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