SPAIN..............coming soooonnn

KOREA ......Package Tour; Earliest Date Departing June 2014

KOREA .......I was there several years ago. It was a business trip in Seoul and I had marvellous time staying at Lotte Hotel. I spent a week in Seoul prior to my stay in Tokyo. Sad to say there were no smartphones then, and none of us actually took pictures except for the official group photos.

Anyway, I can never forget Seoul for its brooches........lots and lots of them, and very cheap indeed, and of course the Kimchi, a Korean fermented side dish which is actually fermented cabbage. I was told Kimchi is known to prevent obesity and it also helps to curb the growth of cancer cells. Well, lets be on the lookout for Kimchi again...do hurry......hehehe.

I managed to coax my friend, who is also a leisure planner (I did mention about her in my earlier post), to publish a photo of her in Korea. It was not easy to persuade her though....hehehe.

Not too bad ....she does look cute in the Hanbok...dont you agree?

So still excited about the Kimchi..........and ladies..... the brooches??

I have this package in store for you..........anytime anyday for Kimchiiiiii.....

Please ignore the dates.....like I say...give me your dates and be it a Muslim or Non-Muslim meals, just give us a tinkle at 012 393 8162 or 013 31313 592 or simply email at leisureplannertna@blogspot.com

8DAYS 9NIGHTS is from RM4888/USD 1630/GBP889/SD1955

How wonderful...1st Day - One of the places to visit is the City tour of Kongbok Palace or its other names equally and widely used Gyeongbokgung Palace or Gyeongbok Palace. Interestingly, this palace was built in the late 14th Century or 1395 to be exact, but burned and abandoned for almost 300 hundred years, and only to be finally restored in the modern era in 1867!

Next day, we are off to Jeju Island. Yess, Jeju..............Seongeup Folk Village

At the entrance of the village, you will be greeted by a 1000-year old Zelkova tree. The village gives you an insight to the ordinary life of people who have stayed in the straw-roofed houses years ago. You will notice as you enter the village there are statues of men about 1.4m in height. Several sites here are used for rituals to pray for good health and wealth.

Day 4 - Its to Busan, about 450km southeast of Seoul and take almost 3 hours via bullet train. One of the interesting places to visit is the Jagalchi Fish Market. It is the largest seafood market in Korea. Besides having to eat the raw fish at the market, you will also get to observe the lifestyle of the Busan indigenous natives.

Notice, most are women selling at the market.

Next day is shopping and shopping.

Day 6 is Nami Island. O yes.......other places too.

O there she is again in Nami Island....Hi Aini! This is a very recent photo taken of her. 

I just love the trees lining in such an an orderly manner, reminds me of the soldiers in their smart uniforms in a parade, not an inch away from the rest and standing proud waiting for instructions with no hesistance. 

Then its again shopping and shopping the next day. I hope the guys will enjoy it too!

Our 2nd last day will be a visit to the Everland Theme Park before settling back in Seoul on the final day.

OK............hope to hear from you soon. I am off to the next destination.

Tips to travel

Always keep your monies in different places. You would not want to get an uninviting guests to savour your big fat wallet or purse.

I would actually advise to carry a debit card rather than too much cash. Perhaps some small changes for a cash will be helpful.

Never never leave your passport in your hotel. Bring with you wherever you go.

CHINA TOUR

CHINA

China ......from endless Historical and Mystical Places to visit; Stories of Emperors and Conquests..........to Places of Captivating Natures Hidden Gems, and the Unresistable Shopping Tourism with its widely sought after silks, jades, tea, handicrafts, ivory,accessories for ladies and gentlemen....the lists go on and on.......... O yes ......not forgetting mushrooms. 

Since its open door policy, it has brought tremendous economic growth and takes pride to be the 3rd highest visited country in the world.

The reform has brought China to rapid modernisation with opulent skyscrapers, mammoth shopping malls and a robust tourism industry.

Below I shall share with you some interesting places to visit in China. Please take note the brochures attached are meant for Muslim Tours. 

However, should any of my readers may choose to go on a Non-Muslim Tour, kindly communicate with me at my mobile no 012 393 8162 or Nuraini at 013 3133 592 or simply email at leisureplannertna@gmail.com

We are open to various types of travel packages and anytime of the year.

Guangzhou Tour at RM655 (S$1640/USD198/GBP120)

One notable places is the visit to the bronze statue of Mr Deng Xiao Ping (1904 -1997) - the great leader of China's reform and Opening Up Policy. Guangzhou is his hometown and it is situated in the southwest of China's Sichuan province.

Guilin Tour at RM599 (S$240/USD182/GBP109)

Guilin boasts wonderful and magnificient countrysides but The Silver Rock Scenic spot, a picturesque scenery of Guilin karst cave, is an excellent example of a picture with thousand words. It is the largest cave in Guilin.

Kumming Tour RM625 (S$250/USD189/GBP114)

Many places to visit in Kumming but the Daguan Shopping Center is definitely the shrine of shopholics.

Shanghai Tour M625 (S$250/USD189/GBP114)

One of the places we will visit is the People's Square which is located in the south of Nanjing road. It is the center of Shanghai city and has an area of 140,000 square metres  and is known to be the largest public square of the city.

I shall come back with photos of my business partner, Nuraini in action soon. 

This is in Guilin, China.

MALAYSIA TOUR..........

BEAUTIFUL EXOTIC MALAYSIA.........

Where shall I begin? My mind is thinking ahead of my fingers.......there is so much to share.......it is me who is spoilt for choice. I have to pen my thoughts with a different approach here.

The Shopping Haven
The Resorts 
The Villages
The Islands
The Seas........the beaches
The Natural Reserves

Malaysia is located .....there. Yep, there it is. Picture definitely speaks a thousand words. 

How far is Malaysia from the various countries by flight?

USA to Kuala Lumpur (approx 20-21hrs)

London/Germany/other parts of Europe to Kuala Lumpur (approx 13hrs)

Russia to Kuala Lumpur (approx 11hrs)

Singapore  to Kuala Lumpur (approx 50mins or just take a drive for approx 4hrs) 

Now where is Kuala Lumpur? Can you see the arrow? That is Kuala Lumpur.

What does it offer? Sunny weather throughout the year, with occasional rain. What does it offer again??These....It is the capital of Malaysia,  a cosmoplitan city which offers tourists shopping haven at upscale malls to the down-to-earth bazaar shops. Here, is where the financial hub of Malaysia can be found. 

The iconic Petronas Twin towers sit majestically above the rest of the skyscrapers. Suria KLCC is the most iconic and state-of-the-art shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur, and is part of the Petronas Twin Towers. Gucci, Prada, Bally, Coach, Zara, Marks & Spencer, Crabtree & Evelyn and many more top-notch brands can be found here.

Go to Chinoz on the Park for fine dining or grab an English tea with scones at Harrods. Want something more casual and hang out while seeping coffee overlooking KLCC park, grab Starbucks coffee or simply head for Kentucky or McDonalds. 

EXPRESS INFORMATION

I am going to do a short cut here.............ooops pardon me...............but I shall be back to share with you the Marvels of Malaysia.

Visit this website for more information on Malaysia : www.tourism.gov.my

For more fun and adventures in Malaysia, please click on the website above. Just tell us where and when you would like to visit the places from the website. We will arrange for you by calling or send a text to us at (6) 012 393 8162 or (6) 013 313 3592 or simply email and we shall guide you to the Wonders of Malaysia.

Remember to give me a tinkle...I am ready to shop....are you with me? Oops wrong place wrong picture.........it should be in Malaysia (Btw, we have Johor Premium Factory Outlet in Johor Baru; the southern most part of Malaysia - next to Singapore)....but again I am 'cross selling'........perhaps to shop in UK too...........hehehe.

Bicester Village, UK

EUROPE TOUR 12 SEPT - 21 SEPT 2014

EUROPE

Lets explore EUROPE...........I would like to start with London and the rest of the United Kingdom. United Kingdom is exceptionally unique and extraordinarily enchanting, and it is best described with the existence of the unspoilt countrysides, preserving centuries of old buildings, be it residentials or the quaint shophouses lining the streets, yet able to blend well with the present day.

Regent Street

Regent Street is one of the major shopping streets, and dated back to as early as 1825. However, what we see today of the buildings are a result of redevelopment between 1895 and 1927.

The Porch House

The Porch House, the oldest Inn in England,  formerly known as The Royalist Hotel claims to have dated as far back as 987AD! There is a witch's marks in the medieval fireplace    in the dining lounge believed to ward off spells. There is also a resident ghost or two, and rumors of a secret tunnel from the cellars, leading under the street. 

This picture was taken by me last year in 2013. It is located in Stow-on-the-Wold, Costwolds.

Kebab Mahal

In Edinburgh, Scotland you must never miss this divine food named Keema. My recommendation is at the Kebab Mahal at Nicolson Square. We had this Naan (In Scotland, it is spelt as Nan).

That is my nan or naan garlic. Definitely, I am going back for more.......hehehe.

O...I didnt want to break your heart but the package I will be uploading does not include Scotland. 

No worries, just give me a tinkle at 012 393 8162 or my friend Nuraini at 013 313 592 or email us at leisureplannertna@gmail.com for that special journey.

Well.....its Travel Tips Now
To Select a Hotel (If you arrange your own travels)

• Always, always, always read reviews. Reviews will give you an indication of how good the hotel is in terms of location, cleanliness, service and etc.
• If you have no plans to hire a car, always find a hotel nearest to the train or tube or bus station. This will save you the money to get a cab or the agony to walk a considerable distance with your luggage to your hotel.
• If you travel in a fairly large group, say for example a family of 4 at least, it is best to book an apartment with ensuite bathroom and a kitchenett. This money that you have saved can be used for shopping....I am sure the girls out there will agree....hehehe.

EUROPE HERE WE COME............................

Its HERE!!!........................11 DAYS 9NIGHTS 
LONDON- BRUSSELS-AMSTERDAM-COLOGNE-RHINE CRUISE-FRANKFURT-GENEVA-MONT BLANC-PARIS

at RM11,888 (S$4755/USD3600/GBP2161)

There are just too many wonderful destinations to share here; photos to upload..............but I shall continue another day.............just enjoy the price tag shown..........hehehe.

I am TERATAI and the BALKAN TOUR 10 OCT - 21 OCT 2014

HELLO AND A LOVELY DAY TO YOU! 

My name is Teratai Awap. It is an ancient Malay name and is also named after a flower called Lotus. My father gave me that name which I am proud to have. 

I lives in Subang Jaya,  a thriving and cosmopolitan city in the state of Selangor, Malaysia. For those who have not heard of Selangor or Malaysia, I will give you a brief description on the geographical location of Selangor, together with an overview of Malaysia in my other Post titled 'Beautiful Exotic Malaysia'. By the way, Selangor is a stone's throw from Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. 

My hobby........I just love to travel..........below is a picture of me in Costwolds, England....we stayed in a lovely 200 years old cottage.......I just love Costwolds..........it is dubbed as one of the most enchanting and beautiful countrysides in UK!

I am a freelance travel planner or rather prefer to be addressed as a Leisure Planner. I organise travel, outbound and inbound from ticketing to providing package tours; I 'pilot' you to places where you can indulge in endless entertainment with your loved ones.

I work very closely with my two friends, one who is also a Leisure Planner, just like me; we team up together, and another who owns a travel agency aptly named Via Vacation and Travels Sdn Bhd. Her family has been in the travel business for over 30 years. She has a cafe next to it that serves heavenly delicious cakes, and yes, to complete the afternoon tea break with gourmet coffee...the aroma greets you like a brewing coffee factory, so enticing...O la la.  

TIME TO TRAVEL............................ 
TIPS ON TRAVEL
Packing

If you travel light, there is definitely no issue or you will have little problem with an overweight luggage. But what if you are a traveller who just can't leaves things behind...like me?...hehehe.......

My advise

• Always roll your clothings when packing if you travel heavy. You will be surprised at how much space you can save OR simply head for the Space Compressible Bag
• If it is a winter holiday, just handcarry your winter jacket over your hand to save space when check-in
• Never do last minute packing as it can be stressful. Always have a day as a buffer for last minute surprises. 
• Equipped yourself with a portable luggage scale to ensure that your luggage will never be overweight each time you fly

HOLIDAY! HOLIDAY! HOLIDAY! ..........
RING/TEXT ME at 012 393 8162 or NURAINI at 013 3133 592 or
EMAIL at leisureplannertna@gmail.com 


LETS CAPTURE THE UNTOLD BEAUTY OF THE BALKAN COUNTRIES

Take a break and pack your clothings and lets head to the Balkan Countries....see the untold beauty, the historical sites and monuments, and travel back in time, immersed in the old town where life is so peaceful and the air so crisp.....

BALKAN COUNTRIES - TOUR PACKAGE AT A GLIMPSE(11DAYS 9NIGHTS)

FROM RM9788 (S$3764/US$2995/GBP1783) onwards, Our Tour starts in Skojpe with places of interests to visit such as Stone Bridge, Old Bazaar, Old Rail Station, Mustafa-Pasha Mosque, Daut Pasin Hamam, from the XV century and the monument of Mother Teresa.

STONE BRIDGE

Skopje's iconic old Stone Bridge across the river Vardar. It was originally built during the Ottoman rule, under the patronage of Sultan Mehmed III, the Conqueror between 1451 and 1469.

Next Stop in Orhid. Historical mosques include Hadzi Turgut Mosque, Krst

Dazmija,Zeynel Abedin Pasha Tekke and the Old bazaar.

KRST DAZMIJA (Cross Mosque)

Krst Dzamija or the Cross Mosque (Haji Turgut), built in 1466 is located on the former church of St. Kyriakia. It is the oldest mosque in Ohrid. The unique feature of this mosque is that there is a small cross on the crescent on top of the minaret . Legend has it that when the Turks built the minaret, they threw the church cross in the lake but the cross returned to the minaret uncannily. When they persistently threw it away, the minaret collapsed. However, the cross was found on the minaret again when they rebuilt the minaret. This was repeated many times until somebody dreamed that the minaret would only stay up if the cross was left on the top. Finally, the Turks left the cross on the crescent, never to remove it again and the minaret never collapse!

Bye Orhid and lets welcome Tirana. We shall proceed to visit the Tirana Mosque of Ethem Bey, the Clock Tower and the National Museum.

NATIONAL MUSEUM

The National Museum is the country's largest museum. It was opened on 28 October 1981. Visitors have the chance to learn about the economic, social, political and cultural development of the Albanians, who have preserved their typical characteristics, also resistance against the ruling of Byzantines, French, Turks and Serbs.

Its getting fun. Now we are entering our 4th day....having fantastic time everyone? Lets get our feet to the old town of Shkoder - visit the Mosque, traditional road build in the XXth century which bears the distinctive architectural characteristic of the museum area and Rozafa castle.

ROZAFA CASTLE

Rozafa Castle is located 130metres above sea-level, near the city of Shkoder. Shkoder is one of the oldest and most historic city in Albania. It is in the northwestern Albania. 

The castle has been the site of several famous sieges. Legend has it that there were three brothers who were responsible for building the castle, but the walls of the castle collapsed after they had built it. One day, they met an old man who told them that they should sacrifice one person to the castle so that the wall will not collapse again. They could not find anybody and finally decided to sacrifice one of their wives. To be fair, whichever wife came first to serve them will be sacrificed and buried in the wall. Two of the brothers told their wives, but the youngest was honest enough not to inform his wife. So when the youngest wife served the food, she was sacrificed. She agreed on condition that there would be a gap for her to breastfeed her baby, her right eye to see him, her right hand to caress him and her right foot to rock his cradle. It was said that milk still flows from one of the walls in the castle since then.

Mystical Balkan.............next is a city tour through old town Budva and Dubrovnik.

Day 7 - Transfer to Mostar. Stop at Kravice waterfalls; Pocitelj – old city fortress built during the Ottoman era; Blagaj – Buna River spring.

KRAVICE WATERFALLS

Kravice is a waterfall on the Trebižat River in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and about 40km from Mostar. It is approximately 25 metres high. Kravice is a popular swimming and picnic area, has a little cafe, a rope swing and a place to camp.

Sarajevo.....yes we have heard so much about Sarejevo, and finally we are here. Time to visit Karadjoz bey mosque and Muslibegovic House walk through the old town and old bridge, listed as UNESCO heritage site. 

The next day, after a good rest, we shall visit Vrelo Bosne – spring of river Bosnia, Tunnel museum – the only means of going in and out during the siege of Sarajevo in last war and a walking tour of old town Bascarsija, Latin bridge; place where the Austro Hungarian Archduke was assassinated and what triggered the 1st World War, Brusa Bezistan – covered market place, Gazi Husref Bey Mosque built in 1530 during the Ottoman era, Gazi Husref Bey Madrass, Morica han built in 1551 and Vijecnica – town hall for the Austro-Hungarian era.

TUNNEL MUSEUM

Between May 1992 and November 1995, during the Siege of Sarajevo and in the midst of the Bosnian War, the Sarajevo Tunnel was constructed by the Bosnian Army to link the city of Sarajevo.

The tunnel linked the Sarajevo neighbourhoods, allowing food, war supplies, and humanitarian aid to enter the city, and act as a gateway for people to get out. 

Construction of the tunnel began in secret on 1 March 1993 under the codename “Objekt BD". The tunnel was painstakenly dug by hand 24-hours a day and, instead of being paid monetarily, the workers were paid with one packet of cigarettes per day, an item that was in high demand then.

After the war, The Sarajevo Tunnel Museum was built onto a historic private house whose cellar served as the entrance to Sarajevo Tunnel. Now visitors can still walk down a small length of the tunnel (approximately 20 meters). The "house" museum exhibits archival materials including an 18-minute long movie movie, war photographs, military equipment.

More Destinations to come..........................

Disclaimer : Prices quoted may vary subject to availability, and prices quoted in foreign currencies may differ at prevailing rates (prices quoted in this blog are calculated based on 27 April 2014 Malaysian time/date)