Day 6 It was supposed to be our rest day, but we found this place just beside our hotel in Sa Pa, so of course, we had to check it out. This is Moana. Definitely one of those spots you visit at least once, even just out of curiosity. It’s very Instagrammable, with carefully styled…
Category: TRAVEL DIARY
Travel Diary in Fansipan: Day 5
We started our day at Sun Plaza Sapa, a striking landmark right in the heart of town. Jo’s Monday Walk From there, we took the mountain train, slowly making our way upward. As we ascended toward the Fansipan Mountains, the landscape transformed into a dreamy scene of mist-covered mountains. The fog drifted gently over the…
Travel Diary in Muong Hoa Valley, Ta Van Village: Day 4
Today we went on an afternoon tour to Hoa Valley and Ta Van Village, with a 2 pm pickup near Sa Pa Square at the Sa Pa Stone Church. Our van made its way along winding mountain roads, revealing sweeping views of terraced rice fields and quiet villages, each scene more beautiful than the last….
Travel Diary Hanoi to Sapa: Day 3
After breakfast, the first thing on today’s agenda was visiting Le Duan Train Street. I’ve been told time and again by my son not to go because he said it’s usually seniors who get into accidents there. Sorry, Tim… but I really had to see it for myself. Especially now, with talks that the government…
Travel Diary in Halong Bay: Day 2
Our second full day in Vietnam was spent in Ha Long Bay, something I had been looking forward to. We booked through Klook, which made everything easy, and started early with a hotel pickup. As we left Hanoi, the busy streets slowly turned into peaceful countryside—rice fields, small villages, and locals going about their day….
Travel Diary in Hanoi: Day 1
Arrived in Hanoi from the Philippines around midday, and we didn’t waste a moment, we headed straight out to explore. But first … lunch of course. We had authentic Bánh Mì from a small spot right in front of our hotel. There was a bit of a queue, so we figured it had to be…
Walking around Villa Escudero
Travelling is harder for me now because I can’t carry heavy things anymore. I already have to bring my walking stick, a water bottle, umbrella, jacket, hat, sketchbook, pens, watercolour, sunscreen, and sunglasses … the list never ends. So I decided to stop bringing my camera whenever I travel. My phone is my travel companion…
A walk by the sea
Anne’s challenge this week is to post something about relaxation — and the timing couldn’t be more perfect. I’ve just come back from a wonderfully relaxing escape in Dauin, Dumaguete, Philippines. Dauin is a lovely spot in the Visayas region with a population of just over 30,000, I found the town to be peaceful and…
Travel Diary in Osaka Castle – Day 14
TRAVEL DIARY: OSAKA CASTLE, SHINSEKAI MARKET There’s a charming little tourist train, often called the Osaka Castle Park Train, which loops around the castle grounds. It is an easy way to see the sights and save on walking. Here are some images from around the castle, with the added bonus of autumn colours. Food stalls…
Travel Diary in Katsuo-ji Temple – Day 13
TRAVEL DIARY: KATSUO-JI TEMPLE I’d seen Katsuo-ji Temple on Instagram and had been really excited to visit. We left at 9am, taking the train and then a bus, and the hour journey itself already felt like part of the adventure. This is the Katsuo-ji Temple in Mino, Osaka, and we knew we had arrived the…
Travel Diary in Namba – Day 12
TRAVEL DIARY: NAMBA Today we’re exploring the Namba area. Our first stop is Yasaka Shrine, famous for its giant lion head that looks both fierce and fascinating, and is said to swallow bad luck and bring good fortune. So many quirky shops around the Namba area. Walked all the way to Dotonbori which is a…
Travel Diary in Nakazakicho & Umeda – Day 11
TRAVEL DIARY: NAKAZAKICHO & UMEDA It was still a tour day in Osaka for those who booked the optional excursions, but Jack and I decided to explore on our own. Took the train to Nakazakicho. But first Brunch… I’d read about this place called Nakazakicho, Osaka’s bohemian soul. It is just the place for me…narrow…
Travel Diary in Nara – Day 10
TRAVEL DIARY: FUSHIMI INARI, NARA, OSAKA From Kyoto, we headed to Fushimi Inari … and as expected, it was incredibly busy. We wandered around, browsing here and there, taking in the energy of the place, and even found time to try the famous 10-yen coin–shaped, custard-filled pancake, which was a fun (and sweet) little treat…
Tavel Diary in Miyama & Kinkaku-ji – Day 9
TRAVEL DIARY: MIYAMA, KINKAKU-JI It was our free day on the tour, so I asked the hotel if they had any trips to the Golden Pavilion. They said the shuttle wasn’t direct and would pass by Miyama, which meant the journey would take a bit longer. Oh well — it was a free shuttle, so…
Travel Diary Kyoto – Day 8 (Part 2)
TRAVEL DIARY: KYOTO Jack and I continued our walk and reached the Kamo River. The Kamo River (鴨川, Kamo-gawa), runs through Kyoto and is a popular place for locals and visitors to wander, sit by the water, and enjoy a slower pace of the city. Enjoyed a lovely lunch overlooking the Kamo River. Honestly, it…
Travel Diary in Kyoto – Day 8
TRAVEL DIARY: ARASHIYAMA, KYOTO Kyoto has this quiet charm that reveals itself in its little laneways—narrow paths lined with wooden houses, simple doors, and tiny details that feel like stepping back in time. Every turn seems to lead to a hidden shrine, a tea shop, or an old doorway that has its own story. It’s…
Travel Diary On the way to Kyoto – Day 7
TRAVEL DIARY: OBUCHI-SASABA, KYOTO Another long day of travelling awaited us, with around four hours on the bus ahead. We started the morning with an early breakfast, took a quick walk around the hotel grounds, and then began our journey toward Kyoto. It was one of those quiet travel days where you just settle into…
Travel Diary: On the way to Shizuoka – Day 6
TRAVEL DIARY: 5TH STATION MT FUJI, LAKE KAWAGUCHIKO, FUJI FIVE LAKES, OSHINO-HAKKAI, SHIZUOKA Today’s tour from Tokyo to Shizuoka was a mostly relaxed one, spent largely on the bus as we made our way from one stop to the next. Altogether, we were on the road for about three hours. It is just enough time…
Travel Diary Azubadai Hills – Day 5
TRAVEL DIARY: DAY 5 AZUBADAI HILLS Our main itinerary for today was to visit TeamLab Borderless, since we had a free day on our tour. So we took our time exploring the area before heading in on our designated entry time of 12 noon. Azabudai Hills is a modern shopping centre with a sleek architecture…
Travel Diary First Day of Tour – Day 4
TRAVEL DIARY: DAY 4 MEIJI SHRINE, HARAJUKU So today, our tour officially began. We finally met our tour mates, and they all seemed like such a happy, easygoing bunch. It already feels like the start of a fun trip. First stop is the Meiji Shrine. I walked into Meiji Shrine through its huge wooden gate,…
Travel Diary in Asakusa – Day 3
TRAVEL DIARY: DAY 3 ASAKUSA It was our third day in Tokyo, and we took the train around 9am. Since it was a public holiday, I wasn’t too worried about it being crowded. We took 2 trains and a bit of walking to reach Nakamise Street. Walking through Nakamise Street felt like stepping into a…
Travel Diary in Shibuya & Shinjuku – Day 2
TRAVEL DIARY: DAY 2 SHIBUYA & SHINJUKU Right after breakfast on Day 2 in Tokyo, we were off again, heading straight for Shibuya. It is busy, loud, and buzzing with its own kind of magic. And just outside Shibuya Station, we found the famous Hachikō statue. I’ve seen it in photos countless times, but standing…
Travel Diary in Roppongi – Day 1 (Part 2)
TRAVEL DIARY: DAY 1 (Part 2) ROPPONGI Our first day in Tokyo wasn’t over yet, but my last post was getting a little long—so here’s the continuation. We hopped on a train to Roppongi, known for its artsy vibe, and ended up arriving earlier than our booking to a Museum. Perfect excuse for lunch. We…
Travel Diary in Ginza – Day 1
TRAVEL DIARY: DAY 1 GINZA Well, it’s our first full day here in Tokyo and so far, things are off to a great start. Flight Centre booked us at Hotel Monday Premium Toyosu, and because we added three extra nights before our tour, we got to settle in properly. Best decision ever. The hotel turned…
Kia Ora Aotearoa
TRAVEL DIARY: DAY 14 QUEENSTOWN The Māori are the Indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand (Aotearoa). They first settled the islands over 700 years ago. In New Zealand, “kia ora” is a common Māori greeting meaning “hello,” “goodbye,” or “thank you.” More than a phrase, it conveys a wish for well-being—“have life” or “be well.”…
Strolling around Te Anau
TRAVEL DIARY: DAY 12 TE ANAU On our 12th day, the rain poured nonstop. Luckily, we had this extra day to stay in—it would’ve been too difficult to drive. So, it turned into a Netflix kind of day. TRAVEL DIARY: DAY 13 DRIVE FROM TE ANAU TO QUEENSTOWN What a surprise—the sun came out just…
Coach Tour to Milford Sound
TRAVEL DIARY: DAY 11 MILFORD SOUND Our day started with a 9 am walk from our hotel, passing through the Te Anau Botanical. Such a peaceful walk especially during this time of the day. Met the rest of the tour group at the town centre in Kea Cafe. Got our lunch voucher from our tour…
Drive to Te Anau
TRAVEL DIARY: DAY 10 DRIVE FROM QUEENSTOWN TO TE ANAU This drive felt exciting—we knew that tomorrow we’d be heading to Milford Sound, the highlight of our entire trip. But today’s journey was simply about getting to a small country town where we’d be staying. When we finally arrived in Te Anau, the town turned…
Day Trip to Arrowtown
TRAVEL DIARY: DAY 9 DAYTRIP TO ARROWTOWN Arrowtown is a small town near Queenstown on New Zealand’s South Island. It began as a gold mining town, and you can still see that history in its old cottages and stone buildings. Many of the houses were built in the 1860s, when Chinese miners and European settlers…
Queenstown
TRAVEL DIARY: DAY 8 QUEENSTOWN Walking through town from our hotel, it was easy to see why Queenstown calls itself the adventure capital. There are so many thrill-seeking activities—skydiving, jet boating, bungy jumping, you name it! Well not for me thank you very much Sometimes it’s best to just wander around Queenstown. This wharf’s a…