World of Joyce » Traveling

Flee fly, fly fled

joyce — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 23:03:02 +0000

If i’m not mistaken, AirAsia’s flying machine that i took was an airbus. Not a surprise, the flight was full and it’s mostly full for flight departing or arriving in Kuala Lumpur and Kuching. I was numbered at the middle seat among 3 seats and i hate it to be seated in the middle. I always go for window seats or at least seats beside aisle. Airasia now no more launching free seating as they started to promote bugging your favourite seat, which means you have to pay if you wish to select your seat, or else, your seat will be arranged by computer and ground stewardesses are unwilling unable to change for you. Unwillingly seated, watching people placed their hand carry, seated etc. A special guess came in, obviously did not purchase any ticket because it came in without boarding pass, and was not stopped by any stewardess, no hand carry baggy but with a pair of wings… and it’s a FLY. Welcome to a free ride to Kuching ! Flying insect in a flying machine. Zero fare, Zero fuel charges, Zero tax !

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In love with Chengdu

joyce — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:40:18 +0000

Chengdu is a nice and cozy, a not-too-big city. I’m in love for the second time with Chengdu and I believe whoever pay their visit here will have the same feeling as me. This well-developed but slow pace city is filled with nice places and good food. It’s also the city center which leads you to other beautiful places around it, like what’s shown below. The big star is where Chengdu situated and those routes are where Chengdu leads to.

Chengdu leads to lots of beautiful spots.

Lots more spots.

and lots lots more !

Once stepped out from the airport, first thing i love is the weather. I love cold, ya cold but not that cough cold, it’s cold cold weather cold. Loves short during cold. Wearing short during cold refreshes me. One thing i hate here in China is, air is pretty dirty and dust all around iritates me !

AhhhhhHHhhh…. i love this weather !

hmmm glooomy…

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Jetting from Macau to HKIA

joyce — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 03:12:02 +0000

I should have post this article few months back but unfortunately i didn’t. My friend questioned be about how the Jets go between Macau and Hong Kong and that then reminds me to post this article. For those who need some information of how to get themselves to Hong Kong from Macau, especially from Macau Maritime Ferry Terminal to Hong Kong International Airport, you might consider to take this as your reference.

People rushing to Macau Maritime Ferry Terminal, crowding HKIA <–> Macau Ticketing counter.

After entering Macau Maritime Ferry Terminal main entrance, you will see escalators which slide you up to second floor. If you are going to HKIA, ticketing counter is just on ur left, just like the picture shown above, look for the sign. There was a long queue when i purchase my ticket… after Typhoon signal run downwards. Was lucky i was the first few before the queue built up. Evilly happy after i purchased mine and others still have to queue for it.

The crowd minutes later.

The ticket. Macau – HKIA cost HKD235, by TurboJet. You can check-in your luggages here, either checked for the ferry trip (which you will collect your luggages when you reach Hong Kong Sky Pier), or you can hand carry your luggages.

The boarding gate.

Saw this at the other corner, the self-ticketing machine. Buy your ticket without queue. If i’m not mistaken, its mostly for tickets from Macau to Hong Kong (Sheung Wan), Kowloon (Tsim Sha Tsui) and others. Or, you can purchase your ticket at counters by choosing which ferry or jet that you’ll like to take. Counters are just in front of you when you reach second floor by escalator.

A sticker given to stick on you. Not really sure whether this only given because there was a Typhoon during my time there and everything were in mess for them, so they gave this for their own convenience in recognising us (was told by the ticketing guy, was he kidding?)… or whatever.

You can see this at the boarding gate, notifying you which gate to go.

After entering the boarding gate, a board can be seen, directing you to the correct gate number. Check with your time, destination, carrier (there are few carrier like TurboJet, Jetfoil, New Ferry, Tri Cat) to make sure you get to the correct gate.

TurboJet, can be seen when seated at the boarding/departing area.

In the Jet. Look for you seat number. You can’t see any seat number given in the ticket? Yes! My seat number was given when i’m on my way boarding the jet. Two ladies at a counter which you have to walk through before reaching the jet sticked the seat number on my ticket, that’s how you are numbered!

Reached! HKIA, seriously, it should be Hong Kong Sky Pier. You still can check in you luggages here if you did not when you were at Macau ferry Terminal. This is where you get your boarding pass, check-in your luggages. After this, walk through custom check area and you will come to a door, which shuttle waited outside, bussing everyone to HKIA. Don’t worry, no charges for this.

In the shuttle.

If you have more questions on getting to HKIA from Macau, make a visit to TurboJet , where you can check schedule, fees and even make your booking online. The whole process is pretty easy. Everything is directed by signs around. Have no worries with your trip and Happy Jetting !!

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Weekend at Damai Puri Resort & Spa

joyce — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 09:09:31 +0000

Few days after I’ve touched down from China, my friends and I planned for our trip to Damai Puri, which is around 30 plus kilometres from Kuching city. Previously, it was known as Damai Lagoon and now Damai Puri Resort and Spa. To ask for my opinion about this resort, I’ll say 50 positives and 50 negatives. Not much change from Damai Lagoon except renovated rooms and pools which are satisfactory as they are renovated into a better and modern concepts. One of the pools has very nice view as the swimming pool and the sea was designed to look like they met each other. As our room comes with complimentary breakfast, we are given a chance to take a tour on those food. Breakfast here are not that good, to be frank, not much choices of food. If you are going to pay for the breakfast, I’ll advise a no.

6am pool view

Can’t wait to jump into the pool at 7am.

Inlign view, pool looks blueish but the water is not clean at all ! Wonder how often do they make a clean up.

The beach

Superman heading for task or stupid Cupid that steals Superman’s shirt?
On your mark…

Get set…

Fly ! To save the world ~~

-_-”

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Dim Sum at Gingko Restaurant, Chengdu

joyce — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 20:27:26 +0000

We went Gingko Restaurant today in Chengdu. They serve very nice Cantonese dim sum. Eating out in China concerns a lot of doubtful people. Doubting whether they are hygienic! Which is the main issue. This restaurant is very clean from inside out. They have open-kitchen and very cozy and clean washroom. Food are nice, place are clean, great !

Ginkgo Restaurant

The interior

Dim sum

More dim sum in the kitchen.

Much more dim sum…

Ha Gao, very delicious, with 4 or 5 medium size prawns inside.

Steam Bao, Chicken Jaws, Pork Ribs.

Xiu Lung Bao

Wow…hold on! That’s not a car of food we ordered. Waitress push a car of dim sum and desserts, “FYI” only… They bring hot from oven dim sum and desserts for you later on after order.

Zhu Ciong Fan, fatty prawns lies inside.

Fatty juicy prawn.

A cold dish, prawns and some salad-liked stuffs inside.

Well… kinda empty inside huh…

Cha Siew Bun

Siu Mai, delicious !

Spring Roll… i guess…

I know… i know… we’ve ordered too much? Well… since I’m here, if i dun bite them, i feel sorry

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When there’s Typhoon

joyce — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 01:29:27 +0000

A sticker to put on on every passengers, was given after ticket purchased.

Ticketing Guy: Here’s your tickets… OH! And stickers, hold on and i’ll go get it…
Joyce: Ok…
Ticketing Guy: Here… Have to put it on. Things are in a mess today, we’re afraid that we lost you!
Joyce: -_-” (…)

The wind brought the rain onto my baggage, soaked half of the baggage, almost all wet !

Think things inside were wet too.

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Typhoon in Hong Kong and Macau

joyce — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 13:20:59 +0000

I touched down Macau at almost 1pm on 23rd September. After grabbing my baggages, i walked pass a TurboJET ticketing counter at the arrival hall. Of course, i asked about the ferry service, wondering whether i’m able to purchase my ticket for the next day ferry, from Macau Ferry Pier to Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA). Was surprised when the lady alerted me about the typhoon and said they have no idea whether there’s any ferry sailing tomorrow. Macau hoist No.1 Typhoon signal when i arrived, Hong Kong with No.3 typhoon signal at the same time. Few hours later after i went for lunch while waiting for my room, typhoon signal has been raised to No.3 and an estimated of No.8 signal later of the day. Wind was really strong, which it blew my umbrella into a “u” shape instead if the normal “n”.

Not because of the typhoon, but i was too tired to wonder around outside, so i stayed at the hotel that night. My decision was right when there was a quick turn of typhoon signals. The night’s rest was terrifying and worried. Raindrops hitting hard on the window, as if the windows were cracking. Wind blew extremely strong, some roadside signs were down, banners splitting, motorbikes went lying on the road, and flood then came, as high as knee level. Sirens can be heard through out the night.

As the rain and wind continued till the next early morning, I was worried that there might be no ferry operating to HKIA. I need to get myself to HKIA to catch my flight at 1725pm, from Hong Kong to Chengdu. When Hong Kong leveled down their signals the next morning to No.3, Macau still have the signal of No.8. Hoping to get the soonest ferry to HKIA, i called the concierge to check further about the condition. It was already 9am and they were still not sure about the sailing schedules as TurboJET has not noticed the hotel when will the operation starts before the level down of typhoon signals (Macau still with No.8 typhoon signal during the morning). Finally, typhoon was leveled down at 930am, from No.8 to No.3. Promptly, we checked out and took the hotel’s shutter bus to Macau Ferry Pier. Bought 1230pm tickets and relieved, lots of people were unable to get 1230pm tickets. There was little wavy, still, and a bit rough during the sailing. Well, at least i make myself to reach HKIA. Again, rain poured from drops to heavy within minutes, i was lucky that that only happened after i walked out from the ferry and save reached Hong Kong Sky Pier.

Outside Metropark Hotel on 24th September morning, after the night’s strong wind, thunderstorm and flood.

Banners thorned and down in the morning at Macau.

Outside Macau Ferry Pier, some motorbikes were down.

Dirts swim in the sea @ Macau Ferry Pier, after flood.

Crowd at ticketing counter of Macau – HKIA, right after i bought my tickets, there were only few people lining up when i queue for mine.

People filling the ferry.

Strong wind n heavy rain after reaching Hong Kong Sky Pier.

Large crowd at HKIA, the day’s flight are all in mess, after last night’s (23rd September) 200 plus plane being delayed and canceled.

Crowd all over HKIA.

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Departing soon

joyce — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 08:10:12 +0000

Am waiting for the time now… ticking towards my departure time. My first destination will be Macao, boarding AirAsia Aircraft. Airasia has stopped it’s route from Kuching to Macao starting from mid October, there was rumour about it. What i pray now is don’t Airasia dare to cancel my flight last minute ! When i booked my flight, the time was 3:40pm. Last month, I received an sms from AirAsia, frighten me whether they’re canceling the flight and was relieved that it said my flight was rescheduled earlier to 3:20pm. Phew~ Early this month i received few sms at different times. Again, frighten me with the same reason. Another time resheduled, to 9am ! Great ! I have more time in Macao then… just hope they don’t cancel or delay (AirAsia’s habit, I’ll say… yeah, H A B I T ! ).

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Packing my baggage, not my stuffs

joyce — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 01:28:52 +0000

I’m heading towards two beautiful city in China for a one month vacation, Chengdu and Shanghai on 23rd September, where both my sis stationed. Has been packing my things for the last few days…. throwing all stuffs my sis listed and it took 3/4 of the space! As for mine, i dropped few clothes everyday into my baggage which now I’m confused, what have i thrown inside ! Too lazy to dig inside and have a good look at it, so what i do is pack pack pack and pack. Now comes the problem.. will it be overweight? hmm…

It’s a very big baggage, imagine how much have i packed and there’s still some that is not into it yet.

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Chinese Embassy Kuching Moved

joyce — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 05:58:32 +0000

I went Chinese Embassy at 3 1/2 mile last week and found they’ve moved ! I’m not even aware of it ! So this morning i drove my way to 2 1/2 mile Ong Tiang Swee Road, heading the Embassy again. It took me 15 minutes from my house to reach there, enter the room, 5 minutes later i’m out of the room ! Very fast huh ! The new place is quite cozy, not in the sense of the interior but the cooling and deem-lighting room. They only operate from 9am to 1130am. They used to operate from 9am to 12pm and now they’ve shorten it to 1130am. Two and half hours !!! It must be nice working in there, not much job, cooling room, short working hours (although it should be their time for printing and scanning job during the afternoon) etc.

Anyway, the procedure is pretty simple (Malaysian)
1) Passport
2) A passport size photo (light background colour)
3) Application form
4) Itinerary of enter and departing China

That’s it !!

Note: Chinese Embassy Kuching moved

FROM
The Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Kuching
Lot 3719, Dogan Garden, Jalan Dogan, 3 1/2 Mile,
93250 Kuching Sarawak, Malaysia.

TO
The Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Kuching
Lot 276, Block 10, Jalan Ong Tiang Swee, 93200 Kuching, Sarawak.
Tel: 082-238 344 Fax: 082-232 344
Operating Hour: 9am – 11:30am [Monday to Friday]

Application Form available at: http://www.box.net/shared/static/ia8aliz8ne.pdf

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