Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Indonesia (Bali) Oct 2011

" Don't trust words. Trust actions " 

" END is not the end. In fact E.N.D is Effort Never Dies "

" LIFE is short. So you must live by your own values & philosophies " 

" My 4 days in Bali (21-24/10/2011) - honeymoon, romance, beautiful landscape, sunset in Bali beach, health spa, massage, BBQ seafood, ancient Hindu temple, volcanoes, Balinese art & batik, Turtle island & snorkeling - have fun & both my wife & myself had a wonderful time in Bali "

Total expenses incurred: Rm1,110 (Euro$280)
Cost breakdowns:
Air Asia KL-Bali return-Rm480
Ground package arrangement (4 days 3 nights) -Rm528
Airport shuttle bus - Rm18
Departure tax -150,000 rupiah (Rm54)
Tips - 75,000 rupiah + Rm5
Exchange Rate: 100,000 rupiah=Rm36


Travel Highlights:

1) Bali Beach




2) Tanah Lot Temple



3) A cliff on the southern point of Pura Luthur near the Uluwati Ancient Temple



4) Holy Spring Temple of Tampaksiring



I had an enjoyable visit to Yogyakarta and Solo in March 2009 and had always placed Bali as a top priority destination for my future trip to Indonesia. In Nov 2010, I booked our Air Asia promotional tickets (Rm480 return) and in August 2011, I booked a 4 day ground package tour (Rm528) from Discover Orient Holidays Sdn Bhd (Tel 03-21660666) at the Matta Fair. The ground package includes airport transfers, 7 meals , hotel , a free 60 minute massage at the Lavender hotel located near the Kuta beach. Our tour group consisted of 5 people with a tour guide.

Bali is a big island with a population of around 3-4 million people, mainly Hindus. The roads in the town areas and countryside were narrowed and congested. Our 3 day visits focused mainly in the western, southern, central and northern regions of Bali. The tourist places we visited were:

Southern - Uluwatu temple, Garuda Wisnu Kencana statute, Jimbaran beach & Denpasar

Western - Tanah Lot

Central - Taman Ayun Temple in Tabanan, Ubud, Celuk, Mas, Sukawati market Rice terrace in Tegalalang & Holy Spring Tampaksiring temple


Northern - Batriti, Lake Beratan & Mt Batur volcano

Our tour guide could converse in English and provided excellent service throughout our stays in Bali.
1) Welcome to Bali - warmly greeted upon arrival at the Ngurah Rai Airport






2) Uluwatu Ancient Temple (16th century)




3) Garuda Wisnu Kenchana statute



4) Batik making in Ubud




5) Padi Terrace in Tengalang







6) Mengawi Royal's family Taman Ayun Temple




7) Bali Beach - Romantic sunset & BBQ seafood dinner at Jimbaran beach, the beach was packed with holiday makers & tourists, the best place to wine & dine and watching the sun set ......



8) Holy Spring Temple Tempaksiring


9) Beratan Lake Temple - built in the 11th century


10) Coffee plantation - free sampling of kopi luwak or Musang (50,000 rupiah=RM18 per cup)

11) Volcano Batur in Kitamanis (1717m)



12) Tanah Lot - A sea temple built on top of a huge rock surrounded by the seas & high tide
The secret of Life: Ordinary people too can do extraordinary things "

China (North East) Aug/Sept 2011

Map of Northern China

" One Day passes, you will lose One Day "

" One Day passes with happiness, and then you gain One Day

" In good spirit, sickness will cure, in happy spirit, sickness will cure fast. In good & happy spirit, sickness will never come " 

" My 23 days in China (Harbin, Qiqiha'er, Manzhuoli, Changbai Shan, Shenyang, Hohhot, Yingchuan, Xining & Changsa (22/8 -13/9/201 1) - my 1st visit to the north east provinces of China ie Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Qinghai & Chairman Mao's birthplace in Changsa, Hunan "

Total expenses incurred (23 days) : Rm2,370 (Euro$590)

Air Asia ticket (promo) :
KL > Tianjin (depart KL 08.30 arrive Tianjin 14.35) - Rm175
Guilin > KL (depart Guilin 11.10 arrive KL 15.20) - Rm333
Travel insurance - Rm75
Airport taxi & bus - Rm74
Hostels + booking fee - Y565 + US$24 (Rm72)
Day tour - Y70
Train tickets - Y1,317
Bus - Y60
Airport bus - Y30
Cable car - Y50
Entrance fees - Y425
Food & groceries - Y820
Sundries - Y87
Exchange rate Y100 = Rm48

Travel itinerary:

KL > Tianjin > Harbin > Qiqihar > Manzhhouli
> Harbin > Jilin > Erdao Baihe > Shenyang > Hohhot > Yinchuan > Xining > Zhengzhou > Changsa > Guilin > Kuala Lumpur

Travel Highlights:

1) Haerbin, Heilongjiang


2) Changbai Shan, Jilin


3) Shenyang, Liaoning


4) Hohhot & Manzhouli, Inner Mongolia


5) Yingchuan, Ningxia


6) Xining, Qinghai


7) Changsa, Hunan


The Secret of Life: Passion for a goal is the key to fulfilling your dreams"

Sunday, November 6, 2011

China (Haerbin, Heilonjiang) Aug/Sept 2011

Map of Harbin, Heilongjiang, China

Total cost incurred (3 days): Y463 (Rm222)
Hostel: Kazy International Youth Hostel - Y80 (dorm x 2 night)
Tianjin City Youth Hostel - Y45
Train: Tianjin>Harebin - Y158 (hard seat)
Airport bus: Y10
Bus: Y8
Boat ride : Y10
Food: Y89
Sundries: Y63

Heilongjiang (Black Dragon River) formerly known as Manchuria was under Russia in mid 1880's. Japan occupied Heilongjiang in 1930's until WW11.

Harbin, the capital of 3.5m people is linked by rail to Vladivostok, the start of the Tran-Siberian train ride from north eastern Russia. Siberian tiger, dinosaur skeletons, germ warfare base, ice scultures, bitterly cold winter of -30c, Russian architecture - I came to Haerbin in August 2011 as a first warm-up visit to this northern province of China....... I love to see Harbin in January (winter time) but it will probably remain as a dream !

1) Harbin train station, Heilongjiang


2) Heilongjiang Provincial Museum, Harbin - free admission, dinosaur skeletons, & historical relic exhibits.


3) Church of St Sophia, Harbin, Heilongjiang - an iconic site in Haerbin


4) Daoliqu commercial district, Harbin, Heilongjiang - dominated with architectural buildings with a strong Russian influence


5) Stalin Park & Flood Control Monument, Harbin, Heilongjiang


6) Boat ride (Y10) from Stalin Park > Sun Island Park, Harbin, Heilongjiang. 


7) Sun Island Park, Harbin, Heilongjiang


The secret of Life: When you are young, you use your health to chase your wealth. When you are old, you use your wealth to buy back your health "