Tag: "Travel"

Running Through Sydney’s Top 2 Attractions

kelvinlls | September 28, 2009 | Comments (0)

The Run With A View

Running Through Sydneys Top 2 Attractions

Sydney Harbor - after the bridge run

On 20th September 2009, I was fortunate enough to have participated in possibly one of the best running events in the world in terms of scenery of the course. I participated in the Sydney Bridge Run, which started from the suburb of Milsons Point, and then crossed over the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and finishing at the Sydney Opera House. The run covers two of Sydney’s most popular landmarks, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House. It’s an amazing experience, to be able to run across the middle of the Sydney Harbour Bridge (possibly the only time people are allowed in the middle of the bridge itself).

I did this run for 2 reasons: one was to raise money for charity, and two, to help a friend achieve a weight loss objective by training for an event like this.

Running For A Cause

The charity I supported was the Diabetes Australia. I decided to raise money for this charity because my dad had suffered from Type 2 diabetes which caused a number of his internal organs to fail over the course of 11 years. He passed away 6 years ago, and I felt that I wanted to help raise awareness of how terrible this disease is, and how it can really kill you if you’re not careful with your health and your diet. Diabetes Australia is involved in doing research and education about diabetes, how to prevent it and how to best control it. Diabetes is one of those illnesses that once contracted, will never be healed, but can only be controlled before it starts destroying the other organs of your body. If you want to donate for this cause, it would be very much appreciated. The website is on this link.

I decided to do this run only 3 weeks before the actual event itself. I was not entirely well prepared to do this, but I have a friend at work who has been wanting to lose weight, and I wanted to help him achieve his goal. Having an event to do is something he can look forward to with his workout training/exercise, and that can help him push himself with his exercise. The run was only 9km, but at the start of the training, I was only fit to run 2km. It wasn’t an easy task to push myself to get up to the fitness level to run 9km in a matter of 3 weeks! I had no expectations of how long it will take me, but I just did as much training as I can in the limited amount of time.

Admittedly though, I’ve been into running for the past 7 years, but over the last 8 months, I have been very inconsistent about my training, and I’ve not done any running events since a year ago. It can be hard work trying to get back into the swing of things, and you really notice the difference in your fitness level. I love running, and if I can afford it, I would love to take part in the numerous running events all over the world! It seems that there is a growing trend that a lot of cities around the world are hosting their own city marathon event. London has one, New York and Boston have one, and even Queenstown in New Zealand has one!

State Of Mind

I’ve been a believer that the mind is a very powerful tool that can enable you to do anything you want from it. I really believe that as long as I focus on the task at hand, visualise my outcome that I’ve achieved it, that it will happen for me. Thus, when I started training, I had in my mind the time that I wanted to finish at. I kept on thinking about, and well, true enough, I crossed the finishline at the time that I had wanted (to the exact second!). I literally had goosebumps on the back of my neck when I saw the time on my stopwatch, as it was really what I wanted to finish at!

Photos from my run are below:

SydneyBridgeRun InAction1 Running Through Sydneys Top 2 Attractions

SydneyBridgeRun InAction2 Running Through Sydneys Top 2 Attractions

SydneyBridgeRun InAction3 Running Through Sydneys Top 2 Attractions

If you’re ever in Sydney for the Sydney Running Festival, it’s a fantastic way to see the 2 most iconic landmarks of Sydney and getting fit! Great offers are always available with Zuji.

Have a Fabulous Journey ahead!

Machu Picchu – Discovering The Lost City

kelvinlls | September 13, 2009 | Comments (2)

Finding The Lost City of Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu has long been one of the places I’ve always wanted to go in this lifetime. Ever since I was a kid, I read it through history books and learned about the ancient Inca empire that once ruled majority of South America. Machu Picchu was a sacred place for the Incas, and it was built in a very isolated area where it was hidden from the rest of the world until it was re-discovered in 1911. I got fascinated by the Inca culture and how they were able to build such great cities in very remote locations that no one from the outside world managed to find it until recently. The ingenuity of the Incas had me wanting to see this mystical place.

I finally fulfilled my dream of seeing Machu Picchu in November last year, when I visited South America for the first time. Getting there was half the fun and excitement. Although Machu Picchu is reasonably accessible by train and coach, it’s not a straight-forward as flying into the city that is literally next door to the ruins.

Getting To Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is accessible from a small town called Aguas Calientes, which is situated about 4 hours away by train from the city of Cuzco. Majority of tourists who come to visit the magnificent ruins of Machu Picchu start their journey from Cuzco. Cuzco is an amazing city, a great place to learn about the Inca culture, and perhaps the most preserved Inca city in Peru. Cuzco on its own should be explored in more detail, and I’ll leave this city for another post to tell you more on what it has to offer. From Cuzco, there are 3 alternatives to get to Machu Picchu:

1.) Take the PeruRail train from Cuzco railway station all the way to Aguas Calientes, and then a bus from Aguas Calientes to the ruins of Machu Picchu. This is by far the easiest way to get to Machu Picchu, and offers some spectacular scenery along the way. The train ride from Cuzco to Aguas Calientes takes 4 hours, and the bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu takes 25 minutes.

2.) Take the bus from Cuzco to the town of Ollantaytambo, and then catch the train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes. Then, from Aguas Calientes, take the bus to Machu Picchu. This is, according to some people, a bit of a time saver, as there are buses that go straight to Ollantaytambo through a shorter route than the train. However, you will be catch the same train on Ollantaytambo as the train that started from Cuzco anyway. Perhaps this is also cheaper as buses are generally cheaper in fares than trains.

3.) Trekking – The very popular Inca Trail starts from just outside Cuzco and finishes at Machu Picchu. This is ideal for the adventurous guys who want to see more of the countryside and local Inca life. It takes 4 days to do the trek, but you can hire a porter to carry your backpack gear for you and you can hire tents as part of the package. It’s an experience not to be missed.

The Views From Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is better described through photos than words. The spectacular scenery of the mountains surrounding the ancient ruins, plus, the way it is designed, is much better seen by the eye than read as verbose text on a blog. Below are some of the shots I took during the trip:

MachuPicchu1 Machu Picchu Discovering The Lost City

Machu Picchu - view from the top

MachuPicchu2 Machu Picchu Discovering The Lost City

Machu Picchu - at the edge / mountain view

MachuPicchu3 Machu Picchu Discovering The Lost City

Machu Picchu - original main entrance to the city

MachuPicchu4 Machu Picchu Discovering The Lost City

Machu Picchu - Llamas roaming and resting

MachuPicchu5 Machu Picchu Discovering The Lost City

Machu Picchu - Terraces

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Machu Picchu Guardhouse

My sister Irene, who travelled with me on this trip, took some great videos of the view, and also of a part of Machu Picchu’s walls that were used as some sort of megaphone. The walls were cleverly designed to resonate sound at a higher pitch, and it only worked when women used it (men’s voice are too low and deep)! Check out the videos below:

View of Machu Picchu (video):

Megaphone Wall video:

I hope you’ve enjoyed this post. Please feel free to leave your comments below, and if you want to get the latest updates to your mailbox, please subscribe by leaving your name and email address on the sidebar.

Have a Fabulous Journey ahead!

MachuPicchu7 Machu Picchu Discovering The Lost City

Kelvin Lim

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Top Ten Things To Experience In The Philippines

kelvinlls | August 5, 2009 | Comments (4)

The Philippines – an archipelago of 7,107 beautiful islands in the warm tropics. It’s one of Asia’s best kept secrets, and one that has not been overrun by tourists who come to Asia from Europe and the Americas. The Philippines has been considered off the beaten track by most travellers to Asia, due to its geographical location being across the South China Sea from mainland Asia. Another factor that has caused the Philippines to be off the mainstream Southeast Asia circuit is the bad publicity that the country has gotten over the years. The negative publicity has been bad for tourism in the Philippines, however, it can be seen as good for those who want to experience a not-so-usual holiday in Asia.

Having 7,107 islands, there is no shortage of wonderful places and things to see in this tropical archipelago. I grew up in this country, and I have yet to finish exploring all the 7,107 islands. However, while I was living there, I had the opportunity to experience first hand some of the best that the country has to offer. Being a local, I had some advantages in getting around and experiencing some places that not many foreign tourists have managed to wander to. Here are some of the top ten things to see and do in the Philippines:

1.) The Islands and The Many White Sand Beaches

philippine island camiguin Top Ten Things To Experience In The Philippines

It is obvious that the number one attraction in the Philippines are its thousands of islands sprawled between the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean. There are so many white sand beaches around the country that it is easy to lose count. The most famous of all the white sand beaches in the Philippines is on the island of Boracay. Boracay has been known for its 3km powder-fine white sand beach and a great place to either relax or party on til the wee hours of the morning. Other great islands to experience for beaches are Bantayan Island (near Cebu), White Beach in Puerto Galera, Camiguin Island, El Nido in Palawan, and Bohol.

2.) Fiestas

sinulog fiesta Top Ten Things To Experience In The Philippines

The Spaniards colonised the Philippines for nearly 400 years and brought their festive traditions from Spain to these beautiful islands. Fiestas are abound in the Philippines, and each island or town/city would have its own unique celebrations, mainly in honour of a patron saint. It’s one of the biggest celebrations in each town’s events calendar and one not to be missed. The biggest and most popular fiesta in the Philippines would be the Sinulog in Cebu. This generally occurs on the 3rd week of January, and is celebrated to honour the patron saint Señor Santo Niño (the image of the Infant Jesus wearing a crown and holding a golden globe on one hand). People in Cebu would take to the streets to participate in the parade, and celebrations happen all over the island. Most locals would have parties and open their doors to any guests to have a feast. Another great fiesta is the Ati-Atihan in Kalibo on the province of Aklan. The locals paint themselves black to emulate their patron saint, the Señor Santo Niño. This generally happens around the same time as the Sinulog in Cebu, but it is worth checking out the colourful celebrations.

3.) Churches and Cathedrals

Top Ten Things To Experience In The Philippines

The Philippines is a predominantly Catholic country, thanks to the Spanish who had subjected the natives to be baptized and take the Catholic faith onboard. As a result, the Spanish built several cathedrals and churches across the islands. The Baroque architecture is very evident in many of these cathedrals and churches. One of the best churches to visit would be the San Agustin Cathedral in Intramuros in Manila. Another great place in the Philippines to check out nice cathedrals in the Philippines would be in Vigan, Ilocos Sur in the northern part of Luzon in the Philippines. Cebu is another place that has an abundance of these awesome Spanish churches, as Cebu is the first place that the Spaniards landed in the Philippines.

4.) Shopping Malls in Manila

Mall Of Asia Top Ten Things To Experience In The Philippines

It may come as a surprise to most people, but Filipinos are shopaholics, and they love to cool themselves in the shopping malls and escape the tropical heat that can be sometimes overwhelming. Some of the world’s biggest shopping malls are located in the Philippines. The SM Mall of Asia, built on the Manila Bay area, is the world’s third largest shopping mall, and is two times bigger than Edmonton Mall in Canada (which held the previous world record). Apart from the massive size of the shopping malls, there are a lot of great bargains to be had in the shops and markets around the country. When going to markets, it is advisable to negotiate the price with the vendors, as they are generally priced higher than what the item is worth.

5.) Tropical Rainforests

rainforest Top Ten Things To Experience In The Philippines

The tropical rainforests in the Philippines are fast diminishing. The poor farmers who are struggling in life and don’t own any land need for land to cultivate on, and the rainforests have been chopped down. On top of that, there are a lot of illegal loggers who chop down the trees for the lucrative logging industry. Conservation efforts have been in place, but because of the widespread poverty in certain areas, some people still cut the trees and burn the forests. There are many species of wildlife that are in danger of becoming extinct due to their habitats being destroyed. While there are still some rainforests left, it would be worth checking them out and exploring the lush jungles in the Philippines. The Philippine Eagle, the national bird, is one of the many endangered species living in these forests and they can be found predominantly in Mindanao, somewhere between Bukidnon and Davao.

6.) Exploring tribal culture

ifugao Top Ten Things To Experience In The Philippines

There are many different ethnic tribes in the Philippines. Many of them have settled in the islands long before the Spanish came to colonise these islands. The different ethnic tribes have very distinctive cultures and customs that have survived through the centuries. Most of the ethnic tribes in the Philippines live in the islands of Luzon, Palawan and Mindanao. The rest of the islands somehow have lost the indigenous population. Among the popular tribes are the Ifugao (in the Mountain Province in Luzon), the Badjao (in Sulu), the Tausug (in Mindanao), the Maranao (also in Mindanao) and the Aeta (in Luzon). There are many more to mention, but the first four tribes are well-known for their colourful costumes, dances, folklore and customs. The Aeta is unique in that they are widely regarded as the descendants of the very first inhabitants of the Philippines.

7.) Christmas celebrations

Christmas Philippines Top Ten Things To Experience In The Philippines

The Philippines is known to have one of the longest and most festive Christmas celebration in the world. You start noticing in October that Christmas carols are already being played occassionally in department stores and shops around the country. By the 1st of December, most Christmas decorations would be all out, and shops and houses would be decked out with very colourful Christmas regalia. The Belen (a diorama of the scene of the Nativity) is a very common sight during the holidays. The Catholic church starts its early morning vigil from the 16th of December all the way til Christmas, and the start of the early morning vigils is the actual start of the many feasts and parties that people go to in the leadup to Christmas Day.

8.) Holy Week/Easter Celebrations

crucifixion philippines Top Ten Things To Experience In The Philippines

Being a predominantly Catholic country, most of the festivities center around the church calendar. Lent (and/or Easter) is another celebration that Filipinos religiously celebrate (excuse the pun). The main highlight that would interest most tourists is the Good Friday penitence rites that some devotees perform in different parts of the country. In some cases, people devote themselves to be nailed on the cross (literally). Though this isn’t a sight for the faint-hearted, it is somehow an amazing fact that there are people who have vowed to do this ritual to cleanse their sins. Another ritual that has become a spectacle during Lent is the flaggelation. Devotees whip themselves on the back with bamboo-tipped burillos to reenact Christ’s suffering before he was crucified.

9.) Sampling Local Cuisine

adobo Philippines Top Ten Things To Experience In The Philippines

Filipino food may not make it to mainstream cuisine like Thai, Indian, Chinese or Malaysian has, but it is an interesting mix of the various influences it has over the centuries. The best way to describe its nature is that it is a fusion of Spanish, Malay, Chinese and American cuisine. You get a range from grilled seafood and stews to paella, to pancit canton (stir-fried noodle, Canton style) and the Filipino spaghetti ( a variation of the American-style spaghetti). Each region in the Philippines would have its own local specialty, and it can vary vastly from town to town. Most of the dishes are not spicy, except for the Bicol Express, which is known to be the spiciest Filipino dish.

10.) Listening to a live band

Philippine band Top Ten Things To Experience In The Philippines

The Filipinos are very musically oriented people. They have been known to be great entertainers around the world, gracing the stage in many nightclubs and lounge bars across different parts of the world. If you travel around Asia and sit in a bar with some live music, there is a high chance that the band is from the Philippines. Thus, listening to some live music in the many bars and restaurants across the country offers you a glimpse of the musical talents that Filipinos generally have, and their passion for music. You will also find that singing Karaoke is a national pastime, and it doesn’t matter if you have what it takes to belt out those notes. Everyone is very encouraging and supportive, and it’s all for the fun of it.

I hope I have enlightened you of the wonderful things that you must experience while in the Philippines. It may not be the most common tourist things to experience, but hey, that’s what traveling is all about..

Til the next Fabulous Journeys!

Antarctic Dream: Blogging My Way There

kelvinlls | July 22, 2009 | Comments (3)

My Quest To Get To Antarctica

Antarctic Penguins

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.

http://www.blogyourwaytoantarctica.com/blogs/view/354

Thank you in advance for your support and I do hope to have the chance to be able to share my experiences with you from there!

Here’s to the next Fabulous Journey!

AntarcticCentre Antarctic Dream: Blogging My Way There

Me at the International Antarctic Centre, Christchurch, New Zealand

Kelvin Lim

Litchfield National Park

kelvinlls | June 11, 2009 | Comments (2)

G’day from Fabulous Journeys! I hope you enjoyed the last post on Darwin. I had a fantastic time there, and I love the laid-back feel of the city. It was all the more made special by the company of my great friends who showed me around and gave me a taste of the local lifestyle!

Litchfield Or Kakadu?

While I was in Darwin, I had been meaning to go and see Kakadu National Park. I’ve heard a lot of great things about the place from the media and other people that I thought it would just be fantastic to make a trip there. However, my friend Trixie told me that Litchfield National Park is much better than Kakadu, and is more accessible from Darwin itself. I thought about it, and decided that perhaps I should just do Litchfield National Park, as I only had a day to go outside Darwin on my schedule (which I only fitted in between my internet marketing sessions). I was in a dilemma on where to go, but I did consider Trixie’s recommendations, as Litchfield can be more manageable as a day trip than Kakadu, just because of the distance and size of the place. Kakadu is a much bigger place, and people recommend that you spend a few days exploring the area instead of just taking a day trip.

Trixie’s Tours

I was going to go with my friend Sharon on a tour bus from Darwin, and the day before we were supposed to go, we started inquiring about tour prices and availability. We completely ignored the fact that it was dry season in the Top End, and that it was tourist season! We tried one after another, but to no avail. There were no available seats for us on the tour bus! Our friend Trixie, who was our host, kindly offered to take us all the way there! It was a very generous offer from her, as we didn’t think she wanted to go. She was more concerned about her car getting through the unsealed road ahead! Well, the guy at the tour desk told us a lie about Litchfield Road being sealed all the way through, and we only found out when we got there! Well, lesson learnt, take your 4WD on Litchfield Road as part of it is still not sealed. So, that’s how Trixie’s Tours came about (featuring Steve, Trixie’s husband, as the coach driver.. LOL)!

So, on to the topic of Litchfield National Park. Here are some of the great things you can see in the National Park:

Termite Mounds

There are numerous termite mounds in the area, some small, but some are really massive! There is a specific type of termite mound that is unique in the area, and they’re called the Magnetic Termite Mounds. These mounds look more like tombstones of a graveyard. They’re flat and they have a roundish end. The reason they’re called magnetic is because of the way the termites designed these mounds. They all align from north to south! It seems like they have some sort of compass that makes them build these structures in that direction! It’s just fascinating how these creatures can build such structures, and they’re unique to the Northern Territory!

Buley Rockhole

The Buley Rockhole is a series of rock pools on the Florence Creek that cascade down like springs. It is spring-fed and has a good flow all year long. People can swim in the various pools on the different levels. This is one area that is croc-free and jellyfish-free, so people can enjoy them! I didn’t bring my swimming gear when I went there, as I didn’t think it would be tempting to go swimming. The water felt cool and refreshing, and on a nice hot sunny day in the Top End, it’s worth jumping in!

Florence Falls

Florence Falls is one of the biggest falls in Litchfield National Park. You can walk 1.7kms from the Buley Rockhole to get to this waterfalls, or you can drive and park, and the lookout point for the falls is a few meters from the car park. The lookout point offers the best views of the falls. If you want to get closer and swim in the falls, you can take the 135-step staircase down to the lagoon and enjoy the falls itself. The view is not that great from below, unless you go and swim in the lagoon (which we didn’t).

Tolmer Falls

Tolmer Falls is another one of the 3 major falls on the Tabletop Range in Litchfield National Park. The lookout to the falls is also a few meter from the car park, and you can enjoy great views of the outback further afield. The rock formations and the gorge looks stunning. If you have more time, there is a walk you can take to Tolmer Creek.

Finniss River

One of the major rivers near Litchfield National Park is the Finniss River. You will come across it when you travel through the gravel road from Litchfield Road. It’s not one of the places that the tour buses stop, but we found a nice spot to stop and have a look at a typical river in the Northern Territory. It is known to be croc-infested, but at the time we stopped, no crocodiles were in sight. It was just nice to see the pandanus trees on the river and some native birds around.

Berry Springs

This is technically just outside Litchfield National Park, but was on our way back to Darwin from Litchfield National Park. Berry Springs is a series of springs that have been developed into a recreation park and is ideal for swimming. There are a couple of pools in the area that you can swim on, and it’s all natural pools, with some fish swimming along in the water. When we arrived at Berry Springs, there were already a few people swimming, but it was so calm and peaceful in the area. There’s also a small exhibit on how Berry Springs used to be, and where the source of the water is. One interesting display they have there is an original dunny, which is quite common in the remote regions in Australia.

Litchfield National Park is only an hour and a half’s drive from Darwin, and is much closer to Darwin than Kakadu. Kakadu, while it is be bigger, takes more than 2 hours from Darwin, and some people recommend that we see it from the air, as it is more spectacular that way. I’m planning to visit Kakadu next time when I have more time to spare in the Top End, and just do a 2 to 3 day tour there. I enjoyed my trip to Litchfield National Park, and I’m glad I took this option over Kakadu for a day trip.. You can cover more attractions to see in and near Litchfield, especially if you only have a day to spare.

Til the next Fabulous Journeys!

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Sunset CB walkabout150x322 Litchfield National Park

Darwin – At The Top End Down Under

kelvinlls | June 4, 2009 | Comments (3)

G’day from Fabulous Journeys! I have just returned from my 2-week trip out of town and had the great opportunity to visit Australia’s Northern Territory. I was at Darwin to catch up with some friends I made through internet marketing, and I had a chance to also explore Darwin city itself.

Flying Into Darwin

It’s difficult to get into Darwin without flying. Unless you are seriously wanting to take the long drive across the long empty stretches of the Outback, flying is the best way to travel into Darwin. I flew into Darwin from Singapore and booked it on Zuji, as they had great special offers to Darwin. The flight took roughly 4 hours, and arrived really early in the morning at 4:40AM. I found it interesting that it is much quicker to fly to Darwin from neighbouring countries than to some of the Australian capital cities!

My friend Trixie met me at the airport, and had to travel 30 minutes to get there. I felt so special that she would wake up at that time of the morning (well, even earlier than that!) just to pick me up and have me stay at her and her husband Steve’s lovely 5-acre property in Howard Springs. If you’re reading this Trixie, thank you so much for your great hospitality!

Top Attractions in Darwin

Before arriving in Darwin, I didn’t know much about what to see in the city. I only knew that it was at the northern tip of Australia, and that there are a lot of crocodiles in the rivers and the sea. I heard from my friend Trixie of the Crocosaurus Cove, which is something like an aquarium of crocodiles in the city, but that was about it. My friend Sharon, who came from McKay and also stayed with Trixie, is also a first timer to Darwin, so we both relied on our good host to take us around and show us the highlights of Darwin.

Here are some of the top Darwin attractions:

Darwin Waterfront

The Darwin waterfront used to be a very industrial area that included the main port of Darwin (Stokes Hill Wharf), where both cargo and cruise ships would dock. More recently, the Darwin waterfront has been redeveloped to include Darwin’s first convention centre, a nice boardwalk along the shore, a new wave pool and restaurants along the Stokes Hill Wharf. There are a few apartment complexes that are being built around the area, which would offer great views of the harbour and sea. There is also a small beach that is protected from the crocs and other dangerous creatures and is considered safe for swimming.

I had lunch with my friends Allen, Sandra and John at the Stokes Hill Wharf and had a fantastic time catching up. The location itself being by the harbour makes for a nice refreshing place to have a meal with friends. There are a few food stalls to choose from, mostly seafood, Chinese, Western and Greek stall. I had a local Barramundi and it was delicious!

Mindil Beach

Mindil Beach is known for its magnificent sunset. Locals and tourists flock to this beach to watch a spectacular sunset. During the dry season, the Mindil Beach Sunset Markets open on Thursdays and Sundays. The sunset market is a great place to sample some local food, find local products, get a Chinese massage, tarot card reading and other quirky stuff. There are numerous aboriginal artwork and items like the didgeridoo, boomerang that you will find as you walk around, as well as Asian items. Live music is also available in various parts of the area.

By the time the sun is about to set, the crowd in the market would slowly go to the beach to watch the sun go down into the sea. The sunsets are apparently much more spectacular during the wet season, when the sun’s colour turns red, and the sky is all red. Nevertheless, I saw one of the best sunsets by the beach here at Mindil Beach.

Eastpoint

Eastpoint is a nature reserve not far from the city centre of Darwin. The area has forests, picnic areas and a man-made lake called Lake Alexander. Lake Alexander is a saltwater lake that is safe for swimming all year round. There are also military facilities in the area. Dudley Point is an area in the Eastpoint reserve that offers a great view of the Darwin skyline and Fannie Bay. This is also another great spot to watch the sunset. Locals and tourists come here to enjoy the views and have a picnic.

Casuarina Beach

Casuarina beach is roughly 20 minutes outside Darwin CBD, and has a decent stretch of beach for people to walk on and enjoy. Some people come here for a picnic or to do some watersports. There is a surf lifesaving club on the beach. My friends and I had a takeaway lunch and sat on one of the picnic tables here. This is where we saw some people kite surfing along the coast, which was a pretty cool sight to see!

Crocosaurus Cove

The Crocosaurus Cove is one attraction you will find in the city centre of Darwin. It is located on Mitchell Street, which is the main street in downtown Darwin. You will find numerous crocodiles that were captured due to misbehaviour (i.e., attacked a human or done some harm on some people’s properties). For thrillseekers, you can get into this glass cage that will be submerged into the crocodile’s pen, and you can experience the aggression and strength of these creatures. My friend Trixie has put out a more detailed post on this, so do check it out!

Darwin is an up and coming city. It may still be very small for a capital city, but it sure has been growing over the past few years with the boom in tourism and mining. It is evident in the amount of construction happening at the moment. Darwin has been known to be the gateway to the beautiful Kakadu National Park, and the closer and more stunning Litchfield National Park. I will be writing about Litchfield National Park on my next post.

Til the next Fabulous Journeys!

Singapore Sling Part 2 – Singapore Flyer

kelvinlls | May 25, 2009 | Comments (0)

Part 2 of Fabulous Journeys‘ Singapore escapade. I hope you have enjoyed my update on what I’ve been up to in Singapore. This will be a brief post on the Singapore Flyer. The Singapore Flyer is the world’s tallest observation wheel. I had the opportunity to take an evening flight to view the awesome Singapore skyline. Here are some of the snaps I took at the Singapore Flyer:

singaporeflyer1 Singapore Sling Part 2 Singapore Flyer

Singapore Flyer - wheel view

singaporeflyer2 Singapore Sling Part 2 Singapore Flyer

Singapore Flyer - Millenia Tower view

singaporeflyer3 Singapore Sling Part 2 Singapore Flyer

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Singapore Flyer - City Skyline

singaporeflyer5 Singapore Sling Part 2 Singapore Flyer

Definitely great views from the Singapore Flyer. If you’re ever in Singapore, don’t miss this attraction.

Til the next update from Singapore!

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Singapore Sling Part 2 Singapore Flyer

Singapore Sling – Part 1

kelvinlls | May 24, 2009 | Comments (0)

Welcome to another post for Fabulous Journeys!

I’m writing this post in Singapore, while I visit some family and taking time to check out some of the new things that this island nation has come up since I last visited. It’s amazing how a small island can pack so much stuff in it, and also still have room to grow! The last time I visited Singapore was only 2 and a half years ago, and already so much has changed. Singapore is definitely one of Asia’s most dynamic city.

Flying Into Singapore

I booked my flight through Zuji, and flew on Singapore Airlines. This is one of the best (if not, the best) airlines in the world, and the service is just impeccable! I always try to get a flight on Singapore Airlines when I can, as their safety record is close to perfect, and I feel like I’m a very valued customer. Their pilots are also very experienced and well trained. The flight was not as full as I expected. Perhaps it’s due to the economic downturn that people have cut back on their travels. I wish more people would learn to trade the markets successfully so they don’t have to worry about such things as a recession! Anyway, it was great because I got the 3 seats to myself!

My original intention for this trip was to see my sister and my little niece Zara who has grown up substantially since the last time I saw her. My sister and her family live in an apartment on the East Coast of Singapore. The property they live in is very close to the beach and to the East Coast Park. They have huge swimming pools, tennis courts and a gym and spa, and it really feels like being in a resort! It’s just an awesome place!

Some of the new things I’ve experienced in Singapore since I last arrived here are:

Vivo City

This is the biggest mall in Singapore, and is facing the resort island of Sentosa. Lots of great international brands and food places are in store, and they have a cinema at the top. There is a rooftop pool that children can play around and cool themselves off, and it offers a fantastic view of Sentosa Island.

Singapore Flyer

The Singapore Flyer is Singapore’s latest attraction, having opened about a year ago. This is currently the world’s tallest observation wheel, with the top height of 165meters. The Singapore Flyer has managed to beat the London Eye for this record by 30 meters. It offers a fantastic view of the city skyscrapers, the South China Sea. During the day, you can view some of the nearby islands of Indonesia and Malaysia. There is also an integrated resort (IR) being built at the moment, the biggest infrastructure project in Singapore since its independence in 1965, and the scale of the new developments can be viewed from the Singapore Flyer

Sentosa

Sentosa - Fort Siloso

The resort island of Sentosa offers a wide variety of facilities for entertainment, leisure and fun. This is where Singaporeans go to get away from the city, and to enjoy the beach. There are a number of resort hotels around the island, and great attractions like:

Underwater World – an aquarium containing a great collection of marine life from the Pacific and South China Sea.
Fort Siloso – a fort built to protect Singapore during World War 2, and is now a museum
Universal Studios (currently under construction)
The biggest Merlion statue in Singapore
Musical Fountains
Marina / Yacht Club

I was fortunate enough to have experienced going into the One Degree 15 Marina Club in Sentosa, which is a members-only marina club (my brother-in-law is a member of this club and took me there). They have fantastic facilities like a swimming pool, gym, a lounge bar, and a couple of good restaurants.

Arab Street/Arab District

Arab District - Singapore

The Arab district of Singapore offers a great display of distinctive shophouses that have been built at the turn of the last century, and have been preserved since. If you’re looking for great Malay or Middle Eastern food, this is one of the best places to go in Singapore. There are also many fabric shops in the area, and there is so much Islamic and Malay character to the place. One street that I particularly enjoyed is Bussorah Street. it is a partly pedestrianised street with all the shophouses, and at the end of the street is a beautiful mosque called Sultan Mosque.

Little India

Little India is buzzing with all things from the Indian subcontinent. The area has a lot of old shophouses that look similar to the ones in the Arab District, except that they are distinctly Indian. I had a chance to sample some great Indian food at this place called Apollo Banana Leaf. They have great South Indian curries, and this is its specialty. More recently, they have offered some North Indian cuisine, and they are really good as well! On top of great food, there are a lot of great Indian shops selling saris, Indian jewellery, Indian groceries, and anything you can think of. One great shop to check out is Mustafa’s. This is a 24-hour department store that offers anything and nearly everything, from grocery items to watches, electronics, furniture and clothing. Mustafa’s offer some of the most competitive prices in Singapore, and they are great value.

I’ll be writing more about my experience in Singapore in the succeeding posts. In the mean time, I’m off to the pool and enjoy the hot weather here in Singapore and having some Singapore Sling!

To more Fabulous Journeys!

Serene Sukhothai

kelvinlls | May 13, 2009 | Comments (2)

wat1 Serene Sukhothai Sawasdee! This Fabulous Journeys post will take you to hot exotic Thailand, to a city that is slightly off the beaten track for tourists who visit Thailand. This city has a great historical significance to Thailand. Because this place is not commonly visited by tourists, you can really feel the real, traditional Thai town without the tourist haunts.

The city of Sukhothai is one of the ancient capitals of the Thai Kingdom. Sukhothai is a UNESCO World Heritage Listed site with all its ancient temples and monuments dedicated to Buddha. The city itself is divided into 2 section: Old Sukhothai and New Sukhothai. Old Sukhothai is where the actual Sukhothai Historical Park (the ancient temples) is located. New Sukhothai is the new commercial and business district of Sukhothai.

Getting to Sukhothai

bangkokairwaysplane Serene Sukhothai I arrived in Sukhothai on a direct flight from the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai. It was the start of the rainy season, and a week before I arrived, the area experienced some serious flooding. It was quite evident as the plane was landing, as apparently the airport runway was also flooded and had just been cleared at that time. The airport in Sukhothai is very quaint and well presented. The only airline that services this airport is Bangkok Airways, which is an award-winning regional airline for Asia, and they also built and own the airport.

The Adventure Begins

sawngthaew Serene Sukhothai My adventure started from the time I landed at the airport. I was supposed to stay near the Old Sukhothai. When I took the airport taxi, however, it would only take me up to the New Sukhothai, and to get to the Old Sukhothai, I had to take this public transport called Sawngthaew, which is essentially a converted truck with 2 long benches at the back (facing each other). The Thais are not known for their strict adherence to safety regulations, so this vehicle was overloaded to the brim, to the point that I can hardly get off. The interesting part was, no one can speak English at all! I didn’t know how to tell the driver to stop! Lucky there were a few students who took the ride and are learning some English at their school, so they were able to help me communicate with the driver.

Old Sukhothai

sukhothai hotel Serene Sukhothai I got off at my accommodation near the Old Sukhothai. The place I stayed at was this small motel which had a lot of Thai character to it. The buildings had the Thai-style roof, and it was beside a small canal. It looked quite picturesque. After checking in, I went for a brief wander towards the Old Sukhothai, in search for the Historical Park. It wasn’t far from my accommodation, a good 15-20 minute walk. I spoke to some of the locals, but I struggled to communicate with them, as none of them understood English, and if they did, it was extremely basic and they couldn’t understand me.

Sukhothai - Wat Si Chum

I eventually found my way to the Historical Park. It’s a really well maintained park, and I’m really impressed about it. Inside are a whole collection of temples and statues of Buddha that used to be the capital of Thailand before it was moved to Ayuttaya, and later Bangkok. There are numerous temples (or Wat, as it is called in Thai) to see, and it is divided into sections. It could take a whole day to go around the park. The park even stretches all the way to the nearby mountains and I only managed to view a segment of those in the mountains. It is where I found one of the biggest stone statue of Buddha around, and it’s called Wat Si Chum. This is one of the highlights of the entire Historical Park.

I hardly saw any tourists around, and I can only count with my fingers the number of tourists walking around (unless it is truly off peak season, though I still found heaps more tourists in Chiang Mai). By chance I met a group of kiwis who were riding scooters around the park but didn’t have any maps, and are a bit lost. I had to show them where things are, and gave them a copy of my map, as at that point I was already about finished with the park. Well, I guess in the Old Sukhothai, this is the only place worth checking out. Most of the Old Sukhothai is residential.

New Sukhothai

Sukhothai - Dream Cafe

I ventured into the New Sukhothai, as I was curious what it’s like to be in a Thai city that doesn’t get many tourists around. I took the public transport again, but this time, with the help of the hotel staff, I asked them to write in Thai that I want to get off at the Old Sukhothai, near the markets. I just showed this piece of paper to the driver of the sawngthaew, who understood me and happily dropped me off where I wanted.

As I expected, hardly anyone spoke English. It totally different from being in Bangkok or Chiang Mai, where a lot of people can speak English (somehow) and you have a better chance of being able to get around without any problems. I went around the shops, but to be honest, none of them looked interesting. The only thing that fascinated me was how laid back the town was, and how different it is from the rest of the cities in Thailand. People are friendly, I must say, and it was well worth looking around for. I read in the Lonely Planet guidebook that there is this nice cafe called Dream Cafe that served great meals. I went there and the first thing that impressed me was the exquisite 19th century Thai antique decors. This is possibly one of the best finds I had while in the New Sukhothai.

If you have a chance to spend more time in Thailand and want to get out of the busy cities and tourist haunts, you should consider visiting this laid-back ancient city of Sukhothai. It’s a totally different experience from the rest of Thailand, and you get to appreciate the great ancient history of this warm kingdom. There are also other ancient ruins in nearby towns from Sukhothai that are worth visiting, but I just didn’t get the chance to explore them. Though I had some challenges getting around, it has been well worth exploring, and the locals are as warm and friendly as what Thais are known for.
Til the next Fabulous Journeys!

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Serene Sukhothai

Top 8 Things to Experience in Edinburgh

kelvinlls | May 4, 2009 | Comments (3)

Welcome to another post from Fabulous Journeys!

The Scottish Capital

edinburgh1 Top 8 Things to Experience in Edinburgh I was just chatting up with one of my friends who now lives in Edinburgh the other day, and it reminded me of my previous visits to this historical Scottish capital city and how much I’ve missed the place. I’ve visited this place over three times already, and each time I always feel enchanted by it. The city has so much character and history and its people celebrate it with a great flair with the numerous festivals throughout the year. From the picturesque Princes Street Gardens to the imposing Edinburgh Castle, this place will give you a great impression the minute you see it. Edinburgh is definitely one of my favourite cities in Europe.

Edinburgh – Getting There

I’ve arrived into this city by train from London and by flight. The train from London is a great way to see the English countryside and some of the Scottish countryside. It generally takes 5 to 6 hours by train from London, and similarly on the bus. I also managed to fly to the Scottish capital on bmi Airlines, the best value airline I found flying from London Heathrow, and it only takes an hour to get there (which saved me a lot of time on my second trip).

Edinburgh’s Best

Edinburgh’s charm is evident once you get into the historic centre. You’ll find old Georgian and medieval style buildings, monuments, the winding road up to the cobblestoned Royal Mile, and the Edinburgh Castle. The city’s rugged and hilly terrain makes it a very picturesque city.

There are a lot of things you can see, do and experience in Edinburgh. Here are some of the top 8 things you can do and experience in Edinburgh (these are in no particular order):

Edinburgh Castle

edinburghcastle Top 8 Things to Experience in Edinburgh Edinburgh Castle sits on top of a hill and overlooks the old town of Edinburgh. The castle can be seen from Princes Street Gardens and Waverley train station. It has been in existence since the medieval times, and over the centuries have been destroyed by numerous wars and uprisings and then rebuilt. Its last purpose is as a military garrison, and up to this day, has some military significance to it. The Edinburgh Military Tattoo happens each year on the castle grounds, and is a military exhibition by the British armed forces.

On the castle itself, you will find fantastic views of the city of Edinburgh and a glimpse of Leith and the eastern shores of Scotland. There are numerous displays of what the castle used to be like and a great detail of the history of this castle. Names of famous Scottish legends like William Wallace (for those movie buff, the main character of the movie “Braveheart” by Mel Gibson) and Robert the Bruce.

The Royal Mile

edinburghroyalmile Top 8 Things to Experience in Edinburgh This cobble-stoned strip of road starts from Edinburgh Castle and stretches all the way down to the Holyrood Abbey. It has a great collection of medieval and Georgian buildings including St. Giles Cathedral, a distinctive feature on the Edinburgh skyline, the Scottish High Court building, and many more conjoined buildings that have now been turned into shops. There are small passageways in between some of the buildings, and some offer a great view of the old town. This is a well-preserved historical area of the city, and it takes you back in time as to what the high street (or main street) of a medieval town must have looked like.

Princes Street and Scott Monument

waverley1 Top 8 Things to Experience in Edinburgh

Edinburgh - Princes Street Gardens

Princes Street is the new high street of Edinburgh. This is where you find all the UK high street label shops and boutiques, and where Edinburgh’s very own Jenners department store is situated. Jenners is Edinburgh’s version of Harrod’s in London, and is a great Scottish institution. Along Princes Street is also where you’ll find the Princes Street Gardens. Princes Street Gardens hold a distinctive monument called the Scott Monument, a gothic-style edifice dedicated to Sir Walter Scott, a great Scottish novelist and poet in the 17th Century. It’s a nice place to sit around and enjoy the view of Edinburgh Castle and the Old Town on the other side of the gardens.

Arthur’s Seat

This hill starts from the Holyrood Palace and is situated on the opposite side to the Castle Rock, where Edinburgh Castle is located. It climbs to about 250m above the city and is a popular walk. It offers breathtaking views of the New Town, the Edinburgh Castle, and the Royal Mile. On New Year’s Eve, fireworks are planted on this area, as well as around the 7 hills surrounding Edinburgh, and can offer a great vantage point.

Rosslyn Chapel

edinburghrosslynchapel Top 8 Things to Experience in Edinburgh This medieval chapel used to be a small not-so-visited church in the village of Rosslyn, which is around 15 minutes away from Edinburgh city. However, in the recent years, it suddenly gained significant popularity. It’s claim-to-fame is its inclusion as one of the location of Dan Brown’s mega-popular bestselling novel “The Da Vinci Code”, which has already been turned into a Hollywood blockbuster. I have heard of this chapel being mentioned by my friend on my first visit, years before The Da Vinci Code novel came out, as it has a lot of intricate stonework and great history around the chapel. I didn’t take much notice and wasn’t in my must-visit places. But since I read the novel and became a fan of it, I made it a point to see this chapel on my third visit to Edinburgh. I must say that the hype made the novel has done me a huge favour, as it is one of the best preserved medieval churches that I’ve ever visited in the UK! It’s really worth the visit, with or without the hype.

Haggis and Scotch Whiskey

edinburghhaggis Top 8 Things to Experience in Edinburgh Oh, the Haggis! This famous (or infamous, depending on how you see it) Scottish dish is something you must try while in Edinburgh. There are a lot of pubs that offer this, and is typical served with turnips and gravy. I won’t describe the Haggis on my blog, as it may not be very appetising to those who don’t know it, but being a traditional Scottish dish, it is worth a try. If you just ignore or refuse to know what it’s made of, it actually tastes great! Another great contribution of the Scots is the Scotch Whiskey! There are a number of shops that offer whiskey tasting, and it’s definitely worth checking them out. I’m not a big fan of scotch, so I can’t recommend any, but there is definitely a wide range to choose from.

Edinburgh Ghost Tour

This may seem odd to some people but it is one of the most worthwhile tours to do if you’re into spooky things! Edinburgh had a dark past. Being an ancient city that has gone through wars and conflict, it definitely has its fair share of horror stories and gruesome deaths. The boom in the medical profession in the late 19th Century and Edinburgh’s reputation as a great centre of learning for the medical field led to a shortage of fresh dead bodies to be used for experimentation and learning. This led to several mysterious murders around the city which were done all for the sake of science. The Ghost Tour will take you to the places where these have taken place, into some old, cold underground caves, cemeteries and cathedrals that is guaranteed to spook you out! According to the guides, some of the tourists who have a strong sense of the spirit world have seen and heard the ghosts appear and speak to them!

Hogmanay

edinburghhogmanay Top 8 Things to Experience in Edinburgh Hogmanay is perhaps the biggest festival that Edinburgh puts out each year. It happens during the week of New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day and is a week-long celebration. Legend has it that this started out as a Viking tradition that has become part of the Scottish tradition. Princes Street Gardens is covered with an ice skating rink, a giant ferris wheel, and lots of small booths selling goodies and products. There are processions and activities in the lead-up to New Year’s Eve, where they have lots of bands and stages performing around the city. Fireworks around the 7 hills is one of the great spectacles. It’s one of the liveliest New Year’s celebrations in the world, and the biggest in Britain.

Definitely more can be experienced in Edinburgh, but these are just a few of the highlights that I’ve experienced. I hope you’ve enjoyed this post.