Month: September 2009

Chiang Mai – Part 2

This is a continuation of my last post on Thailand.

The elephant park is really cool! It’s also a resort cum school for learning how to train elephants. I think it’s a such a novel way to spend your holidays, learning how to train elephants.


#1 – Elephants bathing in the river with the student trainers.

You don’t see any elephant locked up in a cages like Malaysia. The area is free for the elephants to wander about but they’re never without a master (mahout) so you don’t have to be afraid about getting trampled into a pulp :P


#2 – Posing with baby of the herd.

There’s also an elephant show where they get to show off their talents. It’s pretty amazing what these bigass animals can do. Balancing on one leg on a tree trunk, moving stuff around etc. The baby elephant even knew how to help a person put a hat on!


#3 – Baby elephant putting a hat over the girl’s head.

And they can paint! You can buy an elephant’s painting from 500 baht and above.


#4 – Elephant paintings gallery.

The sanctuary’s got a blog here, you can see much better pictures of the elephants and the activities there.

We left the elephant sanctuary for Wat Phra That Lampang Luang. The sky was glorious, just perfect for pictures.


#5 – Temple entrance.

There weren’t many people so it felt really serene and peaceful. I could hang out there for a while.


#6 – Prayers in progress.


#7 – Under the bell.


#8 – Another one at the entrance before leaving.

Next, we went to a ceramics factory, nothing much to shout about. It’s huge and filled with high quality ceramic stuff for sale. I got a couple of ceramic magnets as souveniers and a mug. I thought of buying more stuff but the moment I put something into my shopping basket, my brain screamed LOGISTIC NIGHTMARE.

Dinner time was at this restaurant called Khum Khan Tok. We were treated to a cultural show and authentic Thai food presented specially for very honoured guests.


#9 – Thai food platter.

Speaking of this food platter, it’s basically a few bowls of different food with dips. My favourite part of the platter is definitely the bowl of pork cracklings. Hmmm hmmm. Best thing about it? It’s refillable, babeh.


#10 – Pork cracklings.

After dinner, we even got to light up these lanterns, not unlike the traditional chinese flying lanterns. Lighting those lanterns was a hot affair, literally.


#11 – Lighting up the lantern. Can you spot my me?


#12 – Drifting away…


#13 – And away…

We went back to hotel in a tuktuk convoy lead by a cop. We felt like proper VIPs!


#14 – In my tuktuk.


#15 – My tuktuk driver.


#16 – One with the convoy leader. A real police! Don’t play play.

Next post will be about Chiang Rai, kap kun ka!

Read Chiang Mai – Part 1.

A review on Hailam Kopitiam, SS2

After raving about Paparich to a friend, she recommended Hailam Kopitiam in SS2 as an alternative. According to her, the food is on par, if not better than Paparich and is much cheaper. I had to find out whether it’s true.

A little background, I only like Paparich for its range of steamed bread. It’s very hard to get that kind of light, pillow soft bread in KL nowadays. I could eat dozens of them in one sitting (although I have not tried it). As for the other dishes, I really can’t be bothered. Just the bread and yes, the soft boiled eggs.

So I went to Hailam Kopitiam determined to try the bread.


#1 – Hailam Cafe

I scanned through the huge menu (about 60 different dishes) and was a little disappointed that they did not serve steamed bread, only toasted ones. I ordered the toasted bun with kaya and butter anyway.


#2 – Toasted bun with kaya and butter.

First of all, I must clarify that the bun would have been quite awesome if I hadn’t yet tried the steamed bread in Paparich. I’m not saying it’s not worth a try but if you’re looking for a cheaper alternative to steamed bread, then Hailam Kopitiam is not the place.

The toasted bun was just a toasted bun, normal with no attributes that particularly stood out. That said, I must note that they serve must tastier kaya than Paparich though. It’s more fragrant and less fluid. If only I could combine Hailam Kopitiam’s kaya with Paparich’s steamed bread :P

The drinks were pretty good. I had the lime juice and Boo the iced coffee. No giant servings but your wallet won’t feel so stretched ordering a 2nd glass as you would in Paparich.


#3 – Lime juice and iced coffee.

Hailam Kopitiam’s interior and atmosphere is not much different from all the modernised kopitiams that have mushroomed recently. It operates out of one shoplot so at peak times space is limited but still comfortable…as long as you don’t get to sit next to a spoilt, screaming brat through lunch.


#4 – This picture could have been taken in Old Town, Old Taste, Kluang Station, Paparich, and more recently – Lorong Seratus Tahun Curry Mee.

We also ordered other dishes.


#5 – Hainanese style chicken chop in mushroom sauce. My Nokia N97 for size comparison.

The chicken chop was average at best. It’s a pity, because everything from the portion to the chicken chop was right except for the mushroom sauce, which was bland and kind of tasted like coagulated starch. Perhaps I should have stuck to the classic Hainanese tomato-ish sauce. If you’re there, avoid mushroom sauce at all costs. As for me, I’d still head to Kluang Station for the perfect Hainanese chicken chop.

My babber ordered tom yam beehoon which he liked. I tried it too and it was pretty good. The vermicelli was properly cooked through and the taste of the fragrant tomyam was even throughout. I wouldn’t go all the way to Hailam Kopitiam to eat it though.


#6 – Tom yam beehoon.

In conclusion, for steamed bread I’d still go to Paparich. For Hainanese chicken chop, I’d still go to Kluang Station. For things like asam laksa and curry mee I’ll stick to my neighbourhood REAL kopitiam.

As I have mentioned earlier, Hailam Kopitiam has a huge selection of dishes including rice dishes that seemed attractive. And the pricing is very reasonable for its modern setup. So if you’re in SS2 and craving for that kind of food, Hailam Kopitiam is the place to go.

    Hailam Kopitiam Sdn Bhd
    No. 20, Jalan SS2/67,
    47300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
    Tel : 03-7875 5652

Will review Paparich soon, been too busy wolfing down food than take any picture :P

Malam Tumpang Glamour

This post is a bit overdue but better late than never! Malam Tumpang Glamour (MTG) was organised by Reta, Elfie and Mike because parties do not have to be expensive to be fun. Their motto is: cheapass but kickass.

I can’t agree more. I always feel out of place at posh pretentious parties. And I almost never really enjoyed myself. I guess I’m just not that kind of person. I’m too loud when drunk, and too crass when sober. On that note, my wedding is going to be mad fun with loads of pork and booze. Just sayin’…


#1 – Always thought I’d make a good looking pirate. With Reta.


#2 – Inked Tattoo Studio. No drunken tattooing took place.

Held at Inked, the theme for the night was Misai hence I wore a plastic rapist’s moustache that I got from Daiso. That’s the only kind they were selling and it was quite uncomfortable. Skin couldn’t breathe, so I discarded it not long after.


#3 – emoCharlie lapping up all the attention.

So anyway, MTG really did kickass. It’s not only cheap, but all proceeds (nominal entrance fee of RM1) go to its favourite charity which is Furry Friends Farm. Great music on great sound system (thanks Hi-Volt) by the average men/women who think they are better than professional djs and fortunately, they are. Free booze by Tiger Beer. Got lucky draw for some awesome goodies somemore. And of course, it’s pet-friendly! Thank you MTG for giving me the opportunity to party with emoCharlie for the very first time!


#4 – Lucky draw. Spot Michael.


#5 – Suan, KY and Kura-kura chilling at the staircase.


#6 – Ah Horng and Elfie.


#7 – Ladies on the pool table. Most right pair of feet belongs to me btw.

Everyone had so much fun. I did too, although it was a little short-lived :P


#8 – I fell asleep with emoCharlie keeping an eye on me.


#9 – Guess the song.

Can’t remember much after that, a lil bit about wobbling down the stairs, vomit shooting through my nostrils etc.

Last picture:


#10 – Caption this.

We need more MTGs!