Hua Hin 华欣

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.

Songkran

This is a must experience event once in a life time. You can go crazy with water and also be afraid of water when you get out of the hotel. A wet wet experience. Guarantee get wet!

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Newcastle 纽卡斯尔

I took a coach from Canberra to Sydney and from Sydney I travelled to Newcastle (about 3 hours). I only stayed 2 days in Newcastle and went back to Sydney for another 5 days.

Newcastle is not a tourist area but I still have the chance to visit the Mt Sugarloaf and the Blackbutt Reserve where I saw koala bears and kangaroos. I also went to taste the wine in Tempus Two, visited the beach and the shopping centre.

While I was in the shopping centre I saw secondary school students wondering around in school uniform. Later I realised that teachers went on strike and schools were closed on that day. I cannot Imagine what will happen if teachers in Singapore went on strike.

Canberra 堪培拉

I hesitated. I was trying to find out the cheapest way to travel from Melbourne to Canberra as I couldn’t decide whether I should travel by plane, bus or train. I only came to notice that the price for the train ticket has increased gradually and was almost the same as the price for the air ticket when I made up my mind. Hesitation comes with a price.

Canberra is the Capital of Australia but the place is unexpectedly quiet when I was there. I could hardly see more than 100 people during my 3 days and 2 nights visit. The city is rather small and I could tour the whole place within an hour. I visited the park, the lake, the city, the Museum, the old and new Parliament House, the Australian National University and even went up to the Black Mountain to have an aerial view.

Shenzhen 深圳

The hotels in Zhenshen are rather cheap, as compared to Singapore and Hong Kong. You could get a double-bed room in a 4 star hotel for about S$30. If you like massage, spa or healthcare centres, there are many in Shenzhen. East Gate is a good place for you to get cheap goods but be careful of the pickpockets. It is very easy to visit the attractions by taking the train.

I did not visit the The Window of the World 世界之窗 but I went to the Folk Culture Village and Splendid China 锦绣中华民俗村. These 2 attractions are in one place and you just need to pay for one entry (about S$20). Do not miss the horse back battle show as it is worth watching.