Continuing from part 1,  at 3.30pm we stopped at the famous Si Racha Tiger Zoo in Si Racha district (Between Chonburi and Pattaya) for their tiger show. This is zoo where tiger and piglet photo was taken (widely circulated in the net). We actually saw tiger cubs trying to suckle milk from pig. They also had crocodile  shows,  AND, pig racing!

The junction to enter Sri Racha Tiger Zoo:

From Bangkok Pattaya Trip Day 2 Part 2

The zoo has a plethora of activities:

From Bangkok Pattaya Trip Day 2 Part 2

We started at the tiger show, which had an opening performance by a pig!:

From Bangkok Pattaya Trip Day 2 Part 2

Photos of the tiger show:

From Bangkok Pattaya Trip Day 2 Part 2

Standing on stools:

From Bangkok Pattaya Trip Day 2 Part 2

dance class:

From Bangkok Pattaya Trip Day 2 Part 2

Next was crocodile show:

From Bangkok Pattaya Trip Day 2 Part 2

this is one brave lady:

From Bangkok Pattaya Trip Day 2 Part 2

Putting hands inside crocodile mouth:

From Bangkok Pattaya Trip Day 2 Part 2

After the tense crocodile show, we visited the elephane show.

So, massage anyone?

From Bangkok Pattaya Trip Day 2 Part 2

Photos for Part 2:

We left Si Rracha at around 5.30pm, heading towards Pattaya. Had dinner at a restaurant (Kinaree Sea Food – food was so so only) in Pattaya.

Read Day 2 Part 1 here or continue to Part 3 here.

There were lots of photos, so I divided the day into 3 segments. Part 1 covers from morning till about 2.30pm. Part 2 covers from 3pm till we reached Pattaya at around 6.30pm, and Part 3 covers the rest until night.

Part 1

Wake up call at 6am. Had breakfast at the hotel by 7.30am, checked-out and off to our first destination – boat trip on the Chao Praya. We took the tour coach to the River Complex, one of the stops for the ferry service.

This is the river complex. notice people walking by? They alighted from the ferry and walking to their work destination. Imagine our Damansara/Segambut/Klang/Gombak rivers used for such purposes.

From Bangkok Pattaya Trip Day 2 Part 1

Along the way to the complex, we saw something unique – motorbike taxis. The pillion rider pays the motorcyclist a fee to drop them at certain location. Unique indeed!

From Bangkok Pattaya Trip Day 2 Part 1

Some of the traditional food items. Those workers who are going to work will buy breakfast from the stalls along the road.

From Bangkok Pattaya Trip Day 2 Part 1

The flower stall  along the road outside the complex even has Hindu deities pictures:

From Bangkok Pattaya Trip Day 2 Part 1

The tour group had 25 people, so things moved a bit slower than usual. We took the boat at Hilton area and went up to the location where can feed the catfishes at the temple area.

The pier:

From Bangkok Pattaya Trip Day 2 Part 1

Our tour guide is the one seat (green shirt). Nickname’s Alex but real name is Aran.

From Bangkok Pattaya Trip Day 2 Part 1

One of the souvenir sellers using boat to peddle their wares:

From Bangkok Pattaya Trip Day 2 Part 1

One of the fish at the Buddhist monastery river area attacking the bread:

From Bangkok Pattaya Trip Day 2 Part 1

Here’s a short video clip of the boat trip:

We turned back at the fish feeding area and then stopped at Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn), which is located at the banks of Chao Phraya, at about 9.15am. It was the Royal Temple dedicated to the 2nd Chakri Dynasty. Ticket to climb the structure costs 50 Baht (RM1 is about 10 Baht) per person. The stairs are very steep.

This is the view of  Wat Arun from the river:

From Bangkok Pattaya Trip Day 2 Part 1

The outer prayer area at Wat Arun:

From Bangkok Pattaya Trip Day 2 Part 1

Sleeping buddha:

From Bangkok Pattaya Trip Day 2 Part 1

One of the statues at the Wat area:

From Bangkok Pattaya Trip Day 2 Part 1

This is the view from the Wat Arun:

From Bangkok Pattaya Trip Day 2 Part 1

Another view:

From Bangkok Pattaya Trip Day 2 Part 1

Next (short) stop was a leather factory, which I think the tour company tried to earn some commission. Unfortunate for them, no one bought anything

This was followed by visit to four faced Buddha (which looked like Lord Brahma) in the shopping area. Its known as the Erawan Shrine near Ratchaprasong Square. We can buy the flower and incense stick and pray here. Similar to Bali, we noticed that many houses/buildings in Bangkok has a shrine outside. It seems that the shrine is build first to protect the construction of the house/building.  This particular shrine is very famous.

The Four Face Buddha:

From Bangkok Pattaya Trip Day 2 Part 1

You can pray accompanied by dancers:

From Bangkok Pattaya Trip Day 2 Part 1

Another view of the Four Face Buddha:

From Bangkok Pattaya Trip Day 2 Part 1

Information Signage on the Four Face Buddha:

From Bangkok Pattaya Trip Day 2 Part 1

We stopped at McDonalds at Amarin Plaza (they serve pork burger, so not halal ya…) to buy ice cream while waiting for the bus (did I mention it was HOT? ). Cost 13 baht for chocolate coated vanilla ice cream.

From Bangkok Pattaya Trip Day 2 Part 1

Burgers offered:

From Bangkok Pattaya Trip Day 2 Part 1

Had lunch around noon at Royal Dragon Restaurant which is one of the largest restaurants in the world with unique roller-skating waiters. Food was ok.

From Bangkok Pattaya Trip Day 2 Part 1

There’s a picturesque view in the restaurant:

From Bangkok Pattaya Trip Day 2 Part 1

One of the skating waiters:

From Bangkok Pattaya Trip Day 2 Part 1

The restaurant’s Guiness Book of Record statement:

From Bangkok Pattaya Trip Day 2 Part 1

Another short stop at a herbal factory, S.K. Natural Herbal Shop, (again no buyers) at around 1.30pm.

From Bangkok Pattaya Trip Day 2 Part 1

We also saw few Tesco outlets. According to the guide, Tesco and 7-11 stores are quite common and have replaced the traditional sellers.

From Bangkok Pattaya Trip Day 2 Part 1

It was quite hot, according to the thermometer, it was 42 degrees, but probably the heat from the windscreen affected the reading.

From Bangkok Pattaya Trip Day 2 Part 1

The full set of  photos for the Day 2 Part 1 (from morning until afternoon) is below:

Read Day 1 here:

Managed to squeeze a short holiday to Bangkok and Pattaya (thanks Then) last month (no Internet, so that explains lack of activity on blog and social networks). Here’s the short and long of the trip:

Day 1 is basically getting to Bangkok from KLIA and nothing much to visit. Took a two-hour flight at 12.30pm and reached Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport (which looks similar as KLIA) at 1.30pm or so (Bangkok is (-1) hour from Malaysian time).

From Bangkok Pattaya Trip Day 1

From Bangkok Pattaya Trip Day 1

The trip to Bangkok centre took nearly an hour, traffic was not as bad (it was school holiday as well) as usual. Noticed that Bangkok looks clean. The people are similar to Malaysians (you have Malay and Chinese looking people), and the weather/environment/plants/cars/roads etc all look similar to Malaysia. In fact, if you don’t notice the signages and don’t hear the Thais speak, you’ll be thinking that you are in Malaysia. Oh, one difference – can see more dogs and also lots of non-halal food.

Our guide, Alex, warned that the weather is a bit unpredictable and that it has been very hot lately.

From Bangkok Pattaya Trip Day 1

From Bangkok Pattaya Trip Day 1

From Bangkok Pattaya Trip Day 1

Checked in to hotel at nearly 3.30pm since our tour group consisted of people from different packages. We stayed at Siam City Hotel at Si Ayuthya road. Early dinner at 6pm at a local restaurant. Met some of the other tourists – few elderly Chinese couple (some Malaysians and some who migrated to Australia). Later took a walk to Victory Monument roundabout (15 mins from hotel) just to see the city environment and after office movement.

From Bangkok Pattaya Trip Day 1

From Bangkok Pattaya Trip Day 1

Rest of the photos here:

Day 2 coming up next.

Cameron Highlands was wet during the last few days of 2010. We went to the usual places like the pasar malam Brinchang (nothing much to shout about for locals), Sg Palas Boh Tea Center, Kea Farm, Raju Hill Strawberry Farm, Tanah Rata’s row of food shops, and Big Red Strawberry Farm. Didn’t cover the jungle trails nor the rose/cactus/butterfly/insect farms.

This time around, we also  managed to visit MARDI’s Agritech Park in Tanah Rata. Entrance fee is RM3 per person. The strawberries and plants sold here are cheaper than those sold in the shops, but you have to be early (before noon if possible to get them).

The place is in Tanah Rata, you can find signages aplenty.

The flower varieties were quite good. They have about 20 over Rose varieties.

From MARDI Agrotech Park Tanah Rata

From MARDI Agrotech Park Tanah Rata

From MARDI Agrotech Park Tanah Rata

From MARDI Agrotech Park Tanah Rata

Also saw locally grown apples and vegetables.

From MARDI Agrotech Park Tanah Rata

From MARDI Agrotech Park Tanah Rata

Read more about the park here:

http://agromedia.mardi.gov.my/tourismch2006/index.htm

Some of the photos we took:

Even though it was off-season, strawberry plucking was one of the activities available at Big Red Strawberry Farm at Brinchang. Then had a gala time being a strawberry picker

From Big Red Strawberry Farm

We also went to another favorite spot – Sg Palas Boh Tea Center. We arrived at around 9am and the weather was cold with slight drizzle. The crowd started to come in by 10.3oam. Nice place to enjoy your morning cuppa.

On the way back, our usual pit stop at Cameron Bharat Cafe which serves brownie with ice-cream. But the masala tea was a bit light.

From Cameron Bharat Tea Cafe

Read my previous visits to Cameron Highlands here:

http://poobalan.com/blog/personal/2010/01/21/holiday-at-cameron-highlands/

http://poobalan.com/blog/personal/2008/05/27/cameron-highlands-day-1-at-cameron-valley-and-smokehouse-hotel/

http://poobalan.com/blog/personal/2008/05/28/cameron-highlands-day-2-at-farm-tea-estate-and-mountain/

http://poobalan.com/blog/personal/2008/05/29/cameron-highlands-day-3-buying-plants/

http://poobalan.com/blog/personal/2008/04/09/sungai-palas-boh-tea-plantation/