Antarctica – the final frontier. The southernmost continent on Earth has been a subject of my fascination ever since my younger days, and I’ve always wanted to see the white continent. I’ve met a few people who have been there and have recounted their experiences in the remote continent, and I must say that my fascination grew more and more.
I’m writing this post not because I have been there, but to appeal to you my readers to help me get there so I can share my experiences with you. I recently signed up to a competition for a chance to travel to Antarctica and blog about the experience. I thought that this is such a great opportunity for me to experience the place and to be able to share it to you my loyal readers. As it is, Antarctica is a tough place to get to, and a tough place to travel around on. Apart from the freezing temperatures, there are no public transports readily available, and only a few trips a year go to this isolated continent. Thus, getting a chance to be there and witness it is a great gift, and I would love that opportunity to get there. So if you’re reading this and would like to help me get there, please click the link below to vote for me, and please tell your friends to support my cause.
One of the things I look for when I go travelling is to find a spot (if at all possible) to watch a magnificent sunset. Sunsets are one of nature’s great wonders, and the light and shades that it produces can be very dramatic and awe-inspiring. If you get to catch a glimpse of a fantastic sunset, you can say that it is one of the best light shows on earth! I recently wrote an article on the best spots to watch sunset in Australasia, which was published in the BootsnAll travel network.
Love The Sunsets
I was inspired by the outcome of my work that I decided to write more about it here on my blog. From my other travels, I’ve found a couple of other great places where you can watch a beautiful sunset. There is definitely more to be found around the world, and I’m looking forward to witnessing them as I travel the rest of the world bit by bit!
Angkor Wat, Siem Reap
The majestic temples of Angkor Wat are a sight to behold. Most people recommend seeing Angkor Wat for sunrise, as the sun rises behind the temples and gives it a unique glow. However, you can go into Angkor Wat itself, and watch the sunset from the top of the temple, it can be a great sight to see. You will see it set into the Tonle Sap Lake. Alternatively, if you want a more unobstructed view (apart from the many tourists that flock to see) of the sunset, you can head to nearby Phnom Bakheng (Bakheng Hill) where you can see it better. As mentioned, the only setback is that there are so many tourists who would want to get a piece of the action and watch the sunset from there.
Along the way from one of the temples in the archaeological complex, I went past numerous empty farmland, and at one point, saw the sun glowing brightly as it was about to set. It was possibly the best sunset I’ve seen while I was in Siem Reap, and one that I really remembered.
Manta Ray Island Resort, Fiji
Manta Ray Island Resort is on one of the islands in the Yasawas. It’s a 3 hour journey on the boat from the port of Denarau on the main island of Viti Levu. The resort has a couple of beaches, one is the main beach where everyone goes for a swim and snorkel and is the bigger of the 2 beaches. The other one is called Sunset beach, and the name says it all. The guests from the resort only go there to watch the sunset happen, and it’s absolutely gorgeous! You can get yourself a can of Fiji Bitter and sit on the sand and watch the sun slowly go down into the Pacific Ocean.
I hope you have enjoyed viewing these couple of sunset photos. And, please do check out that article in Bootsnall for more inspiration on the best places to watch sunsets!
It is the ancient capital of Japan. Its history is very rich with warriors, emperors and shoguns. There are so many beautiful temples, gardens and palaces. Coincidentally, it’s Japan’s seventh largest city. Kyoto is one place that managed to strike a balance between the ultra-modern and the ancient traditional way of Japanese living. I visited this place only knowing that this was Japan’s old capital before Tokyo, yet I had no idea on what to expect.
While I was on the plane to Osaka, I was still frantically reading the guidebook I borrowed from a friend of mine. I had no clue what I can see in Kyoto and where to go. I just boarded the plane and hoped for the best. It was a total last minute decision as I managed to get great last minute deals from Sydney to Osaka, and it was too good to refuse! I was fortunate enough to be seated next to this Japanese student who was returning home to Kyoto from her 2 years of English studies in Hobart. She asked for help in filling out the immigration forms, and I helped her out. Our conversation then led to asking where she lives and then I asked for tips on what to see and do in Kyoto. She was really kind enough to tell me where to go and what to see.
Getting There
Kyoto is about an hour on the train from Osaka. The closest airport is Osaka. From Kansai International Airport, you can take either the JR Express train to Osaka, and then change to the JR Kyoto line. Alternatively, you can take the slower train to Umeda, from where you have to change to Shin Osaka to take the JR Kyoto line. I was glad I had my newfound friend helping me onmy way to Kyoto, as the train lines can be very confusing if you’re not familiar with the place, and especially if you can’t read and speak Japanese! The vending machines for the tickets are all in Japanese, and the only signs that are in English are the train stations. If you opt for the slower way, it will take you an hour and a half to get to Kyoto, or 2 hours if you miss some connections.
Temples And Gardens To See
Kyoto is full of great temples and gardens. Nearly each temple would have a lovely traditional Japanese garden. The gardens are so simple yet so pleasing and calming to the senses. The essence of a Japanese garden is really in its simplicity and harmony with its natural surroundings. Here are some of my favourite temples and gardens to see in Kyoto:
Kiyomizu-dera Temple
Kiyomizu Temple - Kyoto
This wooden temple is located up in the hills surrounding Kyoto, and is one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites in Japan. The name Kiyomizu means clear and pure water and the history of the temple dates back to 798 A.D. It has been rebuilt since and the current structure dates back to 1633. What makes this temple unique is that it doesn’t use any nails to hold the entire building structure! It’s all made of well-crafted hinges that locks the planks of wood to each other. Considering that this has been in existence for centuries, this is very remarkable for a wooden structure, as they easily get destroyed by fire, earthquakes or perhaps termites and natural decay.
One awesome feature of this temple is the view that you get of the entire city of Kyoto. It’s a very peaceful place to visit (if you can avoid the times that the tourists flock in) and if arrive early in the morning, you are more guaranteed for it to be quieter. There is a waterfall that can be seen from the nearby hills, and this is where the name Kiyomizu came from.
Kinkakuji Temple
Kinkakuji - Kyoto
Kinkakuji (The Golden Pavillion) is a Zen Buddhist Temple that was originally built in 1397 as a retirement villa for a local shogun before being converted into a Zen Buddhist temple. The current structure is actually rebuilt in 1955, after a monk tried to commit suicide by burning down the original structure in 1950. The current structure is gilded with gold-leaf, and has a much thicker coat of gold than that of the original structure.
This golden temple sits in front of a big pond, and surrounded by some gorgeous Japanese gardens. Visitors cannot go inside the temple, but you can go close to it and have a closer look at the 3-story pagoda structure.
Ryoanji Temple and Rock Garden
Ryoanji - Kyoto
Ryoanji is another Zen Buddhist temple that is well known for its rock garden. This temple is another UNESCO World Heritage site. The rock garden is thought to have been built in the late 1400s. It is comprised of raked gravel and 15 moss covered rocks. The rectangular garden has been designed such that only 14 rocks are visible at any angle (apart from an aerial view) when viewing the garden. The simplicity and stark dry landscape of the garden creates a stunning and calming presence while viewing the gardens. This is one of those zen gardens that would be perfect to just sit and reflect and meditate on.
Ginkakuji Temple
Sand Garden in Ginkakuji Temple - Kyoto
Ginkakuji (The Temple of the Silver Pavillion) was built originally as another place of rest and solitude by one of the shoguns in the 1400s. It eventually was turned into a Zen Buddhist temple. There were initial plans of putting a silver foil on the exterior, but this did not materialise. Yet, the name “Silver Pavillion” or Ginkaku-ji stuck with it through the centuries. At the front of the temple complex is a beautifully crafted sand garden. It has a fan-shaped design carved on it and a conical mound of sand that is thought to represent Mount Fuji at one end of the garden. As with the other temples, Ginkakuji is surrounded by a magnificent Japanese garden, which I thought looks much better than the Kinkakuji temple.
Nijo Castle
Kyoto - Nijo Castle
Nijo Castle may not be a temple, but this structure is worth a mention for its gardens and the unique way some of the buildings have been built. This castle was built by the Tokugawa Shogunate in the 1600s, and was the residence of the Tokugawa Shoguns. Nijo Castle has 2 concentric rings of fortifications around the castle, consisting of a wall and a wide moat. Inside the castle are several palaces, the most distinguished one is the Ninomaru Palace. There are several rooms for meeting and greeting visitors, depending on the rank and position of the person arriving. What is unique about the Ninomaru Palace is the way the wooden floors in the corridors are built. They are called “Nightingale Floors” and it is all because they made a squeaking sound with every step you make. It was designed as a warning system in case assassins enter the palace at night.
The castle grounds have numerous great gardens, the most impressive one being the Ninomaru Gardens just outside the Ninomaru Palace. The garden has a large pond with 3 islands in the middle, each having stones carefully laid out with a pine tree on them. The gardens are definitely worth the visit.
When visiting Kyoto (as with the rest of Japan), the best time would have to be during the Cherry Blossom festival (known as the Sakura festival). The cherry blossoms make the temple gardens look very pretty with its bright pink, white and red colours. It is, however more expensive at this time of the year, as it is the most popular time for tourists. If you want a great bargain, you would have to come in the early part of the rainy season (June), as the weather is generally warm, but the rain and potential cyclone discourages the tourists from visiting.
I hope you have enjoyed this post. Til the next Fabulous Journeys!
Welcome to another edition of Fabulous Journeys! This post will feature the island of Sentosa, which is Singapore’s recreation island. I had the opportunity to visit Sentosa while I was in Singapore in May. I was amazed at how organised everything is! I thought of it as an island with some degree of roughness, but I should have known better that Singapore will not settle for anything rough and rustic.
Getting to Sentosa Island
Sentosa Express
Sentosa is accessible via 4 ways: car, bus, cable car and the Sentosa Express. There is a bridge that links Sentosa to the main island of Singapore, and this is where the cars can pass through. There is a $2 entry fee per person or per car to the island. If you don’t have a car, you can take a taxi or the orange Sentosa bus from Vivo City shopping mall to get to the island. The easiest way I found was to take the Sentosa Express, which is a monorail that runs from Vivo City and to 3 stations within the island. It costs $3 for a day trip ticket between Sentosa and Vivo City, and you can hop on the different station within Sentosa Island as many times as you want within the day.
Alternatively, if you would like a more scenic way to get to the island, you can take the cable car from Mount Faber. It costs $18 return, which is more expensive than the other options, but worth trying if you want to enjoy the view and the novelty of taking a cable car to the island. For more information on ways to get to Sentosa, check out their website here.
Getting Around
There are several buses around Sentosa, and all of them are free of charge! There is a blue, yellow and red line which would go to different areas on the island. They also have 2 beach tram lines, which would take you to the 3 beach locations on the island (Siloso, Palawan and Tanjong). It’s very easy to get around Sentosa, and most of the attractions are covered either by the Sentosa Express or the buses that go around.
Sentosa Attractions
Merlion – Sentosa has the biggest Merlion statue in Singapore. The Merlion, the national symbol of Singapore, is a mythical creature that is half-lion and half fish. The Merlion in Sentosa is a huge building that houses a display of various underwater mythical creatures including sea dragons, mermaids, and the Merlion itself, and some animation features and shops. At the top of the Merlion statue/building is the Mouth Gallery viewing deck (called because it is on the mouth of the Merlion statue), which offers a 360degree view of Sentosa and the southern end of Singapore.
Images Of Singapore – This is a museum that celebrates the ethnic and cultural diversity of Singapore. It showcases how the 4 different major ethnic groups have settled into Singapore through the centuries. Displays of their lifestyle, celebrations, customs and traditions of each of the 4 different races can be found inside, as well as vintage furniture and a display on the 1819 Founding of Singapore. As with the many attractions in Sentosa, there is a souvenir shop where you can find all things unique about Singapore (including food and condiments).
Fort Siloso – Before Sentosa became a recreation island, it was used by the British as a defence fortress for the ships that pass through the straits to get to the rest of Southeast Asia. It was then called Pulau Blakang Mati, which referred to a Malay village on the hill. There were 2 other forts on the island, but Fort Siloso is the only one that was preserved. The island was renamed Sentosa (Peace and Tranquility in Malay) in 1972 when it was designated to be a recreation island. This area has one of the largest collections of World War 2 artillery in Asia. There are a lot of displays of the Second World War and the Japanese occupation of Singapore. The Surrender Chambers is one of the most distinct exhibits and houses a life-size wax display of the actual surrenders of Singapore: the British surrender to the Japanese in 1942, and the Japanese surrender to the Allied Forces in 1945. It’s a fascinating place to learn about how life was during the war in Singapore, and thus, a piece of history of this modern island nation.
Here’s a video I made at Fort Siloso, while viewing all their artillery collection:
Tiger Sky Tower – This is a revolving viewing deck that goes up 110 meters, offering a fantastic view of Sentosa, the Singapore skyline and some islands of Indonesia and Malaysia from a distance. The viewing deck lowers to the ground level to pick up the passengers, and then slowly shoots up to 110 meters. The platform is fully enclosed and rotates around, offering a great 360 degree panoramic view of Singapore and the South China Sea.
Siloso Beach – This is the most popular beach in Sentosa. I wouldn’t classify it as a great beach, but if you just want to feel the sand and play some beach volleyball, then this is the best spot to do it in Singapore. There are cafes and restaurants on this beach, and the facilities are great. Nearby is the Shangri La Rasa Sentosa resort, if you fancy going to a more upmarket kind of establishment.
Songs of The Sea – This is the nightly musical fountain display of Sentosa. The Songs of The Sea replaced the original musical dancing fountain that Sentosa was known for, and was opened on 26 March 2007. It is the world’s first permanent show set in the sea, and has amazing lights, water jets, lasers, computer graphics animation and pyrotechnic displays. Entry normally cost $10 per person.
These are some of the great attractions at Sentosa. It’s very accessible from mainland Singapore, and is worth a visit if you want to take a break from the usual shopping and city scene. The place is a refreshing change from the full-on packed city life of Singapore, and is a popular weekend destination for the locals. If you want to avoid the crowds, it is best to go during the middle of the week. I hope you enjoyed this post!
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