Myanmar - Across the Border From Mae Sai

Pretty much an effortless crossing over to Myanmar from the border of Mae Sai. Thanks to our adorable tour guide, we paid her I think RM200.00 and she did the rest. Pass for crossing over and where and where we should head to for the next few hours, all of it sorted out by this lady. While she got moving to getting the pass, we waited, and within the next less than 1/2 an hour, we walked from the arch that separates Chiang Mai and Myanmar (Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai Day 2 & Chiang Mai Day 1). My-my, what a interesting travelling moment. Crossing over to another country by walking. Hundreds of others were also walking from and across the border, I hardly noticed any tourists though, subsequently, we hopped into our van and there we were already on the busy and quite a messy any way is your traffic way in Tachilek, Myanmar. Weather on this particular day lemme tell was killer heat. Really really hot. Literally unbearable and the dust simply flying at its whims and fancy made it even worst. 

Casual Wear For Women In Their 50's

The big five is big jump mind you. It is. I don't know about you, for me, it is a massive major jump. When I first hit the big five mark, honestly everyone, I thought all hell gonna be the start to hell. Wasn't easy for me to accept. I actually had a  hard time digesting the fact that I am already in my fifties. Oh-good-god! So many things ran through my mind. Aplenty what ifs, aplenty questions facing future, eventually, I realise I can't turn back time. I have to move on. On one side I was glad I have achieved some great milestones, on the other I know we will still continue to face challengers even in our beauty and fashion counts no matter what. Guess what is the first thing I did when I turned fifty? Can you guess? The first thing I did was clearing my closet. No point holding on to memories of those clothes I wore when I was younger. What is the point, I couldn't stop asking myself. Am I kidding myself? Am I cheating myself? Why I am hoarding my yesteryears clothes? To tell you the truth, I can still fit into many of those clothes, but the reality is otherwise. My body may still be, pretty much, more or less the same shape and shape, but the face is no longer. Whatever said than done, lets face it ladies. We can't go back to those clothes we wore when we were younger. Even if we wear, I bet we will look like a fashion misfit (Saree Fashion Statement & Sarong Fashion Statement). 

Chiang Mai (Day 2) - Thailand

What a start for the day. Couldn't have been any better (Chiang Mai Day One). No better in fact for a traveller like me who love nature all things nice, our first stop for the day in Bai Orchid And Butterfly Farm was akin Nava K tinkle bell nature. Awesomeness. Utterly. Still memorable till this day. Rows and rows of colorful and different species orchids which were in my imagination smiling and greeting me naturally brightly. Though, honestly, I have never so far had any luck in growing orchids. Orchids I grow eventually depart to heaven happily or sadly. Strange that for someone like me who is into some serious stuff of gardening in my tiny plot of garden, I am yet to horn my orchid growing skills. I suppose its one of those things you still can't gasp despite trying over and over, until I think I have given up on growing orchids. Therefore, this trip of ours to Bai Orchid And Butterfly Farm sincerely was a fantastic eye opener to propagating orchids and what else you can do with the orchids flowers you have lovingly cultivated. Those hair clips and accessories you can buy indeed caught up on me until I couldn't resist picking up a few pieces for remembrance as well.   

  

Butterfly farm in Bai Orchid too was another interesting nature discovery, but it wasn't something totally new to me (Malacca Butterfly & Reptile Sanctuary). Having said that, nature splendour is still an appreciated splendour wherever it may be. Departing from Bai Orchid & Butterfly Farm, we then arrived in Chiang Mai Karen Hilltop Long Neck Village. I can't tell you if there's other long neck villages in Chiang Mai or if this is the only one, maybe yes, maybe no, I really can't confirm though, what became a tiny bit of question mark in Karen Hilltop Long Neck Village is paying RM50.00 as the unofficial entrance fee. Didn't make sense, honestly, I wasn't expecting it, then again for the benefit of the doubt, considering that its a source of income for the people, we didn't mind paying. After all, tourism is a big money chunking business in Thailand, additionally, nothing is free when you travel? Karen Hilltop Long Neck Village by the way I must admit was quite an intriguing culture of discovery the moment we started walking right to the further end. Not really a big area though, but definitely the ladies and young girls donning the long heavy gold metal piece on their necks I reckon are the spoken must do attraction in Chiang Mai. Of course, you are allowed to picture alongside them, and the scarfs and handicrafts are a buying pleasure of yours.   

An hour most to most in Karen Hilltop Long Neck Village, actually more than ample time, next on our itinerary was Maetaeng Elephant Park. Elephants bathing, elephants that won't stop eating bananas you feed them and elephant playing football and painting. Marvelous. We enjoyed every bit of our visit to Maetaeng Elephant Park, for the first time ever I tried the elephant ride which of course no doubt trilled and excited me, but stopping you every now and then for buying sugar cane and bananas for feeding I thought was corny money ripping. Subsequently, we browsed through the products in the souvenir shop, we had lunch in one of the restaurants and off we left for Chiang Mai Snake & Monkey show.   

Monkey show and snake show I believe will be included if you are in a tour, but honestly, since I have done it before (Krabi, Thailand), my enthusiasm while watching the monkey tricks and man to snakes wrestling didn't pierce right into my travelling heart neither mind. If you have not done it before, I suppose you won't stop being impressed.    

Two more stops for the day, touristy stops I must say. Silver and royal jelly and birds nest cottage industry visits. Pressure to buying was not so bad in the silver outlet, but at the latter, royal jelly and birds nest both in one outlet, the young doll sales staff was quite a forceful smiling humble thing until my guy friend didn't mind paying a couple of hundreds. Anyway I am in no way disputing the health power of royal jelly or birds nest. Go ahead, buy all you want, pay a couple of hundreds for healthy is wealth attraction in Chiang Mai. 

  

Day 2 in Chiang Mai ended with dinner and back to the hotel. Quite a fun-fantastic day I must say. In store for us tomorrow is Chiang Rai here we are coming to get you. 

To be continued................

Sarong - Fashion Statement (Hail Our Fifties Ladies)

Hi Ladies,

How's everyone doing? Hopefully all of you are as strong and as tough as ever. Remember something! Never allow anyone to get to you. Not even your spouse. He of course must be there for you, but he can't simply take over your life. He shouldn't by right. Unless we are up to man cheeky mischief behind his back? Can you please put a stop to your so called harmless flirting with another man? I am sure we won't tolerate any bit of our husbands innocent or intentional, in the name of women friendship? I for once won't. I am one of those who don't flirt with my male friends, so why should I close my eyes to him texting? Harmless flaunting mind you is the start to our marriage wracking us up in return. Unless both of you are in an open marriage relationship which by way is common these days. For me, no matter what, I can't accept him being over-friendly with women. Say all you want, I will never change my mind. Because when it comes to even my dressing, I care about how he feels. Not to say I don't have common sense, but if my other half-half feel I am a fashion disaster, and he out-rightly think I look like a clown or slut in what I am wearing, it matters to me. After all, I myself want to remain as someone who is sensible to my fashion style. Trust me, what may have looked perfect on us when we were younger won't take us through our fifties. Lets grow old professionally, lets uphold our dignity. 

Chiang Mai (Thailand)

I suppose nothing comes easy our way. Literally none. Ask me and I will tell you, but I can't speak on behalf of any of you. I won't and I choose not to anyway because to each our own bundle of life stories. My story without a doubt have been a roller coaster ride and yo-yo string up and down for as long as I remember. Years of struggling for settling in a career I am passionate about, one marriage failure after 16 years and the rest is more and more pain and misery history until my Indian hero came by. Honestly, if you asking me, he is god send for rescuing me. Whether you agree or not, I really believe there's a soul mate out there for each of us. I met mine when I was dangling in many question marks at 37 years old. The rest is history in making whereby we together worked our butts out for a comfortable life (more at Verona & Milan). Additionally, unlike the current generation, the lucky generation who are showered with lotsa money by their parents for travelling, I had to save. Thanks also to my other half-half for kick starting me hard towards my first ever heroic solo travel (Bangkok Thailand - Through My Canon). Thereafter, I did my solo tour group travel to Vietnam & Cambodia, followed by all expenses paid for knowledge thirsting in Perth and next was another solo travel by way of cruising (Krabi & Perth). 

Saree - The Fashion Statement

It is one thing to wholeheartedly embracing the big 5, I actually initially to tell you the truth couldn't accept that half a century is behind me, eventually reality did kick in, the other is ageing gracefully. Even though some "thingies" more of less can't be the same, no, they won't be, trust me please, I know what I am talking about, we sincerely must be proud of our age. But somehow I personally know of women who no matter what, won't just admit their age. Like I can't guess anyway. Come of it ladies. Who are we kidding? Ourselves? Maybe? Older ladies especially will try their level best by not admitting their age, and in return, intentionally or unintentionally resort to lying. The standard answers are a whole lot of none except for defending their age. Some will conveniently say - I'm your age (funny!), or why, why you want to know? Whereas others will throw back the question on me by asking - "Do I look so old"? or guess and that's my age". Oh god lord! Whats the matter ladies? Are you one of them? But why?

Nasi Minyak

Nasi Minyak? Got you wondering? What is Nasi Minyak? Our Malaysian, specifically Malay style (Pucuk Ubi Masak Lemak) rice dish cooked alongside quite a whole list of ingredients. Mainly of course our local herbs and spices, and nasi minyak if I am not wrong, must be regarded as another rice dish trending near, far or close to Briyani (Burmese Briyani, Hyderabadi Vegetable Briyani & Vegetable Briyani). Why? Pretty much the main elements speaking for themselves. The main elements of ghee (Ghee Rice), spices, nuts, raisin, and of course any kinda of rice dish which is quite outstanding must be made with Basmati rice. We in Malaysia are also not short of our other famed rice dishes (Nasi Kerabu, Nasi Bunga Telang, Nasi Ulam & Nasi Dagang). Each and every one of it is a representation of our Malaysian food colors (Nasi Pudina & Nasi Kunyit) and Nasi Minyak on the whole, a rich, filling, aromatic and like a must have for special occasions rice dish. Furthermore, the pairing for Nasi Minyak is endless. Mostly spicy dishes, or as you wish, as you like (Roti Jala Kari Kambing, Ayam Buah Keluak, Salad Bunga Kantan & Sambal Udang).