May 2006 - Travel Asia

Travel Asia

follow this blog

8 followers

113 daily readers

rank of 1623

E-mail Subscription

Receive an e-mail notification of new posts on this site:

Spotlight Posts

Welcome to Davao City

Philippine One Hundred Islands- Pangasinan

Why More And More Foreigners Are Going To Philippines To Have A Vacation?

Philippines Travels Guide: Where To Have A Vacation?

The Beauty of Philippines

[ more ]

Hanoi is a city steeped in history. Previously having a reputation for being unfriendly to foreigners, Hanoi is now welcoming them with open hands - perhaps too open? As with many other Asian cities, one has to always be wary of being taking advantage of by locals.

Hoan Kiem Lake

That being said, Hanoi has much beauty to offer; in the middle of the city is Hoan Kiem Lake, which as you can see, is remarkably pretty, with the town in the background. While it looks like the photo was taken maybe 50 or 60 years ago, it was only taken in 1999. Many people talk of the "colonial charm" that Hanoi retains, as it was in conflict during the modern architecture movement.

Many travellers are drawn to the Old Quarter, where they can immerse themselves in the French colonialist influence which is still very prevalent. Shopping is good, but it is recommended to pay with cash, or if you are paying with a credit card, to watch your card at all times.

Halong Bay

You cannot miss taking a day trip to see Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, labelled a natural wonder of the world. And if that's not enough recommendation, Tomorrow Never Dies, one of the James Bond films was shot there, as well as Indochine. Thrill at the idea that you perhaps stood on the very spot that Pierce Brosnan did!

While Hanoi has alot of charm, there are also things to be aware of as a traveller. Beware of:
i.) Children selling you chewing gum. Politely refuse them; to buy from them is only encouraging their parent's exploitation of them
ii.) "Massage" offers
iii.) Local buses that won't tell you the price till your bag is already on the bus
iv.) Motorcycles on the sidewalk. They're crazy!

155

Vote

Comments (1)

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: rachel - Category: No Category

Email this Post to a Friend

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

May 22nd 2006 01:01

Petronas Towers

Being born and bred in Kuala Lumpur, it seemed fitting that I should write my first post on KL (as it is affectionately known), in the interests of sounding worldly and well-travelled.

Mmm... Satay...

Kuala Lumpur is a city of diversity. If you are familiar with the recent tourism campaign which ran the slogan, 'Malaysia, Truly Asia', you're probably thinking, "If it didn't work that time, what makes you think that angle will work now?" But think about. Not only have you got Malay, Chinese, Indian, and Miscellaneous peoples, but you have Malay, Chinese, Indian and Miscellaneous food too! Sure we have all that stuff here too - but it's the price that just brings out the flavour of the food.

Eating out in KL is a whole new ball park. For those of you who are adventurous, and have a strong constitution, I would strongly recommend eating at one of the many street vendors, or mamak stalls, that you find in KL. Here is where you brush shoulders with the local, and get a real feel of what being Malaysian is all about.

Bukit Bintang

And it's not just the food that's cheap. Kuala Lumpur is a shopping oasis, with everything from designer wear to "designer wear". KL sports numerous ridiculously sized shopping malls, such as Mid Valley Megamall, Suria KLCC and the most recent Times Square, which sports an indoor amuesment park. Bukit Bintang is also an excellent destination, whether you're a tightass or whether you like to flaunt a bit of Louis Vitton.

Chinatown

If you're interested in the more illicit goods Malaysia has on offer, then head down to Chinatown on Petaling Street, and hone those bargaining skills. Who really cares if the dubbing is off, and the subtitles are in Chinese, and people's heads keep appearing in the middle of the movie, when you paid AUD$5 for it?

One of the more important phrases you need to know is, "Berapa?", which means, "How much?". That will get you pretty much anywhere you need to go. Check out Lonely Planet for useful information like what sort of electrical plugs are used, and how big the population is.

Beware of:
i.) Street vendors with a tank of live frogs out the front.
ii.) Taxi drivers who don't run the meter.
iii.) Hawkers who insist it is the genuine article.

171

Vote

Comments (1)

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: rachel - Category: No Category

Email this Post to a Friend

August 2008

6 Posts

May 2006

2 Posts

Older Posts