Chiang Mai's Haul

Lots of haul I got there, right?

You might wondering when did I went Chiang Mai, Thailand? No, I didn't. How I really wish I could visit this city where enjoy a ride on the big giant elephant, seeing all the magnificent and beautiful "wat" or known as temple or even shopping till I drop? My parents did that by the way when both of them went Chiang Mai last month with their friends. And they did buy lot of goodies/stuff like what you saw as the above just for me. Greedy gal am I, right?

Dresden, 800 Years Old City of Germany

Date of Visited: 3rd October 2008

Have you ever heard of Dresden before? Frankly speaking, neither do I. Before we travelled from Prague, Crezh Republic into Berlin, the vibrant capital city of Germany, we stopby for a period to visit this 800 years old city of Germany.

We were brought by Sarah, our tour guide to few of the notable attractions of Dresden. The first one was Zwinger.

Zwinger is a palace and Dresden's most famous landmark. It is famous for its finest examples of late Baroque architecture in Germany.

With its large inner courtyard, it used to be for court activities, fireworks and even tournaments.

Marvellous architecture of the wall pavilion

Today, the Baroque complex of pavillions, galleries and inner courtyards is home to the excellent Old Masters Picture Gallery, the Armoury, the Porcelain Collection, and the Zoological Museum.

Next was Semperoper. Semperoper is the opera house and concert hall of Dresden. As it required admission fee and because time constraint, we didn't went it. But just looking at outside of the building, I can't deny that Semperoper is one of the most beautiful opera houses in the world.

Situated on the right of Semperoper was Katholische Hofkirche, literally in English means The Catholic Church of the Royal Court of Saxony.

Similar to Prague, most of Dresden's highlight attractions are located on the banks of the Elbe river in Dresden's Old Town and in walking distance from each other. Although approximately 80% of Dresden’s historic center was destroyed due to the World War II, all of these important landmarks have been rebuilt and reconstructed to their former splendor.

[Credit To: Wikipedia, A View on Cities, Semperoper Erleben, About.com,

Real Budget Backpacking Style in Philippines

If you happen to read 2 of my previous post, you might know that I am currently on a trip to somewhere around the world. So did you managed to guess where on earth am I right now? Well, I am currently in Manila, Philippines with 2 of my high school friends for almost a week. Once again, I travelled with different group of friends of mine and I experienced different kind of feelings and situation when travel with different group of people but afterall, this is the time where I learned to handle and make everything under control.

You might asking why my friends and I choose to travel around Philippines? Simple, because I am a travel junkie who always dream of wanderlust. That's my tagline by the way and if anywhere where I could possible land my foot on, definitely I love to go and try to explore them. Plus, my friends and I managed to book a return ticket fare via AirAsia for only RM45. Cheap, right? But do take note that the air fare doesn't included the airport departure tax.

Choosing to backpacking in Philippines like what my friends and I did right now is not a problem if you are a wise and experienced travellers. So, for those travel bloggers who used to backpack and DIY most of the trip by themself like John, Fatt, Lily Riani, Biqque, Byya, Chawana, Kemang and Shahrul, I guess there is not big deal for you guys to travel here. But if you never have the experience of backpacking before, I would strongly advise to sign up with travel agent before you reach Philippines. This is because Philippines is being ranked as one of the country with the most highest crime rate. So, don't take the risk if you don't have enough experience to plan a trip to Philippines.

My friends and I did so many activities during our 1 week trip at City of Manila and here are the things we did here:

Went to Tagaytay City and ride on a ownmade small boat. But the most adventurous experience I had was my first time exprience riding on a horse and went all the way up to the hill to see the smallest and lowest volcanon, Taal Volcano. #Butthurt on the next day

City Day Tour to all the most famous attractions around Manila.

Talking about shopping, Philippines has countless of shopping malls. We even visited Mall of Asia, the third largest shopping mall in Asia and fourth largest shopping mall in the world.

And because we have lots of spare time, we decided to have a day trip to Manila Ocean Park. Although it was not that interesting compare to most aquamarine park I visited before in other cities, but this one is way much better than Malaysia one, the Underworld in Langkawi. I think Malaysia must seriously go and learn from them.

Somehow, we did hired a local tour guide for 2 days because there are few places that is not easily accessible and also in order to avoid all the hassle and time constraint. Thanks to my cousin for recommend Abel Dava to us. He is indeed a very good tour guide and I really recommend him to you if you plan your trip to Philippines in future. Do email me if you need his tour services.

And not forgetting, I would like to say million of thanks to Lady Mariah for all the help, tips and guide that you gave me for my plan to Philippines.

After reading this travel post of mine, are you interested to visit Philippines now? I do enjoy my trip here by the way. That's recap my 3rd trip for the year of 2012. Till then, do keep visit my travel & living blog for more.

Foodie Friday: Goku Raku Ramen, Mid Valley & Ichiban Boshi, Pavilion

Note: Sharing of 2 Japanese eateries in 1 post because tons of foodies post I haven't blog yet. One more thing, this is another scheduled post cause I am currently away for another trip

One of my bestie told me that Goku Raku Ramen serve the most delicious authentic Japanese Ramen which can't find in any other places and she recommended to me that I must try before I will leave KL permanently last year. I spotted this eatery few times before while wandering around Mid Valley but never have the chance to try it. Thanks to my UK unimate, Kai Xin aka Happy, who decided to meet up in Mid Valley, hence I introduced to her this eatery since both of us haven't try this before.

Located on the second floor of Mid Valley Megamall nearby FOS, this non-halal Ramen eatery serve flavourful broth from a mix of pork, chicken and fish together with the Shio (salt) and Shoyu (Japanese soy sauce) soup base made especially by the chef.

When browsing through their menu, I did noticed that besides Ramen, they do serve other variety of meals too. But since Goku Raku is famous for Ramen, its signature dish, therefore we decided to try to see how good it was.

My meal - Char Siew Tonkotsu Ramen

Kai Xin's meal - Ultimate Tonkotsu Ramen

Although both of us ordered the different meals, but from the surface both looks almost the same except Kai Xin's one topped with egg. The serving portion could be consider quite huge for both of us and thank goodness that we did not ordered any side dishes, or else we might feeling sinful for not able to finish them. The Ramen is very smooth and not too soft but there's one thing that make me wanna think twice whether to come back or not is the soup. Might not be our lucky day at that moment because both of us think that the soup is quite salty. Overall, everything is fine by the way.

Before I almost forgot and another backdated post again, my housemate and I spotted this Japanese restaurant on the lowest ground floor of Pavilion, Ichiban Boshi. Anyone try this before? Neither both of us, therefore we decided go and testing testing. Plus, both of us love Japanese foods so much.

Love the atmosphere of this restaurant

In order to prevent from feeling sleepy during the class time with the stuffed stomach, both of us just having a light meal by picking sushi from kaiten belt or ordering from menu instead of ala-carte or set meal.

The kaiten belt is always filled with sushi all the time

One thing I love about this Ichiba Boshi was because it served assorted of sushi that I couldn't find at any other of Japanese restaurant. Not only cause of its rare and unique sushi, but I still remembered their sushi menu is like more than 2 pages just for the sushi itself. Not forgeting, they did served Teriyaki Chicken Temaki too, which is my favourite Temaki and I was so delightful when I saw it stated on the menu because it is quite hard for me to have it at any normal Japanese restaurant.

So, if I have the chance to visit KL again, definitely I will return again to try out more of their sushi and also other dishes.

Goodbye My Passport Stamp Collection

For only being occupied 10 pages out of 32 pages of my previous passport, and now all I can see is just a define clean and without any stamp on this newly 4th passport. Wondering why can't they just change the hard cover of the passport and retain the content of itself? I am truly unhappy and so sad regarding this renewing of passport cause gonna said goodbye to all of the passport stamp collection from my past 5 years of travelling trail and even including visa which is so hard to apply especially the Japan visa.

From my first passport stamp I got in Manchester, United Kingdom until the final passport stamp in Brunei on last January of this year, all of these brought lots of great and priceless memories to me which nothing can replace with. Imagine from the moment you reach the destination and got the stamp from the immigration officer, there it goes the beginning of every journey and unforgettable path for a newly or even similar places that you visited until the end of the final travel date.

Left side: Hong Kong & Macau (2010)
Right side: Manchester & Paris (2008); Singapore (2011)



Left side: London & Paris (2008); Hong Kong (2010)
Right side: Singapore (2010); Taiwan (2010)



Left side: Japan (2010); Taiwan (2010); South Korea (2011)
Right side: Japan visa (2011)



Left side: Indonesia (2011); Brunei (2012)
Right side: Phuket, Thailand (2012); Brunei (2012)

Left side: China visa (2011)
Right side: China (2011)

Visited 22 countries within these 5 years and received countless of passport stamp collection together with 2 visa applied is truly one of the best moments in my life which I couldn't forget forever. Hopefully with my this newly passport, I hope I could get more passport stamp collection but the most importantly is the experience I will gain and learn throughout every places and cities I will going to.

My passport cover which I bought from Everland, South Korea. Adorable or not?

Last but not least, I would like to inform that this is my scheduled post by the way as I'm now on my way to get my first passport stamp collection on my 4th passport. So, this is my 23rd country that I am going to visit now. Stay tune to find out where on earth am I right now.

*Gonna travel for 16 days - from 20th March until 8th April . In between, will stopby in KL for flight connection*

Snapshot Sunday: Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland

Switzerland is not only a country that cover with snow but it has the most impressive and spectacular scenery through its valleys in the Alps, between gigantic rock faces and mountain peaks and also surrounding with different and unique chalets.

Check out my old travel post: Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland

Met United Buddy Bears in Berlin

I guess most of you have met United Buddy Bears as these colourful bear statues were being displayed last few month in front of the entrance of Pavilion KL. Yes, I did met them too on last January before going holiday to Phuket. But you might not knowing that this is not the first time I met United Buddy Bears cause I met them before way back in year 2008 in Berlin, Germany.

Initially, my friends and I thought these bears are just like any other normal statues that might be symbol of a country. Out of our expectation, these fibreglass bear sculptures was originally developed in Berlin, Germany has now taken over the world with spreading a message of peace, international understanding and tolerance among the nations, cultures and religions of this world.

Unlike the one in Pavilion, KL where the exhibition was displayed at one point and you take photo or even hug with almost all of these 143 two meter tall fibreglass bears, Berlin did it differently. These bear sculptures were displayed at different point, so it might be a lil bit tricky to consume some time, energy and even some luck to find them.

Design of the world genius Albert Einstein. Specially dedicated for him as he was German-born and you know what, today is the day where he was born.

While searching for these around Berlin, I told my friends that I have the intention to buy these United Buddy Bears keychains as part of my travel collection. And guess what?

Yes, I did saw there is a shop somewhere around Berlin city selling these kind of keychains. Unfortunately, they were so expensive. A mini and small keychain with the height of at least 2 inches or less cost almost RM100 for one only. Hence, my intention to have them immediately vanished once I saw the price tag. The keychains are indeed so pretty and creative but their price are much more prettier. Deng!

Since I unable to buy those keychains, therefore my friends and I did something silly and insane.

Yeah! We're becoming the United Buddy Bear Human instead.

I really enjoy taking photo with these series of painted bear statues together with my friends. I guess I started to admire all this kind of series statues wherever I met them while travelling; taking for example like "Superlambananas in Liverpool" and the latest one I spotted in Phuket.

A compilation of photo with United Buddy Bears in Berlin, Germany.

[Credit To: United Buddy Bears homepage, Wikipedia]

m.y. B.I.R.T.H.D.A.Y 2012

Seriously, I really have no idea what to put for the title of this post, hence I decided just to make it short and simple. I seldom blog about my life currently cause I prefer to tweet and my this blog serve as my travel journal to reflect of all my past travel experience and adventures. Somehow, I still will blog of my personal lifestyle once in a while, therefore I added "Living" as part of my blog title.

Another year has passed and here comes another year celebration of my birthday. Yeap, my birthday was yesterday and I am really truly blessed with all the blast celebration together with family, friends and boyfie.

Even my very best friend courier a "Starbucks Coffee Planner" all the way from Miri cause she knows that I have the habit of writing diary since I was 10.

 

Thanks to Chris and this is my first present for the year.

Almost every year (if I'm around KK) definitely I will celebrate with my dearest crazy bestie which we met since in secondary school until now. My friends who has been with me for more than 10 year.*

Thanks to Shing Wei and Wawa for the treat on my pre-birthday. We're having at the newly opened restaurant, FullHouse Lifestyle Cafe.


*

We are always crazy, young and wild. I really having a great and wonderful time when I with them and they are really indeed complete part of my life.

As early on my birthday itself, I received unexpected surprise from my dearest boyfie.

He gave me a bouquet of lilies which is my favourite flowers. My jaw is really almost drop to the floor when I received this and I never expecting this at all. Frankly speaking, I never receive any flowers from guys before. Yes, I did received quite a lot but it was during my college/university graduation. He can be that sweet and romantic sometimes. Thanks boyfie ♥♥♥

A birthday celebration wouldn't so call if not celebrate with family. Initially, we decided to have Chinese foods for dinner but unfortunately, the one that we plan to dine-in closed down. Therefore, we plan to go to nearby Japanese restaurant. My boyfie also tagged along with us.

Yoshimi Japanese Restaurant, Warisan Square. Thanks mommy for the treat.

Last but not least, a cake is a must to complete this birthday celebration. Early of this year, I had decided to have ice-cream cake as my birthday cake. But in KK, we don't have those famous ice-cream chain outlet such as Haagen Dazs and Baskin Robbins. So this mission to have ice-cream cake seems impossible unless you order it earlier from the normal bakery shop. Thanks to my deariest Wawa for informed me that we still have this local ice-cream outlet that selling ice-cream cake too.

 
Bought 2 pieces cause there are only 4 of us (mommy, lil bro, boyfie & me. Dad went China for business trip). The taste of this ice-cream makes me feels like in paradise.

I would like to thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes, either via facebook, SMS or even twitter. I am truly happy and delightful to receive all the wishes from you all. Not forgeting to all these bloggers for the meaningful birthday wishes; Hilda Teo, Rosyln Kong, Charmaine Pua Li Ping, Kemang, Mariah Doksil, Helmi John, Teo Jun Fook, Henry Tan, Priscilla Needsahug Tawie, Richard Lex, Iz Cawan, Jeff Chuah, Tom Rungitom, and Fish Szehui, Thanks to you all. YOU GUYS ROCK MY WOLRD!!

10 March - People born on this day love to travel. No wonder lah! I was born this way apparently.

Note:
*Photo courtesy to my besties, Shing Wei from her Samsung S2 and edited by me.