New Zealand South Island, Rainy West Coast and Sunny East Coast

30 Oct - 8 Nov 2011

The trip started with Qantas labor union strike on 29 Oct which delayed the flight. So I had to book SIA on 30th Oct instead. Well, the first dinner I had was seafood themed. Which was a welcome especially after the Qantas delay.

Seafood!!!

Fast forward to the West Coast trip, still being inexperienced in planning trips, I did not check the weather beforehand, therefore, the 4 seasons of West Coast greeted us.
We visited Greymouth and the roaring waves,

Big Waves

Franz Josef and Fox Glacier, with cold wave descending frequently, "sugarcoating" the forest on the mountains. We got hit by lots of hail. The glacier itself is magnificent though.

Franz Joseph Glacier, with frozen trees on both sides of the valley

However, when we are leaving the west coast, the weather clears up. Giving us a taste of what it would look like on a nice weather, which is what spring should be.

Lake Mapourika - Morning mist with still mirror-like reflection

Southern Alps still have the trees frozen even though the weather already cleared of rain and hell.

After the not so successful trip to visit the west coast, bro decided to bring us to Akaroa on a sunny day.

Akaroa - French Town in a crater

Lastly, before we leave New Zealand, we went to visit Christchurch city center, which most of the areas still closed due to the earlier earthquake.

Still closed off section of Christchurch

Last thoughts, I'll be back!! (with better preparation)

Suwon, Korea

29 Nov 2011 to 3 Dec 2011 - Suwon

Well, the business trip to Suwon is mostly busy and eat Korean. One thing about them is Kimchi for all 3 meals (as it was winter). Only the finally before the flight back to Singapore me and my colleagues had the time to sight see Suwon.

Korean BBQ.

DIY spicy beef.

High Grade Beef (only 2nd best in Korea as we are told)

Suwon palace. Autumn scenery in winter?

Fried Oyster

I will be back in the future, Korea!!

Desaru, Johor

22 Feb 2011 - Desaru Beach

Depressed from not finding a job, I joined my cousin to relax at Desaru beach. I did a lot of fooling around there.

Rocks that look like mud??

I like this view!

Hermit Crabs: they will abandon shell if you turn them upside down in midair.

Barnacles??

Europe Backpack - Germany and Holland

22 Sept  2010 - Berlin

Spending the whole night in train, we finally arrived in Berlin. The regrettable thing is I didn't allocate a lot of time in Berlin, so we only went up Bundestag, the Parliament building of Germany. We visited the Berlin Wall, Victory Column (too bad it was under renovation), holocaust memorial, and during the night, we relaxed as watched a fountain show. The moon that night was bright and big as it was Mid-Autumn Festival.

The Eagle of Germany

Bundestag and the Moon

23 Sept 2010 - Cologne

Cologne has a very big cathedral, other than that, nothing really interesting for us. Nevertheless, it was very nice and relaxing to walk around the city. In the evening, we has a nice all you can eat Chinese buffet.

24 Sept 2010 - Kinderdijk and Amsterdam

After arriving in Amsterdam, we quickly checked in and travel to Kinderdijk, where the windmills are. Very scenic too bad we can't spend much time there.

Windmill

We arrived in back Amsterdam in the evening. And we went to see the red light district! It was quite an experience, the prostitutes posing in windows, and customer who want them simply open the small door beside the window, and with curtains closed, business..

And so, the end of backpack trip. Great experience obtained!

Europe Backpack - Czeh Republic

19 Sept 2010 - Prague

We spent whole day traveling to Prague. In the end we only manage to start sightseeing Prague at night.

Prague Castle at night.

20 Sept 2010 - Prague

We explored full day, seeing the astronomical clock at Prague Square, explored Prague Castle; which was expensive but worth the experience. In the evening, we had dinner at Old Prague Square, they had a blacksmith, very nice beer and wine, and my favorite: the juicy roasted ham. All these comes with a cheap price. We spent the night relaxing and watching movie in the hostel. Very relaxing, especially all the rushing around we have done so far.

21 Sept 2010 - Omolouc

Omolouc is a small but nice place, famous for the Hold Trinity Column and the cathedral with the highest spire in the country. They even had a sand sculpture when we visited! I like this town, quiet, slow and relaxing. Ans so, we go back to Prague and prepare for the next destination: Berlin.

Sand Sculpture

Holy Trinity Column

Europe Backpack - Musical Austria

16 Sept 2010 - Salzburg

And so in the morning we left the Alps to Salzburg, Austria via a very scenic train ride.The first place we visit is the Mirabelle Palace, famous for where Sound of Music is shot.

 Mirabelle Palace

After a short break in the hostel, we climb up one of the 2 hills overlooking Salzburg. The scenery is actually quite gloomy, unlike what we saw in Europe so far. Having explored the narrow medieval-feel streets, we call it a day.

Gloomy Salzburg Dusk

17 Sept 2010 - Salzburg

The next morning we went to the zoo, unexpected plan, but quite enjoyable (mostly due to the zoo is much better than zoos in Malaysia although the zoo is quite small). Hellbrunn palace we visit to, experiencing the garden full of mechanism operated by water and the traps to make us wet.. They even had water imitating song birds! Amazing, fun, and wet.

All the models in this can dance around. Purely operated by water!!

And lastly, we visited Salzburg Fortress before leaving to Vienna. In my opinion, the coolest fortress we visited. This fortress has never been captured, except when the garrison unconditionally surrendered to Napoleon.

Salzburg Fortress

18 Sept 2010 - Vienna

Vienna in summary is quite rushed, but still very enjoyable. We bought ourselves a concert ticket at St. Stephen's Cathedral. After that we strolled the beautiful streets and Hofburg palace. Being the capital of classical musical, there are many street musicians playing classical music indeed. I regretted that I didn't explore the parliment building though.

Hofburg Palace

Parliment Building

In the night, after the concert (too bad not at the famous Vienna Concert House.) we meet up with a friend of ours who was traveling with his family. The next morning we head for a long, long journey to Prague.

Europe Backpack - Switzerland

14 Sept 2010 - Night - Lucerne

By the time we reached Lucerne, it was already night time. There was nothing much to see, and whole day traveling made us tired, so we head to our hostel, which was once a jailhouse. We found out that this place is where the contiki tour group is staying. The staff is here is nice enough to let us use the kitchen, even though it was already closed. 

15 Sept 2010 - Jungfrau, Interlaken, Lucerne

We traveled early morning so that we can stay longer up at Jungfrau. The train ride to Interlaken is extremely nice, with the standard view of snow capped mountains, greenery, and villages.

Standard view of Switzerland.

Up the mountain Jungfrau, however, the scenery changed to contrast white and dark brown. Amazing sight itself. We went to the ice palace, which we see many interesting ice sculptures. The temperature outside, very very cold. I though my ears and nose is going to fall off. Coming down Jungfrau, we strolled around Interlaken before heading back to Lucerne.

Glacier

??? - Squirrel from Ice Age

Europe Backpack - From Rome to Venice

 12 Sept 2010 - Rome

It was no joke when I heard from the Italian couple back in Doolin telling us Rome is HOT! It was tiring traveling to Rome, then looking for our hostel. The staff there had a bad attitude; the kitchen opens late and closes after a while; you have to pay internet there, M&J Hostel is the name. Well, that made us hate Italy.

Anyway, once we settled our things, we went sightseeing. Rome is all about ruins, which we got a lot indeed! Visited the Colosseum, Roman forums and the Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II (too bad we didn't have the time to explore). 

 

Romulus and Remus, legendary founder of the city.

Roman Forums

13 Sept 2010 - Vatican City to Venice

The next day we head out for Vatican City. (missed the pope yesterday...) Visiting St Peter's Basilica, making us visit 2 of 4 major basilica in Rome. (we wandered unknowingly to St Mary Major the day before) We too wandered unknowingly to Trevi Fountain, the largest baroque fountain in the world. Then we head out in the afternoon for Venice.

 St Peter's Basilica

Reaching Venice at night, there is nothing much to see. One thing of note is that there are many Asians there. Again, by 2 companions insisted on eating Chinese food again, so we went to a overpriced Chinese restaurant where the owner charged us with table fees.

14 Sept 2010 - Venice

The next day we took a ride in the ferry for the canals. (cheaper alternative to gondolas) Missed the churches in Venice too, mostly due to the lack of interest of my 2 other companions. In the afternoon, we left for Switzerland! To sum up Italy, we had a bad experience there; but I would go again, especially Rome, and maybe together with Naples in the future.

Venice is about Gondolas, although we did not ride them.

Happy New Year!!

Joining the countdown in front of Khatib MRT, I flashed back the year 2011. What I achieved:

1. getting my first job in Singapore.
2. meeting my niece and nephew for the first time.
3. traveling overseas for vacation on my own for the first time.
4. first business trip of my life, which is Korea.
5. bought insurance using my own money.
6. officially manage my own finance for the first time.
   
7. getting to know more of my relatives, especially in Singapore and Johor Baru.
8. get to meet lost friends from secondary school and college.
9. getting a new phone.

2011 was a year of beginnings and reclamation. My beginning of work life, and my reclamation of social life. This year 2012 will be challenging. I will be tackling with PR application, the big plan to travel Japan, and handling the hectic work of my company. Of course, I need to finish recording my logs here ASAP!! (overdue from 2011)

Europe Backpack - The Italian Riviera

9 Sept 2010 - Genova

The journey to Genova is simply beautiful. It's too bad we did not plan to visit Nice and Monaco. But crossing French border to Italy, the feel has not changed at all. Genova. Birthplace of Christopher Columbus, and a huge historical center, and a lot of luxury boats. The architecture is very nice too, many buildings and houses has a courtyard which we can wander into.

Example of luxury boat.

Weapons for sale!!

10 Sept 2010 - Pisa & Florence

Next stop: La Spezia. Here we set a base to visit Pisa, Florence and Cinque Terra. La Spezia itself is a nice place to relax and explore. (Note to myself: must visit in future). Nothing much to say about Pisa and Florence, as the tourist traps are quite standard. But comparing the river of Pisa and Florence:

River of Pisa

River of Florence: Seems better..

At night back at La Spezia, we managed to join in a festival with many performances. After watching, we ate at a Chinese Restaurant where the fried rice is very nice. It seems that restaurant was opened by a couple from China. Knowing no English or Italian, they started a business here in La Spezia.

11 Sept 2010 - Cinque Terra

The highlight for our visit to Italian Riviera: Cinque Terra. First achievement we did there is to hike all the way up a 312m hill with slippers. The view is rewarding, and we wrote our names onto the building on top.

Second achievement: we visited all 5 villages along the coast via train since one of our companion has lousy physical ability and there is toll for tramplers. (He almost gave up and complained and want to go back in 4th village) I had good time!

Near the place where we relax and listened to a street singer singing "Time to say Goodbye". He plays piano while his partner plays flute. Very nice!

Even my low-end camera can take a good picture out of Cinque Terra.

Cinque Terra is also a wine producing country! Too bad we did not taste any.

Europe Backpack - From Lyon to Marseille

6 Sept 2010 - Lyon

Lyon, was Roman capital for Gaul, "Lugdunum". The city is famous for its architecture and churches and mixes of silk workers homes (which made the area felt like South America/Spanish towns). Nice sculptures can be found inside churches such as this:

Unfortunately, my 2 companions failed to recognize this and complained all the way. Well, things didn't go too well too, in the morning, we got lost in Gare du Lyon in Paris, and later arriving at Gare du Part Dieu in Lyon we wasted more time looking for tickets and loose change for tickets. But anyways, later in the evening we reached the ancient city center for Lugdunum. From the seats of an amphitheater there, we can get a nice view of the city. We hiked our way up the Fourviere Hill to Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourviere for a nice night view of Lyon. Sadly, we had not enough time (and lack of interest from the other 2 companion) to explore the city more. Due to nationwide strike, we has to leave early to Marseille.

Amphitheater overlooking the city.

Night view of Lyon.

The Basilica and the replica of Eiffel Tower.

7-8 Sept 2010 - Marseille

Marseille, part of the beautiful French Riviera. There, we got lost looking for our hostel. The first thing we notice was boats, boats and more boats! The sights are extremely rewarding, especially up the Notre Dame de la Garde.

One of the fortress at the entrance of Vieux Port.

View from Notre Dame de la Garde, the casas suits the Mediterranean feel.

War Memorial.

Vieux Port

However, trying to look for a nice beach, we end up in the middle no nowhere, and almost missed the last bus back to the city. Took a picture for the memory anyway: