Friday, August 19, 2011

南韩之旅 part 1

15/5/2011 ~ 21/5/2011 的韩国之旅,是我与我的老公第一次以背包的形式去蜜月。带着兴奋又期待的心情来到一个语言不通的陌生国度~ 南韩!

很多人都对我说:‘你没有跟团两个人背包去韩国,可以咩?哪里的人都不会说英语,你怎么跟他们沟通?”我就回应他们说:“不要紧,我们可以用肢体语言+IPHONE 4” 。哈哈!的确,现在科技发达,有网络,有通讯,去到哪里都不怕! 

事前,我已经做好一切的准备功夫,行程表已经排得满满的。从第一天到最后一天,住宿,行程表全都安排好了。

人人都知道南韩的生活水平比马来西亚高很多!我朋友问我:“你准备换多少钱去?” 我说:“我的旅费只准备了726K韩币(RM2.80 = 1000WON) ,两个人喔 !” 反应是。。。 “啊?够咩?哪里的东西很贵的!吃又贵,住又贵,车费也贵!总之,什么都贵!” 嘻嘻。。。

这一天15/5/2011终于来临了,坐了6个小时飞机抵达INCHEON Airport ! 看见四四方方的韩文,应该就是欢迎光临的意思吧! 机场很大,建筑很新颖;排队等待把我的护照盖上韩国的入境盖章。。。。。。

ANYONG HA SEH YOH !!!

跟着指示牌去买火车票,准备去到之前在网上预订的旅舍。从Incheon airport 到首尔转了2趟火车需要1:30小时。出了火车,跟着我手上的地址要找那间旅舍。糟糕!路牌都是四四方方的韩文,我都看不懂;叫我怎么找??? 不怕,去24Hrs 便利店问吧!

An yong ha seh yoh ! How to go to XXX hostel ? 韩国人看着我,对我比手画脚的,完全不能说英语;简直就是鸡同鸭讲。。。幸好,当时有位来自阿拉伯的年轻人会说韩语的。老板就叫他帮我。这位年轻人也很热心的陪着我们去找。他在韩国待了4年,是在这里求学的。我们背着我们的行李走啊走,就是找不到。。。 他也很努力的帮我们找,甚至还进网吧里用电脑查我们旅舍的位置。还是找不到。。。。后来,遇到一对小情侣。他们非常的乐意帮我们四处奔走的找、打电话问人、到附近的商店问。。。搞了1个多小时,终于找到了!

虽然身体很疲惫,内心是感动的!韩国人真的非常的热心!遗憾的是,我忘了跟这三位热心人士拍照留念!

搞了老半天终于可以卸下行李,洗个澡,吃点东西。怎知,旅舍的工作人员已经放工回家了!
门又上锁了,房费已付清了;如果要另找一间,又得多花钱了!怎么办?后来,看见房里有人。。。笃笃笃,Hello ! 咦?里面住的是一位日本人,英语也不太灵通的。他帮我们开门,告诉我们可以打电话找工作人员。就这样,我们终于有着落了。房间虽小,但是很干净!




第二天,一大清早我们就起程准备出发去浪漫的‘南怡岛’了!去南怡岛的方式有两种,一种是乘巴士,另一种是乘火车。巴士一个人费用7500WON;乘火车则须转几趟地铁,但是一个人才2000WON. 我选择后者。其实在南韩,交通真的很方便!切记,在南韩乘地铁比乘巴士便宜喔 !地铁一趟才1000WON 。

在韩国一般上早上九点左右才营业,不像在马来西亚什么时候要吃东西的时候都找得到!除非你去24小时的便利店买泡面吃!应该说,韩国人早餐都在家吃,不然就是不吃早餐或是说早餐加午餐一起吃。所以,我们唯有饿着肚子,背起我们的背囊去chuncheon。 

来到chuncheon station ,发现这个火车站设有小小的博物馆,是免收费的。里头可以看到从石器时代古人留下的一些器具。转了一圈,乘的士去到南怡岛的码头。其实,从火车站到码头是很近的。所以,可以选择乘的士。

时间还早,码头附近有好多餐馆。我们就先医肚子吧!随便进了一间韩国烧烤餐馆,其实营业时间未到;他们还在准备中,幸好他们愿意招待我们。好兴奋喔 !这是我们在韩国的第一餐!接下来这一个星期,我们每天都会吃不同的韩国餐!这一餐,我们点了一份烤鸡肉还有一碗冷面! 他们还捧出很多不同的泡菜 呢!好丰盛喔 。。。。。。

                                                                                                           
8
                                             结账 ~ 这一餐,我们吃了26000WON ! 


吃饱了,可以出发去因韩剧《冬季恋歌》而闻名的 “南怡岛”了!入门票8000WON ,包来回船费!


Friday, July 8, 2011

Laos - through my eyes

I love travelling , but I must say it is a very costly affair as a hobby.Like many others, I always resent the idea of backpacking , not until Tony Fernandez created a reality that 'Everyone Can Fly".

Air Asia's zero fare offers, makes it all possible and my longing to travel comes true. I started travelling on budget, learnt to become a savvy backpacker and organized my own itinerary. I've been to Phuket, Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, Hanoi, Medan, Hangzhou, Tianjin, Vientiane, Chiangmai, Singapore and Seoul in the last 3 years. I must thank Mr.Fernandez for this !

I fell in love with backpacking in a short span - every trip & journey has given me different experiences, different stories, much to my amazement.


Laos, I must say ... was the most meaningful & memorable trip for me. My friends & I have organized to include community service or charity deeds as our main objective for this trip.We are aware that Laos is an under developed country with poverty at large.

Contrary to popular beliefs, much as it is poor and economically challenged, you'll never find beggars and policemen walking or loitering the streets. Even some of the developed European countries have beggars in your way in the city, but not here in Laos. It's a safe place indeed.

Laos is the land for the Buddhists. I would rush and chase the morning alarm bells from the monks, it's exciting for me. The Buddhist followers will prepare some sticky rice, biscuits or fruits for the monks. I was no exception.








We did see small children, 5-years & below collecting rubbish around town for sale. Rubbish collected will be sold for recycling projects as a means to an ends. Try comparing that to what our kids have here in our homeland... we are indeed a privileged bunch !


We were like Santa Claus - giving presents and goodies to the children. With all the smiles, joy and happiness ... we knew that they truly appreciate what we've done.Even the smallest and tiniest of gifts , they were overwhelmed. And here in Malaysia, our kids complain of not getting more or not big or advanced enough for them. Can you see the difference ?



We had also traveled to Hmong village in Luang Prabang. Our tuk-tuk driver told us that, the Hmong people are very intelligent. While the majority of them speak fluent English and fairly educated., Laos Government does not recognized them as citizens and thus neglected.


Poverty & hunger is common here. The children came running & surrounded us when we arrived, overjoyed with the gifts & presents we brought for them. We didn't have enough for all the kids unfortunately and we had to give the younger children the priority. It wasn't a good feeling , they fought for the gifts and we were left with sadness in our hearts.

We are planning for another trip back to Laos to compensate all of this. This time around, we will spend some time to teach them to read , to write, sing and dance with them. That's our next project !

Would you like to join us ?

Monday, June 27, 2011

第一次

这是我的处女作部落格。我想通过我的部落格把我旅游的心情故事与大家分享。

我是那种事前很勤劳做功课的背包客。每次旅行,至少要三个月前开始做准备,收集所有景点, 住宿, 交通, 天气等的资料。

2010年, 我第一次全程到中国东北自助旅行。由于缺乏安全感, 实现把每天的行程排好,查清楚火车时刻表和公车车资,只差没预计会遇到什么人,发生什么事。

到了中国天津,就这样按照原定计划,一步一步往前走。一切都还算顺利, 到了哈尔滨,订了第二天前往齐齐哈尔的动车票;我们却误了班车。事情发生了,我们的计划有很大的变化。这是,让我发现自己的应变能力还不错。 最重要的是,我们一行三个女人, 都没有互相埋怨,反而互相讨论决定新的行程!

果然,因祸得福! 新的行程, 让我碰上很多意外惊喜! 我觉得, 有时候没有规划的旅程,也很不错啊!在这趟旅程当中, 发现了很多在旅游书籍没有介绍的新景点。

额尔古纳, 是我在这趟旅程中最回味的一个地方。它位于内蒙古自治区大兴安岭西北麓,呼伦贝尔草原北端。蓝蓝的天,白白的云,一望无际绿油油的草原,草原的野花也显得特别的美丽;远处还可以看见一间红色屋顶的小屋, 犹如童话故事情节里的画面浮现在我的眼前。让我有种回归自然,返璞归真的感觉。

只要去过一次自助旅行, 这辈子就不会想跟团出发! 旅行的虫子会三天两天跑走出来要你,提醒你该出发了!如果你不曾试过自助旅行, 这一生当中,一定要体验一次!我相信, 你一定会爱上它 !