Wanderlust Tips Team, Author at WANDERLUST TIPS • Page 138 of 195

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Bordeaux Oxygène: The convergence of new legends

This November, wine connoisseurs in Hanoi, Danang, and Ho Chi Minh City will have the opportunity to meet 8 leading winemakers and 15 winemaking castles’ owners of Bordeaux as the team of Bordeaux Oxygène pay their first visit to Vietnam.

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Located in southwest France, Bordeaux is one of the most prestigious and famous wine-producing regions in the world, where dazzlingly beautiful vineyards make the most sought-after and finest wine. Excellent quality, unique style, and huge output can be considered the leading factors to establish the reputation of Bordeaux wine.

In order to maintain Bordeaux’s reputation and influence in the constantly changing and developing world of wine, some winemakers and heirs of wine mansions in Bordeaux founded Bordeaux Oxygène Association in the early 21st century. Harmonizing traditional values and the reform of the modern winemaking industry, Bordeaux Oxygène shows the public a fresh look of Bordeaux, the place that is no longer rigid and conservative, where young and promising generations inherit the traditions and live up to the reputation.

As a strategic partner of Bordeaux Oxygène, Red Apron Fine Wines & Spirits, one of Vietnam’s leading wine distributors, will bring wine connoisseurs a series of events from in-depth discussions with 8 winemakers to grand wine-tasting parties in 3 cities.

At the wine-tasting session, guests can enjoy 40 premium kinds of Bordeaux wines produced from 15 wine mansions in the most prestigious sub-regions of Bordeaux such as Pessac-Léognan, Saint-Estephe, Saint-Emilion and Pomerol, in which the most remarkable are the Château Clos Fourtet and the Château Malartic-Lagravière. Château Clos Fourtet is rated Premier Grand Cru Classé in the Classification of Saint-Émilion wine, featured with the ancient small fort covered with ivy flowers and one of the largest wine cellars in Bordeaux. Located in Pessac-Léognan, Château Malartic-Lagravière is one of the only six Bordeaux Château’s that was rated in the Graves classification in 1953 for both of their red and white wines.

For more information about the program, ticket prices for grand tastings, wine parties & bookings, please log on to www.BO2.redapron.vn from November 2017.

Bordeaux Oxygène in Ho Chi Minh City, Grand Tasting
– Time: 7pm – 9.50pm, Friday, 17th November
– Venue: SOHY – Sky Lounge & Dining, 72 – 74 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Str., District 3, Ho Chi Minh City.

Bordeaux Oxygène in Hanoi, Grand Tasting
– Time: 3pm – 5.30pm, Saturday, 18th November
– Venue: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, 15 Ngo Quyen Str., Hoan Kiem Dist., Ha Noi.

Bordeaux Oxygène Wine Dinner
– Time: 7pm, Saturday, 18th November
– Venue: Le Beaulieu French Restaurant, Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, 15 Ngo Quyen Str., Hoan Kiem Dist., Ha Noi

Wanderlust Tips

Phu Quoc: Where my heart stays

Whether you just want to stop by for a while or spend the whole week, whether you are travelling with your family or trekking alone in the golden forest or sailing the silver sea, Phu Quoc will never disappoint you.

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PHU QUOC – INSPIRATIONAL TRAVEL

Central Island

I chose to stay in a resort which is about 1 kilometre away from Ong Lang beach, and the whole precinct was layed out as a garden. Early in the morning, with light sunshine and sweet floral scent, I rode my bicycle around the quiet green foliage to enjoy the clear morning, while some other tourists were swimming in the pool.

We stayed in the central area, which is quite far from both the North of Phu Quoc Island (about 20 kilometres) and the South of Phu Quoc Island (about 30 kilometres). However, I could drive a motorcycle through the streets, past restaurants and night markets. Phu Quoc cuisine is really famous.

As staying in the central area, I only had to travel about 6 kilometres to Dinh Cau Rock, where the sunset only lasted for a few minutes but was really spectacular. You should arrive early because you might miss the sunset. Located on the large rocks protruding from the sea, Dinh Cau is a restored ancient temple.Islanders often call it the Temple of Sea Gods. There is a Tutelary shrine near the gate leading to the temple. The road to the temple includes 29 stone steps and there is an alter of “heaven” outside the Temple of Sea Gods. Not only is the symbol for peace for fishermen, Dinh Cau is also a tourist attraction. Some people go swimming at the beach at the foot of the Rock, while others are fascinated with aromatic barbecue stalls along the road which sell Vietnamese grilled pork sausages, grilled pork rolled in guise leaves, grilled girdle cake with egg, and baked manioc cake on hot coals. There is also a large restaurant nearby where guests can sip beer and watch Dinh Cau at sunset.

After admiring the red glowing sun diving into the sea, we went to Bach Dang night market, a busy night market which is just less than 4 kilometres away from Dinh Cau; anyone who visits Phu Quoc cannot miss this destination.

The south of Phu Quoc Island

To explore the South of Phu Quoc Island where Sao beach and famous Ham Ninh fishing village is located, we rented a private car for only VND400,000 for the whole trip. There are a number of tourist attractions people often visit for shopping such as the fish sauce factory, pearl farms, black pepper gardens, and supermarkets selling products made from rose myrtle fruit. We tried the aromatic rose myrtle wine and sweet, clear rose myrtle honey before deciding to buy as gifts. The most impressive place is the fish sauce factory. You will immediately be overwhelmed by the smell of fish sauce that is normally faint but becomes really pungent and fishy in the thick air, which is kept in barrels made from litsea and golden oak to ferment anchovies with salt by means of the straining method. After 9 to 15 months, people will extract the fish sauce from the barrels using a professional extraction method. Phu Quoc fish sauce has a natural clear and reddish brown color thanks to the method of fresh fish fermentation and long fermentation time in wooden barrels. Soaking a few kilograms of fragrant Phu Quoc green pepper in this famous fish sauce will create a really fascinating flavour.

Visiting Phu Quoc prison was a quite emotional experience for me. Fortunately, the richness and beauty of Phu Quoc’s nature helps to lessen the darkness and pain of the world such as that associated with the prison. This is especially true when visiting the Tranh Stream tourist attraction. Unfortunately, we didn’t go in the rainy season and could not admire the stream. The scenery however, was still poetic and fresh, a big contrast to the world outside. I really liked the cool feeling when walking on the huge stone slabs, with moss covered at covering some corners, among the green forest canopy.

Then we went back to Ham Ninh and visited Sao beach to enjoy the blue sea and white sand. Most of the beaches have coarse, light yellow sand, and the sandbank is very narrow and steep, while the water is reddish brown, not as blue as the Sao beach.

The north of Phu Quoc Island

We spent a day riding motorcycles to the North of Phu Quoc Island to experience the sunshine of Phu Quoc. The feeling of wandering the red dusty streets, admiring the mangrove forests and the white cotton plants far away was very special. Particularly, the entrance to Vinpearl Safari Phu Quoc is surrounded by soaring trees.

People often ask me if they should go to Vinpearl Safari because they think it’s like a zoo, just to look at the animals. However, I felt it was really spectacular. It’s not just another visit to see animals in cages at a zoo but much more than that. It’s a journey of experiencing a semi-wild world, where visitors have to adapt to the natural environment of the animals. White tigers, white camels, a herd of antelope, rhinoceros and lions all roam free in their space. Humans are just guests who need permission to go in and admire the animals in their natural habitat. In addition, the food in the restaurant is quite delicious, with pizza, pasta, salads, and fried chicken very suitable for visitors to enjoy when they get exhausted after travelling under the hot sun. Though the Vinpearl Land entertainment area is not far away from here, you will not be able to experience it to the fullest if you visit both areas on the same day.

The North of the Island is home to many construction projects, so there are quite a few messy places with markets, temporary shelters for workers, muddy roads after the rain, and also the trucks carrying construction materials driving on the road.

PHU QUOC CUISINE – UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES

Just by stopping on the sidewalk in front of any restaurant, you can experience the flavor of Phu Quoc in the spreading smell of its well-known fish sauce. All the restaurants have similar menus, but each of them have their own distinctive ways of cooking dishes and making sauces. Some restaurants add garlic and chilli peppers into the sauce while some others prefer adding passion fruit syrup. There are different types of sauces to serve with steamed seafood, fried rice, and grilled foods.

We usually had lunch at big restaurants in the centre area and dinner at the bustling ones at Bach Dang night market where we do not need to bargain because the prices are reasonable. When visiting Phu Quoc, make sure that you have savored all the seafood specialities such as fresh and sweet steamed shrimps, aromatic lobsters grilled on charcoal, fried mantis shrimps with salts, or grilled oysters with green onion.

Most importantly, do not forget to try the distinctive dishes here – sea urchin porridge and herring salad. Looking at the pieces of raw fish or spiked, black seaurchin might make some people feel uncomfortable. However, Phu Quoc people have made them into dishes featuring the gastronomic soul of the Pearl Islands. Herring salad is often the first choice of tourists because everyone wants to taste the sweet of the fresh fish fillets mixed with the scent of green wild vegetables. Fresh fish pieces have a certain fragrance, sweetness and crispness. Some restaurants arrange fish, onions, grated coconut flesh, roasted ground peanuts, chilli, jungle vegetables, green bananas and star fruits separately so the customers can squeeze lemon, mix and roll the ingredients themselves when eating. Some others will mix all kinds of ingredients in advance and customers just need to roll up the rice paper with a little vermicelli, dip it into the spicy and sweet pepper fish sauce to enjoy. It costs about VND110,000-150,000 per dish.

After satisfying your taste buds with all sorts of fresh seafood, the last dish will often be aromatic sea urchin porridge enough for 3-4 people at the price of VND80,000 – 100,000. The porridge is cooked to be slightly watery with extremely delicious flavours; it seems that this dish in every restaurant, no matter how large or small, has its own tasty flavor. The white porridge with a bit of black sea urchin meat and yellow sea urchin eggs, a little onion and black pepper will make the diners want to eat more even when they are full. After having a meal, you can go for a walk in a market, watch a magic show, stand in front of a restaurant with young people singing or dancing; or admire the Thailand ice cream roll seller showing off special techniques in his or her stall. A VND30,000 cup of blueberry or strawberry ice cream rolls will be a good choice for dessert.

When visiting Phu Quoc, going to the market and cooking are also great experiences. Phu Quoc Market is open during the day, located near the Bach Dang night market. The seafood here is quite cheap and fresh. You can easily cook a seafood meal with shrimp, squid, and blue crab dip with vegetables and water lily flowers for only VND200,000 – 300,000.

W.TIPS

WEATHER

Phu Quoc’s most beautiful weather is in the dry season from October to April, and this is not even the peak tourist season. Humidity levels are not high, at around 70-80 percent. The average temperature is about 27 – 28oC. It is hot during the day but cool in the evening.

SHOPPING

The Souvenirs can be bought at many places, especially in the South Island tour: pearls, products made from rose myrtle, fish sauce (all you need to do is give the factory your home address, and they will deliver it for you), black pepper, or you can buy dried seafood when visiting the fishing village.

Necessities or everyday items can be bought at many grocery stores, mini marts (Nguyen Trung Truc, Duong Dong), K-Marts (provincial road 45, Duong To, Duong Dong).

VEHICLE

– Currently, to travel to Phu Quoc, you can take a flight from Hanoi or Saigon. Or you can take a 2.5-hour speedboat from Rach Gia to Phu Quoc with prices ranging from VND300,000. What’s particularly convenient about traveling by high speedboat, you can take motorcycles to the island if you want.

– There are many choices for tourist to travel in Phu Quoc such as taxis, motorbikes or bicycles.

– As the South of the island – where there are many tourist attractions that might take you a whole day to visit – is quite far from the centre, it is recommended to rent a car with prices ranging from VND400,000 to VND800,000 per trip. I went there in the low season so the prices were quite reasonable, but you should negotiate and discuss in advance with the driver about the destinations.

– In the North of the island, there are tropical forests, amusement parks, zoos and the distance is not too far so you can rent motorcycles for about VND150,000-200,000 per day.

– If you ride a bike, it is better to travel in the early morning because in the afternoon the windy and sunny weather combined with the slopes and dusty roads are not suitable for cycling. Resorts often offer free bicycles.

ACCOMMODATION

Phu Quoc Island has many kinds of accommodations ranging from small, cheap hotels (far from the sea, normal comforts) at the price of few hundreds VND, to bungalows with gardens, pools and even kitchens, but excluded private beach like where I stayed at, with the price of above VND1 million per night. You also can find hotels with private beaches and swimming pool along Tran Hung Dao coastal street with the price of about VND2 million per night. The 5-star hotels in Phu Quoc will cost you VND2 million or more. Famous 5-star hotels include Novotal Phu Quoc, Chen Sea, La Veranda, The Shell, Vinpearl and Long Beach.

OTHER NOTES

– Phu Quoc is hot and quite dusty, so you should take glasses, hats, gauze mask and sunscreen. It is also recommended to take a jacket because it may be cool in the evening.

– In addition, there are many mosquitoes, especially in the evening and in the green areas, so you should carry mosquito repellent, burn essential oil and close the doors as well as windows in the afternoon and the evening. At Vinpearl Safari, if travelling with children, you can rent baby strollers for VND50,000.

Nhat Minh | Wanderlust Tips

Share the love: The jade island of Vietnam

Travelling to Phu Quoc in the lively summer days to enjoy blue sea, white sand, golden sunshine of Phu Quoc, a jade island where you create precious moments of young days with your friends and loved ones.

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VU TUAN ANH, 27, TV EDITOR

I visited Phu Quoc twice, the first time was for work so there was not much time to explore the island. The second time was in May this year, I travelled with my colleagues on a 4-day tour to Phu Quoc. On the island, our group visited many destinations such as Dinh Cau, Bach Dang night market, black pepper gardens, pearl farms, the Safari park, and took a boat to the sea to admire the coral. As a sea lover, what impressed me the most was the spectacularly beautiful sea in Phu Quoc. I have travelled to many islands and different seas, each of which has its own beauty; however, Phu Quoc’s sea is very special and easy to make the heart of anyone who has come here skip a beat.

The sea is a pellucid blue and jade colour, and the sky is so clear with bright golden sunshine. When the sun sets and seaside bars light up, you can take a stroll and enjoy the wind or drink a bottle of cold beer and listen to the sound of crashing waves. Whatever you do, it will bring you the most relaxed and refreshing moments by the sea.My trip was quite memorable and I am sure that if I could have another opportunity to come back here again, I will explore the destinations I have not had enough time to visit in previous trips.

CAO THI HUYEN, 27, SALES STAFF

I went to Phu Quoc in early March this year; it was sunny but not very harsh. My aunt and uncle settled here, so I stayed at their house in An Thoi town. An Thoi is mainly inhabited by local people, so I had a chance to experience Phu Quoc authentically as a local rather than a tourist. People from different regions come to Phu Quoc to settle down, but they are all warm-hearted and sincere people. When wandering around, you can park your motorcycles or bikes anywhere without fear of it being stolen, even when you forget the keys in the motorcycle.After the drive to explore Phu Quoc’s famous tourist destinations such as Sao Beach, Ho Quoc Pagoda, Tien well and many more, I often went back to my aunt and uncle’s home to have lunch instead of eating out.

We had seafood like squid, pelagic thresher, fried or grilled yellowtail and fried grouper at every meal. Phu Quoc’s squid meat is very tender and big. With no need to cook complicatedly, just adding lemongrass and ginger, boiling or steaming the squid will make a delicious dish. But the most distinctive specialty of Phu Quoc is sea urchin, and to me, cooking it with porridge is the best. At meal times, I liked to eat “BBQ grilled fish” with the neighbors. People gather, chat and enjoy the fresh fish just caught; the smell of grilled fish was so aromatic, which still makes me crave for it. In addition, I suggest that people try the fruit served with fish sauce and centella juice, which are very interesting local dishes.

DONG HUONG, 28, CONTENT EDITOR

As we were travelling with children, my family chose the self-sufficient Phu Quoc tour instead of booking an all-inclusive one. My first impression on Phu Quoc was its beautiful sea, jade green water, and long stretch of white sandy beach. However, on the day I went to the beach, the waves were rough and there was quite a lot of seaweed, which made us feel uncomfortable when swimming. Moreover, there were only a few services here and many places were very dirty. The beaches are also quite far from each other, up to 20 kilometres, so the travelling was actually inconvenient for my family when travelling with young children.

Phu Quoc cuisine is really delicious and cheap. In the night market, there are many fresh seafood restaurants where you can easily find shrimps, crabs, blue manna crabs, snails and mantis shrimp still crawling in the tank. The customers can choose whatever they want and request the restaurant to cook it the way they want. Among the seafood, I like blue manna crabs the most because it is small but the flesh is firm and sweet and wortha try.
Maybe the time I visited Phu Quoc, July, the weather was not ideal there. Also, many buildings in Phu Quoc were still under construction at that time, so the trip did not meet my expectations. I hope to go back there someday and explore more pristine places to have a more multi-dimensional view and be able to feel the full beauty of this famous island as many people have described.

THANH THANH, 26, BANK EMPLOYEE

I travelled to Phu Quoc with my family and this was a completely unexpected trip without any schedule in advance. I came to the island barely knowing anything about it. When I arrived at the airport, Phu Quoc welcomed me with a fresh and cool atmosphere; along the way from the airport to the hotel, the scenery looked so pristine with the mountain on one side and the stretching beach on the other side.

My most memorable experience when staying in Phu Quoc was diving and admiring the corals. I chose scuba diving and had to spend time training and practicing before taking the real deal. I did not know how to swim but still wanted to try it, so I took the chance and dived into the water. I felt really confident before jumping into the water but after that, all my courage seemed to disappear as I had to hold my instructor’s hand tightly and sometimes I even struggled and asked to stop. However, after being reassured by my instructor and gradually getting used to the breathing, I was able to experience true diving. The ocean world was so wonderful and I could not take my eyes off the coral reefs in unique shapes and brilliant colors. Perhaps I would definitely have regretted it if I had given up midway.

Van Ly | Wanderlust Tips

The new ibis Styles adds colour to Nha Trang

With white sandy beaches that define the shoreline, Nha Trang welcomes the country’s first ibis Styles in Vietnam. Offering hallmarks of an all-inclusive chic and convivial design experiences at all-inclusive rate, Ibis Styles is AccorHotels’ economy brand that is well-loved by families and holiday-makers around the world.

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The enormously popular Nha Trang is much more than just a beach resort; the town embraces the rich local culture accented by its French influences on site such as Nha Trang Cathedral Church (Cathédrale du Christ-Roi), Po Nagar Champa Temple, Dam market, Hon Chong Promontory and National Oceanographic Museum. When the sun goes down, the town offers a vibrant night scene with popular bars and restaurants around the island. For those looking for an R & R, rejuvenate in a traditional mud bath spa treatment or book a river cruise and explore the ancient Cham towers north of the centre.

“ibis Styles Nha Trang has embedded the brand’s own creative experience in the town’s original cheerful essence, and will appeal to travellers seeking an all-inclusive deal, a cocooning escape, relaxation and discovery,” says Patrick Basset, Chief Operating Officer for AccorHotels Upper Southeast and Northeast Asia. “Vietnam is one of the fastest-growing tourism destination in Asia, the country is forecasting 13 million international arrivals in 2017. The opening of Ibis Styles Nha Trang adds to the growth in the country where we have 24 hotels across key cities.”

Each of the 310 guest rooms at ibis Styles Nha Trang reflects the brand’s core values of simplicity and conviviality with their bright and colourful design. The floor-to-ceiling window offers spectacular views of Nha Trang beach.

The hotel’s StrEATs Restaurant serves variety of a-la-carte and buffet menu options, while StrEATs Lobby Bar & Pool Bar offer a range of fusion comfort food with a wide selection of cocktails, making them ideal venues for an evening chill-out. For meetings, conferences and banquets, ibis Styles Nha Trang features a grand ballroom and four stylish meeting rooms with state-of-the-art audio-visual technology that can host up to 480 guests.

Wellness facilities include a fitness center, a spa, outdoor pool including kids’ pool and kids’ corner. Enjoy a weekend getaway at VND1,350,000 per room per night including breakfast for two at ibis Styles Nha Trang from now until 23^th December 2017.

KHÁCH SẠN IBIS STYLES

Website: ibistyles.com/9578
Email: h9578@accor.com
Phone: +84 (0) 258 627 4997

Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

Hitchhiking around the world

Travelling around the world is a dream of many youngers who thrive for discovery. And the youth, they always find their way to make a dream come true. Christopher Heil, a a 33-year-old young man from United Kingdom, has Hitchhiked through over 100 countries and gained a lot of unforgetable experiences.

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I am Chris, a 33-year-old guy traveling full-time since September 2014. Until now, I have visited 100 countries, seen so many amazing places and people on this planet and shared all the stories on my website Chris on Tour (www.chrisontour84.de). Besides traveling, I also have a great passion for guitar and climbing, and I can’t wait to get back to them after my big trip around the world!

I love hitchhiking so much that I have decided to use this mode of transportation when traveling around the world. You might think that I probably just want to save money. However, though it is certainly helpful for me as a budget traveller, it is not the main reason to hitchhike. My main motivation for hitchhiking is to get in touch with the locals, to dive right into their lives and be part of them for a short while. Sometimes they pick me up on their way to work or on their way home, where I might stay in the end; and some might be on their own little adventure and allow me to be a part of it.

After all these years, I have had so many great experiences and never ever had a really bad one. Sometimes it gets challenging, but nobody has ever said that hitchhiking is easy. I hope you will enjoy my Caribbean Islands and Australia stories, and maybe get some inspiration to try it out yourself sometime.

CARIBBEAN HITCHHIKING TALES

Saint Lucia on 2nd December 2016

Together with my Croatian friend, Bo, I went on an epic 6-week cruise through the Caribbean in November and December last year. While we spent most of the time on the boat, we also had some chances to explore the islands along the way. As our shipman had no interest in these islands, we were always heading out to the nearest street to hitchhike all over the place. We arrived in the beautiful Saint Lucia, we quickly realized that hitchhiking was not common there. Nobody seemed to know what we were doing and everyone was only smiling when seeing us on the road. Eventually, some curious guy in a little truck stopped and asked us if we were looking for the bus station. We explained the situation and became the first hitchhikers he picked up, leaving us all a little surprised and interested.

On our way to see the magnificent Pitons mountain, we were picked up by an employee of the luxury Sugar Beach resort which is located right in between the two Piton Mountains. The cheapest price for a room here is USD 500, and you will not be allowed to walk in their premises unless you are a guest – or, as in our case – hitchhike with someone who works there! He was so helpful to call a small tuk-tuk from the resort with a private driver to take us to the beach. We spent a few hours there before walking out to the street to hitchhike back to the boat.

Dominican Republic on 7th December 2016

Bo and I also went to visit the Antigua and Barbuda Islands. Bo has never hitchhiked before joining my trip and until now, I have probably introduced this means of transportation to over 30 people. He quickly realized how much fun it was because we did not know what kind of situation we would end up in, so we continued getting our thumb out on the road, asking for a lift! In Antigua, we wanted to see the Devil’s bridge and had only one day to get there and back again before sailing to the next island. On our way back, we were picked up in a truck by a local delivery man. He was willing to help but asked us if we had any spare time to wait for him to deliver one last item. We, of course, agreed and supported him doing his work. Everyone was happy in the end, and it is always great to be able to give something in return when receiving a free ride. After saying goodbye to the driver and his cute family, we made it to the boat just in time.

Dominican Republic on 11th December 2016

Accompanied by a friend from Venezuelan CouchSurfing community, we jointly explored the Dominican Republic. Hitchhiking with three people is obviously a bit harder, but luckily the locals here are quite familiar with this transportation method.

We quickly got a ride from some locals but ended up stranded in the small village of Oviedo. The police were really concerned about our safety because of some local gangs, and strongly advised us not to hitchhike anymore. Luckily, the people we met there were all really friendly and we stayed with the person that gave us a lift, shared a great local meal and stories with some locals who had never talked to tourists before, because nobody would ever stop here on their way to Bahia de Las Aguilas. On our way back, we headed to Samana and got a ride in a tiny truck full of coconuts! With the three of us on the back, the truck couldn’t go up the hill and we had to get off to push it.

HITCHHIKING TROUBLES

Western Australia countryside on 30th July 2017

Hitchhiking is not always fun or easy. You often have to make effort and walk a lot to get to a good spot where there are many vehicles going through! In the late July of this year, I found out that the remote area of Western Australia Countryside which was located between Albany and the Wave Rock South East of Perth did not have much traffic at all. After exploring the beautiful Two Peoples Bay, I hitchhiked to the north and got off near the Borden village. The guy who picked me up and his 98-year-old mother already warned me that I might not get a ride there since it was already 5pm and nobody was driving to the next village that late. He dropped me at the intersection and told me that he had to sleep in the bush nearby when he tried to hitchhike 30 years ago.

I still had about 90 minutes until sunset to wait for any vehicles that may come past. It was very windy that day and a storm was supposed to pass through the area the next day, so I had no interest in staying in the bush that night.

Hours passed and just a single car came by, leaving me behind with no other option but to set up my tent. One car in about 2 hours! In this situation, you need to be able to make it through the night. It was winter in the south of Australia, so the night became pretty cold and without a tent and my sleeping bag, I would have been in trouble that night. However, the spot was great and I even had some space to start up a small fire.

The next morning, I was woken up by the first car at 7am and quickly packed up my tent and other stuff. I walked to the street and and waited for the next car. It was super windy and freezing cold that morning, and the dark clouds above me certainly indicated that a big storm was about to come. Sadly, there was still not much traffic even in the rush hour of the morning and I had to wait nearly four hours for the second car. It picked me up and I was on my way to the Wave Rock with one more unforgettable hitchhiking experience.

HITCHHIKING TIPS

1. Look likable!

Put on your best smile while waiting for a lift. You only got a few seconds of leaving a great first impression and without looking “nice”, you will not convince the drivers to stop for you! Don’t be angry if they don’t stop and keep a positive attitude up even if you have to wait for a bit longer. Trimming that messy beard and not wearing a T-shirt full of holes might help out as well.

2. Find a good spot

It is of great importance to find a good spot that offers enough room for cars to pull over safely without harming any other people in the traffic. They should also be able to see you in advance to give them some more time to react. A speed limit will greatly increase your chances as well, so try getting a lift in towns or after roundabouts. Note that hitchhiking directly on highways is usually forbidden, for a very good reason.

3. Get on the road early

Don’t start your adventure too late as you will have less traffic the later you hit the road. Between 7:30am and 9am is perfect in most scenarios when people start to work. If you hitchhike in rural areas, you might not get a ride at all anymore after 4:30pm or even earlier, so be prepared to wake up early and calculate any time that you might need to walk out to a good spot. I often walk up to 5km to get a decent spot trying to get out of bigger cities.

4. Keep moving

There are two things I like about hitchhiking while walking out of town. First, people will not think that you have a dangerous buddy waiting in the bush to ambush them and second, you are able to improve your position and try your luck again if you are stuck somewhere. Personally for me, it is a mental thing of moving to another spot if I didn’t get a ride. I just like to think that if you put in some effort, you will eventually be rewarded!

5. Go step by step

Don’t think you will get straight to your final destination. Most of the time, you will have to move from town to town and be prepared to have multiple rides. Especially in countries that might leave you with a little bit of a communication problem due to language barriers, I would always just mention the next town to them rather then the final destination as they might otherwise decline you since they are just going to the next town. Once you are in the car, you can always talk about where you are trying to end up at the end of the day and get dropped at a good spot for the next lift.

6. Be prepared to strand

Sometimes you will not get a ride if you head out towards the remote corners of a country. I have just experienced it in Australia and after the traffic came to a complete stop, I had to set up my tent in the bush and try again the next morning. One car woke me up at 7am and then I had to wait until 11am for the second car to pass in the wind and cold. ưDon’t wander off and try to hitchhike to remote places without a tent, enough water and food!

7. Interact

Once you get in the car, be nice and interact to the driver. Start off by offering something that you can spare such as a snack or sweets and even if it is not much, it will show that you are a nice person. Also be curious and answer any curious questions the driver will have. You will most certainly be a very interesting person in his mind and even if you hitchhike everywhere for a long time and you get the same questions over and over again, always try to answer them in a nice and polite way. Truckers like to pick up people to kill their time as well on very long rides, so help them by talking to them!

8. Have a map

This one seemed to be too obvious for me but after reading some comments, I have now added the 8th tip: Have a map with you!! I always use Google maps and MAPS.ME and you just have to know everything about the possible routes to take in between towns and it is always good to see how far away you are. GPS signal usually works even without a SIM card and I will write a separate post about using Offline Maps in the future!

Christopher Heil | Wanderlust Tips

Hokkaido: A vibrant island

The freshest seafood, the most succulent melon, the most spectacular night scenery and the best cheesecake, all of these can be found in Hokkaido, the beautiful island in northern japan.

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VISIT

Okurayama Olympics Museum

It is a must-visit location for any sport lovers. Located on the foot of the Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium, the museum displays numerous valuable materials from 1972 Sapporo Winter Olympic Games and other international championships such as the Nordic Ski Championships and the Asian Winter Games, which Sapporo hosted. Moreover, visitors going there can also experience all the world’s winter sports like launching off of a ski jump, riding a bobsleigh, and spinning on ice skates. It will be interesting and fun for both kids and adults.

– Address: 1274 Miyanomori, Chuo-ku, Sapporo 064-0958, Hokkaido.

– Operating times: 9am – 6pm (seasonal changeable)

– Tickets: Adults JPY600 ; Free admission for Junior High School or younger.

Yamamoto sightseeing orchard

Without any time restriction, “All-you-can-eat fruit picking” program will be an exciting experience for all visitors travelling there. The fruits there are grown organically, and there are wide variations of seasonal fruits including strawberry, cherry, plum, peach, blueberry, prune, apple, chestnut, and pear. A guest house and a shop were also integrated into the place.

– Address: 1102-5, Nobori-machi, Yoichi-cho, Hokkaido

– Operating times: Every day.

– Tickets: For all-you-can-eat package: JPY1,100 per adult and JPY880per elementary school student. For an all-you-can-eat package with take-away fruits, you have to pay JPY1,850 per adult and JPY1,630 per student.

Ueno Farm

Designed by Sayuki Ueno, this farm is actually a beautiful garden which was rearranged as an English-style one with different plants suiting the climate and soil conditions of Hokkaido. The farm produces the native seasonal plants of Japan’s northern area. The farm also has a variety of animals and birds, which makes it a pleasant place to visit.

– Address: 186, Nagayama-16, Asahikawa, Hokkaido.

– Operating times: 10am – 5pm. Closed Every Monday from 26th April to 19th October.

– Tickets: Adults: JPY500, Children aged 12 years old or below: Free.

Asahiyama Zoo

The Asahiyama Zoo’s highlights include a glass tunnel through the penguin pool that allows visitors to observe the birds’ underwater flights, and small glass domes in the middle of polar bear and wolf enclosures that can get visitors right among the animals. Animals on display include native wildlife from Hokkaido such as deer, eagles, cranes and (now extinct) wolves, as well as various animals from across the world like polar bears, apes, big cats and giraffes. If you travel by bus, it takes 35 minutes from Asahikawa Station and costs JPY440.

– Address: Higashi Asahikawacho Kuranuma, Asahikawa 078-8205, Hokkaido.

– Operating times: From late April to mid October: 9.30am to 5.15pm (entry until 4pm); From mid October to early November: 9.30 am to 4.30pm (entry until 4pm); From mid November to early April: 10.30am to 3.30pm (entry until 3pm)

– Tickets: JPY820 per person

Shiroi Koibito Park

Shiroi Koibito Park is a fantastic space based on the ideal of deliciousness, fun and stories of sweets from a bygone era. In addition to housing the Shiroi Koibito Factory where well-known Hokkaido confectionery is produced, the park also has a cafe for visitors to savor Ishiya’s original sweets, the Cookie craft Studio, a toy exhibition room and the Rose Garden.

– Address: Miyanosawa 2-jo 2-chome, Nishi-ku, Sapporo 063-0052.

– Operating times: 9am – 6pm. Last admittance: 5pm. Shop closing time: 7pm.

– Tickets: High school students and older: JPY600, Junior high school students and younger: JPY200 (No pets allowed)

The view at night from MT. Hakodate

After taking the Ropeway cable, which can accommodate up to 100-200 people at one time, to reach the Peak of Hakodate Mountain, you can enjoy the spectacular night view which looks like sparkling jewels. People even said that the landscape at night would be much more fabulous around Christmas time. This view is rated three stars in the “Michelin Green Guide Japan”. The best time for this beautiful night view is about 30 minutes after sunset.

– Address: Hakodateyama, Hakodate 040-0000, Hokkaido.

– Tickets: The cable car round trip fare is JPY640 for a child and JPY1,280 for an adult (cheaper for groups of 15 and more).

Tomita Farm

Being covered in rainbow arrays of flowers and with the mountains of Daisetsuzan National Park as a background, the farm boasts 12 splendid flower fields and 1 forest on a 20 hectares area. Furthermore, there are many houses where visitors can see how people produce the flowers such as the dried flower house, the perfume workshop, the distillery workshop and the potpourri house. From June to September, Japan Railway opens a temporary train station called Lavender Batake to accommodate the influx of visitors.

– Address: Kisen Kita 15-go, Nakafurano-cho, Sorachi-gun, Hokkaido 071-0704.

– Operating times: 9am – 4.30pm form October till late April, 8:30am – 6pm from late April to September.

– Free entrance

Nikka Whisky Yoichi Distillery

The distillery was built in 1934 by Masataka Taketsuru, who was known as the father of Whisky in Japan. In addition to the distillery, a whisky museum displays many interesting materials and the production methods of whisky as well as the history of Nikka Whisky where Taketsuru and his Scottish wife Rita lived. Nine historical buildings, including a kiln building (the first drying tower), were registered as tangible cultural properties in 2005.

– Address: Kurokawa-cho, Yoichi-machi, Hokkaido.

– Operating times: 9am – 5pm (admission until 4pm)

– Free entrance

EAT

Lamb Dining Okurayama

This restaurant serves the famous Jingisukan (Genghis Kahn BBQ) – Mongolian Lamb Grill which is really tasty, especially after you get freezing cold after a ski lift. This dish is known as Hokkaido’s soul food. You can choose between the ski-jump-view side and the-city-view side. You can also compare Hokkaido lamb, Australian lamb with Chilled lamb Tabekurabe set with the price of JPY1,900.

– Address: 1274 Miyanomori, Chuo-ku | Okurayama Jump Stadiom, Crystal House 2F, Sapporo 064-0958, Hokkaido.

Asahikawa Ramen Village

Asahikawa Ramen Village, located in the suburb of Asahikawa city, is home to 8 ramen shops in one location including Aoba, Santoka, Baikohken, Ittetsu-an Matsuda, Tenkin, Ishida, Kobo, Kato and Saijo. Each shop offers their own unique assortment of ramen varieties. Most of the menus are written in Japanese. In case you don’t know how to order, just point at the picture of ramen that you like the most. Most of the ramen shops represented at the ramen village can also be found in downtown Asahikawa. It is also a must to take photos with a giant ramen display.

– Address: Nagayama 11-jyo, 4-chome, Asahikawa, Hokkaido 079-8421.

– Operating times: Daily from 11am to nearly 9pm.

– Cost: JPY1,000 – 2,000 per person.

– Access: 20 minutes by taxi from the JR Asahikawa Station.

Kaiseniya Otaru Isozushi

This small Japanese restaurant along Sakai-machi street sells seafood don (seafood bowl) and sushi with excellent taste. It has the capacity of 72 seats, and is open all week including Sundays. There is a large-sized water tank with “live squid special” in front of the restaurant, and the live squid is sent from Hakodate every day.

– Address: 4-1 Sakaimachi, Otaru 047-0027, Hokkaido.

– Operating times: 10am – 4pm.

– Cost: JPY2,000 – 4,000.

Nikka Kaikan Restaurant Taru

This restaurant is located inside the Nikka Whiskey Yoichi Distillery. After a walk and a taste of whiskey, this is the perfect stop to try Japanese delicacies such as sushi, tempura, noodle, miso soup, and shabu hotpot. Chan Chan Yaki (grilled salmon with vegetables) is a recommended dish you should try there. The restaurant offers a quiet space, excellent service, and great food.

– Address: 7-133 Kurokawacho | Nikka Kaikan 1F, Yoichi-cho, Yoichi-gun 046-0003, Hokkaido.

– Cost: JPY1,000 – 1,500 per dish.

– Operating times: 11am – 4pm.

SHOPS

Aeon mall Asahikawa Ekimae

There is an Aeon supermarket, pharmacy and food stores on the first storey, female fashion shop on the second storey, Daiso and lifestyle products on the third one. The top storey is for the cinema and restaurants. You can get 3 hours free parking with a bill from JPY2,000 at any store.

– Address: 7-2-5 Miyashitadori, Asahikawa 070-0030, Hokkaido.

The Wing Bay Otaru

The Wing Bay Otaru is one of the largest malls in Hokkaido, and beloved by Otaru citizens. It isn’t like a big city, sparkly shopping destination but has a more suburban and “homey” feel. The mall is linked directly to the JR OtaruChikko train station via a short covered walkway. Besides international brands, there are little quirky shops that sell retro local stuff such as toys, snacks, and paraphernalia.

– Address: 11 Chikko, Otaru 047-0008, Hokkaido

– Operating times: 10am – 9pm.

Hokkaido Morning Market

If you want to experience a local touch, the market is a must. It offers an interesting microcosm of the people. While dealers bargain out loud, middle-aged local women walk and choose their products on display. The variety of items, in particular, seafood, along with the food stalls makes the market a place for consideration to visit, and even to have a late breakfast or a brunch. Fresh seafood and fruits are worth buying.

– Address: JR Hakodate Station, Hakodate, Hokkaido.

– Operating times: 5am.

Sapporo Central Wholesale Market

You should visit Curb Market or the Sapporo Jyogai Ichiba that borders the Sapporo Central Wholesale Market. There are around 60 stores there including seafood, greengrocers, butchers, and liquor stores. Many of the seafood stores have eating spaces included at a reasonable price. There are places where you can eat Hokkaido cuisine other than seafood, such as soup curry, ramen, or Genghis Khan barbecue. After you enjoy eating and shopping, you can relax at the public bathhouse inside the market called Sakaeyu when it opens at 2pm.

– Address: 21-2-3 Kita 11-Jo Nishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-0011, Hokkaido.

– Operating times: 6am.

STAYS

Jozankei View Hotel

Jozankei View Hotel has 647 guest rooms in different types surrounded by a lush green area. The guests can enjoy delightful dining experiences with a wide variety of gourmets from Japanese cuisine to Chinese and Western cuisine. Highlights include hot spring experience (onsen) and a playground for kids called Lagoon, which bring joyful and revitalizing moments to all the guests. The hotel, though, is not a new hotel with highly modern facilities to expect for. (built in 1985).

– Address: 2 Chome Jozankeionsenhigashi, Minami Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 061-2302.

– Price: From JPY16,200.

Art Hotel Asahikawa

Art Hotels Asahikawa is located conveniently near the major buildings and downtown shopping area in the city. It takes one day to get from the hotel to famous interesting spots such as to Daisetsu Mountain, Furano, and Biei. Art Hotel Asahikawa features 265 rooms in Western style, 3 dining options, a sauna and fitness facilities to give comfort to both business or holiday guests.

– Address: 6 Chome 7 Jodori, Asahikawa, Hokkaido 070-0037.

– Price: From JPY6,156 per room per night.

Hotel Otaru Grand Park

With a wide selection of multi-functional rooms ranging from 53 square kilometres to 682 square kilometres, the hotel offers guests comfortable space in both Western style and Japanese style with a breathtaking view over mountains and ocean. The guests can have Italian, Japanese or Chinese dishes in 5 restaurants and bars while enjoying the views of Ishikari Bay and Otaru Bay Marina. Staying at Grand Park Otaru also means you have a giant shopping mall at your hotel’s doorstep.

– Address: 11-3 Chikko, Otaru, Hokkaido, 0470008.

– Price: From JPY2,715 per night.

EXCLUSIVES

Kaimeiro Music Box Store

Located in a historical stone-built building that was once the site of an Otaru canal’s bank, Kaimeiro creates its very own music cylinders, so you can find a selection of hard-to-find songs or even order your very own custom-made music box with your favorite songs. You can also experience selecting a unique box and decorations to accompany your chosen songs, and create your very own music box through the store’s hands-on class. With slight adjustments, you can transform the store’s existing music box into your very own keepsake.

– Address: Sakaimachi 1-20, Otaru, Hokkaido.

– Operating times: 10am – 7pm.

Letao

From Otaru, Hokkaido, LeTAo started their sweet story in 1998. LeTAo double fromage fans cannot miss the chance to visit its main shop. The two-layered Double Fromage, made of baked cheesecake with a rich cheese flavor and unbaked cheesecake that is light and milky, is now delivered nationwide and even worldwide. The shop only sells frozen cakes that need defrosting for 2 hours before eating for a perfect taste.

– Address: 7-16 Sakaimachi, Otaru City, Hokkaido, 047-0027.

– Operating times: 10am – 6pm.

24K studio & showroom

Ezo sika deerskin product can be a luxury souvenir to bring home from Hokkaido. Designer and leather craftsperson Kiriko Takase’s 24K brand Ezo sika deerskin products feature refined, elegant shapes and a subtle warmth. With its gorgeous contemporary design and high-end leather, a bag can cost JPY70,000 – 80,000.

– Address:: 1F Museum, 6 Minami 3-jo Higashi 2-chome, Chuo-ku Sapporo, Hokkaido.

Kitaichi Glass

Taking a hot sip of coffee or tea in a dazzling ambiance, enjoying the stunning and colorful glass handmade products can delight your day. Coming there, you are not just a shopper but an artist who can create your own products by spraying sand on the surface of the glass with the cost ranging from JPY900 to JPY3,150 or making Tonbonball with the cost of JPY1,000 for 20 minutes.

– Address: 7-26 Sakaimachi, Otaru, Hokkaido 047-0027.

– Operating times: 8.45am ~ 6pm everyday.

Hong Nhung | Wanderlust Tips

November and flower routes

With pink buckwheat flowers, graceful daisies, white canola, and brilliant yellow wild sunflowers, November awaits travellers with trails full of flowers.

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HA GIANG – PINK BUCKWHEAT FLOWERS

From the end of October until November and December, the rocky plateau is covered with the charming beauty of pink purple buckwheat flowers. The white, pinkish or purple flowers with tiny petals blooming in clusters with small stems bring beauty and fragrance to the spectacular roads of Ha Giang. Buckwheat flowers often start blooming from September lunar calendar. Local people there often utilize the flour made from buckwheat to make cakes, or mix it with corn to create a special wine flavor such as the distinctive wine of Pho village (Bac Ha), Nam Pung (Bat Xat), Man Than (Si Ma Cai), etc. In some places, people also use the flour for cattle-breeding. Buckwheat seeds are smoothly ground and poured into molds to make round flat purple cakes that are sold at the market at VND15,000 per piece. Sitting around a charcoal fire and enjoying tasty, smooth and soft cakes with the woody scent in the coldness of early winter on the plateau would be an unforgettable experience for visitors.

Location – vehicles

– From Hanoi, you can take a coach at My Dinh or Gia Lam bus station to Ha Giang. The fare for a sleeper coach seat ranges from 200,000VND to 240,000VND per person, and travelling time is about 6-7 hours.

– Sung La: From Dong Van town, go to the east in the direction to Lao Sa for 6 kilometres. From Hanoi, follow National Highway 4C, then turn left in Lao Sa direction and go for 3.2 kilometres more to reach Sung La.

– Pho Bang: From Ha Noi, follow National Highway 4C until seeing the road sign to Pho Bang, then turn left and go for about 4 kilometers more. Pho Bang is 11 kilometres to the east of Dong Van. There are about 500 H’mong and Chinese residents there.

– Lung Cu: From Ha Giang city, drive about 130 kilometres on National Highway 4C. When seeing Hoa Da hostel, turn left to Cot Co Quoc Gia road and continue to drive 30 kilometres to Lung Cu.

– Pho Cao: From Ha Giang City, drive about 115 kilometers on National Highway 4C, then turn left at Pho Cao crossroad and go for 3 kilometers more.

HA NOI – DAISIES APPEARING ON THE STREET

Tiny flowers with small white delicate petals embracing a round yellow pistil, that’s how daisies quietly appear on the streets. Each year, daisy flowers only bloom for a single season, lasting for 2-3 weeks. When the autumn sunlight pours down the street, pure white daisy fluttering in the cold autumn breeze as a signal of an upcoming winter can melt the hearts of any wanderers. Dressing Ao Dai, young girls walk on the street or go with their friends to flower villages around Hanoi to capture the sweetest moments of a short daisy season full of love and memories. Despite the weak appearance, daisies are easy to grow and can be underplanted with other plants in the dry land, and they also need very little fertilizer. Therefore, the sand area by the rivers, especially the flower villages in Hanoi are often covered with this white flower at the end of autumn. The seeds were sown in May, and by mid-November, first flowers will bloom.

Location – vehicles

– Vendors along the streets of Hanoi: Phan Dinh Phung, Hoang Dieu, Thanh Nien, Thuy Khue, Nguyen Chi Thanh, etc. The price is about VND30,000 per bundle.

– Nhat Tan flower garden: Catching the bus No. 55, 58, 31 at Nhat Tan crossroad or driving a motorcycle to lane 264 Au Co street, after passing peach blossom and kumquat gardens, you will reach the village.

– Red River Delta rocky bank: Go to lane 264 Au Co street, then go for less than 1 kilometre. Red River Delta rocky bank has a lot of daisy growing plots.

– Quang Ba flower village: Go along Au Co street, then to Xuan Dieu street and continue into To Ngoc Van street, Quang Ba flower village is at the end of the road.

– Tay Tuu flower village: Go straight to Ho Tung Mau street then to road 32, and to Nhon intersection where Hanoi University of Industry is located at. Turn right, go for about 2 kilometres and you will arrive at the village.

MOC CHAU – WHITE CANOLA FLOWERS

There’s no need to wait for the new year to admire peach and plum blossom because in November valleys and fields in Moc Chau plateau are covered with white canola flowers. Unlike other places, flower gardens are enclosed in a small field in Moc Chau which is 180 kilometres away from Hanoi. The flowers are grown in the hill, stretching from valley to mountain foot, and the vast space is covered with a pure white canola flowers. A dozen hectares of white cruciferaes running straight to the horizon never fails to captivate visitors going there. Moc Chau not only features white cruciferaes but also has a lush tea hill, yellow wild sunflowers as well as crimson poinsettias in November and December. Do not forget to bring a coat and a warm scarf because in November the temperature in Moc Chau is only about 13-21oC. The ticket price varies from VND10,000 to VND20,000 per person to visit each garden.

Location – vehicles

– From Hanoi, you take a coach to Moc Chau at My Dinh or Yen Nghia bus station. The coach fare ranges from VND170,000 per seat (for ordinary coaches) to VND230,000 per seat (for sleeper coaches). Or you can go by motorcycles or cars in the direction of Nguyen Trai or Lang – Hoa Lac street through Xuan Mai street to the new National Highway 6.

– Pa Phach 1, 2, 3 Village: From Moc Chau town centre, going for 5 kilometres to Vuon Dao subzone, you will see Kengnam building (yellow building). Then you continue for 1.6 kilometre more to the intersection; when seeing Truong Giang hostel, turn left into Pa Phach Village. You only can go into the village by motorcycles because the road is quite small, and there is a slope in the village. Pine forest area in Ang village: Go for about 3 kilometres from the town centre along Phan Dinh Giot street.

– Bo Bun Village, Moc Chau Farm Town: From Moc Chau town centre, follow National Highway 43, then turn right to National Highway 6. The village is just 4 kilometres away from the centre.

– Bua Village, Dong Sang Commune: Turn left to Phan Dinh Giot street at the intersection of Moc Chau Town, then go for 700 metres. After that, turn left to the dam, and you will arrive at the village after driving 300 metres.

– Five caves in On Village: From Moc Chau Town Centre, follow National Highway 43, then turn left on Provincial road No. 104. Five caves in On Village are about 20 kilometres away from Moc Chau town centre.

DA LAT – WILD SUNFLOWERS SEASON

Considered the land of eternal spring, from the end of October to early November every year, Da Lat roads are covered with the brilliant yellow of wild sunflowers, creating the amazing beauty to the whole highland city. The wild sunflower, also known as wild marigold, has a diameter of 8-10 centimeters with 12 yellow petals blooming on the 1-3 meter stem. It is a wild species rooting deeply in the ground and absorbing the nutrients of the soil to have a persistent vitality, which makes other plants give way for. Wild sunflowers are also grown in Ba Vi, Pleiku, Dien Bien, Lang Son and Moc Chau; however, the high golden bushes of wild sunflowers blooming on Dalat streets are still the most fascinating. In the wild sunflower season, it is often sunny during the day but very cold at night and foggy in the early morning and evening. Therefore, the ideal time to see the stunning beauty of wild sunflowers is from 8am to 10am or from 3pm to 5pm.

Location – vehicles

– From Saigon, besides travelling by plane for 50 minutes, you can catch a coach at any travel company office or Mien Dong (Eastern Vietnam) Bus Station with the price ranging from VND150,000 to VND350,000 per person. Travelling time is about 7 hours for 300 kilometers.

– If you travel by cars, drive from Ho Chi Minh City through Thu Thiem Tunnel to Long Thanh – Dau Giay Expressway (55 kilometres), then go on the National Highway 20.

– If you travel by motorcycles, go on the direction of Saigon Bridge to Hanoi Vo Nguyen Giap Highway, then continue to travel on National Highway 1. Go on National Highway 20 at Dau Giay crossroad, drive 115 kilometres to Bao Loc, and then drive 110 kilometres more from Bao Loc to Da Lat.

FOUR WILD SUNFLOWER ROUTES

Route 1: Da Lat – Cam Ly Airport – Van Thanh Flower Village, Ta Nung Town – Elephant Waterfall – Langbiang Mountain.

Route 2: Mat Farm – Cau Dat – Dran Town. Along the road from Trai Mat to Cau Dat tea hill, wild sunflowers often bloom on both sides of the road.

Route 3: Da Lat – Lien Khuong – Nam Ban – Ta Nung – Da Lat, this is an arc-shaped route departing from Dalat city, passing Prenn Pass to National Highway 20 and turn right to National Highway 27, then turn back to Da Lat city.

Route 4: Da Lat – Cau Dat – Đ’Ran – Don Duong – Chau Son pine hill – Phi Nom – Tu Tra – Da Lat. The arc-shaped route is about 130 kilometers.

Nhung Nguyen | Wanderlust Tips

Novotel Phu Quoc Resort: Dream of Paradise

Imagine relaxing beneath coconut palms on a never ending white sandy beach, whilst enjoying clear blue skies, a cool sea breeze, and the whispering sound of waves, along with the graceful sunrise in Phu Quoc the “paradise island”. The experience will be sure to awaken your five senses from their long sleeping.

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Inspired by a local picturesque fishing village and the sparkling beauty of the sunset, the talented architects of Kume Asia have breathed life into every single detail at Novotel Phu Quoc Resort. The resort’s architectural style is a blend of luxurious and well-organized elements, featuring Japanese architecture with local cultural characteristics.

The designs of Ngo Thai Bao Loan, top 5 contestant in Project Runway Vietnam Season 1, appeared youthful, yet noble and luxurious. The hidden yet powerful message about women’s rights is highlighted in the cut-out and simple form of every outfit with a range of different colours blue, green, orange-brown, scarlet, and russet.

Based on the theme of Novotel – “Simple, Modern, Innovative”, all of the resort’s rooms have been designed looking towards the ocean, with the exterior design emanating a feeling of orderliness. A wide range of natural materials with a harmonious tone within the interior design has created a cosy and intimate atmosphere.

People immersing themselves in the fresh sea breeze and filling their souls with natural melodies, fashion and architecture; Novotel Phu Quoc Resort is deservedly recognized as an ideal place for a dream holiday in the paradise jade island.

Photographer: DA MIEU
Make-up: MONICA THACH THAO
Model: THUY DUNG (Miss Vietnam 2008)
Costume: NGO THAI BAO LOAN
Stylist: HUYEN GIN
Location: NOVOTEL PHU QUOC RESORT (Vietnam)

Wanderlust Tips

Boracay: Blue sea and golden sunshine

Though being one in nearly 7,000 islands of the beautiful Philippines, this tiny island is the most popular tourist attraction there. Every year, a huge number of visitors from all over the world go there to immerse in the crystal seawater, lie on the powdery white sand and enjoy the golden sunshine by the peaceful green coconut palms.

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We arrived in Boracay on a September day, just after a storm. Everyone said that we were so lucky because we went there in the rainy season but the weather was still beautiful. Boracay is a tropical island with green coconut palms, a blood red sun, and gorgeous Filipinas dressed in colourful costumes, wearing flowers, dancing on the white sand path; and with various beachside bars and restaurants.

I have visited many entertainment venues in different countries but I was still surprised with how organized the tourism development and management is in the Philippines. When the night falls, coastal restaurants become the most bustling with eye-catching displayed seafood and elaborate Asian style decorations. What the customers need to do is just choose the food and order it to be cooked to their own requirements. Almost every restaurant had their own entertainment show: on one side, they arrange large armrchairs on the sand where Hookah, wine and beer is served. Dancers also entertain guests. While on the opposite side, rock bands wearing Afican braided hairstyles, sing and perform fire dances. There are also bars and hookah stores featuring Asian or Europe design styles stretching along the coast.

There were a lot of tourists, most of them holding beer bottle and drinking while also experiencing the relaxing beauty services offered on the island. These services include traditional Afican hair braiding, henna tattoos and massages. After getting our hair braided and massages on the beach, we dressed up in beautiful, long maxi dresses and put some flowers in our hair. We then chose a bustling restaurant, bought some beers and lobsters at a very affordable price and enjoyed the waves and sea breeze.

People here often start going out at 6pm and have fun until dawn. In the evening, sandcastles are elaborately built and decorated with beautiful lights; you can take pictures and give some money for tips for the builders. These castles are changed every day to match the date, which creates a unique highlight for Boracay. There are a lot of hostels and hotels along the beach; they are small and lovely, featuring traditional Filipino styled architect. The next morning, after leaving central Boracay, we booked a boat tour for about 400,000VND. The price included a tour to 4 islands and a lunch. Boracay brought us a lot of surprises with its crystal blue seawater, and the sea was so clear that we could see fish and corals from the boat. We were then taken to another island for diving and swimming with a school of fish and starfish. There you can go a scuba diving instructor at a much lower price than in Thailand and Vietnam. It’s also possible to go windsurfing and kite boarding, then enjoy a BBQ party on the magnificent beach with fresh fish and seafood. In the afternoon, we went to some caves at Crystal Island where beautiful stairs along the cliffs are made of bamboo, and wooden houses are built in the trees, overlooking the beautiful scenery of Boracay. Exploring deeply into the caves and swimming in the cool water with colourful fish was definitely an unforgettable experience for me.

Filipinos manage and develop tourism in a civilized way: all visitors must pay a tourist fee. People here respect the sea in the same way they respect their religions, so the sea is very clean, beautiful, and has a lot of fish and starfish along the coast. Beaches are decorated with sandcastles. Chairs are decorated with beautiful shells and starfish. Lying on the sand, enjoying a mango shake in the mild sunshine of Boracay made us want to stay there forever.

In the afternoon, when the Boracay sea and sky changed from purple to the crimson of the sun, we sailed to watch the sunset and glide over the waves with the sea breeze. We immersed ourselves in the sea, the blood red sun and white-capped waves. The school of fish sometimes swam past our faces, and we told ourselves that someday, we would definitely come back here with our loved ones.

W.TIPS

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO TRAVEL?

The period from June to November is often the season of typhoons, and December to May is the ideal time to travel here. However, the weather in the Philippines is very unpredictable, and I chose to go to Philippines in September to celebrate my birthday. Although people said this was the typhoon season, when I went there, a storm had passed the day before, and the weather was very nice. The security situation was quite good because the war zones were very far from the centre.

HOW TO TRAVEL TO BORACAY?

I chose the Cebu Pacific low-cost airline to fly to Manila with the round-trip ticket price in promotion period of around 130USD. The flight time was very early at 1 am. When arriving at Ninoy Aquino Airport in Manila, from the international terminal you have to go to the domestic terminal to fly the domestic flight with the round-trip ticket price of about 100USD in the promotion period, which takes about approximately 1 hour to arrive at Caticlan Airport in Boracay.

The plane used for domestic flights is quite small and lovely, the air hostesses are very nice and enthusiastic. Security check is very tight, and you will be checked many times because of the political situation. From the airport, you can take the tricycle at the price of about 50PHP per person to the dock, where you can purchase all the tickets needed to travel to the island. The three tickets include the environmental fee (75PHP), dock fee (100PHP) and ship ticket price (30PHP). It will take about 20 minutes to arrive on the paradise island. There are many ships; you only need to wait for 5 minutes for the next boat; small boats will depart immediately when there are 20 guests, while the main boat will wait for the time stipulated at the departure schedule. After arriving at the dock, you will need about 50PHP more for a tricycle to the main area of the island.

STAYING IN BORACAY

Boracay has two sides with a long coastline, the east coast is called Bulabog and the west coast is called White Beach. The White Beach, the main area of the island, is about 4 kilometres long and is divided into three zones: Station 1, Station 2 and Station 3. Station 2 is the center with the length of about 2 kilometres and countless bustling restaurants on the island. Station 2 is home to many casual restaurants and hotels. Station 1 and 3 are the places where you will find large resorts, so they are more peaceful.

I wanted to experience all 3 stations, so I stayed at a hostel in Station 2 for the first night. You can find a lot of lovely hotels and hostels there. The next night I stayed at Fairways and Bluewater Boracay Newcoast resort in Station 3, which was a bit far from the center but the hotel had a free shuttle from the resort to D’mall center at Station 2. The resort is very large and beautiful with lots of infinity pools, a private beach, golf course, and playgrounds.

Station 2 is crowded and bustling with restaurants, bars, and souvenir shops stretching along the beautiful beach; there are some unique beauty services such as henna tattooing, hair braiding and massages on the beach for tourists. Anyone who comes here can experience such nice and unique services which cost only from 200PHP each. At Station 2 you can go to D’mall – a shopping and dining complex to buy souvenirs and food.

EATING IN BORACAY

Some fine restaurants that serve delicious food includes restaurants like Smoke Restaurant – serves Filipino food; True Food Restaurant – Serves Indian food; Best Mestizos – serves Spanish food; The Hobbit House – serves Italian and Filipino food.

The food in the Philippines is very good and cheap; you can go to the seafood market in D’Talipapa in Station 3 to buy seafood then pay the restaurant to cook for you, but remember to bargain because people here often overcharge up to 5 times more for each item. Or you can go to restaurants or bars along the beach, they display a lot of fresh seafood with eye-catching decorations to attract visitors. You just need to choose and weigh the seafood, then the chef will cook it the way you like: grilling, steaming, or frying.

Most restaurants have live music and fire dances at the beach. Besides seafood, the specialties here include grilled ribs, stir-fried water spinach, smoothies, juice, and cakes made from mango that are delicious and sold everywhere. Even in 7-Eleven, you can also buy the grilled ribs which are very good and sold at a reasonable price.

THINGS TO DO IN BORACAY

Every day you can buy tours to islands, of which the most famous is the Hopping island tour for about 700PHP (350,000VND); you will be offered a tour to four islands and a buffet at sea. I was very impressed with the scenery on Crystal Cove island, where you could go into caves right into the sea to swim with colorful fish. The boat will also take you to the island to go diving, even without deep diving you can still see a lot of fish and corals. Late afternoon is when Boracay becomes the most gorgeous. The sunset over the sea of Boracay never fails to overwhelm tourists. In the daytime, the sea is a crystal blue colour like the Maldives, and when the night falls, the sea turns into crimson. You can buy a 200PHP boat tour to sail to the sea to watch the sunset.

In Boracay, besides swimming and resting, you can go snorkeling to see coral reefs, or go to Bulabog beach for windsurfing and kiteboarding, or take the tricycles to travel along the island, visit local markets to learn about the lifestyle of local people. Filipinos are very nice and friendly, who will help visitors wholeheartedly; although they slightly overcharge products, it will still be fine if you bargain or even decide not to buy anything. Boracay becomes most vibrant at night with bars, hookah, massages, tattoos and braiding stores. You will see manysand castles beautifully built while walking along the beach. A new sand castle will be built every day with that specific date for visitors to take pictures. I was so lucky to be able to find the castle with my date of birth even though we arrived late at night on my birthday.

CURRENCY

Exchange rate: 1 PHP = VND500

It is recommended to exchange money and buy sim cards at Manila airport in order to get the best price.

Hong Anh | Wanderlust Tips

Vietnam Airlines signs a USD1,5 billion agreement with Pratt & Whitney

Vietnam Airlines and American aerospace manufacturer Pratt & Whitney signed a contract of the selection of aircraft engines and support services for 20 Airbus A321NEO aircraft in the presence of the President of Vietnam Tran Dai Quang and President of the United States Donald Trump.

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The signing ceremony was held within the framework of the President of the United States’ official state visit to Vietnam. The two parties also signed a memorandum of understanding on maintenance contracts covering these engines. The deal between Vietnam Airlines and Pratt & Whitney is valued at more than $ 1.5 billion which include 44 PurePower Geared Turbofan (GTF) engines in accordance with comprehensive terms of warranty, maintenance and repair of engines.

Mr. Duong Tri Thanh – President and CEO of Vietnam Airlines said: “The signing ceremony today marked a new step in the development of Vietnam Airlines’ A321 fleet. The engine we choose is highly efficient, fuel efficient, especially environmentally friendly and comes with comprehensive repair arrangements which help Vietnam Airlines to increase operational efficiency and save on operating expenses. I believe that the agreement between Vietnam Airlines and Pratt & Whitney will further reinforce the important economic, trade and investment partnership between Vietnam and the United States.”

Mr. Rick Deurloo, Senior vice president of sales, marketing and customer support at Pratt & Whitney said: “We are proud to celebrate this momentous occasion with Vietnam Airlines. We’ve been powering Vietnam Airlines since the early 1990s when the airline received its first PW4000-powered 767. We look forward to continuing our strong relationship and long history with Vietnam Airlines.”

Since its first operation in 2016, the GTF engine has shown a strong performance with a reduction in 16% fuel consumption, 50% emission and 75% noise compared with the current engine. Vietnam Airlines’ A321 airplanes equipped by GTF engines are the new version of the A321 – the largest aircraft type in the Airbus A320 family. The A321NEO will provide passengers with new standards that will optimize cabin space, increase the size of the exits and new design of passenger cabins. Vietnam Airlines expects to receive 20 A321NEOs in 2018 and 2019.

Wanderlust Tips | Cinet