Melbourne 6 Days 5 Nights

On the last day of LCCT, we flew to Melbourne.

We were one of those last flight to depart from LCCT. What an honor =P

Despite the fact that we were so worry, how's the condition would be in LCCT. But everything turn out smooth and fine =)

Bye LCCT!

Melbourne! 6 Days 5 Nights.. a land of ..

Of Mocha. Their mocha is seriously nice! :)

Of wines! Free tasting. Endless.

Of wineries. But due to it's end of autumn, the plants have been either bald or yellow.

Of Puffing Billy!

Of Berries! :)

Of Koala's.

Of Apostles.

Of Unique buildings.

Of trams and of fun, of memories, of priceless experience and a lot more :)

How we spend our 6 Days in Melbourne?

Day 1: Yarra Valley & Healesville

Day 2: Puffing Billy & Phillip Island Penguin Parade

Day 3: The Great Ocean Road: Lorne - Apollo Bay

Day 4: The Great Ocean Road: 12 Apostles - London Bridge - Port Campbell - Colac - Melbourne

Day 5: Melbourne City

Day 6: Bye bye Melbourne

We are on a budget trip of 4 people and total expenses of each pax sums up to roughly RM1.3k per pax (excluded air ticket). Cheap isn't? I will further share how we able to make it. Stay tune!  :)

Melbourne trip of 6 days 5 nights was actually too short and too rush. We didn't manage to cover everything planned earlier. That's a regret. We should have planned for longer stay; but too bad we ran out of annual leave from office. I personally think 9 days 8 night would be great to cover all the places planned in itinerary in a slow and steady pace.

Guilin - Yangshou Day 2: Part 1

Good Morning Yangshou~

Waking up to fresh air :)

We grab our quick breakfast from hotel's cafe.

Xiu long bao.. which is not the normal xiu long bao I had. This is mini bun. Yikes.

English Breakfast. Normal.

Our tour for today is Li River Rafting. We booked the tour with our hotels' tour desk. Cost RMB150/ pax.

This tour bring us to the mountains printed on RMB20 note.

Just get calm and enjoy the scenery :)

Arriving at a stop, where all the tour boats will park and tourist hop down.

After enjoying some fried foods (which is not so healthy and delicious actually), we hop back to our boats and back to Yangshou.

Arriving at Yangshou, we had a walk along West Street. We bought some souvenirs before heading back to check out and back to Guilin.

Guilin-Yangshou Day 1

Survivor trip of 3 banana to Guilin, China. 

I wanted to visit Yangshou after viewing the beauty of Yangshou scenery pictures seen posted by friends at FB. Yangshou didn't disappointed me though.

So, how to get to Yangshou?

 From Guilin airport, we took the airport bus (RMB20/pax) and stop in front of Swan Hotel (first stop of the bus). After asking around for direction, we were guided to Guilin Train Station which is about 10 minutes walk. We were supposed to walk further down (another 10 minute) to Guilin Bus Station to take a bus to Yangshou but due to no energy (lack of sleep, scorching hot sun, heavy luggage) .. we just took the express bus to Yangshou from Guilin Train Station. It cost RMB20 each and took about 1.5 hour to reach Yangshou bus station. We then using the small map we collected from airport to guide our way to Riverview Hotel. I'm so proud that we did find our way! Although it includes anger and temper.

We found you!

Room for 3 pax cost RMB180, which is a great deal. Room condition is OK and receptionist are very friendly and helpful. After check in, we immediately book our tour with the hotel. Due to very limited time in Yangshou, we have to stuff our schedule which is not too good. It is advisable that you consider staying longer in Yangshou rather than Guilin. We did a mistake here.

After a quick shower, we 'da bao' our lunch from hotels' restaurant and make our way to our first tour.

This is our lunch that we had to had it in bus.

Arriving our first tour place - Silver Cave. We book from hotel tour desk which cost RMB80/ pax. Second and last tour of the day depart from hotel at 2.30pm.

The walk inside the cave was tiring. The walk is leaded by tour guide and takes 1 hour. At first, I thought 1 hour was quite a short tour, but it ends up 1 hour is sufficient due to it's quite tiring for us.

We tried out the fried tofu. So-so only.

When we reach hotel at 6.30pm, we then immediately board the next bus to Liu Shan Jie Performance. See how rush was us?! @@

Tour to Liu Shan Jie Performance was booked with hotel tour desk as well and cost RMB200/pax.

We tried the yam cake. Yucks.

The back drop of the performance, which indeed.. was a natural scenery. Looks very artistic, isn't?

We were shock that there were soooo many people. People mountain people sea.

After sitting awhile, my back bone is aching due to the chair design which is unable to lean on. I would suggest you to buy the first class seat because at least you can rest your backbone during the 1.5 hour performance.

That's all for Day 1. I was so tired that I don't even have energy for dinner.

Phuket Day 4: Phi Phi Look Out Point

It's our last day in Phi Phi Island and Phuket.

We hike up to Phi Phi Look Out Point.

A moderate climb. Not too difficult but not too easy. For me.

The view is amazing!

We had our breakfast on top of the hill.

After hike down the look out point, we walk around Phi Phi Island before checking out at 12pm and took the ferry back to Phuket. When we arrive Phuket, the driver was supposed to be there to pick us up and send us to airport but apparently no one is there to pick us up. So we just took the minivan. Luckily during our ride, we meet some Malaysian which is familiar with Phuket. They help us to contact the con tour agent to arrange for airport transfer for us after we arrive Phuket. After so much of negotiation, the con tour agent finally agree to pick us for airport transfer with extra charges (but cheaper than we pay extra to take taxi). However, we are still mad with it because we already pay for the airport transfer from jetty! And now we had to add additional pay. The Malaysian we meet was very kind and lead us to the hotel they are staying and request the hotel management to allow us to have a rest at the lobby.  :)

End of Phuket trip. Do I find this trip nice? No. Not really an enjoyable trip.

Phuket Day 3: Phi Phi Island

We planned to wake up earlier on Day 3 to watch sunrise before bidding goodbye to Patong Beach. However, we failed. When we open our eyes, the sun had already rise.

But we still take a stroll along Patong beach :)

Bangla road in the morning.

We had McD as breakfast and brought back the coffee to the top floor of our hotel and enjoy it.

As mentioned earlier, we booked the 2 way transfer to Phi Phi Island which inclusive of return ferry ticket from that con tour agency. We waited and waited but the driver didn't show up. Starting to feel panic, we call the tour agency and they gave excuses that the car broke down and they are arranging another transporter to come and fetch us. Luckily in the end they arrive although they are late by 30 minute! And instead of pick up using private Camry, a minivan sardined with other passengers come and get us.

We then took a long ferry ride to Phi Phi Island.

Arriving Phi Phi Island.

We booked Dee Dee beach house which cost RM100/ room/ night. No pick up service, so we dragged our luggage to the guest house. A very hot and shiny day which makes us feel dizzy. The location of Dee Dee Beach house is not strategic. Located at the other end of the island, we had to drag our luggage very far. I was a bit uncomfortable when I arrive the guest house to found out that the tsunami memorial park was located right in front of the guest house. Anyhow, the good news is that due to our standard room was under construction, we were been upgraded to the most expensive chalet available at Dee Dee house, for the price of the standard room.  :)

 After settle down, we head out for lunch.

We had our lunch at Garlic restaurant. The price was reasonable. We ordered thai salad.

Pineapple fried rice. Duh, I was expecting fried rice in pineapple but they are serving plain pineapple fried rice instead. This plate of rice is so tasteless.

Grilled Sotong! Yum Yum!!

Pad Thai in tomato sauce. Total bill inclusive of drinks come up to THB760.

After lunch, we walk around Phi Phi Island.

And back to our guest house waiting for sunset.

After the sun had set, we walk along the beach looking for dinner.

We had our simple dinner at the stalls on the beach.

Banana pancake. I don't really heart this. Nothing special.

Grill corn. Very dry and hard.

Oh.. I couldn't recall the name.

After dinner, we went to 7-11 and bought some beers and drinks and continue sitting and drinking on the beach until we feel tired and call it a day.