blog your way to a fantastic stay @ manathai phuket

Want to stand a chance to win a 2 night stay @ the beautiful Manathai Resort Phuket?
Then start putting on your writers cap and blog about PYO Travel.


In conjunction with our BIG SALE for Merdeka & Hari Raya, we are currently runnning a blogger contest open for ALL.
All you have to do is:
1. Blog about us on your blog, tell us what you think about us.
2. Link your blog post to www.my.pyotravel.com
3. Email your blog URL to hq@pyotravel.com. Remember to state your name and your contact number.
4. And you'll be in the running to win a 2 nights hotel stay @ Manathai Resort Phuket

If you don't want to blog, but you want to know what's happening in PYO Travel, then hop on to www.my.pyotravel.com and check out what's the big sale all about.

so hurry up and wait no more, the closing date for the contest is on the 15th August 2009.

For more information got to PYO Travel blogger contest

Loving the Wild Wild Perth

I’ve always been an animal lover. Just to share with everyone, my favourite animals are the sea turtles. There are quite a number of turtle species like the green turtle, leatherback, Hawkbill’s turtle and many more. I adore all of them. I think they are such a graceful creature, swimming across the deep blue sea, passing through immeasurable waves with one thing in mind; to reach its destination safely. However, sea turtles are facing the most dangerous threat of all animals – EXTINCTION! Not only we (and our children) would not be able to see a real sea turtle in the future, it would also affect the whole life chain of the environment if its extinction happened. We must curb animal extinction fast!

One way is to be alert in all our doings and habits. Simple steps like keeping our environment clean, avoid using plastic bags and throwing them into the river or sea, stop using polystyrene containers and many more. Another thing that you can do is to instill your love to Mother Nature and she will love you back. Let me share with you some animals in Perth which equally deserve our generous love and care.

Koala is one of the national ‘emblem’ of Australia. They live on trees and feed on eucalypt leaves. The hairy creatures are so adorable that children and adults love them so much.

Koala playing Peekaboo... (Photo credit : jenontheedge)

Emu, the second ‘emblem’ of Australia, is a non-flying bird which can run fast! To me, it looks similar to an ostrich but smaller, hairier and has 3 toes (while ostrich has only two)!

Hairy Emu... (Photo credit : Ray Drew)

Another ‘emblem’ of Australia would be the kangaroo. This cute creature has a strong tail which help them to jump further and faster. A female kangaroo has a pouch on its body where baby joey sits.

"Mama, let me go in!" (Photo credit : Ray Drew)

A cute little creature like wombat is not to be missed when you are in Perth. It looks similar to a hamster but is much bigger in size. Wombats also carry their babies in a pouch on its body except that the pocket is facing backward. This is to avoid sands and dirt from getting into the pocket, making their babies dirty when they are digging the soil. Smart isn’t it?

"I am big hamster wombat" (Photo credit : Ray Drew)

"Kookaburra sits on the old gum tree,
Merry merry king of the bush is he…"

To some (especially scouts of older generation), you might be familiar with this song. I remember my father singing this song to my sisters and I when we were little kids. He used to sing this song during his scouting era too. Kookaburra is a relatively big bird which can be found in Australia. They are carnivorous and I heard they sing well too!

King of the bush! (Photo credit : George Aitken)

All these lovely animals can be found in the Perth Zoo, a great place for nature enthusiasts and animal lovers, like me, to get closer to such animals under proper supervision and protection. I believe we all have our own part and responsibility in protecting the nature and environment for a better tomorrow.

Let’s fly together to wild wild Perth with PYO Travel! Book your tickets online and start playing your part in greening the world.

How will the future of Online Travel be ?

Let me start off by asking you 2 key questions.

• What would you expect online travel to be like in year, say 2015 ?
• What is most important to you when comes to planning and booking your travels online ?

As far as I am concern (i book my holidays online), whatever that may become the future of online travel, below are still the most important, most fundamental....

1. Someone do the research for me, summarize for me and can Guarantee me that what I am being offered is the BEST DEAL I can get for that time (I don't want to rely on those vertical search engine that confuse me more than helping me)
   
   
2. I don't mind to be notify whenever there is SOME OTHER Deal that may be relevant to me from time to time...but please Don't SPAM me for every deal !! just like some local mobile service company here that keep on Spamming my phone for ads that makes no sense to me !
3. Of course, I must have some sort of "protection" just in case my holidays that I booked online encounter discrepancy..such as NO ROOM upon check in at hotel...which can really happen if you are unlucky !
   
   
4. And lastly, REWARD me for booking with the online travel agent, so that the more I buy, the more rewards I can get !!!
   

What is your wish list for the future of Online Travel ! Your comments or suggestion may help to shape the FUTURE !

Chill Out in Singapore...

My week has been crazy! I’ve been so overwhelmed with work that I barely have time to breathe… 12 hours of work in a single day is simply insane. I feel like I’m in a refugee camp. Work… work… and more work…… Since when have I turned into such a workaholic? Oh… Help me! Save me from this Malaysian workaholic syndrome!

Now don’t misunderstand me for be lazy, I’m actually pretty hardworking, but I play hard too! Everyone who has the opportunity to be my friend has always heard me telling them to take a ‘chill pill’. Well, I have not been taking my own chill pill for awhile. I remember my dose of chill pill has always been taking a trip down south during my semester break. Living amidst KL city’s chaotic lifestyle and atmosphere can get very stressful; the change of scenery being in Singapore is a total divergent for me. Organized and clean at almost everywhere I set my eyes upon, the air in Singapore even bring order to my frenzied lifestyle.

I've chill out right at the steps with the Merlion

You may be wondering why a getaway to Singapore is my dose of chill pill. It all boils down to the feeling of glee which I get when I watch the eternally faster lifestyle pace of Singaporeans. Have you ever experience the feeling of leisure in such a way, where you’d just stand in the middle of a busy MRT station during rush hour, watching people hurried away to their work place, while you have the time of the world just watching, and not have to be in their shoes and rush off to some place?

While people-watching at MRT station brings me amusement, I don’t usually stand there the whole day. There are a few of my favourite chill out spots in Singapore which I enjoy tremendously every time when I visit. And no, this time, I’m not talking about touristy venues. I’m on a ‘getaway’, remember? I do not need to visit yet another mega mall. (Orchard Rd. malls can get pretty overwhelming for me and it’s crowded all the time)

The MRT crowd... Luckily, I'm not one of them!

Being quite a little hippie myself, Bugis is a chill out spot for me. Before you comment to me that it’s another Singapore’s tourist location, let me tell you, it’s different. I find Bugis designed in a more spacious manner, the crowds never get too crazy, and it vibrates a relaxing calming beat. Following the name ‘Bugis’, it is a place where other migrants gather too. That’s how Bugis got started anyway, it adds more flavours and colours in a somewhat sterilize modern ‘city-city’ feeling of Singapore. In this hippy reorganized place, even though there’s 2 pretty big shopping complexes (Bugis Junction & Bugis Village) right off the Bugis MRT station, the little Indian-run laundry dobby, Middle Eastern merchants selling colourful fabrics and other cultural wares stirs the heart of many who gets captivated by the myriad of charming colourful wares they offer.

Indoor open air concept with skylight at Bugis Junction.

Bras Basah, an area part of Bugis, often has budding musicians performing gothic, experimental and other kinds of alternative music at the bars and pubs. Before heading for a drink at one of these pubs/cafes, I’d normally go browse the second hand shops nearly to pick up some good steals of books or some sort of eccentric items. I’m a supporter for second hand items. It helps save the earth, and helps me go easy on my shopping budget.

A great steal of second hand books.

To satisfy more to my hippie self, trying out some different food fares at Arab Street in Bugis can be quite fun. There’s Arab cuisine, Russian cuisine, Indian cuisine, as well as Malay cuisine. I normally pick Arab food as I love their fragrant flavoured rice as compare to the regular white rice that Chinese eat. They also serve you food where you have to sit on the floor and eat off a very low table. To me, it’s all about a different eating experience, a pleasurable change from my regular eat-in-a-rush kind of meal. There’s also nice fruity smelling sheesha (water pipe) too around this area for anyone who enjoys it.

Neat row of shop-houses at Arab street.

Oh well, I’m promising myself to take my chill pill soon before I get burn out. Anyone want to come and chill out in Singapore with me? Let me know, a free and easy kind of travel package would work perfectly well as my chill pill.


** photos courtesy of Yoshihiro Miyagawa, Mable...

Exploring Hanoi from Different Angles

Touching down in Hanoi brought me down to memory lane where I was being surrounded by aging buildings, erected on both sides of the road, with marks and scars left during the war period and motorcycles moving fast around the bustling city. I still remember the only things I saw before landing were big pieces of green lands. Padi fields and greeneries covered near the entire city of Hanoi. (Well, at least, the area around the airport was!)

Hanoi is a place rich with heritage and culture. Let’s explore the different angles of Hanoi!

Buildings
As an ex-French colonial, buildings here carry much French-influenced touches. For instance, you can see churches around which look quite similar to those in France. However, there are some other architectures which feature Chinese-influenced imprints and highlights on them as well. Temples are surrounded by dragons and phoenixes sculptures which highlighted the refined traditional Chinese touches! Also, you will see tall but thin houses scattered around the padi field area. These are houses of the farmers. I was told the taller they are, the richer the farmer.

French-influenced architecture - St. Joseph Church

A lion statue in a temple

Food
Food here is very much down-to-earth. It’s not hard to find fancy western food or Japanese food but the local delicacies here are very much cheaper and special. You can’t find them elsewhere. Don’t worry, it’s not hard to find fast food chain here too. I find that they are very good in preparing seafood dishes! Food here are quite similar to Chinese cooking. Maybe that’s why I find it easier to accept the food here. For dessert lovers, there are a lot of small bakery shops which sell delicious cakes and other types of bread. Small stalls which sell numerous kinds of snacks mushroom around upon sunset. Go ahead and try some tempting local savoury and delicacies. No regrets!

Vietnamese popiah - mixed vege and chicken meat wrapped in a thin slice of crepe

Sweet dessert soup with loads of mixed ingredients - louts seeds, longan, herbs and etc!

Fried crab

Artwork
It’s like a haven of artwork in Hanoi. You can simply pick one shop and you’ll be amazed by the defined and refined artistic display on the walls. I love their wood carving and my heart got captured by their paintings and fine thread art. There are even shops which feature their artists in the hall, working on their masterpieces on the spot. It’s like watching Picasso painting in real life! The ever famous water puppet dolls are also on popular demand. The cute little human-like dolls, made of wood, are very symbolic to Hanoi. Most tourists like to get one for themselves as souvenir. Why not?!

Beautiful dolls in traditional Vietnamese costumes

Potteries

Water Puppets

Souvenirs anyone?!

Hanoi, so calm and peaceful, it is definitely a place for relaxation. PYO Travel has it all for you. Enjoy the beautiful sight of Hanoi with PYO Travel’s meticulous packages.

Something is ticking!

PYO Travel is always cooking up something special for you. This time round, we've got something special brewing in our kitchen. To keep yourselves up to date, subscribe to our newsletter or visit us at www.my.pyotravel.com to know what brewing.

The countdown to the big reveal is in 3 days. so wait no more.

At the End of the Rites of Passage

“Everyone goes through the rites of passage in their life. It begins at birth, followed by the coming of age, marriage, sickness, and become completed with death.”

Offerings for the deceased

It was only very recent when I heard of the passing of a noted, well-respected film maker in Malaysia. Her name is Yasmin Ahmad. My heart was saddened along with the family members and friends of the departed Yasmin Ahmad as I watched the news broadcast on TV. Death, though inevitable, often catches us by surprise; no matter how prepared we think we are. When a person dies and leave behind their physical body, we can’t help but wonder, what will happen next?

Carrying the deceased in a 'bade'

In Bali, death brings a different meaning. Life does not just end with death. The rituals of funeral rites and cremation play an utmost importance in the stages of life. The Balinese believe that the soul will be freed to begin a new journey when death comes. The soul will be reborn into a future generation. And so, life continues on…

When a Balinese dies, the cremation for the deceased is a joyous one. The whole village will come together to prepare for the cremation. The cremation ritual is a ceremony which purifies and frees the soul from its earthly house and help it set forth to be incarnated. The body will be bathed and prepared as the priest will come and pray and bless the deceased. Meals are also prepared and offered to the deceased as usual to keep the person’s memory alive.

The elaborately decorative base of the cremation tower

The cremation ritual is a costly one. Most often when a family does not have the finances to proceed with the cremation ritual, the body will be buried first until they have saved enough for the event. Sometimes, they will also choose to do a group cremation. The size and elaborateness of the cremation ceremony reflects the wealth of the deceased's family.

The most exciting part of the cremation ritual for a tourist to watch is the procession to the cremation ground. It resembles a community carnival, with marching gamelan bands and people in high spirits. If you have never seen nor understand the ways and culture of a Balinese funerals goings, you might not even guess that it’s actually a cremation march!

The sacred bull-shape sarcophagus

On the day of cremation, an elaborate cremation tower called ‘bade’ will be build. It is made with paper and soft wood. The remains of the deceased will be placed in it as the people will carry it to the cremation ground. Once there, the body/bones will then be placed in a bull-shaped sarcophagus. (Bulls are considered a sacred animal in the Balinese culture) After that, the burning of the tower and sarcophagus will act as a final cleansing. The ashes will be gathered and be cast into the sea in order for the soul to be released and go on to its next life.

The final cleansing for the spirit to be released

Though the cremation ritual is a tourist attraction itself, you will still be advised to cover up and dress appropriately if you want to be there to watch. I believe it will be an interesting and unforgettable experience to witness a Balinese funeral rites. Life is a cycle after all, isn’t it?

Pamper Yourself in Phuket

Our hectic lifestyle causes tension and stress to our mind and body. Most people suffer from muscle ache, joint pain, headache and all sorts of body discomfort after focusing on their work (which seem endless) all the time. Why not give yourself some time off and pamper yourself once awhile with a short vacation? That’s the “it” way to recharge yourself nowadays.

Phuket has been popular as a haven of spa. Pampering yourself in a spa treatment during your Phuket escapade is the best choice for indulgence and relaxation. My personal favourite would be the Island Herb Spa which offers comfortable atmosphere, filled with serenity and tranquility, helping me find back calmness and recollect myself. I felt very much pampered by their spa treatments which include steam bath, jacuzzi, body scrub and massage enhanced with enlightening traditional touch. When you are there, don’t forget to pay them a visit just to unwind yourself.

There is another treatment that I would love to share – the traditional Thai Massage. No visit to Phuket is complete without a traditional Thai massage. Thai massage is totally different from any other types of massage. It emphasizes more on applying pressure using the thumbs, fingertips, hands, feet, arms, legs as well as body weight. This deep-massage technique brings total relaxation and rejuvenation, promising complete rest and comfort, for your well-being.

During my previous trip to Phuket, aside from recharging myself with the spa and massage sessions, I managed to visit a few other interesting places which might also interest you! Heard of Wat Saphan Hin? It’s the home for a beautiful structure that you must not miss. From afar, you can see the tall standing Buddha, standing majestically on the hill top. You might need a pair of comfortable shoes for your journey towards the Buddha statue as the path is slightly slanted on a slope. But I can assure you that the scene is definitely amazing! The gigantic statue is surrounded by tall stone poles which are the ruins of its prayer hall.

Besides that, the Chalong Temple is also another magnificent site and it is the most significant Buddhist temple in the island. Its appealing architecture structure with three connecting roofs mesmerized my eye sight. Besides the main prayer hall, there is also the Grand Pagoda nearby. The walls of the pagoda are painted with colourful images which depicts the story of Buddha’s life.

Promthep Cape, the most south point of Phuket, has been the best location to witness sunset. I know there is a lighthouse with an observation level which accommodates greater views of sunset. Spend a romantic evening with your loved ones while bidding farewell to the sun for the day. As Promthep Cape is located beside the sea, you can witness the sky keeps changing colours as the sun falls. This is due to the different light spectrums reflecting from the water, which makes it all worth the wait and effort.

Longing for a break already? Wait no longer! Pamper yourself with some spa treatments and scenic views of Phuket. PYO Travel is always the one for you!

The Pearl of Orient: Hong Kong

I remember learning in geography on Penang being the ‘Pearl of Orient’. That aside, another famous “Pearl of Orient’ in Asia I want to talk about today is none other than HONG KONG.

Situated on the Southeastern coastline of China, Hong Kong is a vibrant city that has grown so great that it has now brand itself as ‘Asia’s World City’. What (used-to-be) British Dependent Territory of Hong Kong consists of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, New Territories and more than 200 outlying islands off the coast of Hong Kong.

3 main Hong Kong districts: Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, New Territories

But there are 3 main areas in Hong Kong which attracts the throngs of visitors and tourists to the Pearl of Orient in all seasons, namely Hong Kong Island (also known as Victoria), Kowloon, and New Territories.

1. Hong Kong Island
You will find familiar names such as Central, Western, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, Aberdeen, and South Coast in Hong Kong Island. Head over to Central if you want to feel the vibe of government headquarters, financial hub, central transportation hub, and exclusive shopping. Or walk around Western market where you can see the most typical Chinatown of all. Wan Chai is more an artsy district where colourful nightlife and arts centres is offered to its people. Try out at some of the excellent ethnic restaurants there too! If you want to seek a more nature’s cultural experience, Aberdeen is an old fishing port that offers you scenic delights. You can also hang out for a relaxing afternoon at the beaches of Repulse Bay, Deep Water Bay, or the fishing village of Stanley.

Have a cup of tea at Wan Chai

Old boats at Aberdeen

2. Kowloon
The name ‘Kowloon’ translate to nine dragons. The most famous area of Kowloon is Tsim Sha Tsui. Catch some Hong Kong celebrities at this neon light districts where major shopping (Nathan Road), dining and entertainment areas congregate together to give you the full blast of modern city life rhythm. Another two areas name you should remember is Yau Ma Tai and Mong Kok. You will be fascinated at the many specialty shops and open markets with names such as Ladies Market, Jade Market, Yuen Po Bird Market, Flower Market, Goldfish Market. It’s pretty straight forward when it comes to naming places here and I’m sure it’s not hard to find the places where you want to visit.

Tsim Sha Tsui Street

6 floors for you to shop until you drop!

3. New Territories
Though New Territories cover a large land area, it serves more of a rural retreat to the residents. You’ll be charmed by the traditional villages, walking trails, parks, and temples. It’s not all that backward at New Territories as many chic New Towns are slowly emerging in various areas. You can walk the Lung Yeuk Tau Heritage Trail to find out about the stories behind the neighbourhood, make some wishes at Lam Tsuen Wishing Trees and Tin Hau Temple, and be delighted while you explore the streets of Sai Kung.

City Parks

Sai Kung Walking Trail

But most of all, in Hong Kong, no matter where you go, be it Hong Kong Island, Kowloon or New Territories, it is another food heaven that will be sure to make your stomach happy. But I’ll let you explore, and you come back and let me know what’s the best to eat and where to try them! Let’s go Hong Kong!

Another Kind of Excitement in Wuling Farmstay

Whenever I hear the name, Taiwan, what I have in mind would be Taipei 101 Tower, Shilin Night Market, Jolin Tsai and Jay Chou. Haha! It’s such an auto-reflex that my instinct connects these items to the letters combination of T-A-I-W-A-N.

In my previous blog about Taiwan, I’ve talked about Taipei and its marvelous attractions. This time around, I would love to share about Wuling Farmstay. Hmmm… Things that appear in my mind when I hear the phrase, “Wuling Farmstay” are green forest, fresh fruits and wooden house. True enough, do expect a lot of greeneries!

Wuling is well-known for its mountainy and hilly landscape. Its cool weather and geographical landscape make it the best place for farming. Wuling is located relatively not far from Taipei city. However, it's got a completely different environment from the busy city of Taipei.

Wuling Farmstay gives you the opportunity to experience staying overnight in the natural environment, being surrounded by grass, flowers and trees. Fresh greeneries such as vegetables and fruits can be found easily here. Actually, if you’re lucky enough, during the fruits season, you can merely pick a ripening fresh fruit like plum, peach and apple from the trees and taste them. It’s the most effective way to shorten the time to market of those fruits!

Besides that, you might also stand a chance to witness wild life, roaming around the forest and trees. Animals like deers, mandarin ducks, butterflies and various species of birds welcome you to Wuling Farm. Colourful flowers such as roses, calla lilies, plum blossoms and pansies, bloom everywhere naturally. I suppose it is like watching your own private channel of National Geography, right in front of you. Isn’t that great?!

I’m sure most would be wondering what kind of rooms to stay in such a natural place? Well, they have hotels there just like any other hotels you can find in town or city area. Basic necessities are well-equipped there and if you want a different experience, try to set up a tent at their camping site, which I think is also another interesting activity to do with your friends and family. Do not worry. There are tents and other camping equipments ready for rental there. Hmmm… I’m thinking of a picnic or campfire at night.

I think a farmstay in Wuling would give you another kind of excitement. I’m pretty sure that you’d enjoy staying there, being surrounded by nature and fresh clean air. For me, I would love to keep myself away from the city buzz once awhile in Wuling.

Photos credit : Prince Roy

As the Dark Velvet Night Envelops Macau...

Night skyline of Macau

I feel my senses come tickling alive. The chirpy birds in the day go to bed and I can feel the buzzing rise of the night creatures who will take over the night with me. I think there’s a vampire in me, which shuns the day-light world when it drowns in the merciless sun’s fatal emission. The night is where the vampire queen shall rule.

Be there to feel the pulse of Macau Nightlife

Nights in Macau does not disappoint those who seek pleasure and groove. The steady beat of music accompanies the various exorbitant crazy themed clubs and bar at the Docks. The Docks is the place which will sure send anyone a shivering delight to join in the fun for some bar hopping and snazzy club scenes. You have the choice to be accompanied by showy entertainers, glitzy live dance bands, divvy Portuguese folk dancing, or some world class disc jockeys spinning out some cool beat. The best of these entertainment scenes at the Docks is located around the Avenida Sun Yat Sen. It’s not a hard spot to find as the gigantic bronze statue of Goddess of Mercy positioned there will tell you that you’re at the right place.

The Docks at Macau

Some shout-out spots at the Macau outer harbour are Nicole Fashion Club at Fisherman Wharf, D2 Club and The Sky 21 at AIA Tower, Moonwalk Bar and MP3 at Vista Magnifica Court, Whisky Bar at Star World Hotel. Whether you want to start off the night slow and easy with some quiet, relaxing waterside drinks or dive straight into the music, the myriad choices of bars, pubs, and clubs are there for you to pick.

Nicole Fashion Club

If you are not up for drinks and work out sessions at the dance floor, go sing to your heart’s content at Macau’s famed karaoke bars and clubs at Taipa Island. I’m sure you’ll be familiar with how it works at these places with their ready-made packages which provides you the rooms, drinks and snacks. Be assured that the prices are reasonable as you get ready your vocal chords for some soul singing/ croaking.

Have a chill-out drink before your karaoke session!

Not in the mood to sing and dance? It takes too much effort? Ah, head to the casinos then. Macau, being the Las Vegas of Asia, does not sleep. Go try out your luck at the many games found at any of the casinos. The usual being Black Jack, Baccarat, Rouletter, or you can learn some games and play it the Chinese’s way in Fantan or Dai-Siu.

Try your luck at one of the many casinos in Macau

As for me who dances with two left foot and have the talent to croak more than sing, you’ll find me heading to Nam Van Lake Cybernetic Fountain. This mega high-tech fountain features laser beam and musical accompaniment along with jets sprouting out dancing water up to 80 meters high into the sky. It is truly one-of-its-kind performance featuring both laser and music performances at different days. The 30 minutes laser performance is on every Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 pm & 9:30 pm while the 1-hour music performance can be enjoyed on Monday to Friday at 1 pm, 6 pm, 8 pm and 9:30 to 10 pm. On Saturday and Sunday, the music performances are at 10 am, 1 pm, 3 pm, 6 pm, 8 pm and 9:30 to 10 pm.


Wow! With so many things to do in the night and day (we’ll talk about that another time), you will be sure to have a fanta-bulous trip in Macau! Ask me along ya!