2 Weeks Indochina, What a trip! -Part 2-

D04, Sep 22, 2011. Where were we? Ah, so we took the night bus to Siem Reap (SR). My calculation we shall arrive at SR at 1300 (local time), but unfortunately I was wrong! It turns out we arrived at 1730. There were some reason why it took us a longer time arrive in SR, Vietnam – Cambodia open close timing is one of the reason. The border opens at 0600, while it took only about 3hrs from HCMC to the border, so we spent another 3hrs outside the gate! Just to make it short, at 06AM one of PIC from bus company asked us to come down to the border office, we didn’t have to bring our luggage for check. Since it’s still early morning, so there were not many people at the border. We got our stamp easily, and at that time we just realized that there are no Visa in our passport, we only got stamp. We ask to one of border officer, he said “as per SEP 22, 2011 Indonesian passport holder no longer need visa to enter Cambodia”. At that time we were like “HURRAAYY” and after a second we realized that we already gave our money for Visa to the bus company!

By the time we reached Pnom Penh for a short transit (changing bus), we asked for our money back to the bus company (which happens also has an office in Pnom Penh). Unfortunately the officer can’t give us our money back, and told us to take our money at their office at HCMC *super crap*! Finally we agreed to it and asked the officer to write down a statement so it will easier for us to take our money back. Just make short, so there were we arrived safe and sound at SR, and thanks y got a free picked up service from guesthouse using tuk tuk (cart which attached to a bike). Happy Guesthouse, that’s the name. It is located nearby the bus station (approx 15mins ride) and it was a cozy place with a little restaurant in front. This is one of a recommended guesthouse in SR, it only cost us 7USD for a triple room with fan for 1night (exclude breakfast)!

2 Weeks Indochina, What a trip! -Part 1-

Planning on writing a blog about my trip to Indochina for some times, but stuck on the first line. Maybe it's because that was the least enjoyable trip I had so far. Don't get me wrong, #Indochina is quite okay, but there are some things that made me wary to go back there again.

Here we go. Sep 19, 2011, There were we, 3 girls looking for some adventure in Indochina, the destination are Vietnam and Cambodia, 2 of the famous countries in Indochina. The first pit stop was Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC). Me and my 2 friend planned this trip since early 2011, we've booked all necessary things to support our trip. By the time we arrived in HCMC, the sky is already dark so we arranged a pick up from hotel. It cost us 15USD from HCMC International Airport to our hotel in Pham Ngu Lao Street (PNL). PNL street is quite similar with Jakarta's Jalan Jaksa, it's the backpackers district in HCMC. There were so many tourist from all over the world stays in this area. We stayed in Nguyen Khang Hotel (1*) for 2nights. We spent our first night strolling around the district and look around for a nice “view”.

The power of Photo editing

I once write about how i love taking photos, yet i found difficulty in photo editing, until... I found loads of photo editing applications in my mobile phone and tablet! It kinda gave me an addiction. For the past few weeks i couldn't get enough time to edit photos in my tablet. Some of the apps that i love most are : Photoshop Express (iPad), reflection (iPad), Photo Toaster (iPad), Camera (iPhone), Picsay Pro (Android) and many more.

Now, i want to share some photo which i edited using above applications. I took the photos using etheir my cellphone, pocket camera or my Canon 450D. Please do enjoy them :)

Street nearby my apartment in Osaka, using rain effect at Pixlr O Matic

A little part of New South Wales

After the beauty of New Zealand, now it's time to visit one of the hectic city in Australia, that is Sydney. We took 1325 flight from Christchurch and arrived at Sydney around 1450, there's 1hr time difference between Christchurch and Sydney. We had 5-6days in Sydney and my boss told me that those days will be filled with INSPECTIONS (uh man!), so sad to say that it wasn't a holiday :(

Sydney airport has a quite strict regulation, and it took quite a long time at the immigration. Finished with the luggage and passport/visa checking, then we ok to go! 2 of our colleagues welcomed us at the front, and took us to tour around the airport (they said, it's an Airport inspection) before drove us to hotel. Once we got to hotel there was a slight problem occurred, they can't find our booking! But after 1hr we finally get our room *thank God. It was already 1700 o'clock, and since we have several restaurant inspection to do, so we didn't got the chance to have some rest in the room. We spent about 2 hours for inspection on foot before we hit an Indonesian restaurant called "Delima" for dinner, yeeeaay! Enough with the yummy foods, we go back to hotel to get some rest before tomorrow's tight schedule to Hunter Valley.

Performance at Capitol Theatre

Astonishing New Zealand - Part 3

Wow.. 3rd part already! Okay, where was I again? D06, time for Milford Sound. Hmm, if you all aware, Milford Sound is now categorized as one of New 7 Wonder of the world, and it was beautiful indeed. The trip was start from 07AM, we took 1 day tour package (ends in Te Anau) by Real Journey, one of the famous trip organizer in South island. As usual, it was guided tour (driver acts as guide) a long the way to Milford Sound. On the way, we stop by 4 times, 1st at Te Anau for coffee break then 5mins photo stop at Mirror lake after that short walk at The Chasm, and the last one is before tunnel (i forgot the name). There's one thing i can't forget was by the time we arrived at Te Anau, we were welcomed by the Rainbow. It was a stunning view! can't get enough of taking pictures :p

Rainbow in te Anau

We were arrived at Milford Sound as schedule, the cruise start from 1300. This cruise is also included lunch on board, so you may call it Cruise Lunch, I had Obento (served at 3rd floor) for lunch. Beside Obento, this cruise also provide buffet lunch, but what interesting is that the Captain himself told me that people who had Obente are the lucky one, so I guess I'm lucky then. For 1hr 45mins we were cruising around the Milford Sound, the Captain took us to some places, and tell the history of each places, sadly to be honest, i forgot all of it now!

Astonishing New Zealand - Part 2

Day 05 was start with a hectic morning. We had a super early flight schedule to Queenstown (around 07AM) and made us have to depart around 05AM from Hotel. Last night after a super yummy dinner, me and my room mate were collapse, forgot to ask for wake up call and set alarm wrongly! So, at 05AM one of my colleagues called our room and ask us to get our bu*t down to the lobby because we have a flight to catch! Super panic made me just grab my things and put all in my suitcase, wash my face, brushed my tooth, put on a jacket and voila it took only 5minutes and we both ready to go to Airport.

A bit sad for me to leave north island, yet i was so thrilled to see the beauty of south island. From above, few minutes before landing in Queenstown, i saw a stunning view of green hills all over, BEAUTY! Queenstown has a small airport, we spent less than 30mins to take our luggages and meet up with the driver who will escort us wandering around the city. It's only 10AM yet, the first stop is Winery! We took a winery tour and of course wine tasting at Gibbston Valley Winery. It was the fist time i went to a winery and i love it! Though i'm not an alcohol drinker, i love just to walk around the vineyard. Aside winery, Gibbston Valley also have a cheese factory and we can taste those tasty cheese for free! Love it.