Travelling is my joy of living. Sit back relax and come with me.
Sept 2019 Trip to France With Boeing 737 Max 8 out of the sky, we have an unusually long flight from Nova Scotia to Paris. Otherwise we would have had a direct 6 hour flight. West Jet Halifax to Montreal Tight 40 minute connection with our delayed flight arrival. Had we checked bags they would […]
Hong Kong Heritage Museum The largest museum in Hong Kong offering loads of information on history starting from the beginning of time. The video is a great way to introduce us to different times in History. Opium Trade The story about the Opium trade is our favourite . It tells the story of Britain importing […]
Short and easy bus ride to the gardens from our Hotel. Easy bus ride as I say… tough part, steep climb up the hill to the Park entry. Located on the Northern slope of Victoria Peak. Founded in 1864, it was originally developed for plants. Zoo Approaching the Western side of the park we […]
Ladies Market Easy run by bus from the Ferry Terminal to the Ladies Market. The bus is right outside the terminal. We are surprised to see how busy the market was in the morning. It became insanely jam packed as we get get closer to noon. Tons of venders selling everything and many shops […]
Star Ferry Today we ride the Star Ferry across Victoria Harbour from Hong Kong to Kowloon. This service has been in operation since 1888. Popular with tourists and locals. Research says the ferry service carries over 70,000 passengers per day. It is a short 15 minute walk from our Ibis Hotel Sheung Wan to Pier […]
Stanley Riding on the top deck of the Double Decker bus to Stanley was like an actual tour. The hour long ride from the South to the North side of Hong Kong offered incredible views of the city , ocean, beaches and a look at Aberdeen. Stanley Market This is the highlight of the area. […]
Today’s plan is to try the famous Hong Kong Restaurant, Dim Sum Square. Located in the Sheung Wan area, a short stroll from our hotel. Dim Sum is a favourite of mine. I chose this restaurant as it is rated on Tripadvisor #203 of 12658 restaurants in Hong Kong. When we arrive I am not […]
Today we head to Victoria Peak. A quick 15 minute walk to the MRT. We follow the advice of our hotel staff and buy the Octopus Card. Perfect way to travel around Hong Kong . The subway station is massive. Could have been better directions, especially for tourists. We saw one couple running back forth. […]
Our arrival in Hong Kong Airport was smooth and easy. Quick transit through Border Control. Great directions by staff to the Taxi Kiosk. We were given a ticket with the approximate cost for our taxi fare to our hotel. Total cost including Tolls only 350 HKD. Ibis Hotel Hong Kong Central Good Choice. Check In […]
When my days are numbered, will I look back and say, Dang! I wish I had made more money. Not a chance …this will never be me! Checking Government Travel sites I read. “ Government Warning! High Alert! Do not go!” I go. Other than that . “ War Zones! “ Ok . Agree. I will […]
On our way from Manila to Hong Kong. Due to heavy traffic we decide to leave at 4:00 AM. Upon arrival at the Airport all vehicles are being checked by Security. STEP ONE Passengers are being checked outside the airport before entry. No Visitors are permitted to enter. Without having printed boarding passes, we would have been denied […]
Garden Addict ? Yep that’s me. High on my list is Greenbelt Park. Easy walk from our Hotel to Ayala Center. Greenbelt Park Right away I am captured by the peacefulness of these gardens. Fabulous design and lovely sculptures by Filipino artist Impy Pilapil. Nice place by the shady pond area to take […]
Before heading for Manila I researched the area and chose Makati. A perfect place to stay. A lot of great hotels, restaurants and places to visit. We ended up in the poorer end of town around the corner from the Red Light District. Could have dug deeper into the reviews. It was all […]
The walled city Intramuros is the highlight of our time in Manila. Even though I am not a history buff, I fell in love with Old World Charm of this ancient area. Not as jammed with people and tourists like others parts of Manila. Barbara’s Heritage Restaurant Narrow streets, stone walkways, quaint restaurants…oh oh …That’s […]
Heading out this morning with our driver Joshua. Brutal bumper to bumper traffic. The highlight is seeing a real view of Manila. Jammed with people, bikes, trucks, buses and jeepneys. Jeepney Realized jeepneys were USA military jeeps used during the Second World War. The idea is the the name Jeepney came from the words Jeep […]
Singapore to Manila. Another place I can add to my Country Collection list. $20.00 and fifteen minutes later we arrive at the airport. That’s the bonus of an early morning flight. Otherwise we would have been stuck in the crazy traffic. Border service, fast and easy. Once again my finger prints via the automated machine […]
Easy day today . Time for a break….walked 22000 steps in the last couple of days. Finally familiar with the Metro…easy ride to the Botanical Gardens. As a garden fanatic, this is a highlight of my trip. These gardens date back to the 1800’s, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Top on my list, the Orchid […]
Gardens By The Bay, high on my list, as I am a garden addict. The Metro is an easy and fast way to get here. Gorgeous gardens filled with a variety of palms, flowering shrubs, air plants… many like those in Florida. The ponds are are surrounded by sculptures and works of art. The trail […]
From the Malay Heritage Center we make our way to Little India. Not far. However in this grueling heats it feels like we are walking miles. If you have never been to India, Singapore’s version is a good start. As soon as we cross the street onto Dunlop St, we are surrounded by a mob […]
Arab Quarter – long walk from our Hotel in Clarke Quay. 34 degrees and humid …too dumb not to know we could have taken the MRT. Lesson learned. With our long walk and heat exhaustion, we need a break. Restaurants and bars everywhere. Ranging from Turkish, Asian, Mexican and more. Definitely a tourist Mecca. We […]
This morning is the start of our walking tour. Raffles Place at the mouth of the Singapore River is the center of the Financial District. The famous Singapore Sling was invented in 1913 by Ngiam Tong Boon at the Long Bar, Hotel Raffles. Unfortunately it is closed for renovations. Chinatown First stop…Chinatown. Busy area….as time […]
Early morning for us! Picked up at 5:30 AM ….over an hour run to the airport in Phuket from Karon Beach. During rush hour traffic, it is a three hour run. Our flight is with Air Asia. Read some negative reviews. None from me! The plane looks brand new and very friendly staff. Smooth two […]
With two crashes and 346 people killed, Max 8 has been grounded globally. Tragic and brutally heartbreaking for families and friends loosing people they knew and loved. After the first crash Boeing took no action. Had they, the second crash several months later would not have occurred. The first news out was that Boeing will […]
Travelling is the best way to escape everyday life. Keeping things easy while travelling is to pack simple, light and avoid checking your bag. I broke this rule a couple of times. Not a good idea. Once upon arrival in Majorca, my checked bag did not show up. Waiting in a long line with others […]
Our journey to James Bond Island is by long tail boat. Twenty of us on board. Amazing views from the water. Claim to fame is due to its starring role in the James Bond Movie …The Man with the Golden Gun. Actual name of the island is Khao Phing Kan. Our first stop, Talu […]
Our day today is all about visiting James Bond Island. We join James Bond Discovery which is is a small group tour. Not sure how long our drive would take. We were told forty five minutes. Turns out to be over two hours . Oh well, that’s travel. Phang Nga Province First stop, Wat Suwan […]
The easiest and fastest way to travel from the North to the South of Thailand is by air. Only a two hour flight.Surprising to see a huge lineup of passengers waiting to enter the airport in Chiang Mai. No one without a boarding pass was permitted to enter. A security check before entering the airport […]
This is a place that is a highlight of our trip to Chiang Rai. It is such a beautiful area. Especially with the view of three countries from the water. Thailand, Laos and Myanmar are connected with the Ruak River and the Mekong River. Its interesting to learn why this is called the Golden Triangle. […]
Part of our tour around Chiang Rai was to visit the Hill Tribes. Unknown to us, when we booked our tour, we had to pay 600 Baht to enter the village. When we arrive we are dropped off at what was basically, a market. Not a village. We walked through and discovered the Karen Tribe. […]
Chaing Mai is my favorite place to visit in Norther Thailand . So much to see and do. Looking back I wish we had stayed longer. Its been a long time since we have visited the White Temple. Its design and art is outstanding. It reminds me of a Thai version Of Gaudi’s unusual buildings […]
The Demon Gaurdians
We are so happy to have a chance to see this amazing again. This is home of this huge 46 meter long reclining Buddha The It dates back the 6th Century. There is a huge line up of tourists. We are surprised to see how well the lineup is moving along. As is the norm, […]
We found Bangkok easy to get around by the Sky Train, known as the BTS (Bangkok Mass Transit System). Easy and cheap way to get around. Only $6.00 for a day pass. Easy transfer to the River Boat from the Sky Train. The River Boat is a great way to see the sites from the […]
2:30 AM . We find the Yellow Cab driver sleeping in the lobby. We wake him and off we go to the airport. There is no traffic and we arrive in about thirty minutes. Huge airport, but easy to manoeuvre. We checked online and avoided the massive Checkin line. As soon as we go toward […]
This is another amazing historic site in the Heart of Beijing. Built during the 1400’s during the reign of the Yongle Emperor, The Emperor would come here to pray for Peace and Harvest. The Summer Palace Our stop is now the Summer Palace. It is a beautiful place surrounded by Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill. […]
It’s been years since we have been here and we are awestruck to see this site again.The Forbidden City began in the 1500’s And is now called the Imperial Palace Museum. This is the largest ancient Chinese architecture still standing. Over hundreds of years there were twenty four Emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. […]
Jan 2019 We take a twenty minute walk from our bus to the underground pedway. Interesting seeing the soldiers march by as we approach the pedway. It is the time of the Flag raising ceremony, so we had to get off the bus a few blocks back. This is a site not to be missed. […]
The Badaling section of the Great Wall is located in Yanquing county, Beijing. This section has the highest point of the Great Wall. 800 meters above sea level . We are here is January and is freezing cold but the good part is it is not jam packed. We take the funicular to the top […]
This is the start of our first day in Beijing. Good idea we have breakfast in our room …thanks to Starbucks. Our guide with Tour Beijing arrived at 7:00 AM. It took an hour to maneuver around the city. Our first stop is the Ming tombs.. Perfect! It gives us a chance to see some […]
Eastern Trekker
This trip to China was for only three days . I made sure we qualified for the Transfer without visa …known as TWOV. At the check in counter with United in Halifax, the agent didn’t even look at our onward flight. All good to go. Just before boarding in Newark for our flight to Beijing. […]
