Vietnam

Interior photo courtesy of Chris at www.myeggnoodles.com.

A little comfy space for sleep at Sleeper train to Hanoi's Gia Lam station.

As seen on the picture its the same like as my train room. It's a small, comfortable and clean. And the ticket not too expensive RMB 219 for one person and the good for the experience, never had before and for sure its good for me. Another new thing in my life...

sand dunes

And now lets talking about Vietnam trip. Da Nang and Mui Ne, two place that I want to go. BUT we have ticket accident, so we just have one place to go. And I choose MUI NE, where's the place I can see desert and sea together. 

So Mui Ne is one of the famous destination for tourist beside HaLong Bay. As like I said before you can see the desert sand dunes cross the sea for me its very rare view that you can see, because as we know usually a desert hard to find the water but in here you can see both, they are neighbour :)

How long it takes to go there... a day! After we take a train sleep we are arrived at Gia Lam station then we going to Hanoi International airport - Noi Bai by Taxi (the taxi in there is same like in Bali, you need negotiation the price). Using a VietJet air airplane to Ho chi minh city, the nearest place to Mui ne.

ho chi minh airport taken using Nikon af600

And from the airport still need 3 until 4 hour more by car (we rent a car with the driver). And after long journey we finally arrive at Nathalia resort at Mui Ne... we here!!! 
Nathalia Resort is a good place, strategic location, and the best part is the room in front from the beach.

To see around you can hire motorbike like we do. There is alot things that you can see in this area, local society, the beach, museum, and everything. Don't worried about having fun, in here lots place to have fun, lots good restaurant with a good music and live performance. My favorite place is Joe's restaurant (if I dont forget) this restaurant is belong a mix couple who just have a baby. They are nice, friendly and have a nice history, really love this place... and for sure have a good food too... spring rolls and wadge potato... perfect!!!

Maybe I will come back again to Mui Ne again next time

ADIOS!!!

What a day! - Nanning

Shit thing is always happen...Couple hours become couple a days...

What a day! We are really lost! Completely lost our mind... Its annoying but also funny 'coz its silly...hahaha

 NANNING

A little bit history about Nanning... So Nanning is the capital of GuangXi Zhuang Autonomous region in south-west China. Modern city and transport gateway for all traveler to Vietnam by land. That's the reason why we going to Nanning, to catch the sleeper train to Vietnam (in Indonesia don't have sleeper train, so exited about this...)

I already set up that we will in there until afternoon, wait until the train go. I was check the train schedule on web (www.seat61.com), and say the train to Vietnam at 6 pm. So we arrived in Langdong bus station Nanning at 3 o’clock and we still need take another bus to the train station. Funny story is when we are at bus station and we don't know what number bus to the train station so I ask to the information "hello, can you speak English" but then the lady looks confused and say "wait for a while please..." and she using a walkie talkie calling her friend but its take so long and we don't have much time so I start drawing a train station and show to them... loll they know with what I mean but she don't know how to explain to us until her friend come and he explain to us where we should go and what number of bus that we should take... Its so funny... loll

I can say public transportation in China like bus is really helpful, clean and safe for traveler who don't understand mandarin language also the ticket is cheap between 1 until 2 RMB.

On the way to train station I realize that we don’t have time to see this town coz we are late, I’m worry but try to be cool hahahha..

Extend, day 1

When we’re arrived at train station, I saw long queue in front of the counters... Oh GOSH! They have more than 20 counters and all full with peoples...well coz it’s summer! Everybody go to holiday! Darn it! I wishing that we don’t run out the ticket... So I asked the staff where the counter who sell ticket to Vietnam, and I'm very glad the staff pointed to the less queue counter 16, fiiuuh we still have time...

“two ticket to Hanoi-Vietnam, please” and the counter girl looks confused how to answer in English (again!), my English is not good enough too so I tried to understand what she say and then I say “Whaaaatt??? Seriously???” *red face* speechless...

"Sorry, ticket to Vietnam is sold out for today..."

I back to the stairs, languid and say to Monkey that “the ticket was sold out...”.  So we don't have any option we need to find a hotel for sleep and shower, we are smell and tired... We looking a hotel near train station just in case we wake up late so we don’t have to hurry. We stay at Ying Bin Hotel, its right away front cross the railways, old hotel, clean room and bathroom but no WiFi, the price is 100 RMB per night. So the good news is we have a lots time to looking around the city, all night until the sun is rise up...

At night we go take a dinner, we walking to the Chaoyang road and Zhongshan Road. Chaoyang Rd. is the main shopping lined department store, local and international store. And also the place for people to hang out young and old people come to here, the light from stores and big screen its make this street flooded with the tourist. wheres people come around to hang out and I don’t know whats the name. Zhongshan Rd. is Nanning's food street from budget until splurge. At night you will find a night food market and find various exotic dishes ready to be reserved. And monkey trying a DURIAN fruit for the first time hahaha and of course I know he'll not like it... he say the taste like a baby diaper... ooo so monkey have been try the baby diaper... :P

Chaoyang Rd

Extend, day 2...
As like I thought before that we're late to wake up, prepare our self, check out from hotel then go to railways station. And as usual people already make a line at there. Double shit! its a lunch hour so the staff take a break... I don't know what wrong with that day I'm upset with monkey, he's like don't want cooperated, I say wait in here until the they back operated but he want go walking around. So we separated, I stay coz don't want run out the ticket like yesterday and monkey go to nowhere.

Even for one day I still want to go to Da Nang like my plan so I really hope I get the ticket and go with or without monkey. Ten minute after they operated again I still wait until monkey come then he came in last minute and he go to inside to buy the ticket but then he back fast and say "sold out". I'm very upset and go to the counter and asking again but they say "sorry, we don't have ticket for today" Shit! now its definitely I can't go to Da Nang. No way we go to there by plane my money not enough. I back to the counter again and asking what time you sold the ticket for tomorrow and she say "right now, we sold ticket to Vietnam for tomorrow"... I give her a straight face say in my heart "fucking bitch, why you didn't tell me yesterday!!!! damn it!" and still with the straight face and a little bit awkward smile i say "two ticket please..." Then I'm thinking whose false is this? ME or that staff??? well for sure is the language 'coz make us LOST... haha...  

sleeper F*train ticket. Leave from Nanning at 18.30 o'clock.

July 1st-3rd

So silly,
adios...
 

The karst county - Yangshuo, China

Welcome to the karst county

Yangshuo

This is our next stop, Yangshuo another town in China. Just need 3-4 hour from Gui lin by bus. The bus leave at noon and we arrived at Yangshuo about at 3.00 pm. I forgot how much the ticket price bus I think is not too expensive. Its because we both do not understand a mandarin language so I need check and ask to the locket for make sure that we bought the right ticket coz I don't want waste money...

Sitting on the bus for 3 hour definitely torture me on my first day got period. So uncomfortable I can't sleep, my back is hurt and uncontrolled emotion makes all bad...and Monkey, poor him... he always be my hormone target hahaha..

Great view in outside made my mind distracted (for a while) from my period. I look from the window and I see hills everywhere, it's amazing view remind me with the sound of music song..."The hills are alive with the sound of music.. la la la..." NO? ok then... :P
If you see hills everywhere, It's mean you are arrived at Yangshuo...

almost arrived :)

WEST STREET...
The first thing that I'll do is going to the toilet yes I know its nasty toilet but i can't hold it anymore. Tissue and take a deep breath will help me to through it...fiiuhh...

Ok, so from the bus station to our hotel is only 10 minute by walking, very near. We stayed at Bamboo House Hotel, No.12. Longmu Alley, West Street, Yangshuo (http://bamboohouse.weebly.com) or if you want get a good price try booked at www.agoda.com they give a big discount 50%-70%.

West street is the center of thing in here. You can very easy to find accommodation (splurge, middle until budget), souvenir shop, restaurant, Mc Donald, KFC, Pub, until beautiful view.

me at west street, looking for our hotel

When I'm in Gui lin, I always wondering where is the sun, its summer but the sun never show up. And now I know the reason why there is no Sun in Gui lin, because the sun is staying at Yangshuo all day... HOT IN HERE, come to mama sunny... wohooo SUMMER! Great weather tho... love it!

For me Yangshuo is the real ancient scenic county than Gui lin, surrounded by many karst peak, beautiful scenery and bordered on one side by Li River. If you an adventurer this place is fit for you. You can rock climbing, tracking, cycling, or biking  there's so much place you can explore in Yangshuo.  

"it is relatively air and noise pollution free, (provided you get away from major roadways), very clean (by Chinese standards) and does not usually suffer from endless massive traffic chaos" (source: wikitravel)

Some place that we visit at Yangshuo...

Moon hill

View from top moon hill

Moon hill is a symbol for Yangshuo, why? because of larger rock series of strange shaped rock formations but this is the only one with a sort of half moon shaped hole in it. 

butterfly cave

It's like the name of the place Butterfly cave so it's all about the butterflies, the cave, bridge, garden, waterfall, lake and also the stalactite of butterflies. Here is a home for more 200 species butterfly, the largest of it's kind in China. That's they say about the Butterfly cave, we are not come inside, we just stay at outside and eat in there :P hhaha...


Another place that you can visit in Yangshuo... (that we don't have a chance to visit... because of my mood and money :P )
Big Bayan Tree, Longmen water cave, Snow lion hills, Green Lotus peak, Chaolong, Fuli town and Dragon bridge.

Some place we only looked from the outside, but I don't know why I can't find the picture of it... 
And this is a some place that I took when we get lost :P

Yulong River

another bridge

OK another picture will be catch up...

We both is really lucky can step up our feet in this beautiful place, we love it and I'll be back again someday and now its time to go, coz we still have place to see... 
Be ready Nanning... :)

June 28th-July 1st

cheerios, 
monkies 

Rain and Umbrella - Guilin, China

Never crossed in my mind that someday I will go to here before coz its never on my list, but now I'm on the way to the highest population country in the world...

CHINA 

taken from Google image map

So since I never have a thought that I'll go to here I just vague about China tourist destination except the china great wall and other famous place. We don't want to go shopping but we looking for an exotic place that we don't see before. Lucky, I have two friends, one: is an origin from China and another one is working at China. I ask to them what place that I can visit and feel the ancient of China, not a big city, on budget and the most important is easy to go to Vietnam by train... they're recommended GUI LIN. I check at www.wikitravel.com , check the map and love it! OK, we go there! Gui Lin - Yangshuo - Nanning...

Our flight is a first flight also the only one flight to Guilin from Kuala Lumpur (KL) by AirAsia, it's 06.30am Malaysia time. After get lost at KL airport and feel tired, we finally can wake up in the early morning to prepare and go to the LACC airport.

When we arrived at airport I see alots of tourist sleeping at there and watch the EURO LEAGUE, we also watch it for a while coz the boarding gate not yet open. When we at the boarding place we looking forward for a drink at duty free and didn't realize that our name was called, last call for us from the plane...GOSH! We almost missed our flight...pffttt... Thanks GOD not happen.
At the plane pilot say that at Guilin the weather is cloudy, ok let's hope our flight will be ok and save...

hello sunshine from plane - Malaysia

We here...

After 3 hour we are on flight, finally at 10.30 am (no differences between Malaysia and China time) we arrived safe at Gui lin Liangjiang International Airport... YAY! and the massive rain welcoming us...:)

Guilin Airport

Someone from hostel that we booked already pick up us and bring the paper sign written ANDREW GEORGE :) She say wait in lobby but then she came driving a taxi and then we knew that she's a taxi driver... cool isn't? In Indonesia still rare have a woman taxi driver but in Gui Lin (or maybe in China) have a lots woman taxi driver maybe because majority population in China is a woman... go girl! 

traffic jam at main street - lots of bike with umbrella, DANGERS!

She take us to the hostel, How! hostel / Green Forest hostel that we booked at www.agoda.com couple month before. I can tell I LOVE THIS HOSTEL at the first time my foot step on their lobby...i love how the way they decorate this hostel, using a roof tile as a wall, used book as a counter bar...so creative!

took from HOW HOSTEL/GREEN FOREST HOSTEL

You know whats make it complete about this place? The price is on budget 3 night 2 person is only RMB 397,5 and you got a great view from your room window, Li river view. Their location is strategic easy to go to anywhere, bus, train even for walk. Last but not least, the staff is fantastic, friendly and very helpful, coz they can speak English.
So guys, How! Hostel/Green Forest Hostel is definitely HIGH RECOMMEND to stay if you visit Gui Lin.

The famous Li River - view from our hotel

that's monkey sitting at cozy restaurant drinking a beer in the afternoon

Day one, Rain: we are going to Seven Star Park at Qixing Gongyuan, to get there we need take a bus number 11 (pay 2 RMB)from bus stop at front our hostel and sit until last bus stop. Seven star Park is a big a scenic park, you can see a Flower Bridge, Putuo Mountain, Seven Stars Cave, Camel Hill, Crescent Mountain, Guihai Stele Forest and Light of China Square. This place is so refreshing the air make you feel that and unique. You can see the house build at the edge, at the top of the hills, a big cave with the small river until the hill looks like a camel. Good place for picnic and bring the family. Oh, you need all day to explore this big park ;) Ticket entrance 35RMB.

The gate of Seven Star Park

Umbrella bridge

the house at the edge

the cave

camel hill

the lotus lake

 

 






Day two, Still Rain: The Reed Flute Cave, the location is in northwest of the downtown of Guilin. Go to stop bus in front of hotel and take a bus number 3 and pay for 2 RMB then you arrive at there. The magic of the mother of nature, has been over 1200 years and became the most interesting attraction for tourist. Filled with the larger number of stalactite, stalagmites and rock formations in weird and wonderful shapes. Its a great place to visit and learn. Ticket entrance 90RMB.

pict. one

pict. there

pict.two

Day three, Raining Again: Two river and four lakes and Elephant Trunk Hill, to go there from HOW hostel just walking 'coz its near only follow the Li river and you will find the Elephant Trunk hill. The location is on the western of Bank Li river, why they named elephant trunk hill because the shape of the hill is like elephant drinking water from the river. But very too bad Li River was floating so the hill closed for tourist safeness.

Two river and four lakes located is around the city which includes Li river (the part within the city), Taohua (Peach Blossom) River, Mulong Lake, Guihu Lake, Ronghu Lake and Shanhu Lake. Every tourist who visit Guilin their tour guide always bring them to here, to see two pagoda they named it sun and moon. You also can go inside in pagoda and pay about 149 RMB. My advise go to there at night 'coz you will see amazing light around pagoda and the river, amazing view.

and this is some pict. in Guilin...

the bridge one

bridge two

The Thing That You should Know:  
Gui lin is a rain and umbrella city, everyday is rain and  umbrella become an iconic with this city. Wherever they go and even when the sun so bright they use an umbrella, walking or riding a motorbike (weird). Well if you want to do a business in Gui Lin, umbrella and raincoat will be a perfect business... :) 

Chinese people usually can't speak English, only some of them who can speak English, remember that! So you need be careful when you buy the ticket make sure you buy the right one.

Don't used or be careful with public restroom, it gross. Sometimes they didn't flush the shit. Just go to the mall or good restaurant or hold it until hostel.

Some people try to get benefit from you with take a picture of you from their phone cell, they asking for some money for that and sometimes they insist to do that... the weirdest thing that I ever know! 

But so far Gui Lin is the good place to visit, there are so many place that you can see and learn... I'm glad has a good impression in this rain and umbrella city, Gui Lin. 
SO next trip, we are going to Yangshuo...the small ancient scenic county... see you there monkies...

two silly monkey,
xoxo 

June 25-28th

Lost at the Airport - KUALA LUMPUR

So I'm at Malaysia now, my first overseas country! YEY, finally! Even just for transit one night before I fly to Gui Lin, China in the next morning, I'm happy step my foot in other country... So my route this time at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is airport to airport.

LACC...
My heart beat so fast when my flight landed also feel so nervous. Nervous about everything :P mostly about my English, can I speaking well, can people understand what I say...and so on...pfft... Silly but reasonable though cause now English will be my primary language...finger cross they will understand what I say... :p

Previously I had made an appointment with monkey about our meeting point. Because of he arrived at KL in the morning and I'm at the afternoon so he will pick me up at the airport. 

I landed at LACC, AirAsia airport everything is good the weather, baggage line, and also with the immigration everything just fine until I can't find monkey at arrival door. He's already at the airport and waiting at arrival with my name on the big paper... haha. I looking everywhere but still can't find him and then I remember KL has two airport LACC and KLIA. My assume that he's at the mainly airport, KLIA.

KLIA...

I ask to receptionist at the airport where I can find the bus go to KLIA and the lady say "bus station, beside the airport" so I go there but I don't see people at the bus so I back inside to the airport and ask other local people. The guy pointed across the lobby and say "wait in there" so I wait. No bench for sit but its ok, at least I can take a break for a while loosen my shoulder from my heavy bag. 

And then I saw people prepare their money to pay ticket bus...oh shit! I'm too tired to go back inside and look for the money changer.. DAMN, why I bring so many cloths in my bag! While I prepare my rupiah to change and ready to go inside the bus to KLIA just arrived and for sure I missed it...double DAMN!! 

The next bus is quite take an ages, Monkey text "take taxi!" and I say "NO! Taxi in airport its awful, looks unsafe...be patient and wait for me". 30 minute waiting the bus came and the ticket was 2,50 RM. And because I don't know whats look like of KLIA and I asking to the woman who sit next to me about KLIA where's the place that easy to be found, and she say go to food court, so I text monkey to meet me in there.

Need 20 minute from LACC to KLIA and from bus I can see oil palm farm along the way at the airport. Now Malaysia is the second exporter oil palm in the world. Beside the oil palm farm, I see the road is deserted, not a lot cars in the road feels like I'm in the nowhere place... hahaha 

The woman who sit next to me take me to the food court to meet monkey, she's more nice than the receptionist woman in the airport "Thank you so much". It's been a year since the last time we met at BALI, our first adventure. And there he is, siting at the corner front of the food court gate, with tired face and messy looks yup that's my monkey... OK, now I can get rest I'm so tired not yet sleep since back from work and I need sleep coz our flight is in early morning to Gui Lin... Back to hotel please...

Sooo, see you at GUILIN then... ;)
June, 24th 2012

P I C T U R E!

our adventure

"all my bag all packed and I'm ready to go..."

a s i a
...Jakarta, Indonesia - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Guilin and Yangshuo and Nanning, China - Hanoi, Ho chi minh, Mui Ne, Vietnam - Phenm Penh, Siem Reap, Cambodia - Bangkok, Kho Phanggan, Phuket, Thailand...

Never cross in my mind before that I will go around ASIA this fast and do it in one trip, I thought I will do it later one by one. But the offer is come and I thought why not, let's do it... :)  

Behind the story about this trip is come from miss understanding and arguing between me and let say my partner in crime from the United Kingdom Mr. Andrew Peter George :P
 

This is my second time go traveling with Andie, the first time is in BALI when he (really) come to see me. We are officially met for the first time after almost 4 years we talked on Facebook. Yeah yeah yeah I know its cheesy story but its real, we both know each other from Facebook, playing poker games together, chat on msn, skype and by email never thought that now we become a summer partner... haha
 

So here we are now our second summer, OUR ADVENTURE it's begin... 2 silly monkey, 29 days, 5 country... HELLO ASIA...

CAST

You see that picture? That's Andie, I called him monkey coz he's lovely monkey and annoying like monkey :)
As a like on the picture he was drunk, coz he loves drink... sometimes until drunk...

You know Pool? try beat him, coz he's good on that... I just only ONCE beat him on pool... ratio 1:30? people say he's monster... haha

But if he say he's good on driving a bike? I would say meh....I do better than him HAHA

And that's me with a corn sausage, well more like a penis I guess hmmm... haha

I'm a moody person if I'm in bad mood I usually do a Silent treatment, not speaking until I get calm or someone say sorry...and I made it as my weapon when monkey start annoyed me :P

I love get drunk too, Andie say I like a monkey when I get drunk then he call me monkey like I did... pfft... Get drunk while you on vacation is a MUST, remember that! :P

If monkey good on pool, I'm good on HANGMAN games... ;)

so that's two silly monkey who will explore 5 countries in ASIA, getting lost and do a silly thing... :) hakuna matata...

see you in our adventure story...