When the minivan pulled in at the station in Hat Yai, I got off the car and randomly made my way into one of the travel agent's offices lining a bustling street. At the desk sat a gray-haired woman with a warm smile, exuding the true hospitality spirit of the Thais. “Where are you going?” She asked with a heavily accented voice. I glanced at the clock. It was quarter past ten in the morning. “Where is the next bus leaving for?” I asked. … [Read more...]
About Teh Chin Liang
Teh Chin Liang lives in Georgetown, Malaysia a scenic island city which has been recently declared as a UNESCO heritage site. A travel enthusiast, he has extensively traveled to most of the countries in EU, Australia, the USA and South East Asia. His future travel plans will cover most of the major US cities. As an avid reader, he likes to write articles and meet people. He is currently working as an ANZ Marketing Communications Operation Specialist in Dell Global Business Center in Penang. Chin Liang has a flair for languages. He is multilingual too; he speaks Mandarin, Hokkien, Cantonese, Malay, English and a little Spanish (beginner level). He is an experienced translator. Chin Liang has an extensive knowledge about traveling in Malaysia and he is an active Couch Surfing member. His future plans include taking up his graduate studies in Business, starting a travel blog and last but not least hopping on a plane and jetting around the world!
A Beijing Trip with my Mother
Not long ago, I was enticed to watch a Netflix travel show - “Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father”. The show follows Jack Whitehall, a British comedian on a gap year. Jack thought it would be fun to bring his old-school father, Michael Whitehall on an epic trip around the world. Through endless funny scenes and hilarious exchanges, the show wittily portrays the conspicuous generation gap between the father and son. At around the same time, … [Read more...]
Cheaper and comfortable way to get to Hat Yai from Northern Malaysia
Hat Yai is a popular food and shopping destination for Malaysian tourists looking for a nice weekend getaway. It is also a gateway for travelers especially backpackers to visit other parts of Thailand. For the sake of convenience, most of the people choose to get to Hat Yai by minivan with a wholesome service that will whisk you right from your very doorstep to the front of your hotel at a cost of about MYR 35 (USD 8.5) one way. Despite the … [Read more...]
i-SITE New Zealand, more than just a regular tourist information office
A tourist information office is conventionally known as a resource where visitors can learn about the local region. Generally, these are nondescript locales that seldom merit a mention. However, during my vacation in New Zealand, the local tourist information office took on a whole new meaning for me. Owned and managed by Tourism New Zealand, i-SITE Visitor Information Centers not only offer the best information to help tourists navigate, they … [Read more...]
Open Cremation at Pashupatinath Temple
It was a crisp Friday morning in December; I was standing on a temple compound in Kathmandu thronged by hundreds of sombre-looking devotees offering prayers with garlands and fruits. The air was scented with a mixture of fragrance from the flowers and incense. The sidewalks were bustling with vendors hawking a wide variety of religious souvenirs and infested with stray dogs scavenging for food through piles of garbage. The place was overrun with … [Read more...]
2018 Penang Temple Fair
Chinese New Year is undoubtedly the best time to visit Penang. During this time, this UNESCO World Heritage site becomes a buzz of activity with crowds, colorful holiday decorations and a lineup of exciting and interesting events. One of the most anticipated events that always draws a diverse crowd is the Temple Fair, otherwise known as Miao Hui in Chinese. This celebration is a large-scale street fair co-hosted by a collective of Chinese … [Read more...]
People I met on the Romanian train ride – Part 2
After a fun-filled day of exploring the historic and scenic sights of Sighisoara, I made my way back to the train station. The earlier encounter with the eccentric Romanian family was still vivid in my mind. I wonder what the next train ride back to Brasov had in store for me. The train back to Brasov was a couchette car. It was old, stuffy and reeked of cigarette smoke, a far cry from the train I took earlier with a modern and air-conditioned … [Read more...]
People I met on the Romanian train ride – Part 1
Travelling by train is an easy and affordable way to see Romania as the country offers an extensive rail network connecting all major cities and towns. Its official website https://www.cfrcalatori.ro/ provides comprehensive train timetables and fare information. During my visit to Romania, I chose train as my means of transportation to whisk me from one city to the other. The experience was both exhilarating and intimidating to me. Why does it … [Read more...]
My first experience of a Turkish Hamam
There are many Turkish bathhouses (Hamams) in Istanbul. The famous ones being Çemberlitaş, Ayasofya Hürrem Sultan Hamam, Cağaloğlu etc where you fork out a fortune (more than 100 liras) to enjoy the finest bathing experience in a lavish and elegant environment. Being a frugal traveler (or cheapskate as sometimes the meaning of frugal connotes), those bathhouses with world-class facilities surely are places I would not be able to … [Read more...]
My Two Favorite Spots in Luang Prabang, Laos
After recently visiting Luang Prabang, hindsight has given me a unique perspective of the region. I can inform you that not all activities were worthy of exploration. Therefore, to save you the hassles of doing these non pleasing activities - I have whittled my list down to two top activities that I found the most enjoyable during my stay. Kwang Xi Waterfalls: Tourists will be coaxed into visiting the waterfalls soon after they land - by … [Read more...]