On the morning of 11 November 2007, I boarded air-asia brand new airbus A320 with three of my friends to Surabaya,Indonesia. The 2 hour 45 minutes flight was smooth and we landed safely in sidoearjo International airport,Surabaya. The trip to hotel on the taxi takes approximately 45 minutes. Our hotel, Weta International hotel is a 3 star hotel which is quite wear off. Fortunately the rooms were okay and clean. The first day of our 4 days trip in surabaya took us to the House of sampoerna, The kembang jepun street (china town) & Surabaya newest & largest shopping- Pakuwon supermall. On the second day of our travel we went to the Kebun Binatang surabaya (zoo), the submarine monument, Surabaya oldest shopping mall- Plaza surabaya, Plaza Tunjungan-Surabaya most crowded shopping mall & Surabaya very own Tanggulangin which is an area for leather industry. lots of good bargain for leather products. I bought two pairs or leather shoe, one wallet & one ladies handbag. The night was quiet as most of the nightspot in town were close for the Muslim fasting month. We manage to have some fun watching tv and drinking in our hotel rooms. The next day we are on our way to Surabaya most famous place-Gunung Bromo. Bromo is a still active volcano and last exploded in 2004. The journey to bromo took us to tretes ( a weekend retreat for Surabaya folk to unwind their past time and relax). next stop is malang- an area similar to our malaysia very own cameron highlands. We visited the Kusuma Agro wisata which is an area for strawberry & apple plantation. I have my first chance to pick up an apple myself. the experience is a memorable one. The air in this area was so cooling and we enjoy our time here. I wonder how great it would if we can stay overnight here. However we still need to reach bromo by midnight. So maybe the next time! We reach the base camp of bromo around 12.30am. We immediately surrounded by a group of men trying to sell us the infamous bromo hat,gloves and scarf. I bought a few piece as souvenir. We rent a small room for a short nap as we need to board a jeep to Penanjakan view point where we can view the breath taking and magnificent sunrise of bromo. Not to our disappointment, the view was indeed a memorable one. By far the best sunrise I have seen in my life yet! We reach the foothill of bromo around 6.30 a.m. and a further 30 minutes walk or a 10 minutes horse ride will take you to the staircase to heaven(252 steps before you reach the top of bromo) At last we step our foot on top of bromo! It's really worth a visit and you will only believe what i said once you are here! it's just too much to say about bromo! we leave bromo with a heavy heart and head back to Surabaya. To spend our last few hours in Surabaya, we went for last minutes shopping at BG Junction-newly opened shopping Mall! I managed to bought a ring that cost me 45,000 rupiah! We reached home at night and we all agreed that the trip is nevertheless a memorable one even without experiencing the nightlife in Surabaya! We have already started to plan for the next trip-maybe Macau, Vietnam or Philippines. Traveling has improved my view on life and make me perhaps a better person.

It's been more than 2 months since he left us to another world. We are still recovering from loosing our best friend from an fatal accident. We miss him deeply and he will remain deep inside my heart. You will be remembered as a great man with good heart and strong will power. You willbe remembered as my best friend and buddy! I just can't express how much I miss you.......the time we laugh together, travel together, drink together, dance together....drunk together.....all these...has slowly and surely will become memories....! Life is just too short for such a good guy like you! -May U Rest In Peace-

I will be travelling to Surabaya next month and looking for a new excitement in this city. Not much of information on this city from the internet. For your information, Surabaya itself is not a tourist friendly city! So do expect lots of asking from the local for direction,places of interest and any information you need. Definetely not a heaven for luxury tourist. But for a budget traveller like me..there should be no problem. What is the nightlife scene in surabaya? I am anxious to find it out! Eventhough this is not my first trip to Indonesia, i do expect lots of hassle and challenges. It's never an easy experience in Indonesia! More reports and details on Surabaya next month.

 

Part 1

A short break from work is indeed important to our life. I visited Chiang Mai for the second time this year and have a nice experience indeed. I have visited a few nice café and try a few new Thai foods. I will elaborate on each café later. My companion in this trip was three of Chiang Mai pretty. Kook, Koy and Nury accompany me through out my time in Chiang Mai. I am glad that they can spare some time for me. I really appreciated them and so glad that I knew them.

 

Part 2

For all the food lovers, Maze café is a wonderful dining place. It served very nice Thai food and drinks. The menu is extensive where you can find both local & international food. For coffee lovers, don’t forget to try the cappuccino. Believe me it is much better than the one you can have in Starbucks! It’s from Wawee, homegrown coffee brand! I tried the fried instant noodle with crabs, yeah flower crab! It’s absolutely delicious and cheap too. It cost only 80 bath. During my visit, I am also lucky to meet up with a very beauty Thai lady which coincidentally it’s the café specially invited chef from New York! It must have been my lucky day! She recommended me to try the pan fried snapper, orange salad and tiramisu cake which is excellent! All this cost a mere 220 bath! What a deal! I spend some time to enjoy my meal and the view around the moat from the place I sit! Very good ambience and décor with quality food yet affordable price! I gonna miss this place! BTW the pretty chef name is Hong Thaimee.

 

For coffee lovers like me, please visit Fern Forest café located in a quiet road in Singharat Road, soi 4. Situated around 15 minutes walk from Tapae Gate. It served very good coffee and home made cake! I try the Cappuccino and black forest cake. The drink was really good and the cake was not what I would expect! The café is a nice place to hang out with your friends and relaxing! Lots of plants surrounded the café which is an old bungalow house! I really love this place and miss this place. I wonder where I can find such café in Malaysia. Others good for money choices including Wawee coffee, local grown brand that have 8 branches throughout Chiang Mai City. If you have more time to spare, please visit dozens of small cafe with nice decor and good ambience scattered around the town. You must try it to believe it!

 

Part 3

As usual, my trip will not be completed without visit to the hip and trendy Nimmanhemin Road. Here you can find the trendiest bar, café, restaurant and dance club! Very popular with the locals hip and young generation! I visited the popular Monkey Club and the place was packed to ceiling! Very good atmosphere with lots of people! Check it out if you are in Chiang Mai! 10 minutes drive from tapae gate! Also try the Warm-Up café which is situated somewhere along this road. Lots of Chiang Mai beauties can be found here!  I checked out the Fashion House Club, and the place is packed! Not too crowded like the other two place. However you still can find substantial of fun here. I went with two of my Thai friends and we enjoyed ourself! However do remember that others than party, you can still find lots of fun buy exploring many interesting places around Chiang Mai. A trip to the weeekend market in front of the Tapae gate will be a memorable one. Lots of food and fun! You can also catch a movie at the Central Aiport Plaza, nice cinema, very clean and comfortable! 120 bath per person per movie!

 

Part 4

You can really enjoy your trip with minimum expenditure! It is just that you must know where and how to party! Chiang Mai is not too crowded like Bangkok, but you can still party everyday if you want! You will find lots of fun if you are mixing around with the local people.Hopefully I will be back in CM soon! What else……just too good to be true! I have conquered CM myself!  

I have just came back from my 6 days trip to Bangkok & Pattaya. As waht I have expected the weather was hot and humid! me and my friend jump straight to party immediately after our arrival! The palce we went was RCA and Route 66 was our choice! It was fun! I can say that it was equal to some of the best clubs in KL! The next day we went around the river area and visit loys of temple! the best was undoubtfully WAT ARUN! IT was magnificient! had a lunch in chinatown, not really delicious! not cheap too! prefer thai food when i am in thailand! we  went to pattaya for two days. nothing much there and not really my type of place! Pattaya----place for Farang! The only place that worth a visit was jomtien beach at evening around 5.30 pm! The last day, we are back to bangkok, do abit of shopping, went to suan lum night bazaar! It's sad that it was going to be closed down! Overall it was an interesting trip! However I prefer chiang mai than all of the places I have ever visited in thailand!

The magnificient Cambodia! Yeah....perfectly describe! I went to Siem Reap, Cambodia on the July 2006. A country which I think is dirty and uninteresting before my visit. However my perception was totally wrong! What a beautiful country with lovely places, people and scenery! You guys better believe me that Cambodia is not just about ANGKOR WAT  temple. There are lots of others interesting places where you can go! I was there 5 days and my time was indeed well spend! Our hotel was very clean although it is just a very small hotel located just right in front of the Siem Reap river. lovely staff and very helpful! the breakfast was very delicious! Angkor Than City hotel-value for money and very convinient location! I have visited the floating village, cultural park, killing fields museum etc. Cambodia might have some of the poorest people in the world and you must believe it! It's true! Average income per month is a mere USD40! And a can of coke will cost you approximately USD1! Petrol is around USD1 per liter! So you can justify it yourself! However the people around here is living happily and the smile on some of the face is something I haven't seen for a long time. Angkor wat was indeed magnificient! very huge and majectic! That's why Tom raider was in Cambodia! :)..........! Very down to earth country with lots of decilious food! I really love this country! I will be surely back to here sometimes around this year! This time I will surely explore other smaller village outside of Siem Reap! To know more about a particular country, you need to explore beyond the normal touristy place! That is why I normally go to the normal market when I am in a particular country! there you can see how's the local interact among each other! If you guys are planning to visit cambodia, don't forget to visit Angkor Wat and the floating village! You will be surely amaze by it! Till the next trip! Photo's of Cambodia will be upload later...ASAP! Enjoy your life! Dont waste it cause we only live once! Adios!

 

juarez