Bali trip planning..

Sorry, I'm always procrastinating writing my blog, and by that time, I have already gone on another travel and can't entirely remember every single detail of what happened in my last trip except for the highlights of course :D So just gonna write what I can remember :)

So I had to return to Malaysia to attend two of my friends' weddings in December.
Decided to do a detour trip to Bali as well.
Ahhh always wanted to go to Bali!!
Finally I had the chance to go! Very excited!

Took a super long time trying to decide if I should stay in Kuta, Ubud or Canggu, etc.
But oh my, Bali is actually bigger than I thought, and they have so many different types of accommodation, ranging from low range hostels, to guest houses to really expensive fancy hotels.
I spent days and days pursing booking.com and hostelworld trying to find a decent place to stay.

So the annoying thing is this, basically some places look quite nice in the pictures when you are looking it up on the internet, but really disappointing when you turn up and it's worse than you expected. The best ones are when you don't expect it to be that nice as you're not paying that much and the place turns out to be super awesome.
That's when you know you hit a gold mine :)

It took extensive searching and chatting to lots of people for me to finally decide to stay in UBUD! the cultural centre of Bali. Also went and booked 2 days to stay in Kuta, but when I finally did arrive in Bali, I cancelled those last 2 days and ended up staying the whole week in Bali instead :)

I took a long time trying to decide if I should stay in a guest house or hostel. The good thing was even to rent a guest house in Bali it wasn't very expensive.
If I stayed in a guest house I would have my own room, whereas in a hostel I could make more friends if there were other people staying but then I would be potentially sharing the room with loads of people, and it can be a nightmare especially if those other people are snoring :O

The other thing I had to consider was which part of Ubud I would be staying in.

So the hostels could be divided into two types.
First, the cheaper ones which also had air conditioner and pool with free breakfast was further away.
Second, about the same price, in the centre of town, but was either small, or didn't have breakfast or didn't have pool.

It also took a long time reading through reviews. Although reviews aren't always entirely accurate but you could more or less get the gist of the place by reading reviews left by other people.
I will write more about reviews another time and how it can be affected by different things.

The worst part of reading all the reviews was I found out so many of the hostels had bed bugs.
Just when I thought I found the perfect combination of things I wanted, suddenly I found reviews of people complaining about bed bugs in the place :O

Well, after weeks of deciding, I finally decided to stay 5 days in Ubud at a hostel, which had all my requirement of air conditioning, pool and free breakfast, also was 4 beds in a room with an attached bathroom, and it only came up to about 5-6 pounds a night. The only thing was I had to walk about 20 minutes to get to the centre of Ubud. Not a problem for me, everyone knows I need the exercise anyway. LOL :D

Anyway, I don't feel like I super planned for this trip, as I was tired and had just returned from Brazil and Argentina, and heading off to Italy and Spain after and was planning almost everything at the same time. My main planning was mostly the accommodation, and I knew I could play it by ear once I got there :)

Perth, Australia travelogue- Day 1 continued

So finally, my brother arrived. And I was looking for the best sim card to buy, as I was going to be in Australia for two weeks. Might as well be contactable. Finally settled with Optus carrier as my friend said it was one of the better networks, whereas Vodafone was slightly cheaper but the coverage as not

as good. 

I don't know how my mum was procrastinating at the airport and was just chatting to some random Malay couple and their kids. Reminded her that it was rush hour and we could be stuck in traffic and the taxi is going to cost a lot! 

Really easy to get a taxi outside the airport terminal, the taxis are all queued up outside. Then she did something very Malaysian, she wanted to go around asking if the taxis were all the same price, and I said yes! We have to take the first taxi in the queue, as this is how Australia works. Don't worry the taxi men won't cheat you unlike most other countries! 

Luckily the traffic jam was not too bad, as it was mainly highways into Perth city centre.

We arrived at the Citadines St Georges Terrace Apartments. Inside the room it was actually pretty big, it had 2 single beds and another small couch, which technically another person could sleep on. 

Also there was a kitchenette attached to it where you could cook. There's even a microwave and a fridge! 

So we arrived, tired, hungry. It was cold and rainy and windy outside. I looked up my phone to go somewhere for dinner, after having an extensive conversation on the phone with my friend Lisa about all the good places in Perth to eat. She mentioned the best roast duck in Perth. So according to google maps, it said it was about a 20 minute walk from our hotel. So we decided to venture outside, but WOW, the wind was just so strong, we could hardly walk there, then we were contemplating the public transport or taxi to get there, but in the end my mum gave up and walked back home. So me and my brother looked up the phone for a place to buy groceries.

Finally, found a Coles on google map which was described as a supermarket nearby which had some reviews. Went there with my brother, and discovered Perth was very expensive. I think some things were almost double the price in UK. Perth due to it's previous booming mining industry, and also because of it's location in the Western part of Australia, most things are a lot more expensive compared to the east of Australia. 

Anyhow, we saw a whole roasted chicken for 8 Aussie dollars, but unfortunately as we were there late it was completely sold out! so we thought we would return tomorrow to buy some so we could make sandwiches for lunch. 

Best apple strudel in Perth

Perth, Australia travelogue Day 1- Plane Rides

Well, I've decided that I am going to start blogging again! Haven't been blogging for the last 2-3 years, but I guess it's useful in future to look back at my past and all the stuff and interesting things I've been up to! :)

Also it was kinda fun reading through my old posts and I love reading other people's blogs!

Seriously I have sooo much to say! 

Firstly, I just came back from Australia after 2 weeks, been everywhere visiting lovely friends and my wonderful relatives. I am so incredibly grateful that I have some of the best people in my life!

This is actually my second trip to Australia! First time I went to Adelaide for my friend's wedding and after that to Melbourne to see my cousin and his family :D

As always I did my very last minute packing (PS. I am getting very good at it, the only thing I forgot to pack was socks), and stayed up all night hoping to sleep on the plane.

I had to take a very very long flight first from London Heathrow transiting in Kuala Lumpur, that was about 12.5 hours.

Yes I took a MAS flight,.....and no it didn't it is my favourite plane the airbus A380 after all :D But I've been told by my sources that MAS is going to start selling this plane next year as the operational costs are extortionate :-/

I was pretty lucky as had an aisle seat and had the seat between me empty, and my seat mate did not mind, so I had a super nice sleep on 2 seats. I suppose it helps that I am quite petite as well. Managed to watch me before you. Pretty good movie, but sad at the same time. Also I felt there was a bit of overacting from Emilia Clarke who plays Louisa. I remember in 4th year medical school at Aberdeen whereby during Ethics week, I spent a week writing a few thousand word long essay on Euthanasia, but I digress.

Nice touchscreen monitor on board the MAS flight, watching me before you

OMG what food is this? I already forgotten, think it was beef rendang or something. but yes delicious delicious!! I absolutely love eating rice and meat :) Sorry, that's why I am not super skinny like the other Asian girls I guess...


At Kuala Lumpur International airport, I met up with my mum as she was flying with me to Perth as she had a conference there and I was tagging along. Anyway, I brought over 3 huge grapefruit from the UK I had bought at the outdoor market as I couldn't finish eating them. As you know, Australia has extremely strict rules about bring fresh food, fruits, vegetables and meat from outside, and you could be fined a large sum of money for doing so. So I was trying my best to finish up the grapefruit and I went around peeling the grapefruit and handing it around to random passengers at the waiting lounge. LOL. I have to say it was delicious and super sweet and juicy for a grapefruit. I kept going around saying, "it's very healthy, grapefruit for breakfast!".

By the way, forgot to add, my seatmate - random Chinese guy, decided to follow me at the airport, and I had to tell the poor sod that I was actually transiting to Perth, as he thought I was going to get my baggage!

The flight was extremely pleasant, another 4.5 hours of flying!!!! Also plane got delayed for some reason or another for half an hour or so. But my mum was on the flight so I was chatting to her, and time flew past. Also I asked her to sit in the front seat with me as there was more space. But there was a slightly large Indian lady beside me and she took up a lot of the elbow room and I felt quite cramped!

Nasi lemak Round 2!! 

Yes I had my second serving of nasi lemak for the day, the first one being served on the London-KL flight at 3-4am in the morning. By the way, I think the nasi lemak from the KLIA site isn't very good. The London route is much better. So the rice isn't as fragrant or fluffy, and the sambal wasn't as tasty.
My mum says that the coconut milk (santan) used in the cooking has increased in price, therefore perhaps they have reduced the quantity used in the cooking.

So the plane was half empty this time, and I went to the back and had 4 seats to myself for sleeping. Super nice, slept most of the way there after drinking 2 glasses of wine. This is way better than business class!!!!! Lucky me!!!!

Cold, rainy weather in Perth

Finally arrived at destination, and the weather was super rainy and chilly, I thought I had flown a good 20 hours to come back to Great Britain!! It is winter going onto spring afterall. But where's all that SUN, everybody promised me which is ever present in Australia??

Went through immigration, and they are super strict and they want to know your address you're staying and how long you are there for etc. Even had to declare the chocolates and tea I had brought as present but luckily they did not confiscate it! We did had to stand in line whilst a dog sniff at our luggages to ensure we hadn't brought anything illegal in.

My poor brother took a "cheap flight" therefore we met him when we arrived there. Seriously I hate Airasia, I took flight to and from Australia the last time and I thought, never again! Low cost carriers are a bit too much for long distance travel I reckon..and No, I'm not a princess.

Cinque Terre August trip 2016, Part 1 - Pisa and La Spezia first...

Went to amazing Cinque terre again recently.

Some information about Cinque Terre

The closest airport is to fly into Pisa airport. From there, if you are carrying very light luggage, you can walk to the train station (Pisa centrale) which takes about 15-20 minutes, depending on how fast you walk (YES its true you can literally walk from the airport to town! Even to the Pisa tower if you love walking as much as I do!)

So if you want to walk, get out of the airport, and it's literally a straight road out of the airport, crossing some random roads. Google maps will help you :)

Alternatively you can take the bus. I forgot how much it costs, but it's not that expensive.

From Pisa train station, you can take the train to La Spezia, which is the closest biggest town of Cinque Terre. It takes roughly an hour.

Also not that expensive. Should cost about 7.50 euros on the train regionale. The intercity train are 10.50 euros, but slightly faster and nicer and new trains. (prices are correct as checked on 25th September 2016 as checked on the trenitalia website)

I arrived fairly early to Pisa, and decided to explore Pisa town first, I think it's my fourth time at Pisa! At the airport, I met this other person who wanted to walk to the town as well, and we both decided to walk there together! Think it took us about 20 minutes.

Off to see the leaning tower of Pisa again. I find it super amusing to watch people trying to take all sorts of silly photos with the Leaning tower :P

I bought gelato to eat in Pisa. For your information, in Italy when you buy gelato, you get the option of adding fresh cream on top of your ice cream. Yes I know it sounds crazy, more cream on top of ice cream, but oh my goodness, it's so delicious, you just can't imagine how amazing it taste.

Sooo pretty seriously. I can't get enough of looking at this place even though been here a few times already! At night it looks even more gorgeous all lighted up, especially without the crowds!

The cathedral next to the leaning tower of Pisa, under renovation..

I suppose it's okay to take at least 1 silly photo? 

On the train to La Spezia...

I spent the first few days with my friend Lorenzo who lives in La Spezia, and we went to his friend's BBQ party as it happened to be public holiday on the first day I arrived. The house was up in the mountain and it had the most spectacular view. As I arrived late with his other friend, we sat outside the table in the veranda overlooking the mountain feasting on all the amazing food.

Oh my goodness, he barbequed fresh beef marinated in olive oil, lemon, rosemary, salt; and sausages bought from the local area. It was so delicious, and the meat was melt in your mouth good.
And they carved out a huge watermelon and made beautiful sangria in it, with different fruits and lots of wine. Obviously I ate and drank so much. The sun was shining brightly with blue skies. Happy days.

I know it doesn't look that appetising in the picture, but trust me, it was one of the best meals I have had in my life!! They also had a variety of flavoured salt, one was Himalayan salt and the other was purple, have no idea what it was, maybe lavender flavoured? The meat was so tasty, just indescribable the flavours it created in your mouth as you chew it. It's so simple yet so good!  

The views are so nice, my camera doesn't even capture how amazing the views are..

We had a foosball competition, but I wasn't very good at it. Managed to get 2 shots in but I think it was by fluke more than anything. Few of his friends' children playing around. The kids are all so adorable, especially this boy Alessandro, he's only 2 or 3 years old I think? But he is so tall for his age, as both his parents are quite tall. He's such a lucky little boy, has so many nice toys in his play room. Also they had this huge dog at the back of the house, and it's just adorable.

Very nice party, we even had a bit of a karaoke session with one of the guys playing guitar.

We drove back to La spezia in the evening, and Lorenzo showed me around the town! He told me designed and built this beautiful bridge at La Spezia harbour. But actually it turned out to be true...

I think La Spezia has slightly strange looking architecture. So this is their cathedral, and me and Lorenzo both said at the same time that it reminded us of Oscar Niemeyer's architecture. It kinda looks like a spaceship to be honest, and slightly out of place especially in Italy, where they have all the beautiful baroque churches. But interesting design. Oscar Niemeyer is one of my favourite architects. I will do a post one day on his cool buildings designs I saw in Brazil :))

According to wikipedia:La Spezia cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in La Spezia, Italy. It is the cathedral of the Diocese of La Spezia-Sarzana-Brugnato. It was built between 1956 and 1975 to designs by Adalberto Libera.