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Antarctica Diaries – Cuverville Island And Paradise Bay

kelvinlls | February 8, 2012 | Comments (0)

Finally Landing on the Antarctic Continent!

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Antarctica Peninsula - Seal on Iceberg

Continuing from my previous post on Antarctica, where we made our journey from Ushuaia, crossed the Drake Passage and then made our first landing. The first landing on our journey was on the South Shetland islands, which are considered sub-Antarctic islands. In theory, we haven’t really set foot on the Antarctic continent itself at that point yet.

Here’s the next couple of days’ events that happened during our journey in Antarctica:

Day 4 – Cuverville Island and Paradise Bay

Cuverville Island

Our boat cruised overnight along the Gerlache strait and docked near Cuverville island, where after breakfast, we boarded the zodiacs again and landed on Cuverville Island itself. It was a beautiful sunny day, and we all dressed up warm. In fact, we prepared for the cold too much that most of us felt hot when we got to the island! When we landed, our guides told us to either choose between staying just on the shore area, or hike up this hill, which is supposedly medium in difficulty level. Most of us passengers then decided to hike up this hill, which ended up feeling like a steep hill for me! The top of the hill is supposed to have amazing views of the bay and the other side of the island. And it was! But man was the climb tough for me, as the path was very narrow, slippery and steep! There was a Gentoo penguin colony halfway up the hill. It was a difficult climb for me and I somehow had to hold the expedition biologist Julieta’s hand to get down the hill!!

Me wearing the Hawaiian shorts

When we got back to the ship, I was feeling so hot from the thick clothing (and also my fear of heights/vertigo setting in made me sweat profusely) that I just dressed up in t-shirt and hawaiian shorts. I went to the dining hall for lunch just wearing this outfit, and nearly every passenger was just staring at me! I had no idea why they were looking at me strangely until one of the guys pointed to my hawaiian shorts! Wearing hawaiian shorts in Antarctica! Now that’s really odd! Everyone had a laugh!

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Antarctica - Paradise Bay

In the afternoon, our ship cruised along and reached the area of Paradise Bay. We went on a zodiac cruise first around Paradise Bay, and saw some crabeater seals, and Weddell seals. There were also penguins on some of the seal colonies. We also saw some Cormorants nesting on the side of a cliff. After the zodiac cruise, we went to the old abandoned Argentine station called Brown Station, and this was our very first time to set foot on the Antarctic continent! It was one of the very few places in the continent where you can make a landing from sea straight to land without having to use an ice axe! We then climbed up this hill and saw an amazing view of the harbour. Truly a paradise! On our way down, we slid down the hill on our bums, which was really great fun!

In the evening, we had a parillada (Argentinean BBQ) snack and dinner. We had chori-pan for snack (yum!) and asado for dinner. It’s one of the best dinners so far on this trip!

Day 5 – Xmas eve – Lemaire Channel, Port Lockroy, Danco Island

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Antarctica - Lemaire Channel

Our ship attempted to go into the Lemaire Channel, which is a very narrow passage between towering peaks and glaciers. This passage was only discovered less than 100 years ago, as it was very narrow, and few ships can get through it. We were told that this passage was blocked with lots of ice in the last couple of days, and some cruise ships who had been in the area the day before were not able to get through due to so much pack ice. But still, our captain wanted to give it a go. We were all looking forward to this, as we would be able to see the only Adelie penguin colony that is still accessible on Antarctic cruises, plus the spectacular scenery of going through the Lemaire Channel. Unfortunately for us, it was still blocked with so much ice, so we had to do Plan B.

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Antarctica - Port Lockroy

Plan B was to visit to Port Lockroy and Wiencke Island. It was snowing, and weather was not that great. Wiencke Island was our first stop, with more Gentoos penguin colonies, and remains/bones of a whale being left on the island. First time I saw a penguin’s egg still being incubated by the mother penguin, and I also saw some broken eggs that the Antarctic skuas managed to steal and eat from the mother penguins. Next we moved over to Port Lockroy, just on the other side. Port Lockroy is a British-run museum and semi-research station, and had a gift shop and post office in it. It was our only chance to buy a souvenir that is really from Antarctica and send our postcards from the frozen continent!

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Antarctica - Danco Island (penguins by the shore)

In the afternoon, we went to Danco island, and hiked up to a small hill which had a Gentoo penguin colony. There were penguins along the beach as well, and it was very funny to see them walk along and swim into the water. I learned a new term – raft of penguins – which means a group of penguins swimming together! Then we went on a brief zodiac cruise through the icebergs floating around.

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Silly folks in Antarctica

In the evening, we had the traditional Xmas eve dinner in the ship with duck as the main meal. Afterwards, the party started in the bar! We had some music, dancing, people playing with the balloon decorations, someone creating a snowman on the deck, and the funny part – a group of guys taking their shirts off outside in the snow at the front of the ship! Crazy lads! Someone made a snowman on deck, as we had enough snow on board to make one! X’mas eve is traditionally when most Argentineans and South Americans celebrate X’mas, and since most of the crew were Argentineans, we did it their way. It was a shock to most Westerners who are used to celebrating on the 25th (Xmas day itself)!

Til the next part of Antarctica Diaries – hope you have enjoyed it so far! Please leave some comments if you wish

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Antarctica Diaries – Crossing The Drake Passage And South Shetlands

kelvinlls | January 31, 2012 | Comments (1)

Happy New Year! Back From Antarctica!

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Hola from Cuverville Island!

I know January is already about over, but I have just returned from an amazing trip to Antarctica and South America. Antarctica was just an amazing place! Totally wild, totally pristine, and totally magical! It’s the earth’s last frontier in every sense of the word! No one lives in Antarctica, no country owns it, and the continent was not properly explored until only 100 years ago, when nearly all the world was already discovered. Its harsh climate and the very rough high seas and oceans surrounding it have isolated it from human civilisation, and thus preserving all the wildlife in its purest state.

I would like to share with you some of my diary entries about my trip to Antarctica. While each crossing/sailing is always different (due to the unpredictable and very fickle weather), I still hope that this gives you an insight as to what I went through during the 11 days out in the open sea and in Antarctica.

How I went to Antarctica

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Antarctica - Paradise Bay

I was scouting around for great deals to Antarctica, and found really good specials with G Adventures to start with. I heard of a lot of fantastic things about them. I looked at the dates they were sailing and availability, but unfortunately for me, there was no availability. After much searching, I found a voyage with Antarpply, which worked pretty well for me. I’m glad I did, coz the crew were great, and the ship was just the right size, with only 84 passengers on board and is within the limits of the international law on landings in Antarctica. (NOTE: there is an international law that restricts the maximum number of people per landing in Antarctica to 100 people, so 84 passengers, plus around 12 crew of zodiac drivers and guides is just within the limits, and you don’t need to take turns or be in batches when doing landings!).

Most cruise ships to Antarctica depart from Ushuaia in Argentina, though there are some that leave from Punta Arenas in Chile, and also some very few expeditions start from Australia and New Zealand (though they can be longer, as they’re further from Antarctica itself). In my case, I booked a flight to Ushuaia from Sydney, Australia via Buenos Aires, the Argentinean capital.

Day 1 – Boarding the ship

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M/V Ushuaia

We boarded the ship M/V Ushuaia from the port of Ushuaia, Argentina at 4pm, meet and greet the staff of M/V Ushuaia over champagne and some snacks. Safety briefing and emergency drills were conducted. This was interesting, as we were all told to wear all our cold and wet weather gear, plus the life jacket that goes around the neck and feels very uncomfortable! Lucky this was only in case of emergencies! After the drill, dinner was served, and we all had a chance to meet the people on the boat, who we will be spending the next 11 days with. There were only 84 passengers, so you pretty much will get to know everyone at the end of the trip. At this stage, our ship was still navigating through the Beagle Channel, and will only start crossing the Drake Passage by midnight. Everyone on the ship was gearing up for what is known to be a notorious part of the journey to Antarctica.

Day 2 – Drake’s Passage Day 1

First day in the infamous Drake’s Passage. The sea is remarkably calm, which is unusual for this body of water. Our captain told us that we are very lucky to witness the rare occasion where we have calm seas and sunny days here at the Drake Passage. I was fine the whole time, but my friend Don was totally not feeling well. During the day, there were lectures on board, from the biology of Antarctic sea birds, to penguins and the different types of penguins, to the geography of Antarctica. After the lectures, since the weather was great, the biologists on board would organise bird watching sessions at the very top deck and point out the different types of birds that somehow trailed our ship.

There were Antarctic birds flying behind our boat, particularly the giant petrels, Cape or Pintado petrel, Snow petrel, Albatross, and so much more!

Day 3 – Drake’s Passage and South Shetlands

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Barrientos Island, South Shetlands

Second day in the Drake’s Passage and the sea was starting to be rougher. However, we were getting closer to the South Shetland Islands. Our boat managed to travel at a good speed and we arrived at the South Shetlands earlier than expected. We had the afternoon to cruise around the South Shetlands and made our very first zodiac landing on the island of Barrientos, in the Aitcho group of islands. The island had Gentoo and Chinstrap penguin colonies and an elephant seal colony on the other side. Our first encounter of land in 2 days of sailing! And our first encounter with penguins in this trip! There were a good number of Gentoo Penguin colonies and they were just so curious of our presence on the island! If you stand still for a while, the penguins will actually come and approach you! Here are some shots of penguins on the island:

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A lone Gentoo Penguin

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Chinstrap Penguin

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Gentoo colony

Til the next post…

- Kelvin

Antarctica Here I Come!

kelvinlls | December 11, 2011 | Comments (0)

FINALLY, I’M GOING!

It’s been a while since I posted an entry on my blog. I have been busy planning for other areas of my life, but more importantly, for a big trip that is happening in a week’s time: I’M FINALLY GOING TO SEE ANTARCTICA!

Fabulous Journeys will bring you to the Frozen Continent next year, and I will showcase all the fantastic scenery and snaps from one of earth’s last frontiers! I’m so excited to have found a special deal for the trip and also a good slot for my next adventure!

Antarctica has been a dream destination of mine since I was a kid (though not many people know about this!) and to have that ability to see it now is just so amazingly fantastic! I have been wanting to go to the point that I even joined a competition to blog about it (unfortunately, I didn’t win). I know some of my friends think I’m nuts, but I think a lot of people can only dream of reaching this remote part of our planet.

Wishing you all a fantastic Xmas, and a Fabulous New Year ahead!

Cesky Krumlov – As Bohemian As Can Be

kelvinlls | October 30, 2011 | Comments (0)

Czech Republic’s Next Tourist Hot Spot

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Cesky Krumlov Castle

Mention Czech Republic and the one and only thing that most people have in mind is Prague. Prague is indeed a very beautiful and romantic city, but there is more to see in the Czech Republic than just Prague. Several medieval towns dot the entire country, and if you search well enough, you’ll be amazed by all the quaint-looking towns and villages that is steeped in history. One place that many people have now discovered is the small town in southern Bohemia called Cesky Krumlov.

What is in Cesky Krumlov?

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View of Cesky Krumlov Town

Cesky Krumlov is a good 3 hour drive south of Prague. This tiny town situated on the banks of the Vltava River, and is one of the most important cultural and art centres in the Czech Republic. The Cesky Krumlov Castle nestles atop a rocky hill, and stands majestically overlooking the entire town. The town can trace its roots back to the construction of the castle in the 13th Century. The buildings around the town have been built between the 14th and 17th century, and have since been restored and preserved. The whole of Cesky Krumlov has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, an honour which it truly deserves.

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Cobblestone streets of Cesky Krumlov

Wandering around Cesky Krumlov really takes you back to the medieval times, with its cobblestone streets and narrow alleyways, those quaint shop windows and the typical town square that forms part of any medival town. I visited the town in winter, and as many people would agree, it is the best time to see this town. The snow-covered rooftops of the houses, the castle, and the river banks look very picturesque. The best part of visiting during winter is that the town has less tourists, and you can feel that real laid-back atmosphere that the town is normally, sans the tourists.

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Cesky Krumlov town - view from the castle

There isn’t much in the way of must-see attractions in the town, apart from the imposing Cesky Krumlov Castle, which offers a spectacular view of the town and its surroundings. There are some museums around, and definitely those quaint shops are worth visiting, but just having a stroll around its cobblestoned streets and admiring the architecture that the ancient buildings have to offer is worth the visit to this bohemian town of Cesky Krumlov.

How To Get There

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View of Cesky Krumlov with castle tower

Shuttle buses run everyday between Prague and Cesky Krumlov, and from Vienna or Linz in Austria. Companies like Shuttle Lobo or Private Prague Guide offer these shuttle buses which doesn’t cost a lot more than the train, and is more convenient. The train station in Cesky Krumlov is a bit further from the Old Town itself, and hence, doesn’t provide quite the same convenience to tourists.

If you’re coming from a country other than Austria, Germany or Czech Republic, the easiest way is to arrive in Prague, as this is the nearest city with a major international airport. Check out some great deals to Prague or Vienna on Expedia or Zuji, two of the best travel websites around who offer great deals quite regularly.

Australia’s Red Centre – Ayers Rock, The Olgas and Beyond

kelvinlls | August 2, 2011 | Comments (0)

Australia’s Most Celebrated Icon – Uluru (Ayers Rock)

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Uluru Ayers Rock

One of the images that many people associate Australia with is this huge red monolith that looks like a plateau in the middle of the dead flat outback. It’s what most people know as Ayers Rock, but the traditional Aboriginal name of this natural rock formation is Uluru. Since I moved to Australia, I’ve always wanted to visit this great natural wonder, and just over the Easter period, I went to the middle of Australia (known as “The Red Centre”) to see it.

Getting to Ayers Rock

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Virgin Australia plane

While many people think they have to fly to Alice Springs to get to Ayers Rock (Uluru), this isn’t necessarily the case anymore. Ayers Rock has its own airport, and flights have become more reasonable in the past few years, with the introduction of flights by Virgin Australia.

The airport is 18 kms from Ayers Rock itself, and is much closer than the extra 6-hour drive from Alice Springs to Ayers Rock itself. Both Qantas and Virgin Australia fly direct from Sydney to Ayers Rock. Qantas also has flights into Ayers Rock airport from Alice Springs, Cairns, and Perth. Landing into the Ayers Rock airport is also quite scenic, as you get to take in the view of the Rock and the Olgas as you land.

Transport – Do We Ride On Camels?

Yes, there are camels around, but you won’t get very far with them! Kidding aside, there are 2 options for you to go about going around Ayers Rock: by tour bus or by self-drive. Tour packages tend to come out cheaper as a whole, but when it comes to flexibility of where to go and what time, tour groups always don’t have that choice. Hence, my friends and I decided to hire a car between 5 of us, and it ended up costing us around $80 each person for the 4 days we were there (this already includes petrol and insurance). If you can get discounts on the car rental companies, it can come out cheaper than this.

Ayers Rock (Uluru) – The Magnificent Rock

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Uluru at sunrise

Ayers Rock is in every way a very fascinating natural wonder. It looks like a plateau or a small mountain from afar, and prior to seeing it, I thought that people just called it “Rock” as a carry-on from a misnomer when it was first discovered. BUT, it IS truly a big piece of rock that just sits in the midst of the vast flat Australian outback!

Ayers Rock itself is enormous, and doing the Base Walk around the entire Rock can take between 3 to 4 hours! And if you’re a keen photographer, it might take you even longer, as there are some really cool rock formations and wildlife around! One thing to note though, there are some spots that are sacred to the local Aboriginal people, and they would not allow for people to take photos of them.

Ayers Rock radiates with various colours and shades throughout the day. Check out Uluru at different times of the day, particularly sunrise, midday and sunset, as you will find that the colours are vastly different. Below are some more photos of Ayers Rock (Uluru) at various times of the day.

When in Uluru, you have the option to climb the Rock itself. However, if you want to respect the locals, you would not do it. It is a sacred ground for them, and climbing it is offensive for them. You will still see people climbing it and choosing to ignore the local customs, but I would highly suggest that you follow the local customs and NOT climb the rock.

Apart from Ayers Rock (Uluru), What Else is there?

The Red Centre is more than a barren piece of land. It has so many interesting sights and natural rock formations to marvel at. So apart from Ayers Rock (Uluru), here are some of the other places you need to check out while you’re there:

The Olgas (Kata Tjuta):

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The Olgas Kata Tjuta at sunset

The Olgas are rock formations located roughly a 45-minute drive from Uluru, and like Uluru, changes its colour at different times of the day. However, unlike Uluru, The Olgas have interesting shapes or mounds, and walking around the rock formations can be more challenging than the Uluru base walk.

There are about 3 different walks you can do around the area. The most famous (and longest one) is the Valley of the Winds. It’s a 3-hour walk that goes through the valley between the big rock formations, and has really fascinating wildlife and rock formations around. Towards the end of the walk, you can get a good view of the rest of the rock formations. It’s well worth seeing, and with the hilly terrain, the walk can be more interesting than at the base of Uluru.

Kings Canyon

Kings Canyon is part of the Watarrka National Park, a 4 hour drive from Ayers Rock (Uluru). Being a 4-hour drive means it’s not that close to Uluru, but close enough considering the vast distances between towns and stations around the Outback.

Kings Canyon has 2 walks that you can do, one at the bottom of the Canyon called Kings Creek Walk (and this takes roughly 45 minutes return) and the longer but more spectacular 6-km walk above the canyon called Kings Canyon Rim Walk. The Kings Canyon Rim Walk is a must for those who are reasonably fit and walk for 3-4 hours. The vwalk takes you to the top of the canyon and offers some spectacular views. About half way through the walk, you will get to a place called the Garden of Eden, where you will find something like an oasis in the middle of the dry landscape. Native palm trees thrive in that area and a series of rock pools can be found as well, where people can go for a swim on a nice warm day.

Kings Canyon has 2 resorts you can choose to stay from, but the closest one to the Kings Canyon walks is the Kings Canyon Resort. It offers almost everything you need in that resort, and has a bar, a restaurant, pool and good standard accommodation. But, be warned that there are no shops or village in this area, unlike in Uluru.

The Best Whitewater Rafting In The Philippines

kelvinlls | April 20, 2011 | Comments (2)

Whitewater Rafting In The Philippines

The Philippines is best known for its many islands and beaches. Not many people consider the inland areas like the lush mountain regions, full of rainforest trees and rivers that meander down the valleys. Some of the bigger islands of the Philippines have rainforests that are as rich and diverse as those in Borneo, and have rivers that flow rapidly down the valleys. If you’re one of those adrenaline junkies or even if you just want to have some adventure, you have to try white water rafting in the Philippines.

I grew up in a city where the river cuts through the middle, and was a vital part of the founding of the city by the Spaniards in the 1600s. For years, Cagayan de Oro City was just a main commercial hub in the northern part of Mindanao, and the Cagayan river was overlooked as just a river that formed part of the city’s feature. Until a few years ago, when whitewater rafting adventures have been introduced to harness the big rapids of the Cagayan river.

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Cagayan de Oro Whitewater Rafting

Whitewater rafting on the Cagayan river is one of the latest tourist attractions in the Philippines. Since its small beginnings, whitewater rafting business has grown and inspired more people to look at other adventure sports or activities to be setup around Cagayan de Oro. It has transformed an otherwise-sterile business hub/city of Cagayan de Oro into an adventure capital of the Philippines. Soon thereafter, ziplines over the forest canopy and gorges have been setup, and a dirt bike track has opened in the nearby town in Bukidnon.

Taking that exhilarating trip down the Cagayan river is something that a tourist to the Philippines must now consider. It’s a refreshing change of scene to the usual white sand beaches on the many islands around the country. I’ve only been on a couple other whitewater rafting trip in other parts of the world, and I can say that this is by far the best and most exciting whitewater rafting trip I’ve ever done! There are more rapids on the Cagayan river and it caters to various levels of confidence of people. The river also offers a great scenery of the lush green tropical rainforest, and the gorge that surrounds parts of the river. There’s also some interesting wildlife along the river.

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Cagayan de Oro River

Several companies now operate guided trips for whitewater rafting in Cagayan de Oro. The famous one is called Kagay Whitewater Rafting. They have the best rafting equipment and well trained guides who are very familiar with the river. The trip generally starts from the centre of town in Divisoria, where Kagay has its own jeepney loaded with the rafts at the top of the vehicle. From the city, it is a 45 minute journey to the start of the rapids.

There are 2 options with the rafting trip: a beginner option and an advanced option. The beginner option involves going through 14 rapids, and offers a taster of the river rafting experience without the massive current. This is suitable for those who are not very confident but just wants to sample or experience whitewater rafting. The advanced option covers all the 21 navigable rapids, with the first 7 being the biggest rapids on the course.

Whitewater Rafting in Cagayan de Oro is an absolutely exhilarating experience, and one that must not be missed if you ever head down to the Philippines. Getting to Cagayan de Oro is easy, with many domestic flights available from Manila, Cebu and Davao. A range of airlines fly into Manila and Cebu from various international destinations, and from there, you can take a domestic flight to Cagayan de Oro.

Hope you have a Fabulous Journey to Cagayan de Oro, the City of Golden Friendship!

Maayong Pagbiyahe (Bon Voyage)

Tokyo Tokyo..24 Hours In A 24-Hour City

kelvinlls | April 7, 2011 | Comments (0)

The Bustling Metropolis of Tokyo In 24 Hours

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Tokyo - Shinjuku at night

With the recent tsunami and disasters that have hit in areas near Tokyo in the recent weeks, I thought it was time that I relive my experience exploring Tokyo, the bustling metropolis full of neon lights and vibrant energy. While the horrifying images of the tsunami and the nuclear disaster at Fukushima has been on everyone’s lips lately, I’d like to remember the great time I had in this fascinating city. I went to Japan thanks to having discovered an awesome cheap deal from Expedia. I just couldn’t resist the temptation and went ahead to see what people have been raving about.

Tokyo is not like any other city in the world. The intricate fusion of deeply-rooted tradition, culture and modern society tightly woven into the fabric of everyday life makes this dynamic Asian city totally out of this world. From geishas, castles and centuries-old temples to tall modern office building, vending machines and the high-speed Shinkansen, Tokyo can entice your senses in so many ways.

Many people would opt to explore the city longer than 24 hours. After all, there is so much to see in this 24-hour city! A day is definitely not enough to see Tokyo. But, with the ever-changing, time-constrained situation that people these days are in, you can take in some of the best bits of Tokyo in 24 hours. Here’s a suggested itinerary:

1.) Fishmongering and Sushi Breakfast at Tsukiji Fish Markets

The Tsukiji Fish Market is the biggest wholesale fish market in the world, with hundreds of varieties of seafood for sale and auctioned each day. The exciting part is witnessing the fish auctions in the morning at 3AM, where local restaurants, as well as restaurants from different parts of Japan come to bid for 300kg slabs of frozen tuna and other fish varieties on offer. The sheer size and range of seafood on offer is astounding! Just outside the fish market, there are several sushi bars and small eateries that offer the freshest sushi and sashimi for breakfast. You simply can’t go wrong with having a fresh and truly authentic Japanese sushi to start your day!

2.) A Royal Visit to Tokyo Imperial Palace

The Imperial Palace of Tokyo is the main residence of the Emperor of Japan and sits right next to Tokyo’s financial district. The palace sits on a large park land surrounded by a moat, and further surrounded by tall skyscrapers. Some of the buildings date back to the 1800s, when the capital was moved from Kyoto to Tokyo. Fires have destroyed some of the palace buildings, but some have survived through the centuries. The gardens inside the palace are very beautiful, and a must see when visiting Tokyo Imperial Palace.

3.) Visiting Asakusa Temple

Asakusa Temple is the oldest temple in Tokyo, and is one of the more significant temples in the city. It started out as a buddhist temple and later on, a Shinto shrine was setup beside it. At the entrance of the temple are 2 massive wooden statues that look to guard the temple from evil spirit. In front of the temple, you will also find a stretch of small shops selling street food, souvenir items and other things that it kind of resembles a small market. Apparently, the shops have been around for nearly a hundred years now.. It’s quite a beautiful temple, and the one most people recommend seeing when in Tokyo.

4.) Gadget shopping at Akihabara

Akihabara is Tokyo’s tech city. Anything and everything about electronic and technology will most likely be available in this district. With Japan being known the world over for its leading-edge technological innovation in many aspects, this place will definitely dazzle you with all the gadgets and gizmos you can think of. Be aware though, if you intend to shop for gadgets, you need to check if the particular item you want to buy is compatible overseas. Japan has developed some technology that is only available for local consumption and will not work in other countries. I was very keen on buying external hard drives and was told that they all only work with Japanese PCs and not for anything else. And warranties is another thing to think of, as some of them only offer local, Japan-only warranties. But, having said that, there are some tech gadgets you can buy that will work outside Japan.

5.) Ginza at night

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Ginza Tokyo at night

The Ginza is considered to be one of the most expensive streets in the world (at one point, it was THE most expensive). Property prices in this area is astronomical, and as such, it attracts only the finest and best shops. Many great labels, hotels, restaurants setup shop in Ginza and make it a very vibrant street. It’s a must-see place when in Tokyo.

With 5 things to do in 24-hours, I’m sure it will be more than enough to keep you busy. Tokyo is a fast-paced metropolis with everything on the go, and you will never run out of excitement whilst in the Japanese capital.

And just to be prepared for your trip to a non-English speaking country, it is worth investing in a decent guidebook and perhaps a phrasebook to help you with your journey. It certainly helped me communicate with the bus driver and in asking for directions from the locals who aren’t necessarily English speakers. I would recommend Lonely Planet’s range of books as they’ve been excellent with its tips and depth of information on Japan.

Enjoy and have a Fabulous Journey ahead!

Top 10 Things To See And Do In Belgium

kelvinlls | February 12, 2011 | Comments (2)

Belgium’s Best

Bonjour! During my amazing trip to Europe over the Christmas Holidays, I happen to visit my very good friends Nic and Julie, who have moved from Sydney back to their home country, Belgium. Nic and Julie were both my gracious hosts while visiting and exploring the small but very interesting country of Belgium. They have taken me and my friends from Brussels to the coastal part of Belgium, and all the way to Wallonia on the other end that is close to Luxembourg. Having locals take you around a place is always the best way to go, but if you don’t know anyone in that country or city, a travel guidebook like Lonely Planet is still a good bet.

Most visitors to Belgium would only visit the Big 4 – namely: Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp. Having local hosts, I managed to go and explore further and beyond the Big 4. Here are my top 10 things to see and do in Belgium:

1.) Visiting The Grand Place in Brussels

Grand Place Brussels

One of the highlights in visiting Brussels is a visit to their old town square – Le Grand Place (The Grand Place). It’s been voted as the most beautiful square in Europe, with the amazing architecture of centuries-old buildings and fantastic collection of sculptures adorning the buildings.

2.) Drinking Beer at Delirium Cafe Bar in Brussels

brussels delirium Top 10 Things To See And Do In Belgium

Inside Delirium Cafe

Delirium Cafe, located only a few blocks away from the Grand Place in Brussels holds the Guinness World Record for the most number of commercially-available beers in a menu. They have 2,004 varieties of beer, and a menu that is as thick as the Yellow Pages of a small town! It was so difficult to choose which beer to try! Belgium is renowned for its beers, and the locals would say that what is wine to France is beer in Belgium. Each beer has a different distinct flavour and taste, and is served with a special glass that is unique to each type of beer. The alcohol content of Belgian beers tend to be higher than the normal Lager, and this makes their beers unique to the rest of the world. The Delirium Cafe also serves their own Delirium Beer, which was apparently banned in the US for its controversial name. And to those who don’t really like the taste of beer, you can still try drinking beer without the bitter aftertaste. They have fruit-flavoured beers that really taste like a fizzy drink, almost like a Fanta softdrink and low in alcohol.

3.) Select and Eat Belgian Chocolate at Leonidas

brussels belgianchoc Top 10 Things To See And Do In Belgium

The Best Chocolate In The World

Belgian chocolates are known the world over to be one of the finest and best chocolates you can buy. Anywhere you hear the name Belgian chocolates, people already recognise that it stands for absolute high quality. And I have to agree with it totally! There are chocolate shops in nearly every corner of this small country, and the selection can be mind-boggling! There is the famous Guylian chocolate, but if you ask any Belgian about it, they would say that this is one of the worst chocolates you can ever find! I was horrified to find that out, as I used to love Guylian chocolates! Well, if you get to try Neuhaus, Godiva, and best of all, Leonidas chocolates, you can understand why the locals in Belgium would say such a thing about Guylian chocolates! Godiva is one of the more popular chocolates, and though it is actually excellent, it can be more expensive. Same with Neuhaus, which claims to have started the Belgian chocolate industry. Leonidas, on the other hand, is about the same, if not better, quality as the two other brands, and the prices are much more affordable. All their chocolates are made fresh, and they don’t sell packaged chocolates like Godiva! It definitely is a must-try!

4.) Climbing up the Atomium

brussels atomium Top 10 Things To See And Do In Belgium

The Atomium

The Atomium was built as the centrepiece of Brussels World Expo 1958, and much like the Eiffel Tower, it was left standing and became a symbol of modern architecture and of the forward-looking city of Brussels. Upon arriving at the Atomium site, you will be amazed at the grand structure that looks so modern and futuristic for its time. Inside the Atomium, the place feels like being inside a time machine. The original fittings and artefacts from Expo 58 are on display, and the interiors remind me of how those sci-fi movies back in the 70s and 80s depict their visions of the future. The neon-lit staircase, the 1950s steel balustres, the displays… I didn’t think much of the Atomium before going to the place, but once I arrived there and having gone inside the structure itself, I was amazed by how cool it is..

5.) Having steamed mussels

belgium mussels Top 10 Things To See And Do In Belgium

Pot of Steamed Mussels

Steamed mussels are one of Belgium’s well-known delicacies, especially along the North Sea coast. The towns of Zeebrugge, Knokke,and Ostend would be good places to try the steamed mussels, as they would have the freshest catch. I tried a huge pot of mussels in creamy garlic sauce, and I was totally in heaven! It was so good that I finished one huge pot of it! Another alternative that my Belgian friends showed us is to drive across the border to the Dutch town of Sluis, which is only a 20-minute drive from Knokke. The mussels there are sometimes cheaper than the ones in Belgium, and they cook it using the Belgian recipe.

6.) Visiting The Smallest Town In The World – Durbuy

belgium durbuy Top 10 Things To See And Do In Belgium

Durbuy - "Smallest Town In The World"

This very quaint town of Durbuy is in the Ardennes region, and is considered to be the smallest town in the world! Though small in size, it feels quite populated during the day with tourists travelling towards Luxembourg coming to see this small quaint town as a brief stopover. The town is so picturesque, with a river cutting through the middle and the small shops that have been around for centuries! At the banks of the river, on one end of town is a rock formation that geologists from various parts of Europe come to see. The rock clearly shows the different layers of the earth, from the prehistoric times to the present.. The town’s beer “Durboyse” is something worth trying, as it is only found in that town.

7.) Seeing the quaint town of La Roche En Ardennes

belgium LaRoche Top 10 Things To See And Do In Belgium

La Roche En Ardennes

The town of La Roche En Ardennes is a very historic town, believed to be dating back to the Neolithic era. The town is along the banks of the River Ourthe, and is dominated by an ancient medieval castle ruins. In WWII, this town was heavily damaged by the Allied and German bombings as part of the Battle of the Bulge. As a reminder of the terrible tragedy that La Roche (as the locals call it) has suffered, an Allied tank (a British Northampton tank in particular) stands as a monument on the road overlooking the town.

8.) Walking along the beach in Knokke

Knokke

Knokke is a small seaside town on the North Sea coast, near the border with Netherlands. The town is mainly a getaway place for Belgians who want to enjoy the sea for the summer. It is their version of the French Riviera, only colder (though it might be warmer in the summer). My friends’ grandparents had a small holiday unit in Knokke, and he gladly took us there to stay a couple of nights. The town has quite an affluent population, with wealthy retirees and famous Belgian actor Jean Claude van Damme being some of the residents in the area. During the winter, the beach was nice and quiet, and it was really refreshing to take a walk along its sandy shores..

9.) Visiting Bruges

Bruges

Bruges is another must-see place in Belgium. It’s an old medieval town that has a beautiful town square, and is surrounded by canals and windmills. Bruges shot to fame when the movie “In Bruges” starring Colin Farrell was shot and based on this gorgeous town. In the summer time, you can take a cruise along its canals and enjoy the quaint old town. The square is dominated by the Belfort (bell tower), and has beautiful buildings much like in the Grand Place in Brussels.

10.) Checking out the Comics Museum in Brussels

belgium comics Top 10 Things To See And Do In Belgium

Comics Museum Brussels

If you love Smurfs and TinTin, then you have to check out the Comics Museum in Brussels! In case you don’t know yet, the Smurfs and Tin Tin are both creations of Belgian comics artists during the heydays of the Belgian comics industry. There are other Belgian comic characters which I wasn’t so familiar with, but they are really cool! The Smurfs are actually known as “Les Schtroumpfs” in Belgium, so you might not find the word “Smurfs” in that museum. The one setback with this museum is that all the scripts are in French, and the museum only lends you (yes, you have to return the book) a small translated guidebook which kind of summarises the gist of the comics. Other than that, you can marvel at the illustrations and artwork of the comic strips. The museum shop sells English versions of Tin Tin and some of the comics though, so you can buy one to take home as a souvenir!

Those are my top ten things to see and do in Belgium! I hope you have enjoyed my post! Even though Belgium is a tiny country, it does pack a punch! Do go and spend a week there, and you still won’t run out of places to see and things to do!

Inspired to see Belgium? Book your next Fabulous Journey to Belgium here and experience it yourself!

Getting There: Lufthansa and Air France offers great connections from various countries around Europe into Brussels. Check out their great fares and flight connections.

To your next Fabulous Journey!

New Year’s Eve In Prague

kelvinlls | January 30, 2011 | Comments (3)

Happy New Year Everyone! I just came back from a brief European adventure and I thought I’d share my exciting experience there to you all. My first post of the year, so I hope you will all enjoy it!

Greeting The New Year In The Romantic City of Prague

Prague - a city known for its beautiful architecture, romantic views and cheap beer. It’s no wonder that since the Czech Republic abandoned Communism and embraced the free world, throngs of tourists have discovered the beauty and elegance of this stunning city. Apart from its great sights, with such cheap and great beer, many young Europeans (British guys in particular) have descended for buck’s nights/stag parties, drinking spree weekends and a whole lot of clubbing. It’s become party central and THE place to be in Central Europe for those wanting great night clubs and parties.

For New Year’s Eve, Prague was known to have one of the best spots to watch fireworks behind the beautiful Prague Castle and the majestic Charles Bridge. I saw all the Youtube videos of New Year’s Eve fireworks in Prague from the previous years, and I said to myself, I have to be there for it. And of course, being party central, so many night clubs are sure to be offering great party options in the city.

After having witnessed 3 great New Year’s Eve fireworks in Sydney, I was inspired to check out the New Year’s Eve fireworks of the other countries and take great shots of it. A group of my friends and I started discussing the places we can go to celebrate the New Year, and what initially started out as a trip to Paris became Prague when we saw those great videos.

Fireworks Prague Style

Prague Old Town New Years Eve 2011

Prague (or “Praha” as the locals call it) is known for great fireworks display over the past few years, but what we have neglected to check is that the city also allows its citizens to light their own firecrackers and do their own fireworks display! There doesn’t seem to be any rules around lighting firecrackers across the city, and so they go crazy lighting up wherever they please. This obviously is quite dangerous, and some people do get hurt if they happen to stand in front of those lighting the firecrackers!

My friends and I were shock to find out about this, but since we already booked our ticket to go to Prague for the New Year, there is no backing out anymore. Besides, having grown up in the Philippines where they sell dynamite-strength firecrackers and cause hundreds of injuries each year, we thought we can easily survive this one.

We positioned ourselves on the Old Town side of the River Vltava, hoping to having a view of both the Charles Bridge and the Prague Castle. On our way there, we had to fight through the crowds and saw a few police patrol cars going around and approaching locals who have been misbehaving and throwing fireworks at other people. The whole atmosphere in Prague was kind of chaotic, but it wasn’t bad enough to stop us from having a great time and catching a glimpse of what is said to be one of the best New Year’s Eve fireworks display around.

When my friends and I finally found a spot to setup our tripods and take great photos of the Prague Castle and Charles Bridge, we were all hoping to see the fireworks come out from behind the castle. The countdown began, and when the clock struck midnight, there was hardly any fireworks to be seen!! Well, as we turned around, we saw much of the fireworks on our side of the Vltava River and not behind the castle! We had to shift our cameras, but with the jam-packed space by the river, we could hardly move our cameras! I took as much shots as I possibly could. Some were good, some weren’t. At the end of the day, we thought that the Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks were still more spectacular than the one in Prague. Nevertheless, going to Prague for the fireworks was a good reason to visit this romantic city.

The following day, we found out from one of the locals that the government apparently ran out of money to do the fireworks display, and hence, all we saw were the ones that the locals fired off themselves!! Well, here are some of the better shots we got:

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Prague Fireworks NYE 2011 - With Charles Bridge and Prague Castle

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Prague Fireworks NYE 2011 - on the other side of the bridge

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More Prague Fireworks NYE 2011

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Prague - Unsynchronised Fireworks Lit by Locals - NYE 2011

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Some more small fireworks in Prague NYE 2011

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Last few big fireworks display in Prague NYE 2011

Merry Xmas from Fabulous Journeys

kelvinlls | December 23, 2010 | Comments (1)

Merry Christmas To readers of my blog:

I hope you’ve had a fantastic 2010, and would have traveled somewhere in this beautiful world of ours. I’ve done my fair share of travels despite lack of time off from work, and visited NZ, Philippines, Myanmar and then now, going to Europe for Christmas. As I will be leaving tomorrow for Amsterdam and won’t be back until the New Year, I would like to wish you all a great Christmas with your family, and an awesome 2011 ahead!

Make sure you check out my posts if you want some travel ideas, and look out for more exciting material in the coming year.

I’ll leave you with this YouTube clip of Buck The Singing Reindeer. Enjoy the holidays!