Surprisingly Taiwan

One thing I missed on my first ever trip to Taiwan in 2012 was to discover the demeanour of citizen in that country. It's all due to hectic schedules and in my mind the whole time was trying to play like local. So I don't really get the chance to interact with the people there and the next thing I know, I'm already at the airport ready to leave the country.

So on my second trip there recently, I finally realized something about the country. The people there no doubt very helpful even though some of them super poor in English. I still remember walked in to an ordinary normal street restaurant serving mixed rice. Well, I purposely searched that kind of shop when I can't bear my craving on regular meal anymore. To my surprise, the worker there been very helpful even though it's a self-service premise. She helped me from scooping rice till paying at counter. 

Nevertheless, of course my main highlight is the people and service at the hotel I stayed which is Mandarin Oriental Taipei. I came to Taiwan with uneasy mood because I've been struggling to figure out how am I going to settle the deposit matter since the organiser for the trip wasn't being helpful at all. 

I discovered even from the moment I emailed the hotel before flew there, their staffs were super helpful. When I reached the hotel, the picture became even clearer that Taiwan citizen are one of the kindest in the world. Everytime they bumped into me in every corners of the hotel, they bowed and greeted me. It's feel like a blessing. They never stop smiling and tried hard to facilitate me at their best. Now I wished I can stay longer there.

In my entire trips I've gone by far, Mandarin Oriental Taipei also no doubt the best I ever stayed. From the moment I stepped in, clearly it's a super fine hotel with vast interior decorations. The amazement became accelerated when I entered my room. All I can think is OH MY GOD. It looked like definitely a 7 stars hotel. I love every corner of it, the mini jacuzzi, the bed, the view, the study, the chilling sofa, everything about the room. Not forgotten, the breakfast selections are huge and can get anything from Asian delicacies to European pastries. Oh, I missed it!

To whom still unsure if Taiwan is worthy to visit to, I highly recommend you should go there. You won't lost, wifi is everywhere, pricing is not a big issue, safety level is excellent, and I hope you are a good cyclist. Bicycles for rental are available almost everywhere. Just one thing I didn't get to try, the public transportation especially subway. I guess I should come back there soon.

Hey Indonesia. Hey Jakarta!

I always wanna go to Indonesia. Doesn't matter which part it may be but I just wanna be there.

Frankly speaking, I don't fancy the country (I mean Indonesia is not in my wish list travel destinations) but I just feel like I wanna experience the ambience there. That's it.

Finally, I made it to Jakarta recently even tho it's not a personal trip. I was there for work where I met this most-talked South Korean actor, Joo Won (I'm clearly not a fan but he's nice).

It was a very short & packed trip. I must admit my whole trip was super tiring, it could kill my mood but lucky my level of excitement still tolerable.

All this while, peoples (those who already been there) told me the road is the most disastrous part. Traffic in Jakarta will make you feel like not coming back there/to be grateful with the traffics in Malaysia.

Well, apparently I learned something from my trip there. It's not that always the road being cruel to you. If you lucky enough, you won't go thru such hell. And, I'm obviously lucky.

But my favourite part of the trip was the lodging. We stayed at Keraton by The Plaza, Thamrin Road. At first, I thought it will be just another luxury room but obviously more fascinating than I imagined. Sadly, I stayed only one night there.

Other parts just normal to me. Kuala Lumpur city still way better compared to Jakarta in term of infrastructures.

Here are some of the photos I took during my trip there.

The bed. Uh-mazinggg!

The welcoming tidbits.

The bathroom (the part I loved the most in a hotel room esp bathtub).

My smoking port at 7th floor (where the breakfast place located).

Roaming around to see the nightlife.

Dream Trip to Macau!

A friend of mine went to Macau recently. At first, I'm like yeahhh he went for work purpose, maybe? Then my heart not really pounding (normally it will) expecting his trip will be just flat becoz he's working while not knowing he'll be doing something I will definitely envied.

When he started posting his photos there, I'm like totally overwhelmed and obviously envy to the max noticing he's on a cloud nine. Surely, the trip he had gone really opened my eyes to finally put Macau in my travel bucketlist.

The one that definitely caught me was when he did the bungee jumping from on top of the Macau tower. I mean, yeahhh I actually planning to do my very first bungee jump in New Zealand all this while but not anymore. From the top of Macau tower, can you imagine? THAT WOULD BE SUPER AWESOME!!!

Secondly, another one of dream places none other than Venice (who don't wanna go there?!!) and just discovered Macau can promise such atmosphere at The Venetian. Yeahhh, based on the name only, we already can feel the heat, aren't we? I heard (well I saw from the photos actually), the place is a must-visit in Macau especially those who love arts and absolutely shopping!

Lastly, as I got my own principles of travelling, I better leave third one blank since I would love to surprise myself. You know that feeling when we just want to discover something out of the blue. Doesn't matter it is already discovered or not, but obviously that would be more than exciting. Bumped into kind-hearted citizens, lost in some cool places, found some good foods, it could be anything! 

Well, I did this post in conjunction of the contest conducted by Macau Government Tourist Officer and Nuffnang Malaysia just to try my luck this time. Plus, yeahhh now Macau is one of my bucketlist to visit, fingers crossed my dream will comes true. 

And oh ya, dear organisers, don't hesitate to send me coz I definitely will make sure to have fun there regardless to flood my every social medias form with updates while I'm there. *puppyface*

Let's Korea!

While doing nothing this first Eid, I decided to brush up my vocal and Youtubeing some karaoke of my favourite songs.

But before I can even start to warm up my voice (fyi, I sing for fun only, not a singer tho), I stumbled on this one ads that really glued my sight.

I'm not really that kind of contest hunter but once in a while, I like to try on my luck by participating some promising contest. Especially when the prizes are travelling to another countries, it's really pumping me up.

One thing, especially when the contest don't get me into hassle, then why not? And this one does! It's a super simple contest, just filling the form and if you win, South Korea is waiting for you.

I always wanted to go to Korea especially when I heard the country has so many beautiful places. Watched dramas and films from the country also triggered me to go there becoz I just love their language! (not intended to really learn it, more just love to listen them speaking)

Plus, I heard that Seoul is like a shopping heaven. Although I'm not that one of a shopaholic persons, but I imagining I can find so many good things there for me. (hope so!)

But the point is, I would like everyone else try this contest. Who knows you're the lucky one. Well, I don't really have interest by doing this (not appointed to blog this by anyone) it's just that I love to share good things. ;)))

So, this is it. First thing first, go to this website Tour Imagination, register yourself, and fill the form! Easy one, no worries!

Amusing right?!

The form.

Even listed are the itinerary for the trip later and there's another contest going on at that site. So, it's your turn!

Not putting high hopes to get selected but yeah, I do hope I'm the lucky one.

BTW, to all muslims, Selamat Hari Raya/Blessed Eid!!!

Hi Sydney!

Traveling has been part of my life now. Yes, thanks to my job again I get to go even places I thought I can't afford to go for the rest of my life.

Recently, I went to Sydney for working purpose and as always I tried hard to make it feel like a real traveling experience. Been to Switzerland, Germany, Taiwan, India, Singapore & Thailand taught me so many new things about travel.

But I guess it's not that adventurous in Sydney since the time was so limited. So, the 'adventurous' thing I did was exploring the city on my own. Obviously, Sydney is a very nice place where you can really feel super safe but most probably the thing I loved the most was because it's winter now there.

I don't really have to flag onto any taxi to get somewhere since the temperature itself is already cold. I enjoyed walking around in the coldness without sweating and feel tired.

Beside the temperature, it was nice to see antic buildings everywhere, nice places to eat and lot of malls to shop. BTW, I stayed at Holiday Inn in Chinatown and I think it is a very strategic place to stay.

I think I just covered not even 5% of Sydney and definitely would like to come back again. Peoples there also super nice and really helpful.

So basically, what I did during the trip were dining at the famous restaurant Hurricane's Grill Steakhouses, trying pancakes at Pancakes on the Rocks, took some shots at Sydney Opera House (so tourist....gahhh!), invading Chinatown and lastly accidently shopped some shoes (I'm a shoe lover fyi).

 

 Studying the map on my 1st day.

Found a fresco after my name while wandering around waiting to be seated at Hurricanes Grill Steakhouses. Ain't it cool?!! *facepalm*

 Amazing night view + the coldness, perfect!

 

 

 Mesmerized by the architecture of Queen Victoria Building.

 

 The shot I cannot wait and must to take.

 Just breathtaking. Sydney cove.

 The very last item I purchased. It's from Topshop at AUD40.

 Guess how much this is?...................Just AUD15 (MYR45). Worth  it!

Sampai juga India.

Aduinaa. Punyala nda ada masa mau lawat2 nih blog suda. Siou ah yang sentiasa tunggu update sa. Haha. Kalau adalah.
   Ok, ni kali saya mau cerita pasal trip sa pigi India baru-baru nih. Padahal kan, sa nda pernah tefikir pun mau pigi tu negara. Pernah lagi saya cakap sama diri-sendiri, sa nda akan jejak pun India. Nah, last2 tepigi juga.
   Kawan ofis sa la bah nih yang berabis membawa. Ngam2 dia pun pernah pigi juga dan bila dia cerita pengalaman dia di sana, trus sa pula yang begatar mau pigi ah.
   Oklah, trus pigi point asal. Mau tau kan, dekat sudah sa nda tepigi sana coz tetinggal flight time sa mau pigi KL dari KK aritu.
   Kami naik AirAsia turun di Kolkata. lepas tu, di sana kami stay dua malam padahal plan asal hari kedua mau pigi trus di Agra yang ada Taj Mahal tu. Tapi, tiket kretapi habis nih. Sadis. Haha.
   Teda apa-apa sangat kalau di Kolkata jadi di sana kami jalan-jalan biasa sajalah.
   Paling sandi time kami naik train 20 jam dari Kolkata pigi Agra. Nda taulah saya mau cakap pengalaman paling pahit ka nda tapi mimang sengsara bah dalam train, teda aircon lagi, panas lagi, trus bercampur lagi sama urang durg yang macam2 kerenah. Nasib baik nda bau. Tapi, tu kepanasan ba, 47 darjah celcius kan, memang air sejuk pun trus jadi air suam ba.
   Tapi bila sampai Agra, mimang paling sioklah tu feel. Saya masih nda percaya sudah jejak kaki dalam Taj Mahal, antara tujuh keajaiban di dunia. Susah mau explain tu perasaan melainkan sendiri sudah ada dalam tu bangunan. Magik nih, macamanalah urang dorang dulu2 bulih buat rekaan telampau cantik macam tu sekali. Very detail bah.
   Lepas satu malam di Agra, trus kami naik train pigi New Delhi pula. Ni kali, train yang kami naik mimang orang kaya punya train, jadi tedalah mau komplain2. Haha. Satu malam ja kami di Delhi sebab bisuk pagi trus kami fly pigi Srinagar pula.
   Sampai Srinagar, tekajut nih pulis di mana2. Kedai2 pun tutup semuanya. Tapi sioklah di sana sebab bersih sikit (sikit jakla.masih ada habuk2), tapi yang paling best, macam rasa bukan di India pula di sana. Habis urang dia semua yang patern2 urg Pakistan tapi high-class punyala. Mata biru, hijau, coklat, semua bulih jumpa di sana.
   Macam2 kami buat di Srinagar. Kami tinggal di Kashmir 4 hari dan pi lawat dua tempat, Pahalgam sama Gulmarg. Since dua2 tu tempat jauh (3jam mau pigi) dari Kahsmir, jadi kami spend satu hari untuk satu tempat.
   Sioklah Kashmir. Urang dia bagus2, mimang senang mau buat kawan. Walaupun ada jugalah yang macam mau kawan2 sebab jual barang atau bisnes2 lain, tapi dorg approach bagus2.
   Last day, kami balik pigi New Delhi. Kunun mau berjimba lah, tapi punya susah mau cari tempat yang happening. Last2, pigi mall juga kami trus tershopping ni. Haha.
   12 hari sana, paling siok dan mimang sa mau pigi lagi lepas nih. Tapi ni kali mau pigi time musim sajuk pulalah. Coz  nda ketahanan betul kalau musim panas. Tekupas-kupas nih kulit muka.
   Bah, nda lengkap kan kalau nda show-off gambar2 time di sana. Nah!

 Bandar Kolkata.

 Sadap nih. Masal udang sama roti parantha.

 Dalam Agra Fort. Istana di Agra.

 Gambar dulu sebelum masuk Agra Fort.

 Main salji di Gulmarg.

 Nih mimang mimpi jadi kenyataan.

 Tempat buat kasut di New Delhi.

 Rumah bot di Kashmir, Srinagar.

 Menara di muzim kretapi, Kolkata.

 Pintu kubah dalam tu AGra Fort.

 Gila nih dua urang tapi banyak tolong kami di Kashmir.

Nah. Susah nih kami naik p atas. Kesakitan buntut naik kuda. Curam lagi tu jalan. Di Pahalgam nih.

Bah, siapa yang kunun nda mau pigi India tu, sa cakap lah mimang rugi. Kalau ada yang mau pigi dalam masa terdekat, jan malu2 minta tips sama sa. Aiseh.