The Chedi Chiangmai

I was deleting photos off my camera the other day because my SD card was full, and I realised I hadn't uploaded my birthday trip!! Hehe had a lovely time with my parents and sis up in Chiangmai this year, super chill but totz amaze. Looking back at it, it was a really great getaway. My mother has a tendency to revolve birthdays around trips (her birthday is coming up soon and we're going to BKK, my dad's will be in HK), and this year it just so happened that I was newly unemployed during my birthday, so an impromptu trip popped up and off we went to Chiangmai! We stayed one short night at the Chedi Hotel in Chiangmai city, and it was so beautiful we were reluctant to leave. 

It's essentially built around what used to be the British consulate in Chiangmai back in the days of the British Empire-- a colonial style house with massive patios and terraces, right by the river. It's really well done, the mix of a new and modern building that houses the hotel around the focal point of the old colonial house, which is now the restaurant and bar of the resort. You wouldn't know it once you are in the resort, but it's actually just a few minutes away from the busiest parts of Chiangmai city. The Chedi is a true oasis!! Super peaceful and serene. 

Hehehe Daddytong instagramming it up! Follow him here!! :D He's secretly addicted to it, spies on me all the time. 

Thai food for birthday dinner! Not a bad way to celebrate ;) 

Later on that night we walked to see the popular night markets of Chiangmai, but the only thing that caught my eye is this motorcycle with the three beautiful parrots in front. The man zooms around delivering the evening newspaper, but the parrots cling on tightly to the basket. Soooo cute! 

Best parents everr. 

I really didn't want to leave! Am completely inspired just looking at these pictures I took to have a home as beautiful, functional and peaceful all at once just like the Chedi. 

Tokyo Love

The stories of the radiation leaks in Japan is truly truly breaking my heart. As much as I love the country, my family is seriously considering cancelling our trip to Tokyo and Kyoto in November, although we're still going up end of this month to Hokkaido! Excites. Here's some leftover pics from our April trip (yah I know so backdated but losers can't be choosers and I have nothing interesting to share that's already in my laptop. Funemployment just makes me lazier than I already am ok.) Anyway it's mostly food, because it's delicious in Japan ok! EVERYTHING IS DELICIOUS. 

My family <3 Handsome uncle and cousins xx

QUEUING FOR SUSHI WTF look at that insane queue we waited about an hour.... I was starving so everything tasted good (it might be their intention) 

Slicing up a giant toro at Tsukiji. 

Cutest little shiba inu!!! Basking in the crisp spring air and warm sun so contentedly. 

Look at the fat content on that ootoro!! 

Sigh this view doesn't exist anymore :(

Our fave crab restaurant!!

Sending you all my love, Nippon x

Of Rocks and Mountains

"Oh what are men compared to rocks and mountains!" Tis a line I always remember from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Truly nothing, even if I doubt the great lady herself had ever been to China. More photos! This truly is a disgusting backlog, clearly not cut out to be a blogger. It turns out life is more exciting than I think it is. 

So one of the things unique to Lijiang and its native Naxi tribe is it's embroidery schools. They are kept within the family, and the skill is mostly imparted to relatives (nieces, daughters, daughters-in-law, cousins etc). In Naxi culture, it is the woman who earns the upkeep! Not really a yay for equality because the men just spend their afternoons drinking tea (or liquor) and playing chinese chess..... 

So one must most definitely go to see an embroidery school, when one is in Lijiang! They truly are amazing works of art, so much patience! Some of the more intricate ones take up to 700 days to complete, quite insane! 

Look how the fishes sorta come alive! The bright parts are where the silk embroidery has been done. At the school we went to, they had a whole lot of little dogs which were once stray but now guard the house (or laze about) in exchange for food and pats. 

TEEHEE me when I'm happiest, surrounded by furry little dusty dogs. 

Another tourist destination: Tiger Leaping Gorge. Apparently a hunter was chasing a tiger and it leapt across the gorge onto that rock and onto the other side of the river, which you can see by the tiny humans on the other side, is pretty damn wide. 

Food! Cooked by the boy in the blue jacket! I saw boy because he could not have been more than 16 years old but he had pretty legit cooking skills. I hang my head in shame. 

Moar food! This one was one of my faveee meals! It's called Guo Qiao Mian (or Cross Bridge Noodles), and is light and not too oily (although look at that soup). First, according to what you order, they serve you a plate of condiments and a bowl of noodles. Usually comes with peavine, ham slices, quail's egg, beancurd skin, pickled veggies and some meat like chicken etc. Then later on a big boiling claypot of soup arrives! You're supposed to throw the noodles into the boiling soup, followed by all the other condiments and then eat it all. It was super delish, need to try to recreate this dish! 

Some Peacock Dance show, rather entertaining. Granted, I did fall asleep once but only because I was tired. Then off to the Stone Forest, a forest made up of limestone formations. Naturally, being the civilised people that we are, we spent the entire time there having fun with the topography. 

Teehee! Daddytong says hi. 

The End.