Travelogue around Asia Pacific Part II

"Avoiding Crisis is the ability to Change in good times so that you can Change in good time" -  Lim Siong Guan Bandung - We took their efficient and cheap public transport to Cihampelas street of factory outlets; also famously called Jeans Street.   We stopped at Cihampelas Walk, the locals called 'Cih Walk'. They have good and affordable clothing and jeans in their factory outlets.  Their factory outlets has theme with some decorating it interestingly. Denim Bar Cowboy factory outlet Many of their items here are of genuine leather from hats to leather jacket. Interesting signage Air-rifles ancient weighting scale deep fried banana fritters

Bandung - Took the taxi to Trans Studio Mall - the largest Mall in Bandung with an indoor theme park.  Along the way, we saw a shop selling cassette tapes. At Riau, we just shop and shop.   I saw a Mr Bean factory outlet...

Bandung - From the volcano, we went to Taman Wisata Air Panas Alam.   We just made one round of this Hot spring amusement park and left bored. Hot spring Next we went to Bandung Floating market.  I thought it was like Bangkok or Saigon; big mistake - it was a fake food court on small sampans around a lake.  It has a number of amusement rides in the lake. empty sampan  Hawker cooking for a customer

Bandung - Our tour driver picked us up at 6:35am for a journey up to Tangkuban Parahu, a famous dormant volcano in Bandung that lies 30km north of Bandung city.  The last time this volcano erupted was in 1969.   It took us more than an hour to reach the crater.  Upon arrival, there were many locals, tourist and touts selling everything. panaroma view of this activeVolcano It was chilly at the crater at an elevation of 2,083 meters. Active volcano spewing steam Next, we move to Kawah Domas is an active sulfuric hot water source at above 900C temperature. signboard outside the entrance  It was mandatory to pay Rp 250,000 for a guide to bring the group into the sulphuric hot spring for 1hour, additional charges exceed the hour.  We have to walk 500 meters down to the hot spring.  Along the way the guide showed us different species and plants. Trumpet flower Seismometer This will alert the authorities of any active volcanic activ...

Bandung - Took the public mini-van to Jalan Braga for Rp 3,000 each and we walk around this old street. Gereja Katedral @ Jalan Medeka sister town SUWON street artist We walked from Jalan Braga to Alun alun and it was quite a distance but worth the effort as it is the location where locals purchased their clothes and bags.  We spent many hours shopping and then took the min-van to Bandung Plaza Indah.    We bought some delicious fruits. Markisa (passion fruit) Indonesian passion fruit is delicious than the purple version in Singapore. Salak (Snake Skin Fruit) Salak is one of the indigenous fruits from Indonesia and it has an acquired taste which may people cannot get use to but I like the taste furthermore, it is sweeter here.

Bandung - This was my 4th trip to Bandung and I knew that there will only be 1 immigration officer; I hurried my family to get to the immigration quickly but we still had to wait for our luggage.  Flying with SQ has it's privileges with our luggage the first to come off the baggage conveyor. Paid for a SUV to bring us to Sheraton Hotel since we have many luggage and would have incur getting 2 taxis instead.   Sheraton Hotel was a let down as half the hotel is still under renovation and their entrance was still under construction works.   This hotel is a resort with a big lobby facing the pool but with no air-conditioning.  Bandung was hot and humid and having air-con in the lobby would be much preferred. Sheraton Bandung Resort Hotel Walking to our room, we had to pass by Tower building under construction and it was really loud; fortunately we had rooms far away from the noise. workers cleaning the overhanging decorations We were advice by the concier...

"To be bankrupt of character is the worst form of poverty in the world today" Jeju - Anh and Young Jin brought me to one of Jeju popular attractions and it's called 'Alive Museum'   This is the 2nd 'trick art' museum to be built in Jeju and people get a kicked from posing in odd and weird positions. Address: 42 Jungmungwangwang-ro, Seogwipo, Jeju-do 697-808, South Korea The Alive Museum is divided into 5 sections, Trick Art, Object Art, Digital Art, Sculpture Art and Provence Art.   It is really nice to laugh at yourself or be a superhero for a day at the Museum. The shocking one for me was when I thought I was looking at a mirror and there are no image of myself in it. It was scary but got Young Jin and Anh laughing their socks off.

Jeju - After all the personal tour and before our business meetings; we were looking for a nice lunch as we are hungry.  We came across this seafood soup restaurant across Ramanda Jeju. Abalone spicy seafood soup and rice At least 5 Jeju abalones in this soup.  Jeju abalones are much smaller than their cousin from Australia but the taste is so fresh and succulent.

Jeju - It was my first time experiencing a hedge Maze Park.  This Maze Park is called Kimnyoung Maze Park and it is Asia's first.   The reception lady asked me where I was from and told me that a Singapore family was inside the Maze. This Kimnyoung Maze is famous because many TV commercials and Korean drama was shot there. Once we reached the Maze entrance, Young Jin sprinted away leaving me to find my way around this huge maze.   The objective is to exit the quickest and ring the bell.  So I walked around until I saw this Singaporean family and followed them to the exit.  Surprisingly, they were lost inside the maze for 2 hours.

Jeju - We drove to another crater - Sangumburi Crater. Entrance fee here is more expensive @ KW6,000. Sangumburi (산굼부리) is a crater with a circumference of over 2 km, and has been designated as a Natural Monument. It is located on the southeast side of Jeju-si, and is a flat crater, about 650 meters wide, 100 meters deep, and 2,070 meters in circumference. If you look at the crater from above up, it looks like a man-made circular stadium. entrance grass meadows everywhere top of the crater walk around the top of the crater me amongst the tall grasses

Jeju - Next we drove to Mt. Seopjikoji and it was the setting for many Korean dramas and the most famous was All-In .  A drama about gambling and the iconic church. wind dried cuttlefish 'church' prop setting There are no congregation but a movie prop set of a church. Do you recognise any of the movies? ancient signal stack beautiful scenery Lighthouse Contemporary Art Museum Another nice view