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Sunday, December 16, 2012

Ho Chi Minh: Cu Chi Tunnel

Abandoned my blog for quite some time, hehe. So, I am now reviving my blog with my trip to Cu-Chi Tunnel. Cu-chi Tunnel is a must visit place in Ho Chi Minh city, if you do not visit this historical tunnel, then you not really travelling to the city.

You can get the Cu-Chi Tunnel trip package easily at the Pham Ngu Lao area. You can choose from half day trip or full day trip. We picked the half day trip package by a travel agent at 203, De Tham Street at USD5 per person. The trip package is inclusive of transport to the tunnel and the tour guide service. If you picked the full day trip, you will be bring to another attraction site which is the Cao Dai Temple. The journey from HCM city to the tunnel area took about 1 hour and before that we brought to visit a handcraft factory.
As usual, I going to tell you all a little history about the Cu-Chi Tunnel.

Cu Chi Tunnels are an elaborate underground community made up of 250 km of tunnels and chambers below the city. The tunnels were dug with simple tools and bare hands during the French occupation in the 1940s, and further expanded during the Vietnam War in the 1960s to provide refuge and a defensive advantage over the American soldiers. Despite all the bombings in their town, the Cu Chi people were able to continue their lives beneath the soil, where they slept, ate, planned attacks, healed their sick, and taught their young. Some even wed and gave birth underground, but over 10,000 lost their lives here.

Stop dozing off. Lecture ends
.
Lets the pictures tell the story:
dscf9294_副本A small area is set up to exhibit all the weapons.

After the weapon exhibition area,
we came to this tunnel walkway that
going to bring us to the tunnel area.dscf9297_副本
Then,we came to a big compound with
several blocks this kind of huts. dscf9301_副本
We went down to one of the huts and watch the video show
that give a brief history of Cu-Chi Tunneldscf9302_副本dscf9304_副本

After the video show, the tour guide bring us to here.
A trap door on the jungle floor leads down into the Củ Chi tunnels.
The trap door is cover by the leaves.
Not easily detectable.
DSCF9308_副本The angmo and my cousin is going down through the mini trap door.
*Can see how small the door is?*
Cu Chi Tunnel 2Cu Chi Tunnel

Guess what is this.dscf9320_副本
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A booby trap with bamboo spikes.
*Mouth open*

There is a small hut set up as Self Made Weapons Gallery.
Well, I don’t think the weapons are weapons.
Because,they are TRAPS!!!
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Can MATI teruk teruk if fall into these trap!!
*Kia Si Lang*

A military workshop showing how the soldiers
make the bombs and weapons.
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We experienced a few metres journey inside the tunnel.
So low punya ceiling.
I am “tall’ enough to knock my head.
Need to walk like a duck in that poor air ventilation tunnel,huhu!
*Quek quek*
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There is a shooting range where visitors can fire assault rifles,
such as the M16 or AK47 and light machine gun.
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Yours truly is playing with gun in her style.


We ends our tunnel trip with this tapioca and a cup of tea.dscf9372_副本

Overall, this is a wonderful tunnel trip and now,
I can tell people loudly that
I WENT TO HO CHI MINH!!

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

051212

!!IT'S DECEMBER!!
 the last month of year 2012.

I think I spent the whole year in a meaningful way.
So,I am not going to end my year 2012 with boring lifestyle, but filled the weekends with tonnes of activities.

Last week was a bad weekend for me as I had bad flu, and need to work on both Sat and Sun~
Ha chiu and nasal voice are my trademark of the day during that time. 

I am going to join my mum's company trip and spend my weekend at Lotus Desaru Resort at this upcoming weekend, yuhoo!! 

Then, next week will go to JB again to attend a Buddhist event and perhaps shopping~~(lalalala~~)

20/12 is a public holiday for all Johorean, so I applied a day off on 21/12 to countdown for the 世界末日(just kidding la~~),however, I think before the world gone, my purse will die first as I am going to KL for shopping!!!!Yiiihaaa~~

I am going to enjoy my weekend until the fullest~

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Seoul: Gyeong Bok Gung 景福宫

The Joseon Dynasty(朝鲜王朝) built Five Grand Palaces in Seoul, which are the Gyeong Bok Gung, Chang Deok Gung, Chang Yeong Gung, Gyeong Hui Gung and DeokSu Gung.

The first tourist spot that I visited once I stepped into Seoul city is the GyeongBok Gung.

Here is some little history about the palace:
Gyeongbok Palace was built by, King Taejo(太祖王) in 1395. Then, the premises were destroyed by fire during the Imjinwaeran War (Japanese Invasion, 1592-1598). However, all of the palace's 7,700 rooms were later restored under the leadership of Heung Seon Dae Won Gun(兴宣大院君) during the reign of King Gojong (高宗王) . When Korea was annexed by Japan in 1910, 90% of the palace was abolished.
So, the palace that we see now is actually the results of efforts done by government to fully restore Gyeong Bok Gung to its former glory since 1990.

According to visitkorea.or.kr, Gyeong Bok Gung is arguably the most beautiful and remains the grandest of all palaces, but I think it is the grandest not the most beautiful one after I visited Chang Deok Gung and it Secret Garden.


Directions to Gyeong Bok Gung
I took the subway line 3 to GyeongBokGung station. Then, head towards the exit 5. 
Follow the directions as written in the signboard, and you will reach the palace.dscf7960_副本dscf7961_副本
Finally I am standing at the entrance of Gyeong Bok Palace. The ticket booth is at the right side of the main entrance.
Entrance fee: 3,000 Won for adults

dscf7964_副本Fall in love with the Mount Bugakhsan
that serve as background of palace.
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Gwang Hwa Mun(光化门)that facing the south
is the main door of the palace.DSCF7967_副本My mum standing in front of Hyeung Nye Mun(兴礼门).
Hyeung Nye Mun is the first gate inside the palace walls at the front.
DSCF7969_副本We came to this open area after passing through Hyeung Nye Mun .dscf7975_副本Gargoyle statues on the roof to protect the palace
DSCF7974_副本dscf7976_副本Keunjeong-jeon (勤政殿)is the royal throne hall.
Kings conducted state affairs, held official functions,
and received foreign envoys here. dscf7985_副本dscf7986_副本
Sajeongjeon (思政殿), a building where the king carried out
his executive duties and held meetings
with the top government officialsdscf7989_副本Kyeonghoe-ru(庆会楼),was a favored place for the King
to entertain visiting dignitaries.dscf8011_副本Hyangwon-jeong(香远亭), a hexagonal pavilion
constructed on an artificial island of a lake.
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Gangnyeongjeon(康寧殿), the king's main residing quarters

Other images taken in the Palacedscf7982_副本dscf7993_副本DSCF7973_副本dscf7994_副本 
Royal Guards Changing Ceremony
Every day visitors to Gyeongbokgung palace can watch a reenactment of the “Changing of the Royal Guards” ceremony, which takes place at the Gwanghwamun and Heungnyemun plazas. The royal guards of the Joseon Dynasty (1392~1910) were in charge of protecting the gates of the capital city and the royal palace. The ceremony is reenacted exactly as it used to be held, with guards wearing the Joseon uniforms, carrying traditional weapons and playing instruments. (Information from visitkorea)

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I was hanging around the palace without following any tour guide, which I personally think that is meaningless because I just walk around and snap the pictures blindly without knowing the history behind the palace even though I was holding the leaflet. So, my advice is, do visit the palace with a tour guide beside you. (Fyi, the tour guide service is provided free by the authority)

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Ho Chi Minh: Reunification Palace

After having a long hours shopping at Ben Thah Market, we went to Reunification Palace by taxi. Then we walked to other places eg the Opera House and People Committee House.

Reunification Palace, that formerly known as Independence Palace, was the home and workplace of the President of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. It was the site of the end of the Vietnam War during the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975, when a North Vietnamese Army tank crashed through its gates.


Outside the Buildingdscf8998_副本For me, the building structure is more like a school instead of a Palace.dscf9002_副本Personally think that I snapped this at a magnificent angle.
>.<
dscf9001_副本img_0323_副本img_0324_副本3 silly posingimg_0331_副本Oppa Gangnam Style in front of a tank

Inside the building
We didn’t have tour guide with us while we were visiting the Palace. 
So, for me the Reunification Palace have banquet room, meeting room
and then more room, room,and rooms.
img_0339_副本IMG_0341_副本
dscf9009_副本DSCF9015_副本A mini garden inside the building.
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Theatre room.dscf9021_副本There is a Huey helicopter on the roof.
The two red spots are where the bombs were 

dropped by a South Vietnamese fighter pilot,
in his failed attempt to kill the first President Diem.dscf9022_副本A random picture taken from the highest floor.

War room underneath the Palace
As I forementioned, Reunification Palace is also the working place of the President during the Vietnam War.
The best place to build the command centre during the war is definitely be the basement.
img_0372_副本
The bedroom that use by the President during the war.
img_0371_副本DSCF9023_副本img_0374_副本The workstation and communication centre

Details of Reunification Palace
Entrance fee: 15000 dong.
Open from 7.30 am-11 am and 1.00-4.00 pm