Laos; tips in the City

Bismillah...

Where: Vientiane & Vang Vieng

When: 30th April until 4th May

What: A quiet place to enjoy life.

Why: Asia short trip. Let's visit Asia!!

Laos is totally a different experience for me compared to other trips. It made me think a lot. During the trip, a lot of things came in my mind. I had a lot of ideas about everything. It really is a great getaway for me to rethink life. Laos is definitely a place to get away from hectic urban life.

Immediate visa

As usual, only Ewa and I went to Laos. I realized that we are the only Malay Islam girl on the plane, in the airport and in the city. Laos is a safe place to travel with family and friends. Vientiane is a small city where you can just walk around and visit. It may seem large in the map, but in reality everywhere is just a walk away. So super near.

We booked the hotels through Agoda. A trusted website to book hotel rooms through out the world. We stayed in 3 hotels through out our visit in Laos. The first hotel was Inter City boutique Hotel in the capital city Vientiane. It's a nice small hotel with friendly staff. It's a great hotel as it is located opposite Mekong River and night market. The second hotel is Inthira Hotel in Vang Vieng. Finally, our last hotel is Avalon Hotel, capital of Vientiane. There are a lot of hotels either in Vientiane or Vang Vieng. You can just walk in as long as it's not during the peak season.

Tips and facts in Laos:

• The best muslim food would be Nazim halal restaurant located near Inter City Boutique Hotel. The teh tarik and nasi beriyani are super delicious.
• Everywhere is a walk away. The city is small. You can save money by walking.
• If you're staying in Laos for a long period, travel to Luang Prabang. I heard it's a better place than Vientiane and Vang Viang.
• The cost of living here is quite expensive compared to Malaysia as it's a tourist country. Tourism is one of the country's main income.
• A bus ride to Vang Vieng from Vientiane is 3 hours away.
• A bus ride to Luang Prabang from Vientiane is 8 hours away.

Laos, a quiet place to visit; a city that made me think.

Wassalam & Cheers.

Super Fun trip to Sabah... *Sabah bah*

Bismillah...

Where: Kota Kinabalu, Mersilau, Kundasang & Ranau; Sabah
When: Mid April.A short 4 days trip
What: Have fun and enjoy the scenery
Why: Cheap  RM 230 return AirAsia tix KL-KK
With whom: Azie and K.Long

I bought late night tix to Kota Kinabalu (KK) assuming that we'll have 24 hours the next day. However it was a bad idea as I made my friend pick us up around midnight in KK. It was raining cats and dogs when we departed from KL and it's still raining when we arrived KK.

The last flight...

It was Thursday morning, my first time in KK. The first place we went to was Mamutik Island and Manukan Island. The corals are beautiful and the sea creatures are just fine compared to Redang Island. We had late lunch at the Jesselton Point (the jetty). The final activity of the day was we watched midnight movie; Oblivian. In KK, we stayed at Sensi Backpackers Hostel.

Pulau Manukan

Jessolton Point

On Friday, we drove to Kundasang (this is where the Mount Kinabalu is located). We stayed at Kiram's Village near Mersilau. The view is super awesome!!

Kinabalu Park

Kiram's Village

On Saturday we visited the Cattle Farm, Kundasang Memorial Park and after that we went to Poring Hotspring and waterfall in Ranau and drove back to KK that evening. 

Cattle Farm

Kundasang Memorial Park

On our last day, we shopped at Gaya Street market and ate dinner at the Philipines market.

Ayam penyet in Sabah bah

Pasar Filipin

Super delicious Seafood

Where ever you go, blend in with the community; then you'll find all the awesome places unseen by tourist.

Wassalam & Cheers.

A Few Tips in HCMC

Bismillah...

HCMC is a great place to shop till you drop. Especially if you're a great fan of silk, clothing and what not. Every city has its tricks to go about. Here are a few tips in HCMC:

• Always  ride a taxi that uses meter to charge you. Recommended taxis are Vinasun Taxi *The White Cab* and MaiLinh *The Green Cab with a H. I heard that there's another company that uses the same name MaiLin without H.*
• Where ever you go, bring a map with you. If possible, show the map to the driver with the name of the destination that you intended to go. Most taxi drivers doesn't speak or understand English. If you don't have a map, write down the place/street name on a piece of paper.
• The currency used here are US Dollar, VietnamDong and also Ringgit Malaysia. You can pay the taxi fare and food using VDong. Certain places accept USD.
• The rate is higher if you exchange RM to Vdong in Vietnam. There's a gold shop across Ben Thanh Dong Market as a money changer. I got VD 650,000 for RM 100.00 = USD32.2
• Always bargain when you're shopping in Ben Thanh Market. Bargain until the price is affordable. 
• Try their local dish. It's delicious. I love their Laksa daging.
• Chu Chi Tunnel is a must place to visit.

Enjoy and have fun in HCMC. A place I wanted to go again in future.

Wassalam & Cheers.

Saigon also known as Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Bismillah...

Where: Saigon/ Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam

When: 22nd until 25th february 2012

With Whom: My great friend Ewa

Why: We bought the flight tix a year ago for rm160 return. Shopping is heaven in Vietnam

We arrived HCMC around 2pm, checked in at MayFlower hotel which is located in district 1 but a bit far from Ben Thanh market. It's a great new hotel with great service and accommodation. The room is spacious. There's a free internet service at the lobby. However, to get to Ben Thanh market, we have to take a taxi ride.

This is the most recommended taxi service in HCMC.  A metered taxi which is convenient

MaiLinh with a H

The Lobby

MayFlower Hotel

Welcoming view

Our standard room which we booked through Agoda.com

Spacious room

If you're a shopaholic, Ho Chi Minh City is a great place to shop. It's like Jalan TAR except that you're dealing with Vietnamese and the transactions are in US Dollars, Malaysian Ringgit and VDong. There are a lot of things to find here. From souvenirs to cloth to jewelry to foods and vegetables. Everything is here,  you just name it.

Ben Thanh Market with lots of alleys

You can find everything here, from accessories to clothes and jewelry.

The roads are mostly filled with motorcycles. It's their main transport there. You rarely see cars and there are lots of taxi; tourist's main transport.

This is the gold shop where we changed our currency. It's cheaper to change Malaysian ringgit to VDong here than in Malaysia. *RM100=650,000VDong*

I'll write what I bought in Ben Thanh Market later.

Wassalam & cheers.

Fun, Hectic Bali Trip 4th and Last Day

Bismillah...

10th October was our 4th day in Bali. Our activity for the day was ocean activities. However, we only did   one ocean activity as it was a bit expensive. We did an open water introductory dive which costed 550,000 rupiah. The price included a video of us inside the water. I wasn't satisfied with the video as it was low quality and he only captured 3 shots of me and my other friend had more that 10 shots in the video.

Surya Mas Villa

Our last day here

In the afternoon, we went for a spa treatment. I was a bit disappointed with the massage treatment I received. It wasn't as I expected. It was worst. Next time, if I'm in Bali, spa is not a place I'm spending my time with.

At a Batik shop

On the last day of Bali, we went to visit Tirta Temple, a waterfall, a batik gift shop and the Padi Terrace.

A place known to ask for your 'soulmate'

Padi Terrace

cheers!!

The beautiful scenery

Waiting for our lunch to arrive

Rice

Chicken curry

Yummy

The waterfall

Us

Elly & I

The best thing about Bali is exploring the island with my best friends. I couldn't imagine going about in the island alone. It'll be the worst nightmare. There are a lot of places I didn't go to. I hope you'll axplore them happily with your loved ones.

Wassalam & Cheers.

Fun Hectic Bali Trip *2nd day*

Bismillah...

8th October 2012 was our second day in Bali. The whole day we went sightseeing.

The first location we went for sightseeing was Uluwatu Temple or Pura Luhur Uluwatu, located at Pecatu Village. It's 25km South of Kuta. This attraction open at 2 am until 6 pm. You'll be greeted by monkeys around the temple. It is advised to keep your valuables, especially your sunglasses in your bag as the monkeys tend to steal them from you. The scenery is amazing.

The sight

The cliff and ocean

Trying to capture the ocean

Before going up

Breathtaking view

Nice view

On top of the Temple

Under the hot sun

Then we went to watch sunset at Tanah Lot.Tanah Lot is located at Beraban Village, Kediri, Tebanan which is 20km northwest of Kuta. This attraction opens at 7 am until 7 pm. There were many people in Tanah Lot. It's best if you arrive early so that you could save a good spot to take photos. Enjoy these photos.

Tanah Lot before sunset

The Temple

Sunset

Nice view

We were here!!

A lot of people waiting for sunset

Love

Us...

I'm not a fan of temples, but the scenery is breathtaking, especially Uluwatu. I love the ocean vs the cliff view. It was awesome.

Wassalam & Cheers.