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South Korea 7-Day Self-Backpacking Adventure

11/08/2011

About South Korea Trip

My first self backpacking trip to a completely foreign country! YAY

I know no Korean language at all besides Sarangheyo and Anneonghaseyo. AND I SURVIVED!! THANK GOD!! :D

Met bunch of funny and interesting people during the trip ; made a few Korean friends; tried authentic Korean food; went to all five palaces in Seoul; navigated through the city using mapssss (GOSH, there is no FREE public wifi in Seoul!!!) ; ordered street food from roadside stalls owners who know no English at all.... IT WAS GREAT FUN! It turns out that self backpacking is not necessary a bad thing after all!! :D

The Map

The City Tour Map which I think is pretty useful in giving you the overview of the main attractions in Seoul :D

The Itinerary

Day 01 & Day 02 (West Jeju Island)

Cheojayeon Waterfall!

Stay overnight at Gimpo Airport (BIG MISTAKE! The airport is closed from 1am to 5am!!)

Upon reaching Jeju Do, realised the Trolley Bus Tour needs a reservation beforehand. So I signed up for Yeha Tour offered by my accommodation Yeha Guesthouse instead.

But it turns out to be great!!!
1) Green Tea O’sulloc Tea Museum
2) Halim Park – Lava Caves, Folk Village, Bonsai village
3) Lunch near Waterfall (Fullset HanJeokSik {Korean Meal} for ONLY 10000Won, that is AUD10!)
4) Cheojayeon Waterfall
5) Yakcheonsa Temple [Largest prayer hall in Asia]
6) Jusangjeoli Lava Pillars [Cheapest tangerine in SKorea; part of the Dae Jang Geum movie is filmed here!]

Finished off my day by having dinner at a nearby restaurants. The auntie transformed her house to a restaurant. Typical Korean ajuma house you see on TV!! So Cute!

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Taiwan Trip! (to be updated)

11/08/2011

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Taiwan Map

About Taiwan Trip

FOOD FOOD FOOD and more FOOD!!!!

There are night marketssss everywhere!!!!

One unfortunate thing was that I have had a diarrhea the first night I touched down at Taipei. And it lasted for 3 days! It was terrible and I didn't really get to enjoy all the STREET FOOD!!!! as I was so desperate to find a toilet every now and then! X(

That asides, Taiwan is a great country! PEOPLE ARE REALLY FRIENDLY HERE!!!! IM MEANT IT! :) Knowing Mandarin is an advantage but if you don't know Mandarin it is not a disadvantage at all, public transport is so convenient and signboards are so easy to understand!

There are a lot more provinces yet to be explored and wish we could have more time!

Itinerary

P.S. This is not the best itinerary, given that I was having a diarrhea and the unbelievably WARM (or should i call it HOT) weather, I just feel like watching TV in my air-conditioned accommodation. Definitely you could explore more places with this amount of time!

Day 01 Taipei City

阿宗面线 (Ay Chung Flour Rice Noodle)

First thing to do after arriving at Taiwan's Taoyuan Airport: Dump your luggage at your accommodation and off taking a train to the nearest night market!

The first night we were here we went to Shilin Night Market (the public transport is really convenient! and all you need to do is to follow the crowd if you do not know the direction ha!)

Eat the street food! THEY ARE SO FUNKY AND DIFFERENT!!! Must Try:
1. 阿宗面线 (Ay Chung Flour Rice Noodle)
- This noodle is so freaking good! Unbelievably. The restaurant was packed!
2. 豪大大雞排 (Hot-Star Large Fried Chicken)
- When they mean Large, it is really large. HUMUNGOUS! Healthy or not, you judge by yourself.
3. 蔥油餅 (Scallion Pancake/ Green Onion Pancake)
4. Bubble Tea (if you are not afraid of potential plasticizer :P)

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Northern Territory / Central Australia, Australia

11/06/2011

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About the Trip

What is the iconic destination of Australia besides Sydney Opera House???? AYERS ROCK!!!!

That is this big rock at the center of Australia, also called Uluru Rock! :D

Often opted out due to long travel time to the center of Australia, I was fortunate enough to join the trip organized by Melbourne University Overseas Student Service in my first year in Melbourne.

The funny thing is, I didn't know anyone that is going for the trip! And yet I joined the trip and see how the trip would go. And it turns out GREAT! :D

The Map

The Itinerary

Day 1 - Day 3 (Alice Springs)

Feeding a wild rock wallaby CUTE!!

1.5 days inside a bus and we are finally crossing the border of South Australia and Northern Territory into Alice Springs!!!

ANIMALS TO WATCH OUT FOR:

1) DINGOES!!!
2) CAMELS!!!
3) WALLABIES!!! KANGAROOS!!!
4) EMU!!!!

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Queensland, Australia (Brisbane & Gold Coast)

11/06/2011

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About the Trip

Went to Brisbane & Gold Coast during my first Easter Break in Australia 3 years ago. Gosh, time flies. That was before Queensland was hit by flood.

Couldn't recall much but the best things: BEACHES AND THEME PARKS!!! :) City of sun & surf indeed!

The Map

Gold Coast - Surfer Paradise

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New South Wales, Australia (Wollongong-Sydney-Newcastle)

11/06/2011

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About the Trip

I have been to Sydney a couple of time:
1st: During my first year. And frankly speaking, I don't like Sydney much.
2nd: In transit to my NZ trip.
3rd: THIS. And after the trip I'm absolutely in love with Sydney!!! Especially Bondi!!!

We did a road trip from Melbourne to Sydney, main aim is for counting down at Darling Harbour. But instead we kept adding on extra journey and pooooof. Here you go :D Our 7-day road trip covering Wollongong, Sydney and Newcastle!

Australia Map

Itinerary

Day 1 & 2 (Wollongong)

Wollongong City Beach

Wollongong - Australia 9th Largest City!

City of surf beaches :) LOTS OF THEM!

If you got the time, do the 140km Grand Pacific Drive, boasts to have some of NSW most spectacular scenery and coastline (including Royal National Park, world second oldest national park)

Chill out at Kiama Blow Hole, witnessing the awesome water splashing. And you don't need to be a Buddhist to visit Nan Tien Temple, the largest temple in Southern atmosphere :)