What a Day This Has Been...

Actually, what a day it was!

Last week, I headed to Ayutthaya for a day and luckily the weather was on my side, allowing me to trek from temple to temple sans rain. I actually got sun-sandal-burned on my feet!

What made the day all the better was a breakfast I concocted for myself.

I was excited because I envisioned it all beforehand and realised I had all the ingredients to make it a reality. That rarely happens!

It's the little things- like strawberries, a baguette & apricot jam, cheese and a simple sunny side up egg- that count. 

Of Last Peeks & Sneak Peeks

It feels like I'm always catching up on and queueing up posts.

While I sort out my pictures from my Ayutthaya day trip, here's the last peek of Chiang Mai.

What are the odds that I'd find more used bookstores in one block of Chiang Mai than in a whole main street in Bangkok?
Well, I did find them. And I couldn't help but go in and come back out with full hands...
But how could I not bring back Best Cat Stories back home with me, I ask you. Cat Lady doesn't know how to say no (only Meow).

View all my Chiang Mai pictures HERE.

Here's my sneak peak of my day trip to Ayutthaya...

North (of the) Country

"Snuggled into the foothills of northern Thailand, Chiang Mai is a sanctuary of sorts with a refreshing combination of city accoutrements and country sensibilities."*

I couldn't have said it better myself (which is why I didn't really bother, to be honest).
Chiang Mai really is that perfect little nook in the country- surrounded by mountains and history, it is a great escape from the city stress. It also helps that it's cooler (temperature wise) than central Thailand making exploring the Old City that much better.

First day I walked around and stooped by at the Chiang Mai City Arts & Culture Centre.

The Three Kings Monument (Anusawari Sam Kasat) is overlooking a small plaza in front of the Centre.

I wandered around and came across the Museum of Insects and Natural Wonders.

Day Trip to Nong Nooch Garden

I'm trying to catch up with day-trips. 

Well, let me correct that: I'm trying to catch up with ONE day trip so I can move on to this week's day trip (in keeping things chronologically on the blog). It's also just a lot of fun to share pictures!

Nong Nooch Garden was a lot of fun (in the sun) up until I got all Debbie Downer on myself.
The gardens are huge and full of beautiful flowers and all sorts of trees. And there are also animals.
Elephants, tigers and birds- oh my!
My excitement came from my proximity to these animals- never had I ever touched an elephant and let it smell me back. And much less had I ever pet a tiger! Being so close to a tiger was like being the ultimate cat lady.

Having said that (and experienced it), I felt extremely bittersweet about it all afterwards. These are wild animals. They deserve are meant to be wild.
When I knelt down next to a tiger for a picture (ugh- don't make me feel worse about it all....) I felt an internal growl as I placed my hand by its neck. I thought, "It can still very well attack me. And it has every right to do so." We can't control them- we like to believe we do, but it's not true. Instincts are their nature, survival. It doesn't matter if they treat them well (okay, it is very important!), but what matters is that they are bounded by cages, bars, and human beings. 

So, that's my mini-rant about my experience. I feel like a hypocrite, but hey. I know better now!

Anyway, on to the pictures!

Left: Gold pheasant. I thought it looked nifty blurred.

Whistling over the River Kwai

I totally whistled that* while on the bridge, but was more like a 'dink'.
Rather than pretend like I know so much about war history, I'll just guide you to Wikipedia (my personal fountain of knowledge) which is far more reliable & accurate than I could ever be. 
Unfortunately, we (my mother and I) were under 'limited-time' pressure and did not visit the cemetery or the Railway of Death. The weather got nasty (don't let the sunny skies fool you), which scared us away in good time as it did, eventually, start to rain.
But I'll go back. So much more to see in Kanchanaburi!
(click on the single photos to go to my Flickr photostream- a couple different photos on there)