Heart-shaped natural lake at New Caledonia

I actually came across this lake many times already, at the advertisement at airport..always wanted to go and find out the exact location of it (yeah, my habit of always wanting to know where things are kicks in) but never got to do it...until now (and yet my another habit of self-destructing procrastinating) and this beauty wonder is actually located in New Caledonia! (I made some friends with a few New Caledonians during my tenure in New Zealand *inserts smirking smiley here)

Below is the image I googled (from http://photos.wikimapia.org/p/00/02/79/82/93_full.jpg) which is also the same photo which I saw in advertisements. Hmmm I wonder how they took  this photo, drone? helicopter?

And the spatially-induced mentality in me makes me have to post this another element of it too. Location, location, location.
Geographical coordinates : 20° 56' 14.32" S  164° 39' 30.42" E





By the way, New Caledonia also has another beautiful attraction too.

Jean-Marie Tjibaou Cultural Center (read about this in a library at Auckland...ahh those were the days)

Wanderlust, wanderlust

Sabbatical

https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/4-ways-singaporeans-sabbatical-without-160000327.html

http://www.sif.org.sg/siv/vacancies.php

http://www.worldteach.org/site/c.buLRIbNOIbJ2G/b.6150577/k.9B0A/Teach_Abroad_at_WorldTeach_teaching_volunteer_opportunities_worldwide.htm

I myself also took some sort of sabbatical for 8 months (England, France, Netherlands, Cambodia and mostly in New Zealand), thanks to some people I have free accommodation but I still have to pay her back though (a 5 figure amount)

An Eventful Month & A New Beginning

Its been so long since I last logged on Blogger and posted a blog here.

The past month has been an eventful one in my life. I quitted my job and be part of the 5-10% (average) of the unemployment peeps. After that I was literally living out of the suitcase.

17th July I left Singapore for a week's homely trip to my birth town Kuching, just to pack up and arrange all my stuffs for my next phase in life. Afterwards, it was like:-

17-23 July --- Kuching
25-28 July --- Bangkok
30 July - 5 August --- London (London, baby!!!)
5-8 August --- Paris (Bonjour, mademoiselle!!!)
8-10 August --- Amsterdam (RLD and weed, here I come!!!)
10-13 August --- London (again~)

Highlight of the trip so far.. was in Paris. As said, it it truly a very beautiful city and I definitely will come back there again. #ILoveParis

Arrived Singapore on the evening of 14th August.. I had to repack and pack the rest of my stuffs to get on to the next part of my life: Migrating to New Zealand (Kia ora!!!)

16th August I depart my home for the past 4 years (sleeping on the floor with dog's smell) in Singapore, saying my goodbyes to all my friends in Kuching and Singapore and arrived in Auckland. It was almost the end of winter and it felt good. It took about 3-4 days to get the orientation in my body to be on local time (not sure if it was in London time and Singapore time --- the jet-lagged jet lag)

I could say that I'm starting to live my life and I'm sure He has it written in the stars for me to be here.
Here's to a new life and new beginning *wine clinks

BALI - Iphone Notes

Driver - Sunarta

Kuta to Tanah Lot - 45 mins

Jn raya semer, kerobokan

1015 depart hotel

1110 arrive tanah lot

1215 depart tanah lot

Pass by jn kunti i

Jn by pass ngurah rai (many outlets)

Roundabout

130 arrive nusa dua

220 go to bebek bengil

340 depart bebek bengil

420 arrive padang beach (eat pray love location)

530 depart padang2 beach

6 arrive uluwatu

650 depart uluwatu

745 arrive hotel

26/7

330 depart royal 18

415 arrive nusa dua

27/7

255 depart nusa dua

330 arrive airport

Sunrise at Lake Toba

Just browsing through some pictures to upload into facebook and came across this well taken photo of sunrise at Lake Toba.... I like the sparkling effect!

[GUIDE] Korea Trip Dec 2011/ Jan 2012 (Guide for Penghui!) - Part 2 - JEJU ISLAND

Ok basically not really a guide, just a rough one.

Firstly, we took local budget airline Eastar Jet which our friend Louis had booked for us earlier from Gimpo Airport at Seoul to arrive Jeju Island!
- ticket cost about KRW43000 (S$50/-)
- please take note there are domestic and international terminal at Gimpo Airport which you had to take bus transfer to each other (check with local airport officer if unsure!)

After arrived at Jeju Airport, we managed to rent a Hyundai hatched-back (for 4 persons) car for 3 days which costs about KRW127800 (S$130/-) Quite cheap if 4 persons share I think? Its easy to get around by keying in wherever you wanna go the places telephone number (GPS is in Korean but easy to use, I think)

IMPORTANT!!! Most of people in Jeju cannot speak English, so when we did our booking for accomodations we got our MR HONG (From Golden Pond Hostel) to call and do the bookings for us for some of the accomodations.

Date : 29/12/2011 ~ 1/1/2012 (New Year in Jeju!)

=== PLACES I GO IN JEJU (BY DRIVING) ===

Day 1
- arrived Jeju around evening
- quite late to go around + hungry

Day 2
- Spirited Garden (took pic at entrance only)
- Jeju Glass Castle (entrance fee : KRW 9000)
- O'Sulloc Tea Museum (free admission!)
- Chocolate Museum (entrance fee : KRW 4000)
- Teddy Bear Museum (entrance fee : KRW 8000)
- Jungmun Daepo Columnar-jointed Lava (free admission at that time as Jeju Island won UNESCO World Heritage thingy)
night time already! not enough time for more~

Day 3
- Sangumburi Crater (admission : KRW3000)
- Mini-miniland (admission : KRW7000)
- Gimnyeong Maze (admission : KRW3300)
- Gimnyeong Seongsan Beach (wind too cold!)

Day 4
- Seongsan Ichulbong Peak (only stayed in car and watched the peak from afar as it is New Year's Day and everyone goes to the peak to do some offerings - its a annual thing for the locals?)
- drive along coastal road from Seongsan to Gimnyeong (stop and take picture on the way, whenever we want - beauty of self-driving)
- sent rental car back to Jeju-rent-a-Car and off to Mokpo via ferry!

=== WHERE I STAYED IN JEJU ===

Day 1 - Hani Hostel, Hallim-eup
- KRW15000/person/night
- really nice place
- owner/operator is a young lady (Park Bom look-a-like) who can speak english

Day 2 - UI Guesthouse, Gujwa-eup
- KRW20000/person/night
- very secluded guesthouse
- owner cannot speak English (we are able to stay here

Day 3 - Cote Dor Tourist Hotel, Gimnyeong
- KRW80000/night (3ppl share)
- finally some sensible accomodation
- 3 star hotel with some good facilities

Day 4 - off to Mokpo via ferry!

Conclusion:
In Jeju, it is not easy to find a proper meal as ALL of the shops are written in Korean and everyone speaks Korean there. Basically we just get our makans at Family-Mart (our saviour) and happen to pass-by some shops that has Ginseng Chicken Soup or Black Pork (haven tried). Seafoods are cheap in Jeju, if you know how to order lol.
Too much place to visit in Jeju, not enough time to 'appreciate' them all! 1 week in Jeju should be enough and optimal.

[GUIDE] Korea Trip Dec 2011/ Jan 2012 (Guide for Penghui!)

Had to make a travel guide for my friend Penghuhui....essentially had to redesign my whole blog so its more easier to read... anyways here it is:

Good Websites to refer
- http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/index.kto (useful!)
- http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g294197-Seoul-Vacations.html (people's review)
- http://budgettravel2korea.blogspot.sg/
- http://baotravelkorea.wordpress.com/

=== SHOPPING @ SEOUL ===

1. Dongdaemun area
- located along the famous Cheongyecheon stream
- collection of several warehouse / open door stores
- got shoes, clothes etc. etc.
- dongdaemun market
- Doota @ dongdaemun (expensive)
- Migliore @ dongdaemun (many cheap clothes like u see in online)
- things i didnt do : try check-out the Dongdaemun Gate in the morning

2. Myeongdong area
- myeongdong (lively at night, many stalls selling foods and accesories, many beauty shop)
- many lorongs to explore
- nice coffee at Angel-in-us Coffee
- walking distance to Namdaemun, several Lotte buildings around Namdaemun-ro)
- subway has underground shopping centre, saw several K-Pop merchandise stores here
- TIPS : must try the tornado potato here!
- TIPS : beauty shops like Nature Republic, Etude House hands out many samples ONLY IF YOU VISIT THE STORE AND BUY SOME STUFFS

"View of Myeongdong's shopping street - a lot of people!"

3. Namdaemun area
- group of warehouse stores sellings several goods (last time i went here didnt manage to walk everything cos too cold and saw plenty of aunty fashions with some ah-ma smell)
- Shinsagae Dep't Store (normal, something like Isetan)
- the last time i never explore finish! so not much description here

4. Insadong area
- Insadong street
- many souvenirs shop (too many til blur)
- many people queuing for Hot-teok (sweet rice cake)
- check-out Ssamziegil building here (interesting design and many small boutique shops)
- recommended to go via Jonggak station (exit 3, walk straight heading east til your see a road with many people walking, that is Insadong street) walk til end of Insadong street and you can go back via Anguk station

5. Itaewon area
- had my delicious KFC here!
- bought my favourite the North Face sling bag here (if you see, maybe can help me buy again - black color :P)
- this place more global, many international stores

(these shopping places didnt manage to visit, not enough time! but i think should have some cheap goods, cos university area cater to the budget people)
6. Ewha Women's University
7. Samcheong-dong
8. Hongik University (Hongdae)
9 . check out more here!


=== PLACE OF INTEREST @ SEOUL ===

1. Cheongyecheon stream
- beautiful man-made stream cutting across the heart of the city of Seoul
- I went during winter, was too cold to walk for long!
- Things to try : take a walk along Cheongyecheon stream from East to the West (the 'origin' of the stream), about 2 hours walk I think

"Origin of Cheongyecheon stream at night"

2. Nami Island
- filming location of the hit drama Winter Sonata!
- (1 & 1/2 hours from Seoul)
- check out how to go there here!
- was kinda stuck when I was at Cheongnyanni Station about which line to take to Gapyeong station, you can always check with the local officers there! very helpful
- TIPS : go early! the last time I went there was in winter and late afternoon, so when I arrived I didnt manage to walk the whole island as it was dark already T.T

3. N Seoul Tower
- walked uphill to Namsan Cable Car Station from our Namsan guesthouse (fun during winter)
- there's a park on top with lots of "locks-of-love" very unique and beautiful
- the Nature Republic store on top of the tower boast that it is the cheapest in town, can request for more free gifts here!

"Locks-of-love a top N Seoul Tower"

4. Seoul Plaza
- there's an outdoor ice-skating rink here during winter-time! fun to see people having fun skating around

and many more (mostly are palaces like Gyeongbokgung Palace or Gyeonghuigung Palace) which I dont have interest to visit and also not enough time) probably can visit if I am going again to Korea next time.


 === PLACE WHERE I STAYED @ SEOUL ===

1. Golden Pond Guesthouse, Daehak-ro area (near Hyehwa Stn)
- water heater doesn't work sometimes (bad during winter! I just couldn't shower cold water during winter!)
- common area has a bit of 'fishy' smell
- no breakfast
- but cheap!
- overall, the owner (Mr. Hong) was really friendly and helpful and are able to converse in English fluently
- made reservations via email in their website http://www.goldenpond.co.kr/

2. Namsan Guesthouse 3, Myeong-dong area (recommended!)
- easy access to subway station
- near Myeongdong shopping street
- cheap and good + free breakfast! (bread and jam only la)
- Website : http://www.namsanguesthouse.com/

Part 2 @ Jeju coming up soon!
Part 2 here!