Is my place

Krabi Town Pak-Up Hostel

2012-01-27T18:56:00.000+13:00

I suppose to write the island hopping tour in Phuket but i decided to skip that. We just got the tour in hotel and pack ourselves into a van to pier, pier on speedboat, and being dumped into few snorkeling points like everyone did, i didn't see shark nor whale, so no point posting.

Ok, i just malas to choose photo blerrrrrrrrrrrrrrk!

I decided to post on my Krabi trip, aka my birthday solo trip.

Like i mentioned in my previous post, i visited thailand for 3 times in 3 months, the last trip among the 3 was Krabi town -> Koh Lanta -> Ao Nang, and this is the gift for myself in my 25 year old birthday.

I traveled Krabi town, Ao Nang and Koh Lanta

Ao Nang is near from Krabi Airport, so i choose Krabi town to be my first stop and Ao Nang to be my last, i went to Koh Lanta for 3d2n, thought that is a quiet island like Koh Lipe but i was wrong, will post the detail later.

There are bus and van transfer with cheap price from Krabi Airport to Krabi town or Ao Nang, just get the bus ticket in the counter located in the lobby of the airport (you cant miss it, the airport is small).

Argg, can i post that in the next post? I wanna make this as hostel review post.

I choose Pak-Up hostel in Krabi town after research, there are a lot of cheap hostel around the town and Pak-Up is one of the most developed, i choose it just because of the located. 5 to 10 minutes walking distance from the bus station, restaurant and hawker stall just down the street.

I booked 10 beds mix dorm with the price of rm20+-, come with towel (with deposit), shampoo, body shampoo provided, which i never expected.

Pak-Up Hostel. Walk out from the bus station, turn left and walk for 5 to 10 minutes then you will see this. Or ask anyone, this is one of the land mark.

I got 2nd floor, nice street view.

the living room, rental desktop for internet and drinks are available.

They named the room weird, i stayed in Thai room.

big bright room with air-con.

And they named the bed with places of Thailand, you can choose the place / bed you like.

Big locker that fit a backpack for every beds are avaible, just bring your own lock.

I choose Hua Hin which near to the window.

View from my bed.

Clean bed sheet, thick blacket and towel offer free, what you ask for more with this price?

Every bed with own power point and lamp.

My bed view. LOL

I spend haf day laying on bed and looking at the street, this is vocation and i wanted.

If my memory serve me right, there are private room ensuit available in this hostel. I used to love staying in warm cozy family run hostel, because that more feel like in home, but stay in big organized hostels are good to meet more people, especially for short stay.

I remembered when i was in London, i was the only asian girl stay in 16 beds mix dorm, and that experience freak me out, and since that i avoid to stay in big backpacker hostels.

Then i traveled to NZ and change my place to sleep almost every week, rare to meet girl who willing to stay in mix dorm, and i'm the exception, because of money, haha.

But staying in big dorm mean you got the chance to meet more people. Surprisingly i met 4 girls staying in the same room with me in Pak-up and we had very nice chat and travel experience sharing, this cheer me the most.

Ok back to Pak-Up. There is a roof top in Pak Up, the host organize party on and off, you can go up and catch some view of the city anytime. A laundry and restaurant cum pub just right behide the hostel, running by the host but i never dine there, i guess that is western food for western traveller.

Every flood come with clean and big share bathrooms and toilets, with shampoo and body shampoo provided. But this doesn't really impress me, all i remember is the door sign.

Gent

Lady

Cute right?! Hehehe.

I like this backpacker for handy (the main street and restaurant within walking distance) and clean, but the staff not really helpful.

I booked the bed by Hostelworld.com and paid 10% deposit, but the hostel claim that they didn't got the 10%, i forced make full payment. I don't really mind the 10%, which is cost like rm2, but the hostel should have better communicate with the website.

Anyway, if you just stay for 2 or 3 nights with limited budget, this is good choice.

Lastly, i start this blog like 4 years ago, and i don't remember why i start writing with English instead of Chinese, probably i wanted to practise more because i know my English is sucks.

I know i might not improve much but hey, at least i keep trying all these year. If my English hurt your eye you can actually leave it. Afterall, this is my place, i told you in the headline, isn't it?

I proud with myself that i NEVER insult some Chinese that cannot speak or read Chinese well, i understand that might beyond their control in choosing their first language.

My English is sucks, but i'm proud that at least i'm keep learning.

My English is sucks, but i still travelling like no bordering.

And you?

Oh, and thanks for whoever that sick with my English, but still following my blog like my die-hard fans.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
20120127, 0154pm
Rach in proud to blog in working hour time :P mood.

NZ South island travel plan & route.

2012-01-08T14:57:00.001+13:00

I got an email from my friend's friend (which i never meet him before), that he done reading all my NZ posts and later he realize that we share a common friend, then he ask our friend if could give him my contact, in helping him to plan his NZ trip.

Planning trip is the most difficult part, especially you have never been to the country, you've zero idea on every single things.

Yea of course you could search from the internet, but most of the time you gonna read alot just to get a rough picture of the place.

I understand this very well, as what i'm going through to do my Jeju & Korea plan.

Of course you can get lot of info on must-go / must-eat, but you have no idea where the hell is those place, how to get there, is that far from where you stay, how much its cost, what is the other attraction around.

And when you done figure out the attractions you want to go, but you have no idea how to fit in your schedule, so you won't waste your time and transportation fees.

What i mean is, route is important, especially when you travelling in few days. You won't want to spend extra transport money. Money might not the matter, but time is.

Alright back to this friend, lets call him Alex.

So Alex is travelling the south of NZ in this coming March, he will stay for 6 days and he done some research, he knows rent a car is the best way to travel NZ, especially South.

Frankly, 6 days is never enough for the whole south, know that i spend 4 months living in south, and one whole month full time travelling in South, still i missed out some place like Stewert Island.

But if you have only 6 days, you just have to give up some attractions.

His flight reach in late noon, and back in night like 9pm.

This is pretty much like what i planned for John when he travelled to South in last August.

I talk to Alex for a while, he will give up top south, which is Picton, Nelson, National Park and so, and he don't feel like spending whole day in Franz Josef, so he keen on down south.

Which is what i plan for John. So without saying much, i find out the plan and i send over.

Day 1
Christchurch -> Lake Tekapo

Date :18 August

Time : 5pm– 830pm

Distance :223km

Stay : Lake FrontLodge http://www.laketekapo-accommodation.co.nz/lake-tekapo-backpackers/

Activity : Kohanfor dinner (close by 9pm)

Night Stargazing

Day 2

Lake Tekapo -> Mt Cook -> LakePukaki -> Lake Tekapo

Date :19 August

Time : 9am- 1030

Distance :About 80km (one way to Mt. Cook)

Stay : Lake FrontLodge http://www.laketekapo-accommodation.co.nz/lake-tekapo-backpackers/

Activity : Salmon for lunch
Mt Cook glazier track (half hour / 3hours / 2 days).

Milky blue Lake Pukaki

Good Shepherd Church(closed by 4pm)

Kayak

Day 3

Lake Tekapo -> Twizel -> Omarama ->Cromwell -> Queenstown

Date :19 August

Time : 10am– 1pm

Distance :256km

Stay : Aspen Lodge (Free wifi & muffin)

Activity : Twizel Salmon Fish farm forbreakfast!

Stop by Cromwell for cherry

Queenstown Ferg burger for lunch!

Leisure and shopping

Gondolafor view and buffet for dinner.

Day 4

Queenstown -> Coronet PeakSki Area / The Remarkable Ski Area -> Queenstown

Date :21 August

Time : 10am– 4pm

Distance :15km / 23 km (one way)

Stay : Aspen Lodge (Free wifi & muffin)

Activity :Ski and fall.

Day 5

Queenstown -> Moeraki -> Oamaru

Date :22 August

Time : 8am– 12pm

Distance : 300km(HW 85)

Stay : ChillA While http://www.chillawhile.co.nz/index.phpor Swagger http://www.swaggersbackpackers.co.nz/

Activity : Boulderin Moeraki

Town in Oamaru

Penguin Crossing / Penguin Viewing

Day 6

Oamaru -> Timaru -> Ashburton -> Christchurch / Akaroa -> Christchurch

Date :23 August

Time : 9pm- 12pm

Distance :247km

Stay : Pinky House (I couldn’t find the contact!) /Base http://www.stayatbase.com/base-backpackers-christchurch-

hostel// Jail! http://www.jail.co.nz/ / Or if youwant to have own space to pack your stuff, go for motel (100-120 / night).

Activity : Timaru stop for lunch, fuel and restock (bigtown)

Ashburton for souvenir and Alpaca

Akaroa for French Village

Christchurchleisure and relax.

That is the plan i send to John, but John ended up give up skiiing and join local tour to Milford Sound, he thinks its worth the money and that is half day tour. So another half day he tool Queenstown gondola to see the Queenstown view.

Ski is optional, actually there are lot of local tour, if you want bungy, you can go from Queenstown, like 1 hours driving distance.

But March is Autumn, so i guess Alex won't want to stay Queenstown for extra one day just for ski on the ground and he don't keen on go to Milford Sound and bungy, he want just stop by and see queenstown, save more time to other place.

So i suggest he can either take Day 4 plan away and continue to Day 5 plan, which is to Moeraki to Oamaru, and continue to Chrischurch.

The extra one day i would recommend to Kaikuora, somewhere near beach, famous with lobster and black abalone. Click Kaikuora to link the old post.

Kaikuora is 2 - 3 hours driving distance from Christchurch, after Ashburton is Christchurch, after Christchurch is Kaikuora, spend a night in Kaikuora, and back to Christchurch next morning, he can either choose to hang around in the town or drive another 2 hours to Akaroa, (click to old post) back in the evening to catch the flight.

Which mean, day 4 is
Queenstown -> Moeraki -> Oamaru

So, day 5 could be:
Oamaru -> Timaru -> Ashburton --> Christchurch -> Kaikuora.

while day 6 is
Kaikuora -> Akaroa / Christchurch.

About is the route map, red line is the places that my plan will goes through.

Ok, when you done your route map, the next time is find out what do you want to see in those stop point, accommodation, must-eat. and plan your budget.

Well i hope this is help, if you have question, drop me comment and i shall see if i could help.

Oh yea, some readers sometime ask me to email them my answer, i never do, not because of i'm cocky but i think its nice to share, this is what internet mean right?

So if you happen to ask me question through comment, please come back and check (and click my ads so i can earn my travel money!!!)

Phuket City

2012-01-04T16:22:00.000+13:00

I went to Phuket one month after Haiyat and Koh Lipe, this is a surprise trip for John, which i let all his travelmates keep the secret that i will be following to the trip, and appear in the airport suddenly to surprise him.

The plan goes pretty smooth, but fuck our flight were delayed 6 hours, this is first delay experience that i ever had since i traveled with AirAsia. Shouldn't i say i'm the one who bring this black luck?

But anyway, we reach Phuket in late night, like 11 something, get hotel free mini van and off to check in.

We stayed in C&N hotel, which is allocated in an alley off to the main road, 5 minute to the famous shopping center (which i cannot recall the name, but i bet phuket city center has only one big giant shopping center), and 2 minute to the club & pub street. Across the club street you will see the beach and sea, it was take you like 10 minute walking.

The hotel is pretty handy, right opposite is a small restaurant named Sabai Sabai, i love the name lot coz it sound like Thai restuarant (ok it is a Thai restaurant, but i mean you will knows it a Thai restaurant just by the name), and i dine there once in the last day i was in Phuket, damn i should eat there earlier, almost the best and cheap meal that i had in the whole trip.

Beside the restaurant, C&H massage center was just right next to Sabai Sabai, which runs under the hotel just right beside the hotel, and there is another massage center opposite of the hotel.

Walk out from the alley you'll see the main street, right left is famous Chinese Restaurant name Mr. Good (we dined there once, and my conclusion is not bad, yet not good either, a bit pricy though).

I heard from driver that there is another C&N hotel in Phuket, but somewhere outskirt and more expensive i think. If you happen to book the room in this hotel, make sure you know which are you make booking.

The double bed room cost us rm100 per night, free buffet breakfast and airport transfer, so this is good deal in such a strategy location.

Big and bright room, with mini fridge, tv, cold air-con, hot shower, free water and balcony so you can go out and look at houses, which i think this is dumb.

The hotel has no website so i couldn't direct the link here, but take a look on hotel booking website, plenty of those.

I would recommend this if you aim for shopping and club more than beach and quiet vocation (but i guess no such thing call quiet in phuket, the club and pub street is happening all night long).

Ok before i forget, the only bad thing in the room was noisy. I'm not sure if the sound proof is poor or every single speakers in phuket was turning on during night time, we heard loud speaker noise in the middle of the night, well probably we're staying just one block away from the club streets and the room just 3 floor height.

View from the room balcony, which i say you walk out and see houses, dumb.

I remembered to bring my camera, so every colourful scene caught my eyes.

Doggie cute <3

The main street is quiet in the morning.

Motor bike rental everywhere.

A white and local couple everywhere.

I always wonder what will happen if electricity on fire in thailand.

If you think the last photo is shit this is shitter.

the street

Imagine when all the bulb on during night time.

Off from the main street, still some local residence.

Tuk tuk charge here is crazy. 200bath per way per tuk tuk, for 15 minutes right. Same distance in Hatyai just 20bath per way per person.

The stall like this sold not only tea, but cup noodle and snack, weird huh have cup noodle beside the road :P.

Holy Thai

Its getting happening when the day turning to dark

walking into alley instead of main street is my favourite when travelling. I seen what other don't.

Like local people pray with famous soft drink in thai.

Phuket is small, 2 main streets and done walking one round in 3 hours.

Grill corn stall everywhere too.

Phuket (or i should say Thailand) has lots of gallery and painter. Walk into this gallery and see he is drawing the famous photos. Moom the painter is nice to talk with.

Like Indonesia, they sold gasoline like isotonic drink here.

Fuck the cow face was frightening me every time i pass by.

Phuket is the city that i can find Chinese words the most.

Blessed with the clear sky and good weather.

They never hide they love their King

First impression: Damn taiwan or what?!

Pink mini van. Heart this.

The club street turn to flea / food stall during day time.

If i have to be dog in my next life, i wish i born in Thai.

Petaling street wtf

I like this the most. Not editing. Not effect.

3 nights i stay in Phuket, which John was 4 nights (i've to back for work), we spend 2 days wondering around in the city and one day off to islands hopping and snorkeling, that will be in another post, if i remember where did i copy all the photos too.

Nah if i couldn't find it i will ask from John again. Just be a little patient. I know one post per month is shit but i'm so busy in finalize my korea trip in this coming March.

So i have one island post, 1 kradi town, 1 Aonang and 1 Koh Lanta post are coming up. Damn.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
20120106, 1107am
Rach in Happy New Year and i sick at home today mood

Koh Lipe: On the Island

2011-12-14T14:24:00.004+13:00

When i was preparing for Lipe trip, i surfed on net for information a lot, but seems like doesn't have too much information about this island.

I always wonder how big is the island, how many times do i need to explore the whole island, what is interesting on this island, F&B, transport etc.

And you cant get much information on those above questions.

My personal travel experience might can giving you answer if you feel the same as me.

Lipe is very small island, there are 3 main beaches which is sunset beach, sunrise beach and pattaya beach. Pattaya and sunrise beach are the main beach, which full of luxury resort, hotel, pub, restaurants, massages and dive centre and shops. 2 beaches are connected through the walking street (from the map, the lower yellow line connected 2 beaches is the street), which is full of shops and etc too.

It was like 15 to 30 minutes walking distance from Pattaya beach to sunrise beach through walking street. Walking street also the heart of the island.

While Sunset beach is an isolated beach, you can go by walking through the beach or track (from the map, upper yellow line that connect sunrise and sunset beach), but my advice is don't take the track, because is way too far and you might lost the direction, it is confusing.

But sunset beach do have a very nice sunset view, which i've seen it from the Mountain resort. Well if you spend long time in this island, you can just explore every inch of the island.

Lipe is a quiet island (don't take this judge seriously, i went in low season), the island itself have nothing much to see but only relax and chill, but the water is really good, you can go snorkeling right in front of the sea, the visibility is superb, almost be the best for me in Thai.

Other than that you can go for snorkeling trip, diving day trip or just take boat to go to other island nearby.

So in the day when John went to his diving tour for half day, i decided to walk to the street (i don't have a diving license!!!!!).

Before photos, John was saying one of the diving point is nice, full of purple carol and he saw baby shark, and squid make up wtf hahahahahhahaha. But too bad he didn't bring his camera, so no sexy photo of the sea creation. LOL.

Ok that was the first and only time i walk to the street (As i said, Mountain Resort provide buggy service), and i walk through the beach to sunrises beach, had lunch in beach side and walk through the walking street to Pattaya beach, and I only use less than 5 hours to explore the whole island.

Beach right front the resort

Long tail is the must in the album

How romantic!

The colorful clothes on the boat to pray for safe journey

Instead of tourist island, Lipe is actually a local township with school and origin residence.

Tsunami Hazard Zone

Weather turn bad in a second

I love this

This is not too bad too.

Know that low season which mean the weather is changing in a minute, and i bet you can see from my photos, which every single photos with different weather, but hey, trust me, i took it all in one day.

The expenses on the island is not too expensive, but don't compare with dining in resort restaurant, i mean those local restaurant that nearby the town, it was cheap and nice.

And i had my first famous Thai basil leave with mince chicken rice on this island, and this dishes is unbelievable hot that i couldn't finish even half, then i was thinking, why not feed the blacky which staring at me since i eating.

First i get him / her chicken mince, and accidentally i throw him / her chili! And guess what, he / she ate it all. Then i try to feed more chili and the end i feed him / her all my lunch.

And guess what! This dog doesn't feel hot at all, not even drink the water i feed him / her! Damn i wonder if all the dogs in Thai can take spicy food.

Oh, don't get me wrong that basil leave with mince chicken is really nice, but my advice to tell the chef for less spicy.

Crazy chili dog. If you see him/her on the island, feed chili.

After lunch and rain stop (yup raining =(..), i entering to the walking street.

That was lunch hour and the whole street is soooooooooo quiet, i though i was in some kind of horror movie that i'm the only surviver in the whole island.

Ok, some information that might help backpacker, if you admire the water of this island and you couldn't find cheap accommodation from the internet, don't worry and you can get cheap budget room on this street, there are lots of hotel and small budget guest house didn't go online, so the only way that you could reach them is search them when you're arrive.

The only disadvantage that living in this street is noisy, imaging when you're surrounding by pub and shop, but if you're party people then don't mind that.

Walking street entrance

The street.

Thanks for the beer, Ching.

Pray

Quiet street

Pee Pee Bakery :D

This is island life.

You can find western cafe and restaurant on the island too.

Fishes of the day

Something wrong in this photo ain't?

Books cafe, lovely shop

Lipe =)

And life suppose to be as beautiful as this.

Miao

I love travel alone because people tend to talk to you more, especially Thai, the friendliest people in this world (Rachel self ranking), they just cant leave you alone and not talk to you.

I meet few new friends when i was wondered around in the island, got free beer and nice talk with the local, listen to their story and this actually encourage me to walk the way i wanted in my life journey =).

And lastly, remember i mentioned Adang Sea Dive Center? Below are the photos of the center and eco lodge, which located in the sunrises beach, somewhere near the pier where the boat drop you off.

Very nice place that manage and run by Kristelle. Readers, if you're goin to Lipe and decided to go for Adang Sea Diver, send my regard to Kristelle please!

The dive center

The entrance.

K there end of Lipe post, and you might searching for diving photos but as i said John didn't bring his camera so no photos, and no post. :P

Next will be Phuket, Thailand.

No, i'm not travel Phuket and Lipe at the same time, in fact i traveled 3 different places of Thailand in 3 months.

I must be crazy.

Stay tuned.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
20111214, 1056am
Rach in wanna holiday again mood.

Koh Lipe: Under the Sea

2011-11-28T02:15:00.001+13:00

As i mentioned in the previous entry, high season for Lipe starts from Nov, we gone by early Oct and that's mean unpredictable (or simply, bad) weather, less crowded and quiet.

The most popular activity on the island was snorkeling, if you're in peak season, you can always compare the deal and got the big group tour so you got cheaper price.

But this is not happen in low season. The only way to explore the nearby islands, you may get a private long tail, only you and boatman on the boat, you control the time and you decided when to leave. And that's mean much expensive that you join a big group in peak season.

However, hire a private boat is not expensive as you imagine, in fact if you're goin with group of friends, like 5 or 6 or them, you could as for private long tail, too. So you have more privacy and you know, its fun if you and your gang own the whole boat for a day.

I plan to go for 2 tours, one is snorkeling and another is sunset tour, i ask Kristelle in the same email about the price and this is what she replied.

In october our centre is closed, we open in december.
But as I stay in Lipe, I can easily organise snorkeling trips for you.
There arenot enough persons on the island in october to have organised tour, Ihave to prepare a private longtail for you.

Snorkeling trip to the inner islands for 2 persons, 1 day trip, private boat:
price is 1800 baht (900 baht per person), including lunch, water, snorkeling gear.
If you need a snorkeling guide, it will be 400 baht more : 2200 baht all together.

Please keep in mind that in october weather is most of the time perfect but it can happen that some days there is stong wind, big waves and even rain.
In that case, we cancel the trip and you won't be charged for it.

The romantic sunset trip:
Private longtail for 2 persons, including ice box and snacks : 1200 baht.
All our prices are net prices and unfortunately we can't give any discount on the snorkeling trips or boat rental for 2 persons.

And i decided to settle all the booking including transfer with Kristelle without compare much to the other, i guess there are about the same, plus you really do not have much choice.

But we cancelled the sunset trip because of the bad weather. I had transfer all the money to Kristelle before i departed to Thai, Kris sent me a transfer voucher with the company name, and remind to look for her when i reach Lipe, so we can do the final decision if we go for the trip, or not (weather is the crucial).

John was worry because of the money transfer before we meet Kris in real, but i have read thru the website and facebook, i found she is reliable, and she is nice to talk with. If you guys are looking for an agency for transport, accommodation and tour, you could always look for Kris.

Enough for words, now photos of the swimming and snorkeling day.

We owned the beach, this is best part of travel in low season

Thanks god for the weather.

Now you see how clear the water is.

Chill

The next day, waiting for the longtail come and pick us up in the resort private beach

Doggie wanna follow too

Sunny in the morning, but weather turned really bad later.

Our longtail

First snorkeling point is suck because of the weather, 2nd point is nicer.

Not much fish but the visibility is great as that.

I have no caption for this pic, only John know what this rock called.

But who cares, this is nice, like a city under the sea.

My legs XD

Dessert under the sea

Fishes

Oishi! Umi!

Greeny!

Look like flat under the sea.

No kidding, they're plenty under the sea.

Big shell

Ok can i just shut up and let all these photos flow? I cant find caption for that.

Now i talk. Weather started turn bad.

Rest. Our longtail so handsome!

Rocky island

Stop in Koh Rawi for lunch

Koh Rawi

Back to boat, and heading back.

I look so pile because of sea sick, damn.

And i was still acting i'm daughter of the sea WTF.

The trip suppose to start by 9am and end by 4 or 5pm, but the weather turned really bad, windy and rain heavily, plus i was feeling so sick that time, we decided to gone back after lunch in Koh Rawi.

I bet if the weather is good and sea is peace, this will be very interesting trip, but it doesn't mean my trip is bad. I got my own long tail (ok i don't know why i keep emphasize this, probably this make me feel like rich ass) and damn, my own sea! The sea is clear and no other tourist expect us.

Koh Lipe was called the Thai's Maldive. Well I've never been Maldive (I wish someday i will) but the sea of Lipe is one of the most beautiful and clean sea that I've ever been. If you enjoy beach and sea very much, i'd recommend Lipe for you.

Next post is still Lipe, probably half bout diving trip (John joined this alone) and other hald bout village tour (and i did this when he went for dive).

But yea if you have any other question about how to get to Lipe or tour or anything, just drop your question and i shall reply you as soon as i see that.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

20111128, 0950pm
Rach in sneeze mood.

Koh Lipe - Mountain Resort

2011-11-17T15:18:00.000+13:00

There are few ways to go to Koh Lipe.

From Hatyai you may take mini bus or taxi for one and half hour to Pak Bara pier, where you take boat to Koh Lipe, and take an hour speed boat to the island.

Alternatively, take 2 hours speed boat from Langkawi to Pak Bara. I'm not sure with the price, but that is like RM 200 +- one way. And hey, 2 hours speed boat is not kidding.

If you don't mind 2 hours speed boat riding and you think to go from Langkawi is all fine for you, make sure you go by high season, which is from November to June, BECAUSE NO BOAT FROM LANGKAWI DURING LOW SEASONS.

Then, your only is land transport, you may go to Pak Bara from any part of Thailand, but my choice was Hatyai -> Pak Bara.

To go from Hatyai is the most popular route for tourist, you can got AirAsia to Hatyai, spend a night there and take the mini van the next day, one way mini van like RM25.

If you wanna go by mini van, make sure you go by high season, BECAUSE NO MINI VAN TRANSFER EVERYDAY FROM HATYAI TO PAK BARA DURING LOW SEASONS.

If you go by high season, just ask your hotel to book for you, this is easy. If you didn't done your homework like me, accidentally bought your ticket in low season, please prepare RM 150 for one way luxury mini van to pier.

But don't worry about way back to Hatyai, there are mini van everyday waiting in the pier to different places like Hatyai or Satun, so travel back to the city is not an issue.

I was lucky because i email a diver centre in Koh Lipe and she told me all those info earlier, so i can get myself prepare before i fly to Hatyai.

Hello Rachel,

I can organise your transfers to Koh Lipe :
There is no daily minibus from Hat Yai to Lipe in october. The trip from Hat Yai to Pak Bara is around 2 hours so you want to leave Hat Yai at 8.30 am in order to get the speedboat to Lipe at 11.30 am.
Private taxi from Hat Yai to Pak Bara is 1500 baht.
Then speedboat return ticket Pak Bara - Lipe is 1000 baht.
Please let me know where you plan to stay in hat Yai, this way the taxi can come and pick you up directly at your hotel.

Total of the transfers : 3500 baht

Above the email that Kristelle sent to me, a very nice lady from Adang Sea Divers. She is a foreigner and runs a dive center + eco lodge on the island.

In fact, lots of hotel and dive centers were close during low season, there are no snorkeling tour or island tour either, some small hotels owner not even stay in this small island.

But luckily Kris is living on the island and manage to organize a private snorkeling trip for us, will write in detail in next post.

Most importantly is Adang Sea Dive also organise transfers, and i decided to get everything settle with Kris's help. Afterall, you do not have too much choice when you're travelling to an uncommercial and quiet island during low season.

Oh yea, only one speedboat per day, make sure you catch the 1130am one during low season.

And not to forget the emails of Kris, Kris@adangseadivers.com, you may google the website as well. But be patient to get the reply mail, internet is luxury in the island, Kris only checks her mail once every few days.

We own a 10 seats mini van way to Pak Bara.

Kris sent me a voucher, print it out and change for the boat ticket number in Pak Bara pier.

The pier

In the speed boat.

The island from the boat

Nice weather ain't? Wait till next photo.

Weather changes in a minute during low season.

See?

Thick cloud

We were staying in Mountain Resort, which isolated in another beach.

For your info, Koh Lipe isn't a big island, but there are 3 beaches, which is Pattaya beach, sunrise beach and sunset beach.

Yellow pin is Mountain Resort, while Green is where you drop off and main beach. You may google it for bigger image.

As i said Lipe is not big and too commercial, there is school and community on the island, very quiet during low season and only have their origin residents, but that might be different story during high season.

And the main point is, Mountain Resort is god damn far and isolated, i read from the website that there is long tail transfer but none in low season, but they do have golf car waiting in on the beach everyday, if you pre-book mountain resort, just search the person from Mountain and they will send you the resort with their golf car.

One way transfer like take you 15 minutes, and no kidding man, it is built on a real mountain, fuck steep.

The walking street aka main street is 15 minutes golf car transfer from the resort, and trust me, you would want to walk in the night, you've to go thru a very dark path like grave. You may take the beach walk but its either any better.

No worries, the resort take care of the customer, you may use their golf car whenever you wanna out to the hub, of course you might need to wait for either the driver to be free or free car. But its good enough, you feel like you're rich ass and you got a driver LOL.

And its totally free, at least during low season.

With condition that, no service after 830pm. If you back after 830pm, i suggest you to take the beach walk, the inner track is haunted, and don't forget the steep way.

Oh, one thing i love about Mountain Resort is the private beach, absolutely no disturbing, and you got the damn nice sunset view in the beautiful restaurant.

The food is nice, we dined a couple times in the restaurant, but that is a bit pricy, i understand that, so its fine (Because i'm not the one who pay for food hahahahahahahahha).

Taken in the open air restaurant

Path to the restaurant and receptionist

half indoor restaurant, damn nice view

Low season = bad weather. Sigh.

I miss that.

We love the seat in the corner-most, nice spot to see the sunset during dinner.

You can snorkeling as near as the beach in front of this resort.

The private beach

Huge resort with lots of bungalow, full of privacy

View from our bungalow

2nd day with nicer weather

Staircase to the beach, and this is one of the reason i suggest back from the beach in night time.

The restaurant

Beach on your own

One of the dinner we had, cost us RM 100 which i think its reasonable.

Breakfast is not included, at least during low season. RM 20 for set like this.

I forget to take photo of the bungalow before i mess it :p. OK we stay in the VIP air con room (i suggest air con room if you don't wanna donate your blood to mosquito) although there is cheaper fan room. The room cost me RM 150 per night, with private balcony, big bed, fridge, tv and bright shower room. I think worth for the money, for the sake of the private beach and nice sunset view.

One thing before i forget, Mountain resort has no internet connection during low season, this is killing John but its good for me, haha.

Throw your gadget away and enjoy the beach bitch!

This is long post that i beg for forgiveness to not blog for so long time. Next 2 posts will be Koh Lipe still, one is undersea and upperland, stay tuned!

Lastly, DOG IS EVERYWHERE IN THE ISLAND!!!!!!!!!!!! And damn, they all can swim better than John do. Hahahahahahahhahahahahahahaah.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

20111118, 1048am

Rach in finger nails is too long mood.

HatYai

2011-10-25T00:42:00.007+13:00

Aihh..

I don't know what should i write for my HatYai trip, its all about eat.

Ok before that, tell me what is the first thing when you're arriving in HatYai?

Get a cab to hotel, chill and eat or massage right? Yea i agree. But i got a completely different experience.

First, i leave my camera in Malaysia.

Second, i dropped my phone in the cab which sent us to HatYai hotel from airport. (Fuck i just have it like one and half month damn it!)

Great, no device for photo taking.

Ok its not fair to say no device at all, John with his iPhone, DSLR and a compact camera, but they are not my Xiao P and i don't know how to take the photo that i wanted la!

Ok back to the topic.

This is my first time to HatYai, and HatYai wasn't my destination, i just stay in Hatyai for 2 days, and stay 4 days in Koh Lipe.

John and I arrived in HatYai airport by noon, get a cab and check into New Season Hotel which located in the city center.

We didn't have much plan, just eat and wonder around in the city center.

If you're not a buddha, you might not interested in the famous temple and buddha visit in HatYai. So your only activity will be only eat, and shopping.

HatYai is not a big city, the most happening street is XXXXXXXXXX street, i can never remember the name, but if you're staying in Novotel, New Season, Lee Plaza, Regency or Sakura Grand View Hotel, you're basically staying in the XXXXXXXXX street that i'm saying.

Ok, I was staying in New Season Hotel for the first night arrived in Thai, and stayed in Sakura Grand View Hotel in last night before back to Malaysia (The 4 days in the middle i was in Koh Lipe). My advice, go for Sakura Grand View, might take you extra 5 minute walking distance to the main street aka shopping center, but cheaper the price, better the view, nicer the room, definitely better than New Season Hotel.

Alright, go to photos, copyright under John.

Room view from New Season Hotel

My regret, i haven't got a chance to taste the pork ankle.

Buddha festival food court

Chilling in the night, found Birdy coffee, haha. Birdy the name of my deputy editor.

Riding Tuk Tuk.

Famous Kam Eng Restaurant

Monkey hahahahahahahahahaha. Nice shoot John!

Hawker street

I owned the road.

How horrible, i got all these within a day.

Famous dish in HatYai is chicken rice, pork ankle, bird nest, noodle and suckling pig. Surprisingly not Thai food right? By natural HatYai has lot of Chinese, believe it or not, you don't need to know Thai to survive here, if you know Hokkien you can survive very well here.

Research from the internet, we had our dinner in famous Kam Eng restaurant in HatYai, don't worry about location, get a Tuk Tuk and tell them you wanna go Kam Eng Restaurant, almost every driver know where is the location.

And get your supper in the hawker street, just beside Lee Garden Plaza. We had our mid night dessert in the street, lots of nice food too.

John enjoyed his 7-11 shopping very much, all he looked for is MeiJi chocolate milk, he can finish a big bottle one shoot, i stunned, haha.

We got back from Koh Lipe 4 days later and i decided to change a hotel (I decide on the hotel and he decide in food), Sakura Grand View Hotel.

First, we got higher level room, great view of the city center and heck i saw great sunrise in the next morning!

Second, cheaper and nicer breakfast buffet. A little bit cheaper because of the location. But no worry about that, you can go everywhere by tuk tuk with very cheap fare.

Third, clean and big room. Very big window in the room, bright and clean, far better than New Season Hotel.

Scroll down for the sunrise view, and FOOD!

Cute donkey! In Sakura Grand View Hotel

Langsung tak paham

So we ordered whatever we see. And this only cost us RM30+-

Damn nice ice cream, only cost him less than 10 bucks.

Countless shoes.

Birdnest

View from Sakura Grand View, the city center of HatYai

He wanna capture the hot chick behind me, i covered him.

Amazing, sunrise view from my room.

I really don't have the talent in playing DSLR.

Those are the best sunrise pictures that i could do.

2 nuts playing with the shadow.

Macam Petaling Street

We have half day in the last day in Thai, we do not have much plan, except eat (Yes, this is makan tour) and get some souvenirs. We decided to go for some local food, so we walked without an aim and we got a very nice local store selling BBQ and noodle.

See the menu? We don't understand at all, the boss couldn't understand Chinese at all too, so we just ordered whatever display and that is what we got. Haha.

We then walk to shopping center, called Centrol and Lee Garden, lots of boutique and shoes and branded stuff as well. But we're both not shopper, i like dessert more.

Then we got some nuts.

Hey, yang boleh makan punya nuts la. Cashew nuts is cheap and nice.

Alright next post will be Koh Lipe, will give all the info including transport and stay.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

20111025, 0829pm

Rach in headache mood.

Cameran Highland

2011-10-13T13:29:00.006+13:00

Before Koh Lipe, Thailand, i have Cameron Highland trip on my hand.

Organized by Mei Zhen and we got local guide Selene aka Kuan's friend, bringing us around to visit beautiful garden and great BBQ + Steamboat dinner.

And this is the first and only time i didn't go for the famous night market of Cameron, but we have crazy awesome night drinking in the apartment and fooling around with brunch of friends. I mean, night market will never better than this ain't?

I do not have lots photo, i believe everyone know what's in Cameron Highland, i just pick some really nice one and share. Don't expect this post gonna be informative, i forget to get the nice restaurant name card, i don't know where is the location of the garden, but if you want a 3 bedrooms, clean and nice apartment rental i could help to get the contact.

Boh Tea, copyright under John.

Selene, copyright under John.

My middle finger, haha. Copyright under John.

I love how his camera performed. Copyright under John.

6 from KL and one is local. Copyright under John.

Make me think of NZ! Copyright under John.

Nice and cheap BBQ steamboat early dinner inside a cactus garden. Copyright under John.

Red red green green.

the flowers and green.

In chinese we called this pig cage grass. LOL

John and I

Finally! After 7 months and i wear my boot again

Bad tone, and this is all xiao P can perform.

But i kinda like this one though.

Us 6.

Next will be HatYai and Koh Lipe photos. Warn, a lot of food pictures, i mean, A LOT!

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

20111014, 1113am

Rach in lots of thing to do mood.

Update

2011-10-02T14:07:00.002+13:00

And i know i been slack out lot. The stupid internet connect is really killing me.

Ok Cameran Highland trip is still on my hand, will update probably a little later today.

I'm flying off to a small island in Thailand tomorrow for a week, will make sure to bring lotsa photos and info back.

Heck i haven't do anything yet! Not packing not planning not even getting my passport. I so looking forward on this trip, i need a break badly.

Stay tuned and will update later.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

20111002, 0910am

Rach in hungry mood.

Pangkor Island Squid Fishing

2011-09-19T02:10:00.004+12:00

Pangkor again!

I told ya i been this island 3 times in 2 months, the last one was with Horace, Kuan, John and Elaine. The activities pretty much the same, the only different thing is the sunset and squid cruise.

Although is not a prefect sunset, but that was just nice.

Thick cloud but still nice

My first squid!

Nice

The other boat

I though i gonna see a horizon sunset at this moment lo.

Tony texted me and ask for tea, i texted him back i having my sea water now.

Addam and Horace

Best pic of the day

we got 5!

Addam the shadow

Die die want take photo with Addam

Sunset

If you are interest in the sunset cruise and squid fishing cruise, just walk on the street in Nipah Bay, ask for Addam (or any of the beach boy you know), he is the one i looked for in the trip.

If not mistaken, its was RM20 per person, we ordered BBQ dinner from Addam as well, but i don't recommend you do that if you have a gang or eater monster like mine. But somehow i just love the atmosphere la, you know, music, BBQ, breeze and food. Damn i should have some photos but i don't know where its gone!

And i really lazy to dig it out, just let me know if you're interest, i can give you Addam number.

Ok next post! Cameran Highland!

Ok next trip, Koh Lipe, Thailand!

Stay tuned.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

20110919, 1104pm

Rach in falling sick mood.

Kampar & Pangkor trip

2011-09-07T00:36:00.006+12:00

I should have post the birthday trip of Elaine in last month, but i only have time now.

So the others day i was asking how should i celebrate her birthday, she told me she felt like goin to seaside, and immediate we decided to go to Pangkor, where i had been 3 weeks ago.

Then Jimmy known bout the plan and he would love to join.

So, this make me visited Pangkor 2 times in a month.

We departed from KL by 6am, reach Kampar in 2 hours and catch up a beautiful sunrise before off to breakfast in Kampar and visit UTAR.

Sunrise in lake side of UTAR

UTAR, Kampar

Where we had our breakfast

Fresh and nice!

Let me tell you, this is not all yet. And we have only 3 person.

Jim and Lynn in UTAR

Hua hua <3

Hasn't had a chance to study in UTAR Kampar was the regret of Elaine during her university time. Cant deny the university has far better facilities and environment. But heck if you let me choose over again, i still with KTAR and Liverpool :D.

And after breakfast and we off to Lumut by Jimmy's car, while my car parked in his rental house in Kampar.

2nd times been Lumut Jetty and very much different compare to the first time i been there. More crowded and worse weather :(

Weather turned good.

Lunch

Kid. Me like this one.

3 of us

Chill on beach

The sand is not soft as flour, but its not too bad.

3 pairs of cement leg

Birthday girl and me

We went for a boat trip and swim in a small island, while i just chill in the seaside and reading my book.

Arrrrrr... i miss beach already =(

For dinner, we visited IslandOne Cafe again, surprisingly Sam and Rizak still remembered me, this really make me feel like balik kampong.

What really touched me was Rizak treated us Elaine's birthday cakes! IslandOne cafe do serve fresh cafe and nice local dishes and seafood. That might be a little pricy but dine with the sunset view its all worth though. :D

This is the view where we had our dinner

Lynn birthday present

Peaceful

Lynn and piggy look me. Damn but i so like this one!

Awww sunset

for the 2nd times! no sunset :(

Cakes treated by Rizak! So touched!

she's so happy

Rizak skill has to be improved.

As usual i woke up early and had morning swim in the quiet seaside, i enjoy swimming alone very much although that could be danger. But imagine you had the whole sea by your own, this is awesome.

Got back to guesthouse and freshen up, went out to had breakfast and took a walk in the temple nearby.

Next morning

The biggest contribution of Jim, this photo. :D

Leaving

If i were settle down in some island, i swear i want a colorful boat.

Dear Elaine,

I hope you like the present and the trip, wish you have an unforgettable birthday trip.

What i wrote in the card is exactly what i meant. We know each other before i born, we are so close and you are the one i trusted the most in this world.

For now, and forever.

Forgive on my reckless and my bad words, you know i'm not trying to be harsh but i really want you to be good.

Happy birthday Ling. =)

Love always,

Ray

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

20110906, 0927pm

Rach in today is special <3 mood.

Broga Hill Semenyih

2011-08-20T13:50:00.007+12:00

Wake up 4 in the morning, drive all the way to Semenyih. Climb all the way up, ended up thick fog and no Sunrise. Dissapointed but yet we enjoy the whole trip, we laugh during the whole journey. Let's do it again next time!

This is what John wrote in his photo album named "Climb, fall, laugh and eat" for the trip to Broga Hill, I did all except fall. LOL.

I heard of Broga Hill some time ago yet i haven't got a chance to visit, so finally Kuan suggested a trip with new friend John (he was that time) and i more than happy to join in.

John brought his friend along and this is how i know Ah Yat aka Horace.

And yup we woke by 4am, Kuan was the driver and i was the radio, the very first time i met Horace and i screwed my imagine up by talking too much, thanks to John and Kuan.

Brogo Hill is really out of my expectation, i mean i thought this is just a simple hill and you just need to walk up leisurely and damn this is totally wrong.

I believe we took the right track just the pathway were so steep and slippery, that's not easy to walk up at all, in fact we were climbing with our bare hand most of the times.

I didn't go for out door activities much ever since i got back for NZ, i thought this is easy but the pathway is really freak me out. Just advice for you guys, bring glove and wear tough climbing shoes, it do help. For those who wanna up for sunrise, get torch light, the pathway is deadly dark.

And if you don't see a sunrise like us, turn your torch light on and rise from horizon, pretending the ray were the sun. LOL.

About 5 - 6am.

Runaway from city again.

Broga Hill also name as esparto grass hill.

I like this one

I don't remember how many times we spent to up to the peak, probably 2 hours or something. But the peak we stop were not the top peak, you can go further to another peak actually, but all of us were exhausted and we just wanna lay on the platform after all 75 degree steep pathway.

We were waiting for the sun but as you can see that was is cloudy day, we see nothing until the sky was turning bright.

But the view is not bad at all.

Bright and we see no sunrise :(

Chill

Nice

We chill on the peak for an hour or so, John looked so pill till i thought he was goin to die on the peak. While Kuan was climbing up and down like a monkey and new friend Horace is strong and steady weiiiiiiiii.

Me? photo taking la.

Ready to be kick

John is dying, Horace is dead.

Further to higher peak

Awww fairy tales!

Kuan

Horace

John

Very nice trip with old friend (Kuan was my primary and high school mate) and new friends, and ever since this trip we hang out quite often and we went to Pangkor (yes, i went Pangkor 3 times in 2 months) together with Elaine.

And so Elaine is one in the gang too, and for the very first time in my life, Elaine finally brought her very first ticket and fly to Korea with I, Kuan and John (we're still persuading Horace lo) in coming March!

Ok coming up will be sea and sea and sea. There are 2 Pangkor trip with Elaine for her birthday and Kuan's gang. Same location but we did different things la. Stay tuned for updated k?

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

110820, 1038am
Rach in weekend mood.

Pangkor Island Solo Trip 2

2011-08-07T21:59:00.005+12:00

One of the must see in Pangkor is hornbill.

Ok i know nothing much bout bird but i know hornbill is not some bird kind that you can see in the city.

The best thing to do this activity in Pangkor is that you don't need to travel to some view point, hornbill is everywhere in the morning and evening, so resort even have hornbill feeding session.

My guesthouse has no hornbill feeding session, but on the way i went for my early swim in the beach, i saw countless.

They're always in a pair.

Cool

Not a good weather

Like a doll ain't?

catch the banana wow!

I was passing by a resort, which they have hornbill feeding session every morning by 830.

Don't get wrong that hornbill feeding is feed some caged hornbill and you can only see them in the cage with a far distance.

Its as close as like this.

Close as i can touch it

Got a banana!

The host of one of the resort

cute

He got every slide of the banana i thrown.

Looking at the street.

The best thing staying in small and not crowded place is you got bruncha friendly local people, they showed you then most natural stuffs and they way they're living.

I talked to the host of the resort (and he was one of the people thought i'm from Korea), he don't speak good English, but he tried very best to explain anything bout hornbill, and let me feed them with banana, even let me walk in to their resort to get some nice photos like above.

But that day is not a good day, showered in the morning and thick cloud, photos' tone is grumpy.

I walked to the silent bay and had my breakfast before swim, i suppose to swim before breakfast but so chill.

Both days a grumpy morning

Islandone cafe, breakfast

And i cant believe i had a great night in One Love the next time i came here.

The end of the bay.

Thick cloud the next morning

Feng che ar feng che zhuan zhuan zhuan~

I believe i've told you, walking without destination is one of my favor when travelling.

Find me

I do nothing much in the vocation, as what i wrote in my chinese version blog, when no one approach and talk to me, i read, swim, eat, look at the sea, chill, drink beer, listen to the music. When someone was talking to me, i replied accordingly my wish. You know, just being myself.

Solo trip is good, not all the time but when you really need a relaxing and private times, Pangkor is a good weekend runaway destination.

And that's the reasons why i brought my friends and cousins to this little island 3 times within 2 months. I know i'm crazy.

Alright what's next, some mountain perhaps?

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
20110807, 0722pm

Rach in tomorrow is Monday, FML mood.

Pangkor Island Solo Trip 1

2011-07-24T21:42:00.013+12:00

Yes i know la!

2 weeks ma i know lo!

Ok i was busy, i know this never be a good reason to excuse myself been away for whole damn 2 weeks.

Damn it i just have to admit i wasn't motivate as much as last time. Probably i don't go trip as much as last time.

And this is sad, so sad for me.

So i got a long weekend last month, and i don't know why i just kisiao, i woke up by 9 something in the morning, pack some stuffs and i tell my mum i will have my weekend somewhere else.

Then i drove all the way to Lumut, took the ferry across the sea, there i go to Pangkor alone.

Don't ask me why, i don't know.

Drive pass, Sabak Bernam

That day was showered actually, and that make the paddy looks extremely green.

Not as much paddy as Sekinchan, but this is the bonus for this trip

And there i go

The Pangkor Jetty

Taxi ride to Nipah Bay

As fat as my thumb!

Walk way to the beach from guest house

Random

Make me feel like Bali

Or some scene in Japanese drama

View from the street

Cute pink taxi in Pangkor

The street

Thanks God for good weather when i reached there

Then i had my lunch by the seaside

What else better than ABC in hot weather!

Solo lunch but never feel alone

I insist to catch on rather than buy one lo

Surprisingly the beach is clean!

The water is clear!

The bay is extremely romantic

Shade and sunshine

The favor part when i was travelling was walking, without aims without destination.

Still this pair of sandal from NZ

Jungle trek with monkey!

Swim, book, drink, sea, breeze, this is all i want

In IslandOne Cafe, Sam the boss name, nice to talk.

So people ask if i'm a Korean again =.=

Waiting for the sunset, back to IslandOne Cafe again.

Damn so cloudy

But everything is just so nice

IslandOne serve good foods, local or western.

My sweet milk sotong set, 20 bucks. Yea a little pricy but the sotong is f*cking nice and the portion is big enough for 2 girls.

Night on the beach

harrrrr... so nice stepping on the soft cold sand.

IslandOne Cafe

I trying to squeeze all 3 days photos in a post but i failed, surprisingly i have more photos than i imagine.

I never though Pangkor could be beautiful and peaceful like i was in oversea.

The sea is awesome, the people is nice, the atmosphere is just so relax. I cant help but i actually went to Pangkor 3 times in 2 months time.

I make some local friends and they're so friendly that make me feel like home everytime i visit Pangkor.

Ok to keep the other Pangkor stories in another post, i'll just stop here. If you're local in KL and you want a nice runaway weekend, pm me and i'll let you know the detail about Pangkor.

And note that, i wasn't spend my time in the popular Pasir Bogak or luxury Pangkor Laut, i choose a quite little kampung called Nipah Bay, you should be there instead of developed township or luxury resort.

Just pm me la if you wanna know the detail!

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
20110728, 1013pm

Rach in so tired mood.

Night in Melaka

2011-07-11T00:10:00.006+12:00

I've got all the photos update last night, but i was so freaking tired and i just need to sleep, so i leave it today although i know weekend has most people viewing my blog.

Why am i tired? I wake up at 3am last night, climb up to the damn broga hill that almost took my life away, but good fun, defo will update this trip later (I guess the fastest will be next month accordingly the speed of updating my blog now :D).

Beside that, i was following the news of Bersih. I'm a media person and i used to get a lot of hidden news, but with the power of internet, hidden news no longer hidden, everyone who on the net know the true side of Bersih, i fully support the step down of PM.

Not the matter of he is doing bad in the past, in fact he did some good thing despite the Bersih news today. But his speak and lie really disappointed me, as what the other net friend say, we don't need a PM that lying, we don't need a PM not by the people, not of the people.

Please step down, Najib.

Right back to Melaka.

Continue to the road trip with Jenn, we went to few places in a day, Melaka was the last destination.

We didn't expect to came to here such late, but we spent too much time by the seaside so that's why.

And late in Melaka is really a surprise for us!

We didn't get the chicken rice ball, didn't walk on joker street, didn't visit the red church.

We did something in the past that i never did.

Boat trip and had nyonya cuisine by the beautiful river!

Melaka has change a lot, state government has put their effort in upgrading the place and river, now i know why my foreign friend could stay in Melaka for few days. Was a shame that a Canadian tells a Malaysian how beautiful is the night of Melaka.

Night in Melaka

I found i-site like NZ.

Must nicer if low exposure.

Make me recall of Netherland.

On the bridge and goin to take the boat.

St Xavier church.

So peace

On the boat and waiting to go.

Amazed me.

Awww fairy tales scene!

Nice

Eye of Melaka on the right. Reflection on the river.

I wasn't taking control that time.

This scene look like China ZhouZhuang.

Another side of Melaka, do you like it?

Boat trip is really cheap, like RM 10 for a trip of half hour (or more than half, i don't remember well), night trip is always better than day trip, when lights on and reflect on the clean river (i assume its clean, i cant see well in night, which is the good part too).

And if you're lucky enough and meet a nice boatman, you can actually.....

Captain Rachel

Navigate the boat like me!

I don't know what make me go nuts but that time was 8 or 9pm, not much passenger so i want close to the boatman, and i ask him if i can control the boat.

He thought i was asking if he can control the boat, so he answered yea he got the license.

Then i ask again because i really wanna navigate the boat, then he "oh i see, yea go ahead."

So i was the captain FOR THE WHOLE TRIP, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

Few times i was so nervous because i don't know how to turn left or right, and i was speeding too fast when going straight. Boatman was nervous and later he was relax and waves to other boat that passing by with: "hey my junior! Saya sifu."

While i'm "Good evening everyone, this is captain Rachel speaking." :D

Ok imma siao. But for your information this is not something you can ask for, so i mentioned in the beginning, if you're siao like me and you meet a good boatman, you can ask then :D.

Ok if you ask where is the food, sorry ar i didn't take it down with Xiao P because i was sooooooooooooooooooooo hungry.

Jenn has the post you can click me to see in detail.

We have no clue to find a restaurant, Riverine is the one we saw by the riverside, its turn out nice although i don't know what is real nyonya food la. Not expensive too, Jenn blog the price out.

Alright next will be Singapore AGAIN, i guess.

See ya!

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

110712, 0905am

Rach in goin to have oatmeal breakfast mood.

Tanjung Sepat

2011-07-04T13:38:00.005+12:00

Hey.

Tanjung Sepat just a little bit further of Morib. A small town with a beautiful bridge.

I really would love to do more description, but i just got back from a trip yesterday, i feel sick yet i cant skip my work today, i have no extra brain cells to recall back the detail of the trip. Just if you want to know the detail, pm me.

Now, allow me to go straight to the photos of the day.

Low tide

War?

Stepping on the journey

Wooden bridge

"Someday, i will be on boat like this and fish with real fisherman." I told myself so

Never forget to turn back and look at the path that you've passed by.

Clear sky, but not not blue.

Jenn

Heading back always harder to go forward for me

Fisherman fish

Holly shit

I've never seen this kind of fish before

Penguin alike XD

with this pair of sandal and chain, i walked through 6 countries and more than 10 cities.

Way back

Not a very good weather that day, clear but not blue sky. I tuned to oldies movie tone, love it as looks like some kind of old movie or movie scene.

Good to spend sometime sitting on the edge of the bridge, with empty mind and looking at the horizon.

Prefect.

I miss sea already.

Alright next post, Night in Mallaca.

Will be back.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

201107014, 0824pm

Rach in Happy Birthday to Elaine mood.

Morib

2011-06-21T00:19:00.024+12:00

This post suppose to be done in last week, in fact i was working on this particular post last 2 weeks.

But why the hell only posted now?

Because of the damn photos.

I spent whole 2 weeks, to upload all the photos. Please don't scroll down and count how many of those, because its not many.

Just the size of the photos are big, i shouldn't challenge streamyx speed, i thought its all fine if i upload original size photos, but obviously i was wrong, took me more than 20 minutes to upload 2 photos, i learned the lesson, i'll resize the photos before upload in the next.

Alright, back from China, now in Malaysia. Next 3 post will be in Malaysia.

So the other day Jenn wanna go for some roadtrip that not far from KL, so again i suggest to Tanjung Sepat, where i been there for at least 3 times there.

First we reached Jenjarom to visit Jenn's aunt and uncle, very nice old traditional cafe, best place to shoot for old movie, i swear you couldn't see any in whole KL.

Then we reach Morib before Tanjung Sepat.

Morib is really impressed me, state government really working on the beach to make it real nice, i mean, compare to 10+ years ago.

The beach is real clean, although the sea still with the drain water color, but walk along the bay is nice and relax though.

One of the corner in Jenn's aunt cafe

So Malaysia

I love this the most, like painting.

Off we go to Morib

Nice walking bay

Wau design shady

Jenn was applying sun block, i applied nothing

Asia wei!

Flower, and me

Landmark, seagull

South to Auckland

Low tide, and i told ya the sea is not nice

walk above the water?

Oh yea, i'm in Malaysia

Colorful!

Flying kite

desert?

kid

Love bird

Leng Chai spotted on the beach, for photo shooting i guess.

Another bride

This made me think of HangZhou

Jenn and i

This is outdated outing where happened in February i think, i was back from winter in China, the sun is really killing me, i felt like melting on the beach and never got back to KL that moment, and the drain water color sea make me miss NZ's crystal clear sea water even more.

I didn't enjoyed the beach very much at that moment, but few months later i viewed back all the photos i took in Morib, somehow i found the beach is beautiful, i don't know why.

Anyway i hope you enjoy the photos, coming up will be Tanjung Sepat and horrible long fish.

What the hell is long fish, wait for my post la!

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,

20110626, 1055pm

Rach in goin for buffet later mood!

My readers please read this!

2011-06-12T03:11:00.003+12:00

I wanna do such post for long time, but i always busy, yet while i'm free, i've forgotten.

This post for 2 purposes. 1, thankful to all of my readers, both admitted that they are my readers, or secret followers. (Haiyo i can check from my stats one ma!)

But anyway, your following is my motivation (damn i sound like politician).

2nd, i wanna make an introduction about my blog.

I started when i was studying in UK 3 years ago. Please don't ask me why, i don't know, maybe almost everyone has blog, make me wanna have one too.

But i glad i have one, and i cant believe i write this for 3 years (yealar i know lots of blogger write for so many years!), i always know i'm not a patient girl, and i don't write good English.

More than thousand times people were asking, "hey your english so bad ar, why still write in english, your mandarin way better wert."

No matter such comments to meant positive or negative, i insist to write in English.

Again, don't ask me why, i don't know, maybe almost everyone was written in English, make me wanna write it in English too.

Again, I glad that i write in English, that's the way to let my blog to reach world wide.

Sorry for those that suffering on my bad English, i'm from Chinese background, i have no environment for learning English, although i try very hard to. If you're not happy with my English blog, perhaps you would love http://novelrachel.blogspot.com/. I just have to admit that, Chinese version of mine blog is more like me.

Since last year i had decided to make English one to my pure travel blog which only for my journey's stories (ok ok i did bullshit a lot in between i know!) and photos, so i need other space for my expression, that's the reason why i set up Chinese one.

However this is my old blog, i blar alots here, including few of the weird Chinese entries. I was trying to move all the old entries to another blog, but this is too difficult, i have more than 300 entries.

Then i thought of labelling them would be an good idea, so i did it just now.

Damn but i have too many things would like to highlight, like backpackers hostel, extreme activities etc etc, yet i don't wanna make my blog too complicated with thousand of labels. Finally i decided to categories only by countries.

And a weird label, called "is my stuffs", which are all my old bullshit / emo / dog / life / moan / wish / self-pity etc etc that unrelated with journey at all.

Well i hope its help my reader to focus on what they want to read about.

I wanna say something that emo, to let my readers know how much i appreciate their reading, but damn i'm darn tired, i have to go to bed or i will pass out.

I keep those words next time, k?

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

20110611,1137pm

Rach loves reader mood

China Photos Post

2011-06-11T23:02:00.007+12:00

Me likey todai picy!

I know, a 25 year old lady act like 15 make you all sick, so am i.

I don't know why la! I feel like typing this way, so i did.

Oh yea and that is fact, i like photos today.

More accurate should be i like the way of uploading photos today, because i don't need to arrange! I just post all the shit up without recalling which is first and which is later!

Because below are photos taken by Mickey, so you can find lots of vain photo of mine, excited?

Yea right! Excited right?!

Ok guess what, i got some complain (ok i admit that is not complain, but wonder) that why i have so little photos of mine in my blog.

Because i'm ugly. Happy with the answer?

Neh just because i hate self-capture with Xiao P, he is not light at all, and i used to travel alone, no one can help for taking.

Ask someone pass by to help la!

Hey dude, if you ever seen some stupid tourist / backpacker's camera got stolen / ROB! because they handed it to them, you will never take the idea. Thank you.

I did take photo, only with Mickey. So the series of photos today all taken by Mickey (i know i repeated, be patient la!), i was trying to categories but too troublesome to do that, i decided upload all without choosing.

So for the one who complain / wonder why i have no own photos in the journey, you can have it all now.

Stupid fringe / Fringe makes me look stupid

Best! Mickey sometime did surprise me.

First sign i though it was mushroom. But that is actually a pair of boat.

One fine morning, after snowing for 3 days.

I looked pale because i felt cool all the time

in Starbuck HangZhou

Themeless

Damn i looked like ah lian la! Stupid beanie. Hahahahaha

On the street, while snowing.

Pedestrian overpass of the street.

Nice old chinese deco

HangZhou is even developed than KL, that's the reason why i dislike.

WTF Big head hahahahahahahah

When i have no spoon to stir my hot drink, Gary passed me this, and i used it WTF hahahaha. By the way the cake beside is nice and cheap!

If you already feel sick, don't complaint again!

Once be Mickey wallpaper

Sunset nearby XiHu, not snowing yet.

Now i missed the uni hostel room

I was a bear losing her way in the HangZhou city.

I remember that is the morning after snow storm, i walked out for breakfast. I passed by the little breakfast stall that Gary and I used to got our Chai Bao (vege bun), i just cant help to keep walking, but i had no destination.

So Gary was waiting for the Bao / me the whole morning, while i was losing myself in the city, and i reached a park with full of local. I sat down and had my Chai Bao (I had it all), trying to listen what people were talking about, although i cant understand it all (If only you know Chinese Mandarin accent is different), then a little kid came by and pat my lap, i looking at the red puffy face and feel like pinching him / her, then mummy came by and apologize for that. She was talking to me, asked me if i staying nearby or i'm new move here. She told me another Chai Bao stalls is nice and cheap, just around the corner.

I was smiling and not answering much, because i afraid she will finally realized i'm a foreigner, and not talking to me as what she did.

Sometime, travel doesn't mean how many places or attraction you've been, but get to know the local people and listen to their life or story, to make yourself have an unforgettable memory of the land.

That's what travel meant for me.

Well i guess i done all the China trip, next will be Night in Mallaca, not Night in the Museum. By the way i just got back from weekend runaway trip, post will followed after Mallaca and Singapore.

Meanwhile i was thinking for next short trip, Batam Indonesia should nice eh?

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

20110611, 0752pm

Rach in so tan mood

ShangHai

2011-05-29T14:11:00.006+12:00

I love winter, if winter is not cold.

Ok i'm bullshit, I know winter = cold, but i hate because that made me took too little photos!

I'm not trying to say this is the fault of winter, I JUST BLAMING!

Is that clear enough to warn that this gonna be photos-less (not photoless!) blog?

Ok, ShangHai.

I was staying in HangZhou in past 2 weeks, got a cheap accommodation in a university of ZheJiang.

P/S: You won't believe this, i made non china friend but bruncha friends from worldwide, just because i was staying in this international student hostel of the uni.

I was staying in ground floor, moved to 2nd floor later, finally moved to the top aka Korean floor.

One fine morning, snow.

So i sleep for a while more to wait the snow stop, but snow was falling for 3 days, continuously!

Heck this is not main thing, the main thing is i got a cheap accomandations, i don't bother to stay in ShangHai!

From HangZhou to ShangHai is like 1hour plus away, of course with the high speed train, was like 82RMB one way per person.

So Gary and I decided to do day trip, because we don't wanna waste the rent of the HangZhou, and we think we can do it in one day.

Also, i didn't have good impression of ShangHai, day trip sound good.

We missed the first train but manage to get the next train, if not mistaken we arrived by 10 something in the morning, very first thing when we stepped on the land was, EAT!

Tea time: Red bean something something, yum!

Xiao Long Bao

Juicy yummy!

You won't want to see what i had for the rest, that is subway.

No kidding, the subway you could found in UK, NZ, Singapore or Malaysia. Gary wants his tuna sandwich and i want my steak. So why not subway? I already had my famous Shanghai Xiao Long Bao!

By the way don't ask me to location of that Xiao Long Bao, i just remember somewhere in the lane, and tiny little shop only serve local. I don't know how the heck he knows that place but that is the best Xiao Long Bao i even had in China, or everywhere else.

We had no plan in Shanghai, all we know is Xiao Long Bao and Shanghai Bund.

So next, Shanghai Bund and Shanghai Pearl Tower

From the bund

Along the bund

On the ferry

Great tone, good job Xiao P

UK?

London?

This photo mean something for me

Street to the bund

I don't understand why must deep pink! WHY!

Golf ball :D

I like Shanghai Bund, in fact i like all the way to Shanghai Bund, i love the classic England street, made me confuse for a while if i was in UK or ShangHai (but soon you will found in ShangHai, because Chinese are surrounding).

The weather is chill, i hate to took out Xiao P for photograph, froze my finger in second! How horrible!

We took ferry to cross the river, although there are MRT or shit like this but always ferry is always better than train, for me.

Spent most of the time in lost ourselves in the city and walk, good enough to spend a day like this.

The best photo of the trip

I found a couple of picture in Hang Zhou, will upload in the next post.

Just be patient and wait!

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

20110603, 0920am

Rach in so afraid to go to work mood.

HangZhou, XiHu

2011-05-22T12:35:00.006+12:00

Xihu (west lake) is the main attraction of HangZhou, this damn hell huge lake is surrounding whole province, you can see part of the lake every where here.

As i mentioned earlier, i didn't plan well for this trip, i just wanna escape from Malaysia, so i don't bother to do research on this trip, all i know is Xihu.

Throughout the weeks i only went out to get chai bao (vege bun, yum! but i forgot to take a pic.), stay in room for writing (i done half of my book there), hanging around in the town, get myself missing and etc.

I don't feel like travelling, but living in this city, this somehow make me feel so good, feel peace tho.

I been Xihu almost everyday, just i cant get this lake away from my whole trip (damn its just everywhere!), but this lake is beautiful, especially in winter.

I mean i saw some picture of this lake before i been there, and everyone was saying autumn or spring is the best season to visit HangZhou, but i choose winter wtf.

Ok i like winter, but i'm not dying to see snow, God loves me so much, He lets HangZhou to be snowed for 3 days. 3 WHOLE DAYS!

Most of the pic taken in the day after snow storm, i don't know why i felt upset but heck this is the scene that i don't think you can see from other dumbass backpacker's blog like me, the winter Xihu.

I know i talk a lot, now scroll down and have some pic.

Ok, last sentence, i promise. I love Xiao P performance in the series of photos, just nice!

See the bike? That's electronic and rent in everywhere!

Lake side

This lake is as huge as a sea, damn

LengFeng Tower

Swinging my leg

So i got warned XD

a bridge

Flooding house. Weeeii!! ok a house-ship

On the bridge

Trust me, this is not bank, it is a bridge

As big as a street

This is my current wallpaper

Taking pic in the middle of the road always please me

Ok i confirm i take this before snow storm.

Sun set

Good to spend a nice evening here

A park surrounding the lake, so this is part of the park XD

I love the tone!

Nice sun set

That's Bing Tang Hu Lu, fresh strawberry covered by crunchy candy. Yum!

Obviously there is a bridge, ok i forget the bridge name, not even the Chinese, something like broken something something (hey that's old Chinese ok!), but that's a story about this bridge, something like a white snake, and green snake, and a... man... and... meeting point... hmmmm... errr...

Yea, something like this.

Ok you may allow to say the F word to me.

Next post will be Shanghai, not much photo but yea i got some nice one thought.

Stay tuned!

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

20110523, 1008pm

Rach in booking air ticket again mood.

HangZhou, bambo mountain

2011-05-14T15:33:00.006+12:00

I'm back!

I'll make it quick and simple, because i'm goin out in like.. 15 minutes!

Alright, i never expect to HangZhou and Shanghai, but sometime something just meant to be, so i brought the ticket, get visa and fly to HangZhou for 2 weeks.

I didn't do much research on this trip, all i know is XiHu in HangZhou, but i don't care, travel doesn't mean i have to go all the attractions, but choose those i wanted to go only.

January is winter, and coldest period during winter, i'm glad to be here in the beautiful winter, although it was shit cold.

But everywhere is insanely beautiful.

Europe element found in ZheJiang University student hostel

I stayed in the university student hostel instead of backpacker hostel, make lots of friend and truly great experience.

Student area

Woke up in a one fine morning and walk around.

I don't know where were i goin but missing in a strange city is part of backpacking

Then i reached a bamboo garden

with beautiful fall

failure, should lower the ISO

Mini falls

I like this

And this

And damn, this too!

reflection of the gloomy weather on the lake

This is beautiful, i love the color

Next day, or next few days, went out and explore to somewhere that is not in the map

HangZhou is beautiful, and emo, because of the weather

I like the tone, like movie

Weekday

Fate

Uphill

Bamboo everywhere, but i don't see panda

ShaoLin alike!

My step

Meet a lady all the way from GuangZhou.

On the top and i see Xihu

Down the hill and to Xihu

Temple

XIhu

took me like an hour to up and down

But the view behind the mountain is all worth.

HangZhou weather is always gloomy, i don't know if because of winter, but i like the mood and atmosphere.

Oh well, next post will be Xihu, and i have to go!

Ok i know i'm lame, but i will be back soon k?!

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

20110514, 12008pm

Rach in goin out mood

Busy

2011-05-09T00:25:00.001+12:00

Readers! Will be back soon, i had a busy week and i think next week is another busy week for me.

Stay tuned and i promise i will be back as soon as possible

KL, M'sia

110509, 0826pm

Rach in busy mood.

Singapore

2011-04-24T23:36:00.007+12:00

Ok Singapore.

This is the 2nd stop of mine from NZ.

By the time i reached in Singapore was 12am, to save a night of accommodation fees, i decided to slept in the airport. So i got a quiet corner with great view and spent my first night in the airport.

I checked-in to a hostel, got a quick shower and went out, although i didn't sleep well though.

I didn't plan to go to sentosa or universal or any other theme park, not interested me at all, i love culture and color, although Malaysia and Singapore has similar culture la.

So i just walked around to get some interesting photos.

My hostel is very near with Little India, i got a map in the airport and let myself went missing in the city, afterall Singapore wasn't that big, i never worried that i will lost the direction.

Sasha agreed that Singapore has no own culture, well i don't have any comment but frankly, Singapore is really not my city. I stop by because i don't feel like goin back to Malaysia yet, and i don't have any other destination so far, that's why.

Ok too far, i wanna talk something bout culture, so i can link that to my next photo, i went to have my very first hanna.

Of course this is not something new for me la, i'm a Malaysian what.

But this is my first hanna and don't ask me why to have it here, i dont know. I passed by a stall and the girl showed me her hand, i nodded my head so i sat down and let her draw on my hand.

Not expensive though, like 5 bucks, and its last for a week.

2 things always catch my eye in my trip, culture and architecture.

Although someone tease me architect is part of the culture la.

Singapore has similar building style with Malaysia, nothing really impress or surprise me, except the flat.

Most of the flat in Singapore painted with different color, when the sun is shining those flat do look good.

Theme park and shopping never a plan in my trip, while everyone telling me that Singapore is good to shop and good place to hunt for foods.

I love food but seriously, i don't like the service attitude in Singapore, no matter how yum the food us, it will never pleased me.

I booked my flight home in the 2nd days i stayed in Singapore, i don't like Singapore, no offence, this is just not my place.

The best part is to met some good friends here and we went to club in the last night i stayed in Singapore, we had really good time in Clark Quay.

Bout accommodation, i don't like hotel (ok ok i'm not rich enough to stay in hotel!), i like hostel more because i can meet more people and cheaper, of course.

I choose footprint after read all the review on the net, reasonable price and good location (MRT station is not like in the next door, but its not far though), so i stayed in this hostel in the whole trip.

Free wifi connection, but i never ever connect successfully in the dorm room, i don't know what's the problem and i don't bother to ask. I just brought greeny to the common area to get connect.

Alternatively you can use their desktop in the kitchen area, free of charge.

Locker in the room, bring your own lock. Air-con only allow to on after 8pm (if not mistaken). And they don't allow early check-in, but you can wait in the living room anyway, like what i did.

Met friends from everywhere in this hostel, including friends from Malaysia and we met sometime in KL here now, again, the best thing to stay in hostel is to meet people and share their story.

http://www.footprintshostel.com.sg/

Make your booking, not huge backpacker but warm and cozy, offer free breakfast too. Worth the money.

Alright next post, China.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

20110424, 0758pm

Rach in tomorrow is monday =( mood.

NZ memory

2011-04-16T13:40:00.004+12:00

I suppose to start my Singapore journey post last week, but i was too busy with my book and my features story of the press, i skipped a week without telling, but i guess you guys can guess so right?

But sorry ar, this week still NZ la XD.

Just because i was keeping my room, and i found something that i brought back from NZ and it worths to blog about.

Worth to blog for my own memories la.

This is the certificate of climbing on the world's steepest street in Dunedin, to prove you did walk up and down to the street.

But heck i tell you what, this certificate doesn't give away free, there is a shop in the beginning of the street, walk in and tell him you want a certificate, give the old man 2 bucks and you'll got one, the man doesn't care if you really did walk up and down from the street.

But seriously 2 bucks wasn't much la, as a tourist like me and you, i would really spent the 2 bucks for this certificate, just for memory.

By the way, if you wanna know more about steepest street in Dunedin, i do have a post about it.

Click me click me!!.

I know this photo looks funny, ok, at least me, i look funny i know.

I get this old photo taken in Arrowtown, people say there has the richest river in NZ, because the town produce gold.

Arrowtown nearby Queenstown, if not mistaken it was like 1 hour away. And heck i suddenly remember!

THE TOWN DO NOT HAVE A PETROL STATION! THE NEAREST WAS IN QUEENSTOWN!

This is all i remember about that town. Because that day we leave from Queenstown to next destination (ok i forgot where is the next destination la!), and we decided to pass by Arrowtown to have a look, and see if there sold any cheaper petrol.

But fuck, when that time we reached Arrowtown we found no petrol station, people in i-site told us the nearest was in Queenstown, and we're too far from the next destination, i estimated 100% not enough for us to reached the next destination.

Yes, so we drove back to Queenstown for petrol.

Ok la what-so-ever la, we walked for a while in this town but fuck i remember that day was raining and i leave my camera in the car because i don't want to wet it. So i let Ju and Aston to take photo.

And i forgot to get the photo for them.....

=.=

So this is the reason why i forgot about this town and there is no blog about it.

ok for what i remember, the Arrowtown river is one of the shooting place for the movie of hmmm... The Lord of the Ring? Yea if not mistaken la, the place was the river side, you can miss it because billboard everywhere. =.=

A very nice candy shop, you will turn to 5 years old when you get in there.

Countless of gold shop, but i don't have money for it wtf.

Some and old little town, very good to have a nice walk.

Oh damn i forget about the photo above, i get this photo in the lower ground floor of I-site, 20 bucks per photo taking and clothes and all that. I pay that for my mates to take this photo with me. Just for memories la.

P/s: I shouldn't smile, like how Ju react so i will look like women from last century wtf.

And the next thing, my birthday card from Cat.

Nothing much to say bout this, she knows, and i knows. =)

But this card was making by Prof. Chan, a prof from Taiwan, he gave up everything he has and came to NZ, get a piece of land, build his own home, grow vege and flower by the river side. He makes 3D cards like this and sold it in Sunday market.

We met each other from Jess and Elsa, and become very good friend after that. Love the card he makes, he put lots of effort in making it.

Last but not least. The farewell card from Bill and Johanna, my neighbour in Motueka, very lovely old couple staying quietly in the town.

Johanna was the English teacher for Elsa and Cat, i was the interpretor between Elsa, Cat and Johanna, although i don't speak good English, but its pretty enough to have conversation with them.

Bill used to talking to me, and showing off his Bahasa, he was born in Indo and later move to Netherland, met Johanna and later move to NZ.

The day before i leave, Bill and Johanna want me to go over for tea, i brought June together because she comes to see me. And Johanna handed me this card before i had to go home and packed my stuff.

Cant never ever forget she told me that how much Bill and her will miss me, wet my eyes.

The biggest different between travelling and backpacking was you will get more time to build more memorable relationship with local people, and those memory will brighten your journey.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
20110416, 1023am

Rach in ha-chiu mood.

The end of the NZ journey

2011-04-03T03:54:00.012+12:00

I met Jenn last night and she told me that my blog replaced by "Announcement" but not the name of places i had visit anymore.

This make me sad for awhile.

Not that i don't have trips to update, but i have no time to update.

This is a difficult post for me, because this is the last post about NZ.

C'mon, real real one la, i know i mentioned the same thing in last post.

So forgive me if you found familiar with some photos below, i'm not very sure if i posted them before, and i'm lazy to search it out post by post.

Because for this last post, i'm trying to dig out photos that i left out in previous posts, so this post can be theme-less, because all rojak

First part, the leaving of Kinna aka Julien, if you guys wanna know why he called Kinna, this is come from Taiwan Mandarin, Si Kin Na, means spoil kid. You won't agree more if you know him in person.

But yea, only kid likes him has the guts to backpacking in his 19. He's brave, i cant agree anymore too.

This fellow sneaked in my place for 2 days without letting Claire know.

Dino and Alice, Kinna and Me. The best summer ever =)

Claire and I

That also my self-farewell leaving from Motueka to my trip. I know God always love me, by leading me to meet good people in this trip.

Such as Dino and Alice, and Claire, my landlord in Motueka.

The day before i left, Dino and Alice came and look for me in my place, just to say goodbye and want me to take good care on myself, like my parent did.

How blissful am i to have them in my journey. I miss you Dino and Alice, of course you too Claire, and the little hut that i spent so long in Motueka, all these my sweet memory in my life, i can never forget those old days.

The second part of my trip is the journey from Queenstown to Lake Tekapo, i passed by a place called Omarama, which is not an attraction at all, i never heard of this place before and after i been in NZ.

So i always say, the most beautiful part of backpacking is, you will have much more surprise in your journey.

Like i found this fantastic place on the way to Lake Tekapo.

I say it is fantastic just because i never been such place before, i mean, a place close to desert.

I got the feel that BK mentioned from this view

NZ's weather changes in a minute, and weird. Half sunny, and half cloudy.

Like i mentioned thousand times before, driving in NZ is an enjoyment.

Because most of the time, its make you feel like you're the owner of the road.

Nothing, but desert

long way to go

Frankly i dislike desert, or place like this, make me feel the world is going to the end and i was all alone in such a hopeless place.

But heck i cant deny the beauty of this place anyway.

I never ever thought of a place like this is existing in the middle of the south island, this is a surprise and somehow amazed me alot.

And this journey let me got to see another side of NZ.

By the way, there is a small township in the middle of this highway, this is a long way with all the view like above, if you want you can just stop by and get to know the people in the town, talk to them and listen to their story.

This is what i used to do when i was travelling in NZ.

And the 3rd part.

The end of the journey. I mean, going back to Christchurch, catch up the flight to Auckland, and leaving.

I remember i told Gary once, Alpaca has a funny Chinese name, called Chao Ni Ma.

Surprisingly he got what i mean.

Hey i'm serious, my friend from China called it Chao Ni Ma, direct translate to English is Grass Soil Horse. And don't ask why, i have no idea at all.

Well, Aston leave us and stay in Lake Tekapo after i had to go to Christchurch, a regret for her because she hasn't had chance to see anyone of alpaca throughout the journey.

Finally Kinna and I found a huge group when we were on the way to Christchurch.

Group of alpaca, different size, different color

Farewell dinner. Last meal in NZ.

We rushed back to Christchurch 1 and half days before my flight, for 2 reasons.

To meet June, Dino and Alice, who came all the way from Motueka, a total of 5 hours driving distance to Christchurch, just to farewell me for another time.

No matter how selfish am i too cant reject the kindness of them.

So we meet for dinner, joined with Sam and Poon from Ashburton.

Give each of them a damn big hug when they were sending me off to the airport.

June dropped her tears and really make me so nervous, and happy, was comforting her but cant stop smiling. I know if i don't, i will too drop my tears.

So there i boarded to Air NZ, flight to Auckland, caught Qantas and flied to Melbourne.

In some airport

Don't get me wrong, i was lying on the floor and this is the reflection on the celling wall

I guess this is in Changi Airport.

In Changi i bet

Whole night long i couldn't sleep well, because i know my journey has came to the end

I cant really remember clearly, which airport it that in my photos. I stopped in 4 airports on the way back to Singapore. (My flight destination is Singapore, i wasn't decided to go back to Malaysia yet that time) Took me about 1 and half day to reached Singapore.

Keith came and meet me in the Melbourne airport, brought me out for a quick dinner and send me back to the airport, as i only have 10 hours stay in Australia.

I didn't get any photo in the land of Aus., forgot to took my camera out and seriously, i dislike Australia, nothing worth me to capture for my memory, except some people that i love who are surviving on this land.

10 hours later i flied to Singapore, and this is not my country too. I mean, not my type of country.

I reached in late night, as a backpacker, i have to spent every single cent wisely for next trip, i decided to stayed a night in the airport, and check-in to a hostel in the next morning.

And Singapore airport was the hmmm... 5th airport? that i had slept in. I just cant deny, this is the best airport for overnight. You can always find some silent corner with great view and slept in safely.

Well i haven't realised that i spent whole night on a piece of visible glasses until the day came, seriously freaked me out while i woke up by thinking i was hanging in the air. LOL.

So, here is the end of my whole 9 months journey in NZ. Thanks for those who is following my story of the journey all these while.

The end of NZ, doesn't mean the end of my backpacking journey. I know i have long way to go still.

Coming will be the journey in Sing' Land, China, Malaysia, and Sing' Land again.

Hopefully i will get the offer to Abu Dhabi, then you can see me in tudung. LOL.

Thanks reader, your support always be my motivation.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

20110403, 0735pm

Rach in knee bleeding mood

Marina Bay Sands Hotel

2011-03-26T15:26:00.002+13:00

I'm not used to post short entry, but i just have to, because i scared of losing my reader due on my super duper delay on the blog!

I'm not even finish my NZ blog wtf!

Ok so believe me, work does take my life away. I have no life again. Seriously.

And you won't believe where am i right now.

Yes I am. So, fuck!

Anyway i will be goin back to my land soon.

ok la just to show you guys i'm not delaying my post in purpose. I really really busy la.. Sob...

ps: Yea probably i will write bout this hotel, just maybe. So stay tuned.

20110326，1033am

Marina Bay Sands Hotel, Singapore.

Rach in wanna go home mood.

Announcement

2011-03-21T00:43:00.002+13:00

Hey reader, i still have probly 1 post bout NZ, another few post bout S'pore, China and Mallaca.

I try to update my blog at least once per week but sorry not in this week la.. I was so occupied bout everything recently. I promise will update in next few days.

Oh if you can read Chinese and would like to know more bout my real life, you can always visit my Chinese version blog.

Of course you can choose not to read all those bullshit la, no photos pun. =D

Alright will be right back.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

20110320, 0746pm

Rach in busy mood.