Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok, my dining, shopping and massage paradise!! I went to Bangkok almost once a year. There are so much things i can do in Bangkok.

The Baiyoke Sky Hotel - Thailand's tallest hotel, rising 88 storeys above the Bangkok skyline, strategically located in the heart of downtown. What i wanted to intro is not the hotel facilities, but is the International Buffet and Seafood in Bangkok Sky Restaurant on 76th & 78th floors.

Before dinner, we enjoyed the paranomic view of Bangkok from the Revolving View Point on 84th floor, follwowed by sumptuous dinner at the Sky restaurant. They served river prawns, rock lobsters, scallops, crabs, cooked in various styles, grilled salad, Tempura or teppanyaki Seafood etc. What i like most is the big prawn and fresh salmon.

After the heavy dinner, we proceed to The Roof Top Bar & Music on 83rd floor for our cocktail. The outlet set amidst the beauty of city lights and the magnificent view of sparkling stars and Bangkok sky at night.

Its romantic ambience allowed those who plan to do his marry proposal. I'm sure she will says " Yes! I do".

If you wish to taste the local signature dish or dessert, then must try the manggo rice. You can find this everywhere. If you have local friend, they will bring you to those authentic Thai local restaurants for sumptuos seafood and dessert. So far, i have tried fresh oyster (served in Thai sytle), curry powder crabs, shark fins soup, grilled prawn, birdnest served in coconut etc.

Go for Bangkok river cruise in the evening! The 2 hrs cruise passed through the beautiful night scenery on both sides of Chao Phraya river while having served with welcome drink cocktail. We dined under candle light with live music band in a romantic atmosphere while enjoyed the international buffet elegantly.

If you are hungry at night, don't worry, this restaurant is opened only for supper. They served delicious congees buffet in a cosy environment. They have more than 100 varieties for you to choose from.

There are many shopping malls in Bangkok. When it comes to luxury goods, Siam Paragon is a 'heaven' where you can find most of the boutiques and flagship stores of the world's top-notch designer names.

Shopping in Bangkok is a day-and-night activity. To practise your bargan power, go to Chatuchak Weekend Market, pratunam market, China town or patpong. Alternately, go to MBK, World Trade, Siam Paragon, The Emporium etc.

If there is one must-see sight that no visit to Bangkok would be complete without, it's the dazzling, spectacular Grand Palace, undoubtedly the city's most famous landmark. Visitors must be properly dressed before being allowed entry to the temple.

My mum complainted that i'm not a good tour guide because i didn't explain the history and the story of the building. Sorry, mum, coz i'm poor in my history subject in high school!

This is the hotel i used to stay when i visit Bangkok. This is because there is a good Thai massage center right opposite the hotel. After the oil massage, i can enjoy a delicious congee buffet at the ground floor for supper.

Bangkok is also famous for its massive traffic jam. At one time, we took a taxi from MBK to Suan Lum Night Bazaar nearby, its took about 1 hr to reach. The traffic is not moving at all. Guess what? When we arrived at the market, the taxi meter shown 70bht, so cheap! The taxi driver even apologized for the jam!!

Bangkok Safari World where we can see see zebra, deer, giraffe, birds, tigers, lion and bears roaming in a natural habitat. where else, in the marine park, we find marine life and many other rare aquatic creatures.
Good bye Bangkok. I will come back again!

Pattaya, Thailand

Pattaya is located 165km from southest of Bangkok. Five of us took a bus journey about 1.5hrs to reach Pattaya. After checked in to hotel, we spent our afternoon in pattaya beach. We enjoyed Jet ski perhaps.

In the later afternoon, we took a tuk tuk to Mini Siam. To see everthing here, you need at least 2hrs. It must be quit impressive to visit Mini Siam after dark, when all the miniatures are illuminated. There are many miniatures and masterpieces which impressed us such as Eifel Tower, Sydney Opera House, Colosseum in Rome and many more.

After the tour, most of us agreed to find a good place for dinner, as pattaya is famous for its fresh seafood and lobster. Here we go.. end up we had our seafood in Walking Street. Perhaps thats not cheap!!

After dinner, we went to Hard Rock, as HR is always my "must-go" destination.

Ayutthaya, Thailand

Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of Thailand which located 85km north of Bangkok. It was established in 1350 A.D. by King Ramathibodi I. Over succeeding centuries, many temples were constructed until Ayutthaya was sacked by invading Burmese in 1767 A.D. Most of the temples, as seen today, are in a state of ruin as they were neglected after the sacking of Ayutthaya. The temples have now been stabilized and Ayutthaya serves as a historical monument.

Wat Chaiwatthanaram is one of the most imposing of ancient Buddhist monasteries.

Wat Lokayasutharam was constructed of bricks and cement with its 37 meters long and 8 meters high.

Buddha Head in Wat Mahathat, Ayutthaya has become entrapped in the roots of a Banyan tree, creating one of the most unusual sights in Ayutthaya. The roots continue to grow. If we wish to take a photo with the buddha head, our head can not be higher than him, for respect!

Club Med Cherating

Club Med where the happiness means the world. Sandy beaches sandwiched between the sparkling South China Sea on one side and a lush, tropical jungle on the other – the Village is charming and picture perfect!

We stayed in the standard chalet. The person-in-charge reminded us to close the window and door at all times to prevent unexpected guests from the tropical jungle!! Hah!..my friend rushed back to the toilet for his private business, but once he stepped out from the toilet, he found that those monkey friends were having party inside his room, and the mini bar was wide opened.

What we like most about Club Med is the free flow of drinks and limited choice of alcohols i.e. wine and beer. Throughout the 3D2N in Club Med, they provide full board meal, where you can eat all you can, but any wasted food will be charged by weight.

I actually have the determination to experience the flying trapeze. Unfortunately, i can't overcome my height fobia! So the guardian has to send me down, not through the stairs, but he pushed me down to the netting. Mission failed!!!


Never mind, at least my mission is completed from bungy trampoline. It's a combination between the trampoline and the jumping elastic. Bravo! So excited!!
ho..ho! This is what i like the most - sailing! Besides sailing, i did kayaking as well.

I guess, we will not have another chance to take a group photo like this. Caely (lady with cap)married in New Zealand. Now she is a mother of 1 child.

What can i say...erm..it's just fun and relax!

Exotic Bali, Indonesia

Bombings in Kuta in 2002 killed 202 people, many of them foreign tourists. This attack, and another in year 2005, severely affected tourism, bringing much economic hardship to the island.

Year 2005, we still make up our mind to visit Bali, even after the second booming. First day after breakfast, the local tour guide, Alex brought us to visit Kintamani. Situated on the rim of an active volcano, Mount Batur, Kintamani Village overlooks the spectacular crater lake of Lake Batur .

We continued our next destination to Ubud for lunch. Before we reached Ubud, there are many rice terraces along the way coz until the late-twentieth century tourist boom, agriculture dominated Bali's economy.

This is the best food in Ubud. People came all the way to taste this traditional pork rice. Well, it looks oily, but when i sunk my teeth into the juicy meat, i can feel the Bali spices and seasonings melt in my mouth. It's simply irresistable!

We stayed in Kuta Beach. One of the 3 star hotel. Walking from the hotel to Kuta Beach takes about 15mins. We enjoyed sitting at the Kuta beach, even doing nothing. I like the crystal clear water.

Oh ya!..Hard Rock Hotel is located right at the Kuta Beach. After the suicide booming in Bali, every shops and hotels increased their security control. At night, It's safe to walk at Kuta, coz there are many soldiers with weapons on duty along the road. Obviously, the booming left strong impact to Bali, less foreign tourists perhaps! Not forget to visit Nusa Dua.Crystal clear water and stretches of white sandy beach of Nusa Dua makes Nusa Dua a perfect spot for luxurious resorts. "Monumen Tragedi Kemanusian"is built to rememberance those who died in the suicide booming 2002 at Jalan Legian Kuta.

Tanah Lot is one of the most sacred temples in all of Bali. The temple of Tanah Lot, silhouetted against the setting sun. At the foot of the rock is a spring of holy water. Only Hindu devotees are allowed to ascend the steps into the temple. Other visitors are content to visit the little island, or sit on the mainland beach, gazing at the striking silhouette of the temple against the brilliant setting sun and changing tides.

Sunset is the best time to visit Tanah lot, when the golden red skies frame the temple and waves crash into the rocks. A lot of photographing lovers set their lens at the best location to take their best shoot.

Before we depart to 3hrs Balinese spa and massage, we filled up our stomach with Balinese set lunch. What can i say....erm..is just yummy!

P/S, not to scare you, but it's happened to me on the first night in the hotel i stayed. In the middle of the night, i heard of dogs barking and crying loudly. The noise disturbed my sleep throughout the night. Later, i unconciously heard of kids giggling while playing with my long hair and my ears. I reached his hand and felt his hand is small and soft... ... Erm...what happened to the following night?? Ask me personally!!

Bali, i will come back one day! ..hopefully with my loved ones.

Kahang Organic Farm, Johor

Kahang Organic Rice Farm is a back -to-nature health enhancing eco lifestyle farm, with life enrichment programmes such as fringe jungle walk, cycling, star gazing, bamboo rafting, organic farm produced meals, quality dragon fruits, coconuts, vegetables, herbs, with abundant river and rice farm fish, ducks, animals etc.

All these remind me of my happy childhood with my siblings, also the time we are running around either under the hot sun or the rain.

I miss my childhood. Perhaps, it's good that i can get out from the busy urban life, and back to the basic. Sit back and look back what i have achieved so far!! I missed a lot of great times..i missed a lot of good things.......How i wish i can turn the clock back to the time when he still can share the happy moment with me.

Ho Chi Minh Vietnam

It was my educational trip to "The Land of the Ascending Dragon". Before landing, Mekong river is just right in front my eyes.

The main attraction is the Chu Chi Tunnel. The tunnels were used by the guerillas as hilding spots during combat, as well as serving as communication and supply routes, hospitals, food and weapon caches and living quarters for numerous guerrilla fighters.

An very experience tour guide, also a former air force military started his stories once we started our journey to the destination. He shown us some of the hidden traps that used to trap the US soldiers.

The tunnel is extremely small to fit in a person with a slim body. Visitors are invited to crawl around in the safer parts of the tunnel system. Some tunnels have been made larger to accommodate the larger size of western tourists. I even experienced the camouflaged trap door.

Next day, we took a Bassac river cruise along the Tien Giang River in Cai Be, passing en route the traffic of sand and rice barges, in scenery of fruit drying facilities and wooden ship building yards. Do not underestimate the drink shown below. It's a mixual of honey and alcohol. After a few sips, i felt my body is hot and heart was pumping fast!!

Amazing Angkor Wat, Cambodia

" Wow! Wow! Wow! Amazing..." that's my first impression when i saw Angkor Wat.

Angkor Wat was built in the first half of the 12th century (113-5BC). Estimated construction time of the temple is 30 years by King Suryavarman II. Entry and exit to Angkor Wat can only be access from its west gate. Angkor Wat, the largest monument with its perfection in composition, balance, proportions, relief's and sculpture make it one of the finest monuments in the world.

We took an elephant ride to reach the hill top before sunset. The sunlights will cover the whole Angkor Wat building with gold and yellow colour. It seems like Angkor Wat is growing in gold. It's simply amazing! The entrance fee is USD20/adult. Thats was in year 2004!