Guizhou , China

Guizhou's natural wonder and cultural diversity is a beautiful province in China. 

 

Simplified itinerary

Day 1 KL/Kunming

Day 2 Kunming/Panzhou/Xingyi

Day 3 Xingyi

Day 4 Xingyi/Anshun

Day 5 Anshun/Duyun

Day 6 Duyun/Libo

Day 7 Libo/Kaili

Day 8 Kaili/Guiyang

Day 9 Guiyang/Kunming/KL

 

Huanguoshu Waterfall

 

Day 1 We flew via Air Asia from KL about 4 hours journey to Kunming.  You can also choose to fly to Nanning.  We had our mushroom steamboat dinner and then stayed a night in Kunming.  

 

Day 2 Next morning we took an hour & half high speed rail from Kunming to Panzhou. 

From Panzhou, we were driven in a coach to Xingyi, a city in Southwest Guizhou.  Our first destination was Maling River Grand Canyon, a geological wonder aka Scar of the Earth.  We have to walk a distance to take the sightseeing lift down and then walk quite extensive to the end of the scenic area passing by various waterfalls. 

 

 

Maling River Grand Canyon

We stayed in 4* Bast Dreamland Hotel for 2 nights which are next to shopping mall and nearby Happy Mall.  We shopped for our food souvenir at supermarket in Happy Mall much cheaper that those sold by local tour guide promoting in the coach.

 

Day 3 Wanfenglin Scenic Area (Forest of Ten Thousand Peaks)was covered in the morning whereas boat ride at Wanfeng Lake in the afternoon. Walking down the stairs to take the ride is like almost the steps in Batu Caves about 240 steps.  And you need to climb up the same after finish the boat ride.

Day 4 We left Xingyi for Anshun after breakfast. When we reached Anshun, we went lunch before proceed to visit Huangguoshu Waterfall, one of the largest waterfall in China using public coach. There is an escalator one way down.  We covered Silver Necklace and Duopotang Waterfall, Shuilian Cave (water curtain, 134m long naturally formed cave located in the back of the waterfall. 

 

 

Cave under Huanguoshu waterfall

 

We skipped Tianxing Bridge Scenic Area as all of us are too tired to continue.

We checked into local 5 star hotel for a good rest after a tiring day.

Day 5 After breakfast we proceed our journey to Duyun.  First stop was Tiantaishan Wulong Temple built in Ming Dynasty. After lunch, we visited Tianlong Tunbao where well preserved there are over 40 Tunpu Village during Ming Dynasty, listed in Guinness World as largest cultural village. Buggy ride included. We end the day at Shiban Street, selling antiques and works of folk art before dinner and the check into hotel.

Day 6 Duyun to Libo - Had early lunch prior to Xiao Qikong Scenic Area dubbed Little Juizhaigou featuring karst forests interwoven with beautiful waterscapes and striking valleys and moutains.  This area are large where you need to cover.  It includes Laya Waterfall (68 level falling waterfalls), Aquatic Forest, rate trees, Wolong Lake.

Day 7 Lio to Kaili where we visited Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village world's largest Miao Ethinic tribe. Cultural Musuem. We had Miao Long Table Banquet for lunch, local signature dish such as spicy sour fish soup and stir fry slice black iberian pork which were so tender and tasty.

Day 8 Guiyang the last place to be to cover Qingyan Ancient Town, Jiaxiu Tower. We had paid optional ticket to watch Colorful Guizhou Style at RMB260. Actors perform in the show "Colorful Guizhou Style" at Guiyang Grand Theatre in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province. The "Colorful Guizhou Style" show, which debuted in 2006, has been performed in over 40 countries or regions worldwide and seen by over 10 million people. The show illustrates the vibrant ethnic culture of Guizhou and the hospitable people living there.We ended the day with Qingyun Road in Naming Street (night street food)

 

Colorful GUizhou

 

Day 9 We took high speed train (2.5 hrs) from Guiyang to Kunming, had cross bridge noodle before airport.  As we need depart early from hotel, we were given packed breakfast with some patries/bun and egg with either box milk or mineral water.

Do take note that these places of interest need lots of walking and climbing stairs at some place.  So if you are not too fit, is better not to visit Guizhou especially for senior citizen. 

We followed Beeflyz tour for this trip where their local guide was good and tour leader is ok too.  Hotel stayed mixture of local four and five star hotel with large room. Varieties of 10 dishes and above served during lunch and dinner, not too bad.

 

 

 

 

 

Simple Recipe - Roselle Juice

You can boil Roselle flower by adding sugar to make as a tea/juice.  If you google, there is a lot of benefit but nevertheless, just drink moderately.  Recommended time to drink is after dinner.  This is because it contains flavonoids that will help to lessen the absorption of fats. The flower is full of vitamins and minerals. However it is not suitable for someone that is taking blood thinning medicine.

Travel - Hola Spain & Portugal

Spain and Portugal are totally different from those countries in Central Europe.

The unique of Spain:

Most of the people in Spain only speak Spanish. 

Tapas can be found in many bars and cafes, is part of their culture.

Gypsy Flamenco Dance  

 

The unique of Portugal 

Portuguese tarts

Port Wine

Best Olive oil

Cork producer

Hanging Houses at Cuenca 

 

Alhambra Palace 

April 25th Bridge, Portugal

We flew via Emirates with transit in Dubai to Barcelona and flew home from Lisbon. 

For our 12 days 10 nights trip, we covered quite a numbers of cities ant its attractions:-

 

Barcelona 

(Park Guell, Olympic Park, Montserrat, Ramblas, Sagrada Familia, Catalunya Square)

 

Valencia 

(Old Town, City of Art and Science Complex, Central Market) 

 

Cuenca

(hanging house) 

Toledo

(Church of Santo Tome) 

Madrid

(Real Madrid Santiago Bernabue Stadium, Royal Palace) 

Cordoba

(Roman Bridge, Great Mosque) 

Granada

(Alhambra Palace) 

Ronda

(Bullrings, Mountain of Malaga Province) 

Seville

(Cathedral, Plaza de Espana), Metropol Parasol) 

Lisbon 

(Statue of Cristo Rei, Cabo Da Roca, Cabo Da Roca) 

Shopping stops mostly at El Corte Ingles department store in Spain. 

Sagrada Familia 

Train Station at Toledo

Toledo 

Hotels that we stayed overall is good. 

Barcelona - Roger De Lluria

Valencia - Eurostar Rey Don

Madrid - Eurostar Mad Tower

Granada - Abades Nevada Palace 

Ronda - Maestranza

Seville - Eurostar Torre

Lisbon - Iberostar Lisboa

 

Whichever country I travel to, home is still the best place. Till next trip.

Homestay Wave Rest House & Cafe

We had a short 2 days 1 night stay in Sungai Janggut (between Klang and Kuala Selangor) at Wave Rest House & Cafe, a fishing village that includes some activities and meals to celebrate our nephew, JX 4th birthday.

 

Managed by owner, Steve and his team, the homestay is quite well maintained.   Food is alright, nothing to shout about.  You can select only accommodation & food (Seafood Dinner & Buffet Breakfast) or package that include both with activities.  

 

 

Activities:

Experience Mangrove

Bird Watching

Cycling and walking to Cowshed beach

Experience and taste oyster on Swan Island

Sky Mirror (include light packed lunch) 

 

The Homestay provides air condition with water heater where whole place can fit 36 pax.

2 boutique villa with small soaking pool - 2 king bed in each 

 

4 log cabins - 2 king bed each

 

3 Tiny Villa with pool - 1 king bed each

 

3 Tiny Villa with garden - 1 king bed each 

All inclusive price (add on RM25 insurance fee) if you choose:

 

Boutique villa  

Adult RM389, Children under 12 RM299.

 

Log Cabin 
Adult RM289, Under 12 RM199

Tiny Villa with pool
Adult RM389, Children under 12 RM299.

 

Tiny Villa with garden

Adult RM339, Children under 12 RM249.

Do check about the rate if you do not wish to join activities. This rate was give to us for those not joining activities. 

Boutique villa  

Adult RM290

 

Log Cabin 
Adult RM190

Tiny Villa with garden
Adult RM240

Overall, a nice short vacation away from home. 

CNY Reunion

Have been doing this for the passed years since Mom in Law passed away in January 2003.

Gotta make sure or buy all the ingredients in advance, ready to cook for CNY Eve prayers to ancestors and CNY Eve Reunion Dinner.  Certain dishes can be cooked earlier to have a better taste such as Jiu Hoo Char and Acar

Lou Sang! Heng, Ong, Huat

CNY Eve Feast

Whole Chicken Steam

Steam Chicken (marinate with salt) + bruised/slice ginger

Dipping Sauce – parsley/garlic/cili padi/lime/sugar/soy sauce

 

Steam or Blanch Fah Lam

Daun Bawang + Daun Sup

 Sang choy (Chinese Lettuce) 

Jiu Hoo Char

Sengkuang (Turnip) 1 big 1 small

Fah Lam 1

Taucheong

Big onion 1 or 2

Dried strip cuttlefish

Dark Soy Sauce

Salt

 

Acar

Cucumber 2

Carrot 2

Pineapple 1

French Bean 15

Cili blend serai kunyit

Buah keras

Belacan

Rice vinegar

Sugar

Salt

 

Soup

Rosted pork trotter

Ham choy

Salt depends on saltiness of both ingredients

 

 

Curry Pork/Chicken

Slice siong yook or chung chui yook or chicken

Cili blend

Blend Spices – coriander seed, cumin, fennel seed, star anise, cloves, cinnamon stick

Curry leaves

Coconut milk

Salt

 

Assam Prawn

Big/Medium size prawn shell intact

Marinate with assam paste, sugar, salt

 

Treasure Pot – Braised (oyster sauce etc)

Sea Cucumber

Fish Maw

Mushroom

Dried Osyter

Dried Scallop

Abalone

 

I only cook the Treasure pot for dinner.