My love for photography began when I was a young child. In those days, not only did the film have to be developed, I vaguely remember even the flashes were single use! Printing was hideously expensive, especially if more than one roll was sent in for processing. And even more painful when the shots were blur.

Obviously I was only playing with autofocus cameras then. SLRs were just too difficult to use. But somehow, for many years after the advent of digital cameras, I felt my first cameras produced better quality photographs. And lasted much longer than the digital cameras.

My love for photography took a back seat during the aesthetic years (except for before/after shots that made the prettiest person look like a criminal and a good macro was more important than art). It was only after closing the clinic that I had the time to pursue my interests again. So I packed myself off to Willy Foo’s Beginner Photography class and learnt the basics of how to get the best out of digital photography.

Within a few weeks, I’d purchased my first DSLR and have bee happily snapping photos ever since. After weeks of brain breaking research, I decided on the Nikon D7000 and have not looked back since. The camera came with an 18-105 mm kit lens. I bought a 50 mm f1.8 lens with it, and added a 70-300 mm zoom lens soon after. My latest splurge is with a wide angle lens.

Obviously the DSLR kit is far too heavy to carry around except for heavy photography situations. So my fallback camera is still my trusty iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S. For intermediate situations, I have an autofocus Panasonic that fits the bill well.

Although there were still quite a few sights we really wanted to visit before leaving Chiangmai, we had simply run out of steam. With just Panthip Plaza (IT mall) within walking distance of the Royal Princess Hotel, our choices were pretty limited with how to spend the last few hours in Chiangmai. After wandering around for a while, I decided that it was an ideal opportunity to try out a fish spa! I’d heard of them before, but never had the opportunity (or much of an inclination really) to try it out for myself. But we had been driving past one everyday, and as it was a stone’s throw behind our hotel, it seemed a good time to just check it out.

But when we got there, we noticed that the establishment was a full fledged spa! Perfect for passing 3 hours and relaxing at the same time. And the prices were very affordable: 2 hours of Thai massage for just 400 Baht!

Baan Kwan was small but very clean. We were led to sunken sinks upon arrival and our feet washed by our assigned Therapists. We were then led to a pleasant room with 3 or 4 mattresses on the floor, separated by curtains. The Therapists were excellent. Extremely gentle! They kneaded and pulled all the knots out of our muscles in the 2 hour session. Thai massages can be quite scary at times, especially the mandatory cracking at the end. But there was no cracking here. Either she felt my back was too stiff or she realised I dreaded it. But even without the cracking, everything felt looser and more relaxed at the end.

With half an hour to spare before check-out, I decided that I had to try a quick fish massage. So I paid the 150 Baht and was led to the adjoining shop to feed the fishies their breakfast.

The moment I dropped my feet into the tank, all the fish swarmed onto them and the nibbling frenzy began. And it was TICKLISH!!! It was so ticklish that I almost gave up! But that sensation died down after a while and it was quite pleasant to have all the dead skin nibbled off.

Would I do it again? Most likely! We definitely want to return to Chiangmai soon, and this would certainly be a good place to visit before returning to Singapore, if not more often during the trip to indulge in their wonderful massages.

Baan Kwan Massage
Kamphangdin Road
Changklan
Mueang Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai 50100

One of the culinary highlights of our Chiangmai holiday was a Khantoke dinner at Sibsongpanna. This restaurant was located in a traditional Thai house, decorated in old royal style.

The Khantoke dinner is reminiscent of how the ancient Thai royalties dined. There was a free flow of food served at the table, each portion topped up once consumed. We had a selection of juicy fried chicken, a pork stew, crispy pork skin, bags of glutinous rice, fried rice noodles and pastes to dip vegetables into.

Although the entertainment is supposed to happen during dinner, the performers did not come on stage till after dinner. A selection of traditional dances were performed by University students.

Finger Tip Dance

Whole Body Drumming

Candle Dance

All in, this was an experience we enjoyed. Anything with good food and nice ambience is always a good bet.

]]> http://drchristinecheng.com/khantoke-dinner-at-sibsongpanna-chiangmai/feed 0 http://drchristinecheng.com/chiangmai-monkey-centre http://drchristinecheng.com/chiangmai-monkey-centre#comments Sat, 05 May 2012 09:53:14 +0000 Dr Christine Cheng http://drchristinecheng.com/?p=399 Continue reading →]]>

The one animal that I have enjoyed photographing the most is the monkey. And I have been very fortunate to have the opportunity of catching them in the wild, in national parks as well as in zoos over the past year, and have always been able to capture these animals happy in mischief.

Thus it was a huge shock to see the monkeys are Chiangmai’s Monkey Centre. This was one of the included parts of our tour, so I hadn’t done any research into the place before going, thereby adding to the shock of the awful conditions the monkeys were surviving in.

The moment we entered the Monkey Centre, we were able to see a large number of monkeys in a small enclosure. Each one was tied to a tree or post by a metal chain around its neck. The animals were in obvious distress, going round and round in circles. Even the animals kept in small zoos were happily at play.

We were told to gather by the stage and the monkeys led out to perform their tricks. To be fair, I did find this part quite entertaining as the monkeys were incredibly cute. But I saw that the animals were in fear and often yanked by their neck chains if they did not do as commanded immediately. The animals were certainly under a lot of unnecessary stress.

This little cutie was able to recognise numbers and pick out whatever number was called by a member of the audience whether the placards were face up or face down! The photo was taken in the split second that his chain was yanked, hence that ultra straight stance and stressed appearance.

This little one could do push-ups and sit ups, then collapse on the ground just like I do after a little exercise! He was really cute!

This one could jump high up and throw the basketball straight into the hoop!

This little guy on his trike was my favourite. Just gorgeous how he went round and round.

They all put their hands together at the end of each act as traditional Thai culture.

So I am very much in two minds about this place. The monkeys are not well treated, but they are so cute. I saw a huge sign on the way out informing the visitors that the animals were only caged during show times. But somehow, these monkeys were just too distressed for this to be an ethical place.

Chiangmai Monkey Centre
Mae Rim Valley
Chiangmai

The elephant is such an important animal in so many Asian cultures, that elephant shows and rides are almost passe, since it just becomes a means of making a quick buck off tourists. Rarely have I seen an elephant park which is a must visit. So our visit to Maeteng Elephant Farm in Chiangmai was a very pleasant surprise.

We arrived just after the elephant show had started. The troop of elephants performed some remarkable feats, including dancing, playing percussion instruments, football and drawing! Yes, drawing!

The final picture sold for 800 Baht. Most of the audience was muttering that they couldn’t draw anywhere as well as Suda.

Then came the highlight of the Chiangmai tour: our elephant trek in the village! For an extra 1600 Baht, we had the opportunity to ride on the back of an elephant for an hour, going through forested areas, rivers, villages and farmland.

We had an excellent mahout who jumped off and took some lovely photos of us on the elephant. He had full control of the animal even when not seated on her head. What we had not been warned of was that there were elevated shops al along the trail selling bundles of bananas and sugar cane to the elephants. Each set costs 20 Baht, which isn’t a huge amount, but adds up very quickly as they are positioned around every corner. And if the elephant grabs the food without our consent (as ours did), we still had to pay.

We came across some bullock carts for hire too. Something that would be fun to try out next time!

If at all possible, I’d advise against having your lunch at the buffet restaurant at the Elephant Park. It was pretty much tasteless, mass produced slop, and you never know what your chicken could have been eating before its demise. Yes, that is elephant poop!

Maeteng Elephant Park
Next to ZEST Restaurant
Tapai Gate
Chiangmai

Wat Chiang Man is a Buddhist temple in the Old City area of Chiangmai. Built in 1297, this is the oldest temple in Chiangmai.

With nothing more than iPhone internet access, I had to quickly search through all the available options offered by the tour company in Chiangmai and try to decide which was the best option based on tiny little photographs. Ultimately, we were very happy with my final choice: the Royal Princess.

The Royal Princess was strategically located right in the heart of the Night Market area, which meant we could technically nip out after dinner and just wander around, without worrying about finding taxis or tuk tuks to get us back when we’d had enough.

Superficially, the Royal Princess is an unimpressive hotel compared to some of the larger 4-star establishments our travel companions were staying at. In contrast to the long sweeping driveways leading up to the other hotels, the Royal Princess was separated from the main road by a simple flight of stairs and small side walk. The market stalls are right at the door step and McDonald’s just across the road if desperate. Turn right and a row of massage shops leads to a 7-11. Cross the road and another night market fills a cul de sac which is flanked by large seafood restaurants.

The rooms were old, so very simple but comfortable. There was none of the artsy glitz and decor associated with modern restaurants. In keeping with its age, the rooms had old CRT TVs, but with a reasonable range of cable channels. Wifi was available for free, but vouchers had to be obtained from reception to gain access. I found the speed a tad too slow for my liking.

The restaurant served a decent buffet breakfast with a good egg station.

The best part of our stay was the nightly happy hours at the hotel bar, stretching from 5 pm to 9 pm. Mojitos which were priced at a mere 180 Baht normally became 1 for 1 during that time, with free nibbles to boot! Needless to say, we built up a hefty booze bill just on mojitos alone!

My only gripe is the lobby is infested with mosquitoes. So whether you are sipping cocktails at the Lobby Bar, surfing the internet at the PC stations or waiting hours for useless guides to turn up, I’d advise getting some mosquito repellant on.

Royal Princess Hotel
112 Chang Klan Road
Chiangmai 50100

I’ve always wanted to go to Chiangmai, never really knew what was there, but really wanted to go nonetheless. So when the only tour available to suit my travel dates turned out to be a 5 day tour of North Thailand, I jumped at the opportunity. With Lily in tow, we set off to explore Chiangmai, Chiangrai & the Mix Hill Tribes organised by Five Stars Tours in April 2012.

Pre-departure, the itinerary looked extremely comprehensive, with barely an hour to spare for self exploration. It covered the major Buddhist temples, factory tours, elephants, monkeys, snakes, butterflies, orchids and a trip to the hill area to see the Long Neck and Long Ear tribes. There was also a detour to Chiangrai en route to the Golden Triangle.

In general, the tour was excellent value for money, including Silkair flights, transport, entrance fees, most meals and 4-star hotel accommodation right in the heart of the night market for under $1000 per person on twin sharing basis. We travelled around in a 9-seater van (packed full) with a driver and local guide. And the guide’s Malaysian girlfriend. Our fellow travelers were a great bunch, and that made the holiday extra special. The guide was a huge disappointment, being more interested in his girlfriend than in doing his job. The food was very variable, ranging from exquisite Khantoke dinner buffets to quails eggs hard boiled in hot springs, to tasteless inedible Chinese family style fare. So we never knew if we would be in culinary bliss or starved beyond belief.

As a taster to North Thailand, I’m pretty satisfied in general. And I’d love to return again, but in the cooler months. April is the warmest time of year, with day time temperatures averaging a sweltering 38 degrees Celcius. So it’ll be a year end trip next round, and hiring a private tour guide (lots highly recommended on Tripadvisor) on that end, so the tour is tailored to our interest, plus we get to see the real Thailand, not scrape the surface as a tourist.

But even despite the problems with the guide, the beauty of North Thailand is captivating, and I will aim to bring each place to life on these pages when I have the opportunity, hopefully before the little details escape me.

There’s nothing like being self-employed to bring the best work ethic out of a person. But with my penchant of overworking, I’ve come to the realisation that playing hard is essential too. This is most evident around March each year, as the lull of the year end and Chinese New Year festivities have died away, and the weeks of 10 hour days often with no lunch breaks takes its toll.

And so, I’ve decided that regular escapes is essential for sanity. Just 5 days makes a huge difference. This generally means short trips around Asia. I’m not really into beach holidays (sun=premature aging & pigmentation, plus I get bored after an hour), so it’s always a challenge to find somewhere nearby, yet with enough to capture my interest, preferably with many photo opportunities.

Of course, the odd trip to Bangkok is critical. One does need to fill the wardrobe with new clothes and replace worn out shoes. Plus the divine food scattered all over the city.

So with that strategy in place, this blog develops a new direction, something that was missing for a couple of years. My plan is to document my travels plus exhibit my photographs, hopefully see the quality of my prints improve as my skills mature.

And this will then serve as an adjunct to my memory, something I can refer to when returning to the same area, or just to cheer me up on a bad day. For through a few snapshots, the memories often transport me to a happier place, a happier time.

So the past has been erased in all of 5 minutes, a new template chosen, and we move on. This is where I am now, so this is where we begin.

Just a quick recap though, for if anyone searches me out from my previous life…

Simply Aesthetic closed its doors at Robertson Walk in September 2010. That was one of the hardest decisions I ever had to make, but I have no regrets. For the longest time after, I wandered around in a near zombie state, till a chance meeting led to the re-opening of Simply Aesthetic in Colombo, Sri Lanka!

No, I’ve not relocated and will be in Singapore for the forseeable future. I just realised that my life was not complete without some aesthetics, however small. Ah! The price of passion! But anyhow, the past year has been all about the building of a new business concept long distance, with the help of my trusted partner and Managing Director, Sumedha.

For me, I spend an average of 10 hours a day at the Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC). It’s back to my roots with Anaesthesia for Day Surgery. It’s back into the background for me, but it’s good to play my part in the team that helps people regain the sight in Singapore.

I do still have a small handful of loyal old aesthetic clients that have stuck with me through thick and thin. I sincerely thank each and everyone of them for their support over the years. It’s always a pleasure to remain a part of their lives.

The internet remains an integral part of my life. For all the neglect of this website, I’ve actually started (and neglected) a whole lot more! Persistence with such things is still not one of my strengths. But I do return every so often. And totally change things around as with this site sometimes.

My precious original Simply Aesthetic website has been totally revamped from a clinic online brochure to an aesthetic resource.

The new Simply Aesthetic in Colombo is supported by a few web resources:

• www.simply aesthetic.lk
• www.colomboantiaging.com
• www.simplyaestheticcolombo.blogspot.com

So maybe I haven’t moved that far from where I was before, as a lot of the skills I picked up from the old days are still being utilised and improved upon. All I know is that when I return to the Robertson Walk area and stroll along the old neighbourhood, the feeling is not the same. And somehow, much as I loved the space I had created, I have no desire to return back to that place in my life. Stress kills passion. Well, it almost did mine. But with my venture abroad, the passion lives on.