Thailand: Trip 4

Blog: Volunteering in Thailand
December 18, 2010 - Jan 11, 2011

Trip to Taiwan

A week before I was scheduled to fly to Taiwan, my parents also bought plane tickets to go to Taiwan to join me! They arrived a day before me and left a week after I did. We spent our time together in Taipei and they did a TWO person van tour around Taiwan for 5 days after.

Traveling with my parents was really helpful during this trip because I cannot read Chinese or speak any Taiwanese or Mandarin. I decided where we would go but it was my parents that really led me there. I’m sure that I would have been fine traveling by myself but it was certainly a lot easier to rely on my parents. I really appreciated all their help.

Saturday, November 20, 2010
Setouchi Bus: Imabari 7:00 – Osaka 12:10
Airport Limousine: Osaka 12:28 – KIX 13:30
Flight: Osaka (KIX) 17:00 PM - Taipei (TPE) 18:40 PM

­­Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Flight: Taipei (TPE) 12:30 PM - Osaka (KIX) 16:10 PM
Airport Limousine: KIX 21:45 - Nankai Ferry Terminal 21:10
Orange Ferry: Nankai Ferry Terminal 22:30 - 6:10

Thursday, November 25, 2010
Bus: Toyo Port 6:20 - Imabari JR Station 7:03

Thailand: Trip 3

Blog: Volunteering in Thailand
Sept 14, 2010 - Sept 28, 2010

Trip to Korea in February

Transportation Itinerary

Thursday, February 10, 2011
Flight: Osaka 12:50 -> Seoul 14:40

Monday, February 14, 2011
Flight: Seoul 17:40 -> Osaka 19:20
Airport Limousine: Kansai Airport 21:10 -> Nankai Ferry Terminal 21:45
Orange Ferry: Osaka 22:30 -> Toyo
Bus: Toyo -> Imabari

Trip to Taiwan in November

Transportation Itinerary

Saturday, November 20, 2010
Flight: Osaka (KIX) 17:00 PM -> Taipei (TPE) 18:40 PM

Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Flight: Taipei (TPE) 12:30 PM -> Osaka (KIX) 16:10 PM

This morning, I did three things.

[1] I looked at the calendar for upcoming national holidays.
[2] I looked at the map of Asia for countries close to Japan.
[3] Compared prices of those holidays and countries on H.I.S travel and then booked flight tickets through the airline company website.

It was so quick and easy!

Eating in Macau

I think people go to Macau for gambling and eating. Since my family doesn't gamble, it felt like we were on an eating tour. My kind of tour! Unfortunately, I just ate and ate.. and didn't take any photos so here are some from the thers.

Portuguese Chicken.

Pho! I haven't had it for a year.

Pork chop bun.

Bubble Tea! I was always under the impression that bubble tea was Japanese until I started living there.. and couldn't find anywhere that sold it.

Complimentary dessert from the hotel.

Casino Touring in Macau

Casino buses will shuttle you to and from the ferry station for free.

MGM Grand

Sands

Venetian

Grand Lisboa

Wynn Resort

Macau Senate Square

Largo do Senado: The Senate Square is famous for Portuguese architecture. It was especially beautiful at night. Many of the building walls were pastel colour that easily reflected light so the square seemed brightly lit. Even though it was late, there were many shops open and many people walking around.

Even with the bustling night life, you can find secluded streets.

Ruins of St. Paul's
The main street of the square leads up to the ruins of St. Paul's, a very famous landmark in Macau.

Playing around =)

Rio Hotel

Rio Hotel
Location: Macau

When we got to the ferry terminal, we walked back and forth, trying to find our hotel’s bus parking spot. The shuttle bus was supposed to come pretty frequently, but we couldn’t see it anywhere. Fortunately, Auntie May saw the sign tucked away on the side. My father became the new bus stop sign! After around 10 minutes, the real sign holder came back. There were no hard feelings for him slacking off haha. My father engaged him in a friendly conversation with him. He recommended many places for us to eat (that’s what Macau is all about!) and different things to do in the area.


Soon, our shuttle bus arrived at the ferry terminal. Rio Hotel doesn’t have an official parking spot so we had to jump on quickly while it parked on the side of the road. When we arrived at the hotel, my first impression was that the lobby was magnificent. All shiny with lights and marble all around. It was very impressive.


Our rooms were very nice too. We had two big beds and more floor space than four people could use. I missed Katie when I could stretch out and take the whole bed.


I loved the washroom. Bathtub on one side with a glass and marble shower on the other. I took a bubble bath with a ridiculous amount of bubbles. It was awesome.

Macau

I went on a two day trip with my parents and family friends to Macau. My sister, Katie, was also supposed to come but she got stuck at immigration because she didn`t have her passport. She sent it into the embassy to get a visa for China. They had wrongly reassured us that we could still go to Macau without a passport as long as we had the visa processing receipt.

We took a jet ferry from Hong Kong to Macau. I thought I could take a nap but I felt like I was being tossed around the whole time and it was actually really uncomfortable. The ride back was definitely better so maybe it was just the condition of the ocean that day.

Hong Kong for a Wedding

My cousin Terry, on my father’s side got married this summer! I went to Hong Kong for a week to attend the ceremony and visit family. I didn`t get to travel around much but it was nice to get out of the country for a break.

Saturday, July 3, 2010
NH175* Osaka, Kansai Int'l (KIX) 10:55 - Hong Kong (HKG) 13:45

Saturday, July 10, 2010
NH176* Hong Kong (HKG) 14:55 - Osaka, Kansai Int'l (KIX) 19:30

My family with my grandmother.

Thailand: Trip 2

Blog: Volunteering in Thailand
April 22, 2010 - May 8, 2010

Tennoji Zoo

Tennoji Zoo
Location: Osaka, Japan

I went on a public holiday so the zoo was very busy. Many people were picnicking in the adjoining park. You have to pay 250 yen to enter the park and it's only another 250 yen to go to the zoo.

The zoo is right beside the subway station, so it is very easy to get to. It's amazing that the animals are right in the middle of the city. However, there is a major space issue. Many of the smaller animals were in narrow cages and I don't think the larger animals had enough room either. I think zoos are good places for education but tt made me a little uncomfortable to see the animals so cramped.