Summarizing my amazing trip to Asia with fully detailed itineraries
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.
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Here’s a low down of how my epic summer went:
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
Cambodia
Day 15 – June 5, 2012
- 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
Thailand
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
Hong Kong
Day 29 – June 19, 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 20, 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 21, 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 22, 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 33 – 63 – June 23 to July 23, 2012
- Month long program and Jiao Tong University for Summer Language Program
- Lots of partying
- Spending time with grandparents
- Working out
- Exploring
Taiwan
Day 64 – July 24, 2012
- Leave the house at 10:30
- Air China flight to Taipei – arrival at 4:25PM
- Local bus 2060 to the City Hall
- Check into the W Taipei Hotel
- Explore Ximending neighbourhood
- Meet with Joanna back at the W
- Head back out to Raohe Night Market
Palau
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 67 – July 27, 2012
- Pickup at 8:30 AM to Sam’s Tours
- Dive
- Lunch
- Dive
- Check into West Plaza Malakal
- Dinner at nearby Kramer’s
Day 68 – July 28, 2012
- Walk to Sam’s Tours for breakfast
- Dive 1 at German Channel
- Lunch
- Dive 2 at Ngerchong Inside
- Jellyfish Lake
- Dinner at Taj
- Cab back to West Plaza Malakal
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
- 81st 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
Taiwan
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
Japan
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
USA
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
Canada
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!
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