Bali, Truly a Paradise

Kuta Beach, Bali

I promised myself, "I will definitely be back next year!"

And I will stay for more than a week, three days was not enough. 

I have to see, feel, and enjoy Bali again.

Wibisana

Thanks to the change in my flight, I had to stay only in Bali for less than three days. 

After a day's stay in Singapore, I boarded my connecting flight to Bali. I arrived in Bali, past 4 pm and I immediately went to Gong Corner Guest House in Kuta, Bali and checked-in.

Gong Corner Guest House

Phone 081999700356, 082-147051475, (0361) 8781996 / Email - gong_corner@yahoo.com

www.gongcorner.com

Good thing the Bali airport was fifteen minutes away from my hostel. And I immediately inquired about the tours Bali offers to its visitors. Fortunately, I met someone (April Dippy) at the front desk  and she was kind enough to accommodate me in her tour. She was the one who arranged our tour and again I'm thankful for her kindness and hospitality.

April (my tour partner) and Parta (tour guide)

The following morning, we were fetched by our ride and our tour guide for that adventure. April was able to hire the tour for 375,000 Indonesian Rupiah (now, 45 USD or 450,000 IR).

Parta Bali Tours

www.partabalitours.com

fb page - Bali Destination Holiday

+62 85237237777

Our first stop for the day was at Wibisana for our water adventure. But April and I were not in the mood that day for water sports and marine adventure. We wanted to see and explore the beauty and grandeur of Bali. 

Wibisana Marine Adventures at Tanjung Benoa, Bali is the place to go for the best scuba diving, water sports and marine eco-adventures in Bali.

We took souvenir pictures at the beach and bid goodbye to Wibisana... for the meantime. 

After 20 minutes we reached our second stop for the day - Padang Padang Beach! 

While April was busy tanning and enjoying the serenity of the beach, I explored the beach. I strolled towards the northern part of the beach and enjoyed the scenery.

  Bali is simply amazing! 

The powdered white beach, pristine waters, spectacular view, world-class accommodations, rock formations and the rugged cliffs were breathtaking. 

  

Bali is a sight to behold!

Bali is indeed a paradise!

After staying for more than two hours, we decided to go to our next destination. There are other great beaches in Bali such as Uluwatu and Pandawa. And there so may tourist spots in Bali such as Gilis Island, Komodo, Ubud. Mt. Butuk Volcano, Kanjur and Sanur. But I have only two days to roam around in Bali. There will indeed be a next time (soon!)

After 20 minutes, we reached our third stop - Dreamland Beach!

Dreamland Beach is one of the best I have seen in my travels. It is a must that you should see this beach. Padang Padang Beach and Dreamland are totally different from each other. While Padang Padang has rugged cliffs and spectacular views, Dreamland's white sand is better and there are no rocks along the beach. It has a very long and wide coastline.

What a view indeed!

I walked along the coastline and admired the beach!

 Even the foreigners were enjoying the view and the pristine waters.

We did not mind ourselves being tanned by the sun....

We took our lunch at Dreamland Beach  and stayed for two hours. Afterwards, we went back to Kuta for our souvenir shopping. Thanks to Parta Tours for our ride!

 The market place in Bali is one of the best spots your souvenir shopping needs and they come at a very cheap price. You just have to be street smart and always ask for a discount. 

Before going to Kuta Beach for our sunset viewing, we went back to Gong Corner Guest House and placed our stuff. We rested a bit and continued our adventure. We reached the beach after 15 minutes of walking.

We waited for a couple of minutes, and there we have it - Kuta Beach Sunset!

After the sunset, we went back to the hostel. We were able to reach the hostel after getting lost again for the second time. But I did not mind the hassle, I enjoyed every minute of it. 

Thanks April for the shared adventure. 

Thank you Bali! 

Some Indonesian words/phrases 

Mahal - expensive

Mura - cheap

Trimakasi - thank you very much ( amust that you should learn this!)

Selamat pagi - good morning

Chanti - beautiful

Selamat datang - Welcome

Brapa? - How much?

Selamat jelan - Goodbye

Tida padas - no chilly

Maap - I'm sorry

Bagush! - good

Babi - pork

Sapi - beef

Ayam - Chicken

Tida suka ayam - I do not like chicken

kambing - goat

Makan - eat

Brapa barga? How much is the price?

Brapa banya? - How many?

Permisi - excuse me

Babi Guling - suckling pork

The Peak, Hong Kong

The Peak

One of the best and must-see attractions in Hong Kong is The Peak.

pedestrian pass going to the Peak

I was billeted in Kowloon and I had to go to Central, Hong Kong to see The Peak. There were two options, namely: (1) using the MRT or (2) using the Star Ferry boat. I chose the boat ride for a change and walked my way towards the Peak.

After nearly 20 minutes of walking and being lost, I arrived at the ticketing counter. 

Tip: Come very early, there is along queue awaiting tourists after 8 am.

The best way to enjoy the ultimate Peak experience is Peak Tram Sky Pass. It offers you enjoyment of a trip on the famous Peak Tram and the fabulous panoramic views of Hong Kong from The Sky Terrace 428, the highest 360° viewing platform in Hong Kong. With the Peak Tram Sky Pass, you can enjoy more Peak experiences at a special price sold at Garden Road Peak Tram Lower Terminus or appointed travel agents.

Peak Tram Sky Pass (The Peak & Sky Terrace 428)

Adult - HK$80 (return)  / HK$ 68 (single)

Child - HK$39 (return)  / HK$32 (single)

Senior - HK$39 (return)  / HK$32 (single)

Peak Tram tickets only

Adult - HK$ - 40  (return) /  HK$28 

Adult/Senior - HK$18  / HK$ 11

Tip: Buy the Sky Pass ticket, for sure you would want to see the 428 view. 

You can still buy at the Peak but the price is little bit higher.

The ride to the top of the Peak was a first for me and it was really exciting! 

The tram ride was good for nearly 10 minutes. 

I am sure that you will also enjoy the ride to the top!

And without further ado, the Sky Terrace 428 View!

You can see the smiles written on my face! The view from the top was majestic! The Peak Tram has remained one of the most visited and photographed sights in Hong Kong by offering not only an enviable view, but also a quiet respite from the city below.

I roamed around the Peak and marveled the view from the top.

Even the other tourists were enjoying the view.

While you are the Peak, you can also wander around the mall or the nearby tourist spots and simply enjoy the scenery.

After staying for 2 hours at the Peak, I decided to back to Kowloon but this time I used a different route in order to maximize my tour of the Central.

You can also tour the city through the Big Bus Hong Kong ride.

I arrived back in Kowloon but the thought of The Peak lingered!

Wandering in Ho Chi Minh (Markets in District 1)

Yes, I love Pho Bo (beef noodle)!

It is one of the reasons why I always make it a point to drop by in Vietnam whenever I have my international tour. 

Last November 2014, upon arrival in Ho Chi Minh and missing it for one year, I immediately went out of the hotel and walked around District 1.

typical resto in Ho Chi Minh

I was so hungry that day and good thing there was a local restaurant which was located near the hotel where I was staying. And for a price of 24,000 Dong, you can enjoy your pho bo meal.

local female vendor

 After taking my late lunch, I continued my tour of the city on foot and was amazed of the culture of the Vietnamese. 

After several minutes, darkness was catching up and I went to my main destination.

There are five Ho Chi Minh markets that you should visit while you are in the city, namely:

1. Ben Thanh Market, near Pham Ngu Lao where you can buy Northface and Kipling products at a very lower price;

2. Dan Sinh Market,   at the corner of Nguyen Cong Tru and Yersin Streets where you can find Vietnam war surplus souvenirs;

3. Bin Tay Market, known as the Cholon or big market where you can buy at wholesale price;

4. Con Giang Street Market, at the south side of District 1; and

5. Saigon Square, at Nan Ky Khoi Street.

Again, my main destination was the Bin Thanh Market. I bought souvenir items and visited some acquaintances that I know from my previous visits.

Tips: When a seller at the market gives you the price, immediately ask for a discount of half of the price given to you because based on my experience, the real price is only half of the price initially offered.

Be careful at the market, there are reported instances of pick-pocketing activities around the market.

And I waited for another hour before the night market opened. Opening time is 7:00 pm and closing is 11:00 pm. Your Ho chi Minh visit will not be complete without going and buying at the night market at Bin Thanh Market.

After buying the souvenirs that I need, I went to the park just beside the market and continued my wandering escapade.

After 4 hours of wandering around the city, I stopped for my dinner but this time it was a dried beef noodle. A day full of Vietnamese life and culture.

Experience the city life in Ho Chi Minh!

The Symphony of Lights Cruise via Star Ferry's Harbour Tour, Hong Kong

Victoria Harbor

The Symphony of Lights is a famous laser lights and music show in Hong Kong. 

It is one of the various attractions Hong Kong offers for its tourists. 

It is presented by the Hong Kong Tourism Commission and participated by 44 skyscrapers and landmarks that lie on the sides of the Victoria Harbor. 

Last November 2014, I went to Hong Kong but this attraction was originally not part of my itinerary. It was a good thing I dropped by at the Hong Kong Tourism Board (which was located along the Victoria Harbor,) and I was informed by one of the staff to experience this world-renowned attraction.

  
There are two companies offering this cruise, namely: Star Ferry and Watertours of Hong Kong Ltd (sailboat). Due to proximity from where I was, I chose the Star Ferry which was just a stone's throw away from the Hong Kong Tourism Board.

The Star Ferry's Harbour Tour tickets are sold over the Harbor Tour ticket counter at the Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry Pier and the Central Pier 7 on the date of departure on a first-come-first-served basis. No online booking and reservation is offered. You have to purchase in cash of Hong Kong dollars.

Star Ferry Cruise

Please take note that the Star Ferry offers different schedules for the said cruise, choose the 7:55 pm cruise. It offers the Symphony of Light Cruise. 

I waited for an hour before buying the ticket and after buying, I waited for my boarding.

Finally, after 15 minutes, we boarded the boat and went to our journey.  

The 7:55 pm ticket is especially for passengers who would like to watch the multi-media laser show (A Symphony of Lights) on board. A refreshment coupon is included. 

And there we have it, the Symphony of Lights!

Through interactive lighting and music show, the Symphony shows the vibrancy, elegance, and glamorous night view of the city through the Victoria Harbor. The local Tourism Commission initiated the project in 2004, and it was formally included in the "Guinness Book of World Records'' as the world's largest lighting and music show.

Hong Kong Island and Kowloon Peninsula are full of high-rise buildings so at night, the lights blaze majestically along the harbor. In fact, it is one of the top three night view attractions in the world along with Hakodate, Japan, and Naples, Italy.

With its altogether five themes of the show, it shows the audience an energetic, vibrant and colorful metropolis through its bright and varied colors. The music and narration are aired alongside the Star Avenue to the seaside and you can even listen to the radio along the harbor.

After an hour of cruise, we went back to the docking area and the one-hour experience was filled with much happiness and enthusiasm!

Good thing I listened to the Hong Kong Tourism Board. 

Enjoy the Symphony of Lights Cruise when you go to Hong Kong!

James Bond Tour in Phuket, Thailand

The thrill of going back to Phuket never ceases, it will always be there. 

And this is one of the reasons why!

boarding the luxury boat

Last year (2013), I enjoyed the Phi Phi Don and Maya Tour. This year it was supposed to be the Similan Islands Tours but unfortunately, the weather was not good, but I was given the best alternative - The James Bond Island Tour in Phuket. 

Orientation onboard the boat about the James Bond Tour

My hostel, Sino Inn Phuket, booked me at Phuket Patri Tour for this Luxury Boat Tour. There were 3 choices, namely: 4 in 1, 5 in 1 and the sunset tour. I chose the 4 in 1 package since I have a plane to catch in the afternoon going to Vietnam.  

There are other James Bond Tours using the speed boat and the traditional boat of Thailand. But the Luxury Boat 4 in 1 canoe is simply the best! The speed boat does not have the canoe.

Panak Island

The following morning I was fetched by the agency's service towards the docking area, boarded the boat and cruised our way to our first island destination - Panak Island.

boarding the canoe

I have been to so many tours in the Philippines and in 12 countries, but the James Bond Tour experience is simply one of the best (if not the best!). The canoe experience inside the cave is way beyond comparison. I experienced a similar tour at Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR). But this one is different in terms of the adventure it offers (though the interior of PPUR is a lot better than Panak Island and that is the reason why PPUR is one of the 8 Wonders of Nature in the world).

inside the cave, notice the guy lying at his back while exiting the narrow opening

The adventure and experience inside the cave are simply awesome! There are narrow and steep portions of the cave wherein you either have to lie on your back or squeeze your way through.

Hooray for the Panak Island Tour Adventure!

majestic scenery while onboard the boat

After staying in the island for almost an hour, we headed to our next destination. The islands of Phuket reminded me of El Nido, my favorite spot in the Philippines. But El Nido is still my favorite! =)

Hong Island

After 20 minutes, we reached our next stop - Hong Island!

Yes, I enjoyed Panak Island but I had twice the fun at Hong Island! 

The limestone and karst formation was much better, the canoe adventure was more daring and breathtaking, and the view of the lagoons, two thumbs up! 

The sight is something to behold while you are onboard the canoe!

After having the time of my life at the island, we proceeded to our third destination. The trip going to the next island was more than 20 minutes.

 Due to the narrow space of the docking area, we were fetched by another boat and we landed at  our main destination.

The James Bond Island

We were given 45 minutes to roam and enjoy the island and we did!

After the third destination, we took our sumptuous buffet lunch onboard the luxury boat.

After the lunch, we headed to our last destination where we enjoyed our snorkeling and diving activities. We were given another 45 minutes for the water adventure.

  

Past 2 pm, we went back to the docking area in Phuket Town. 

The James Bond Island Tour is 

simply exceptional and phenomenal!!