Pinnacles Desert

Visiting Period

Spring, 14 September 2010 (Sunny)

My husband was having a 5 day convention in Perth, so I tagged along :) For me Perth is another vibrant city of Ozzie. It's not as big and complicated as Sydney, and traveling within the CBD is pretty easy. Love the free city CATS!

Our tour bus

I've been dreaming of visiting a desert, and visiting Perth opened my opportunity :) I signed up for a daily tour to Pinnacles desert with Western Travelbug for AUD170. The trip to Pinnacles Desert itself takes 3 hour return, so you can drive if you want. I don't drive and I like to have company while traveling.

A super shy Kangaroo at Caversham Wildlife Park

En-route to Pinnacles dessert, we stopped by Caversham Wildlife Park. Although I've been in Ozzie for 2 years, it's my first time feeding Kangaroos. Yucks! saliva all over my palms.. but.. it's a worthy experience :) The best was I've got some awesome photos of super cute Koalas!!! A note to remember.. there're no Koalas in Western Australia!

Uuuugh.. can I join napping?

Then we visited Cervantes beach. The sand was super white in contrast to the turquoise ocean water. I've been to Hyams beach in the Southern Coast of New South Wales. It was claimed to be the beach with the whitest sand in the world, but somehow I felt the sand at Cervantes is whiter.. ha ha.. I should have taken some samples for comparison :p

Cervantes beach

We got lucky a few times in this tour. Firstly, it was mating season for Mr. Peacock, and we got to see him showing off his plumage! Awesome!!! Secondly, a blue-tongue jay-walking in front of our bus en-route to Cervantes.

Look here my Dear!!!

The Blue-tongue

We spent 1 hour in Pinnacles desert. And, I found endless numbers of photogenic odd looking pinnacles. The weather was super fine. We were lucky! blue sky and breezy (about 23-24 degrees I believe). The bad thing was, there were lots lots of FLIES!!! they would attack your eyes, nostrils, lips, ears, everything!!! But with those wonderful shots I've got.. it was a war worth fighting for!!!

The Pinnacles Desert

Transportation

• Perth city CATS
• Fremantle city CATS
• Western Travelbug Mini Bus
• on foot

Accommodation

Sullivans Hotel ***

This hotel is more like a business motel to me. The room was small, but was quite clean. Only 2 small little soap bars and a shampoo/conditioner set were given for 2 fully grown adults. Very noisy. Slamming doors of guests going in/out the rooms. In the morning, your room smelled like the kitchen. It was pretty cold during our stay, so have no idea about the old bulky Window air-con in the room (could be noisy).

Surprisingly, there are lots of pensioner guests in this hotel. Maybe the food is good? too bad we didn't try. Or the rate is good? My husband booked this hotel through his convention agency. It's pretty expensive for such a room standard.

The good thing about this hotel is that the city CATS bus-stop is just in front of it. Another possible reason for why it's popular among pensioners?

Useful Links

Transperth
Welcome to Western Australia
Experience Perth
Perth Tourist Centre

Hanoi and Halong Bay, Vietnam

Visiting Period

Wet season, 12-14 September 2010 (rainy interval)

I was attending my ex-colleagues' wedding in Singapore. And I thought it would be great for a short getaway to one of the neighboring countries. Well, I'd pass Malaysia and Thailand, as I've been there a few times. So, I chose Vietnam, as there are budget flights flying directly from Singapore to Ho Chi Minh/Hanoi. I flied to Hanoi by Tiger Airways, and it cost me SGD300 for a return trip.

It was the end of the wet season (May-October), but a downpour or two were still expected. The good thing was the rain wouldn't last for long, at most for an hour or so.

Hanoi was celebrating her 1000th birthday in October, so there were decorations here and there. The one that impressed me the most is the looooong mosaic mural on my way to the airport. As a matter of fact, it was the LONGEST in the WORLD!!!

I stayed at the Old Quarter near Hoan Kim lake, which is a famous tourist destination. There're lots of attractions that can be visited on foot, so just pick up a local map from your hotel and explore. I love Vietnamese food, there's no such thing as awful food for my entire stay in Hanoi. My favorite is Blue Butterfly restaurant at 61 Hang Buom. 

Blue Butterfly Restaurant

You should try the food sold by the street peddlers also, the smell was so mouth-watering! I didn't dare to try, coz I have a weak stomach.. just in case..

Local food peddlers

Remember to visit the Dong Xuan market. There are lots of "branded" stuffs with awesome quality and price *grin* 

Bargaining for The North Face backpacks at Dong Xuan market

And of course the night market is something not to be missed also, foods and goodies with incredible bargain.

Night market in front of Dong Xuan (day) market

BUT do remember to apply BUG REPELLENT!!! feisty mozzies everywhere!!!

MOZZIES!!!

To save time, I signed up for a half day city tour to explore further from the Old Quarter for USD22. The main highlight for me was the Temple of Literature. Love the turtle steles! Each of them have different expressions.. some have curly hair.. some even have eye-brows!!!

Turtle Steles at Temple of Literature

The under renovation One Pillar Pagoda :(

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

Joss-stick at Tranquoc Temple

To visit Halong bay, I signed up a day tour for USD30. It's the most effective way I think, as I don't speak Vietnamese (to avoid being conned) and it was a long 7 hour return trip! My guide, Dat, speaks fluent English and was very friendly and informative. I had my lunch on board the boat. It was not a sumptuous meal, but was a filling and descent one :)

Halong bay cruising boat

Floating village at Halong bay

Hang Dau Go cave

Hang Dau Go cave

View from Hang Dau Go cave entrance/exit

Kayaking was part of the tour, but I didn't join for I didn't want to risk my DSLR plunging into the water juuuust in case I capsized :p Next trip, I should grab my hubby to come along, so that he can be my mobile locker!!!

Kayaking at Halong bay

Transportation

On foot and Tour mini van


Accommodation

Rising Dragon Hotel

There are 2 Rising Dragon hotels, rating 2 stars and 3 stars respectively. I stayed at the 2 star one with half the price of the 3 star's. The room was clean and tidy. A bit noisy from the street in front, but I didn't mind because most of the time I was not in. It's quiet at night anyway :) The breakfast was good. Love the French bread!

Useful Links

Lonely Planet
Asiarooms

West Cornwall, United Kingdom

Visiting Period

Summer, 13-15 July 2010 (mostly sunny)

Towan Beach

I visited Cornwall with my parents and brother. We chose Newquay instead of Penzance as our base, as it's a larger city and famous for its coastal beaches and FOOD! But yes, it would be a better choice to station in Penzance if you're more into walking and not traveling with parents ;) Penzance is a famous entry point to Exmoor and Dartmoor National Park.

We're greedy traveler, or I'd rather say, I'm a greedy traveler who want to see as many as possible. But since we didn't drive, we gotta manage our schedule well and sacrifice a few destinations :( We didn't go to the Eden Project as it's pretty expensive and time consuming, instead we took the 1st train to Penzance and explored west Cornwall by the open top Cornwall Explorer. The bus is a loop service, but not frequent! It was designed at such that the travelers have enough time to explore each scenic stop. So, stick to your schedule tight! Else, you won't have time for the next scenic stop!

Here is my itinerary, and please note that it was designed so that we had enough time to catch the last train back to Newquay ;)

Origin	Destination	Depart	Arrive	Duration	Remarks
Penzance	Porthcurno	10.35	11.14	39m	Minack Theatre
Porthcurno	Land’s End	13.14**	13.29	14m	Land’s End
Land’s End	Marazion Sq	15.35	17.34	59m	St. Michael’s Mt
Marazion Sq	Penzance	19.34	19.48**	14m	EOT

* Lunch @ Minack Theatre
* Dinner @ Marazion Sq
** Alternative transport from Porthcurno to Land's End by Western Greyhound 504 at 13.59
** Take Bus 2A from Marazion Sq to Penzance to catch 19.13 train back

Coast Path

There're 2 paths to Minack Theatre, the coastal path and the driveway path. The coastal path is a lil' bit strenuous, BUT the scenery is rewarding. We took the coastal path. My Mom did it on heels! But if you're traveling with kids or people with movement inconvenience, do take the driveway path.

Driveway Path

Wind is pretty strong at Minack Theatre, so please layer yourself :)

Minack Theatre

By-pass all the rides and attractions of Land's End theme-park, follow the South West Coast Path from Land's End to Sennen Cove. The sceneries are more rewarding than the rides!

Land's End

Land's End to Sennen Cove

Wildflowers all over!!!

Land's End to Sennen Cove

Land's End to Sennen Cove

It's just a short 20 minute walk from Land's End to Sennen Cove, if you're not stopping for photo-taking or snacking :) The path is easy, no special physical ability's required. Go ahead, bring your kids and parents!

Sennen Cove

Our last stop is Marazion to see the St. Michael's Mount

Marazion

St. Michael's Mount

We arrived there pretty late, and the admission to the castle has closed. Anyway, it was high tide.  We can walk to the castle at low tide! else you gotta hire a boat to cross over :)

Castle on top of St. Michael's Mount

We have a very tight schedule, so we couldn't afford to stop at St.Ives and other stops, BUT you can still enjoy the scenery from the bus top. BUT, wind can be strrrrong!

Transportation

by train:
Newquay - Penzance - Newquay


by 300 (Cornwall Explorer) bus
Penzance - Minack's Theatre - Land's End - St. Michael's Mount - Penzance




Accommodation


Travelodge Newquay Seafront Hotel

This hotel is quite new. If I'm not mistaken, it was opened in June 2010. We took the family room which was quite a bargain for 4 adults, as July is the peak season at Newquay! The room was clean, the amenities were new, and the BEST was we got the panoramic view of the Great Western Beach from our room! Restaurants and convenient stores are just a few steps from the hotel. Try Tai-sing Chinese Take-Away at 5 Station Parade. The food was good, cheap, and A LOT! My Dad couldn't stop smiling while eating! Well, he's a typical Asian who can't live without eating rice ;)

Useful Links


Cornwall Explorer 300
Cornwall County Bus Service
First Great Western

The Lake District - United Kingdom

Visiting Period

Summer, 7-8 July 2010 (mostly sunny)

I visited the Lake District with my brother. It was our 1st time. The weather was kind to us, as the Lake District is famous for its random weather. We missed our full day-Ten Lakes Spectacular-tour as one of our connecting train was delayed :( and joined the half day-Beatrix Potter's Lakeland-tour instead. The Beatrix Potter tour was more for family and pensioner. But nevertheless, we enjoyed it very much. I booked our tour through Viator. They are not cheap, but from my experience, they are responsive and reliable.

Beatrix Potter Gallery

Of course, like everyone else, the main purpose of our visit was to WALK!

Orrest Head Walk

View of Lake Windermere from Orrest Head

It's a short 40 minute walk (return) just across our B&B. Superb view at the top. Best to do around sunrise or sunset. We did it at sunset.

Little Langdale Walk

Little Langdale Tarn

Blea Tarn

Wildflowers around Blea Tarn

We downloaded the map from the internet and loaded the file to our GPS :) It was supposed to be a 6 hour walk, but we finished it in 4 hours! The walk was pretty strenuous, but it was a worthy one. Wonderful sceneries all along!

Herdwick Sheep

Heilan Coo

Accommodation

Orrest Cottage (B&B), Windermere

Love it! The room is 5-star hotel clean with nice artistic touch. Love that complete Marks & Spencer toiletries :) The food is good. And to the very best, the PRICE is GOOD!!!

Getting Around

by bus:

618 Windermere - Ambleside - Windermere

516 (Langdale Rambler) Ambleside - Dungeon Ghyll - Ambleside

and on FOOT!

Useful Links

Getting around the Lake District, Cumbria

Traveline

The Lakeland Fells

A Photographic Journal of Walks in the Lake District, Snowdonia and the Pennines