Phu Quoc, Vietnam

An island in Vietnam. It takes 1 hr 40min flight from KL to Phu Quoc.

Stunning sunrise from Mövenpick Hotel and sunset at Lobster Cave Restaurant.

Just a short 4 days 3 nights, we stayed in Mövenpick booked by cousin Benny using his Accor Membership for 3 rooms and trip.com for remaining 2 rooms for total 10 person all retirees except me and husband. 

It has been long overdue as my uncle has always wanted a trip to include us and my Singapore Aunt and husband. 

We have problem when comes to meals as uncle's friends only takes Vegetables whereas his wife and my youngest aunt prefer vegetables. My Singapore aunt and husband loves the live seafood. 

Mövenpick arranged complimentary shuttle pick up from airport at 3pm. We cleared the immigration by 2.30pm, waited for a while while having some snacks and drinks. It took 35-40 minutes from airport to hotel. 

It took quite a while for check in while the rest enjoyed chocolate hour which starts daily 3.30pm at hotel for an hour. Trip.com confirmation shown we have booked 2 rooms but in Mövenpick system shown only 1 room allocated. Lucky Benny managed to liaise with trip.com after we all checked into 4 rooms. The final room for 2 guys (SG uncke and KL uncle's friend) only ready by 7pm. Another issue encountered was the 3 rooms thru Accor was unpaid. We need pay before we can be given the rooms key event hough the confirmation we had shown paid. Lucky Benny who was waiting to board a flight managed to confirm his credit card was not charged. 

At 5.30pm the transport and driver we arranged picked us up from hotel. We had early dinner, then to Corona Casino and end our night at Grand World, Italian Town before going back to hotel.

Day 2 we left at 9am pick up by same driver, Cuong. 

Pepper farm

Fish sauce factory

Ho Quoc Pagoda - beautiful temple overlooking the sea. 

Cable car (USD28) to Hon Tom Island. We had a walk and left the island by 4.30pm. Last cable car is at 5pm. 

We then walk to Sunset town and kissing bridge before going for beach side Lang Ca Restaurant. After dinner back to hotel. 

Day 3

We depart 9am, to Rach Vem Floating Village, board a 15 minutes speedboat (USD10) to Star fish beach. We took photos with beautiful starfish, the sea was very clear indeed. Then back to where we board the speedboat and off to lunch before we were sent back to hotel for an hour rest. 

We left the hotel at 3.15pm to Corona Casino while some went to Vinpearl Golf but didn't stayed long as it was very hot and joined those at casino. 

By 5.15pm we were picked up and sent to Duong Mong Night Market for street food and stroll for any souvenir. 

We then went to Lobster Crab for dinner and sent back to hotel. 

The next day on Day 4 was to have breakfast at hotel, check out a d the hotel shuttle bus will leave by 10am to airport. Our flight was 2pm.

Outside flights check in area, there are 2 to 3 eatery but inside after immigration only 1 and another 2 near boarding gates, all using USD. 

You need remove your shoes to clear immigration. We had plenty of time after clearance as nothing much to explore near boarding gate. 

Sunset at Lang Ca Restaurant

Star Fish Beach

Ho Quoc Pagoda

 

 

Chongqing, China

We joined Beeflyz to Chongqing China on 5 November for 9days 7 nights tour.  Air Asia started to fly direct to Chongqing since October.  They charged RM4198 per person excluding travel insurance.  Hotels stayed 4/5 star, 2 + VIP Coach and special delicacies such as Chonging Steamboatm Dazu Farm Cuisine, BBQ Buffet, Wujiang Fish.

So many of the travelers in our group are from F & B line, the famous Michelin Bib Gourmand, Sin Kiew Yee Shin Kee Beef Noodle owners, Fung Wong Bakery  owner, Datuk Chan. Most of them have already retired.  The Bib Gourmand is a recognition of restaurants that offer good value for money

Flight Schedule:

D7808 KL/CKG 1850/2330 hrs

D7809 CKG/KL 0045/0555 hrs

Day 1 KL - Chongqing

Assemble at KLIA2, Arrival at Chongqing, Check in Hotel Ourland International, local 4 star hotel which is about 20 minutes from airport.

Day 2 Chongqing - Dazu - Nanchuan

Dazu Grottoes - Scuptural art of Tang and Song Dynasties focus on Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian themes

Nsnchuan Shopping street

Check in Days Hotel and Suites by Wyndham Hengan, 5 star  

Day 3 Nanchuan - Mt Jinfo Shan - Wulong

Mount Jinfo Shan = Golden Buddha Mountain

Gufo Cave at summit of Jinfo Mountain - renowned as Number One Buddha Cave in the World.

Goldern Turtle Facing the sun trail [ observing karst topography

Cliffside Path - 40 to 50 meters above ground

Tianxing Town - at foot of Jinfo Mountain

Day 4 

We covered Wulong, Baima Mountain, The flying kiss statue and Three Bridges

Day 5

We travel to Pengshui. Visited Fairy Mountain National Forest Park, Chiyou Jiuli Palace.

Day 6

We went to Ayi River, visited Qinglong Elevation, Canyon, had bamboo rafting and then left for Chonging city

Day 7

Chongqing, we experinced the following:

Zhongshan 4th Road, Great Hall of People, People's Square, Guotai Arts Center, Jiefangbei Shopping street and Hongya Cave where we had hotpot dinner

Day 8

We checked out from hotel late before proceed to Ciqikou Ancient Town, Liziba Subway - Train passing through a building and experience the ride. Yangtze River Cableway, Danzh Old Street. After dinner at Nanbing Road, we watched Acrobatic (Top of the World show). 

After the show, we were sent to airport for our flight back to Kuala Lumpur.

Liziba station

Hongya Cave

Night view from hotel

Our sumptuous meal

One of the hotel we stayed overseeing river

Guangzhou, China

Younger son has few days off from work. So it was decided that we go to Guangzhou.  A short 5 days 4 nights trip, a group of 7 person.  

We flew Air Asia, booked after 12 midnight flight but ended up flight cancelled and was moved to 5am flight same date.  Overall a good trip for some sightseeing and wonderful Cantonese food.

We had dim sum, claypot rice, porridge etc.  We stayed at City Note Hoel (Guangzhou Beijing Road Pedestrian Bridge located at Wenming Road, Yuexiu District. Family Room was huge suitable for 3 person.

Day 1 

First stop after check into hotel, we went for claypot rice at Zhongshan 6 Road. After that we went for dessert. We bought pastry from Bao's Pastry, it was yummylicious.  We had dinner at Chue Bao Yue Kao Wong Kee as their roasted pigeon was so well marinated and delicious. We ended the night with street food, BBQ cuttlefish with little spiciness.

Day 2

Dim Sum is well worth spending at Luck Win Teachouse.  Be early so you need to wait for long queue. After breakfast, we went to Guangdong Folk Arts Museum located inside Qing Dynasty Architecture; Chen Clan Ancentral Hall.  Senior Citizen will be entitled to discount for entrance ticket. We had late meal at western cafe.  Then we proceed to Bruce Lee Muzeum.  Dinner we have crab roe noodle/rice. You may try Xie San Bao or Xie Man Lou. Walking along the pedestrian street, you may find many food and shopping area. 

Day  3

Went to Tai Thong Dim Sum for breakfast. Shopping trip at Tianhe Plaza, then back to hotel to put all our stuff, a short rest before we venture to to  Chimelong International Circus before we had our dinner at restaurant located at hotel downstairs.

Day 4

Went to Baiyun Mountain.  Had Roast Goose lunch at local restaurant.  Night Cruise and Chue Chap (pork & instestine) Porridge which was really good.

Day 5

Next morning, we left early to airport.  There was not much traffic. We reached airport early and have ample time for breakfast there.

A short memorable trip.

Temple

Luck Win Tea House Dim Sum

Dim Sum

Night Cruise

Guangzhou Tower

Crab Meal

Penang via ETS

First time using ETS KTM to Penang from Kuala Lumpur.  Hubby's niece who has resided in UK came back with her husband, daughter and daughter's boyfriend for 2 weeks, mainly is to attend wedding of her god brother.

She invited me and hubby, her aunt and uncle to join them to Penang via ETS.  She bought the train ticket online (RM88+RM101), booked hotel 2 nights stay RM957 and arranged van with driver RM1500.

We went on 28 August 2024 for 2 nights stay.  Our accommodation at Hotel Penaga which is a 3 bedrooms unit with living hall and 3 bathrooms for 8 persons. Poor girl and boyfriend need to sleep at living hall with no air condition.

We board at KL Sentral Platform B, boarding is 30 minutes prior to departure time.  Just show your scan your e-ticket. It depends on your preference whether you like sitting forward or backward.  We had Coach/Seat E/9A and E/9B which is sitting forward. And is getting cold inside train, suggest you have a light jacket with you.

Our train is from KL to Butterworth ETS9104 1140 hrs/1515 hrs but it was slightly delayed, we reached Butterworth at 1550 hrs.  Butterworth station only has one lift and walk up stairs, no escalator, so is better travel light.  We walked to ferry terminal, just use your touch n go card (RM2 per person) if you have one so you do not need to queue for ticket.  Ferry departs every 30 minutes.  We managed to board 4.30 pm ferry, u need to be at waiting hall 15 minutes before.  After we reached Penang, the van driver picked us and we went  Deen Maju Nasi Kandar, our meal since 9am breakfast at Peter's Noodle Brickfields.

After that, we proceed to Penang Hill. Tram ticket cost RM18 for adult, RM8 for senior citizen 60 years and above, RM30 for foreigner. It was my first time going up Penang Hill for night view.  Usually we went in the morning but it was years ago.

After Penang Hill, we went to Hub Me & You food court at Ayer Itam but most of the stalls already closed except for 3 stalls.

Day 2

After hotel breakfast, we went to Cecil Street Market for kueh, then tour Sleeping Budha temple at Burmah Road, Kek Lok Si, Chew Jetty, Armenian Street Art, Penang Street Cendol, bought some foodstuff as souvenir, nyonya lunch for the angmo  before we returned to hotel for a rest.  For us locals, we already had Assam Laksa while the angmo went to Kek Lok Si.  Driver came to fetch us about 7pm to New World Food Court, passed through Esplanade and back to hotel.

Day 3

10 am After breakfast, we were fetched by the driver to ferry terminal where we board ferry to Butterworth and then ETS 1305 hrs. We reached KL Sentral at about 1640 hrs.

We parted ways home using Grab service.

LKE Durian Fiesta at Manchis August 2024

Husband's cousin sister being investor in LKE Durian Investment Plan has invited us to join herself and her husband to Manchis, Betong, Pahang for Durian Buffet on Saturday 3 August 2024.

It took us directly from home to Manchis about 1 hour 45 minutes journey where we stopped at LKE Green Tech Farm to register and get our tag.  We were first brought to tour their LKE Hydroponic farm.  

And then transported to another area where briefing was given introduction about their company. The next speaker by their COO Mr Bronson Wee was about investment in 50 acres Project Sang Lee in Raub, Pahang.  

We also tour the area where you can see lots of durian trees planted.  We were then taken back to LKE Hydroponic Farm to have lunch and follow by 1 hour buffet durian before we leave for home.  

You can easily google for information of LKE and sharing here the investment returns presented by their COO whereby you were given 1 month to consider investing.  Unfortunately, we are not keen.