Vietnam - A 7D/6N Itinerary

Tomorrow night, this time, I will be in Ho Chi Minh City, enjoying my long awaited July holidays. Initially planned for this Vietnam trip to extend a longer period as well as cover Hanoi, but due to work commitment and lack of time, I have to make due with going to Central Vietnam only. Here's my rough itinerary for this trip which serves as a guide but not to be followed whole-heartedly.

Day One
2040 Arrive Ho Chi Minh City
2130 Check in, go for a night drink!

Day Two
0800 Visit all touristy places (Notre Dame Cathedral, Reunification Palace, etc)
1730 Go to rooftop bar for a drink and sunset view on the city

Day Three
0800 Eat my way through Ho Chi Minh City
1900 Bid goodbye to the city, on board to go to Danang

Day Four
1200 Reach Danang, go Hoi An
1300 Explore Hoi An Ancient Town

Day Five
0830 Vietnamese cooking lesson
1430 Explore Hoi An

Day Six
0600 Depart to My Son

Day Seven
0600 Free and easy
1300 Back to Danang, fly back to KL

As you can see, this itinerary is as useless as it comes. But, that is the fun of travelling, you never know what you'll end up doing. Wish me a safe trip!

Friday's Newsflash - Air Asia Is Flying to Lombok Soon

Air Asia has been on the radar quite frequently, it seems, or maybe I have been entering their websites far too often already. After winning the accolade for World's Best Low Cost Airline for the fourth consecutive year in the SKYTRAX World Airline Awards, which in turn awarding us with the so-called World's Best Ever Sale (not the best, in my humble opinion, but still quite good), now comes the news that the carrier will be launching another new route to Indonesia, this time to the neighbouring island of Bali, Lombok. First, Kathmandu, Nepal. Now, Lombok, Indonesia. More to come, please!

The launching date has yet to be announced but you can be sure that everyone is waiting for it. Air Asia often gives cheap promotional fare for its new routes and the same can be expected out of this flight to Lombok. My trip to Semarang was in due to the promotional launching fare and I hope to do the same for Lombok. Maybe I can even visit the alluring Bali as well. After all, Bali is just 2 hours speed boat ride away.

Photos of Lombok courtesy of Air Asia

Semarang - Masjid Agung Jawa Tengah

As I had mentioned in the previous post, I loved walking when exploring new places. I believe you get to experience more when exploring cities with your legs. Therefore, on the last day of my stay in Semarang, I decided to embark on a journey to Masjid Agung Jawa Tengah. It was something of a spontaneous action, a snap of my brain to do it. I read about the mosque being one of the biggest in Central Java and that it has an observatory deck that you can go up to and see the whole of Semarang. And since I still have some times to spare before going back to the hotel to meet up with my friend, why not?

I was already out at Kota Lama, nearby the post office, when such impulsive decision was made. I approached the nearest Indonesian and he pointed me to the right direction. When asked how much time needed to walk there, he said too far, cannot walk. I brushed off the last remark and began my journey. Boy, was the man right about it.

So close, yet so far

Sweat was pouring out of my head as I was walking under the bright sun, crossing heavy traffics, watching the scenery changed from rows of shops to plains of paddies. Occasionally, I stopped and asked the locals to make sure I was on the right track and also to find out how much further. It seemed like a never ending stretch of ‘terus’ (go straight). Finally, after crossing the bridge, I saw the imposing mosque and obviously, there was still quite some distance to cover.

Pristine countryside

Another side of Semarang

After about an hour, I had finally arrived. Immediately, I went to the observatory deck (after all, it was my main objective) and paid Rp 5,000 (RM 1.50, more or less) to ascend the lift up. When the door opened, breezy wind greeted me, welcoming me with their embraces. My eyes were blessed with scenery so beautiful that all the walking was worth it. 

The observatory deck

The city of Semarang

Masjid Agung Jawa Tengah

I spent a good 10 to 20 minutes up there, taking in the sights while enjoying the refreshing breath of fresh air. I also had a good chat with a man from another district in Central Java who came to visit his brother in the mosque. When the time was up, I went back down and headed back to the main road, trying to catch a ride back. I was not going to do another hour of walking as I was already behind schedule. 

I did not enter the compound of the mosque as I was wearing shorts and did not want to be rude. After all, I noticed that I was the only person wearing shorts. I guessed shorts for observatory deck is ok but mosque, better not. 

It was a befitting ending to a wonderful adventure in Semarang. More photos to end the entry.

The mighty sun

I like this photo...

...and this...very serene

Kids playing football along the parking lot in the mosque

Semarang - Lawang Sewu

“Lawang Sewu” is the perfect name for this historic landmark in Semarang, as far as name goes. There is nothing figurative about the meaning of the Javanese name which means thousand doors for there are indeed that many a door in this complex. However, if you find the name interesting, wait until you read about its colourful history.

Lawang Sewu

There are two main buildings in the complex, with the first one, building A, completed in 1907 and the remaining by 1919. Originally constructed for the purposes of the national railway of Dutch East Indies, it served as a prison during Japanese Occupation in 1942. During this dark period of time, many Indonesians were victims to the Japanese’s tortures and died in the basement of the building.

Isn't the name befitting with the many doors in the buildings?

When the war was over, the complex was took over by the government and remained in dilapidated condition until renovation took place a few years back to cash in the influx of tourists arrivals in Central Java. When we were in Semarang, only building B was opened for tour while building A was still under renovation. We were told that a few months later, building B will be closed for its turn in reconstruction while building A will take over the function as tour ground.

One of the many compartments/items on display

 The appeal of the structure lies on its unique Dutch colonial architecture, with its white façade as well as its numerous doors. But the main attraction, I believe, is the haunting the building often associated with.

There are tales of sightings of headless ghouls roaming the complex by visitors and also of the spirit of a Dutch woman, said to be committed suicide in the structure. It is nothing out of the unusual with these rumours for such a historic building, especially one of dark time and the connection to the Japanese during the occupation. Apparently, the basements of the buildings are the scariest for that was where the tortures and the imprisonment were done.

The basement where the torturous scenes happened (have to use flash 'cause too dark)

I was told that there was once a group of reality show in Indonesia came to do a shooting on the ground and one of the contestants was left in the basement on her own and apparently, she saw something. The whole fiasco in turn made Lawang Sewu an attraction not to be missed when in Semarang.

Be it for the haunting scene or the striking structure, Lawang Sewu deserved to be in the spotlight and preserved for future generations. Colonial structures don’t come by much often these days and tall, generic buildings will soon take over the skyline. Without these heritage landmarks, there will nothing left to distinguish one city from another.

A beauty, indeed

*TO BE CONTINUED*

Sharing is caring. A word of advice and a piece of information.

Entrance ticket to Lawang Sewu is priced at Rp 10,000 (RM3.50, more or less) per person and you have to hire a tour guide at a price of Rp 30,000 (RM10.00, plus minus) as you cannot enter without one. Once you have enough of the building, you can walk to the roundabout located opposite the complex where the Tugu Muda monument stands. Erected to commemorate the deaths of the warriors fought in defending Semarang from Japanese, Tugu Muda is definitely worth a glimpse.

Tugu Muda

Friday's Newsflash - Air Asia X Now Flies to Nepal

There is another reason to be joyful about for globetrotter for Air Asia X now brings us to Nepal!

I first read it in Air Asia's website where the budget airline has officially launched a new destination, which is to Kathmandu, Nepal, and that the first flight had departed on 3rd July 2012. I knew nothing about it and now, Air Asia X has reached Nepal??? Since when Air Asia has been so secretive, I thought. But anyhow, when I first saw the news, there was no online booking available yet and that you have to go to its exclusive sale agent to purchase the tickets.

Nepal is the main entrance to Mount Everest

However, not any more for you can now buy the air tickets to Kathmandu through its website. Starting at RM399, the Air Asia X flight will depart from LCCT to Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu on every Tuesdays and Thursdays, starting from September 2012. You can find out more information about the flight as well as what to do in Nepal at Air Asia's promotional brochure here. 

After cancelling so many routes (Paris, London, Wellington), Air Asia X has finally introduced a new destination in a brand new country. Hopefully, more new destinations will be launched soon. Let's hope it will bring back European cities into the list.  

Semarang - Exploration of Kota Lama and Chinatown

This is one heck of a long post. Be warned!

Semarang, by itself, has nothing much to offer other than its rustic charms and untouched feelings for the presence of foreigners are barely felt in this quaint little city. Even if you saw one or two of them, chances are they are on their ways to Karimun Jawa, the scenic archipelago located north of the city. In short, all gave Semarang a pass and it is their loss. Read on to know why you should not do that.

The road heading to Kota Lama

Friday's Newsflash - Lenggong Valley Inscribed in UNESCO Heritage List

Lenggong Valley Archaeology Site has been inscribed into the UNESCO Heritage List! Another UNESCO Heritage Site in Malaysia and this time, it's in Perak! This great news was confirmed by our Information Minister, Datuk Seri Rais Yatim, last Sunday.

Truth be told, I'm not exactly familiar with the site at all even though it's just an hour plus drive from Ipoh. But, a little bit of digging and I'm now much informed. Lenggong Valley Archaeology Site hosts four such sites where findings from Palaeolithic, Neolithic and Metal ages were found. Findings included stone paraphernalias as well as human remains. The most famous discovery from this site has to be the Perakman. 

Perakman remains

The complete skeletons of Perakman was the earliest human skeletal remains to be found in this region, believed to be around the age of 11,000. It was first discovered in 1991. Now that the archaeology site had been completely excavated, UNESCO awarded the Lenggong Valley Archaeology Site the World Heritage Site status based on the criteria (iii) and (iv), "to bear unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared" and "to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architecture or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates significant stages in human history".

Lenggong Archaeology Museum

There is the Lenggong Archaeological Museum located nearby the excavation ground which housed artefacts of the sites. You can learn more about this museum at this website. I will definitely pay a visit the next time when I'm back home.

Hotel Review - Quest Hotel, Semarang

This'll be just a short update while I recuperate my brain to be more high functioning for the remaining few entries on my Semarang trip which was like two months back. My procrastination skill is improving.

So, after the enriching experience in Borobudur, it's time to explore the city of Semarang. We booked our 2 nights stay at Quest Hotel at Jalan Plampitan and with the 3-star status, the money we paid for were simply outrageously cheap. There's no way to find such stature at such low rate back in Malaysia, even in a sleepy city like my hometown, Ipoh.

Quest Hotel at Jalan Plampitan

The room we were given was comfortable and cozy, with view of the miniscule swimming pool. The balcony was locked but can be opened upon request. It's spacious, with flat screen TV jam packed with 100+ channels. If you have nothing much to do at night, a restive outing in the room is highly recommended.

Two single beds...ignore the mess...

Spacious and cozy

Would I recommend this hotel for those who are planning to go to Semarang? Absolutely. About 15 minutes walk to Paragon (biggest shopping complex in the city which we frequented regularly during our stays) and another 15 minutes walk to Simpang Lima (the place to be for eating at night, apparently), you cannot ask for more. If historic buildings are more of your cup of tea, just about 10 minutes away in another direction and you will be at the heart of Kota Lama.

We chose Quest Hotel as our base for the remaining days and our choice seems like a valid one. Only RM 104.50 per night (I made my booking through Air Asia Go website), you can only find such a deal in Indonesia. For more information, just look up its official website here.

TO BE CONTINUED