Khaoyai, Thailand

Have anyone ever heard of Khao Yai or Kho Rat in Thailand?  This place may be overlooked by foreigners but for local is actually one of the top destination whenever Thais are on holiday or just for short getaway.  Kho rat or formally known as Nakhon Ratchasima is a province in the North Eastern Isan region of Thailand.  It is about 3 hours long drive from Bangkok.  And Khao Yai National Park in Khorat is a UNESCO World Heritage and the most visited park in Thailand that take across 4 provinces.  The most famous access is from Khorat.  Once you enter the area around Khao Yai, you will find lots of western theme resorts and restaurants.  Not only that, the biggest winery and wine produces are located in this area.  With the cooler weather compared to Bangkok (especially in winter season) made them one of the top city to visit.

These resorts in Khao Yai are mostly family-friendly and one of them that we stayed, is called Valata.  My son doesn't even want to leave the resort and you will understand why after seeing the photos below.

This resort is full with free-roaming pets, such as ducks, rabbits and even carb fish.  This little resort only features as much as 15 rooms.  So less crowded compared to any resorts in the area but with the huge lawn for kids to run around.  It is also completed with swimming pool and slider.  It is definitely made a great choice for family with kids. 

Just becareful with those ducks, there are quite aggressive especially if you carry the food.  They have no patient, sometimes they just grab it out of your hand.  Imagine all those kids prefer the rabbits and while we feed the rabbits most of time that ducks will steal it from them and it makes kids hate them even more.  We as adult need to trick the duck by throwing the food and lead them to the place far away from rabbits, so the kids have more time to play and feed those rabbits without any disturbance from little monster, ducks.

And morning or night, even on the hot sunny afternoon my son plays around with those animals, only come back to our room just for sleep.  The kids totally love it.

Besides lovely animals, this resorts also provide us with clean room and friendly service as well.  At night we had dinner in the main dining room.  It was great steaks that served on our table.  Surely a happy tummy.

On the way back, we made a short stop at The Chocolate Factory for a little sweet treat.  Their hot chocolate is perfecto.  And they also sell some sweet souvenirs to take home as well. Their chocolate-filled buns are so soft and so yummy with oozy filling inside.  Don't miss that.  It comes in chocolate, white chocolate and coffee.

Chocolate truffles making

Dark hot chocolate

That's just about it in Khao Yai this time.  More like eating and relaxing for us.  We haven't explore much the National Park although we have been there quite few times.  While you were there, don't forget to try the deep-fried banana on the main road before arriving Palio Khao Yai.  Palio is a walking street shopping centre with an Italian-town theme.  Beautiful and nice place to taking photos especially for pre-wedding. 

Valata Khaoyai Resort
555 Moo-11, Pong Ta Long, Pak Chong
Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
Ph: 044 983 261 or 088 709 9675

The Chocolate Factory (Thailand)
352 Moo 2, Thanarat Rd, Pak Chong, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
Ph: 092 443 8881


Palio Village Khao Yai
146/1 Moo 4, Thanarat Rd, Pak Chong, Nakhon Ratchasima
Ph: 044 365 888

One Day Trip In Yangon, Myanmar

Luckily, I live in Thailand where overseas travelling could easily be reached in approximately 1 hour flight.  That's why a day trip is surely possible.  One of the case is flying to Yangon, Myanmar.  This one day trip is more like religious combines with gastronomic travel.  We visit 9 temples and 2 restaurants in a matter of 9 hours.  Leaving Bangkok at dawn and flight back in the evening.  We booked a private van to conveniently pick us up from the airport and take us around the city.

More than thousands of temples in Yangon but without disrespect, we only visit 9 temples in that day.  The 9 temples that a-must visit, not in a particular order are Shwedagon Pagoda, Sule, Botataung (two sites), Chauk-htat-gyi temple, Nga Htat Gyi Pagoda, Swe Taw Myat Pagoda, Kaba Aye Pagoda, and Kyauk Taw Gyi Pagoda.  With 9 temples to visit, it was quite hectic journey yet pretty comfortable in a way.  We break down the journey for early lunch and also early dinner before heading back to the airport.

In Myanmar, people are very religious and respect Buddhist for their life.  Therefore, local people take off their shoes since in front of the hall far before the temple's entrance door.  And most of them are bringing a plastic bag to keep their shoes and carry it with them, in case of going out from different gate.  However, some temples provide the space to keep our shoes with a fee of course.  One of the useful tips, is to carry a wet tissue with us where we can wipe off our feet after walking around before we put our shoes back on rather than be patient with our dirty feet.

Kyauk Taw Gyi Pagoda

Swe Taw Myat Pagoda

Kaba Aye Pagoda

Chauk-htat-gyi Pagoda

Nga Htat Gyi Pagoda

Outside Feel restaurant

Botataung Pagoda

Inside this pure gold pagoda was a very small cylindrical shaped gold object that contained one hair and two tiny body relics, believed to be from Buddha.

Botataung Pagoda

Botataung Pagoda (Bo Bo Gyi)

Botataung Pagoda

Botataung Pagoda

Shwedagon Pagoda

Shwedagon Pagoda

It would be better if you could visit the Shwedagon Pagoda just before 5 pm as women will gather around the temple's hall, voluntarily and promptly swap the temple's floor.  Nice gathering to watch and you could also join the group if you willing to do so. 

For our lunch, we had genuine Burmese dishes from Feel restaurant.  Not only packed with tourists, but most of their customers are actually local people as well.  That's why is guaranteed that their food is definitely up to standard.  Burmese delicacies is using lots of pork especially that oily belly part.  Lots of spices and oil are going on in one dish.  It creates a strong flavour and fragrant dish in this tiny bowl. 

This restaurant allow you to self-picked food from the food bar then the waiters will bring them to your table.  Good food and fast service as well with a reasonable price.  However, around lunch time the restaurant is quite crowded and packed with hungry customers challenging the food.  And outside the restaurant, they are selling some Burmese sweet and snacks too.

Mohinga - traditional Burmese noodle soup

Memorial Monument just opposite Sule Pagoda

Immanuel Baptist Church

Before heading back to the airport, we not to forget to try this famous Shan noodle.  Shan people is the minority group in Myanmar.  There are a few types of noodle served dry or with soup.  I basically didn't put any extra seasoning on my dish as I normally do and this noodle is already that delicious.  We tried both chicken and pork noodle and they are absolutely outstanding.  They also serving a few rice dishes as well in the house.

Deep fried wonton

So, can Yangon be done in one day?  Yes, definitely can.  But it is also recommended if you want to stay for a night.  As a few other activities equally interested to be done.  Such as shopping at Bogyoke Aung San Market and more food to explore. 

Shwedagon Pagoda

Opening hours: 04:00-22:00

Entrance fee: $9 (US$ is widely accepted in Myanmar as well as Kyat)

Botataung Pagoda
Opening hours: 06:00-20:00
Entrance fee: $3

Sule Pagoda

Opening hours: 04:00-22:00

Entrance fee: $3

Feel Restaurant

Pyay Lan (West) Ward, Yangon, Myanmar

Open 24 hours

Ph: +95 9 730 48783

999 Shan Noodle Shop

130b, 34th Street, Yangon, Myanmar

Opening hours: 6am - 7pm

Ph +95 1 389 363

Dinner At Chaweng Garden Beach Resort, Samui

Previously:
Koh Samui, Thailand

Dinner by the beach - great feeling when you having fine meals with bare foot on the white sandy beach

Fresh seafood and grilled to order

Tod man goong

Clockwise: steamed sour and spicy fish, chicken cashew nut, and red curry duck

Deep dried ice cream

Bangkok airways lounge - Samui