China (Changsa, Hunan) Aug/Sept 2011

Map of Changsa, Hunan

Hostel: Changsa Y70 ( dorm x 2 nights)
How Flowers Hostel, Guilin - Y25 ( 1 night)
Train: Xining > Zhengzhou - Y175 (hard seat)
Zhengzhou > Changsa - Y120 (hard seat)
Changsa > Guilin - Y67 (hard seat)
Food & groceries: Y172
airport bus: Y20
Bus: Y24
Cable car: Y50
Day tour (Mao's residence): Y70

Total cost incurred (5days) : Y793 (Rm380)

" Revolutionary thinkers, prominent communist leaders hailed from Hunan, Chairman's Mao birth place in Shaoshan village, Autumn Harvest Uprising (1927), The Long March, People's Power, Chinese Communist Party (CCM), Communist takeover of China in 1949, death of Chairman Mao in 1976 - I come to Shaoshan to pay my respect to the great Chairman Mao " 

Train ride from Zhengzhou (Capital, Hunan) > Changsa, Hunan

Zhengzhou Train Station, Hunan

Zhengzhou Tourist Bus Station, Hunan

San Wang Street, Changsa, Hunan

1) Hunan Provincial Museum, Changsa, Hunan - houses the 2100 year old Western Han tombs of Mawangdui & a mummified remains of a Han dynasty woman, wrapped in 20 layers of silk & linen.

2) Tangerine Island & Mao Zedong Statutes, Mt Yeulu Scenic Resort, Changsa, Hunan

3) Yuelu Park, Changsa, Hunan - cable car ride Y50

4) Hunan Martyrs Memorial Park, Changsa

5) Liew Sao Zhi residence in Shao Shan, Hunan - day tour package to Mao's & Liew Sao Zhi Residence Y70

6) Mao Zedong childhood home, Shao Shan, Hunan

7) Walkabout in Changsa city, Hunan

" Walk your own path. Let others say what they like "

Malaysia (Mt Kota Kinabalu, Sabah) July 2011

" LIFE is a balance of work, family & personal time "

"Running water does not flow back, so is LIFE"

" Peace of mind starts with being grateful for what we have right now "

" My 6 days in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah (Malaysia) - 22-27/7/2011. Feeling on top of the world ! Age is no barrier ( age 61+ ) and thanks to the Chinese Zhineng Qiqong. A real challenging & wonderful climb to Low's Peak (4,095.2m), the summit of Mt Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, an UNESCO  heritage site - a natural wonder ! " 

Total expenses incurred : Rm1,133 (Euro$280)

Air Asia ticket KL>KK return- Rm236
Airport shuttle bus- Rm20
Mt KK tour package inclusive of hostels, meals & transport (3 days 2 nights) - Rm688
Hostel (Rm31x3 dorm) - Rm93
Food & groceries - Rm60
Local rubber climbing shoes (nicknamed Addidas kampung shoe) - Rm7.50
Walking stick - Rm3
Boat ride (Mamutik island) + Tariff & conservation fees - RM24.50