Jungceylon, Phuket's Shopping Destination

One of the main reason why we choose to stay in Loveli Boutique Guesthouse was because it located few steps away from Jungceylon, the largest shopping center tucked in the heart of Patong houses more than 200 lifestyle and leisure shops. We went here like almost everyday not for shopping purpose, but sometimes to hunt for foods and also a place for some free air-condition moment.

#1: It even house of two Thai own department store and supermarket chain, Robinson and Big C.

Patong Beach, Popular Beach of Phuket

Date of Visit: 6th January 2012

On the second day of our Phuket trip, it's kinda free and easy as we didn't bought any travel package for the day time. After breakfast, we decided heading to the famous and well-developed beach, Patong Beach. The path from our guesthouse to the beach took more than 10 minutes and if we knew the shortcut, it might be shorter but we're unsure with the shortcut. Walking through halfway, I spotted a random ice-cream shop that I felt so tempted wanna have them. Oh well, afterall it's my favourite dessert and hard for me to resist it and because of that, my friends said, "Let's go in!". Yes, I went in happily just like a little girl.

#1: We ordered two kind of ice-creams; Caramel Chocolate & Banana with Strawberry.

Double B: Bangkok & Brunei Trip 2013

When I met Bangkok for the very first time October last year (click HERE), I wish and pray hardly that I could able to go there again and yes, my wish was granted whereby my family and I did visit Bangkok for this year Chinese New Year holiday.

My dad almost signed up with tour company that cost almost RM3,000 per pax and luckily I managed to stop him from doing so. Imagine with that amount of money, I could travel and shop like crazy in Bangkok twice. So ended up, and once again I in charge of becoming the tour planner as well as as their so called "tour guide"; from booking the airtickets, reserve hotel rooms to arrange tour for 10 people. 

#1: We flew with Royal Brunei and transit in Brunei 

It's been so long I never flew with  this airline as I used to travel with them like almost every week when I was kid, according to my parents.

#2: We were so surprised when our deluxe room being upgraded to Presidential Suite but only for first night.

Since I went Bangkok before but for my family members, this was their first visit, some places I went for second time, which I think worth and highly recommended for their eye opening.

#3: Terminal 21 - Good shopping place with unique concept

#4: Damneon Sadouk Floating Market

#5: Finally got to find the famous coconut ice-cream stall in Chatuchak Weekend Market

Whereas some I came across for the very first time such as:

#6: Wat Pho - Temple of Reclining Buddha via Chao Phraya Tourist Boat

#7: Stopby Chinatown for Chinese cuisines

#8: 4 hours long roadtrip just to get closer with these tamed tigers in Tiger Temple Kanchanaburi Seriously a #butthurt case

Not just Bangkok that we went, due to our 9 hours transit in Brunei while waiting back to KK, we're heading down to Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital city of Brunei for huge and scrumptious sushi at Escapade, the best Japanese restaurant in Brunei which highly recommended by most of my friends and family.

#10: My shopping haul: 4 dresses, 12 tops, 2 shorts, 7 skirts, 4 bags & accessories

Talking about shopping, I can't deny that Bangkok is my favourite place to shop compare to my experience in Shenzhen, Jakarta, Bandung, Seoul and other cities I went before. Definitely for sure, I will go Bangkok again for third time. I think Bangkok has put spell on me, gosh!

By the way, my blog - Travel & Living Journal of DT has being nominated for 4 categories in MITBCA or Malaysia International Tourism Bloggers Conference & Awards; "Tourism Shopping Blog", "Tourism Travel Blog", "Tourism Blog of The Year" and "Tourism Destination Blog" by some mystery but sweet lil angels, which he/she doesn't want to reveal himself/herself.



Actually I kinda hate begging for votes from you guys but if you think my blog deserve those categories, I would appreciate if you could cast a vote for my blog. Follow the following steps if you like to vote my blog:

1. Go to MITBCA website - link.
2. Register with your email or you can even log in with Facebook (the easiest way but no worry, it won't appear in your Facebook page)
3. Click "VOTE" and remember, you can only vote one only for each category. 

Among all the categories at this moment, my blog got the highest votes for "Tourism Shopping Blog" category. Hence, kindly please cast more votes for this category.

Thank you guys and let me know if you had voted for my blog. Voting start now until 22nd February 2013.

Phuket Simon Cabaret, The Ladyboy Show

Phuket Day 1 (Part I) - Loveli Boutique Hotel 
Phuket Day 1 (Part II) - Cashew Nut Factory, Wat Chalong, Karon View Point & Promthep Cape

Date of Visit: 05th January 2012

After my friends and I back from our half day tour wander around Phuket - click HERE, we went back to the guesthouse for few minutes break before going for our next activity which was the Simon Cabaret, the lady boy entertainment show.

 #1: The entrance

Cashew Nut Factory, Wat Chalong, Karon View Point, Promthep Cape & Seafood Dinner

NOTE: Kinda busy with preparation for CNY, therefore my blog not being updated for almost a week. By the way, wishing all my readers a prosperity, wealthy & healthy year ahead. Welcome the water snake year and get bless. Happy Chinese New Year everyone. 

Date of Visit: 05th January 2012

Since we had wasted half of our day upon arriving in Phuket, I suggested to my friends for a half day tour around Phuket. One of the guesthouse's host, Neil told us that the rate charge for 6 hours tour would be 1,500 baht and one car can accommodate up to 4 people whereas for 9 hours tour would be 1,800 baht. We agreed to take the 6 hours tour although the 9 hours tour seems to be more worthwhile but we had another plan at night, which I will blog in the next post.

Few of the places I did do some research before leaving to Phuket except for the last destination, which was suggested by Neil that shouldn't miss out by any traveller or tourist.

Cashew Nut Factory

 #1: Cashew nut factory

Sawatdee Phuket & Loveli Boutique Guesthouse

Date of Visit: 05th January 2012

My 2012 trip started by kicking off to Phuket together with my college besties in early of January. And of course, I need to fly all over from Kota Kinabalu to Kuala Lumpur before flying again to Phuket on the next day. Well, it's kinda tiring in the first place because we need to wake up as early as 3am in order to catch our 6am flight to Phuket but then, we were more thrilled and excited for this island and beach getaways. 

#1: Witness sunrise from hundred feet above the sea was breathtaking. I always requested for window seat.

Top 10 Berlin Attractions & Sightseeings

• Dresden, 800 Years Old City in Germany 
• Met United Buddy Bears in Berlin

Date of Visited: 04th October 2008

Germany's largest city and capital since 1990, Berlin is certainly one of the city in Europe must visit. Berlin is one vibrant city as most of its buildings were built with the funds received from various countries and in return, making this city an interesting of both mix and match styles. When comes to attractions and sightseeing, this city has no definite centre and pockets of attractions are dotted all over the place. Berlin is kinda a very large and spread-out city, so it's not practical to get around by foot. Therefore, the most convenient and easiest way to travel around the Berlin city is by taking its extensive public transport system.

During our visit there, we did went and visited few of the famous attractions which shouldn't miss out. Here is the top 10 list of my personal favourite attractions and sightseeings in Berlin:

1. Brandenburger Tor

  
Brandenburger Tor or Brandenburger Gate is the symbol and landmark of Berlin. This gate has its own history for more than two hundred years and it's symbolize of peace and unity. Crowning on the top of gate is the bronze quadriga of victory, a four-horse chariot that used in Roman times were a symbol of triumph. 

2.  Checkpoint Charlie 

Checkpoint Charlie is the famous border crossing between East and West Berlin, where American and Russian forces stood against each other after the creation of Berlin Wall. There is even a museum showing different methods of escape from former East Berlin to West Berlin.

3. Berlin’s Holocaust Memorial

Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe which known as Holocaust Memorial is the memorial in Berlin dedicated to the thousand of Jewish victims during the World War II. This memorial took over a year to complete and was opened in December 2004. Means by the time we visited this, it just less than 4 years old. This attraction is located close to Brandenburger Gate and not far from the bunker where Hitler committed suicide. 
  

All of these rectangular grey blocks are vary in heights. 

 

4. Reichstag

Reichstag Building is parliament house and mirror of German history.

5. Rotes Rathaus

Rotes Rathaus or known as Red Hall City is the town hall of Berlin. It is the home to the governing mayor and the government of the Federal state in Berlin.

6. Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church

Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church is the symbolic centre of West Berlin, an anti- war memorial to peace and reconciliation.

7. Berliner Dom

Berliner Dom, the cathedral church of Berlin is the largest church in the city and it serves as a vital center for the Protestant church of Germany.

8. Berlin’s Fernsehturm

Berlin’s Fernsehturm is a TV Tower and the tallest building in Berlin. As urban legend has it, the tower’s height is 365m high so that every child would be able to remember it, just like the days of the year. But turns out that the actual height of this tower is 368m.

Berlin’s Fernsehturm is located not so far away from Berliner Dom. 

9. Potsdamer Platz

Once one of the busiest squares in Europe, Potsdamer Platz was heavily damaged in World War 2 and then lay empty during the cold war because of it's position between east and west Berlin. Today the square has been revived and is once again a busy hub in the center of the German capital.

10. Berlin Wall

Last but not least, the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall in the East Side Gallery. It is the largest open-air gallery in the world with over one hundred original mural paintings in 1.3 km-long painted stretch. I did blogged about this before in full post - The Rising & Falling of Berlin Wall.  

DT with Germany's flag