Hua Hin 华欣

Posted on December 8, 2013 by The Traveller

I took the train from the Donmuang railway station (just opposite the Don Mueang International Airport) to Bangkok. The train ticket is only 5 baht (20 cents Singapore) for a 2-hour ride; of course the train is old and without air-con. From Bangkok Chinatown, I took another train to Hua Hin.

Hua Hin has the best railway station in Thailand as the station is built for the royal families. Hua Hin is a rather small place and I think staying there for 2 nights is more than enough unless you want to visit the bars often.

There is a train library near the station. Surprising I saw a Singapore flag.

Though Hua Hin is known as a beach resort but I do not recommend you to waste your time at the beach as there is no sea sports. There was merely less than one full hand count of people at the beach when I was there.

I stayed in this Les Bobo’s backpacker when I was in Hua Hin.

Food is all around the place where I stayed. There is also a lively night market.

During the day, I just walk around exploring the eating places.

Two years later, I went back to Hua Hin with Derek and Christine. This time, we discovered more places of fun and excitment in Hua Hin.

We took a tuk-tuk and asked the drver to show us the interesting places.

We went the food center for a late lunch.

We stayed in this Tid Tarad Hostel. I stayed with some foreigners and both Derek and Christine stayed in another room. There are food, such as fruits, bread, nuts and instant noodles, provided free for the guests all day round.

We also visited the old palace and the man-made flooding market.

Before we left for the next destination, we went the train coffee station to have a taste of the coffee in Hua Hin.

Phone Cards and Others

Posted on October 20, 2013 by The Traveller

Singapore Phone cards. S$1 each. Note that these are used cards.

Phone Card.8 Phone Card.9

Phone Card from Germany. S$1.

Phone Card.32

Limited Edition 3D 2012 and 2013 Formula 1 Singtel Top-up card. S$2 each.

Phone Card.34 Phone Card.35

CashCard and More Rewards Card S$2 each.

Card.7 Card.5

Assorted Cards. S$1 for 2 pieces.

Phone Card.33 Card.2 Card.1 Card.3 Card.4 Card.6 Card.8 Card.9 Card.10 Card.11

Mexico 墨西哥 (Tijuana 蒂华纳)

Posted on October 18, 2013 by The Traveller

I could easily walk across the American border to Mexico without encountering any problem. I only stayed in Tijuana for a few hours and getting back to the US is a bit of issue as the queues were extremely long. I have to wait for more than an hour to get to the immigration counter. The American Police were polite but have a firm control of the crowd.

The Hash House Harriers

Posted on October 14, 2013 by The Traveller

I joined the Italian Hash House Harriers group for a day of memorable walk cum jog and beer drinking event while I was in Rome. It was interesting to join a group of people from Italy, Canada, Australia, Finland and US for a jog in the countryside. We had a singing and creative beer drinking session after the jog and end the day in an Italian restaurant eating traditional Italian Pizza.

East Bay – Oakland and Other Places

Posted on October 14, 2013 by The Traveller

This is in the eastern side of San Francisco. Among other places, I visited the wineries in Sonoma County and the University of California in Berkeley. I even went inside Pixar.

The University of California, Berkeley, California.

Pixar Animation Studios (Pixar)

Sonoma

Oakland

California

Posted on October 14, 2013 by The Traveller

We travelled from San Francisco down to Mexico. In the journey, we stopped at a few places.

Half Moon Bay

Disney Downtown

Hollywood Walk of Frame

Standford University

Chinatown, Los Angeles

While in Los Angeles, we stopped at Chinatown.

Griffith Observatory

This observatory is in Los Angeles on the south-facing slope of Mount Hollywood in Griffith Park.

Ipswich and other places

Posted on October 13, 2013 by The Traveller

I arrived in London Luton Airport from Paris and stayed in the Aylesbury area for one night. The next day, I took the tube (train) to London (about 35 minutes) and stayed for 2 days. I took another tube to Ipswich, which is in Suffolk, for another 2 days.

While I was travelling in the tube, I heard multiple announcements that transport workers going on strike on the coming Sunday. Passengers were advised to make their own alternative transport arrangement. As my flight was on the strike day, I decided to take the airport bus from Ipswich station to Stanstead airport. In fact, I took the earlier bus (2 hours earlier) and reached the airport 4 hours before the flight. I flew with the budget airline, Ryan Air, to Berlin, Germany.

San Diego

Posted on October 12, 2013 by The Traveller

San Diego is very close to the Mexico border. It is well-known for beaches, parks and warm climate. In San Diego, there are the world-famous Zoo, Safari Park, Seaworld and Legoland but I did not visit any one of them. However, I did cross the border and walked into Mexico.

Universal Studio (Los Angeles)

Posted on October 12, 2013 by The Traveller

Vatican City 梵蒂冈城

Posted on October 8, 2013 by The Traveller

The Vatican City is in Rome. It is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church. This is the world’s smallest independent nation-state, with 44 hectares in size. You just need to take about an hour to walk through the whole country.

You could climb to the top and have a nice aerial view.

You could walk into the city for free. However, you will have to pay to enter the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums. I went inside the both of them and recommend that you should also go inside. At the end of the route, you could see the paintings of Michelangelo on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. It was so beautiful that I just want to stay there as long as I could.