(This is a archival trip sharing based on 2006 reports and some information like road, lifestyle and journey distance may not be applicable BUT you may refer to the itinerary for reference)
9/Mar/2006 – Depart from KL at 11am and expecting to arrive Siem Reap at 2pm. Visiting Siem Reap city’s market for some early sourvenir purchasing. There are many children beggars on the street and we went to a street with bars and restaurant for our dinner.
10/Mar/2006 – Visiting Banteay Srei in the morning, and then proceed to Angkor Thom and Banyan temples in the afternoon and finally end our temple grand tour of Angkor Wat in the evening. Banteay Srei is a temple craft with beautiful crafting on the red sand temple. Angkor thom is the temple cover with tree trunks where ‘Tomb Raider’ movie was flimed. Banyan temple is the temple with Buddha faces and finally Angkor Wat is the grand majestic temple of World Heritage Site.
11/Mar/2006 – Visiting Tonle Sap lake near floating village for a boat ride for a full day adventure. The journey to Tonle Sap lake is through the bumpy red sand road about 2 hours. We took the long boat ride around the lake but personally I think the lake is not amazing but the interesting part is to witness the Cambodia local people lifestyle. There are even children beggars on the lake (sitting on a big cup aka boat and begging).
12/Mar/2006 – Depart from Siem Reap at 7am from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh. Journey takes around 6 hours and reach Phnom Penh at late noon. Visit Russian market (Psar Ton Tom Poung) and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21 Prison). Tuol Sieng is a school converted into a prison by Khmer regime. It is a great experience to feel the ugly and horrific recent past of Cambodia.
13/Mar/2006 – Visiting The Killing Fields of Choeung Ek where the Khmer Rouge killed many thousands of their victims during their four-year reign of terror. The journey to the killing field take around 1 hour with a tuk tuk through bumpy red sand road and also very dusty. It is a great ride at Cambodia.
14/Mar/2006 – Depart from Phnom Penh back to KL.
Friday, October 26, 2012
Monday, October 22, 2012
Trip Archival: Our 1 week adventure at Bali during 2007
22 June 2007 (Ubud)
• Arrive Denpasar Airport at19:40 then proceed to Ubud Narasoma Guesthouse, Ubud (Handcraft City). Before check-in, we had a romantic dinner at ubud Balinese style restaurant. WOW!! Imagine the whole street fill with Balinese style restaurant (those candle light dinner). Then back to guesthouse and take a rest for a while coz we only had 3 hours to rest. Really crazy!! Volcano Mountain the next…
23 June 2007 (Mount Batur, Kintamani)
• Pick-up at 2am and start our journey to Kintamani (1.5 hours drive). Reach Kintamani at 3:30am and had a nice banana pancake breakfast with hot coffee (temperature very cold). Start our Mt Batur Volcano climb at 4am and it take around 2 hours to reach the peak to watch sunrise. Even only 2 hours climb but the climbing feeling is quite different with soft sand and many little rocks along the way. Interesting climb and we had a great time watching sunrise at the peak.
• After the climb, we went to Besakih (Temple) near Mt. Agong (another volcano mountain in Bali). This temple really nice but bewares of the people over there (rude & cheating).
• Back to Narasoma Homestay (Monkey Forest Road) at noon. Then proceed with shopping and a little walk along Ubud town.
• We end our day with a great dinner having dirty duck. The duck really dirty coz they don’t take out some of the thing inside the duck and heard it is really famous ;) and we try.
24 June 2007 (Singaraja/Lovina)
• Check-out Narasoma Guesthouse at 8am. Start out journey to the north of Bali with hillside scenery. Reach our first destination Pura Ulun Danu Bratan (Temple on the lake) and the location is at 1100m. Wow!! Whether chilling and place really nice with a lake In between. Then visited Giigit (Waterfall) and it is just a normal waterfall and nothing amaze ;)
• We reach Singaraja city and we decided to stay at Lovina beach. Before check-in we have a nice swim at Banjar Hot Spring (nothing amazing too!!).
• Heard from the locals that there are a nice café around the corner called Superman Café (nice food). We had our dinner there and the food really nice (something special with the cook and the owner is friendly too). The café have autograph for guest and we written a little notes for them.
25 June 2007 (Kuta)
• Everyone wake up early in the morning to watch dolphin at Lovina but I decided to have a little dive at Lovina Reef with spice dive. Saw many lionfish at Bali.
• Check-out at Lovina and had our lunch at Superman Café again. Too good to be true.
• After our lunch, then start our 3 hours journey back to the south. Enjoy Galungan Festival along the way. Before reaching Kuta, visited Tanah Lot for sunset.
• Check-in at Kuta. Try guesthouse near Poppy lane. Amazing lane!!
26 June 2007 (Kuta)
• Enjoy some shopping at Kuta. There are many branded shops there like billabong, polo etc. Shopper may love it ;)
• My focus is the next destination and another great attraction, Uluwatu temple. We had a sunset view at Uluwatu. WOW!! I can’t explain in words ;)
• Then proceed to Jimbaran having seafood dinner. Jimbaran is a place with dinner at the beach. Bali have many romantic places.
• Back to Kuta poppy lane guesthouse and then party at night.
27 June 2007 (Tulamben)
• Pick-up at 8am and proceed to east coast Bali, Tulamben for 2 hours drive. Had 2 dives at Liberty Wreck at Tulamben. This is a great dive site at Bali. Enjoy our dives and then reach back guesthouse at around 4pm.
• Time to get some sourvenir and had a simple dinner before proceeding for party time at Kuta Paddys bar.
28 June 2007 (Kuala Lumpur)
• Pick-up at Kuta Guest House at 11am to the airport.
• Arrive Denpasar Airport at19:40 then proceed to Ubud Narasoma Guesthouse, Ubud (Handcraft City). Before check-in, we had a romantic dinner at ubud Balinese style restaurant. WOW!! Imagine the whole street fill with Balinese style restaurant (those candle light dinner). Then back to guesthouse and take a rest for a while coz we only had 3 hours to rest. Really crazy!! Volcano Mountain the next…
23 June 2007 (Mount Batur, Kintamani)
• Pick-up at 2am and start our journey to Kintamani (1.5 hours drive). Reach Kintamani at 3:30am and had a nice banana pancake breakfast with hot coffee (temperature very cold). Start our Mt Batur Volcano climb at 4am and it take around 2 hours to reach the peak to watch sunrise. Even only 2 hours climb but the climbing feeling is quite different with soft sand and many little rocks along the way. Interesting climb and we had a great time watching sunrise at the peak.
• After the climb, we went to Besakih (Temple) near Mt. Agong (another volcano mountain in Bali). This temple really nice but bewares of the people over there (rude & cheating).
• Back to Narasoma Homestay (Monkey Forest Road) at noon. Then proceed with shopping and a little walk along Ubud town.
• We end our day with a great dinner having dirty duck. The duck really dirty coz they don’t take out some of the thing inside the duck and heard it is really famous ;) and we try.
24 June 2007 (Singaraja/Lovina)
• Check-out Narasoma Guesthouse at 8am. Start out journey to the north of Bali with hillside scenery. Reach our first destination Pura Ulun Danu Bratan (Temple on the lake) and the location is at 1100m. Wow!! Whether chilling and place really nice with a lake In between. Then visited Giigit (Waterfall) and it is just a normal waterfall and nothing amaze ;)
• We reach Singaraja city and we decided to stay at Lovina beach. Before check-in we have a nice swim at Banjar Hot Spring (nothing amazing too!!).
• Heard from the locals that there are a nice café around the corner called Superman Café (nice food). We had our dinner there and the food really nice (something special with the cook and the owner is friendly too). The café have autograph for guest and we written a little notes for them.
25 June 2007 (Kuta)
• Everyone wake up early in the morning to watch dolphin at Lovina but I decided to have a little dive at Lovina Reef with spice dive. Saw many lionfish at Bali.
• Check-out at Lovina and had our lunch at Superman Café again. Too good to be true.
• After our lunch, then start our 3 hours journey back to the south. Enjoy Galungan Festival along the way. Before reaching Kuta, visited Tanah Lot for sunset.
• Check-in at Kuta. Try guesthouse near Poppy lane. Amazing lane!!
26 June 2007 (Kuta)
• Enjoy some shopping at Kuta. There are many branded shops there like billabong, polo etc. Shopper may love it ;)
• My focus is the next destination and another great attraction, Uluwatu temple. We had a sunset view at Uluwatu. WOW!! I can’t explain in words ;)
• Then proceed to Jimbaran having seafood dinner. Jimbaran is a place with dinner at the beach. Bali have many romantic places.
• Back to Kuta poppy lane guesthouse and then party at night.
27 June 2007 (Tulamben)
• Pick-up at 8am and proceed to east coast Bali, Tulamben for 2 hours drive. Had 2 dives at Liberty Wreck at Tulamben. This is a great dive site at Bali. Enjoy our dives and then reach back guesthouse at around 4pm.
• Time to get some sourvenir and had a simple dinner before proceeding for party time at Kuta Paddys bar.
28 June 2007 (Kuala Lumpur)
• Pick-up at Kuta Guest House at 11am to the airport.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Revisit Melaka on a yearly basis staying at Equatorial Hotel
We are going Melaka for a short getaway first time ever since our baby birth. We went to Melaka on 29th September and coming back on 30th September. It is going to be a relax trip as we are going to stay at Equatorial Melaka for a night. The room rates for a double room cost Rm300+. The hotel is feeling old comparing to Ho Chi Minh’s hotel but as usual the Equatorial group may need to look at refurbish all their hotels.
The hotel is very near Dataran Pahlawan shopping centre which have lots of restaurant and there are a nearest cinema around the corner. We manage to watch “Resident Evil” at midnight and then walk back to the hotel at our convenient. During dinner we even walk to Jonker street passing by A’Famosa around 20 minutes by walking. You may opt for a trishaw to the attraction.
We love jonker Street very much for the foods and sourvenir. Every year travel back to Melaka and we will never miss Jonker Street. One day I may opt to stay at those backpacker’s hostel and update my blog and TA. This time we went back to Jonker 88 cafe for the nyonya asam laksa again with nyonya cendol.
As I mention before, every Chinese new year we will be travelling back Melaka to visit our grandma and also visit the cheng hon teng temple and it is very happening. I will update the amazing cultural event to share with the blogger.
The hotel is very near Dataran Pahlawan shopping centre which have lots of restaurant and there are a nearest cinema around the corner. We manage to watch “Resident Evil” at midnight and then walk back to the hotel at our convenient. During dinner we even walk to Jonker street passing by A’Famosa around 20 minutes by walking. You may opt for a trishaw to the attraction.
We love jonker Street very much for the foods and sourvenir. Every year travel back to Melaka and we will never miss Jonker Street. One day I may opt to stay at those backpacker’s hostel and update my blog and TA. This time we went back to Jonker 88 cafe for the nyonya asam laksa again with nyonya cendol.
As I mention before, every Chinese new year we will be travelling back Melaka to visit our grandma and also visit the cheng hon teng temple and it is very happening. I will update the amazing cultural event to share with the blogger.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Walking tour of Vietnam World Heritage : Hoi An Ancient Town
  | Here is my walking tour of Hoi An, start with the Japanese bridge. Then proceed to the Cantonese assembly hall.   |
Take the Chau Thuong Van lane towards the river then turn to Nguyuen Thai Hoc lane where Tan Ky house are located. I visit one of the shop houses where they have similar house structure of Tan Ky house which is free.  |    |
  | Along the lane, there are Folk Culture Museum. Go towards the end of the lane before the central market,  |
...there located a small temple which is worth the visit. |   |
  | Then I move to the Tran Phu lane walking back to the central passing by Hokkien assembly hall  |
.....and also a Chinese assembly hall (blue mansion of Hoi An) which have free entrance and I personally love the Chinese assembly hall where ‘Tin Hau Kung’ temple located as I opt for free entrance. The blue mansion is a good photography place as well.   |    |
   | There are house of Quan Thang and Trade Museum along Tran Phu lane. |
Walking back to the center where the ticket counter located between the inter-section of Tran Phu and Le Loi lane, then we walk to the inner third lane namely Phan Chau Trinh lane where the Tran Chapel family house located. I just have a look at their entrance as it is an active living home in Hoi An. Anyway you may purchase a ticket of VND90.000 to visit all this places. Basically the whole Hoi An is an ancient town which I highly opt for those none commercial sites which are more worth a look and treasure.   |     |
Exploring My Son Sanctuary : World Heritage Site of Vietnam
The map of My Son Relic map is divided into 5 sections where we started with site B-C-D where the main Champa kingdom complexes are located.
There found a statue of God Shiva located in site B and this site is also the oldest construction of My Son.
Then you may move on to site A which create the most important temple with site B but it was destroyed during the war in August 1969.
Follow the path, you will see site G which are in conservation. Site G have architecture similar to Khmer kingdom like Angkor Wat. I can only catch a glimpse from the walking path.
Continue the path to site E-F which has huge complex structure where a stone depicting God Brahma was found at site E. Before leaving the sanctuary,
Just drop by to site H which is another temple destroy during the war that left only the western wall of the main temple. We complete the sanctuary in 1.5 hours before proceeding to Hoi An.
Central Vietnam Heritage Sites
I had wished to visit central Vietnam long ago but of course it is a little luxury tour this time as I am going with my pregnant wife. So I arrived at Ho Chi Minh and then transfer through domestic Vietnam Airlines to Danang to visit the 3 heritage sites of Vietnam namely Hue, Hoi An and My Son Sanctuary. I will highlight the 3 heritage sites as I walk the entire site myself where else my wife waited me at the entrance as she can’t walk much.
We arrived at Ho Chi Minh on Friday the fifth day of Chinese New Year. We took a Vinasun cab for cost VND 140.000 which is quite reasonable. Then we check into Equatorial Hotel and we like the room very much. The hotel provided complimentary shuttle service to the city center.
We took the shuttle service to Opera House to visit one of the big shopping center called Vincom. We took our lunch there as there are many fast food and restaurant at the shopping center located at B3.
My wife waited me at the highland coffee place and then I walk to the Notre Dame, Central Post Office for some photos through the walking tour route. Then I walk towards the reunification palace then heading left towards the city hall. Take a left turn at the junction to visit the opera house before ending at Parkson near Vincom shopping center.
We took the domestic flight to Danang the next morning. Is a good experience overall as it is still the TET festival and the flight are crowded with Vietnamese. We reach Danang at12:45pm and there are a complimentary pick up from Mercure Danang hotel. I personally like this hotel as well. After check in, then we quickly took a cab to visit Linh Ung Pagoda located at Son Tra Peninsula where it house a huge Kuan Yin statue overlook the beautiful danang beach. Then we took back the cab to danang city’s Vinh Thrung plaza. The cost of the cab is around VND150.000 for one way at Danang. I visited the Han Market, riverside and champa museum.
The next day is the Hue Heritage tour where I hire a car and a driver. The agency provided us Toyota Vios and I am satisfy with the car that cost me USD 100 for a day tour for 2 person as it cost a little bit as the date fall on TET festival. We go through the Hai Van pass which are chilling through the cliff road before reaching Hue Heritage Sites. Once we reach Hue, then we visited the Citadel and the purple forbidden city of Hue. It was a little bad luck as it is raining after we came out from the citadel entrance. We proceed for lunch then before the next visit of pagoda and tomb. After lunch, we proceed to Thien Mu Pagoda which is a traditional old historical living temple that are frequent visit by locals but I love the next 2 sites of the king tomb. Tu Duc Tomb is our next destination. Tips as we should visit tu duc first then only khai dinh. Let’s enjoy our visit at Tu Duc tomb with water and fresh air along the garden as the tomb are built according to the feng shui. After Tu Duc, then we will proceed to Khai Dinh with a majestic imperial guard but we need to climb up the tomb through stairs. Personally I found Khai Dinh is much more majestic and beautifully built.
The final day at Danang would be another 2 heritage sites highlight of My Son Sanctuary and Hoi An ancient town. The agency provides us a 4 wheel drive vehicle which cost us USD 70 per day tour for 2 persons. We stop at roadside of Marble Mountain to take some photos before proceeding to My Son. We reach My Son with travel time approximately 1.5 hours. My Son Relic is the ruin of Champa kingdom. We complete the sanctuary in 1.5 hours before proceeding to Hoi An.
We reach Hoi An in 45 minutes where the final heritage sites located, the ancient town of Hoi An . The ancient town is similar to what we have in Penang and Melaka heritage sites. There are temples and old heritage house in Hoi An ancient town. You may purchase a ticket of VND90.000 to visit all this places in Hoi An ancient town.
Then we took back domestic transfer back to Ho Chi Minh. It is a little culture shock taking a cab back. There was no queue and people are fighting for cabs. Here a little tips, remember to get a number from the staff wearing green shirt (Mai Linh) for a cab even you can’t fight for cab.
Final 2 days would be a relax day after our hardcore Danang. We rest the whole morning and then took the complimentary shuttle to Ben Thanh market at noon. We brought all our souvenir at the market. We took a cab to Vincom for VND35.000 from Ben Thanh market. This is a cab cost benchmark for your reference. Finally we complete our Vietnam Heritage Sites tour happily.
We arrived at Ho Chi Minh on Friday the fifth day of Chinese New Year. We took a Vinasun cab for cost VND 140.000 which is quite reasonable. Then we check into Equatorial Hotel and we like the room very much. The hotel provided complimentary shuttle service to the city center.
We took the shuttle service to Opera House to visit one of the big shopping center called Vincom. We took our lunch there as there are many fast food and restaurant at the shopping center located at B3.
My wife waited me at the highland coffee place and then I walk to the Notre Dame, Central Post Office for some photos through the walking tour route. Then I walk towards the reunification palace then heading left towards the city hall. Take a left turn at the junction to visit the opera house before ending at Parkson near Vincom shopping center.
We took the domestic flight to Danang the next morning. Is a good experience overall as it is still the TET festival and the flight are crowded with Vietnamese. We reach Danang at12:45pm and there are a complimentary pick up from Mercure Danang hotel. I personally like this hotel as well. After check in, then we quickly took a cab to visit Linh Ung Pagoda located at Son Tra Peninsula where it house a huge Kuan Yin statue overlook the beautiful danang beach. Then we took back the cab to danang city’s Vinh Thrung plaza. The cost of the cab is around VND150.000 for one way at Danang. I visited the Han Market, riverside and champa museum.
The next day is the Hue Heritage tour where I hire a car and a driver. The agency provided us Toyota Vios and I am satisfy with the car that cost me USD 100 for a day tour for 2 person as it cost a little bit as the date fall on TET festival. We go through the Hai Van pass which are chilling through the cliff road before reaching Hue Heritage Sites. Once we reach Hue, then we visited the Citadel and the purple forbidden city of Hue. It was a little bad luck as it is raining after we came out from the citadel entrance. We proceed for lunch then before the next visit of pagoda and tomb. After lunch, we proceed to Thien Mu Pagoda which is a traditional old historical living temple that are frequent visit by locals but I love the next 2 sites of the king tomb. Tu Duc Tomb is our next destination. Tips as we should visit tu duc first then only khai dinh. Let’s enjoy our visit at Tu Duc tomb with water and fresh air along the garden as the tomb are built according to the feng shui. After Tu Duc, then we will proceed to Khai Dinh with a majestic imperial guard but we need to climb up the tomb through stairs. Personally I found Khai Dinh is much more majestic and beautifully built.
The final day at Danang would be another 2 heritage sites highlight of My Son Sanctuary and Hoi An ancient town. The agency provides us a 4 wheel drive vehicle which cost us USD 70 per day tour for 2 persons. We stop at roadside of Marble Mountain to take some photos before proceeding to My Son. We reach My Son with travel time approximately 1.5 hours. My Son Relic is the ruin of Champa kingdom. We complete the sanctuary in 1.5 hours before proceeding to Hoi An.
We reach Hoi An in 45 minutes where the final heritage sites located, the ancient town of Hoi An . The ancient town is similar to what we have in Penang and Melaka heritage sites. There are temples and old heritage house in Hoi An ancient town. You may purchase a ticket of VND90.000 to visit all this places in Hoi An ancient town.
Then we took back domestic transfer back to Ho Chi Minh. It is a little culture shock taking a cab back. There was no queue and people are fighting for cabs. Here a little tips, remember to get a number from the staff wearing green shirt (Mai Linh) for a cab even you can’t fight for cab.
Final 2 days would be a relax day after our hardcore Danang. We rest the whole morning and then took the complimentary shuttle to Ben Thanh market at noon. We brought all our souvenir at the market. We took a cab to Vincom for VND35.000 from Ben Thanh market. This is a cab cost benchmark for your reference. Finally we complete our Vietnam Heritage Sites tour happily.
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