Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) - Let's Explore Together

My first ever solo travel (Bangkok Thailand Part 2 & Chonburi). Tadaa! I did it. I sure did. A proud moment of mine. In fact, one of the most proudest by far in my entire life. Me daring myself to travelling alone (Ayutthaya). Thereafter? On the go again. Thanks to the insights, mainly on courage and ditching aside fear I have already picked up. But not as in solo, solo again. I actually joined a tour group. Where to? Vietnam & Cambodia by paying more compared to the stated amount due to single room occupant. Otherwise, everything else being equal and square. Same package basically. The day arrived and off to the airport where tour guide was already on stand-by, and before going up in the air for landing in Tan Son Nhat airport, followed by to Liberty Central Hotel for our one night stay. At this juncture, friendship ice-berg still at it rawness. Meaning? Friendship water has not been broken though we did smile at each other and after collecting our keys, off to our respective rooms. My room. Sincerely. A comfort zone. Nothing to complain about. Simple yet elegant. Spic and span, and ample space for me, myself and I.  

Royal Thai Handicraft Center - Bangkok (Thailand)

The in between, between our sightseeing (Bangkok Part 2)? Stop-over in Royal Thai Handicraft Center (Ayutthaya & Bangkok Part 1). A promising start once you stand outside for admiring the craftsmanship and craftswoman-ship. Trust me, admirable skills. But these men or women at work. They can't be bothered in looking at you. Like zombies, they will just continue doing what they are doing. No action and reaction even if you try to make eye contact or you want to smile at them. I suppose we just leave them alone? Logically.

Bangkok,Thailand - Through My Canon (Part 2)

 

Back to the hotel after a fulfilling tour in Ayutthaya (Ayutthaya Thailand). Quite a tiring one too. In and out of the bus and sightseeing by itself, you gotto walk your legs from one end to the other hunny bunny. Let's not also forget about the weather in Thailand. Mostly, burning sun. Even so, my enthusiasm for more of Bangkok (Bangkok Thailand Part 1) didn't dwell. I still wanted more and the more awaiting me tonight, Calypso Cabaret Show. Sandwich and a drink packed back from MBK Mall and me tucking in, in my room and by 7.00pm, off to Calypso Cabaret Show by hopping into the van. Calypso Cabaret Show. My-My! Colorful costumes, fun, fantastic, lively, raunchy, sexy, laughter, crowd pleasing, crowd teasing and polished performance by the lady boys. What a show. A show which kept my glued to my seat for an hour. Simply superb. 

Ayutthaya (Thailand) - UNESCO World Heritage Centre

Ayutthaya! Such a significant name to my ears. Ayutthaya! Bookmarked for as long as I can remember. Me like been patiently waiting to explore Ayutthaya, said as a must do if you are in Bangkok, and finally, the day arrived. As if my dream came through. Though, honestly, I really didn't plan for Ayutthaya to be included in this solo trip of mine which started in Chonburi (Chonburi & Pattaya), followed by arriving in Bangkok (Pathumwan Part 1 & Pathumwan Part 2) and immediately jump starting my sightseeing (Bangkok - Through My Canon). I survived. I sure did. Albeit the hiccup before finding my way back to the hotel (Pathumwan Princess Part 3) and trust me, sleeping alone for the first time in your entire life in a new place? Aha! I made it. Thanks also to the hotel staff and travel agent staff for their kind advice on me safe keeping myself in Bangkok. 

Nandu Rasam (Crab Legs Pepper Soup)

Old habits die hard, don't you think so? Even our cooking habits embossed and embedded in us by. Who else will drill cooking in our head, but our grandmothers and mothers? Girls must learn to cook their philosophy. Yes. Trust me. If you don't start cooking as young as you are, simultaneously you don't pick up the cooking tips from them, all hell would have broken loose those days. Sometimes they themselves can be the hell monsters. Literally pushing you, no matter what, you must cook. I know. I didn't have it all easier either. Knocks on the head and being pinched. Duh! Perhaps maybe, for the better? I really don't know what to say. Regardless, this habit of whenever its a crab dish at home (Malaysian Chilli Crab & Crab Curry), it must be in tandem with the claws or legs kept for Nandu Rasam until I am still till this day doing the same and of course, no complains from my Indian other half-half. And so, the story goes as well for this another version compared to the previous (Indian Crab Soup). Indian Pepper Soup (Mor Rasam) and crab legs in one. A tweeted and modernised version because I used store bought spice powder and of course, as usual, how can our Indian soup be perfected without turmeric powder (Turmeric Tomato Soup) and for Nandu Rasam, pepper is quintessential (Mixed Vegetable Soup). Nandu Rasam (Crab Legs Pepper Soup). Go ahead slurp in or like us Indian, banjir/flooded over rice. 

Pathumwan Princess Hotel - Bangkok, Thailand (Part 3)

What and what not thereafter ( Madame Tussauds & Bangkok Part 1)? Like a Bangkok hero, me crossing the road while the sky was still slightly bright for heading back to the hotel (Pathumwan Princess Hotel Part 1) and for packing food for dinner. Wrong check-mate outrightly. Why? I didn't dare being amongst the many walking up and down. My main concern was, what if I am robbed or mugged? Silly thoughts you think so? Maybe, but seriously, I didn't want to risk my handbag. Passport and wallet? I really didn't want to take a chance. So, I started walking as fast as I could. By then, sky had turned dark, yet, Pathumwan Hotel was no where to be seen. I panicked until I could think anymore. I thought I was lost in space and my heart kept pounding louder and louder. In fact, I felt as though my heart is going to fly out. Logically then, I had to ask around. Thanks to the 3 or 4 kind Thai samaritans who pointed towards the direction of Pathumwan Hotel. God! What a relief.

Bangkok, Thailand - Through My Canon (Part 1)

The start to my sightseeing in Bangkok (Pathumwan Hotel Part 1) after lunch (Santa's Fast Food)? Travel agent arriving by 1.30pm and me being driven to the agent's office, and where, alongside the rest of the tourists, plus the tour guide, let's say, all in all, the 15 of us hopping into the bus. Bangkok! My first ever time. Goodness me! Traffic jam in Bangkok? Bad shape. Nevertheless, you just have to put your trust at the helms of the bus drivers. They have it. They have mastered it for ensuring your safety and completing your tour within the stipulated time. Our this half a day tour? To the temples. The first temple we visited. Wat Tramit Wittayaram Temple. Swarmed by hundreds and bustling busy. All walks of life tourists and locals as well due its a public holiday for ushering Thai king's birthday and year end school holiday.