Hereโs a throwback post to my trip in London in 2016. On one of our days in England, we visited Bath in a 1-day tour package.
Bath, about 97 miles (156 km) west of London or 90 miles west of Windsor Castle, is known for and named after its Roman-built baths. Bath is the largest city in the county of Somerset, England.
Bath Abbey
We stopped outside the Bath Abbey and admired this 7th century, medieval Gothic architecture.
The Abbey is a Grade I listed building,particularly noted for its fan vaulting. The west front includes sculptures of angels climbing to heaven on two stone ladders, representing Jacob’s Ladder. The Abbey is built of Bath stone, which gives the exterior its yellow colour.
The Roman Baths
The Roman Baths are well-preserved thermae in the city of Bath, Somerset, England. The Roman Baths are preserved in four main features: the Sacred Spring, the Roman Temple, the Roman Bath House, and a museum which holds artefacts from Aquae Sulis. However, all buildings at street level date from the 19th century.
It is interesting to note that the modern ground level is 4 metres above Roman level.Great BathView of the abbey just above the Great BathWater flowBooking.comBooking.com
Hereโs a throwback post to my trip in London in 2016. On one of the days, we toured Windsor Castle under a tour package.
Before her passing, Queen Elizabeth was the owner of Windsor Castle, as can be seen in a brochure later below. Now her son, Charles III is the owner of Windsor Castle.
Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. Windsor Castle is a royal residence of the British royal family at Windsor in the English county of Berkshire.
Founded by William the Conqueror in the 11th century, it has since been the home of 39 monarchs. Queen Elizabeth used to spend most of her private weekends at the Castle, which is also used for ceremonial and State occasions.
For tourists, the entrance is on Castle Hill road, where thereโs an admission gate to pass through.
We walked up Castle Hill road towards Edward III Tower and entry into the castle precincts. After passing the castle walls, we were at the Middle Ward.
King Charles II statue
We walked down towards the Lower Ward where the St Georgeโs Chapel is. Photography and filming are permitted inside the St Georgeโs Chapel.
Set within the Castle precincts, St George’s Chapel is one of the most beautiful ecclesiastical buildings and finest examples of Gothic architecture in England. 10 monarchs, are buried here, including Henry VIII and Charles I.
Lower Ward
After that, we made our way back up to the Middle Ward via the path along the North Terrace. We walked through the Norman Gateway to the State Apartments.
You could see the Round Tower (the Keep) up close.
We entered the State Apartments and Queen Maryโs Dollsโ House.
The magnificent State Apartments are frequently used by members of the Royal Family for formal events. Follow in the footsteps of Kings and Queens as you view the magnificent State Apartments decorated with some of the greatest treasures from the Royal Collection.
Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House is the most magical residence in that it is a perfect replica in miniature of an aristocratic home. Designed for Queen Mary in 1923 by the leading British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens.
Photography and filming are not permitted inside the State Apartments.
After a walkthrough tour in the State Apartments, we were out at the Quadrangle.
After that, we walked back down to the Lower Ward and exited the castle precincts at Henry VIII Gateway.
St George’s ChapelSt George’s ChapelExitExitmultimedia guidebrochureBooking.comBooking.com
Hereโs a throwback post to my trip in the UK and more specifically in London on one of those days in 2016. Before the Tower of London, which was the next stop on our itinerary, we took a stroll between London Bridge and Tower Bridge, along the River Thames. Here are some spots to spot around the bridges.
London Bridge
On the London Bridge heading towards south of the River Thames
The Golden Hinde
Golden Hinde was a galleon captained by Francis Drake in his circumnavigation of the world between 1577 and 1580. She was originally known as Pelican, but Drake renamed her mid-voyage in 1578, in honour of his patron, Sir Christopher Hatton, whose crest was a golden hind (a female red deer). Hatton was one of the principal sponsors of Drake’s world voyage. A full-sized, seaworthy reconstruction of the Golden Hinde is in London, on the south bank of the Thames.
London Bridge City Pier (also known as London Bridge Pier and City Pier) is situated on the south bank of the River Thames, beside London Bridge and HMS Belfast.
Conduct a self-tour and river commute around the River Thames. River Bus from the pier departs eastbound towards Canary Wharf, Greenwich and Barking Riverside, and westbound towards Westminster, Battersea Power Station and Putney.
Next to the London City Bridge Pier, it’s obvious not to miss the 9-deck WWII warship-turned-museum with naval guns, that is permanently moored on the Thames.
Take a stroll along the Thames on The Queen’s Walk. This is a convenient route of several miles for tourists to walk from the London Eye Ferris wheel past numerous attractions to Tower Bridge and the Tower of London.
Tower Bridge
The next bridge after the London Bridge is the Tower Bridge (below photo). Tower Bridge is a Grade I listed combined bascule and suspension bridge in London. It is sometimes confused with London Bridge, which has led to a persistent urban legend about an American purchasing the wrong bridge.
As the name suggests, Terminal 21 sounds like another airport-themed spot. True to itโs name, it is an airport-themed shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand.
How to Get to Terminal 21
There are 3 Terminal 21 malls in Thailand: Bangkok, Korat, and Pattaya. The โTerminal 21โ in reference is the first Terminal 21 and it is in Bangkok. It is at Soi Sukhumvit 21, by the Asoke intersection, in Watthana District of Bangkok. Hence, the number โ21โ. Then, the name “Terminal 21” is meant to represent the concept that each retail floor represents different touristic cities.
This Terminal 21 in Bangkok is linked to BTS Skytrain and MRT with a skywalk, at Asok Station and Sukhumvit Station.
Terminal 21
Each floor is decorated based on touristic cities and locations around the world. At each escalator thereโs a arch showing your arrival and departure city.
From Istanbul at Level 3, we can either depart up to San Francisco or depart back down to Paris.
Let’s depart up to San Francisco on Level 4.
Above San Francisco is the food court: Pier 21.
At Pier 21 is where you’ll come across the famous red San Francisco bridge.
Let’s depart down to London. Before our arrival at London on Level 2.
Spot the red London bus #21 on the Piccadilly Circus stopping at Camden Town, Covent Garden, and Bond Street.
In the Underground at 1/1 Street, Charing Cross station, and the rest room.
Pointing you around London in the Terminal.
Letโs depart for Tokyo on Level 1. Then upon arrival at Tokyo.
Letโs depart for Paris on Level M. Then upon our arrival at Paris.
Letโs depart for Rome on Level G.
Letโs depart for the Caribbeans on Level LG.
Bonus: this Terminal 21 in Bangkok has the longest escalators in Thailand, up to 36 meters long.
One of the top 10 malls to visit in Bangkok, Thailand is Asiatique The Riverfront. It is a large open-air mall by a river.
Modeled after Bangkokโs four major trade districts, Asiatique weaves together all the essential elements that define what Bangkok was, as well as redefine what it is and what it will become in the near future.
If you started your day at Chatuchak Market, you might want to end your day at Asiatique.
How to Get to Asiatique
Asiatique The Riverfront as itโs name states, is along the Chao Phraya River.
To get to Asiatique by public transport, the nearest train station is Saphan Taksin Station. From the station, go down to Sathorn Pier. From there, you can take the free shuttle boat and ferry to Asiatique in 10 minutes.
Alternatively, you can take Grab, or drive and park at the parking lots next to and opposite Asiatique.
AsiatiqueThe Riverfront
Asiatique operates as an open-air night market from 3pm till midnight daily. It features 1,500 shops and stalls and 40 restaurants.
Asiatique is divided into four sections called districts:
Chareonkrung District
Town Square District
Factory District
Waterfront District
Chareonkrung District is named after Charoen Krung Road. It contains performing venues for shows and live performances, as well as shops selling handicrafts and souvenirs.
Town Square District blends Thai and Western ways of life, featuring foreign restaurants and sports bars.
Factory District is the area that focuses on trendy fashions, a hip dining scene, and shops selling all kinds of design products from clothing to gadgets.
Waterfront District is along the Chao Phraya River with several riverside restaurants and a large event space used for concerts, festivals and New Year celebrations. At 300 metres (980 ft) long, it is claimed to be Bangkok’s longest waterfront promenade. Asiatique Sky, the tallest Ferris wheel in Bangkok at 60 metres (200 ft) can be found at the Waterfront District.
How to start the weekend in Bangkok? For us, it was the second day (Saturday) of our holiday in Bangkok. And after a fulfilling buffet the previous night at Baiyoke Sky Hotel, we needed to burn some calories.
How to Get to Chatuchak Market
Chatuchak Market is on Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok.
In addition to taking Grab or taxi around Bangkok, you can also ride the train, and get off at Kamphaeng Phet MRT station on the MRT blue line or the Saphan Khwai on the BTS Sukhumvit Line.
There are 3 entrances:
Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road
Kamphaeng Phet 3 Road
Phahonyothin Road
Chatuchak Weekend Market
The market spans about 35 acres with more than 15,000 stalls and 11,000 vendors, divided into 27 sections. In Chatuchak Market, you can find many different kinds of goods, including antique collections, accessories, thai instruments, books, teen clothing and accessories, used clothing and shoes, arts, paintings, carvings, spas, incenses, handcrafts, artificial flowers, clothing accessories, shoes, postcard souvenirs, pets, tablewares, ceramics, silver and home decorations, dried food, clothing, hiking equipments and leather, silk, photo frames, handicrafts, miscellaneous, and others.
Below are photos of Chatuchak Market in 2018. Sharing memories and recommendations of my 2018 holiday in Bangkok with ya’ll. Even though photos are dated (old) but the content are relevant.
Grab a quick bite before starting the self-walking tour in the market.
Most parts of the market have sheltered walkways, so you can shop under protection from the sun and the rain. In the covered sections, you can find stalls that sell flowers, spices, clothes, and more.
Not to be missed for the gram is the clock tower in the middle of Chatuchak Market.
Baiyoke Sky Hotel – Thailandโs tallest hotel, soaring 88 stories above Bangkok. Enjoy dynamic and panoramic views of Pratunam and Bangkok.
How to Get to Baiyoke Sky Hotel
Baiyoke Sky Hotel is just a 3 minutes walk from Ratchapraprop train station on the Airport City Line. If you’re touching down at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, take the train on this line to the Ratchapraprop station.
From the ground floor of the building, take the elevator to the main lobby lounge on the 18th floor. The elevators are split into low zone and high zone.
To go to the 69th and 75th to 83rd floor, youโve to use the Sky Zone Elevators. The Sky Zone Elevators go to the 69 Seafood Buffet, Baiyoke Floating Market, Bangkok Sky Restaurant, Observation Deck, Stella Palace, Bangkok Balcony, Crystal Grill, the Roof Top Bar, and Revolving View Point.
Sky Dining Buffet at Bangkok Sky Restaurant
The Sky Dining Buffet is at Bangkok Sky Restaurant on the 76th floor. Enjoy an extensive buffet of seafood, Thai dishes, sushi, salads, pizza, pasta, cheese, and desserts in the sky.
From where we were dining, we could see Novotel, Centara Watergate Pavillion Hotel Bangkok, The Berkeley Hotel Pratunam, Platinum Fashion Mall and Bangkok.
Then go up one floor to the Observation Deck on the 77th floor – arguably the best place to view the Bangkok skyline. Thereโs a chart ranking of the worldโs tallest buildings. Baiyoke Tower II where Baiyoke Sky Hotel is, is the 48th tallest building in the world at 304 meters high.
Continue up by taking the elevator up to the Revolving Roof Deck on the 84th floor. The deck is a external metal plate which moves very slowly clockwise. The motion makes a loud mechanical noise in the background. Nevertheless, marvel in the 360-degree view of Bangkok from the revolving view point.
Jonker Street or also known as Jonker Walk, is the Chinatown street of Melaka. It is an old, beautiful heritage street in Malacca City in Malacca (Melaka), Malaysia.
It is a street filled with 17th century historical houses. You can start your journey at either ends of the street. On one end is the Jonker Walk Arch. The other end is at the Tan Kim Seng Bridge. The landmarks are H&M or San Shu Gong.
From Friday to Sunday from 6.00 p.m. until 12 midnight, the street becomes Jonker Street Night Market – a vibrant outdoor hub of food and goods. The street will be closed to vehicles. Hence, it becomes easy to walk and roam the street on foot. It can be crowded and busy with activity.
At night, the street can good for night street photography as the Jonker Walk Arch and the street are lighted up.
To avoid the crowd, go early in the morning and on weekdays. Much better walking around when there are fewer people.
What to Eat in 1 Day in Jonker Street
Breakfast or Brunch
The Daily Fix Cafe
A proudly Malaccan cafe in the middle of Jonker Street since 2014. The Daily Fix Cafe opens daily from 9.45am to 5.30pm.
Lunch
Famosa Chicken Rice Ball
There are 2 Famosa Chicken Rice Ball restaurants. Thereโs one along Jalan Hang Jebat and another at Lorong Hang Jebat. Order your fill of chicken rice balls, steam chicken, pork, and vegetables.
Tea
East & West Rendezvous
Off Jalan Hang Jebat at Lorong Hang Jebat, enjoy nyonya cendol in this dessert shop.
Jonker 88
Jonker 88 is just a short walk from Daily Fix Cafe along Jalan Hang Jebat. Enjoy bowls of curry laksa, assam laksa, cendol, and shaved ice for late lunch and tea.
A blue pond in Biei, Hokkaido, Japan. The Blue Pond outside the hot spring town of Shirogane Onsen is named after its deep blue colour which it owes to natural minerals dissolved in the water. It is one of Hokkaido’s most popular sightseeing destinations!
Blue Pond (้ใๆฑ , Aoi-ike)
How to Get to the Blue Pond
If you’re driving from Sapporo to the Blue Pond:
Get on the Hokkaido Expressway at the Sapporo interchange (IC) and get off at Mikasa IC, then go pass Katsurazawa Dam and through Furano (about 150km).
From Sapporo IC, get off at Asahikawa Takasu IC, and drive south towards Biei (about 180km).
If you’re driving from New Chitose Airport, use the Dลtล Expressway and get off at Shimukappu, then head north through Furano. The journey is roughly 160km or about 3 hours drive.
There is a parking lot next to the road, and the pond is about a 5 to 10 minutes walk away.
Buses between Biei Station and Shirogane Onsen stop at Shirogane Aoiike Iriguchi bus stop along the way. The one way ride from Biei Station to the pond takes about 20 minutes.
There are bus tours from Sapporo Station and can be easily arranged through tour companies.
Blue Pond
The Shirogane Blue Pond is an artificially created pond, and it is rather new. It is one of the ponds that were a by-product of creating a dam at the Biei River. This was to stop the volcanic mud of the erupting Mount Tokachi from reaching the town of Biei in 1988. However, it is the only one of these ponds that displays the beautiful blue colour.
The amazing blue colour of the pond comes from minerals in the water, colloidal aluminium hydroxide.
Booking.comRoll-chan, a figure made of hay bales, Welcomes us into Shikisai-no-Oka
Located in the rural town of Biei in Hokkaido, Shikisai-no-Oka attracts many people with its beautiful scenery of panoramic flower gardens. It is a paradise of seasonal blossoms from spring through to fall, in which several dozen different species of flowers and grasses flourish.
Why not enjoy the beautiful fragrance of the blossoms amid spectacular panoramic scenery?
How to Get to Shikisai-no-Oka
If you’re coming from Sapporo and using public transportation, take the JR Hakodate Main Line Limited Express to Asahikawa Station which is about one and a half hours ride. Then transfer onto the JR Furano Line which is about 45 minutes ride to Mibaushi Station. From Mibaushi Station, it is about a 25 minutes walk to Shikisai-no-Oka. If you want to take a taxi, it is recommended to get off at Biei Station and take a taxi (around 12 minutes ride).
If you’re driving by car from Sapporo, take the Doo Expressway (toll) and get off at Takigawa IC. It takes about 2 hours and 40 minutes to reach Shikisai-no-Oka.
The entrance fee is ยฅ500 for visitors over 15 and ยฅ300 for those under 15.
Shikisai-no-Oka
Shikisai no Oka simply means the Hills of Seasonal Colors
Shikisai-no-Oka is a big flower garden or park in the Furano area with about 15 hectares of a wide range of seasonal flowers. The Green Season (from late April to late October or from spring to autumn), you can enjoy colourful stripes of flowers that are drawn over the hills.
Be sure to walk in the flower-filled fields. Given that the field is 15 hectares large, expect to do a fair amount of walking.
The Shikisai-no-oka Norokko (tractor bus) is a very popular ride that takes a slow run every 15 minutes or so through the most impressive course in the vast Shikisai-no-Oka Park, which is filled with the rich fragrance of flowers and offers spectacular views of the hills, Mt. Daisetsu, and the flower garden. It stops once during the ride for taking photographs against a background of breathtaking flowers.
It costs 500 yen for high school students and older,
it costs 300 yen for elementary and junior high school students, and
it is free for elementary school students and younger.
Shikisai-no-Oka in 2019
If you want to get around at your own pace on your own or in a small group; you can rent a buggy or a cart. The buggy costs ยฅ500 for a single-seater on 1km circuit of the Shirakaba-batake (white birch garden). The 4-seater cart costs ยฅ2000 for a 15 minutes session to reach some of the best photo spots and explore around the park.
Shikisai-no-Oka in October
In the Winter Season (from early December to early April the following year), the flower garden turns to a world of silvery snow and there are many activities to be enjoyed. Thatโs the time when many winter sports enthusiasts enjoy their time doing various winter activities especially riding on the snowmobile and snow rafting.
