Xinjiang (2025)

Back to China for the eighth time!

And now we are in Xinjiang, the cream of all the landscapes in China. Xinjiang is the westernmost province of China, bordering Mongolia, Russia, and Kazakhstan to its northern borders where we spent 10 days and nine nights.

There were the Uyghur Muslims and Kazakhs everywhere in this province. They have the Eurasian looks and speak fluent Mandarin. In other words, they are a different Chinese people in China.

The grassland (Steppes) is noted as one of the top four in the world other than the Prairie in North America, the Pampas in South America and the Veld in South Africa.

We saw double-hump camels, plenty of horses and cows, and sheep. We had mutton almost everyday.

NOTE: THIS 10 DAYS, NINE NIGHTS-TOUR COSTS RM7,922 PER PERSON.

Kyoto -- Osaka (2025)

This is our first trip to Japan.

This trip had been planned a long time ago by Yoke Fong, who had always wanted to see the Sakura (Cherry Blossom) in Japan.

The window to view these flowers blooming is very narrow (end of March and early April). So here we are, finally we got to catch the window which coincide with Yoke Fong's school holidays.

NOTE: THIS SIX DAYS, FIVE NIGHTS-TOUR COSTS RM6,509 PER PERSON.

Chengdu -- Siguniang -- Yala -- Yading Daocheng -- Kangding (2024)

In October 2024, we visited Chengdu for the second time. This time we are headed west of Chengdu. (In our first trip in 2013, we headed north of Chengdu to Huanglong and Jiuzhaigou.)

the western part of Chengdu is known as the 'Alps of the East' (referring to the Alps mountains in Europe).

We visited four national parks, namely Siguniang National Park,  Yala Snow Mountain, Yading Daocheng National Park and Kangding National Park.

Truly, these national parks lived up to their expectations as 'Alps of the East' with the many snow-capped mountains.

NOTE: THIS NINE DAYS, EIGHT NIGHTS-TOUR COSTS RM4,500 PER PERSON.

China (Kunming, Yunnan Province) (2024)

 

Yoke Fong and I visited Kunming and surrounding places in the Yunnan Province on 22 Feb to 2 Mar, 2024.

Kunming is well-known for its fresh flowers (city is nicknamed Flower Capital of Asia) due to is moderate climate from January to December.

DAY ONE: Thursday, 22 February, 2024

●Arrived at Kunming International Airport
●Checked in to Noah's Ark Hotel, Kunming.

DAY TWO: Friday, 23 Feb

●Visited Kunming's famous and huge Dianchi Lake (eastern part), flooded with tourists, fed seagulls (with bread) migrating from Siberia since Oct and will return in April.

●Went to southeastern part of Dianchi Lake (by Didi). Huge flower gardens. Fed more seagulls.

●Took a Didi ride to Dounan Flower Market. Asia's largest fresh flower market.

●By sunset, we were at Guandu Ancient Town. Street food!
●Second night at Noah's Ark Hotel, 

DAY THREE : Saturday, 24 Feb
●Joined China tour group.
●First stop was Honghe Dongfengyun Town. Structures with attractive architectural designs.
●Long drive to Jinji Fengcong Scenic Spot (Luoping Canola Farm). Huge field of canola flowers. 
●Stopped by Jiulong Waterfalls at the vicinity. Interesting nature walk by the lakes and river.
●Checked in to Danfeng Hotel, Wenhuacun.


Day 4: Sunday, 25 Feb
Fyatt Holiday Hotel, Guangnan

Day 5: Monday, 26 Feb
Wenshan Hotel, Puzhehei

Day 6: Tuesday, 27 Feb
Tianma Grand Hotel, Mengzi

Day 7: Wednesday, 28 Feb
Sunset rice terraces
Yuanyang Hotel

Day 8: Thursday, 29 Feb
Sunrise rice terraces
Jianshui Lake & Ancient City
Old Tofu Well
1st Forbidden City
Guize Hotel, Chenguan Town

Day 9: Friday, 1 March
Fuxian Lake
Yuanmou Canyon
Ginger Hotel, Yuanmou Town

Day 10: Saturday, 2 March
Yuanmou Man Museum
After lunch, left the group.
Another driver drove YF & me to Wuhan
Cuihu Lake
Dinner at Jinbi Square
Driver drove us to airport

Day 11: Sunday, 3 March
Arrived KLIA 6am.

NOTE: THIS 11 DAYS, 10 NIGHTS-TOUR COSTS RM3,678 PER PERSON.

China (Wuhan / Zhangjiajie) (2023)

Hello China, we are back!

This is our fifth trip to China (first was Guilin in 2011, then Chengdu in 2013, Beijing 2017, and Hangzhou also in 2017).

This trip us also our first overseas trip after the Covid lockdown.

It is December 2023 and it is Winter and very, very cold when we landed at the airport and walked out of the airport building in Wuhan. It was like stepping into a refrigerator.

We hopped on to a bus for a long journey to Zhangjiajie.

NOTE: THIS NINE DAYS, SEVEN NIGHTS-TOUR COSTS RM4,475 PER PERSON.

Turkey (2019)

Towards end of May 2019, Yoke Fong and I visited Europe for the first time. Türkiye (known as Asia Minor in the Bible) actually sits on both the Asian and European continents.

We started and ended in the great city of Istanbul in our 10 days, seven nights tour of Türkiye.

We had an amazing tour guide who is a Turkish Muslim but have extensive knowledge of the Bible.

He brought us to the ancient city of Ephesus, one of places where the seven churches (mentioned in the Book of Revelation) is located.

NOTE: THIS 10 DAYS, SEVEN NIGHTS-TOUR COSTS RM5,280 PER PERSON. 

Thailand (Bangkok / Khao Yai) (2018)

In December 2018, Yoke Fong and I visited Thailand. (Second trip to Thailand for Yoke Fong, first for me.)

This overseas trip is also the second in one year (after Surabaya in May 2018). Our previous double trips overseas in one year were in 2014 (Taiwan and Vietnam) and in 2017 (Beijing and Hangzhou).

In our eight days, seven nights trip, we covered Bangkok, Ayutthaya and Khao Yai.

NOTE: THIS EIGHT DAYS, SEVEN NIGHTS-TOUR COSTS RM3,125 PER PERSON.