Guangzhou Stopover

If you are not rushing to your final destination, you can always take your time by having 24 hours stop over/ layover in between your long flight. Book a 1 night stay and do a quickie city tour. This will make you appear having a jetset life (LMAO) and your travel diary seems has more stories to tell. Today you are here then the next day you are there. You save on your flight ticket and you can tick off one more destination out the world map. Flight from KL to LA has few stop over such as Guangzhou, Jeddah, Seoul, Taipei, Ho Chi Minh, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Istanbul, depending which carrier you choose.

Since Mike never set his foot to any part of China, so we took a 23 hours stop over in Guangzhou. Although Guangzhou isn't fancy as big capital Shanghai or Beijing, but it has something that we really like to see.

We booked Holiday Inn Guangzhou because 1) nearby airport 2) it provides free airport shuttle, 3) 99% reception staffs of chain hotels are fluent in English 4) chain hotels has standard service which you can expect. You do not want to be surprised on your short stop!

We were ready to get cheated upon arrival in Guangzhou airport. All sign mostly in Chinese, most people couldn't speak English. We tried to get the direction where to find Holiday Inn shuttle area, and suddenly, this guy so eager to help by willingly to call the hotel with his mobile. Ching chong ching chong on the phone, then he said we have to inform the hotel earlier if we wanted to get pick up by free shuttle. So since we didn't inform the hotel, so, no transport provided. That guy put his hotel transfer price - RMB100. I am in Tourism industry and dealing with hotelier for quite sometime. Knowing the standard service they provide, I don't think it is totally different in this part of the world. Holiday Inn is no boutique hotel that can set up their own service by their own grandmother's standard.

I was mad at Mike. Because he was the one who booked the hotel. Why he didn't give them the flight details. But at the same time, we do not want to surrender and succumb to the stranger's kindness. I grabbed his roaming mobile phone (and I don't care how much the bill will cost) and called Holiday Inn directly and thank God English speaker Chinese on the other line. It turned out that we only have to go to DEPARTURE HALL UPPER LEVEL, Gate A and we will see MPV with Holiday Inn  logo waiting every 10 minutes. Simple as that.

So, we won the 1st battle and got checked in safe and sound. Room is big but only Chinese TV program and English TV program with Chinese voice over on telly. So we sleep.

...and woke up to very limited choices of breakfast. I respect them Chinese eat veggies for breakfast but it is overly salted so it might give me high blood pressure instead of good nutrition.

and we were surprised that the hotel provide this in case of fire! Usually hotels asked you to stay low while get your way to the fire escape, which can slow down your move, so mask like this can make a very big difference during the emergency. What a good practice.

Anyways, with the help of English speaker reception staff, he helped us with the direction and map. He suggested us to take the train from the airport to access the city. So we checked out and return back to the airport, stored our luggage over there and so excited to explore the city. 

The train costs us like RMB 10 per way. It is cheap. And the route connected to all touristy spot.

We have like 7 - 8 hours before our next flight to LA. So we heading straight to Canton tower. The entrance fee ranging from RMB 150 to 498 depending on levels and what's include. We go for RMB 228 which enable us to the 488 lookout and spider walk, minus all the attraction such as bubble tram and sky drop. 

Standard pose stating that "hey, I've been there, done that"

We created our memories by eating ice cream up here.

We are here to witness the massive architecture of Guangzhou. Unlike most Malaysian see Guangzhou for shopping - ONLY.

I must admit that I was amazed by the buildings in Guangzhou. It looks like so 'Asgard' in a glance and very futuristic. BUT what amazed me more is that the people living among these futuristic landscape and construction still refused to step up to modern civilization. Spitting in commercial building and I saw a mother helped her son peeing in the city light TRAIN conclude that civilization and sophistication is not about the landscape, able to built tall building, your outfit or currency you are holding. Civilization is in your mind. There is no 1st world country or city if you still thinking and act like a 3rd world class. Macam KL, kencing air bersepah sepah di public toilet. Macam kera baru dapat toilet bowl.

Pearl River.

I unable to take the picture without having the column in it, left or right. Because of the tower spiral  design structure, the column of this tower is kinda close to each other so it gives the visitors very limited wide panorama view to capture.

and this is why you need to include 488 lookout observation in your ticket entrance.

488 lookout is the height in meters, the highest outdoor observation deck visitors can reach in Canton Tower. It offers 360 degree view of Guangzhou city but um, still with a little obstruction - that damn bubble tram. So, if you really wanted unobstructed view, you need to pay the ultimate price which is RMB498.

That day was kinda foggy, so I told Mike it is best to come here at night. We can see the city lights and colder. So we might come here again at night, with the bubble tram ride.

and this is 'sky drop' in Canton Tower.

Some picture taken by the professional photographer during the sunset

and this is mine :(

Next, we headed to Shamian Island.

We decided to visit Shamian Island due to the descriptions -  'Historical building' left by the French. It is a sandbank island, so do not expect blue beach and breezy wind.

Well, nothing much I can say except it looks just like Penang. Most of the building refurbished and nothing really old over here. Rows of franchise cafe like Starbucks and Subway can be founded here.

some little girl imitating the statue pose

and this is rivalry pose by another little girl.

Why I felt like those statue is 'pervert' kind of statue?

On the bridge away from Shamian Island, there is a familiar sighting. Street sellers selling souvenirs and all.

I think he meant 'Muslim Local Flavor'

This, I couldn't help but stop by to try it. It is pure mandarin oranges old skool squeezed into a bottle and it taste so fresh and sweet like a first teenage love.

Love in a bottle. RMB 5. Once you tasted this, then you will find Peel Fresh or any drinks with no additive, no sugar self pro- claimed is BS.

 Shamian Island and its surrounding.

So we had our very late lunch at Pizza hut somewhere across Shamian Island and back to the airport.

That's the end of our stop over tour in Guangzhou.

A Visit to The Lost City, Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Now then I remember I haven't finish my Cambodia post after I realize I am going to visit another UNESCO world heritage soon. Ppppfftt. Synonym the post title, I lost my memories about some important facts that I gained during my visit to this lost city.

Ok, here we go. After my visit to Phnom Penh, Mike & I spent the rest of our Cambodian trip at Siem Reap and it is for one and only reason - Angkor Wat.

First of all, Mike refused to buy the tour from Travel Agency. He preferred to pay direct to the local TukTuk driver so at least it can help the local earning more for their hard work rather than giving to the commercial agent that pay peanut to the locals. So yes, we only had a TukTuk driver that droves us around without professional Tour Guide that can give us information about the site. But, if we read a lot, we do not need a Tour Guide for facts we already knew. Now we just need to see it with our own eyes.

That's my boyfriend. Sometime he is a saint, to me.

Although Cambodia is still considered the poorest 3rd world country, no tall building and great shopping malls unlike Kuala Lumpur, but to me they have  the most valuable list of monuments and relics which can't be rebuild. Well, maybe it can with the latest technology, but, the historical sentimental can never be recreated and replicated.

By looking at the amount of people visiting this site, I can guarantee it is more than amount of people visiting our Petronas Twin Tower. These old monuments and its old bricks capable to generate income for the country and put Cambodia on the world map just being moldy and old.

When you buy a site tour to Angkor Wat, it will include the other small wats (Temples) surrounds it which are equally significant to the history of Angkor Wat. So, on that one tiring day, we visited Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Bayon, Preah Khan and Ta Phrom.

  

Go read more facts about Angkor Wat HERE. It's very fascinating, you know. Just don't fall asleep yet.

Mike and I took Sunrise Angkor Wat tour. (Here is a little tip for young traveler). We always figure it out that places like this should be experienced at magical hours, which is sunrise or sunset. And for high towers, we always choose sunset to the dark hours, so that we able to see the whole city glimmering with neon.  

We had to be at hotel lobby as early as 5am. The tuk tuk guy drove us into the darkness with cold breeze while I still have taik mata bertempek in my eyes :(

After 30 minutes tuktuk ride, we arrived Angkor Wat. Surprisingly there were hundreds of people already queuing for the entrance pass which costs us USD20 for a one day pass, (if you have more time, you can take 2 or 3 days pass)  complete with our picture taken and printed on the pass.

At first, I don't understand why those souvenirs and hot drinks sellers along the entrance keep on telling me, "stand at the left of the lake". I just nodded quickly and ran away from them or else they keep pushing me to purchase key chain, posters, postcards or a cup of coffee from their bag.

So Mike and I walked close to the entrance of central tower, took gazillion pictures in the dark and thought we got all the best shot already. Then when the sky starts to light up, I just realized it was too LATE.

No spot for me at the left lake!

And that point of time, I was starting to feel like an ultimate moron when I looked at those fancy big professional camera. BECAUSE I LEFT MINE AT THE HOTEL AND THOUGHT MY SAMSUNG S3 IS GOOD ENOUGH. FML.

To compensate my stupidity, my small body manage to slip in between the crowd and try to get the best spot to capture the complex shot complete with its reflection. THAT'S WHY YOU NEED TO STAY AT THE LEFT LAKE! At that moment, I totally lost Mike. I don't know where he was and I don't care. WTF? 

So ALL of us waited patiently for the sun to come up. Sembahyang subuh pun kau tak gigih macam ni kannnn...

So, here, are the best shot I manage to take with my Samsung S3 and I was regret on every snap that I took because this is DAMN FUGLY.

As I heard the big cameras clicking on my left and right, I just keep on TAPPING my stupid android phone, praying the picture will turn out beautiful.

Trust me, I took more than 500 shot to and selected a few to put it on here and still, I hate the pictures and myself for it.

Look at how these people willing to get their feet soaked in the lake water just to capture the magical sunrise behind Angkor Wat.

So I gave up. I stopped at 501th picture, and when I turned back, Mike was already behind me, smiling. He got the sunrise recorded on video mode.

So he helped me to take the picture of me try to do calm down pose with the sunrise. LOL.

...and the sun is totally up, so my sleepy naked face without make up is revealed :(

Everything is still wet from the morning dew. It was the freshest sights I ever wake up to after so long staring at PC monitor for 20 hours a day, everyday, back at office and home. 

So, all the pictures taken here are by my Samsung S3. I hate the pixel when you zoom it in.

Anyways, if you are a fan of Lara Croft, Angkor Wat is one of the shooting location for the "Tomb Raider" for one week. The conservation authority charging USD10,000 per day to the Paramount Picture for using the location and the money used to conserve the temple. 

And I overheard 'Angelina Jolie' was mentioned over and over again by the tour guides to those tourists. In fact, Angelina Jolie was mentioned more than the real history fact of this sacred place. Man... 

Although 40% of this building is in restoration progress, you still can feel the Ancient World in here. If you wanted to experience "The alignment of Nine Realms" like in latest Thor movie, you should come here. I felt like I was teleported into another, ancient world in a 12th century where Khmer Empire was at its peak.

Although it is very old, but it didn't give the feel of 'Haunted' place at all.

If you pay attention closely, the white bricks are the new installation to the building in attempt to prolong the temple structures from being collapse.

A life size apsara finely carved on the wall. Apsara is not a God, but a celestial nymph, a dayang, pari-pari.

And now, some of the tower can't be climbed anymore due to safety of you, structures.  

Meet the 'guardian' of the temple :D

This place is still use for the religious ceremony and you still can see the monks and the 'sisters' coming to this place and keeping it alive.

One thing I noticed about 'the sisters' of the temple. They shaved their head bald while Christian and Muslim and Jews covers their hair.  

So I manage to edit the picture with some apps on my mobile phone. But I would be crazy to edit all pictures taken that day into something like this. I don't have time for that!

After 2-3 hours, still, we were unable to cover all 500 acres of Angkor Wat. We only managed to circle the first and second enclosure and headed back to our TukTuk driver for our packed breakfast and our next destination which is Angkor Thom.

To be continued.