WELCOME TO LLANDUDNO, WALES

WELCOME TO LLANDUDNO, WALES

Wales is a captivating country which boasts traditional seaside delights, soaring mountain ranges, a rich heritage packed with lyrical literature, myth and legend.

Without hesitation, I signed up for a 4D3N tour entitled “Llandudno Celebration at The Marine” - to experience Wales.

Llandudno is located at Northern Wales. It is known as the Queen of Welsh Resorts. It is not difficult to see why – its wide promenade is backed by a graceful crescent of Victorian buildings. North Wales is voted Top 10 places to visit by Lonely Planet.

Illandudno is popular with its highly attractive resort with its magnificent crescent of hotels, broad tree-lined streets and elegant shops all combining to produce a unique atmosphere.

A tramway and cable car both offer a route to the summit of the great Orme (which boasts a superb dry ski slope - one of the best in Britain).

December 7-10, 2018

WRITER POSING WITH THE BACKDROP OF WALES BEST SEASIDE

DAY 1

Check into Marine Hotel. The beautiful coasts can be viewed from my hotel room. I am just fascinated with these beautiful beaches which is dubbed as Wales' “biggest and best seaside resort” .

On the first day, I waste no time going for a walk on the most beautiful beach in Wales, endless photography shots, and keep on bumping into Alice in Wonderland character – in the form of wooden commemorate sculpture namely – the White Rabbit, Mostyn Gallery and author Lewis. 

This little town is also home to Alice in Wonderland. Its author, Lewis Carroll was inspired by real Alice, Alice Liddell. The Liddell family first came to Llandudno in 1861 staying at the St Tudno Hotel. The like the area so much that they had a house built on the West Shore and Alice spend many childhood summers here. The family were friends with Charles Dodgson better known as Lewis Carroll. 

AUTHOR LEWIS CARROLL

DAY 2

A one-day excursion by coach ride to see Betws-Y-Coed, Snowdonia and Caernarfon.

The coach driver Michael drop us at our first stop, Betws-Y_Coed – a bustling mountain village, was an artists' colony in the 19^th century and a sense of style persists here, notably in its infinitely browsable shops stocked with an impressive range of arty, crafty items, clothing and Welsh art galleries. Sample of delights of the area in the diverse range of cafes, bistros, restaurants and pubs where locally sourced and often award-winning produce is featured. The people of Betws-Y-Coed aimed to share their knowledge, information and experience to the visitors here. Betws-Y-Coed is the gateway to Snowdonia National Park.

ARTIST VILLAGE - BETWS-Y-COED

Next stop, was definitely Snowdonia National Park – a must visit stunning coastline and dramatic mountain ranges. With its breathtaking beauty and fantastic scenery, Snowdonia boasts the highest range of mountains in England and Wales. The Park is fringed by the stunning coastlines or the Llyn Peninsular and Cambrian Coast. The coach took a slow drive around the Snowdonia area – to allow us to have a view of the Rocky Valley – volcanic hills – tiny villages cling to the hillside – coastal path (ancient pilgrim's route) - waterfall – wooden houses – Welsh oak - mountain ash – Gwydir Forest – arctic-alpine plant Snowdon lily – Snowdon beetle, hawkweed Hieracium snowdoniense and wildlife such as otters, polecates, feral goat and rare birds (raven, red-billed chough, osprey, merlin and red kite).

Snowdonia or Eryri - is a mountainous region in north western Wales and a national park of 2,130km. It contains the highest peaks in the United Kingdom outside of Scotland. Research indicates that there were 3.67 million visitors to Snowdonia, with about 9.74 million tourist days spent in the park in 2013.The park's entire coastline is a Special Area of Conservation which runs from the Llyn Peninsula down the mid-Wales coast. A large portion of the park is today under designation as Sites of Special Scientific Interest, national nature reserves, Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas, Biosphere and Ramsar sites. Snowdonia is one of the wettest parts of the United Kingdom especially in Crib Goach – an average rainfall 4,473 millimeters in one year.

SNOWDONIA RUGGED MOUNTAIN

The final stop over was Caernarfon is a royal town, community and port in Gwynedd, Wales.

The most popular site here is none other than the Caernarfon Castle is recognised as UNESCO's World Heritage List as one of the finest examples of late 13^th century and eary 14^th century military architecture in Europe. It is one of the best places in the world to hear a living Celtic language, with 85.6% of the local population speaking Welsh. Historically, the castle started in the 13^th century, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, ruler of Gwynedd, refused to pay homage to Edward I of England, prompting the English conquest of Gwynedd. This was followed by the construction of Caernarfon Castle, one of the largest and most imposing fortifications built by the English in Wales. In 1284, the English-style country of Caernarfonshire was established by the Statute of Rhuddlan and Caenarfon was made a borough, a county and market place, and the seat of English government in North Wales. The city has flourised leading to its status as a major tourist centre and seat of Gwynedd Council, harbour and marina. Caernafon expanded its medieval walls and experienced suburbanisation – population larges percentage of Welsh speaking citizens anywhere in Wales.

The castle and town walls are part of a World Heritage Site described as the Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd.

Nearby the castle – one can view castle and wall town (Castle a'r Dret Gaerog), Church of Wales, guest house, inns and pubs, restaurants and shops.

Shopping is prominent - around Pool street and Castle Square (Maes) or on Doc Fictoria .

CAERNAFON CASTLE

CHURCH OF WALES

 

CAERNAFON MARKET SQUARE

DAY 3

Cant wait for the free and easy day. Get ready to shop till you drop. Indulge with some retail therapy in canopied shopping streets, arcades and modern Parc Llandudo. Between them, they offer the biggest and best shopping in North Wales, with everything from chic boutiques and antique emporiums to souvenir stalls and all the familiar high street names.

SHELL OUT & BAMBOO BRIYANI

SHELL OUT & BAMBOO BRIYANI

IPOH: Tower Regency Hotel will be promoting “Shell Out & Chicken Briyani Bamboo” for the whole month of March, here.

The promotion will be available on Monday to Friday, located at its ground floor from 12 noon till 2.30pm.

For both Shell Out and Chicken Briyani Bamboo, the price is RM12 nett per person, inclusive of free flowing cordial.

TOWER REGENCY HOTEL'S STAFF PROMOTING BAMBOO BRIYANI

 

The Shell Out will be served with special homemade sauce from March 1 – 15, while the Bamboo Briyani will be available from March 16 – 30.

Hotel manager Mariana Hamid said that the hotel had a Shell Out promotion which lasted for three months last year, and due to its popular demand we continue to promote it, with another new cuisine from Southern India, the Bamboo Briyani to create variety for our guests.

“Besides, the hotel's Daily Arcade also offered a variety of pastries item, priced between RM3 and RM5, located at ground floor” she said.

MOUTHWATERING SHELL OUT

For reservation, call: 012-6281808 (Norhaizan)/019-6002078 (Meor)/019-5732484 (Mimi) and 016-5424103 (Vinoth).

TAIWAN SMALL TOWN RAMBLE

TAIWAN SMALL TOWN RAMBLE

Taiwan is well-known for places – Kaohsiung (orchards), Taipeh (shopping), Tainan (historical) and the Alishan Mountain.

This island has become a popular holiday destination for Malaysian for the past few years.

Little did I know, that there are many hidden jewels in Taiwan's tourism industry, until I was invited for a 6D5N tour themed “Taiwan Small Town Ramble”, sponsored by Golden Century Tour & Travel Sdn Bhd, here.

The trip was organised solely for four bloggers from either personal blog or magazine blog.

During the almost one-week stay in Taiwan, I have got to know there are really hidden beauty of the many “small towns” in this country.

I believe there are much to offer in Taiwan after discovering these “unknown” inland areas, and these places need promotion to attract more tourists, here.

DAY 1

Our journey started from Ipoh-Kuala Lumpur-Taoyuan. We reached the City Suites Gateway Taoyuan, at about 7pm – ready for dinner, held at the city centre. The locals recommended me to try out the popular mee suah soup (flour vermicelli) dish that goes well with a bowl of tofu fah (beancurd dessert).

DAY 2

Our first stop was a visit to the a cultural village called the “Town of Wanderings” located in the old Guanxi Town, in Hsinchu County. We were allowed to spend one hour here, exploring the local Hakka culture and history, Japanese-built colonial architecture, cultural-creative houses in renovated old Chinese shop houses, and iconic eateries selling Hakka broad noddles, stinky tofu and grass jelly.

Something amazed me was the colorful cultural-creative houses found here whereby tourists would stop over to take photographs.

TOWN OF WANDERING - A TRADITIONAL LOOKING HOUSE

WRITER (R) POSING WITH HER TOUR GUIDE TAMMY

We also dropped by the Chocolate Hotel also known as “Schokolake Vacation House” for a brief outlook on what it has in store for tourists in this cute “all chocolate” decorated hotel. The owner even prepared a few popular dishes for food review by the media, including chicken chop and steak topped with chocolate flavor followed with chocolate cakes and drinks.

SCHOKOLAKE VACATION HOUSE OR CHOCOLATE HOTEL

ALL THINGS (FOOD) LACED WITH CHOCOLATE FLAVOUR

Next, was my favourite place named “Miaoli – Romantic Highway” where we had our 10-dish sumptuous lunch located at a hill side. After lunch, the restaurant owner led us to her orchard just opposite the restaurant to participate hands-on picking fruits such as strawberry, carrot, ginger, cherry and vegetables. I really have “fun” in this place, as I also participated in plucking a large white carrot for photography session.

PICKING FRUITS AT MIAOLI ROMANTIC HIGHWAY

ME AND MR WHITE CARROT

BLOGGERS SHOWCASING THEIR PLUCKED FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

After a heavy lunch, we proceeded to Sanwan Township Park, a new tourism product which has yet to be given a name by the government. Here, we were required to take a 20 minutes stroll to see a mass growth of the golden colored leaves tree named as 'bald cypress tree'. Tourists here, took photographs with the newly planted cypress trees, and also the presence of duck, swan, chicken and goose around the park. To me, this place looks more like a “farm”, where one can view all kinds of bird species, plants, flowers and trees.

SANWAN TOWNSHIP PARK

We then check into the Zhuo Ye Cottage located in the mountain area, at the Miaoli County. This cottage looks very traditional, peaceful and village-like atmosphere with the presence of chicken, duck, dogs and cats around the place. Later, we had our steam-boat dinner held at the cottage's restaurant.

ROOM THAT I STAY IN ZHOU YE COTTAGE

  

ZHUO YE COTTAGE

DAY 3

Could not wait to view the Shen-Shing Station – a site of an old Japanese Colonial era train stop along the old North-South route to Kaohsiung was completed by 1908. Tourists were happy to see the old version of train exhibited in this station.

SHEN-SHING TRAIN STATION

In Shen-Shing, visitors are encouraged to walk the old cobbled streets, enjoy the beauty of traditional sight and enjoy authentic “local Hakka culture”, eat authentic food sell along the streets.

We also get to experience a detour to the Brands Factory, Ribbon Museum and Taiwan Glass Gallery – to have a look at the latest products manufactured in these three places, located at Changhua County.

WRITER POSING WITH BRAND'S OLD DELIVERY CAR

BRANDS FACTORY

 

At the Ribbon Museum, we were introduced to a variety of ribbons and how to make ribbons, here.

Visitors also learn the trade of making a decorative item using ribbons.

RIBBON MUSEUM

RIBBONS IS A FORM OF ATTRACTION FOR XMAS

 

We then had our lunch at the Taiwan Glass Gallery before we were ushered to experience a walk at the Glass 101 building to view the different types of products that Taiwan's glass industry creates. The gallery also showcase wide variety of art glass, household glass, and engineering glass displayed throughout the exhibition area. Opposite the gallery, visitors can take a walk around the Glass Mazu Temple.

TAIWAN GLASS GALLERY

GLASS MAZU TEMPLE

When afternoon comes, we adjourned to the most interesting outdoor place where we get a chance to pick oysters, organised by Wong Gong Picking Oysters. We took a rugged van out to the shore – to experience what it is like to pick oysters. The organisors had already tied up a row of oysters for the tourists to pick on it. There were a variety of activities for the tourists to indulge such as picking and tying up oysters found on a rope, a talk on oyster cultivation and methods to find oysters in the sea.

READY FOR THE PICKING OYSTER TRIP

SHOWING OFF OUR SUCCESSFULLY PICKED OYSTERS

Another interesting place to visit is the “Lukang Culture Village” - where one gets to see the Old Streets of Taiwan comprises of old, tiny and abandoned kind of shops selling biscuits, souvenirs, toys and textiles, and the oldest Tin Hau Kong Temple.

 TIN HAU KONG TEMPLE AT OLD STREET

A must not missed - is the Lukang Lung-Shan Temple, an awesome temple rich in history.

The temple was built in the late 18^th century remains a showcase of southern temple design. Highlights include the front mountain gate (special bracketing system for Chinese architecture) and sweeping eaves, carved dragons (front of Hall of Five Gates), two fish curl each other (Yin Yang Symbol), and the resident deity Bodhisattva Guanyin. The temple's brackets and beams carved in symbol of clouds, dragons, bats, lions, melons, elephants, phoenixes and fish.

LUKANG  LUNG-SHAN TEMPLE

LUKANG LUNG-SHAN TEMPLE - REFLECTION FROM THE TOP

 

Get on a tricycle ride to visit the old streets namely Mo Ru Lane or Touch Breast Lane – where a man and a woman walk through this lane, they might touch each others' breast as the lane is too narrow. This so-called lane is a fire lane where it started once there is a fire hazard, and the people use these narrow fire lanes, along the stores to escape. The lane has air circulation and lights, and it forms an easier access to the larger streets. The lane is 70 cm at narrow west place.

MO RU LANE

HERE WE GO MR TRICYCLE - LUKANG CULTURE VILLAGE

We then check into Child Story – another traditional accommodation, located at the mountain site.

AN OLD FASHION ACCOMMODATION - CHILD STORY

DAY 4

A series of visits awaits us on Day 4 - namely Shing Long Textile Yulin, Chiayi Bantaoyao Art Village and Eirakucho Tea House.

At Shing Long Textile located in the Yulin County, whereby we were provided a detour to see a range of textile and towel products, the weaving factory, tower museum, towel cake kitchen, warp-yarn factory and the towel shop. Visitors were given a hands on to make a doggy using Shing Long textile at its Do It Yourself (DIY) area. The textile factory was found by Kuo-Lung Lin and Su Lin with 24 traditional looms in 1979.

SHING LONG TEXTILE FACTORY IN YUNLIN COUNTY

HAND MADE DOGGY USING SHING LONG TEXTILE

A visit to Chiayi Bantaoyao Art Village was an eye-opener to me where I got to view numerous art pieces and ceramic products. The village was opened in 2005, located at boundary of Chiayi County and Yunlin County. The chairman, Jhong-Jhang Chen devoted himself to the art of cuting and pasting Koji Ceramic figurines, for some 30 years. Chen created the Banto Kiln Park comprises of Koji Ceramics Museum, a workshop, a shop, a restaurant and classical eastern garden.

BANTAOYAO ART VILLAGE IN CHIAYI

 CAT CERAMIC TILES SEAT

 We ended our tour in Tainan City, where we visited the Eirakucho Drum Tea House - for a detour of the tea house. Dinner was provided by the tea house as we were entertained with a live Hokkien show of a couple depicting their livelihood. 

EIRAKUCHO DRUM TEA HOUSE AT TAINAN

GUESTS POSING WITH PERFORMERS AT THE TEA HOUSE

We then check into the Tainan Fushin Hotel before we proceed with a free and easy session.

GUESTS POSING WITH TAINAN FUSHIN HOTEL MANAGER (R)

DAY 5

The famous “Bopiliao” here I come!! The Bopiliao in Taipei City's Wanhua District comprises the area enclosed by Kangding Road, Guangzhou Street and Kunming Street. The neighbourhood around the intersection of Kangding Road and Guangzhou Street was formerly a major coal market and distribution point. This Coal Market was an important business district, and to this day one can admire a lot of Western-style architecture in this area. Historically, this place began almost 200 years ago, during the late Qing dynasty, and throughout Japanese colonial rule and later the Nationalist era.

A stroll down Bopiliao, one can view the various mural art, fast rickshaws (tricycle), walls of different surfaces (To-Ga wall/Wooden Plank Wall and Traditional Wall), tea house and Junks.

YOUNGSTERS POSING WITH OLD BUILDINGS AT BOPILIAO IN TAIPEH

A VISITOR POSING WITH THE MURAL ARTS AT BOPILIAO

Nearby the area, we also visited the Manka Longshan Temple and Di Hua Street.

Manka Longshan Temple is the first temple in Taiwan to have been built with palaquin-type bell and drum towers and bronze dragon pillar exemplifies integration of Buddhinst, taoist and Confucian beliefs in Taiwanese folk region. This temple is listed in the Top 100 Religion Scenes of Taiwan on November 22, 2013.

MANKA LONGSHAN TEMPLE IN TAIPEH

WRITER POSING WITH THE GRAND MANKA LONGSHAN TEMPLE

Dinner was held at the Slow Food Restaurant.

SLOW FOOD RESTAURANT

Check into Taipei Saual Keh, before we continued a free and easy shopping, at the crowded Night Market.

TAIPEI SAUAL KEH HOTEL

DAY 6

Before sun rise we already check out the hotel. Proceed to the airport for departure back to Malaysia.

TOURISM MALAYSIA NETWORKING

TOURISM MALAYSIA NETWORKING

IPOH: Some 120 guests attended the “Tourism Highlights & Networking Session with Industry Players", organised by Tourism Malaysia held at Hotel MH, here.

The industry players included those from the hotels, tourist-related products, government agencies and the media members.

ONE FOR THE ALBUM

Tourism Malaysia (Northern) director Sani Sham Ahmad said that the objective of the event was to highlight places of interest and products available, in the State.

“The event also formed a platform for tourism industry players from the northern region to meet and exchange ideas.

“In addition, Tourism Malaysia announced the arrival of tourist into Perak state is 16.8 million (domestic tourist) in 2016, followed with 20.1 million in 2017.

"We hope to organise a networking event every three months, in a year," he said.

Later, guests were feted with a sumptuous buffet and a lucky draw session.

The grand prize winner was Sri Maju Tours & Travel Sdn Bhd director Wendy Shin who received a 2D1N stay in Pulau Langkawi.

Also present were - Tourism Perak chief executive officer Zuraida Md Taib, Perak Tourist Association president Datuk Haji Mohd Odman Abd Kadir and Perak Tourist Guides Association chairman Rosely Lim. 

 WENDY SHIN (R) RECEIVING THE VOUCHER FROM TOURISM MALAYSIA OFFICER NOR HASNI SAIDIN

JOM KE MAPS FOR FREE

JOM KE - MAPS FOR FREE

IPOH: The Movie Animation Park Studios (MAPS) is providing free entrance to visitors with effect from March 1, here.

Visitors to the animation theme park only have to pay for rides and attractions pricing from RM3 to RM15.

All they have to do, is to purchase the coupon which are sold at MAPS' main entrance or coupon counters available in MAPS.

Other than coupons, MAPS visitors can also purchase MAPS Passport at RM80 and MAPS Infinite Pass at RM145. MAPS Passport will entitle the holder to enjoy all rides and attractions with 30 days validity while MAPS Infinite Pass will grant its holders to enjoy all rides and attractions unlimited for one day.

MAPS LAUNCHING A NEW BUSINESS MODEL

MAPS chief executive officer Mohamed Shafeii Abdul Gaffoor said that with this new business model, more visitors would be able to enjoy our fun filled activities at a minimum expense whereby now they only have to pay for selected coupon rides.

“We understand there are family members who are senior citizen who do not wish to participate in the rides, and the new plan will be beneficial to them.

“Initially, we used to sell our entrance tickets at RM120, and as years go by we reduce it to RM40.

“So far, we have received 400,000 visitors last year, and we hope with the newly implemented strategy, we are targeting at 1 million visitors for the next ten months,” he said.

Guest-of-honour was Menteri Besar of Perak Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Dato Azumu who was present to launch the event.

Ahmad Faizal said that he has confidence that MAPS would continue to exist as an important tourism product in the state, especially with this new business plan, for the animation theme park.

MAPS have also worked with Trilogy Magic Factory and Monsta to introduce Rumah Hantu (Ghost House), The Sacred Rina and BoBoiBoy, respectively.

MAPS coming new attractions include Rumah Sejuk (Cold House), Rockstar Wannabe Hazamaze, Optical Illusion, MAPS Republic, eSport, Drift Kart, Inflatable Challenge, Dream Box , Rock Climbing and Food Heaven among others, which will be made available in June.

MAPS CHARACTERS PERFORMING A SONG, ON STAGE

 

The park is opened from 4pm – 12 am (Mon/Tues/Thurs) and 10am – 12 am (Fri/Sat/Sun/school and public holidays). Closed on Wednesday. 

MAPS is located at Plot E-B03, Persiaran Meru Raya 3, Bandar Meru Raya, 30020, Ipoh.

Information, visit www.mapsperak.com or follow facebook.com/mapsperak