DINNER AT PALAAD TAWANRON RESTAURANT, CHIANG MAI

Our Thai friends recommended us to try out this Palaad Tawanron restaurant located at the foothills of Doi Suthep. It's indeed a very pleasant restaurant with the spectacular panorama view of the city in the evening.

The city night view from our table.

There were a variety of Thai dishes in their menu - local Thai special salad, deep-fried pork leg with mashed potatoes, Tom Yum with "big head" river prawns and young coconut, seafood dishes, the ever popular Pad Thai and etc etc.

 

It was indeed a special dinner for a special occasion - my daughter's birthday.   

 The birthday girl!

 

An evening of fun and the superb Thai food. Dinning in cold breeze of mountain air was certainly something different. We celebrated this beautiful evening with our Thai friends.

CHIANG MAI AT IT'S BEST - LUNCH AT "HUEN PHUEN"

Our friends in Chiang Mai took us to a very popular Northern Thai restaurant "Huen Phuen", for lunch in the heart of the city. From a distance it looked like an ordinary residence. Once we were near, we could smell the spices. 

 A photo before entering the restaurant.

A popular snack in Chiang Mai, the "Kheep mu" (Pork rinds). 

So much food to eat.

The reddish steamed rice with deep fried garlic, chilli and sliced raw shallots. The called this dish "Khao ngiaw". It was tasty and I was told that the rice was steamed with pig blood and some spices.

 Khao Soi, a kind of curry noodle. It's very good!

 It's a wonderful lunch!

 The famous Pork sausage - very tasty.

 This Papaya salad was hot and spicy but so delicious.

We still have a few more days in Chiang Mai, we hope to enjoy more of the Northern Thai cuisine. Perhaps, the best has yet to come!

 

ANTIQUE HOUSE RESTAURANT - CHIANG MAI

Our first dinner in Chiang Mai was at the Antique House restaurant located at the bank of Mae Ping river.

This restaurant looked small from outside.

Well decorated with Thai style lanterns, antiques and wooden furniture.

An old motorcycle on display. There's a small stage and a 3 piece band was entertaining guests with popular Thai music and songs.

We opted for the table on the floating platform where we could enjoy the open sky and the breeze.     

 The northern Thai "Tom yam kung" was hot and spicy but superb.

 

 Hot soup and lemon herb steamed fish with chilli.

Fish cakes was great.

We drove over to the night market after dinner. Their night market set-up was similar to ours back home except many of the products.     

Beautiful and colourful soap flowers (hand carved) 

Hand carved wooden elephants. 

"branded" handbags. 

A popular grilled meat stall.

Popular street food - Banana Rotee.

"Branded" foot wears.

"Branded" T-shirts.

It was a good experience walking through the night bazaar, my first in Thailand before returning to our hotel for the night.

KUALA LUMPUR - CHIANG MAI

It's our first time traveling on Air Asia flight to Chiang Mai from KLIA2, the recently opened new low cost carriers' terminal. We flew in KLIA1 from Kota Kinabalu on a Malaysia Airlines flight and on arrival, we took a 3 minutes ride on KLIA Express train to KLIA2. The fare was RM2.00 per person. 

At the KLIA1 Express train station.

First time at KLIA2, we were lost after stepping out from the train. There was no  signage to guide passengers to the check-in counter. We had to ask people for direction at least 3 times before we found the check-in area.

Finally arrived at Air Asia counter to drop our baggage after 15 minutes.

The International departure hall.

According to the website, KLIA2 is a big shopping mall with more than a hundred retail and food and beverage outlets in the main Terminal. There are 4 check-in islands and more than 50 self-service check-in kiosks. There are five boarding piers, J and K for Domestic flights while P,Q and L are for International.  

Our boarding gate was L22 located one floor down from the Immigration and the first Security check area. A bit confusing, but we managed to find it. Another round of security check was conducted before allowing us to proceed to Pier L.

 

It was a long walk to L22, estimated about two kilometers or more through the narrow concourse. There was no walkalator !      

 

Taking a rest half way to the gate L22 at this cafe.

Boarding was quickly done as passengers rushed through the gate. It's also a long walk to the aerobridge ! Aircraft was pushed back on time for taxiing.

The sky bridge in the distance.

Passing Air Asia X A330-300 fleet.

Almost a full flight.

RM21 for this Nasi Lemak and a hot coffee.

Cruising at 36.000 feet.

Approaching Chaing Mai International.

 Landed after 2 hours and 50 minutes.