This is a great journey for me this year as I visited Chengdu at China last week. We manage to transfer by land and covering 4 heritage sites of beautiful scenery.
I notice that there are not much blogger that focus on the trekking route at Jiuzhaigou, Huanglong and Mount Emei. So I will focus on my trekking for all this in detail in a separate article. I only have 8 days in Chengdu and because of limited time so I only have 1 day each for all the major attraction and to be frank it is indeed a very tiring journey.
Here is my brief itinerary that I plan for my adventure buddy during our stay at chengdu.
22/05: Reach Chengdu at 11pm. Check in at hostel near Kuan lane for an authentic night.
23/05: Travel from Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou via Mianyang,Jiangyou and Pingwu. Journey takes about 10 hours by road. Reroute to Baoen Temple near Pingwu after lunch.
24/05: Wholeday Jiuzhaigou sightseeing tour
25/05: Morning visit Huanglong scenic area, then proceed to Mianyang stay for one night.
26/05: Transfer back to Chengdu. Visit Dujiangyan at noon.
27/05: Travel from Chengdu to Giant Panda Research Centre in the morning. Then visit Leshan Giant Buddha at noon. Reroute to Mt.Emei for a night.
28/05: Wholeday visit Mt.Emei, then transfers back to Chengdu.
29/05: Visit people park, Wu Hao temple and Dufu’s Cottage. Then end our journey with shopping at Chunxi Street.
Just to highlight that the journey to Jiuzhaigou is indeed a very long journey through the mountain road and never underestimate these road and it is quite tough and tiring during the journey. That’s why most of the travel agency will recommend a flight transfer for most travelers but because of cost saving and also consider of the experience, we decided on the long journey routes. There are EAST line and WEST line to Jiuzhaigou and we used the EAST line through Pingwu.
The roads to Huanglong are even worst that I am surprised. The road is still not developed and there is so much dusk and with the mist that even makes our journey even tougher.
Our relaxation starts on the fifth day as we visited Dujiangyan, Panda breeding center and Leshan Big Buddha. Then end our final trekking to Mount Emei.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Kuala Lumpur Nearest Beach Escapade @Port Dickson
The nearest beach attraction from Kuala Lumpur would be Port Dickson. It is about 1 hour journey from Kuala Lumpur and the nearest beach escapade for a little relaxing along the beachside.
The beach at Port Dickson are not the best comparing to some of Malaysia beautiful islands but it is a good option for a breakaway after visiting Malaysia cultural heritage town like Penang or Malacca.
I would like to introduce 2 resorts that capture my attention among foreigners. The 2 resorts are Legend Water Chalet and Avillion Resort. Both have water chalets and also normal rooms. Check out these resorts when visiting Port Dickson.
Legend water chalet are near the town with reasonable price. I personally like the resort where there is Jacuzzi in the actual room itself.
There are 2 Avillion resort namely Avillion and Avillion Admiral Cove where the Avillion water chalet are more luxury with more comfort. Both resorts are separated by 2 miles with their own personality.
The beach at Port Dickson are not the best comparing to some of Malaysia beautiful islands but it is a good option for a breakaway after visiting Malaysia cultural heritage town like Penang or Malacca.
I would like to introduce 2 resorts that capture my attention among foreigners. The 2 resorts are Legend Water Chalet and Avillion Resort. Both have water chalets and also normal rooms. Check out these resorts when visiting Port Dickson.
Legend water chalet are near the town with reasonable price. I personally like the resort where there is Jacuzzi in the actual room itself.
There are 2 Avillion resort namely Avillion and Avillion Admiral Cove where the Avillion water chalet are more luxury with more comfort. Both resorts are separated by 2 miles with their own personality.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Beautiful Temple Heritage @ Jogjakarta, Indonesia
I visited Jogjakarta on Chinese new year between 18th Feb to 22nd Feb this year. Jogjakarta attracted me because of their beautiful heritage site of borobudur and prambanan.
Here is my travel story. On our first day was a relax day where both Jess and myself hire a photographer to took some beautiful photos at Jogja. We will share it later on a special occasion. We look for guesthouse on sosro steet near setia kawan losmen and found 1001 malam guesthouse which is just nice for our stay.
Our cultural and heritage visit start on our second day where we visit borobudur on an early morning but weather make me disappointed as there was no sunlight and the whole temple are little dull. But the cultural temple still make it a grand visit.
In the afternoon, we drive all the way to Dieng plateau to visit few more temple and also sulfur lake. Disappointment come one another as it was raining heavily and our first day are not so much interesting. We ended our trip staying at kaliurang near the gunung merapi. We choose Vogel's homestay which is quite reasonable.
Excitement come on the third day of our trip where we start our day at Kaliurang with volcano sighting. It was cloudy and the mountain are little shy covering with cloud. But my beautiful day start exactly at Prambanan temple. It was really a beautiful temple.
In the noon of 3rd day, we visit Sangiran early man site museum and also Solo city which also a little disappointment. We ended up at Boko temple near prambanan. Finally we went back to Jogja to look for our guesthouse for 2 nights. We choose Duta guesthouse which I read a lot at Internet. I like this guesthouse.
Our fourth day was a little relaxing tour around the city of Jogja. We visited the Kraton, Water Castle and also bird market.
Our lunch was great with a taste of jogja famous nasi gudeg. Of course ending our day with full of shopping around the city.
Here is my travel story. On our first day was a relax day where both Jess and myself hire a photographer to took some beautiful photos at Jogja. We will share it later on a special occasion. We look for guesthouse on sosro steet near setia kawan losmen and found 1001 malam guesthouse which is just nice for our stay.
Our cultural and heritage visit start on our second day where we visit borobudur on an early morning but weather make me disappointed as there was no sunlight and the whole temple are little dull. But the cultural temple still make it a grand visit.
In the afternoon, we drive all the way to Dieng plateau to visit few more temple and also sulfur lake. Disappointment come one another as it was raining heavily and our first day are not so much interesting. We ended our trip staying at kaliurang near the gunung merapi. We choose Vogel's homestay which is quite reasonable.
Excitement come on the third day of our trip where we start our day at Kaliurang with volcano sighting. It was cloudy and the mountain are little shy covering with cloud. But my beautiful day start exactly at Prambanan temple. It was really a beautiful temple.
In the noon of 3rd day, we visit Sangiran early man site museum and also Solo city which also a little disappointment. We ended up at Boko temple near prambanan. Finally we went back to Jogja to look for our guesthouse for 2 nights. We choose Duta guesthouse which I read a lot at Internet. I like this guesthouse.
Our fourth day was a little relaxing tour around the city of Jogja. We visited the Kraton, Water Castle and also bird market.
Our lunch was great with a taste of jogja famous nasi gudeg. Of course ending our day with full of shopping around the city.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Short trip to Bintan Island, Indonesia from Singapore Tanah Merah
Finally I am having a long break for year end 2009. Plan a trip down to Singapore to visit sister, Christmas shopping and also new year countdown at esplanade. We took first coach VIP bus from Bangsar straight to Singapore on boxing’s day. It was a really long week and we decided to visit Bintan Island at Riau Archipelago, Indonesia.
I had booked a authentic kampong chalet Nostalgia Yasin on 28th December. So we rush to Tanah Merah ferry terminal by MRT and bus number 35. I miss the penguin ferry at 12:30pm where I need to wait 2 hours to board the next ferry at 3pm with Indo Falcon ferry that cost us SGD$50/person for return. The ferry took us 1 hour 45 minute to reach Tanjong Pinang at Bintan then follow by an hour to the resort. Nostalgia Yasin owned by Bintan Agro Resort where 2 offer different atmosphere and environment. We reached Nostalgia Yasin at 6pm and checking into a bamboo chalet cost USD$27 with basic facility like fan, no hot water and with mosquito coil. There are many westerner that love this kampong lifestyle where it won and recognize as the best atmosphere by hostelbooker. The food at Nostalgia are not bad as well with basic Asian style cooking which look alike Malaysian food. I guess I love the atmosphere too.
Then I try the parent resort Bintan Agro Resort which are little luxury which occupy by most Singaporean. The price ranges from SGD$100 to SGD$160. There isn’t much activity at the resort and is just totally for a breakaway or relaxation at the beach. Seriously the beach isn’t that great too but I guess is the nearest breakaway from Singapore.
There goes the 3 days 2 nights short break to Bintan Island. Our next excitement would be the 2010 countdown at Singapore Esplanade water front. It is my first time celebrating at Singapore and It is worth it to wait there for 3 hours to watch the beautiful fireworks by marina bay countdown celebration.
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010.
I had booked a authentic kampong chalet Nostalgia Yasin on 28th December. So we rush to Tanah Merah ferry terminal by MRT and bus number 35. I miss the penguin ferry at 12:30pm where I need to wait 2 hours to board the next ferry at 3pm with Indo Falcon ferry that cost us SGD$50/person for return. The ferry took us 1 hour 45 minute to reach Tanjong Pinang at Bintan then follow by an hour to the resort. Nostalgia Yasin owned by Bintan Agro Resort where 2 offer different atmosphere and environment. We reached Nostalgia Yasin at 6pm and checking into a bamboo chalet cost USD$27 with basic facility like fan, no hot water and with mosquito coil. There are many westerner that love this kampong lifestyle where it won and recognize as the best atmosphere by hostelbooker. The food at Nostalgia are not bad as well with basic Asian style cooking which look alike Malaysian food. I guess I love the atmosphere too.
Then I try the parent resort Bintan Agro Resort which are little luxury which occupy by most Singaporean. The price ranges from SGD$100 to SGD$160. There isn’t much activity at the resort and is just totally for a breakaway or relaxation at the beach. Seriously the beach isn’t that great too but I guess is the nearest breakaway from Singapore.
There goes the 3 days 2 nights short break to Bintan Island. Our next excitement would be the 2010 countdown at Singapore Esplanade water front. It is my first time celebrating at Singapore and It is worth it to wait there for 3 hours to watch the beautiful fireworks by marina bay countdown celebration.
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Visiting tentative World Heritage Site, Batang Ai National Park at Sarawak
I just visited Kuching, Sarawak for the third time last 2 week ago and it was great to finally visit one of a icon at Sarawak beside Mulu National Park that are listed at UNESCO tentative list which is Batang Ai National Park. Thanks to my 2 lovely good friends Richard and Hellen at Kuching. Glad to have them to be our host at Kuching.
Richard drives us to the national park the next following day after our arrival. The journey takes approximately 4 hours to reach the hydro dam jetty. We stop at a little town name “Lachau” for lunch and then continue our journey passing by Sri Aman and proceed to Batang Ai national park entrance jetty. The road conditions at East Coast Malaysia are not that good where the journey to Sibu and Miri might take 6 hour and 9 hour respectively. It was indeed a hectic drive along the way.
Finally we reach the jetty at 3:30pm and waiting to board the boat at 4:15pm to the Batang Ai Longhouse Resort.
I am kind of excited when I saw the beautiful lake dam at Batang Ai.
The boat takes us 45 minutes to reach the Longhouse resort. I would recommend this place if you like to relax looking at the lake and getting some fresh air from the forest with additional some trekking to Iban longhouse then this place might be an interest to you.
We have a light pool swim at the resort in the evening before ending our day with a family dinner at the resort. Then we have a early rest after the long journey.
We have a light nature trekking the next day at 7:30am. The nature trekking pass through a suspension bridges that let us enjoy the national park scenery and birds. The light trekking takes us 1 hour to complete.
Then we had our breakfast at 8:30am before proceeding our kayaking at the lake the next 1 hour. Even though it was a hot sunny day but the kayaking was good enjoying the scenery around the lake. Is awesome!!!
Here is the UNESCO tentative list for Batang Ai National Park: -
http://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/state=my
Our little trip at Kuching ends up with some wildlife and traditional culture. We visited the Semenggoh Orang Utan Sanctuary and also Bidayuh Traditional Longhouse.
Richard drives us to the national park the next following day after our arrival. The journey takes approximately 4 hours to reach the hydro dam jetty. We stop at a little town name “Lachau” for lunch and then continue our journey passing by Sri Aman and proceed to Batang Ai national park entrance jetty. The road conditions at East Coast Malaysia are not that good where the journey to Sibu and Miri might take 6 hour and 9 hour respectively. It was indeed a hectic drive along the way.
Finally we reach the jetty at 3:30pm and waiting to board the boat at 4:15pm to the Batang Ai Longhouse Resort.
I am kind of excited when I saw the beautiful lake dam at Batang Ai.
The boat takes us 45 minutes to reach the Longhouse resort. I would recommend this place if you like to relax looking at the lake and getting some fresh air from the forest with additional some trekking to Iban longhouse then this place might be an interest to you.
We have a light pool swim at the resort in the evening before ending our day with a family dinner at the resort. Then we have a early rest after the long journey.
We have a light nature trekking the next day at 7:30am. The nature trekking pass through a suspension bridges that let us enjoy the national park scenery and birds. The light trekking takes us 1 hour to complete.
Then we had our breakfast at 8:30am before proceeding our kayaking at the lake the next 1 hour. Even though it was a hot sunny day but the kayaking was good enjoying the scenery around the lake. Is awesome!!!
Here is the UNESCO tentative list for Batang Ai National Park: -
http://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/state=my
Our little trip at Kuching ends up with some wildlife and traditional culture. We visited the Semenggoh Orang Utan Sanctuary and also Bidayuh Traditional Longhouse.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Visiting Heritage Sites @ Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is a beautiful country with rich culture and I really enjoy my first visit to Sri Lanka. I only plan a short 6 day 5 night trip where I need to hire a driver and van to see as much places as possible. Here is my beautiful experience and itinerary at Sri Lanka.
Day 1: We reach LCCT at about 4am to catch our flight at 6:15am. The flight took 3.5 hours to reach Sri Lanka and it was 2.5 hours behind Malaysia where we reach Sri Lanka about 7:15am. Once we get out from the arrival hall and then I saw my name display from our driver Mr. Nimal De Silva.
We got a van rental with driver deal for US$55 per day. This included all the substance and there is no hidden cost. We start off the day with driving from the Airport to Dambulla Rock.
Dambulla is at the central of Sri Lanka and the journey took 4 hours to reach even it was just 150km because of the road condition and traffic.
We reach Dambulla Rock Temple at 12pm and it was our first heritage site visit. The Rock temple consists of 5 caves with different historical period. It was raining once we complete the visit at about 1:30pm. Then we proceed to Sigiriya to look for our accommodation and also try a local lunch. Our driver recommended us a forest retreat guesthouse called ‘The Grand’ for a cost of Rs.2700 per room.
Our lunch is delicious too prepared by the guesthouse. It was 4:30pm after we finish our lunch and bath then it was too late to visit the next destination. So we took a early rest at the guesthouse.
Day 2: I am looking forward to the next 2 heritage sites. We had our breakfast at 7am and start our journey at 8am to Sigiriya Rock Fortress. The heritage conservation entrance fee was US$25 for Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa each.
We took about 2 hours from 9am to 11am to visit and climb Sigiriya Rock Fortress.
There are the beautiful fresco painting remain on the wall and also the grand lion paw and also the palace at the hilltop that worth the climb. By 11:30am we proceed to Polonnaruwa and we reach the destination at 12:30pm for the next beautiful and awaiting heritage sites.
This is a beautiful ancient city of Polonnaruwa. I love Vatatage and Hatatage at Quanruple and the beautiful rock Buddha of Gal Vihara. We ended the day with a local lunch at 3pm. We reach back the Grand guesthouse at 5pm after little jam along the way because of accident. This never stops our beautiful journey in Sri Lanka where our lovely Mr. Nimal buy us a bottle of local liquor at night. We enjoy the local arak.
Day 3: The trips come to the third day where we are heading to Kandy city. The journey took 3 hours passing by Matale spice garden and we reach Kandy at about 12pm.
Then we proceed to visit our final heritage site the sacred tooth relic temple at Kandy. There are so many devotees and it was a amazing experience at the temple.
We had a really local lunch after the Kandy temple and also meet our second driver ‘Sri’ for our next 3 days. We proceed to Nuwara Eliya at 3pm and the journey took us 3 hours to reach the English town at 6000 feet.
We stop at Blue Field tea plantation at 5:30pm to taste Sri Lanka Ceylon tea.
It was late and then we proceed to our guesthouse Rising Lion at Nuwara Eliya. We got a family room for 4 for about Rs.5800. It was so cold at night and now I know why it is call little England. The town are cold and there are many British alike building situated at Eliya.
Day 4: Enjoy our chilling morning at Nuwara Eliya with a American breakfast and then we proceed to the little England town of Nuwara Eliya. We proceed our way back at 10am. It was a nice scenery drive from Nuwara Eliya to Kandy. We reach Kandy at 1pm and we had our lunch at a nice restaurant at the hilltop with Kandy view. Most of the meal at this beautiful restaurant cost around Rs.500 to 600 per set. Then we proceed with some shopping at Kandy street. I guess it was a relax day for us with the hill Buddha temple visit and also watch the Kandyan cultural dance show.
We ended our day with a nice dinner at our guesthouse Mcleod Inn. I guess this is the best guesthouse that I love so far at Sri Lanka where the cost are reasonable with Rs.1800 for triple and the food are delicious too prepared by the owner Nirupa and Ashan. Thanks for the delicious food and room.
Day 5: We had our breakfast at 7am and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Kandy from Mcleod Inn. Then we start our final day to Colombo and Negombo at 8am.
We reach Colombo city at 11am and it was not so scary like it sound. The bad experience could be the city hectic life with lots of traffic and also crowded with people. We visited the beautiful hotel of Galle Face and then proceed to Pettah market for our final stop. Then we proceed to Negombo at 2:30pm from Colombo.
It took 1 hour to reach Negombo beach and we had a beautiful hotel at Negombo call Goldie Sand Hotel with reasonable beach view. I heard the southern beaches are more beautiful but it was nice to end our trip at the beach.
It cost us US$60 for a room of 4 and also a expensive seafood for US$40. We willing to spend for the final days as to celebrate our successful Sri Lanka trips.
Day 6: Is time to go back home. We rented a hotel van for Rs.1500 to the airport. We depart the hotel at 6am to catch our flight at 8:15am. Sri Lanka is a beautiful country.
Day 1: We reach LCCT at about 4am to catch our flight at 6:15am. The flight took 3.5 hours to reach Sri Lanka and it was 2.5 hours behind Malaysia where we reach Sri Lanka about 7:15am. Once we get out from the arrival hall and then I saw my name display from our driver Mr. Nimal De Silva.
We got a van rental with driver deal for US$55 per day. This included all the substance and there is no hidden cost. We start off the day with driving from the Airport to Dambulla Rock.
Dambulla is at the central of Sri Lanka and the journey took 4 hours to reach even it was just 150km because of the road condition and traffic.
We reach Dambulla Rock Temple at 12pm and it was our first heritage site visit. The Rock temple consists of 5 caves with different historical period. It was raining once we complete the visit at about 1:30pm. Then we proceed to Sigiriya to look for our accommodation and also try a local lunch. Our driver recommended us a forest retreat guesthouse called ‘The Grand’ for a cost of Rs.2700 per room.
Our lunch is delicious too prepared by the guesthouse. It was 4:30pm after we finish our lunch and bath then it was too late to visit the next destination. So we took a early rest at the guesthouse.
Day 2: I am looking forward to the next 2 heritage sites. We had our breakfast at 7am and start our journey at 8am to Sigiriya Rock Fortress. The heritage conservation entrance fee was US$25 for Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa each.
We took about 2 hours from 9am to 11am to visit and climb Sigiriya Rock Fortress.
There are the beautiful fresco painting remain on the wall and also the grand lion paw and also the palace at the hilltop that worth the climb. By 11:30am we proceed to Polonnaruwa and we reach the destination at 12:30pm for the next beautiful and awaiting heritage sites.
This is a beautiful ancient city of Polonnaruwa. I love Vatatage and Hatatage at Quanruple and the beautiful rock Buddha of Gal Vihara. We ended the day with a local lunch at 3pm. We reach back the Grand guesthouse at 5pm after little jam along the way because of accident. This never stops our beautiful journey in Sri Lanka where our lovely Mr. Nimal buy us a bottle of local liquor at night. We enjoy the local arak.
Day 3: The trips come to the third day where we are heading to Kandy city. The journey took 3 hours passing by Matale spice garden and we reach Kandy at about 12pm.
Then we proceed to visit our final heritage site the sacred tooth relic temple at Kandy. There are so many devotees and it was a amazing experience at the temple.
We had a really local lunch after the Kandy temple and also meet our second driver ‘Sri’ for our next 3 days. We proceed to Nuwara Eliya at 3pm and the journey took us 3 hours to reach the English town at 6000 feet.
We stop at Blue Field tea plantation at 5:30pm to taste Sri Lanka Ceylon tea.
It was late and then we proceed to our guesthouse Rising Lion at Nuwara Eliya. We got a family room for 4 for about Rs.5800. It was so cold at night and now I know why it is call little England. The town are cold and there are many British alike building situated at Eliya.
Day 4: Enjoy our chilling morning at Nuwara Eliya with a American breakfast and then we proceed to the little England town of Nuwara Eliya. We proceed our way back at 10am. It was a nice scenery drive from Nuwara Eliya to Kandy. We reach Kandy at 1pm and we had our lunch at a nice restaurant at the hilltop with Kandy view. Most of the meal at this beautiful restaurant cost around Rs.500 to 600 per set. Then we proceed with some shopping at Kandy street. I guess it was a relax day for us with the hill Buddha temple visit and also watch the Kandyan cultural dance show.
We ended our day with a nice dinner at our guesthouse Mcleod Inn. I guess this is the best guesthouse that I love so far at Sri Lanka where the cost are reasonable with Rs.1800 for triple and the food are delicious too prepared by the owner Nirupa and Ashan. Thanks for the delicious food and room.
Day 5: We had our breakfast at 7am and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Kandy from Mcleod Inn. Then we start our final day to Colombo and Negombo at 8am.
We reach Colombo city at 11am and it was not so scary like it sound. The bad experience could be the city hectic life with lots of traffic and also crowded with people. We visited the beautiful hotel of Galle Face and then proceed to Pettah market for our final stop. Then we proceed to Negombo at 2:30pm from Colombo.
It took 1 hour to reach Negombo beach and we had a beautiful hotel at Negombo call Goldie Sand Hotel with reasonable beach view. I heard the southern beaches are more beautiful but it was nice to end our trip at the beach.
It cost us US$60 for a room of 4 and also a expensive seafood for US$40. We willing to spend for the final days as to celebrate our successful Sri Lanka trips.
Day 6: Is time to go back home. We rented a hotel van for Rs.1500 to the airport. We depart the hotel at 6am to catch our flight at 8:15am. Sri Lanka is a beautiful country.
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