Our home clock strikes 11pm, & it’s about time now to show my hubby Dear Dear the gifts I got him from my amazing Northern Thailand trip!!

Let’s first start with the following Fragrance (from Perfumes & Cosmestics Mega Store at Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 2) which I got for Dear just before I departed for Chiang Mai 6 days ago :

While in Singapore Changi Airport, I tried on several perfume brands such as Calvin Klein, Yves Saint Laurent, Ralph Lauren, Hugo Boss, Burberrys, Bvlgari etc, & in the end, I settled for the below new Fragrance Davidoff Adventure for my beloved Dear :

I wanted something out of the ordinary, out of the world Fragrance that’s vibrant & captivating……….

And this Davidoff Adventure Fragrance blew me off my feets with its Fresh Spicy Robust Woody Exotic Masculine Fragrance in its Adventurer’s Flask designed bottle. Besides, its enchanting name attracts me lots as I’m one full of dreams & fantasies & I love adventures!!

Most important of all, I know this Davidoff Adventure Fragrance suits my hubby Dear cos a fantasy king himself, & a magic lover, this charming Fragrance will surely bring him & I together to our dreamlands as we journey on & explore the world in love……..haha!!

And here’s my Dear’s most long-yearned for Box of Thai Mango Sticky Rice desserts – all the way home with me in Singapore right now from Warorot Market, Chiang Mai :

Yum Yum - Dear can’t wait to tear this Box apart!!!

Targetting the Box now…………..

And the Box of Thai Mango Sticky Rice desserts is finally opened up now :

See the huge chubby Mangoes, many packets of Thai Sticky Rice, & the smaller white packets of Thai Coconut Milk :

Hahaha Dear’s already feeling ecstatic right now laughing at the so huge amount of Goodies I just got him!!!

Look at the beautiful Thai fruity Mangoes – mmm……..not quite so cos some of them are bruised from the 3-hr flight from Chiang Mai………..so sad so sad!!

Actually I’d wanted to hand carry these Mangoes cos I know the Box that’s containing them is kinda soft & fragile, but my silly brother insisted that I must check them in haha!!!!

Besides, I’ve often hand carried fresh Fruits home from overseas – such as Peaches from Melbourne, Custard Apples from Brisbane, Avocados from Gold Coast, Grapes & Pears from China etc etc, & they all arrived beautifully with me!!

 Now, I believe the Mangoes in Mom‘s Box are equally bruised like mine!! How silly!!! How silly!!!

The 20 packs of very fragrant Thai Sticky Rice :

The many smaller packs of Thai Coconut Milk :

And of course Dear can’t wait any longer for his Thai Mango Sticky Rice to be warmed up ready & served so I immediately made him some!!  

Heheh, here’s an extra plate of the most yummy aromatic Thai Mango Sticky Rice dessert for myself too!! Haha, how can I resist not having it?!! Of course NOT!!!

Hmm…….heavenly…………..

These Thai Mango Sticky Rice dessert still tastes as good as the ones I ate in Chiang Mai, though they were packed since noon today at Warorot Market in Chiang Mai, & air-flown 3 long hours home with me to Singapore!!

What lustrous Thai Mangoes - they’re so sweet & juicy, the Sticky Rice so full of wonderful Coconut Milk fragrance……& OOPS!! I forgot the Thai Coconut Milk here again when serving these Mango Sticky Rice desserts haha!!

But then, what’s there to explain since these Thai Mango Sticky Rice already tastes equally great without its Coconut Milk!!

The following is the next best gift for my hunky Dear – Seen here at more than 1kg Thai Chinese Roast Pork with packets of fresh Thai Coriander Leaves & Cucumbers, Thai Sweet Chili Sauce & 2 packets of some kind of Thai Meat Sauce - also all the way air-flown home with me to Singapore from Warorot Market, Chiang Mai :

Still crispy crispy full of aroma tasty Thai Chinese Roast Pork :

The Thai Chinese Roast Pork is now warmly toasted specially for Dear, served with the Thai Coriander Leaves & Cucumbers & Sweet Chili Sauce on the sides :

See the most flavorful & succulent Thai Chinese Roast Pork readily to be attacked!!! Hmm……..so sinful so sinful!!!

And these Roast Pork taste perfert with these most fragrant Thai Coriander Leaves & most crunchy Thai Cucumbers!!!

Haha!! Dear’s burning with love & fire right now digging into these most magnificent Northern Thai Delicacies specially brought back home for him from far-away rosy Chiang Mai!! Besides, he’s also received handsome Thai T-shirts from this trip of mine!!

Feeling like a luckiest guy on earth, Dear’s completely immersed in luxury & paradise especially with his new dreamy Davidoff Adventure Fragrance………& he’s loving me a zillion zillion times more right now haha!! 

After having the most superb Chinese lunch at Jia Tong Heng Restaurant & shopping for some half hour at the small shopping arcade outside Jia Tong Heng Restaurant, we drove here to this Thai Service Apartment where our Thai Rental Car Agency is at its basement, to pay for our car rental fees.

This Thai rented car has brought us all around Chiang Mai, from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, to Phya Meng Rai, from Phya Meng Rai to Chiang Rai, then from Chiang Rai all the way to Mae Sai, then back to Chiang Rai from Mae Sai, then back from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai again!

Rain or shine, this car has given us much comforts & lots of convenience travelling around the North of Thailand for the past 6 days & nights!! And especially to our most wonderful Thai friend, who is our greatest chauffeur for all these days & nights, we must say the biggest Thank You!!

We spent some time at the Thai Car Rental Agency settling our car payments, inclusive of extra $50 Singapore Dollars for the broken Side Mirror incident which happend earlier this noon.

Below is a Slideshow containing photos taken of our car & the Car Rental Agency’s surroundings :

Here below shows us arriving at Chiang Mai International Airport for our 6pm flight home to Singapore after we left the Car Rental Agency – the time now is 3.30pm.

We’ve all our travelling luggages, including our 2 Boxes of Thai Mango Sticky Rice desserts, checked in, & got our flight Boarding Passes. And as there’s still 2 & half hours to our flight departure, my brother & our Thai friend decide to go run some errands at Central Airport Plaza together.

So we bid farewell to our Thai friend cos we won’t be seeing her again before leaving Chiang Mai – Dad shakes hand with her, while Mom & I hug her as we thank & say Goodbye to her. And our eyes are wailing up in tears as we do so, & then Mom start to cry. And upon seeing Mom crying, both our Thai friend & I follow suit cos we can no longer control our tears as my brother & she start to walk away from us……….So sad so sad (

We know we’re gonna miss her so much as she’s become a very dear close friend to us, & we really appreciate how much she’s done for us driving us around here in the North & bringing us to visit so many interesting places & eating so much wonderful special Cuisines!!

Well, we really hope to see our most dearest Thai friend soon again, & best with her Mom, Dad & younger sister, cos Dad has actually invited her family & her to come visit us in Singapore the last time we visited her family home in Phya Meng Rai.

Well, it’s now shopping time for me here at Chiang Mai International Airport as Mom & Dad settle down for Coffee inside a small Thai Cafe called “NINETY-FOUR COFFEE” inside the Airport.

I still remember my hubby Dear & I used to have its Club Sandwiches & its Tutti Fruitti Berry Smoothie here at the same Cafe last Dec just before our flight home to Singapore, & they were both so good & yummy!!

And today, I’m back here at this Thai Souvenirs Shop inside Chiang Mai International Airport to hunt for more Thai Souvenir Magnets just like I remember it was here last Dec – the only thing I didn’t know last Dec was that this Thai Souvenirs Shop is the ROYAL THAI GOVERNMENT HANDICRAFTS CENTRE - THE BIGGEST THAI HANDICRAFTS CENTRE :

I spend some amazing time shopping inside this Biggest Thai Handicrafts Centre & am very happy to find some great Thai Souvenir Magnets to add on to my World Souvenir Magnets Collection – all packed inside this below Shopping Bag :

The Souvenirs sold in this Biggest Thai Handicrafts Centre are much more costly, but some of their souvenirs, especially the Souvenir Magnets, can’t be found outside here. Well, at least to me cos I’ve never seen them anywhere else except here in the Airport!! Besides their quality & workmanship are fine & very good!

Well, the followings are my Thai Souvenir Magnets which I just purchased from the Biggest Thai Handicrafts Centre :

My authentic Thai Elephant Souvenir Magnet :

My most exotic Thai Royal Barge Souvenir Magnet – the exquisitely crafted Royal Barge is a blend of Craftsmanship & traditional Thai Art :

My “Thailand is the Origin of Muay Thai” (Thai Boxing) Souvenir Magnet – Muay Thai is a form of Hard Martial Arts. It’s a long history in Thailand, & it’s the National Sport in the country. Muay Thai uses Kicks & Punches in a Ring with Gloves similar to those used in Western Boxing.

Referred to as “The Art of the Eight Limbs”, the Hands, Shins, Elbows & Knees are all used extensively in this Thai Boxing. Thus a Nak Muay (a practitioner of Muay Thai), is able to execute Strikes using “8 Points of Contact”, as oppised to the “2 Points” (Fists) in Western Boxing, & the “4 Points” (Fists, Feet) used in the primarily sport-oriented forms of Martial Arts : 

My “Thailand is where Buddhist Temples Prevail” Souvenir Magnet – There’re over 312000 Buddhist Temples spread around Thailand. Temples are called “Wat” in Thai, & they’re grouped into 2 main groups – Temples which are permitted to carry out Religious functions, & Temples which are used only for Living quarters for Monks.

Classified into 2 main categories - Common Temples & Royal Temples where there’re about 200 Royal Temples which were built by Royalty or came under their sponsorship in Thailand :

My Thai Angels Souvenir Magnets :

 My most precious Thai Boys Souvenir Magnets :

Below is my “Thai Boy Playing on Songkran Day in Thailand” Souvenir Magnet – Songkran is the Thai New Year, & it’s celebrated every year from April 13 to April 15. Throwing of Water is the most obvious celebration of Songkran – where people roam the streets with containers of Water or Water Guns, or stand by the roadsides with Garden Hoses & drench one another wet with Water!!

The Throwing of Water originated as a way of paying respects to people, by gently pouring a small amount of Lustral Water (water blessed from Monks) on people’s hands or over their shoulders. Then young Thais start pouring Water on strangers to relieve the heat (as April’s the Hottest month in Thailand), & this further evolved into Water Fights & Splashing Water over people riding vehicles.

Traditionally, the main activity of Songkran was to visit & pay respects to elders, family members, friends & neighbours. People may also go to Buddhist Monasteries to pray & give food to Monks. It’s the time to make New Year resolutions, to refrain from bad behavior, or to do good things, & a time for cleaning & renewal, giving their homes a thorough cleaning.

In Northern Thailand, people may carry handfuls of sand to the monastery to recompense the dirt that they have carried away on their feet during the rest of the year. The sand is then sculpted into Stupa-shaped piles & decorated with colorful flags.

In Chiang Mai, the Buddha Images from the City’s important Monasteries are paraded on ornately decorated Floats through the streets so that people can toss Water at them, ritually “Bathing” the Images. The Thais believe that in doing so, they’ll have Good Luck & Prosperity for the whole New Year :

Below is my “Thai Cock Pet in Thailand” Souvenir Magnet – the Cocks are cherished Pets which are well-cared for by the Thais, who use the birds to participate in their favourite pass time or Thai National Sport – Thai Cock Fight :

My “Thai Boy Walking on Coconut Shells in Thailand” Souvenir Magnet  – Coconuts are called “Maprao” in Thai. In the past, Thai children made use of the Coconut Shells to play a Game called “Dern-ga-la” or “Walking on Coconut Shells”.

Simply making 2 holes on the sides of half a Coconut Shell (called “Kapho” in Thai), & passing a small string through the holes, the Thai children step on the Shells with the strings in their hands, & try to walk on the Shells. And whoever arrives at the winning point first wins the Game :  

My “Thai Buddhist Novice Collecting Alms in Thailand” Souvenir Magnet – It’s a Thai Tradition that young men, at the age of 20, spend a period of time in the Monkhood, in order to forward the merits to their parents who have given them birth & brought them up.

Boys under the age of 20, or older men who are not ready to obey the 227 Buddhist Precepts required for Monkhood, can also be ordained as Buddhist Novices, who need to only obey 10 Buddhist Precepts.

These Thai Novices learn how to dress themselves properly in Saffron Robes & collect Alms from devotees in the communities surrounding the Temples. Most importantly, these Novices study the Theory of Buddhism & practise Buddhist Meditation. The Thai Novicehood program usually lasts between 15 to 30 days, after which, the Thai Novices are disrobed, hopefully to become better persons :

My “Thailand is the Land of Smiles” Souvenir Magnet – The Land of Smiles is a description of Thailand given by visitors. Called “Yim” in Thai, Smiling has become a part of Thais’ everyday’s way of life in their expressions of embarrassment, shame, remorse, tension, fear & even sadness.

For my personal travelling experiences, I think the Thai people from Northern Thailand are the most courteous, most helpful & best smiling people in the country, & that’s the main reason why I like visiting Chiang Mai.

Well, here below are several specific Thai Smiles in Thai, & their English translations :

“Yim Thang Nam Taa” in Thai - “I’m so happy I’m crying” Smile

“Yim Yae Yae” – “I know things look pretty bad but there’s no point craying over spilt milk” Smile

“Yim Yaw” – “I told you so” Smile

“Yim Sao” – Sad Smile

“Yim Thak Thaan” – “I disagree with you” Smile

“Yim Mai Awk” – “I’m trying to Smile but I can’t” Smile

“Fuen Yim” – “I should laugh at the joke though it’s not funny” Smile

“Yim Thak Thaai” – the polite Smile for someone you barely know

Below show my “Thai Buffalo Riding” Souvenir Magnet – Called “Khwai” in Thai, Buffaloes have played an integral part in Thai culture & Thai society, where they’ve been used for centuries by Thai peasants to plough rice fields.

Haha, I still remember last Dec when my hubby Dear & I had our Buffalo (or Ox) Cart riding here in Chiang Mai & that was as close to riding Buffalo, & that was so cool & so much fun!! 

The following is my “Thai Monkey Coconut Picker in Surat Thani Thailand” Souvenir Magnet – Surat Thani is the largest Southern Province in South Thailand, covering an area of 12891 kms & bordered by the Gulf of Thailand to the North & East. Located 644 kms from Bangkok, Surat Thani literally means “City of the Good People”; its name given by King Vajiravudh (RamaVI) of the Srivijaya Empire.

Thai Monkeys play a major role in collecting Coconuts in Thailand because human beings don wana do that kind of work. And Monkeys In Surat Thani have contributed greatly to Thailand’s Coconut Industry, which produces yearly some 933000 tons of Coconuts on 280000 hectares of land, mostly in the Southern peninsula of the country.

After shopping at the Biggest Thai Handicrafts Centre inside Chiang Mai International Airport & having greatly expanded my current World Souvenir Magnets Collection, I went back to meet Mom & Dad at NINETY-FOUR COFFEE Cafe, & that was when I met 2 really nice Mom & Daughter Australians who had been chatting with Mom & Dad.

I joined in their conversations chit-chating with one another – the Aussie Mom lives in Sunshine Coast, while her daughter is working in a Brisbane University, which the more made our conversations longer & interesting cos I was telling them my hubby Dear used to study in the University of Queensland in Brisbane, while I was from Deakin University, Geelong Victoria………..& that we (including Mom & Dad) used to travel alot to Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Cold Coast etc etc!! It was overall so much excitement bringing back much sweet Aussie memories )

And this Aussie Mom & daughter pair will also be taking the same flight to Singapore with us!! They’re actually on a 1 night 1 day Transit in Singapore, on their way back to Australia. And Aussie Mom was telling us they wana visit the Singapore Botanic Gardens the next day before their night flight back to Australia, & I was sharing with them which nearest train station to go to, & to take a bus to the Gardens etc.

And remembering the shopping areas inside Chiang Mai Airport Departure Lounge cos I was here last Dec, Mom, Dad & I soon parted with the Aussies Mom & daughter cos we wana check into the Thai immigrations earlier so that we can do some more last minute shopping before leaving Chiang Mai!!

We’re now walking towards the Chiang Mai International Airport Departure Lounge – eager for more shopping haha :

But to my disappointment, nothing catches my eyes as I shop in the Departure Lounge :

Mom, however, did buy a made-in-USA Handbag for herself from the below Thai Duty Free boutique inside the Departure Lounge :

Well, my brother is finally back here at the Airport, alone from his Central Airport Plaza trip (with our Thai friend).

And while waiting to board our flight in the Departure Lounge, this very cute active sociable dark-skinned dark curly haired 3-year old French Singaporean (& I believe of Thai mixture too) girl with her French parents, comes touching me & asking me lots of questions in English about my red fringe hair, & clipstick color, & showing me her toys & sweets etc etc.

Time passes fast as I’m entertaining this little cutie girl, & the time now is past 5.30pm - time for us to board our 6pm SilkAir flight MI705 home to Singapore.

 And here’s my SilkAir flight MI705 Boarding Pass :

I’m now onboard MI705, seated here with baby Cowtie :

Cowtie was originally from Chiang Mai when I found him at a Flea Market, & brought him back home to Singapore with me & my hubby Dear. And I’ve brought him back here 6 days ago to visit his hometown, & now, he’s flying back to our home in Singapore with me again!!

“La Gon, Laew Phob Gan Mai” (meaning “Goodbye, See You Again!!“) – Cowtie says in Thai as he bids farewell to his beloved hometown of Chiang Mai from our flight’s window :

For myself, this’s been a great 2nd Chiang Mai trip of mine – & it’s specially memorable cos Mom & Dad are with me this time round!!! And once again, I’ve gathered many fond & sweet memories of this wonderful trip to bring back home to Singapore to share with my hubby Dear!! Hmm…….I miss him so much so much & I can’t wait to see him again!!! 3 more hours!! Only 3 more hours to go & I’ll be able to see him again heheh!!  

Hooray Hooray our flight is now taking off & flying home to Singapore from Chiang Mai!!! Yippie Yippie I’m so happy so happy!!!

Below is a Slideshow of photos taken of the beautiful bird’s eye views of lovely Rose Capital of North Thailand – Chiang Mai :

Our In-flight dinner time – Mom’s Chicken with Fried Rice with baby Corns & Green Vegetables, Fruits & Orange Jucie Set : 

And here’s my Stewed Beef with Mash Potatoes with steamed Broccoli & Carrots, with Fruits & Orange Juice Set :

Warm & yummy Stewed Beef & Mash Potatoes – simply delicious!!

And here’s our In-flight entertainment Mr Bean Cartoon Show which I think is the same show that was on during our flight from Singapore to Chiang Mai 6 days ago :

Well, Mom & I chatted on the plane, while trying to take a nap in-between, & at times, I tried snaping photos of the night sky from our flight’s window – but of course, my camera wasn’t good enough to capture anything out there haha!!

Finally, our plane landed in Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 2 – WEW!! It’s so good to be back home!!!

The Singapore time now is almost 10 pm, which is one hour ahead of Chiang Mai time, which means we’ve to now wind back our watches 1 hour ahead. Immediately upon landing, I ring up my hubby Dear on my cell phone – heehee I know I’m not supposed to turn on my phone yet, but I miss his voice so much so much haha!!

Anyway, on our way out to the Singapore Immigration counters, we again meet the 2 Aussies Mom & daughter whom we met earlier in Chiang Mai International Airport!! We chatted again for a while – I asking them to have great fun in the Singapore Botanic Gardens & enjoy their one day & night in Singapore before their flight home to Australia tomorrow night!! Then we bidded farewell to one another & parted ways…..

Then I told Mom, Dad & my brother not to tell my hubby Dear that I’ve brought him so much Thai Goodies such like the Mango Sticky Rice desserts & Roast Pork!! The idea is to lie to him that I’ve never got any of these for him at all haha!! Naughty Naughty Me heheh!!

After stopping by the Singapore Duty Free Wine & Liquor shop to purchase some Wines & Beers, & picking up our Travelling luggages, & of course never forgetting our 2 Boxes of the Thai Mango Sticky Rice desserts, I’m now walking straight out of Singapore Changi Airport Arrival Hall!!! And hey, I already saw my charming hubby Dear waiting outside the Arrival Hall from afar earlier & we started waving excitedly at each other……now I’m nearing him as I’m walking towards him…………..

Hahah we’re finally back together again heheh…………& I can’t wait to tell my dear hubby all my travelling stories & the great many Cuisines I had during my trip!! And I’m so proud telling him that I’ve even been to Myanmar (Burma), making him so envious haha!!!

And of course I can’t bear lying to my hubby dearie about the Thai goodies any longer but blurt out the truth to him as we’re settling down at home making him gushing out in laughters & happiness hahaha!!!

Once we were back at Holiday Inn from Warorot Market, downtown Chiang Mai, Mom & Dad tucked into the Thai Mango Sticky Rice & Roast Pork straight away & they were really pleased & happy with the delicious Thai Cuisines!!

After which, we checked out of Holiday Inn & went for our last lunch in Chiang Mai – Jia Tong Heng (“Xie Tong Yu Jiu Lou” in Chinese) – the Chinese Restaurant which the Thai Chinese Teochew Auntie from Warorot Market recommended us 2 days ago.

Name Card of Jia Tong Heng Chinese Restaurant, in Thai, Chinese & English :

The Best Chinese Restaurant in Town – Jia Tong Heng serves great yummy Chinese Cuisines according to the Thai Chinese Teochew Auntie.

We’re now arriving at Jia Thong Heng – looking at the below huge Welcome Sign at the Restaurant entrance. However strangely, this Sign reads “Gia Tong Heng” instead of “Jia Tong Heng” which I am sure it’s a spelling mistake cos the actual name of the Restaurant should be “Jia Tong Heng”! Besides, its Name Card also reads “Jia Tong Heng” - & I wonder why hasn’t the mistake been corrected on this Sign………..

Entering the car park of Jia Tong Heng Restaurant :

We’re now entering Jia Tong Heng Restaurant (“Xie Tong Yu” in Chinese) :

Inside Jia Tong Heng Restaurant now – a prettily decorated very cosy Chinese Restaurant with Chinese artifacts :

It’s my very first time seeing such an authentic Chinese Restaurant here in Chiang Mai – I’m very excited :

We got seated & I’m now holding the Jia Tong Heng Restaurant Menu :

Heheh, see the picture of the Suckling Pig on the Restaurant Menu below – that’s the main reason why we’re here today!!

Chinese Suckling Pig – upon my suggestion, we’ve requested our Thai friend to help call Jia Tong Heng Restaurant last night to specially pre-order & get the Restaurant to prepare one Suckling Pig for our lunch today!! Yum Yum, I can’t wait!! I can’t wait!!!

Here’s our Black Chicken Chinese Herbal Soup :

Steaming hot & very well prepared, this Black Chicken Herbal Soup is nourishingly good : 

Our all-time Thai Cuisine favourite – Stir-fry Kang Kong with Garlics :

Pickled Carlics with Chinese Wolfberry (Gou Ji Zhi) - fresh & really special :

And here’s our charcoal-fired full of delicious fresh seafoods & spices steaming hot Tom Yum Gung Steamboat :

Haha, here comes our most dreamt of & most long-awaited charcoal-barbequed (or grilled) whole Chinese Suckling Pig – served on a huge oval-shaped plate with 2 extra small plates of Vegetable Pickles & Plain White Buns : 

The 2 small plates of big slices of appetizing Vegetable Pickles (made up of Cabbages, Cucumbers, Cauli Flowers, Carrots etc) & very warm homely Plain White Buns :

What a huge baby Suckling Pig, & so prettily placed & presented to us on top of fresh green Lettuces :

And of course I can’t help but snap many photos of this beautifully grilled Suckling Pig as fast as I can so that all of us can soon tuck into the yummiest BBQ hog!!

WOW WOW!!! The Suckling Pig was indeed most most delicious, even much better than the ones we usually eat back home in Singapore!! The skins were very very crispy, there were lots of aromatic meat underneath too, & the whole Suckling Pig was very very tasty & wasn’t a bit oily at all!!!

See the 2 baby Suckling Pig Ears :

The 4 tiny Baby Suckling Pig Trotters – Dad’s favourites :

And the most roasted very crispy Baby Suckling Pig Tail :

It was the best baby Suckling Pig we’ve eaten & we enjoyed it so much, walloping up every tiny bits & parts of it!!

After spending some time finishing lunch, we left Jia Tong Heng Restaurant & went shopping at the outside small shopping arcade where there were the Clothing & Thai Handicrafts boutiques where Mom bought 2 Hot Pink & Orange colored Blouses & a long flowery Skirt & a small handmade wooden case.

Well, we really must thank our dear Thai Chinese Teochew Auntie for recommending us here to such a wonderful Jia Tong Heng Restaurant cos we just had a very very good lunch!! All the Chinese Cuisines were great, especially the Suckling Pig which was most heavenly without the oiliness yet so tasty & crispy, which also shows how skilful its Restaurant’s chefs are!!

Should anyone of you be visiting Chiang Mai, do remember to come check out this Best Chinese Restaurant in Town – Jia Tong Heng, cos besides the above great Cuisines which we just ate, the Restaurant also serves other great many Chinese Cuisines!! And of all its Cuisines, you’ve got to try its definitely MUST-NOT-MISS Suckling Pig!! Or you’ll live to regret it!!!

A fond gourmet lover, this best Chinese Suckling Pig has now become my next additional reason for coming back to Chiang Mai again haha!!!

Sunday is finally here today, the day we’re going to Warorot Market to buy our Thai Mango Sticky Rice (called “Kao Neow Ma Maung” in Thai), & hopefully, the Thai Chinese Roast Pork, to bring back home with us to Singapore!

Well, we were initially hessitant about going to Warorot Market as we’d been pre-warned by our Thai friend that it’s not safe for us to be at crowded places here in Chiang Mai, especially in the Night Bazaar & Warorot Market, cos of the current on-going PAD Protest in Thailand against Samak the Prime Minister.

However, we decided that we won’t be that unlucky to get into any harm. Besides, Mom kept reminding me that my hubby Dear is longing for the Mango Sticky Rice back home in Singapore!! Haha!! So our Thai friend, my brother & I, left Mom & Dad to rest in Holiday Inn, while we started our journey downtown Chiang Mai to Warorot Market to buy our Thai Mango Sticky Rice, & hopefully, the Roast Pork heheh!!

And along our way, something happened as we were driving - our car got hit on its left side mirror!!Our Thai friend was driving pretty fast on this road when I think she must be driving too close to the left side of the road & hit one of the cars parked there!!! It all happened so fast our left side mirror must have been hit cos it broke lose & flew off right past infront of my brother’s & my eyes cos we were both seated on the left side of our car!!!

Our Thai friend wasn’t even aware of what happened except got a great shock afterwards!! And we were so lucky we were not hit any closer or else the broken mirror might come flying straight into the left side windows of our car & onto my brother & I!! What a close shave!!!! Thank God!!! Thank God!!!!

Well, here we’ve arrived at Warorot Market, & we’re at this Thai Duck, Chicken & Pork Stall – the same old Stall where the most helpful & kindest Thai Chinese Teochew Auntie brought me to buy the most delicious Chinese Roast Pork here in Warorot Market when I was visiting with my hubby Dear last Dec.

And YES, I’m so happy that this same Duck, Chicken & Pork Stall is open today!! And YES YES, the seller is the previous same Thai lady whom I still remember I bought the Chinese Roast Pork from last Dec!! See she’s smiling at me too & I wonder if she actually still remembers & recognises me?!?!? Haha I’m so excited!!

Wow, she’s got so many Ducks & Chickens, & even other cuisines like Braised Pork & Pork Intestines etc in her Stall today!! But for Roast Pork…….hmm………she’s got only one piece left!!! Well, it’s a pretty BIG chunk of Roast Pork though that she’s still got left – at 1.2kg. But that’s not even enough to share between Mom & I, who both wana have at least a kg to bring back home to Singapore!!

Like I mentioned in my earlier posts, we all love Chinese Roast Pork!! And yes yes, some of you must be thinking & saying Singapore also has Roast Pork, why wana buy Roast Pork here!?! Well, like I mentioned before, this Thai Chinese Roast Pork which I ate last Dec was so so tasty & good!! And somehow, the Roast Pork from here seemed so much fresher & tasted much more fragrant & better than most ones back home in Singapore!!

Best of all, the Roast Pork here come with fresh sliced Cucumbers & diced Coriander Leaves which when eaten together, the Roast Pork tastes even greater!! And well, my hubby Dear & I just love them so much we always dream of biting into these Thai Chinese Roast Pork again haha!!

So in this trip of mine to Chiang Mai, besides the Mango Sticky Rice, my hubby Dear has also been bugging me to buy the Roast Pork back home for him!! Hahaha isn’t he so greedy ha!!!

Well, I just bought the only last big chunk of 1.2kg Roast Pork from this Stall & the Thai lady seller is so happy cos guess there’s hardly anybody who would buy such a whole chunk from her any normal day ha?!!! And guess what?! It only costs me 350 bahts, which is equivalent to $15 Singapore dollars - So cheap!! 

And well, persistent & clever me start to look around in her neighbouring Stalls in the Warorot Market hoping to find some more Thai chinese Roast Pork to buy home. And YES YES I did find one more CHUNK!! It’s at the 3rd some kind of Stewed Pork Stall from this Duck, Chicken & Pork Stall, & it’s got also one last piece of 1.25kg Roast Pork left!!!!

Haha the young Thai seller looks stunned & so surprised yet pleasantly smiling that I immediately asked for the whole chunk & paid for it – at 450 bahts!! Well, the Roast Pork here costs a little more expensive but hey it’s but only about $19 Singapore dollars, still pretty okie!! But most importantly, the Thai Chinese Roast Pork is so so yummy you won’t regret eating them!!

Well, here’s our next destination in the Warorot Market – the Thai Mango Sticky Rice Stall. But hey, that Thai lady boss is not around today but instead there’re 3 other helpers, & they all look kinda identical with that lady boss, so guess they must all be family :

Heheh, we’re now back at this same Mango Sticky Rice Stall where we’d already pre-ordered 15 packs of the desserts 2 days ago when we were here. And as requested by the Stall’s Thai lady boss, our Thai friend has also pre-called her earlier this morning before we came here, to inform her that we’re coming in.

And we actually pre-ordered another extra 13 packs, rounding up to 28 packs of Mango Sticky Rice altogether!! They’re actually my 15 packs & Mom’s 10 packs to bring home to Singapore, & 3 packs for us to salvage later in Holiday Inn haha!! 

Now, below’s the most freshly prepared most fragrant most yummy full of Fresh Coconut Milk aroma Thai Sticky Rice (called “Kao Neow” in Thai), contained in the huge Steel bowl :

This Thai Stall actually weighs each & every packet of their Sticky Rice, & so are their Mangoes, which they weigh in order to put the right amount into each pack of their Mango Sticky Rice dessert & the pricing of each & every pack is dependent on their weights.

Here are some of our big & small Thai Mangoes (called “Ma Maung” in Thai) :

We requested that the Stall packs all our Mango Sticky Rice desserts into Boxes like this :

And guess what!?!? Actually Mom & I had again re-increased our orders from my very initial 10 to 15 to 20 packs now, & Mom’s initial 5 to 10 to 16 packs, plus our initial 3 to now 4 packs for eating in Holiday Inn, which altogether comes to a grand BIG total of 40 PACKS!!!

40 PACKS of Mango Sticky Rice?!?!!! Hahaa we must be CRAZY CRAZY ha you must be thinking!!! Well, like I say all the time in my earlier posts, this particular Mango Sticky Rice dessert is simply superb that you seldom get to eat elsewhere that we can’t resist not buying more & more……….besides their portions are also not too huge!! OR rather, think we’re just BIG EATERS ha heheh!!!

And in fact, I also told the Stall helper that I would like to buy all her Mangoes that are available in her Stall today, & she’s now confirming it as seen below :

This Box of Mangoes belongs to Mom :

And here’s my Box of Mangoes, still piling up………

Our 2 Boxes of Mango Sticky Rice desserts :

See, my Box is all filled up now of the Thai Mangoes, Sticky Rice, & the Packets of Fresh Coconut Milk :

Our 2 packets of Thai Chinese Roast Pork with Cucumbers & Coriander Leaves that we bought earlier here at Warorot Market :

More Newspapers are being used to fill up the space on top of our Mango Sticky Rice desserts inside the 2 Boxes, & they’re then sealed with brown tapes :

The Stall helper is tying the Boxes with strings now :

Haha see the below huge EMPTY Steel bowl – all its Sticky Rice is all gone now!!! All gone into our 2 Boxes heheh!! And guess the Stall helpers must be smiling with happiness cos we just bought all their Mango Sticky Rice of the day, & they can close business early today haha!!

Now, our 2 Boxes of 36 packets of yummy yummy Mango Sticky Rice desserts to fly home with us, plus 4 extra packs for eating later, are finally all ready to go – seen here below with our 2 packs of Roasted Pork with Cucumbers & Coriander Leaves :

And here’s the bill of our Thai Mango Sticky Rice desserts – a total of 1185 bahts which is about $52 Singapore dollars!! What a great great treat heheh!!

It’s now time to leave the 3-storey Warorot Market, which is filled with Thai goodies & cuisines, herbs & spices, clothes & fabrics etc :

And a big Thank You & Goodbye to the following Duck, Chicken & Pork Stall for its amazing Roast Pork!!

See below my brother (in green tee) walking off & carrying our 2 Boxes of Thai Mango Sticky Rice – they’re really heavy I can tell you!!

And what a cool pretty piled so high up Rattan Baskets Stall which we’re walking past right now when we’re about to leave Warorot Market :

Beaming with smiles all over, we’re now heading back to Holiday Inn to bring Mom & Dad the many many Thai goodies – bet they’ve been waiting long & hungry hoho…………

Looking forward to going back home to Singapore, we woke up very fresh & happy today, cos our flight home is at 6pm this evening. YES YES, we’ll still be going home as planned & not be affected by the current PAD Protests going on in other parts of Thailand, cos as at yesterday, we’d already managed to log in & confirm our flight seats!! Hoorays Long Live the King!! Long Live the King!!

And being our last day staying in Holiday Inn Chiang Mai, we’re now in its lovely River Terrace Restaurant for our breakfast – seen here inside River Terrace is a beautiful huge wooden Elephant carving made up of many big & small “Jumbos” :

And some kind of tall straight “Spring Onions-looking” plants deco – lovely :

We’re now looking at the River Terrace’s International Buffet spread, which is fantastically superb :

Different types of Breakfast Cereals :

Various types of yummy Cheese & Biscuits :

Cold Fruits Desserts & Yoghurt Selections on top Ice  :

Delicious Hams :

Fresh Juices :

Freshly prepared Salads & Dressings – Mom’s behind picking up Fruits :

Here below are the Porridge & Japanese Corners :

Besides many Caucasians staying here in the Holiday Inn Chiang Mai, there’re also many Japanese tourists, that’s why here’s the Japanese Corner specially for them :

Porridge Corner :

And below are the Porridge ingredients (such as Salted Eggs etc) & Vegetable Pickles Selections :

Here are the Pastries & Dim Sum Corners :

Bread & Dim Sums (contained in round Bamboo baskets) which usually only consist of mini Char Siew Bao (or BBQ Pork Buns) & Bean Paste Buns :

Fresh Loaves of Bread :

Many types of Margarines & Jams :

Here’s the Pastries Cormer :

Mom seated inside River Terrace about to have Breakfast now – btw, Mom’s wearing the beautiful genuine Pearl Necklace which I got her from Suzhou, China heheh :

Freshly prepared Omelettes with Hams, Cheese, Onions, Mushrooms & Tomatoes :

My Hammy Cheesy with Cucumbers garnished with Italian Dressing Plater…..hmmm……..I just love these :

My western plus local breakfast delights :

See the Poached Egg on top of half sliced round burger – that’s really yummy!! So are the Bacons :

Hard-boiled Egg with more fresh very crunchy Cucumbers with Sauteed Fried Fish, & Korean Kimchi which I simply adore :

Steaming hot Shrimps Porridge garnished with lots of sliced Gingers, Spring Onions & Fried Shallots – it’s my very 1st time eating Shrimps Porridge – I love Shrimps & I love to cook but I’ve never thought of cooking Shrimps in Porridge!!

The Shrimps Porridge tastes very good, with huge fresh Shrimps – real yummy yummy :

Bananas for Mom & Dad – Dad especially loves bananas, & he really likes the Thai Northern ones : 

River Terrace is situated by the side of Mae Ping River, seen here below :

Exit to Mae Ping River side from River Terrace :

I’m now standing outside River Terrace looking at Mae Ping River :

After our sumptuous Breakfast at River Terrace, we’re now going up to our rooms in Holiday Inn Chiang Mai – the Hotel elevator lobby :

Our 2 connecting Rooms No 1818 & 1819 :

Lovely Mom inside our Room carrying her Green Thai Handmade Embroidered Bag :