Prosperous Dec: Welcoming a brand new year!

Assalamualaikum. 안녕.

In few more hours, 2013 akan melabuh tirai. Selamat datang 2014. 

Semoga kehidupan jadi lebih baik. Dapat jadi hamba Nya yang lebih baik. Semua pun mestilah kena doa yang terbaik, kan.

To friends out there...let us welcome 2014 with an open heart & mind. Let us strive to be the best. Insha Allah, amin.

At Jonggak area joining the countdown.

Update: 1 Jan 2014. Celebrated the countdown together with the Seoullites. Lautan manusia sangat sangat super duper ramai. Amazingly, once event habis...kejap jak lerai semua manusia. Aku mula tengok ramai gitu, automatik risau tertinggal last train ah.

eryantierdabdulkarim

CutiCuti: From Kolumpor to Busan to Seoul

Assalamualaikum. 안냥!!

Greetings from Seoul. Gitu!

On the 27^th, we departed from LCCT early morning. Flight jam 1 am. Landed at Gimhae International Airport, Busan at around 8-ish. Masa tu temperature sudah -3'C!! Memang gigil. Gedebak gedebuk sampai hostel pun dekat jam 10 am.

Sempatlah berjalan ke Busan Station untuk tukar e-tiket KTX ke tiket sebenar for the next day's journey to Seoul.

Then kami jalan area BIFF & Nampo-dong. Plan asal memang mau lepak Gwangbok-ro in the evening sebab since early Dec to early Jan the street will be decorated & lighted with colorful lights sempena Christmas & New Year. Sempatlah kami menyibuk di sana malam tu. Memang cantik & happening. 

Early the next day; we departed to Seoul. Meaning by the time I posted this entry, we're already here for 3 days. Sangat sejuk. Masa sampai, it was -10'C!! Gigil paling gaban once we got down from the train.

Yesterday; alhamdulillah merasa snowfall di Chuncheon. Walau ndak lebat tapi aku bersyukur sangat. Allah has granted my wish. 

Will update more once I'm back. Macam ndak best menaip dari phone ni. 

Upon arrival. Muka ndak cukup tidur dalam flight. Sob.

My first time riding Busan's subway. Not bad for a first timer. Thanks to app Jihachul (downloaded through Play Store for Android); jadi assistant setia aku selama ni.

White Nami-seom. 

Ok, till then. Ndak sabar sambut new year sama warga Seoul esok malam. Poyo sangat. Ngeks. 

eryantierdabdulkarim

Prosperous Dec: Few Days to 2014

Assalamualaikum. 안녕!

Few more days to a brand new year. Tapi aku sebenarnya lagi nervous untuk next Friday. Motif untuk nervous?

First time touch down di airport selain IIA...silalah jangan mati kutu ah Bie. Aku akan pegi together with a cousin; tindakan paling bijak last minute decided untuk bawa company. Kunun haritu berangan mau celebrate 2014 lone ranger, then baru sentap sama diri sendiri. Apalah bingai sungguh kan mau celebrate sendiri. L to the Ser! 

Bawa first timer meaning aku bakal repeat few places yang aku sudah pernah jejak. Tapi sebab aku yang atur itinerary, haruslah aku lebihkan to places yang aku belum sampai. Maka bertabah jak sang Kazen mengikut perintah. Kalau ndak nanti aku kasi tinggal di sana. Kejam kan ugutan.

Tengah atur² itinerary ni, aku rasa macam ndak cukup masa. Macam sekejap betul cuti kali ni. Punyalah sedih perangai ndak sedar diri aku ni. There are just tooooooo many places that I wish to set foot upon. Sob! 

Luckily aku ndak buat perangai gila untuk jejak Jeju juga. Else memang akan meroyan. Aku sudah set, Jeju hanya akan dijejak bersama Ms G later. Kami plan untuk sewa kereta since banyak info boleh korek dari bloggers. Ramai yang share details so possibility untuk kami huru hara panik di sana mestilah zero kan.

Itinerary kali ni masih akan ada aktiviti shopping. Sebab aku plan untuk beli trench/winter jacket. And boots. Super duper murah compare kalau beli sini. Tapi aku memang standby bawa 1 jacket dari sini. Ada nanti aku beku once landed. 

Since si Kazen adalah hantu anything K-pop jadinya nanti akan singgah few places yang related to that world. Ndak dapat jumpa retis, tengok their company buildings pun jadilah. Thanks Azra for ur entry about Cheongdamdong. Bakal melayan orang ber-fangirling. Kah aku pun bakal join getiks as well? Hmmm we'll see that later.

Yang penting, kali ni aku akan make sure sempat round Gyeongbok. Been to the city twice tapi harapan untuk masuk that palace semuanya punah. And aku juga berangan untuk buat live update dari sana, haraplah aku larat & ada extra masa. Ndak kan berjalan until late night pun kan. 

eryantierdabdulkarim

Prosperous Dec: Another Kdrama?

Assalamualaikum. 안녕!

The other day, sungguh teruja tunggu this drama released. Now sudah Episode 3. Aired every Mon & Tues evening. Since next week sudah berjalanan, makanya akan melayan few of the episodes di sana. At the country itself. Gitu kan semangat.

Hoyeah! I can't wait for my winter trip. Insha Allah semua akan berjalan seperti yang dirancang. 

Prime Minister & I (KBS2). Im Yoona's fan I am. Haruslah akan melayan dengan penuh dedikasi.

Will be going with my not-so-baby cousin. A girl who has never boarded more than 3 hours flight. I promised her last year that I will bring her next time I balik kampung considering minat budak ni memang 99% ke arah anything Kpop. Aku ndak da kaitan ah, am not the one yang pengaruh. 

Excited she is...as well as Yours Truly. Dia tu bolehlah difahami kenapa excited; first time kan. Yang aku ni? Hmm parah. Somehow, aku sudah kena racun pujangga guna² South Korea. Sungguh berhantu!

eryantierdabdulkarim

CutiCuti: Hong Kong - New Tokyo Hostel, Chung King Mansion

Assalamualaikum. 你好

Related posts:

Hong Kong (Arrival, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4)

Macau (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4)

Shenzhen (Visa on Arrival, Part 2)

As promised, the accommodation I stayed at during my recent trip to Hong Kong. I paid for a 3 nights stay. Eventhough sempat menyelinap pigi Macau & Shenzhen, tetaplah stay at one place. Lagipun it was only a day trip to those 2 places. Bukan lama di Hong Kong, jadi idea untuk tukar² hostel haruslah kurang brilliant. Gitu!

Hostel: New Tokyo Hostel

Location: Blok D, 8^th Floor, Chung King Mansion, Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui

Duration of stay: 30 June 2013 - 3 July 2013

Total Price: HKD 1200 (Double room)

Booked via booking.com

How to get to Chung King Mansion from Hong Kong International Airport:

Take bus #A21 & alight at the 13^th stop (Nathan Road). The building will be on ur left side.

Regardless the many reviews about the salespeople that crowded Chung King Mansion, I found this place safe for travellers. Well, at least for me & Bunda. Just ignore them & they will not bother you. Say "No, thanks." in a good manner. 

Security at its best. We saw many funny things happened in the elevator while queuing at the lobby. 

Initially, I booked for Australian Guest House (located at 16^th Floor) but upon check-in, I was told that they have changed my booking to New Tokyo Hostel. Apparently, all those hostels/guesthouse are run by the same company. I didn't mind with the change because New Tokyo Hostel is new & quite clean. Bonus, rather than having to go up to 16^th...we just need to take the escalator up to 8^th Floor. 

The main door to New Tokyo. This is the view from our room. Although only guest has the key to the main door, we locked our room all the time. Basic thing, kan? 

Self service corner. Such a relief when I saw those packets of 3 in 1 Nescafe drink! Not that I didn't bring any from Malaysia...but the fact that yang aku bawa tu ndak cukup. 

The hostel also provide an internet-connected pc for the guest. Tapi sebab system adalah Windows lama; maka kena tunggu berzaman untuk habis loading 1 page! Tinggal lah impian untuk buat live update dari tanah Hong Kong. Cis!!

Lucky enough I read few blogs informing about how "generous" a room space is in Hong Kong prior coming. Else, memang terkejut beruk sama kebesaran ruang upon entering our room. From the door to the bed, hanya ada like 10 steps. Tapi cukuplah kan ruang untuk solat. Ada certain hostel, aku pernah baca blogger(s) solat atas katil. 

In-room facilities. Siap berpeti-besi ah. Grateful for that little fridge. Energy bar kalau makan sejuk² sangatlah mantaps! And ouh, bunga walau pelestik namun they are in my favourite color!

Bunda is very very particular when it comes to bathroom. It's the first thing she will inspect upon entering. And this hostel gets an A+ from her. "Although the room is small, but the bathroom is super clean." Bilik kecil, bathroom betul² menghadap our bed ok tapi langsung tiada bau yang kureng menyenangkan. 

Purposely requested for a room with window. Bangunan sudah terover tinggi, mau lemas kalau stay bilik without window ni. 

IF I were to go solo one day...bolehlah imagine how my room looks like. Worry not, ruang untuk solat masih ada tu. 

Alhamdulillah. Done with entry about the accommodation. Kalau rajin nantilah aku bentang budget. Rough budget lah sebab aku seriously ndak ingat berapa HKD spent on food. 

eryantierdabdulkarim

CutiCuti: Hong Kong - The Peak / Masjid Ammar & Osman Ramju / Popeyes Restaurant @ HKIA

Assalamualaikum. 你好

Hoyeah finally...dalam mood yang kunun ke laut, aku dapat juga habiskan entry cuti² Hong Kong ni. Last entry akan update pasal our accommodation pula. Walau stay hostel murah², tetap gatal aku mau buat review.

On our last day in Hong Kong, we headed to The Peak early in the morning. First day sudah cekewa ndak dapat merasa naik tram dek kerana lautan manusia yang terlalu menyesakkan mata & fikiran hence we decided to go on the last day. Haritu kami hanya sempat menjejak kaki di Lower Terminus (story here).

Our last ride on the Star Ferry from Kowloon to Hong Kong Island. Awal pagi, sangatlah tenang keadaan laut. I feel at peace! Unlike time balik dari Macau tu kan. Nightmare!

View of skyscrapers from the ferry terminal.  

Oleh kerana perkhidmatan bas nombor 15C hanya start beroperasi pukul 10am, makanya kami terpaksa guna servis superwalkertapaki di awal pagi. Lucky enough sempat light breakfast dalam bilik before we departed. Else, ada pengsan on the way to The Peak. 

Apple Store ni memang famous. Among the biggest store I've ever seen so far. 

Kami berjalan dari Central terminal tanpa ada bantuan map. Only berbekalkan bangunan di atas ni as landmark. Nasiblah kau tinggi mencakar langit, boleh nampak even from afar. Bunda dengan yakin jak ikut aku, ndak tau yang anakonda dia ni pun sebenarnya ikut instinct jak berjalan.

Dalam10 minit berjalan...and nampak jak bangunan ni, memang 100% yakin aku ndak sesat. Bangga! Ndak sia² study street view googlemap prior coming. 

Reached the Terminus Lower Peak at 730am! Memang terbaik punya awal. Kami sampai sekali ngan staff². 

As per Ernie..."Ndak pernah saya nampak ni tempat lenggang gini". Mostly friends who've been here experience super crowded atmosphere prior boarding the tram. 

Tram makes few stops before reaching The Peak. Tram stops ni semua memang dekat rumah orang yang ada². 

Memang lenggang.  But ada few early visitors like us juga; sure case malas menempuh orang ramai. Yang atas sekali tulah Sky Terrace. It was suggested the best time to lepak atas tu is during sunset. Boleh view Hong Kong Island dengan super clear. 

Because we were there early, memang ndak dapat naik lagi. Kaunter pun belum buka. And kami memang ndak plan untuk naik. Bunda is acrophobia. Sebelum jadi apa² yang ndak diingini, betterlah elakkan. 

The first tram. 

Skyscrapers in Hong Kong Island; viewed from from the rooftop. Yang ni pun aku menikmati pemandangan secara sendirian berhad. Bunda warned "Jangan dekat sangat, bahaya" countless times. Sempat snapped few pictures before we decided to go down from the rooftop.

Sudah penat menapak di awal pagi, marilah isi perut. Sambil² surf internet. Wifi free di puncak ni. Masa breakfast ni, ramai lah nampak tuan² or maids bawa their dogs jalan² ambil angin pagi. Style orang kayakaya sangat kan. Siap buang masa lepak di Starbucks with their dogs & owner lain. Gosip² cerita anjing kali. Ngeks.

Inilah pemandangan pukul 1030am. Sudah berular² queue. Padahal it was Wednesday! Should we came a bit late, mesti stuck dalam human traffic ni. 

Untuk sampai to next destination...we took the public bus in front of the Charter Garden. Menapak sikit dari Lower Terminus to the bus stop. 

To get to Masjid Ammar & Osman Ramju Sadick Islamic Centre; we took the bus #23 bound for North Point Ferry Pier. And hop off the bus at the fifth stops. Walked straight ikut aliran traffik until nampak 7-Eleven store. Turn right, masjid tu belakang building ni jak.

And alhamdulillah, sampai. Masa ni budak² tadika di Islamic Centre ni baru jak habis kelas. Comel jak aku tengok budak² tu.

Naik lift untuk ke kantin. Ramai suggest harus singgah sini untuk dim sum. Jadi kami pun haruslah ambil peluang, alang² sudah di sana. 

A bit pricey tapi tempat yang susah untuk dapat sumber halal; logik lah bagi aku diorang up sikit harga. Tanamkan niat untuk bersedekah sekali. 

Rambang mata. Semua nampak sedap, semua nampak sungguh menawan di hati. 

Ended up pilih hanya 2 jenis dim sum. Ikut nafsu, semua aku mau. Tapi ikut kemuatan perut...ni pun sudah lebih dari cukup. Kenyang breakfast di The Peak maybe. Plus sudah menapak since morning, aku rasa muscle di perut refused untuk mengembang to allow more consumption. Makanan di kantin ni memang super sedap. Bunda likes Chinese cuisine & she is super satisfied with the food. Memang yummy!

Kunun si Err ndak da selera makan nasi...meratah lauk & dim sum jaklah. 

Settled with lunch, kami bergerak back to Central. Naik bas juga. Perut penuh ndak larat berjalan lagi!

Ndak boleh lepak lama sebab perlu check out at 3pm. Suppose check out time is 2pm tapi kami minta extend. Dengan syarat kena bayar extra. Itu tiada hal, janji kami boleh mandi manda & jamak before gerak pi airport. Berpeluh melekit & bau asam paling kick sudah masa tu. Kami berjalan dari awal pagi, remember?

Us! Dari Tsim Sha Tsui ambil airport bus #A21. Jalan in less than 5 minutes jak dari hostel to the bus stop. 

Naik Air Asia, sila lah check in di Terminal 2. And again, superwalkertapaki!

Habis check in flight; aku tarik nafas & while looking at Bunda "Habislah sudah percutian kita di Hong Kong. Insha Allah, nanti kita pigi Korea ahh". And Bunda replied "Ya Korea yang ntah bila. Tapi ndak mau summer or winter". Wah gitu! 

Hong Kong airport memang super massive. Tengok jak berapa boarding gate diorang ada. Pengsan!

While tunggu flight kul 8pm, kami decided untuk isi perut. Lagi?! Early dinner sebab nanti ndak mau makan dalam kapal. Ala kami menjamu selera pun pukul 6pm. Sesuai lah sangat. Makanan dari breakfast & lunch sudah habis dihadam...tukar jadi energy. 

Ada kiosk yang serves makanan Halal di airport ni. Alhamdulillah atas kepekaan management diorang. Thank you!

Masa ni nearly 730pm sudah tapi still terang benderang di luar sana. 

Eh bukan naik SIA ok. Belum ku mampu! Ni view dari departure hall. Flight was delayed nearly an hour due to technical problem. Kapal dari Kolumpor kununnya belum mendarat. Ndak palah delay ka apa, janji selamat sampai. 

We arrived LCCT at midnight. Flight Bunda to KK was early morning the next day. Whilst me, sempat spent another 2 days in Kolumpor before going back to KK. Maka tamatlah sudah entry cuti² Hong Kong ku. 

Will update pasal accommodation later. And aku start counting days untuk balik kampung! Insha Allah!

eryantierdabdulkarim