fell asleep in bed lol. I was so worried I didn't remove my contacts but apparently I did when I was drunk haha. We had fried chicken rice for breakfast, then headed out at around 3pm. Met the rest at Siam Paragon with Trex for Another hound cafe. The Wagyu basil rice was so spicy.

Clubbing again, they had the famous roadside noodles then went back at around 1am. 

Next morning lunch with Neab at Fashion Island, had my thai milk tea, then grabbed to airport. 

It was one week holiday but it was actually quite tiring lol especially the Chiang Mai part because we were drinking almost everyday. I don't know why, maybe it's the age but travelling now is more tiring than working hahaha. Of course I'd rather travel and be tired. And we got to know more Chinese friends! 

Time to visit China.

Chiang Mai 2024 Day 3 & 4

Breakfast, checked out, we headed to Don Itanon - the tallest mountain in Chiang Mai I think. It was trekking day but it started raining and it was so cold and misty all around. The trek that we wanted to go was closed because of the rain so we went to a shorter one like 10 mins.

Lunch was simple on the mountains, then we went to see a waterfall.

We headed back to the city to check in to Intercon, went swimming for a bit and headed out for dinner at the grilled fish place.

Maadae Slow Fish - my favourite restaurant in Chiang Mai.

We were quite full from dinner, we walked around the night bazaar and Neab brought us to a really hidden bar, it was like in the middle of a construction side which was quite scary and super hard to find lol. 

The drinks were quite good though.

The next morning we had really local breakfast - chicken rice and pork noodles, then grabbed coffee and headed to the mountains again lol. We went to a temple, to the botanical gardens, to some mountain area.

Lunch on the mountains again, then we headed back to the city. We booked a massage nearby which was okok, back to the hotel to wash up and then dinner time.

We had Khao Soi which is Chiang Mai local food - curry chicken noodles and some other meat at this Michelin restaurant. It was good but not very filling tho. And then we had drinks at an outdoor bar beside. 

Chiang Mai 2024 Day 2

There were 6 of us travelling so Neab booked a driver and car for 3 days and it was really well planned. Travelling with locals is definitely better. 

First we went to the temple up the mountain, it was the highest temple in Chiang Mai I think. We had to climb a long flight of stairs. And then we went to some hidden temple in the forest as well.

The weather was fair and not too hot, quite enjoyable. Lunch was at this amazing Michelin place but the food was a bit too spicy.

We rested at a cafe and walked around a little bit, visited the silver temple and the headed to dinner.

Dinner was at this famous suki place at the roadside, it was quite ok tho. We also shared a pork leg rice which was good. 

After that we had drinks at the hotel bar (plus shochu), then headed out to another live music bar with an amazing guitarist. I thought there would be singing but nah, just strings.

Back at the hotel to pack because we were changing hotels the next morning.

Chiang Mai 2024 Day 1

Before Ben went back to Bangkok we had dinner and I was saying I want to go for a short holiday but don't know where, then he suggested Chiang Mai and I said let's go together someday. Then when Angus was here he told me he's going Chiang Mai with his friends and I said let's go together!

I claimed my SQ miles because they were expiring and tickets were expensive because of the long holiday, and bought Jetstar for return trip. Time to make use of my new luggage!

Neab came to pick me up and we had wine for the night. No crazy partying because we have an early flight the next day. 

Sunday breakfast was Moo Ping, then we took grab to DMK and 1 hr Air Asia flight to Chiang Mai, then took grab to check into the hotel. The U hotel was quite nice on the exterior but the interior was a bit old and not user friendly. We headed out for lunch around the old town area, they were setting up for the night market because it was a Sunday, we visited a few famous temples and to Kalm which is owned by Neab's friend. 

We had some fruit smoothie nearby and then for dinner with Neab's friend. The restaurant was called Maadae Slow Fish and they grill freshly caught ocean fish at the south of Thailand. It was really excellent and super fresh. The other dishes like Tom Yam soup and seafood were really good but it was the grilled fish with a little pinch of salt that really impressed me. No photos but we decided to go back again for the last dinner. 

Then we went nearby for really nice toast bread dessert lol and we were really full.

We walked back to the hotel via the night market and it was quite nice. They have some nice items, unlike those in Vietnam, and food also. The whole market was super big.

We waited for Angus at the hotel, Neab came over to my room and hid behind the curtains. Unsuspecting Angus came in, we said hi, then he walked around the balcony to check out the room and Neab jumped out and "NI HAO". Angus' expression was epic I rolled on the bed laughing so hard.

We met his friends Jason and Yi Tian, went to a live music bar for drinks. We bought a bottle of Shochu to share.

That's it for the night I was so tired already.

June shoppings

Eric brought back my taobaos from Beijing, he went there for work and had a full luggage so I could make use of him hehe. And just nice there was the 6.18 super big sale so I bought:

1. Level8 cabin luggage

2. 1 x water bottle

3. 2 x spaghetti container

4. 2 x Nike t-shirts

5. 3 x underwear and a tank top

Love taobao and free delivery. I also bought another carton of Strong zero on Lazada because the vouchers made it so cheap. And also bought my Sonos soundbar which was awesome now. It gets better with usage.

Yesterday I went to MBS with Jessie to shop, didn't intend to buy anything but Club21 had 50% off sale so I bought a JW Anderson tshirt. I also bought a Thom Browne Tshirt and a Gucci Polo T -_-.

Argh why am I spending so much even before my bonus comes in!! 

I'm heading Thailand next week and I'm gonna spend more and I haven't even paid off my income tax yet. 

Sonos Arc

After one Friday night Eric came over to watch Godzilla and he said that my TV speakers are not good enough -_- so we used my B&O speakers to watch. The sound and bass were rather good but it seemed weird that the sound was coming out from one side. So the idea of buying a soundbar was always hanging around my mind.

So I did a bit of research and the best were Sony HT7000 or Sonos Arc. The Sony one was too long for my TV and TV console so I was considering the Arc. I went down to Harvey Norman to check it out, the sales guy introduced me to the Arc and I was sold lol. The Arc it is. And just so happened it was 6.6 sale and my bonus was coming, the original price of the Arc was $1699, the cheapest I could find on carousell was $1200 and Lazada was $1277 sale price for a brand new one, it was a no-brainer. I just ordered it.

During the research I also read that I have to pair with a subwoofer to maximize the experience so I was also considering if I should get the Sonos Sub. In the end I didn't buy it because I want to see how the soundbar will change the sound of the TV. I could always get the sub during the next sale.

Within 2 days it arrived, I set it up and Eric came over last minute for dinner and movie so we were the first to experience the Arc. It was meh and wasn't worth the price. I mean it was good but not that good. Or may I didn't tune it properly. 

The next day I tuned it and watch the new Star Wars series, and it was wonderful. Now I get why the sales person said the sound will just get better and better. I had the whole surround sound experience, like the show was happening all around me and much better than the day before. 

Ok anyway it came with a 30day free return so if I still don't like it I can return it next month. Let's see.