Cherating - The End (Media Trip 2013)

After 2 awesome days in Cherating, we have to leave the quaint beach town back to the city. After breakfast and a tour around the hotel, we had to start packing and get ready to leave. To end this amazing media familiarisation trip to Cherating 2013, I just share some group photos.

In turtle sanctuary (via Fadzly)

Vietnam - Danang Easyrider Tour Part 3

Continued from Part 1 and Part 2. Unfortunately, some photos of mine during the last 2 days were unavailable due to the fact that somehow, those files were corrupted and there were no back up. A waste, really.

We finally reached Hue after a long, long journey. My guide, Chien, brought me to the hotel where I'll be staying for the night and left me there on my own. This is one part of the tour that I don't really like. I knew little to nothing about Hue and I was under the impression that he would be bringing me around his hometown. I didn't realize the tour will only begin the next day.

The room at Huyen Trang 2 Hotel

The room I was given was beautiful and big. In fact, too big for one person. This is another aspect that I don't like, that he didn't customize the trip accordingly. I freshened up myself before heading out to explore the city. Equipped with a map I obtained at the lobby, I went for a walk around the city. The famous Perfume River is part of the attraction, along with its UNESCO Heritage Site inscribed Complex of Hue Monuments. I was just having a glimpse of the city before slowing heading back to hotel for a good night rest.

Delicious breakfast, bun bo Hue

Into the Imperial City of Hue

The next morning, Chien came to the hotel to pick me up and we left to have breakfast. After that, we began a brief tour of Hue. The first stop was the Imperial City of Hue. It is a walled fortress and palace of the former capital of Vietnam. Much like the Forbidden City in Beijing, the ruling emperor of Vietnam resided within the Imperial City, with a moat separating the royals from the commoners. It would have been a magnificent sight had it not been heavily bombed during the Vietnam War, leaving most of the palaces and structures in the Imperial City in total destruction. 

Look at the vastness of the Forbidden City

War had left many buildings damaged

I spent about an hour exploring the ruins of the Imperial City before heading to the next destination, Thien Mu Pagoda. Chien told me of a local legend of how the name Perfume River came by. According to him, the people of the North came down to the city and built the temple. The scent of the incenses being lit in the pagoda flowed through the river, giving off a fragrant smell. Thus, the name Perfume River. Whether this is for real or not is up for you to decide.

Thien Mu Pagoda

The famous Perfume River

The gods 

The garden in the temple

It was about 10 something by the time I finished exploring Thien Mu Pagoda and it was time for us to go to the Danang International Airport in time for my flight back KL. Before leaving the city, we made another stop at the Cao Dai Temple. It was a colourful temple where elements of five religions all merged beautifully together. 

Cao Dai Temple

The colourful praying ground

Look at the many familiar religious figures

The journey back was the same as the one we took to reach Hue. We made a stop at Lang Co Island for lunch and continued our journey. Only one difference was that instead of taking the twisty road uphill of Hai Van Pass, we took the Hai Van Pass tunnel. The motorbike was placed on a lorry while the passengers were seated in a bus to go through the tunnel. It was a long and dark ride, about 5 to 10 minutes. 

My lunch with six juicy prawns

To take the Hai Van Pass tunnel, motorcycles are placed on a lorry...

...while its passengers took seats in the bus

Hai Van Pass tunnel entrance

Inside the tunnel

By around 2.45 pm, we reached the airport, just in time for my flight, marking the end of my Vietnam trip.

My guide, Chien

*THE END*

Vietnam - Danang Easyrider Tour Part 2

Part 1 talks about the start of my Danang Easyrider tour from Hoi An, stopping by Son Tra and Hai Van Pass.

Once we finished our coffee and tea, we continued along with our journey heading to Hue. As I had emphasized too often in Part 1, the views here are to die for. Lush green mountain, clear blue sky, luminescent ocean, what is there not to love about here?

Look at this picture and tell me, don't you agree?

Halfway descending Hai Van Pass, I spotted a fishing village of sort. He pointed it to me and told me that's where we'll stop for lunch. Lang Co Island is the place and here, you can have fresh seafood meals at a low price. At least, that was what I was told.

Lang Co beach, where my lunch will be

When it comes to food, I definitely not the one to tell you if it's fresh or not. But, I can definitely share with you that it was indeed delicious. The clam that I had was juicy and tasty. Superb and it costed my wallet a decent VND 111,000 (about RM 17.00).

Trays of fresh seafood to choose from

Simple fried noodle with seafood

Clams! I have no idea what's called but damn it, it's super good!

A plate of noodle still not enough, have to have another bowl of rice for the clams

When the stomach was satisfied, we continued to move forward. This is a long journey ride which typically shouldn't be associated to the Danang - Hue distance. Normally, you can reach Hue from Danang between 2 to 4 hours, depending your mode of transportation. Plus, with so many pit stops we made along the way, it was a much longer journey. Not that I'm complaining, mind you.

Christian cemetery, something I saw while on the road

Another stop we did before reaching Hue was Suoi Voi, an off-track recreation area about 15 km from Lang Co beach. Hidden deep into the jungle, this natural retreat is not high on everyone's to visit list and only appreciated by the locals. If not for my guide here, I won't even come across such a place and it will be my loss.

Suoi Voi Park

Clear water, lush greenery, fresh air...I want to live here

The adorable local kids

Suoi Voi is well known for its waterfall and when we were there, families were relaxing and playing by the water. It was a rather quiet day, with not that many people hoarding by the waterfall. As I wasn't in the mood for a swim (not that I know how), I just relaxed by the edge of the rock, taking photos. Entrance fee to Suoi Voi is VND 12,000 (RM 2.00, more or less).

Can it be anymore prettier?

This is the last main stop for the trip before reaching Hue. More to come soon.

Last stop of the journey, some small fishing ground

Part 3: The Imperial City of Hue

*TO BE CONTINUED*

Vietnam - Danang Easyrider Tour Part 1

After spending 2 nights in Hoi An, it was time for me to continue with my journey further deep into Central Vietnam to reach the forbidden city of Hue. I really loved this quaint little town of Hoi An, what with its charming yellow houses and shops, beautifully lanterns-lit by nightfall, and its relaxing vibe the town somehow emitted. Leaving this once-vibrant trading port cannot be done without a heavy heart.

Exploring the streets of Hoi An for the last time

My favourite, Cau Lao

Originally, my plan was to enjoy myself in Hoi An until the end of my trip where I will take my flight back to KL from Danang International Airport. However, a chance encounter with a Danang Easyrider when I arrived in the train station introduced me to another city in Central Vietnam, the Imperial City of Hue. At first reluctant (I very much wanted to spend as much time in Hoi An as I can), I was somewhat converted with promises of scenic views along the ride on the cool, Harley-like motorbike to take the 2 days, 1 night tour. Well, I wasn't disappointed.

That morning of my second last day in Vietnam, Chien, my guide for the trip, came by my hotel and off we began our journey. On our way to Hue, we first have to pass by Danang, and boys, aren't the beaches there pristine white. While I didn't get down and have some fun time in the beach (it was freaking hot and the heat was unbearable even around 9 am), from afar, the beach is clean and serene, with umbrellas and coconut trees decorating the stripe of sands. In my opinion, Danang will soon be the to-go-to destination for beaches.

The pristine beach of Danang

This is merely posing only as I can't ride...

In less than an hour drive, we made our first stop of the day at Monkey Island. Known as Son Tra locally, there is one pagoda that offers stunning views of the sea. The ride up to the Linh Ung Pagoda is just an easy motorbike ride up and worth all the efforts for you get to experience magnificent scenery up there. Plus, there is a 67-meter tall statue of Guan Yin made of marble overlooking the sea.

The view of Danang as we're leaving

Son Tra is very famous with the locals as on the day I was there, it was crowded with Vietnamese on tour. They were taking photos of the sea views as well as the grand statue. Vietnamese are really into domestic tourism.

Linh Ung Pagoda

Guan Yin overlooking...

...such a scenery day in, day out

After spending around 20 to 30 minutes in the pagoda, it was time for us to continue with our journey. The saying, it is not the destination but the journey that matters, holds ground here for along the ride, you get to see nothing short of picturesque landscapes.

It must be getting repetitive, but, aren't these views amazing???

Next stop, Hai Van Pass. Well, technically, it is more like a stretch of mountain road that connects Danang with Hue. If you are wondering what so special about this mountain pass, it is its beauty that really captures your heart. As with every scenery along the ride, the views here are simply beautiful. Standing on top of the trail overlooking the South China Sea is a fulfillment itself. And the temperature at the top of the road is much cooler rather than the sweaty heat when in Danang.

Damn, how I wish I'm there now...

We stopped for a cup of coffee and tea while enjoying ourselves with the chilling weather. Something I should probably mention here is that there are a lot of war bunkers along Hai Van Pass left by the Americans during the Vietnam War. Everywhere in Vietnam is a constant reminder of the terrible tragedy of war.

Hai Van Pass

The leftovers of the Vietnam War

Part 2: Lang Co Island for seafood, Suoi Voi Park, and reaching Hue

*TO BE CONTINUED*

Ho Chi Minh City - City Tour in a Motorcycle

On my first day (technically, second, but screw technicality) in the city, I had already visited many famous landmarks of the city that by the time I came out of the War Remnants Museum, it was just late afternoon, around 4 pm. With no plan in my mind other than to go to a rooftop bar for a sunset drink, I was back to the Independence Palace where the next two hours were spent touring around Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), thanks to Vins, my motorcyclist tour guide. 

Vins, like many Vietnamese, travels in his trusty motorcycle and uses his transport as a source of income by working as a local guide. Our chance encounter happened earlier in the day when I visited the Independence Palace. He asked if I'm interested to tour around the city with him but since the day was still young and I wanted to explore around by feet, I declined the offer. However, when I was back later that day, he was still there and remembered me. So, I took his offer and off we went cruising around downtown Saigon.

So, here are some of the highlights I was brought to:

1) Saigon River

Saigon River is not in my top priority of places to see in HCMC but thanks to Vins, I managed to catch a glimpse of the majestic river. After seeing it, I made plan to catch the sunrise from the river the following day but sadly, I failed to wake up in time for it. More to come...

Saigon River

It is quite scenic along the river