Cycling Around Mount Fuji

Image
Note that this photo is a posed shot. You are supposed to cycling anti-clockwise around the lake! Haha If you are deciding between taking the train to Kawaguchiko or driving, you can check out the car rental prices at   https://www.nipponrentacar.co.jp/english/user-guide/reservations.html   and train prices at   http://www.hyperdia.com/ It depends on whether you’re staying overnight at Kawaguchiko and the number of people travelling. Remember to add toll fees of about ¥4200 one way. We decided to rent a car but forgot about the toll fees so it ended up being more expensive. I’d say if you’re staying for one night and there are at least 3 of you, renting a car is a good option. If there are two of you and you want more freedom to move around (such as going to neighbouring places like Oshino Hakkai, Chureito Pagoda, Yamanakako etc) it is also better to rent a car. You should also be warned that traffic is congested upon leaving and arriving at Tokyo. We parked our car at ou...
Post a Comment

Ha Long Bay (Hanoi, Vietnam) - Sep 2010


I had wanted very much to stay one night at Ha Long Bay, one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites but chris was worried that I'd get seasick so we did a day trip instead. It's 3-hours one way so I'd strongly recommend an overnight stay if you have the time. We got the tour from South Pacific Travel which operates Phoenix Cruiser, recommended by Tripadvisor at USD$35 per person, inclusive of hotel transfer by shuttle bus, seafood lunch, a cave tour and kayaking (with life jacket! that's important cos it's our first time kayaking!)

What we like about this tour company:
+ the Chinese junk style cruise boats
+ the open upper deck
+ the guide is able to speak and understand English
+ relatively small group (about 15 of us)
+ lunch, although simple local fare, was delicious
+ they put in effort to set up the lunch tables, with white table cloth, glasses and all.

What we feel could be improved:
- we waited 45 mins for the shuttle bus =( we were told that it would arrive between 8am - 8:30am so we were there at 8:03am but the bus arrived only at 8:45am. We were so kancheong we called them twice haha.
- they divided the guests into groups of 4-5 per table for lunch. i find it unhygienic to share food with strangers
- the shuttle bus was rather crowded so you can forget about taking up two seats haha
- the toilet had no toilet paper
- they could serve a snack at around 4pm because by the time we reached the hotel, it was about 8:30pm and all the guests have not had dinner =( well, in the morning when i "ta pao" some bananas and croissants from the buffet table (do it discreetly... 2 bananas and 2 croissants won't make them bankrupt... =P), Chris was >.<||| very embarassed but when I gave him the food in the afternoon, he was thankful =) he also complained about why i had to bring 5 bottles of water but well, we finished them all =)
- the mid-bus journey rest stop was beside a souvenir shop and they'd stop there for half an hour

Although it was very foggy, we felt that Halong Bay is really very scenic and we enjoyed ourselves =) the kayaking was quite hilarious. i don't know why they put me in front... our kayak almost langah the rocks twice. i panicked...

me: AAAHHH!!! we're going to crash we're going to crash!!!
chris: steer left steer left!!! turn turn turn!!!
me: AAAHHHHHH!!!!!!

and we DID langah a cruise ship hahaha so we had to use our oars to push ourselves off... then i got us caught in a corner -.-

here are the pics =)


















Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Adventurous Ibaraki: Tsukuba Kasumigaura Ring Ring Road Cycling Experience, Ume Matsuri and Mount Tsukuba

Image
The Tsukuba Kasumigaura Ring Ring Road is a cycling route from JR Iwase station to JR Tsuchiura station and continuing to Lake Kasumigaura loop. The stretch between JR Iwase station and JR Tsuchiura station is 40km and the loop around the lake is about 100km so the total return trip is 180km. Map of Ring Ring Road from JR Iwase station to JR Tsuchiura station We only did part of the straight route and part of the lake so we covered only about 50km. Here’s a video of our trip. IMPORTANT NOTE: We based in Tsukuba because we needed to meet a dear friend. Tsukuba is not the best starting point for this cycling route because we had to cycle 10km to intersect at a part of the Ring Ring Road since public transport connection between Tsukuba and Iwase or Tsuchiura is poor. We took a taxi from JR Tsuchiura station back to Tsukuba (¥3400). When we told the taxi-driver our destination, he smiled happily and said Arigatou!! 🤣🤣 A better plan will be as follows: Use Mito in Ibaraki as a base. Mit...
Read more

Cycling Around Mount Fuji

Image
Note that this photo is a posed shot. You are supposed to cycling anti-clockwise around the lake! Haha If you are deciding between taking the train to Kawaguchiko or driving, you can check out the car rental prices at   https://www.nipponrentacar.co.jp/english/user-guide/reservations.html   and train prices at   http://www.hyperdia.com/ It depends on whether you’re staying overnight at Kawaguchiko and the number of people travelling. Remember to add toll fees of about ¥4200 one way. We decided to rent a car but forgot about the toll fees so it ended up being more expensive. I’d say if you’re staying for one night and there are at least 3 of you, renting a car is a good option. If there are two of you and you want more freedom to move around (such as going to neighbouring places like Oshino Hakkai, Chureito Pagoda, Yamanakako etc) it is also better to rent a car. You should also be warned that traffic is congested upon leaving and arriving at Tokyo. We parked our car at ou...
Read more

Tokyo Hanami

Image
花見 hanami literally means flower-viewing and it's a really big deal in Japan. When I saw it for the first time, I can totally understand why 桜の美しさが日本人の心を捕らえる (the beauty of sakura has captured the hearts of Japanese). No words can describe the beauty of an entire park in full bloom or 桜吹雪 sakura fubuki sakura petals raining on you. Here are some of my favourite Sakura-viewing spots in Tokyo =) 1. Chidorigafuchi Park 千鳥ケ淵 Chidorigafuchi Park near the Imperial Palace has got to be my number one hanami spot. The palace moat, lined with sakura trees, transforms into a dreamy pink stream when the petals fall onto the water surface. You can also rent and row your own boat along the moat to enjoy a different view of sakura. Definitely highly recommended! It's rather strenuous! Melody enjoying the view from the boat Nearest station:  10 min walk from Kudanshita station  You can couple the trip there with a visit to the Imperial Shrine of Yasukuni Shrine that commemorates those who pe...
Read more