I've never been there. Most of what I have heard about it are bad stuff...
Here's someone who actually like the place, read this...
Thursday, November 30, 2006
How to plan for travelling overseas for dummies with a low budget? (Part 2)
The key thing for me is where to live.
I hated the process of travelling to different places every day with my luggage in tow... trying to find the place I have booked, the process takes like 1-2 hrs, or more if you haven't actually booked the place or got lost...
My solution is to choose a base where I'll travel from. Take my trip to Spain last year as an example, I used Seville for the base of exploring Andalusia, I travelled to Cordoba and Granada as day trips from Seville.
Then what you need to consider is how to travel to these other cities/towns. You want to travel by train, then you should live near the train station. Bus, then bus station. It'll be ideal if the train station is near the city centre OR if there's metro. Usually, you cannot get that in European cities.
When I went to Shanghai, I also used the same tactic-- Shanghai as a base of travelling to Suzhou, Zhouchuang and Hangzhou. I chose a hotel right next to the train station and the metro station. It's an extremely convenient way to travel.
Back to Seville, the metro was still under construction when I was there, and the train station was not exactly near the city centre...
I had to choose between city centre and train station... In the end, I chose neither. I can't say it's a mistake... it's something I wouldn't usually do, but it did cost me some problems...
I chose this hostal that is highly recommended by Let's go-- Hostal Lis.
A really great place, just click on the link above and you'll see what a beautiful place it is, and cheap!! And according to the web, it's just 10mins from the train station... In fact, you can even walk there to the train station, I tried that one day on my day trip to Granada, coz I took the early train ~6:30 am, and so I had to leave at 6am, no bus at that time... and I walked all the way to the train station...
You can also walked to the city centre, I tried that on my first day there, though we got lost. People in Spain can't speak English and we can't speak Spanish. With the help of body language, we finally found our way to the Cathedral. However, it took us like 2 hours... sigh...
What's the problem then?? (What?! I didn't consider getting lost a problem?? haha, yeah, not this time, if I hadn't lost my way, I'd never got the experience of trying to talk to Spaniards who didn't speak English and walked through streets no right minded tourists would ever go.) I'll continue later...
I hated the process of travelling to different places every day with my luggage in tow... trying to find the place I have booked, the process takes like 1-2 hrs, or more if you haven't actually booked the place or got lost...
My solution is to choose a base where I'll travel from. Take my trip to Spain last year as an example, I used Seville for the base of exploring Andalusia, I travelled to Cordoba and Granada as day trips from Seville.
Then what you need to consider is how to travel to these other cities/towns. You want to travel by train, then you should live near the train station. Bus, then bus station. It'll be ideal if the train station is near the city centre OR if there's metro. Usually, you cannot get that in European cities.
When I went to Shanghai, I also used the same tactic-- Shanghai as a base of travelling to Suzhou, Zhouchuang and Hangzhou. I chose a hotel right next to the train station and the metro station. It's an extremely convenient way to travel.
Back to Seville, the metro was still under construction when I was there, and the train station was not exactly near the city centre...
I had to choose between city centre and train station... In the end, I chose neither. I can't say it's a mistake... it's something I wouldn't usually do, but it did cost me some problems...
I chose this hostal that is highly recommended by Let's go-- Hostal Lis.
A really great place, just click on the link above and you'll see what a beautiful place it is, and cheap!! And according to the web, it's just 10mins from the train station... In fact, you can even walk there to the train station, I tried that one day on my day trip to Granada, coz I took the early train ~6:30 am, and so I had to leave at 6am, no bus at that time... and I walked all the way to the train station...
You can also walked to the city centre, I tried that on my first day there, though we got lost. People in Spain can't speak English and we can't speak Spanish. With the help of body language, we finally found our way to the Cathedral. However, it took us like 2 hours... sigh...
What's the problem then?? (What?! I didn't consider getting lost a problem?? haha, yeah, not this time, if I hadn't lost my way, I'd never got the experience of trying to talk to Spaniards who didn't speak English and walked through streets no right minded tourists would ever go.) I'll continue later...
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
How to plan for travelling overseas for dummies with a low budget? (Part 1)
I was talking to some friends and found that some people actually find independent travelling a little daunting... I'm not talking about going to Antarctica. I'm talking about places like plain Europe.
You may have some expectations here when you read this, be warned that I'm not a person with unlimited time, so here I'm going for a real plan, very detailed one. I don't walk around in the streets for hours looking for a place to stay. I tried that the first time I went to Europe and MY SHOULDERS HURT with the backpack on!!!!
Let's get on with it...
First, of course you must already know that since you're reading my blog. Use the internet!! Everything you need to know and everything you don't need to know is on the web, you just need time to read them all. If you don't have the time, but have plenty of money, of course, it'll not be a problem coz you can hire someone to plan the itinerary for you.
For me, the first step starts with research on the web AND borrowing travel guides (usually Lonely Planet, and any other that are available) from public library. (Yeah, I said the low budget way!!)
Then you need to decide where exactly you want to go. Of course, you have already decided where you want to go, let me take my trip last year as an example. I have decided to go to Spain before the first step, and then I looked at various places in Spain and decided I want to go to Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Granada, Cordoba, Avila, Toledo... (See I am really treating you like a dummy here. I'm not joking.)
Unless you have quit your job AND have unlimited budget (that means unless you're in your dreams!!), you have a time limit for your trip.
You decide if you can fit all those places in.
Say you have ten days.
2 days- Barcelona
1 day- Madrid
2 days- Seville
...
you get the idea...
Then you decide where you fly in and out of that country and join the dots together. And order the tickets and hotels/hostels online.
Sounds real easy?? It's not...
hmm... well, I'm going to share more of my experience in planning a trip later... that's it for today.
Continue to read here...
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4a
Part 4b
Part 5
You may have some expectations here when you read this, be warned that I'm not a person with unlimited time, so here I'm going for a real plan, very detailed one. I don't walk around in the streets for hours looking for a place to stay. I tried that the first time I went to Europe and MY SHOULDERS HURT with the backpack on!!!!
Let's get on with it...
First, of course you must already know that since you're reading my blog. Use the internet!! Everything you need to know and everything you don't need to know is on the web, you just need time to read them all. If you don't have the time, but have plenty of money, of course, it'll not be a problem coz you can hire someone to plan the itinerary for you.
For me, the first step starts with research on the web AND borrowing travel guides (usually Lonely Planet, and any other that are available) from public library. (Yeah, I said the low budget way!!)
Then you need to decide where exactly you want to go. Of course, you have already decided where you want to go, let me take my trip last year as an example. I have decided to go to Spain before the first step, and then I looked at various places in Spain and decided I want to go to Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Granada, Cordoba, Avila, Toledo... (See I am really treating you like a dummy here. I'm not joking.
Unless you have quit your job AND have unlimited budget (that means unless you're in your dreams!!), you have a time limit for your trip.
You decide if you can fit all those places in.
Say you have ten days.
2 days- Barcelona
1 day- Madrid
2 days- Seville
...
you get the idea...
Then you decide where you fly in and out of that country and join the dots together. And order the tickets and hotels/hostels online.
Sounds real easy?? It's not...
hmm... well, I'm going to share more of my experience in planning a trip later... that's it for today.
Continue to read here...
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4a
Part 4b
Part 5
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Funny thing today
The boss I am currently working under is a woman.
Today during lunch time, we were all sitting in the tea room chatting. A certain saleperson came in and asked, "Where's Anita King?" (The name of my boss but obviously a fake one here! What am I, an idiot?) To be honest, he was a little bit impolite in the way he talked.
She answered before anyone of us could, "She's not in right now. You can reserve an appointment with her secretary. She won't be here until afternoon." (She had a meeting elsewhere in the afternoon.)
As for the other people, we just looked at each other... suppressing the urge to laugh out loud...
Today during lunch time, we were all sitting in the tea room chatting. A certain saleperson came in and asked, "Where's Anita King?" (The name of my boss but obviously a fake one here! What am I, an idiot?) To be honest, he was a little bit impolite in the way he talked.
She answered before anyone of us could, "She's not in right now. You can reserve an appointment with her secretary. She won't be here until afternoon." (She had a meeting elsewhere in the afternoon.)
As for the other people, we just looked at each other... suppressing the urge to laugh out loud...
Is it just me being busy??
I don't know, I would have thought ceasefire between Israel and Palestine was important news... how come I don't think I have heard this in any news report in the Chinese TV channels? Was I too busy that I did not notice? Or maybe the news report was too brief...??
Amos Oz, one of Israel's most prominent novelists, said it might be "the first flicker of light at the edge of the darkness". The ceasefire between the Israeli military and Palestinian fighters is only two days old, it only covers the Gaza Strip, not the still-occupied West Bank, and already it has been breached a number of times.
Maybe everyone knows this ceasefire is unlikely to be a real one... They can probably save time not reporting it, knowing that in a few days' time, it'll be over...
Amos Oz, one of Israel's most prominent novelists, said it might be "the first flicker of light at the edge of the darkness". The ceasefire between the Israeli military and Palestinian fighters is only two days old, it only covers the Gaza Strip, not the still-occupied West Bank, and already it has been breached a number of times.
Maybe everyone knows this ceasefire is unlikely to be a real one... They can probably save time not reporting it, knowing that in a few days' time, it'll be over...
She has a really great sense of humour! This is hilarious!
If you don't know, Diana Gabaldon is my fav writer. #1 New York Times Bestselling Author on A Breath of Snow & Ashes (Book 6 on the Outlander Series)
I just found these videos today on youtube. Probably from some fans gathering...
I just found these videos today on youtube. Probably from some fans gathering...
Video of the Outlander series
Hold on! No, the movie/TV miniseries is still not here yet...
However, some fans got so impatient they actually made these videos or slide show(??). Wow! Anyway it must have took them a LOT of time.
I'm not such a crazy fan after all, I just check the compuserv community where Diana's very active every day... and re-read her books a hundred thousand times... yep, I'm not crazy AT ALL!
However, some fans got so impatient they actually made these videos or slide show(??). Wow! Anyway it must have took them a LOT of time.
I'm not such a crazy fan after all, I just check the compuserv community where Diana's very active every day... and re-read her books a hundred thousand times... yep, I'm not crazy AT ALL!
Monday, November 27, 2006
Tired...
I'm so tired today, after 12 hours at work...
And I forgot to watch Engine... I'm really tired...
And I forgot to watch Engine... I'm really tired...
Test your IQ (Remind me of childhood, always trying to answer these silly questions, haha)
Ready? GO!!! (scroll down)
First Question:You are participating in a race. You overtake the second place person.What position are you in?
Answer: If you answered that you are first, then you are wrong! If you overtake the second place person, and you take their place, you are second!
To answer the second question, don't take as much time as you took for the first question.
Second Question: If you are in a race, and you overtake the last person, then you are?
Answer: If you answered that you are second to last, then you are wrong again. Tell me, how can you overtake the LAST person?! You're not having a good time at this! Are you?
Very tricky maths! Note: This must be done in your head only. Do NOT use paper and pencil or a calculator. Try it.
Third Question: Take 1000 and add 40 to it. Now add another 1000. Now add 30. Add another 1000. Now add 20. Now add another 1000. now add 10. What is the total?
Answer: Did you get 5000? The correct answer is actually 4100. Don't believe it? Check with your calculator!
Today is definitely not your day. Maybe you will get the last question right?
Fourth Question: Mary's father has five daughters: 1. Nana, 2. Nene, 3. Nini, 4. Nono.What is the name of the fifth daughter?
Answer: Nunu? NO! Of course not. Her name is Mary. Read the questionagain!
Okay, now the bonus round. You can partially redeem yourself with thisone!!!!!
Bonus Question:There is a mute person who wants to buy a toothbrush. By imitating the action of brushing one's teeth he successfully expresses himself to the shopkeeper and the purchase is done. Now if there is a blind man who wishes to buy a pair of sunglasses, how should he express himself?
Answer: He just has to open his mouth and ask. He's blind, not mute - so simple.
KEEP THIS GOING TO FRUSTRATE THE "SMART PEOPLE" IN YOUR LIFE
First Question:You are participating in a race. You overtake the second place person.What position are you in?
Answer: If you answered that you are first, then you are wrong! If you overtake the second place person, and you take their place, you are second!
To answer the second question, don't take as much time as you took for the first question.
Second Question: If you are in a race, and you overtake the last person, then you are?
Answer: If you answered that you are second to last, then you are wrong again. Tell me, how can you overtake the LAST person?! You're not having a good time at this! Are you?
Very tricky maths! Note: This must be done in your head only. Do NOT use paper and pencil or a calculator. Try it.
Third Question: Take 1000 and add 40 to it. Now add another 1000. Now add 30. Add another 1000. Now add 20. Now add another 1000. now add 10. What is the total?
Answer: Did you get 5000? The correct answer is actually 4100. Don't believe it? Check with your calculator!
Today is definitely not your day. Maybe you will get the last question right?
Fourth Question: Mary's father has five daughters: 1. Nana, 2. Nene, 3. Nini, 4. Nono.What is the name of the fifth daughter?
Answer: Nunu? NO! Of course not. Her name is Mary. Read the questionagain!
Okay, now the bonus round. You can partially redeem yourself with thisone!!!!!
Bonus Question:There is a mute person who wants to buy a toothbrush. By imitating the action of brushing one's teeth he successfully expresses himself to the shopkeeper and the purchase is done. Now if there is a blind man who wishes to buy a pair of sunglasses, how should he express himself?
Answer: He just has to open his mouth and ask. He's blind, not mute - so simple.
KEEP THIS GOING TO FRUSTRATE THE "SMART PEOPLE" IN YOUR LIFE
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Digital Camera
I want to buy a DC with manual control, possibly also wide angle, and optical image stabiliser... Not DSLR, they're too huge... I want to carry it around...
And there's only ONE choice, but people say Panasonic is bad... with a lot of noise... Canon is much better, I've got one Canon DC, it's quite good.
In this day and age, what're the camera companies thinking?? I'm not like requesting very special features... how come there're so few choices out there??
Now it's down to Panasonic LX2, Canon G7 (no wide angle), Canon S80 (no optical image stabiliser), Canon A640 (no wide angle, no OIS, but an adjustable LCD and real CHEAP!)
hmm... still thinking...
And there's only ONE choice, but people say Panasonic is bad... with a lot of noise... Canon is much better, I've got one Canon DC, it's quite good.
In this day and age, what're the camera companies thinking?? I'm not like requesting very special features... how come there're so few choices out there??
Now it's down to Panasonic LX2, Canon G7 (no wide angle), Canon S80 (no optical image stabiliser), Canon A640 (no wide angle, no OIS, but an adjustable LCD and real CHEAP!)
hmm... still thinking...
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