Phuket 2014

It was an annual trip, plus I needed a getaway and fly pretty badly. I was beginning to show withdrawal symptoms for staying too long on the ground.

Phuket - view from Kamala.

Back in Phuket it is! I will never get bored of this place. The sun, the sand and the sea never fails to calm me down and inspire new ideas. A good 10 days trip by the beach to simply relax and rejuvenate.

Some of the things that I look forward to on my annual visit to Phuket would be its food and massage!
One of it is the ice-cream from Dairy's Queen. Unlike the normal flavoured ice-cream, here you'd be able to find Dairy's Queen smooth ice-cream with a touch of its local's specialty; Mango Sticky Rice Ice-Cream! TRY IT!

DQ's Mango Sticky Rice Ice-cream

Massage is an essential during my stay in Phuket. My favourite massage parlour will be Montra. Located in the basement level of Phuket's Shopping Mall, Jungceylon. Montra offers an ever friendly staffs and highly experienced massage services. 

Montra had just expanded itself with an exclusive spa outlet amongst the giant names in Jungceylon's exclusive Health and Beauty Services (Silang Blvd, 3rd Floor) However, exclusive branch comes with a slightly pricey cost. Nevertheless, if you need a good massage after long flight or tiring activities, Montra is the place to go! A good 60 mins foot massage followed by a 60 mins traditional Thai massage in its quite and aromatic parlour; you'll be sure to walk out feeling refreshed.

Montra Traditional Thai Massage

COUNTING DOWN


Sunset. Phuket, Thailand.
Counting down the days to the sound of serenading waves and breathe-taking sunset views.  

Thank You The Occasional Traveller

The Occasioanal Traveller is a local Singaporean with a day job whom loves to travel. Her award winning travel blog is truly inspiring containing her informative travel journals and reviews. 


"...to encourage fellow deskbound wanderlusters like herself to remember to take that time off and get away, even as they labour away in their daily lives" - The Occasional Traveller

I would like to say a million thanks to The Occasional Traveller for featuring one of my pictures in one of her section; Wallpaper Wanderer. In this section, The Occasional Traveller, invites travellers to submit inspirational photos to inspire others to wanderlust.  And yes, the numerous photos submited are simply truly breathtaking and definitely an inspiration for an adventure or another travelling trip!

Notre-Dame de Paris
This was one of my selected photo which was posted on The Occasional Travel which hopefully its an inspiration for all. 


ASIAN MICKEY

After 5 days in Taiwan, I made my way to Hong Kong. Hong Kong is a very fast paced metropolitan. The city is known for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour. With a population of over seven million people, Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated areas in the world.

This year would be my 5th consecutive years visiting Hong Kong however, my first posting about it. My annual trips to Hong Kong would normally consists of retail therapy and visitings of old friends. 

One of the memorable attractions that I truly love would be Disneyland Hong Kong. A magical place where I can be free and be like a kid once again. Although the I last visited Disneyland Hong Kong was a couple of years back, I hope the the pictures shared would be pleasing to you as it brings back sweet memories to me.


















ANNUAL TRIP

TAIWAN

March 2014. Its been slightly over a year since I left the island of Taiwan. Apart from some interior upgrades in the airport, nothing much have change since. After an early flight with HKG transit via Cathay Pacific Airlines, I arrived at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and ready for my 5 days in Taiwan!

For first timers inTaiwan, arriving at the airport, it gives you the choice of taxis or bus services to bring you to your destinations. From the ticket counters at B2, I took Kuo-Kuang Motor Transport Services (Service No. 1819) which brings me directly to the heart of the city of Taipei; Taipei Main Station which takes slightly under an hour of bus journey. 


ACCOMODATION

There are plenty of forms of accommodations available in Taipei. From 5 stars hotels, to backpackers motel. For me, I choose iTaipei Service Apartment for my 5 days stay in Taiwan. Though it ain't exactly a grand or luxurious holiday accommodation, but the apartment was definitely comfortable and suffice. The amenities and accessibility from the apartment was also part of the reason for my return stay in iTaipei Apartment.    

Alighting from the bus, the apartment check-in is just about 5 mins walk via the Taipei Train Station (go through the underpass linkway towards Qsquare and look for exit Y3. Upon exiting, facing the main road, turn left. Its a small office, but you'll definitely not miss it.

 




A comfortable room complete with basic amenities for traveller like me. Complete with a refrigerator
, stove and washing machine.  And unlike any walk up apartment I've been, this came with a 24hrs front desk/security.






XIMENDING

      
   


Whats a trip to Taipei without visiting Ximending; the source of fashion and subculture. Here you can find a variety of items like facial products, soft toys, souvenirs and fashion apparels. Apart from that there are also good foods around that you can find. From street push-carts to awesome buffet steamboat restaurants.

One buffet steamboat restaurant I would recommend would be Tianwaitian Hotpot. Located within Ximending, the restaurant is walking distance from Ximen train station. It provides a good 2 hours Mala hotpot with awesome Australian Angus beef. Oh did I mentioned, it also comes with free-flow Taiwan beer & Haagen Dazs Ice Cream? 

Tianwaitian Review
Credits to http://reviews.noobcook.com/

HUALIEN

Part of this year's trip to Taiwan was about this beautiful city of Hualien. Hualien is the largest county in Taiwan consisting a large part of mountains in the Eastern Coast. I took an express train (pre-booked online) from Taipei Train Station to Hualien. Arriving at Hualien, you can pick out any one of the taxi drivers by the station's main entrance who would offer a day guides to the National Parks at about NT2000 -2200. Filled with scenic view of majestic gorges and marble cliffs, the Taroko National Park is no doubt a beautiful attraction to many tourists.