Summer in a Nutshell

A lot of you have asked for just a summary of everything I did this summer so I thought I’d slap together the itinerary into one article to make it easier to consume and disseminate.

Hong Kong

Day 1 – May 22, 2012

• Land in HKG @ 1:15PM
• Check into Conrad Hong Kong
• Tsui Wah for afternoon snack
• Tram up to The Peak to roam around, watch the sunset and the “light show”
• Dinner at Tai Ping Koon

Day 2 – May 23, 2012

• Breakfast @ the Conrad
• Take the tram to the longest moving escalator
• Walk along Hollywood Road towards Man MO Temple
• MRT to Prince Edward Station
• Gold Fish
• Snack at Hui Lau Shan (mango everything) and street fish balls
• Ladies Market
• Early Dinner at Dondonya Shokudo
• Walk around Avenue of the Stars, watch the sunset
• Head towards the clock tower and HK Cultural Center
• Watch light show again
• 1881 Heritage building for night lights
• Harbour City shopping mall for more food at a Vietnamese restaurant
• Star Ferry back to Hong Kong Island side
• Cab back to hotel

Indonesia

Day 3 – May 24, 2012

• Transit day to Bali
• HKG -> CGK (Jakarta) with Garuda Indonesia Airlines (9:00AM departure)
• CGK -> DPS (Bali) (6:30PM arrival)
• Check into Conrad Bali
• Unpack and wait for Chantelle to arrive who took a separate flight in

Day 4 – May 25, 2012

• Breakfast @ the Conrad
• Pickup by our driver Putu Arnawa
• Traditional Barong Dance
• Quick stop overs at a stone mason and silver shop
• Sangeh Secret Monkey Forest Sanctuary
• Lunch @ Babi Guling Ibu Oka
• Ubud Palace Temple
• Ubud market
• Drop by a village temple celebration (Ganung Raung)
• Long ride up to get a view of Ganung Batur
• Ganung Kawi temple
• 2 hour ride back to Conrad
• Cab out to Kuta to meet Chantelle’s friends (Aaron and Ping)
• Dinner @ Made Warung
• Cab back to hotel

Day 5 – May 26, 2012

• Breakfast @ the Conrad
• Pickup by our driver Putu Arnawa
• Taman Ayun Temple
• Random unknown pond temple
• Local cock fight tournament
• Lunch @ Red Rice in Jatiluwih
• Rice paddies in Jatiluwih
• Chillin’ with the local rice harvesters
• Tanah Lot for sunset
• Dinner at Rin @ Conrad

Day 6 – May 27, 2012

• Sleep in
• Breakfast @ the Conrad Bali
• Get a beach hut
• Sun tanning
• Flying Fish
• Pool time
• Dinner @ Bumbu Bali

Day 7 – May 28, 2012

• Wake up at 5:30 for sunrise
• Sunrise shooting @ the Conrad
• Lounge around a beach hut
• Breakfast @ the Conrad
• Cab to Cozy 2 for massage
• Cab to Kuta and walk around
• Kuta Beach for sunset
• Walk around Kuta some more and eventually find the Perama Tour Office
• Cab to Seminyak to find the SOS Rooftop Lounge and Bar
• Dinner at the Anantara Hotel instead
• Cab back to the Conrad

Day 8 – May 29, 2012

• Breakfast @ Conrad
• Snorkelling in Nusa Dua with Bali Scuba Masters
• Jimbaran for lunch
• Fish Market @ Jimbaran
• Lounge around the Conrad one last time
• Dinner @ Musashi (Jap restaurant)

Day 9 – May 30, 2012

• Breakfast @ Conrad
• Cab to Kuta Perama Tour office
• Hop on a mini-bus/van towards the port.
• Cross to Java on a ferry
• New van on the other side
• Hop on another mini-bus towards Probolingo
• 5PM meal at some roadside restaurant
• Switch to ANOTHER van in Probolingo
• Arrive in Cemoro Lewang (town outside of Mt. Bromo) @ 8PM

Day 10 – May 31, 2012

• Jeep pick up at 4AM
• Mt. Bromo Sunrise
• Climb up to Mt. Bromo
• Breakfast and check-out
• Very VERY long bus ride to Yogyakarta
• Check into the Manohara at midnight (yikes)

Day 11 – June 1, 2012

• Wake up at 4AM
• 4:30AM – Borobudur grounds open for Sunrise ticket holders
• Meh sunrise.  Damn you clouds!
• Breakfast @ Manohara
• Nap until 11:30AM
• 12PM private transport to Yogyakarta
• Check into the Sheraton Mustika Yogyakarta Resort and Spa
• Bum around
• Lunch @ local Gudeg place outside hotel
• Bum around some more
• High tea @ Sheraton (aka free dinner…yeah that’s right…that’s how Platinum members roll lol)

Day 12 – June 2, 2012

• Breakfast @ Sheraton Club Lounge
• 8AM pickup by ViaVia on motorcycles (Prambanan and Hidden Temples Motorcycle Tour)
• Hidden Temple 1 – Candi Sambisari
• Hidden Temple 2 – Candi Sari
• Hidden Temple 3 – Candi Plaosan
• Prambanan grounds until 1PM
• Arrive in Yogyakarta at 2 ish
• Lunch at ViaVia Café
• Back at Sheraton for quick swim
• High tea a.k.a. dinner

Singapore:

Day 13 – June 3, 2012

• Early Breakfast @ Sheraton
• 7AM shuttle to Yogyakarta Airport
• Yogyakarta -> Bali -> Singapore (Garuda-Indonesia/AirAsia)
• Land in Singapore at 3:40PM
• Take subway to Conrad Centennial Singapore (bad idea)
• Meet Jia @ Conrad, get settled and leave at 6PM
• Delicious crab at Mellben Seafood Restaurant with Lund friends (Blk 232 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3, #01-1222)

Day 14 – June 4, 2012

• Breakfast at Ya Kun – kaya toast
• Go back to hotel to get battery
• Walk to Marina Bay Sands
• Check out the ArtScience Museum along the way and the mall (The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands)
• Maxwell Hawker Center
• Orchard Road
• Back to hotel
• Meet up with Jia’s friend Allan
• Tried to go to Sky Bar but Jia was wearing shorts
• Went to RedDot BrewHouse instead
• Marina Bay Sands Casino

• 5AM pickup
• 4 hour with Happy Valley Ranch
• Nap until 1PM
• Lunch @ Khmer Kitchen
• Massage @ Frangiani Spa
• Drinks and food at Red Piano – Tomb Raider cocktail
• Back to Le Meridien
• 6:30PM pick up by Eng Lee
• 7:20PM flight to Bangkok
• Arrived at 8:30PM
• Check into Royal Orchid Sheraton

• Breakfast at lounge
• Merlion Park
• Lau Pa Sat Hawker Center for lunch
• Hunt for stamps
• Check out of Conrad
• Cab to airport
• SIN -> REP flight 2:45PM to 4PM
• Cabbing adventures with Eng Lee ($7 USD)
• Check into Le Meridian
• Dinner at The Touiche Restaurant Bar

Day 16 – June 6, 2012

• Breakfast @ Le Meridien
• Mr. Son pickup at 8AM
• Ta Prohm Temple – Tomb Raider
• Ta Keo Temple
• Bayon Temple – Faces
• Lunch
• Elephant Terrace
• Angkor Wat – Main Event
• Phnom Bakheng for sunset
• Back to Le Meridien
• Sofitel for pool (hotel at Le Meridien under repairs)
• Dinner at Meric @ Hotel de la Paix

Day 17 – June 7, 2012

• 5AM pickup
• 4 hour with Happy Valley Ranch
• Nap until 1PM
• Lunch @ Khmer Kitchen
• Massage @ Frangiani Spa
• Drinks and food at Red Piano – Tomb Raider cocktail
• Back to Le Meridien
• 6:30PM pick up by Eng Lee
• 7:20PM flight to Bangkok
• Arrived at 8:30PM
• Check into Royal Orchid Sheraton

Day 18 – June 8, 2012

• Breakfast at the lounge
• Ferry
• Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew
• Wat Pho
• Wat Pho Traditional Thai Massage School
• Lunch @ Food Route
• Ferry
• Wat Arun
• Ferry
• Khao San Road
• Chinatown for dinner
• Back to Sheraton

Day 19 – June 9, 2012

• Breakfast at downstairs restaurant of the Sheraton
• Chatuchak Weekend Market
• Siam Paragon mall for lunch
• Erawan Temple
• Wasted trip to the Golden Mount
• Back to Sheraton
• Dinner at Nahm @ Metropolitan Bangkok Hotel
• Vertigo and Moon Bar @ Banyan Tree Bangkok Hotel

Day 20 – June 10, 2012

• Breakfast @ Sheraton
• Flight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai
• Pickup at airport by our trekking guide Nikorn
• Walk into town to check out Wat Chedi Luang
• Siam Rice Thai Cookery evening class

Day 21 – June 11, 2012

• Quick breakfast at Le Meridien
• 9AM pickup
• Quick stop at local market
• Drop off point in Maewang National Park
• Trek at least 6 hours and 10-13KM with lunch somewhere in between by a stream
• Arrive in the village at 4:30PM
• Greet hilltribe villagers
• Dinner with our hosts
• Sleep by 10PM

Day 22 – June 12, 2012

• Early wake up (cockle doodle doo)
• Breakfast
• Buy souvenirs from the locals
• Trek to lunch time spot near a waterfall
• Elephant ride
• Bamboo rafting
• Back to Le Meridien
• Walk around the night market + dinner

Day 23 – June 13, 2012

• Breakfast @ Le Meridien
• Pickup and drop off at the airport by Nikorn
• Arrive in Ko Samui at 2PM
• Chill at Le Meridien Ko Samui
• Launch sky lanterns
• Dinner at Barracuda in Mae Nam

Day 24 – June 14, 2012

• Breakfast at Le Meridien
• Chill at the resort
• Transport to the Conrad Ko Samui
• Chill in our suite
• Dinner at Nuch’s Green Ta’lay Restaurant

Day 25 – June 15, 2012

• Pick up by CSI Samui
• Confined Pool Dive
• Lunch
• Bophut Night Market
• Dinner
• Chaweng
• Transportation Adventures back to Conrad

Day 26 – June 16, 2012

• Pick up from the hotel
• Speed boat departs Ko Samui
• Snorkeling at Koh Wao
• Coastal Cruise of the National Park
• Discover the emerald lake and view point.
• Traditional Thai Lunch @ Koh Ploy
• Swimming / Kayaking / Relaxing on the beach
• Scenic cruise back to Ko Samui
• Mini-bus transfer home (picking up some take out along the way)
• 1-hour aromatherapy spa at the Conrad
• Dinner by our infinity pool
• Conclusion of The Hangover Part 2 (oh god)

Day 27 – June 17, 2012

• Breakfast @ the Conrad
• Infinity pool
• Transport to the Ko Samui airport
• Flight to Phuket with Bangkok Airways
• Transport to the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa
• Sunset at the lounge
• Dinner takeout at Eightfold Restaurant

Day 28 – June 18, 2012

• Breakfast @ the Hilton
• Pick up to the dock
• Diving – Open Water Dives 1 & 2 with James of Sharkey Scuba
• Hilton lounge for happy hour
• Chill by the pool
• Stroll around Karon Beach
• Dinner at Thai Thai
• Watch people figure out how to fix my safe
• Pack

Day 29 – June 10, 2012

• Breakfast @ the Hilton
• Thai massage at Sweet Lemongrass Spa
• Flight from Phuket to Hong Kong ( 4:05PM -> 8:35PM)
• Bus A21 to TST
• Check into the Regal Kowloon Hotel in TST

Day 30 – June 11, 2012

• Brunch at Tim Ho Wan for dim sum
• Walk around Mong Kok for electronics
• Stanley
• Dinner in Causeway Bay
• Happy Valley Racetrack
• b.a.r. Executive

Day 31 – June 12, 2012

• Brunch at Tsui Wah
• Sham Sui Po area for post office and markets
• Nan Lian Garden and Chi Lin Nunnery
• Sim City for camera gear
• LKF for drinks (new Mexican themed bar)
• The Sweet Dynasty for dinner
• Quick stop at Chungking Mansions

China

Day 32 – June 13, 2012

• Take the subway to Central
• Walk to the Conrad to pick up my big suitcase
• Cab to Hong Kong Express
• Flight from Shanghai to Hong Kong with China Eastern (12:35PM – 2:45PM)
• Get to Grandparent’s place by 4:30PM

Day 65 – July 25, 2012

• Breakfast at the W
• Cab to Taoyuan Airport
• Flight to Palau at 1PM, arrive at 6PM
• Check into Lehn’s Motel

Day 66 – July 26, 2012

• “Breakfast” (granola bars)
• Pick up to Sam’s Tours
• Open Water Dive 3
• Lunch
• Open Water Dive 4
• Check out West Plaza Malakal
• Cab downtown to do some shopping
• Dinner at Suriyothai Restaurant
• Dessert at Japanese Café nearby
• Suffer through another night at Lehn’s

Day 69 – July 29, 2012

• 8:40 pickup to Impac HQ
• Speed boat ride to Peleliu
• Harlan picks us up
• Peleliu World War II Museum
• Japanese HQ
• Japanese Tank
• 81^st Marines Monument and Orange Beach
• Pass by Dry Dock
• Lunch at Peleliu Peace Memorial Park
• Stop by American LVT vehicles
• Drive through the airport landing strip
• Check out a Japanese howitzer
• 1st Marines Monument and Japanese Shrine
• Bloody Nose Ridge
• Japanese Bunker
• Speed boat ride back to Koror
• Ride to main street to walk around and shop
• Snacks at a food shack
• Dinner at B’s Izakaya Yume

Day 70 – July 30, 2012

• Drop off laundry at Orrekim
• Walk over to Sam’s Tours for breakfast
• Dive 1 – Blue Corner
• Lunch and snorkeling
• Dive 2 – Turtle Cove
• Dive 3 – Chandelier Cave
• Dive 4 – Sam’s Tours Micro Wall
• Pick up laundry
• Dinner at Longshoremen
• Walk to Sea Passion
• Walk to Palau Royal Resort for dessert

Day 71 – July 31, 2012

• Breakfast at Sam’s Tours
• Kayaking in Nikko Bay
• Transport to the airport
• ROR -> TPE (6:50 PM -> 9:30 PM)
• Cab to the Sheraton
• Eat at Ningxia market

Day 72 – August 1, 2012

• Breakfast at the lounge
• Walk to Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Park
• Take a look at the National Concert Hall and National Theater
• Explore the Chiang Kai Shek museum inside the memorial
• Walk to Ding Tai Fung
• Cab to Longshan Temple
• Walk up to Ximending to find Modern Toilet
• Bashed by typhoon to get my luggage at the W

Day 73 – August 2, 2012

• Breakfast at the lounge
• De Ye Cha Chi teahouse
• Walk to Taipei Main Station
• Explore underground shopping centers and streets for shopping and eating
• Shilin Night Market

Day 74 – August 3, 2012

• 6AM wake up
• Pick up breakfast boxes
• Cab to Taoyuan Airport
• Hunt for postcards
• Kris Lounge to write the postcards
• UA 838 flight (10:20AM – 2:40 PM)
• Drop off bags with Yamato
• Reunite with Chantelle
• Narita Express to Shinagawa
• Shinagawa to Shin-Osaka
• Subway to Azawa station
• Escorted by neighbourhood watch to our hostel
• Check-in to our hostel Hostel 64 Osaka

Day 75 – August 4, 2012

• Breakfast at the hostel
• Subway + JR to Tennoji station
• JR train to Nara
• Local bus to the entrance of Nara Park
• Walk to Kasuga Shrine
• Walk to Nigatsudo Hall
• Walk to Todaiji Great Buddha Hall
• Cool down at information center
• Walk to Kofukuji
• Dinner at a local restaurant
• JR back to Osaka
• Subway to Namba station to explore Dotonbori
• Dinner #1 at Kanidoraku Honten
• Dinner #2 at Ajinoya Okonomiyaki
• Drop off gifts to Kyohei Hotta at Lilo in Veve
• Subway back to hostel

Day 76 – August 5, 2012

• Breakfast at Hostel 64 Osaka
• Subway + JR to Kyoto
• Drop off bags at Ryokan Shimizu
• Lunch at a fast food place
• Bus to Gojozaka Stop
• Walk to Kiyomizu-dera + Jishu Shrine
• Explore traditional streets to shop and sample mochi
• Kodaiji Temple
• Walk through Yasaka Shrine Maruyama Park
• Look at Chion-in and Shoren-in Temples from afar
• Local food festival off of Shijo Street by the river
• Cab back to the ryokan

Day 77 – August 6, 2012

• Traditional Japanese breakfast at ryokan
• Walk to Kyoto station to bus to Kinkakuji
• Bus to Nijo Castle
• Lunch at Shichifukujin (ramen place) by Nijo Castle
• Subway + JR to Fushimi Inari Shrine
• Subway to the Kyoto downtown core for shopping and Daimaru basement food extravaganza
• Dinner at a Chirashi-type restaurant
• Frozen Yogurt at Snola
• First-time pachinko experience
• Cab back to ryokan

Day 78 – August 7, 2012

• Check-out of Ryokan Shimizu
• Walk to Kyoto station and take JR to Hiroshima at 8:20AM
• Tram #1 to Comfort Inn Otemachi
• Tram #2 to  Hiroden-nishi-Hiroshima station, walk over to Nishi-hiroshima JR station and take it down to Miyajima-guchi (picked up some takoyaki along the way)
• Take ferry from Miyajima-guchi to Miyajima
• Take lots of photos of the floating torii gate
• Walk through Itsukushima Shrine
• Hike up to Daisho-in Buddhist Temple
• Walk along the shopping streets for food and souvenirs
• Ferry + JR + Tram back to covered shopping arcade
• Dinner at Okonomi-mura to try two different restaurants
• Back to hotel

Day 79 – August 8, 2012

• Breakfast at Comfort Inn Otemachi, drop bags off
• Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
• View Memorial Cenotaph around the Hiroshima Peace Park
• Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims (wow that’s a mouthful)
• The Statue of the A-Bomb Children
• A-Bomb Dome
• Pick up bags from Comfort Inn
• Tram to Hiroshima JR station
• JR to Osaka and then Tokyo
• Arrive in Tokyo around 7PM
• Cab to the Conrad Tokyo
• Executive Lounge for food

Day 80 – August 9, 2012

• Wake up at 3:45AM
• Find out we won’t be able to do the tuna auction.  Wait in line at Daiwa restaurant.
• Restaurant opens at 5:30 and we have the best sushi we’ll ever have (except for maybe at Jiro’s hah)
• Sneak into the Seafood Intermediate Wholesaler’s Area before getting kicked out
• Go to the Conrad lounge for a bit more food
• Nap until 11AM
• Imperial Palace East Gardens
• Explore Akhirabara with curry lunch in the area
• Explore Harajuku – Daiso
• Dinner at a random Japanese-only restaurant right off of Omotesando Street

Day 81 – August 10, 2012

• Breakfast at the lounge
• Take JR from Shimbashi to Shinjuku
• Purchase Hakone Free Pass
• Take Odakyu train to Odawara and then transfer to Hakone-Yumoto
• Take Hakone Tozan Bus H to Hakone Machi-Ko Pier
• Ride the pirate ship cruise to the other side of Lake Ashi (Togendai-Ko)
• Take the Hakone Ropeway to Owakudani
• Explore the geothermal valley
• Continue along the Hakone Ropeway + Hakone Tozan Cablecar to the Gora train station
• Take the Hakone Tozan Train back to Hakone–Yumoto station
• Run around the main street grabbing whatever food we can find
• Take the Hakone Tozan Bus K to the entrance of Tenzan Hot Springs
• Spend a good 1.5 hours at the hot springs before bussing back to the Hakone-Yumoto Station
• Upgrade our return ticket to the Romance Car
• Arrive in Shinjuku and take JR back to Shimbashi
• Find our way to the restaurant Uokin
• Walk back to the Conrad

Day 82 – August 11, 2012

• Breakfast at the lounge
• Pickup from the hotel to the World Trade Center Hamamatsucho Bus Terminal
• Start tour with Tokyo Tower
• Happo-en for traditional tea ceremony
• Chinzan-so garden for Japanese BBQ lunch at Mokushun-do
• Imperial Palace East Gardens front gate peek
• Sumida River Sightseeing Cruise from Hinode Pier to Asakusa
• Nakamise Street shopping
• Senso-ji Temple
• Ramen in little shop near Conrad
• Sulking in the lounge waiting for the fireworks
• Fireworks from the comfort of the wall just outside the Conrad bar on the main lobby
• Dinner at Shoutaien for more Japanese BBQ

Day 83 – August 12, 2012

• Breakfast at the Conrad Lounge
• JR to Shibuya
• Photos and shopping around Shibuya
• JR to Harajuku
• Meiji Shrine
• Walk around Takeshita Street in Harajuku
• JR to Shinjuku
• Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
• Subway to Roppongi Hills
• Dinner at Gonpachi
• Cab back to Conrad

Day 84 – August 13, 2012

• Wake up at 3AM
• Start lining up at 4AM
• Enter auction area at 5:40AM
• Walk back to the Conrad to nap
• Breakfast at the Conrad Lounge
• JR to Shinjuku
• Lunch at Go! Go! Curry!
• Subway to Ginza
• Shop around
• Dinner at Shabusen
• Subway back home
• Packing

Canada

Day 85 – August 14, 2012

• Farewell to Chantelle at the Conrad
• Breakfast at the Conrad lounge
• Explore Odaiba and more specifically Palette Town – Megaweb Toyota Exhibition Hall and VenusFort shopping center
• Head back to Conrad to pack and check out
• Take pre-arranged bus to Narita Airport
• AC4 5:40PM -> 10:15 AM (same day)
• <TIME WARP>
• Pick up BMW at Avis
• Check into Sheraton Vancouver Airport
• Bubble tea and waffles at Bubble Queen in Richmond
• Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge
• Dinner at Fable Kitchen
• Gelato at Bella Gelateria

Day 86 – August 15, 2012

• Grouse Grind
• Explore Grouse Mountain while waiting for paragliding
• Paragliding cancelled
• Deep Cove
• Rent a paddle board for an hour
• Dinner with Jessica at a sushi restaurant
• Dessert at Sweet Revenge

Day 87 – August 16, 2012

• Breakfast at Top Gun for dim sum
• Drive down towards Seattle
• Tulalip Premium Outlets
• Drive to downtown Seattle
• Park in a public lot
• Meet Chantelle at Crowne Plaza
• Explore around Pike Place Market
• Dinner at Mongolian Hot Pot
• Visit Yi’s place

Day 88 – August 17, 2012

• Check out of Crowne Plaza
• Visit Circuit City
• Lunch with Dany at Jade Garden
• Visit Amazon campus
• Drive back to Vancouver
• Spanish Banks for sunset
• Dinner at Suika with Kenny and Caleb
• Check into Hilton Vancouver Airport

Day 89 – August 18, 2012

• Check out of Hilton Vancouver Airport
• Return rental car
• YVR 7:00AM -> YEG 9:27AM, YEG 11:15AM-> YYZ 4:50PM
• Home!

THE END