Australia Trip Cum My Graduation-Gold Coast

I never quite like beach because I always feel that it' always so hot and the water is not clear. Hmmm I think I am referring to East Coast, but when I am in Gold Coast, thing turned out to be different. The wave is so big and so fun to be there to enjoy the breeze.

Newly open Tamborine Rainforest Walk Movie World Harry Potter, too bad Harry is not there.
Need a ride?

Dream World
The Street Beach in the city. Can Singapore have this too? Haha, I don't think so.
Air balloon, my 1st time visit too.
From the air
Helping as a team to keep this more than a tonnage weight balloon

Australia Trip Cum My Graduation-Perth

This trip has been long planned, together with a few of my classmates.

We promised that we should attend our Graduation Ceremony in Perth (of course both time and financial have to make it) and yes, we finally made it.

We spent one week in Perth and another week in Gold Coast.

In Pinnacle

Took Air taxi for my first time.

At Rottnest Island

Back to Perth City, Bell Tower In the park,

After this long week in Perth, we are flying to Gold Coast for my 1st time visit.

My Perth Study Trip Is Coming

I am heading to Perth for my study trip tomorrow. Hope we all can enjoy the study and the holiday (hmmm at least we are all away from work) in Perth.

Catch up with you guys again when I am back.

Where Next?

Tagged by Zeezee on "Where do you wanna go next?" and here is my respones.

Congo – Kinshasa, is the place I always wish to go but never have any planning yet (so far). Why? The country is too far away, too expensive and current situation, too dangerous. But I like to have at least one time adventure for my vacation, to go through wild forest and Long River to enjoy the real natural.

Congo (Dem Rep) has many beautiful landscapes, with lakes and forests, waterfalls and wildlife. However, this is a vast country, with an almost non-existent transport infrastructure. It is mired in current conflict and a long and intricate history.

Check up this website and I quite like the tour agent itinerary for this CONGO RIVER EXPEDITION but again, still far too expensive for me to go next. So I think my ‘reality’ next holiday will be Asian country.

Sorry huh, I don’t have much choice to choose to continue the chain for this topic.

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Key Information:Tour Duration: 21 day(s)
Group Size: 12 - 16 peopleDestination(s): Zaire, Congo
Season: May - October
Airfare Included: No
Per Person Price: US$4395




Day 1: Arrival in Kinshasa

Day 2: Sightseeing in Kinshasa City tour of Kinshasa, the capital of the D.R.Congo. The tour offers you the opportunity to visit, photograph and learn about the major historical, cultural and natural highlights the city has to offer. Kinshasa, the capital of the D.R.Congo, used to be referred to as "Kin La Belle" - meaning "Beautiful Kinshasa". The many years of turmoil have broken down on this image. But slowly and surely, Kinshasa is regaining its splendour. Some of the major sites include the "Grand Marché", the tomb of former President Laurent Kabila, the "Academy des Beaux Arts" for those who like African art, the rapids of Kinsuka just downstream from the city and the Bonobo Reserve, a sanctuary for orphaned bonobo-monkeys, one of the five Great Apes, and the closest to mankind.

Day 3: Kinshasa to Kisangani

Day 4: Sightseeing in Kisangani Kisangani was founded by Sir Henry Morton Stanley in January 1877. Memorable sites include the Tshopo River Falls and the Wagenia fisheries, set up in the midst of river rapids. Fishing is carried on by means of a complex structure set among the rocks. Lianas attached to cross poles act as stretchers for the nets submerged in the foaming water. The fishermen go about their business in pirogues, plying among rapids and rocks. Their agility and daredevil boldness are an unfailing source of amazement.

Day 5: Travel by boat: Kisangani – Yangambi ( 90 km )Our River Cruiser is a 34-meter long, wooden boat, equipped with two powerful outboard engines. This traditional type of boat is further equipped with safety equipment, sanitary installation, a generator, lighting and freezers

Day 6: Travel by boat: Yangambi – Lokutu (95 km)The Yangambi Biosphere Reserve is a centre for research .Secondary forests with Pycnanthus angolensis and Fagara macrophylla, semi-deciduous secondary rain forests, rain forests with Gilbertiodendron dewevrei, climax forests with Brachystegia laurentii and marshland forests dominate the biosphere reserve. The site is very important from a biodiversity point of view since it hosts about 32,000 tree species.

Day 7: Travel by boat: Lokutu – Mombongo (83 km)Lokutu has about 20.000 people.We visit the Lokutu Oil Palm Plantation. We arrive in the region of the Lokele, a tribe living on the banks of the river. Overnight tented camp

Day 8: Travel by boat: Mombongo – Bumba (106 km)In Bumba, the Congo river broadens out to its widest part, some 20 kilometres across. The river is covered with water hyacinths and practically paved with innumerable islands, through and around which the fishermen's pirogues ply.

Day 9: Travel by boat: Bumba – Lisala (117 km)Lisala is the home town of the former President Mobutu Sese Seko. He was born here in a small municipal maternity clinic. A broad trunked tree - a "Libanga" - commemorates this event with a plaque: "This tree commemorates the birth of the Father of the Zairian Revolution, Mobutu Sese Seko, born on 14 October 1930."

Day 10: Travel by boat: Lisala – Iaté ( 109 km)Iaté: beautiful fishermen lake village. Kind population.

Day 11: Travel by boat: Iaté – Moleka ( 95 km )The river expands, either by flowing round countless islands, or by spreading out into what settlers call “pools”.

Day 12: Travel by boat: Moleka – Bolombo ( 121 km )Overnight tented camp

Day 13: Travel by boat: Bolombo – Malonga ( 77 km )Makanza is formerly New Antwerp. Here the river

Day 14: Travel by boat: Malonga – Mbandaka ( 105 km )The Congo crosses the Equator shortly before Mbandaka. Mbandaka is the biggest town, 730.000 souls, between Kisangani and Kinshasa. It is the region of the Mongo tribe.

Day 15: Travel by boat: Mbandaka – Malanga (90km)Mbandaka is the capital of the Equatorial Province, on the left bank of the Congo in the angle formed by the left bank of the Ruki River and the bank of the Congo. Mbandaka was established on 17th June 1883, by Stanley and Van Gèle. Slightly north of Irebu the Congo forms a vast delta about 14 km broad. This is the point at which the Ubangi joins the Congo.

Day 16: Travel by boat: Malanga – Lukolela plantation (101 km) Up to Lukolela are Mpoto and Sungu followed by gombe where the river narrows again. This feature is known as the Liranga Narrows. Visit of a cacao plantation. The plantation has suffered from the isolation due to the civil war.

Day 17: Travel by boat: Lukolela – Croissement (99 km) At Lukolela the river narrows and is bordered by cliffs of a height of 20 – 25 m. Lukolela was established by Stanley on 12th September 1893. The river maintains a width of 6 – 9 km and is studded with islands.

Day 18: Travel by boat: Croissement – Kalengé ( 110 km )Yumbi: Early catholic mission. There are rock outcrops at the bottom of the navigation channel. At Bolobo the width of the river is reduced to less than 2 km.

Day 19: Travel by boat: Kalengé – Epuna (155 km )Epuna is not far from Kwamouth. Kwamouth is on the left bank at the confluence of the Kwa, the name of the Kasai River where it joins the Congo.

Day 20: Travel by boat: Epuna – Maluku (89 km )The River runs through what has been called the channel or passage, where the banks are steep and the river is wedged in between the foothills of the Crystal Mountains. Islands are few and there are nio sand-banks. We arrive in Maluku. Here the Congo becomes the Pool Malebo. Transfer to hotel in Kinshasa.

Day 21: Kinshasa Hotel to airport transfer departure
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Link from Zeezee's blog:
Zeethedevil wanna go wild in South Africa
eastcoastlife of Singapore yearns to go Switzerland
This Singaporean Melayu in Europe aka Azrin going LANSING MICHIGAN.
Shoppingmum to Europe
Angeleyes off to Bora-Bora
Giddy Tiger snorkelling in The Maldives
Jess to Europe
Mybabybay wants to go Round The World
Samm will go to Japan
Bernard dreams of New Zealand

Genting Highland - The Casino

I think it was more than 10 years ago that I first went to Genting Highland. My kakis decided to spend a weekend getaway there, nothing else but to go to Casino to try our luck
Basically I know nothing much of most of the games in the Casino, except the jackpot. But the only thing I know about the jackpot is to slot in your 'capital' and press, hoping to get more credit, that all. Genting looks the same as my last visit, except more games are computised. Now they dont have coin for you to exchange, but card to slot into the jackpot machine. I think the money (credit) run much faster than we used to insert the coins. At the end, my luck was not there.

During the journey to Genting, we stopped by for my favourite Basic Robbins Ice Cream. Too bad they don't have it in Singapore. Well, I didn't see them selling in Spore. If you does, pls let me know ok.
Took only few photos, nothing from Casino, of course.

Buenos Aires - City Tour

Christmas eve of year 2006 and we had our last city tour for the whole vacation. They were late and after waiting here and there, and transferred from small van to big bus (from few people to one large group) finally we went to the City Tour in Buenos Aires.

But we departed the group and went on our own at La Baco, when given not enough sufficient time to visit there. We went around freely and relaxing, take more picture than the past two days, and bought some sournier. We went to Hard Rock Cafe at Recoleta after that to buy T-shirt and when wanted to have our lunch there, my god their kitchen were closed. So we went to another restuarant and picked up their set lunch at Pesos 29 (S$15+). Then went for more shopping at the nearby market.

In the evening, we happily walked for 10 blocks from hotel to Puerto Madero (one famous street which full of restaurants), wanting to have our dinner at one of the restaurant. After almost 1hour of walking in the quiet street as all the shops closed for the holiday and hardly any soul passby, once again we turned out to be very disappointed. Most of them were closed and for those that open, the price was simply close to USD 100 for the whole dinner set meal. Not wanting to spend more money, we decided to have our dinner in the hotel. Bad new smashed us again when the reception told us the restaurant was closed too. The last hope we have was to walk to the next street to try those little cafe. Thanks God, there is one that still open and finally we got to have pizza for our dinner.
Click here for more PHOTOS.
Spending the Christmas eve in Argentina was actually the same when you go down to Orchard Road during our Chinese New Year. The street was too quiet and all shops closed for the holiday which everyone will spend together with their families. When walking down the street, I miss my family so much.

Buenos Aires - Tango Dance

This was the 2nd time I went to Buenos Aires and I know very well that the Tango dance is one thing we shouldn't miss when visiting Argentina.

Our tour guide strongly recommended us to watch the dance tonight, and not tomorrow, the Christmas eve which the price will be 3x difference. So we joined one of the Traditional Tango show with dinner included at USD 80.00. I am glad that we do served vegetarian meal but feel bad at the same time as I hardly finish the meal, due to my poor appetite and sickness (My 1st in B.A encountered the same experience, what a luck I had).
Nevertheless, I really had a wonderful night watching the Tango dance and music. After watching the dance, I had a strong urge to learn Tango ...... hee hee.....

Bariloche

Looking at the sky, we felt so sad because it has been raining since last night and did not seems to be stopping at any moment. No choice but praying hard that it will not affect our day trip to Chico Circuit. Jen and I went for our breakfast and when looking at the food they served, immediately both of us knew that is it for our meal. They didnt even serve fruit, which is the only thing we asked for (we didnt expect much from them since day 1).

Our Chico Circuit tour (which is to tour around the town) did went on as planned but since our prayer had not been heard, the raining continue non-stop and affected the whole tour schedule. They did not bring us to the top of the mountain which supposed to be the most beautiful of all, this tour end before 11am.

We went walking the neighbourhood ourselves in the afternoon. Well, at least we enjoyed our tea break time, coffee and ice-cream and taking PHOTOS at one of the cafe.

From Puerto Montt to Bariloche

Today is the crazy day as we need to travel to Bariloche by the lake, means we will have to take boat then coach, boat again then coach, and boat again then coach to reach our destination.

I believe we can enjoy more if the weather has not been too wet for us to run around or to take more beautiful photos. But it turned up we still managed to take lots of PHOTOS, some of them are those crazy one.

The lakes are very beautiful, which we can imagine it will be even wonderful in winter. But although now it's coming to summer, the wind blowing still keep us in the cold too. Too bad the camera was not able to capture the beautiful scenes we saw with our eyes. Guess it is still the best for own experience to feel the beauty atmostphere.

Chile - Puerto Montt

Flying again. Sometime how I wish we have wings like the bird, can fly freely without going thru the custom and tight sercuity. Take up too much of our precious time, especially during vacation. We left hotel at 7am to catch the plane. The counter requested every customer who have E-ticket to E-check in and get our boarding pass first, before checking in our luggage over the counter.

We created no fuss and did what were told. After trying 1st time, 2nd time and 3rd time, we gave up. The computer can only read and issued my boarding pass, there was no sign for Jennifer. So our tour driver helped us to find out but still we have to queue up the line which suppose to check in our luggage after the E-check in. After telling the girl what happened, she said she cant do anything for Jen (as this line can ONLY check in luggage) and simply just checked in one of our luggage with my name. Then said "NEXT, PLS"

Can you imagine that??? So our tour driver (good service, he really want to ensure we check in successfully) get into another counter, and finally the girl got to issue Jen's boarding pass in 'traditional way'. She mentioned that because Jen's name was too long for the computer to read. One thing I forget to mention, Jen's name was different in each country we visited and not a single one is correct, even on the air ticket. For your info, if your name appear different from your passport and air ticket, you are not allow to get your boarding pass, less say to aboard the plane. Money is required to correct the wrong in my country.

Anyway, after this little unexpectation, we reach Puerto Montt safely. It had been raining and feel cold since arrived Hotel Colonos Express. Asked for vegetarian restaurant and luckily got one near the hotel and the lake too, Govinda Restaurant which they served organic food. It become the most expensive meal for our trip but quite worth it.

Walked around the town after heavy lunch but cant go far due to the wet day and my poor body system who can no longer handle these hot and wet weather, I fell sick 'finally'. But before heading back to the hotel, we went to this little fair. So happen to see someone do some colourful thread on their hair and found it interesting, so both of us did the same too. Have a look here!

Santiago - Vina del Mar & Valparaiso

From Santiago, we took the coach bus in the group about 2 hours drive, to Vina del Mar and Valparaiso. They are sitting side by side, accordingly to the map I saw.

I love the view of the sea and still can remember how strong the wind was on that day. Too bad, the time given was too short to buy any sournior there, sigh, what a pity. The tour guide told us that Valparaiso used to be the most important place for the port in the ancient time. The economic was quite bad now since the importance reduced as time passed.

And thanks God, the weather was great on that day and of course, we took this great opportunity to take more PHOTOS.

Santiago - City Tour

We visited the Santiago city with the tour in the morning and went straight to the shopping mall-Parque Acauco after that. Both of us still think there will be higher chance for us get more shopping stuff there, since the mall is not small. Ended up we brought the same design jean from ZARA.

For the whole trip, the restaurant from the hotel was not as we expected and this one too. We walked alot trying to look for a good restaurant but at the end we had our dinner at PIZZA HUT near our hotel.

Peru - Cusco

After the long tire trip yesterday, both of us slept till 9plus. Not to miss the most important meal of the day, we rush to have our breakfast before the restaurant closed. We had the intension to join the day tour from the city but looking at the sky, that had been raining the whole day, we gave up. So we decided to have the afternoon free and easy. We went to the places which recommended by our tour guide, a 'must-go' San Blas Church. But just like any of those that we visited (sorrie, I am not those who know how to appreciate the art for the God), it look the same to me except for the painting. So we hang around, trying to get more things for our last day in Cusco. Finally we bought the tea bag of Coca tea (since we are not allow to bring the Coca leave out of the country) at S/3.00. Later we found out we got cheated when we went to supermarket to get our instant cup noodle, we realised they are selling only at S/1.30 for the same thing. Angry not because of the money we lost, but I hate those unhonest hawker to cheat on the tourist. I just hate it. Anyway there is nothing we can do and of course, I am not letting this to spoilt my vacation. As the weather was not good, not much of photos taken......... in fact the number of photos is getting lesser each day.

Had a terrible pizza dinner yesterday, that's why we decided it will be better to have hot instant cup noodle in the hotel.

Cusco, Peru

Feel so happy when I can have free internet access at the hotel that I am staying. Too bad I cant download the photo to show all of you, how beautiful the places that we went today.

Macchu Picchu, 3 hours train from Cusco and half hour drive up to the mountain. Due to the climately, Jen and I got terrible headache, I cant even sleep for the whole yesterday night. Luckily it did not affect both of our enjoyable moment today. Although it rain at the beginning of our tour (both of us were lucky, we got personal guide for this trip) but we got another different view of Macchu Picchu.

As usual we got a lot of photos, Jen already used up one 516MB Memory card, we are on our half way for the 2nd one.

Will write again in Chile!!!!

Peru - Machu Picchu

Having able to travel to this "Lost City of Incas", it really made my whole travelling the most enjoyable one.

In order to catch the 6am train to Machu Picchu from Cusco, we woke up at 4.30am and had our very early breakfast at 5am (I believe this is the earliest breakfast ever served in the hotel) and got into the bus at 5.30am. The train journey was 3 hours and I thought to have a nap but ended up I am too excited to feel tire.

We reach there at 9am, took a 25 mins bus up to the 2,430 mtrs mountain high from the ground. Its began to rain when we were about to began our tour, but luckily it stopped (maybe just for us) after a while and we began to went crazy taking picture here and there. Another lucky thing was, we were the only two tourists for this tour group, so we can took photos more freely without worry someone else is waiting for us. It is really very beautiful, especially the cloud move in after the short rain. Hey, before I forget, we even got a stamp of Machu Picchu on our passport. Thanks to our tour guide who told us to get one cos not everyone knows about this. So for whoever is going there, pls remember to get one. For good memory, at least.

When we were about to finish our trip, the rain start again (Thanks God). We had our buffet lunch before heading back to the train station and took the ride back at 3.30pm.

P.S, there is one artist who stand right in front of our hotel selling his painting. I told him on the very 1st day of our arrival that I will have a look at his painting tomorrow and tomorrow. He reminds me everyday since then, so I brought one painting of Machu Picchu from him, Jose at USD 20.00

Cusco

Breakfast at hotel (We did not enjoy any of our breakfast throughout the whole trip), then set off to airport, flying to Cusco. Accordingly to Christopher, one guy from USA where we met him at Cusco, he took 20 hrs by coach from Lima to Cusco. It took us one hour to reach by air but we have to pay USD6.05 for the airport tax.
11.30am - We reach Cusco and went straight to Picoago Hotel for a break. We realised our voucher given by Lima side did not include our 'City Tour' for Cusco, which suppose to have. Waited quite a while for the tour agent to clarify and luckily found out the 'mistake', else we would have missed a lot of fun as Cusco is different from the normal city.The altitude of Cusco is high and it is norm for tourist when suffer from altitude sickness as it need to take some time to get use to the altitude. That's why they strongly recommend us to drink their local tea, Coca Tea at least few cups a day. It is good for blood circulation and cooling down our body heat. I can feel the difference before and after drinking it.
We visited Circuito Religioso Cusco Basilica Cathedral, Qorikancha and the historic Peru - Saqsaywawan (Sound like Sexy Woman - which made me keep thinking is there a place where all sexy women living???), included O'enqo, Pukapukara and Tambomachay. The trip was so rush, made me so tire (Aiyo, I feel so old....) and dizzy cos of the altitude but I am very happy and keep taking lots of PHOTOS. Anyway with Jen, you can't have the chance not to take photo.
After the running here and there, we were back to the Main Square close to 7pm. Hungily we went dinner with Christopher at one of the restaurants. Thanks God! They do serve Vegetarian meal as the tour guide mentioned that it is now common in Cusco. It was very reasonable price, S/15.00 (S$7.00) for Lawa de maiz (soup of corn), Burrito de Verduras (Main Course) and Jugo Mixto (Juice). After good dinner, shopping time. We got ourselves some sweaters, T-shirts and sournoirs.
Back to hotel, zzzzzzzzzzzz after quick shower. We need to wake up at 4.00am to catch train at 6am to Macchu Picchu.

Currently at Lima, Peru

Hi my dear friend,

Just a quick update before leaving the hotel to Cusco.

Currently I am at Lima, the capital of Peru. Its a nice and neat city, but the traffic seems to be almost the same as in Rio. We met one of the tourists from Canada, said he will definitely have a big problem if to drive in the road if no marking at all. He looked so worried when looking at the traffic and the way the local drove during our city tour trip.

I love the weather here, but somehow (I dunno when and how) I got tanned......

A lot more to tell you about Lima, but I got to rush to take the flight to Cusco now............... will update you once have the internet access.....as for photo, have to wait till I am back from holiday.

Cheers

Lima - City of Peru

We woke up early, trying to explore ourselve within walking distance from Hotel.

We went to Larco Mar shopping center at Miraflores (5 blocks away from Hotel) which is near to the sea. The view was wonderful although there are nothing much for shopping, but I did get myself a beautiful necklace. Relaxing ourselve before the city tour at MANGOS CAFE with a glass of mango juice (they only have it depending on season) and enjoying the great view of the ocean right in front of us.



City Tour is always included in the tour package (I realised now I lost interests in City Tour after this trip) and the main square of the city also become a 'must-go' place to visit. In this heart of historic, we visited Government of Palace - Power of King and Lima's Cathedral- Power of God.

The most incredible experience is when we visited the Church and Convert of San Francisco, whichis known for the catacombs that contain more than 70,000 people, and its open for public. Before Jen told me, I did not know that every church have their own catabomb. Of course, this came with long history - a cemetery at the colonial time. Also, we visited the colonial library and monastery in this church.



After City Tour, we took a cab to Jockey Plaza(JP), one of the biggest shopping center located at east zone. We have to set our price with the taxi driver before hopping in as they do not have meter running in Peru. We were told that anyone one can be taxi driver, as long as a four wheel vehicle with the word TAXI on the car. And our tour guide joked with us that they have a lot of professional taxi driver cos even the lawyer, doctor can work as taxi driver during their spare time.
I bought some accessories and we had our dinner at Tony Roma................ then we have to go back to pack for our journey tomorrow.
Hey hey, of course we took numberous of photos.

My South America Tour Began

After long preparation and so many quotations here and there, finally we were on our holiday to S.A. Taking flight is the thing I hate to do so but unavoidable especially we are going to be like Ping Pong Ball (That is what my tour agent - Marcelo said so) and indeed we were.

I was so excited to see my beloved Starbucks Coffee when transitting at Santiago Airport to Lima. Hurrily, I asked Jennifer to take photo for me, and she reacted like "Didn't you ever drink Starbucks Coffee before". Immediately I told her, this is my 1st Cafe Latte in S.America. Well I guess I acted much like a little girl at that moment but who cares, we are suppose to be rest and relax during vacation.

Continue our journey to Lima and we reached 10 plus. Have a good sleep to be more energetic for the whole journey.