Welcome to Japan "Nihon e-yokoso" - Introduction

I never dream to visit Japan in my mind before this. The decision made shortly after I had conservation with my former college friend, initially just a joke "Let's go to Japan" I said. My friend just simply replied with excitement "Let's go at the end of November". 

Me : Are you serious?

Him : Yeah, I'm serious hahaha.

It took 5 months for us to prepare from A to Z, study the maps, culture, weather, accommodation and currency exchange. Honestly, Japan has high living cost, in addition comparing with our money value, Ringgit. Nevermind, I just closed one eye and made my trip became reality. 

The problem when you live in Borneo, need to fly to KL for transit before bound to Tokyo. The return ticket fare from Borneo to KUL was 1/3 of cost for KUL - NRT in return 🤦🏿. 

 

The obstacle once again during mid night flight in KLIA2 , we were stranded at the gate for 10 minutes due to unknown reason. 

My flight was on Friday 22 Nov 19 at 9pm. So during daytime, I went to money changer in Midvalley while waiting for my friend finished his shift at 12pm. 

Checking weekly flight fare, we decided to choose Thai Airways instead of AA, MAS, PAL  and Vietnamese Airlines after considering departure time, Halal meal & other conveniences. That was my first time flown with foreign flight hahaha. 

The journey from KUL to BKK was super comfort & astonishingly Thai Airways provided all passenger with Halal food. 

Transit in Suvarnabhumi Airport for 1 hour 50 minutes before continue journey to Tokyo. The airport is so huge but I don't like the building colour, they left it unpainted I guess. 

In flight breakfast from BKK to NRT. 

It took about 6 hour 30 minutes to arrive in Narita. As usual, I can't sleep well in flight. Huhu. Just spent my night went to lavatory few times and enjoying juices. 

Solo Trip to Hanoi / Imperial Citadel & HCM Mausoleum Day 4

                   That was my 4th day in Hanoi. As follow the itinerary to visit Imperial Citadel of Thang Long and Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum which are located around 1.5km from my hotel. It took half an hour for me to find that places in view of hustle streets in Old Quarters which was made me loss the way.

The area of Thang Long Imperial  Citadel is huge. You may spend hours to cover the area from the entrance till the end of park. The entrance fee is 30k Dong = RM6. Most visitors were schooling students of Hanoi, perhaps it was a getaway held by History club in their school.

I was wondered why the architectures seems French-like buildings. Maybe this country was invaded by them long time ago. Overall I like the environment, quite and peaceful. You can enter all the rooms as well as underground tunnel guided by arrow signs from first to last checkpoints.

Next stop was Ba Dinh Square which was located just in front of HCM mausoleum. The park was strictly supervised by police and visitors were not allowed to step on the grass. Huuuu.

I took picture by using my tripod, then guess.... "Preeett preeeett" sound of whistle blew from the police. He shown 'X' by using his forearms as sign tripod used was not allowed. Okay, it was embarrassing moment. hahahaha. I'm not sure why, maybe it is the rules stated there.

It was a hot day. so I decided to go back to hotel before went out in the evening. Tonight was my last night in Hanoi, you can take the opportunity on sightseeing night market  and buy some souvenirs before depart home next day. The stuffs prices were reasonable and so many choices you get in here.

See what I bought. The bag, shirts & fridge magnets for family & friends. Hahaha. 

Okay, that's all from my solo journey in September 2018.

Solo Trip to Hanoi / Day 3 - Temple of Literature

         
             

              Woke up at day 3 in Hanoi, still felt muscle sore due to previous day visit to Halong Bay. The weather was scorching hot even though still in the morning. Today, I planned to visit another landmark in Hanoi which is Temple of Literature. This temple actually is former university as well as first higher education centre for Hanoi citizen long time ago. So I decided to walk by using route in between buildings of Old Quarters.

As you can see, there was wet market in between the buildings that sold pork, frog, fishes and crab. I'm not sure whether they sold it legally or underground, perhaps it was permissable. 

In Old Quarters, the building is narrowed and uniquely tall probably due to limited space and overcrowded environment since France colonization era.

After 30 minutes of brisk walking, I arrived in front of the temple gate. The entrance fee was 20000 Dong = RM4. There were a lot of visitors from school children and also foreigners. The landscape was clean and dim due to surrounded by big trees. I love this peaceful place and great for photography. As usual, I only used my tripod and remote control to take nice shots hahaha.

The gate Temple of Literature

You can see this monument on 20k Dong note

Climbed up this double storey building and you can see the view of this temple

The giant drum

In the afternoon, I moved to Hanoi Train Street. The train passes only feet from houses twice per day around 3pm & 7pm. Beside the railway, there are souvenir & coffee shops for visitor to experience once train passes by if you are in right time. Then, I rode Gojek heading to D'Lion restaurant for lunch. This restaurant owned by Singaporean which is providing Halal food for customer. Here you may try Vietnamese cuisine as well with reasonable price.

In the afternoon, just walk around near hotel & found this cathedral. A lot of newly married couples came here for wedding photography due to its unique architecture. 

Anyone who has been here, you should try Egg Coffee as it is one of signature in Hanoi. Before I go watching water puppet show at night, I walked to Giang Cafe to taste this coffee. Not bad, the taste was good and odourless. The price was 25k Dong = RM5.

Enjoyed very much water puppet show. The entrance fee was 80k Dong = Rm14. My friend told me the fee is cheaper compared to water puppet entrance in HCMC.

Solo Trip to Hanoi / Halong Bay Day 2

On second day in Vietnam, I went to Halong Bay by bus. Halong Bay is a famous place among tourists due to presence thousands limestone islands near Halong City. The journey took about 3 hours with 1 stop in the middle of route gives chance for people to see locals making handicraft and jewellery. Basically, it's easy to book or buy day trip package to Halong Bay in Hanoi. For me, just did not want to complicate my life, I just booked the package downstairs of my hotel with cost of USD45. 

The scenery of villages surrounded by paddy field heading to Halong City

This jewellery shop conducted by capable local people

I arrived at Halong Bay in the afternoon and was seated in the boat before cruising. We were served lunch while enjoying panoramic view from inside of the boat. The lunch provided consist of spring roll, seafood, chicken, meat and vegetable soup. Of course it is non halal food. Luckily, I had heavy breakfast in hotel early morning that day. During cruising, both locals asked regarding my religion and sensitive question which is I felt annoyed. I just did not want it becomes intense discussion. All mankind in this world have right to opt their religion and it's unethical when you bash other religion if you are not agree with. Palui!

The weather was good, even though scorching hot. Hahaha. Most of us went upstairs to view deck to enjoy magnificent view of Halong Bay and taking selfie for Insta lol.

Bamboo boat ride

Climbing the ancient cave

Photo taken by a tourist, fair enough even though was not satisfied with the angle :-P

Okay, finished day trip to Ha Long. I think for those who are not prefer on 1 day trip cruise, may be you can choose other alternative, you may ride luxurious boat for 2 day 1 night if you have extra budget. If you plan stay in Halong City, you may hike Poem Mountain to enjoy lime stone view from on top if hill.

In the bus heading back to Hanoi, I just thought about dinner because I was so starving and tired. I need rice to recharge my energy hahaha.

Solo Trip to Hanoi / Halong Bay Day 1

         It's along time not to touch my blog, left it covered with dust. Hahaha. Today only I have determination to update my blog in view of long break from work ughhh. This time will tell about my solo trip to Hanoi and Halong Bay in last September. Initially planned to travel with my former Uni colleague, however he couldn't make it due to flight fare price was skyhigh elevated last minute. I already bought ticket 2 months before travel.

Photo of passport and boarding pass taken as starter pack for traveler. Hahaha. I bought ticket during promotion period but still costs RM550. Some people said we can get it cheaper around RM300+ if you are lucky.

Noi Bai International Airport

The journey took 4 hours from KL to Hanoi. The weather was misty and warm during Spring. For your information, Hanoi has 4 seasons, most preferred travel time from December to February due to cold weather which is 16 - 20 degree Celcius. If you want to experience snow, may be you should plan another trip to Sapa, a district located at nothern most of Viet Nam.

Ban Dau Water Tank

From the Noi Bai Airport, I used bus (Bus no 86 orange colour) towards Old Quarters with cost of RM5. It took about 40 minutes facing moderately heavy traffic in the afternoon to reach Long Bien bus station. Then walked to find my hotel assisted by Google map. 

Al-Noor Mosque

Along the way to hotel there was only one mosque in Hanoi, I stopped for a while for Dhuhr and having lunch. The meal was expensive, may be they have difficulty to obtain halal raw materials in here. It was tricky to find that restaurant because its location was hidden inside the mosque's gate.

Sky View Hotel

After 30 minutes walking, I arrived in my hotel. The streets in Old Quarters are quite confusing due to its seem similar, straight and narrowed. Everybody here will ask the name of street in order to find any landmark. For example, my hotel located in Hang Hom street which is 15 minutes walking from famous lake in Hanoi, Hoan Kiem Lake. The accommodation in Hanoi is not a big deal because the price is astonishingly reasonable around RM50-60 per room.

Before the sun downing, I did sightseeing around my hotel heading to Hoan Kiem Lake. The evening near the lake was happening with a lot of pedestrians and crowd of vehicles. One of the outstanding landmarks is Nghia Thuc Square as it has unique architectural building mimics a ship. That's a famous place for tourists to have beer while enjoying nightlife.

Another place must visit in Hanoi is Thang Long Water Puppet. I planned to watch the show on 3rd day in Hanoi but I must buy the ticket earlier because the seats mostly are fully booked by tourists. The ticket fare is about RM14.

The Red Bridge

Hanoi Opera House

The bright red colour of the bridge was an eye-catching for all tourists in Hoan Kiem Lake. Most of people were waiting till night in order to see its miracle as well as capturing wedding photo for reminiscence. Other than that, you may found varieties of shops roadside selling good quality sport attires with cheaper price if you have good bargaining skill. The local time in Hanoi is one hour earlier compared to Malaysia local time. I managed back to my room around 10pm for rest to prepare trip to Halong Bay next day.

Working at 'Oversea'

        Year of 2017 was too fast reached the end. There are lot of events happened in this year for instances finished my housemanship, my family moved to State of Pahang and I was transferred to oversea. Sob2. But, it is not a true oversea, to be specific I got my placement for MOship in Borneo. Huwaaaaa!

         Honestly, I filled the placement form early sixth posting which was in Emergency and Trauma posting. I had chosen Pahang and Selangor states for MOship for the sake of my family, unfortunately I still got Sabah after submitting the appeal form. The story was longgg time ago and already adapted here, at Sandakan, the Land below the Wind. The truth is this place is not bad as I expect before after 6 months living here.

       

Brought my parents to Kota Kinabalu, touring at the same time.

         

          Before I forgot, already shipped my car 2 weeks before departed Sabah. The cost is about RM5000+ but fully paid by my old workplace. The journey began as we came to KL from Pahang via express bus that took about 5 hours to arrive. Then, managed heading to KLIA via aero train. Pssst : the ticket price was expensive, do better use airport bus service in order to save your money. Hahaha.

The photo captured from view deck of KLIA2, brought my parents here for the first time ( we departed from KLIA actually )

Ahha, in front of international departure gate

My father resting in cabin hotel.. It's cool right?

Yeah, we ready to move on after taking 3 hours nap

My dad first flight experience in his life, new achievement unlocked once my dream to take him on board by using my own money hehehehe

Photo with my mother

with my father

       The last 2 photos gave me a significant moment. It was an overwhelming day as I will live here forever hahahaha. My tear dropped once they left me home and I don't know why? Perhaps deep inside my heart, I felt lonely and far from my family, relatives and old friends! I love my family!

For your information, we managed to visit few places in Sabah. But I will blog it later. BYE.

Salam Perantauan dari Borneo.