The Latest

Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts

Tiruchirappalli also known as Trichy is one of the states in Tamil Nadu-- a small city situated in central south-eastern India. Trichy is vibrant, filled with friendly people and colourful flat-roof buildings. Not to mention the super fine cigarettes, tasty street coffee and delicious poori!

The view from the top of Rockfort
Most famous for Rockfort, Trichy is not a common destination chosen by travellers unless they are planning to perform the pilgrimage at the holy temples here. With temperature between 25 to 32 celsius, Trichy is a bit dusty due to the absence of cemented roads. It is possible to walk around town if you don’t mind the sun but no worries, the public transportation here are easily accessible. From taxis to tuk-tuk(s), to buses and trains. There are loads of them waiting for you to take a ride!

And let’s be honest, it is no surprise how people are extra cautious when it comes to travelling to India due to the hygiene reasons and clean water supply but I assure you Trichy is actually cleaner than the outskirts of Jakarta, Indonesia.

To deal with the clean water issue, you can ask for your hotel to provide you with mineral water and carry them around while you’re out. Make sure to check if the cap is still sealed and the bottle is brand new.

Gandhi Market
Now you may wonder what is so interesting about Trichy? As mentioned earlier it is most famous for the Rockfort Temple which stands on 273-foot high rock. There is also a 24-hour Gandhi Market where you can see the locals sell avalanches of onions (yep, onions) and other vegetables from across Tamil Nadu. 

An elephant casually walking down the streets at Srirangam
Another must-visit location is the Srirangam Temple besides the St. Joseph Church and College. So yeah, you may think it’s not much but wait until you see the sarees!!! Two days are not enough for you to soak in the overwhelming amount of sarees being sold at extremely cheap prices.

“Where can I get them?” you may ask. Fret not, they can be found along the streets and at the textile houses located around Trichy. So here’s a heads-up, buy extra baggage access for your flight home, trust me on this.

Enough stalling and stop hesitating to include Trichy in your upcoming travel plans. I guarantee you it is worth your time and money.

The first and only edutainment centre in Malaysia, Kidzania has recently invited us to be a part of their annual event “Back-2-Kidz” where adults are allowed into the fun zone to unleash the kid in them for three and a half hours. The purpose of this event is to give exposure on how beneficial and educating Kidzania is by letting the adults engage in the activities provided. Normally, adults can only accompany the children but not this time.


We were welcomed by the Project Manager of the event, Darryl who told us that by letting the adults to experience the activities themselves, they will realize how important it is to expose the young ones to involve in interactive learning as one of the measures to help develop their passion at an early age. 


Personally, we were amazed at the interior of the building or as they called it “city” because the simulations look VERY real and it would leave you in awe and somehow, that instant, the kid in you will be dying to get out! You will be given 50 kidzos upon entry to be spent but there are also activities that will pay you such as the Poslaju delivery or being a surgeon at KPJ Specialist Hospital so you will get a taste of the real job.


The staffs there are all very friendly, cheery and high on energy to keep you pumped throughout the day. We didn’t see anyone who was sad or reluctant to participate; everyone was having a good time! There’s no denying that Kidzania probably is one of the places that gives people positive, happy vibes.

Kidzania offers a well-rounded experience for visitors because they provide various choices of activities that one can do. The activities can be divided into few categories: Services, Food & Beverages, Retail, Motor Industry, Media, Culture, Transportation, Utility, Education, Residential, Entertainment and Fitness. So there are supreme court, theatre, police station, art school, factories, supermarket, bank, airport and many more. All these to tailor your interest and passion for the actual occupations.


In a nutshell, this experience was filled with exposure to the career world for the young ones. Kidzania is truly a helpful place to prepare your children to build their confidence and to see a glimpse of the adult world. The interactive undertakings in the Kidzania City is a power tool for the fresh generation.


What are you waiting for, grown-ups? The next event will be held this 29th of August so make sure you won’t miss it! We guarantee you will have so much fun. For more info you can contact them here.


Photos by: Sabrina Saharuddin

Hiking is actually everybody's-thing-to-do. It’s seeking the body's limitation, heart determination and mentally's fitness. Building a strong relationship is the most important thing of all.

 We needed to hold on to each other as we were just beginners. Fun is certainly what we were looking for but of course safety was kept in mind.

 870 meter for start is quite hard to swallow. Gunung Datuk in my opinion it was the most slippery mountain to hike. It actually depends on the season itself. It wasn't really a smart idea to hike during raining season but with eagerness and determination, we decided to keep moving forward.

 From Melaka we drove to Negeri Sembilan around 6 AM. I’m a full time diploma student at that time staying in campus, and I wasn’t sure if were allowed to go out from campus at dawn but since it was our last semester, why not give a chance to breathe a little bit.

 Our drive there was breathtaking, especially with the air, view and away from tons of assignments. I was excited to arrive and start the challenge.

 We were not monitored by any specialist, it was just us. As a preparation for us, I brought some medicine like Panadol, Vitamin C, oil, plaster, a rope and sharp knife in case of anything. I’m just preparing for the worst, being a girl scout an all in my school days.

 At the starting point, we were excited but we had to turn our way back because when we read the instructions, it was stated that to start the journey we had to pay for parking and other things before hand. It was an hour of waiting and nobody showed up even when we contacted the staff's so we decided to ditch that and go on by ourselves.

It wasn’t a bad decision to make because along the hiking session we shared some things, jokes and most of all we took care of each other. At the first stage, things was pretty easy, we didn't need to hold on to anything and our pace was pretty quick.

 But at the second stage, it got a little bit challenging because we needed to hold on to a rope to hike. At the first 600 meter, some of us took a break, we sat around, shared drinks as our supplies were very limited. After a few minutes we kept walking and never looked back because another 270 meter was waiting for us.

 At last, the sign stating the Gunung Datuk height was seen on a tree, I was so relieved but it hasn’t ended yet, there was another three steps that we needed to climb up, but it’s optional since the condition of the stairs were quite odd.

 Nevertheless, you will not regret climbing up the steps because the view is breathtaking. It was worth getting up early in the morning and to feel a sort of attachment with nature.

 I like both lives, nature and city, but in the end, nature always has the upper hand. It’s not running from reality but rather a sweet escape.

 And that was our sweet escape.

By Aqalili Azizan
Recently, I had the chance to travel to Turkey. To make it simple, the beauty of this country blew my mind. You can find underground cities, hotels that are carved in stone and most importantly, hot air balloons! Their mosques are breathtaking; so much different that the ones we have here and some of it have been built during the 16th century!



Even though most people only think of Istanbul when they hear about Turkey, this historic country has so much more to offer than just that. Pamukkale is one of the cities in Turkey which has been overlooked for so many years. Personally, I prefer Pamukkale more than other cities because it has the ruins from Greek times. I managed to visit the Hierapolis which used to be Apollo's temple. If you know greek mythology, you'd know that Apollo is the God of Sun. 




 Another important place for you to visit is Ayasofya. What makes this so special is that it was originally built as a Church in the 5th century before Ottoman conquered the land. After the takeover, they transformed this well-known church into a mosque in the 15th century where it remained a mosque for 500 hundred years. In 1931, it was shut down for renovations and when it was reopened in 1939 as a museum. What makes it unique is that this is the only place on earth where you can find a calligraphy of Allah and a picture of Mother Mary and Jesus Christ in the same room. 



So the next time you're looking for a place to go, consider Turkey. If you are into history and ancient ruins, this is the best place for you. You don't know what you're gonna find out until you're here to experience it all.

In life, it's either we can be too engrossed in our respective careers, constantly struggling in the immense hustle-bustle of the concrete jungle or we can choose to appreciate our surroundings whenever we can in our expense, which is nature itself. It's about finding the perfect balance between the two to keep our minds rejuvenated at most times.


I believe it is best to simmer down once in a while and absorb nature even if it's just a brisk walk at the park or plan a short getaway to any of the beaches our country has to offer with your loved ones. Visiting the nature overseas would be a sublime experience as well. As for me, I absolutely enjoy capturing photos whenever I am in touch with nature in any form, this time particularly the Mediterranean sea since it is close to the place I am living at the moment. 


So I suppose yes, nature is very rewarding in the sense how it renders you breathless, alas nullify undesirable thoughts away from your mind. Let us sit back, relax and once again appreciate unanimously on how mother nature is truly, a beautiful place to live in.

I visited Macau last year during spring and I found the city very classic and romantic. Aside from the famous Venetian, colonial buildings left by the Portuguese somehow gave a softer side to this vivacious city. The undeniably delicious egg tarts, colourful flowers and mosaic pavements are just a part of it. I decided to capture the abstemiousness of Macau in these black and white photo series.









Macau is also home to Macau Tower, the tallest bungee jumping building in the world. It is a perfect place for the adrenaline junkies out there who are always up for a new challenge. Even Running Man has filmed one of its episodes here as well as TLC hosts Anthony Bourdain and Janet Hsieh. 







But if you don't fancy taking a leap off the building, you can always stroll around the ruins of St. Paul, Senado Square or the Red Market and enjoy your stay like a local. You see, there is so much more to Macau than its casinos. Here, it feels as if you're living in between modernization and historical past as these two live so close to each other.

Backpacking is no longer a foreign term among travelers these days. It has become a preferred style of travelling usually among young people, for those who are under tight budget and for some who are looking into a more rugged experience. 

1. Pack light
You are going to carry that bag around most of the time so it’s best to bring only what you need. Bring clothes that can be washed and dry easily, no ironing required and of course basic colours (read: black, white) that can match with everything.  

2. Leave your fancy & valuable items at home
Unless you are going to fashion week, that would be a different story, ey? However, don’t forget to bring complete gears such as camera, charger, adapter, power bank and journal to capture your journey.

3. Google
Before going to selected destination, make sure you do some basic research on places to visit, the customs, dos & don'ts, accommodation and price for tour packages so you won’t be fooled by dishonest travel agents. 

4. Move ‘em feet
Instead of taking the cab, why don’t you walk? It can be a bit tiring but it can be a lot of fun too when you discovered the places in between intended destinations. Another convenient way to travel is by taking the public transportation such as the bus or the train. By downloading the city/subway maps you get to learn the system, enjoy the view and stay under budget!

5. Hostel with kitchen and free breakfast
It helps to check-in into hostel or backpackers lounge that provide either one of these (better yet both). You save time by not having to find a place to eat and can simply pour hot water into your noodles cup when you’re hungry in the middle of the night. BUT make sure to rise early or there will be no breakfast left for you.

6. Make friends
It will be useful if you are heading to more than two destinations especially when you are alone. Sometimes tour packages become cheaper if you go in groups. Nonetheless, don't forget to exchange travel experiences that could come handy one day!

7. Learn the basics of the language
Travelling to countries like Japan, France, Thailand and Korea can be difficult if you do not have any basic knowledge on the language. It’s best to jot down questions on directions, getting to the authorities, and of course, greetings. You can also download the apps on your phone.

8. Pack your meds
Prepare for the worst case scenario like having diarrhea while you’re on the move. Visit the pharmacy and get yourself necessary pills including paracetamol, hyoscine (for jetlag) and maybe ointments in case you sprained your joints.  It’s important to be in your best condition!

9. Inform family & friends
Make sure one of them knows where you are going, your plane schedules and how long you will be leaving. In case something bad happens (God forbids though) at least someone knows of your whereabouts.

10. Seize the moment
Put that phone down. Look around, breathe, live in the moment of awe and just enjoy the beauty of the place you’re visiting. Your Instagram grid can wait.


Photo: Google image