All posts by Wing Wang

Hi everyone! Thanks for visiting my website. I'm Wing Wang, a travelling Hong Kong girl. My journeys so far have taken me to over 70 countries across all 7 continents. I Love to travel! Wing

My Tips For Saving Money on Holiday

Nothing refreshes the body and soul more than an enjoyable holiday, even for a hardcore backpacker like the Travelling Hong Kong Girl.  Even trips to new locations found close to home are rewarding; if not simply for the change of scenery they provide.  Travel opens your mind to new perspectives and exposes you to diverse cultural habits and traditions.  Regional differences between nationals, for example, cannot be fully appreciated without taking trips to the regions that interest you.  While budgeting and cash flow concerns commonly come into play as you plot holiday trips, being short of money is no excuse to stay home all the time.
My home - Lam Tin in Hong Kong
My home – Lam Tin in Hong Kong

The amount of money you spend on holiday is ultimately tied to the activities you participate in and the things you buy while traveling.  Meals, for example, constitute a large share of most vacation budgets; especially when the entire family is traveling together and eating three meals each day.  Similarly, lodging and other holiday expenses can quickly eclipse cash on hand when they are left unchecked.  The good news for holiday planners is that savings exist at every level of leisure travel, so there is always room to trim a vacation budget into affordable territory.

As you set the stage for adventure, advanced planning goes a long way toward saving money.  The ability to take advantage of long range deals and special promotions is a feather in your cap, but even spur of the moment travel can be squeezed to fit your budgetary requirements.

My money saving tips for you today!
My money saving tips for you today!

Track Travel Deals Online

Saving money on holiday starts with information.  Sales, specials, promotions and other offers are the gateway to vacation savings, but you must find them to take advantage of the incentives they provide.  Luckily, the information age furnishes ready access to the alerts you need to save money. Consumers are spoiled, in fact, compared to the way travel planning unfolded for past generations.

Travel agents, for example, once furnished the best access to timely information about airfares, hotel rates, and other vacation planning necessities.  While the industry served a vital role for many travelers, today’s consumers have access to the same information, often within a split second.

Internet resources are valuable tools for tracking air schedules and other fast-changing travel information.  Access to the World Wide Web also opens the door to savings, as vacation planners isolate the best prices on travel.  The technology furnishes up-to-the-minute data about various specials and incentives offered by travel providers.  And booking travel Online also qualifies for additional savings, in some cases, so staying abreast of travel information online pays off in a variety of ways.

My Money Saving Tips for You!
My Money Saving Tips for You!

In fact, the rapid flow of information has made the air travel industry even more competitive than it once was.  Since travelers have access to everyone’s pricing and scheduling information at the same time, side-by-side comparisons are easily executed without contacting each airline individually.  In much the same way air travel providers compete for limited business, other travel services are also subject to market conditions – which can be good news for budget-conscious travelers.

Bundled Travel Deals and Prime Notifications

Depending on the precise travel services you need, buying them as a bundled package may yield significant savings on your next vacation.  To entice travelers, airlines, hotels, ground transportation services and even restaurants participate in joint efforts to furnish services.  Booking your hotel rooms at the same time as your plane tickets, for example, reduces the cost of each one bought on its own.

Some travel deals and bundled packages are reserved for certain consumers, like those who travel frequently or use many hotel room-nights.  By signing up with the providers you use frequently, you might open doors to exclusive money saving offers

Touring the Beaches Of Kerala, India

I recount some of my India adventures with you again today, Kerala! Kerala is a wonderful adventure destination, be is trekking the hills, cruising along the kayal (backwaters), climbing the rugged rocks, spice scented plantations, unending coconut trees, misty mountains, sun-kissed golden beaches, the God’s Own Country has lot to offer the travellers. The state is adorned with panoramic beaches and exquisite interconnected water bodies, providing a fantastic treat for anyone who visits the land. Listing here are the popular beaches at Kerala which should not be skipped in your next visit.

Alappuzha Beach

Alappuzha, the Venice of the East, is a famous hotspot on the map of Kerala.The town draws tourists worldwide to experience scenic spots and adventures; calm backwaters, beautiful beaches edged with coconut palms, coir industry and snake boat races. The picnic spot is a relaxation destination for the tourists. Besides natural lagoons, fresh water lakes, rivers, the picturesque beach towards the west has the mesmerising Arabian Sea and dense coconut palms on the other end. The pier, stretching into the sea is 140 years old. Vijaya Beach Park is an added entertainment for the tourists. The beach offers variety of fun-sports like beach volleyball, swimming, surfing and parasailing. If you are planning to visit Alappuzha beach, don’t miss cruising along backwaters in ‘Kettuvallam’ or houseboat.

Varkala Beach

Varkala beach is located 51km North of Thiruvanathapuram and 37km South of Kollam. The serene Varkala beach is one among the top ten seasonal beaches of the world. About 10km away from Varkala beach is the Papanasam beach, a well-known destination for natural spring. The silvery sand Varkala beach landscaped with oscillating coconut palms is the only beach in Kerala that has beautiful cliffs running parallel along the fullstretch of the beach. Tourists can engage in interesting activities like scuba diving, swimming, parasailing, sailing, sun-bathing and surfing. A 2000 year old SreeJanardhana Swamy Temple (on the cliff of the beach), Sivagiri Mutt Ashramam, Ayurvedic resorts, mineral springs are some of the fascinating attractions around the place.

Bekal Beach

Kasaragod district owns the renowned destination of Kerala, the beautiful Bekal Fort beach. Surrounded by the undulating and roaming sea stands the famous Bekal Fort. One of the ancient and largest (around 40 acres) forts, Bekal Fort is a souvenir of the past memories. The vastbeach stretching near the fort to the expanse of sea is a beautiful location for tourists. You can trek along the seaside fort; climb the tiny hills, explore the fishing village and Bekal Fort park, cruise across the backwaters and enjoy the beautiful sunset over the coconut palms. On the beach there are two sculptures of Theyyam made of laterite. The beach is illuminated after sunset, allow tourists to spend more time relaxing on the beach.

Shangumugham Beach

The beach is located 8km away from Thiruvanathapuram. Expanse of white sand lined with coconut palms and the breezy atmosphere offers a pleasurable time for tourists. The beach is known as Sunset Beach because it offers a soothing experience with photographic shots ofthe sunset – a favourite hangout for people to see sunsets. Swimming is not much advisable due to the rough tides, but other than that beach volleyball, badminton, are activities which tourists enjoy. MatsyaKanyaka (a huge 35m sculpture by the famous sculptor Kanayi Kunhiraman on the hilly terrain), Star Fish Restaurant, Indian Coffee House, are other hideouts at Shangumugham.

Kovalam Beach

Kovalam beach is located 16km South of Thiruvananthapuram. The beach has black sand with coconut palms on one end and Arabian Sea on the other end. With the arrival of hippies during the seventies, the beach which was once a small fishing village is now the most popular beaches of the world. It is the favourite haunt for European tourists. The entire stretch of coastline is divided into three crescent shaped beaches; Lighthouse Beach, Hawah Beach and Samudra Beach. The leisure activities at Kovalam are many; Ayurvedic Spa resorts, yoga centres, swimming, sun-bathing, surfing, kayaking, skiing, etc.

This article is authored by Ajith Thomas who is one of the authors of the blog Ayurveda, you can find him at Google+

My Travels in India: A Trip to Dargah Ajmer Sharif

Dargah Ajmer Sharif is one of the most sacred Muslim sites in the whole world. That’s because it’s home to the tomb of the famous Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chisti, also known as the ‘Protector of the Poor’ (Gharib Nawaz), who spent his entire life comforting and assisting the poor and underprivileged.

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Getting to Dargah Ajmer Sharif

The shrine is located in Ajmer, which lies about 135 kilometres (or two hours’ drive) west of Jaipur and 390 kilometres (or nine hours’ drive) from Delhi. A major rail line connects these three cities, as well as Ahmedabad and Mumbai. If you’re travelling in Delhi and would rather avoid a long ride, you can catch a plane to Jaipur and take a train or bus from there.

Once you’re in Ajmer, you can choose to travel around by taxi, rickshaw or tonga (a light horse-drawn carriage). Dargah Ajmer Sharif is not difficult to find – it’s right in the centre of town. If you need to pick up any supplies – from food to worship materials to handicrafts – before or after your visit, you won’t have any trouble. The shrine is surrounded by colourful markets, selling every item imaginable.

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What to expect

Not only is Dargah Ajmer Sharif spiritually important, it’s also interesting from an architectural point of view. Mughal construction styles are the primary influence and the stunning Nizam Gate is one of the building’s most outstanding features. It was built in 1915, under the instruction of Mir Osman Ali Khan (the last Nizam of Hyderabad). Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chisti’s tomb is found within an internal chamber. Outside, a series of small portraits depict both him and disciple Qutb ud-Din Bakhtya Kaki.

When to go

Given Dargah Ajmer Sharif’s global significance, it’s busy pretty much all year round. If you’re not keen on crowds and don’t fancy negotiating your way around loads of people, your best bet is to visit in the evening. Don’t expect things to be utterly tranquil, but do expect them to be quieter than during the day.

In contrast, if you’re hoping to maximise people watching opportunities and experience being a part of something much bigger than yourself, you should definitely plan your trip during the annual Urs Festival. Every year, in the seventh month of the Islamic lunar calendar, hundreds of thousands of Muslims make the pilgrimage to Dargah Ajmer Sharif. Drumming, praying and brilliant, coloured cloths take over the streets. Some of the most well-known of the pilgrims are the Qualanders or Kalanders – ascetic sufis who walk all the way to Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chisti’s shrine from Delhi (every single one of the 390 kilometres).

Where to stay

It’s usually a really good idea to reserve accommodation in advance – especially during the Urs Festival. The atmosphere can become rather chaotic, so do consider spending your stay in an Ajmer Hotel. That way, you’ll have a tranquil oasis to escape to, where you can find refuge from the crowds, and enjoy the convenience of high-end facilities, like luxurious spas, fully-equipped gyms, on-site restaurants and spacious rooms.

My Dubai Trip 2013

I’ve actually been to Dubai twice on my travels, back in 2003 and then again last year in 2013. It has changed a lot in that time, and while it’s not my favourite city due to the almost “fakeness” of it, it does allow for luxury and relaxation which is pretty rare for me as a cheap Hong Kong backpacker. We settled for decent accommodation but went cheap on sightseeing to make up for it.
My Dubai Trip 2013 - On the 9th Floor of the Burj Khalifa!
My Dubai Trip 2013 – On the 9th Floor of the Burj Khalifa!

We decided to take out the option of an apartment for our stay and picked the Capitol Residence Hotel Apartments which were spacious, well located and luxurious. We were able to visit the following cool sights in Dubai to keep within our budget:

1. Dubai Creek.
Dubai Creek is the amazing old town part of Dubai down by the water. It serves as proof that this colossal skyscraping metropolis was once a tiny port town – we enjoyed a walk along the promenade at Dubai Creek admiring the old school boats that go across the harbour.

My Dubai Trip in 2013 - down by Dubai Creek.
My Dubai Trip in 2013 – down by Dubai Creek.

2. The Palm Jumeirah.
You can wander about on the famous Palm Jumeirah. It’s free to get here – just a residential area on reclaimed land that looks like a palm tree from the air! You can walk it for free but it gets hot. We visited the swanky hotels at the end – they’re even more posh than where we stayed!

3. Dubai Mall
Despite being a Hong Kong Girl I am not a big shopper but I loved browsing the stylish Dubai Mall, which is free to enter and walk around. It is the biggest shopping mall in the world. As a bonus, The Dubai Mall also has a completely free aquarium and a free fountain out the back.

4. Burj Al-Arab
This is as swanky and posh as it gets!! The Burj Al-Arab is apparently the world’s only 7 Star Hotel!! We knew the deluxe suite for a backpacker would break our budget of a lifetime, but you can get your photo taken at the front for free of course, so we did!

Outside the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, UAE.
Outside the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, UAE.

5. The Burj Khalifa

The Burj Khalifa is currently the highest building in the world. We didn’t want to go to “the top” though as the cost is too much – about $30 US. Instead we sneaked into the Armani Hotel and managed to get up to the 9th Floor for free. The Burj Khalifa is currently the highest building in the world….Not great views but we didn’t have to pay for it! To see these amazing places you can apply for dubai visa.

I look forward to sharing more of my Middle East stories – we also visited Iraq, Iran, Palestine, Jordan and Turkey.

My Tips on Transportation for Travellers To Sydney, Australia

I spent 5 years living in New Zealand and also been to Australia a few times. It’s a part of the world I love! If you’re visiting Sydney but worried you won’t be able to get places without private transportation, I thought I’d give you a rundown. Have no fear and don’t grieve over your situation, because there are many ways of transportation you can use to go about in Sydney without a fuss. It does not matter whether you are travelling alone, with family or friends, or with a group of strangers whom you just met and wish to explore Sydney with: Sydney has modes of transportation for all situations.

The best way to travel in Sydney

The easiest way to get around Sydney is perhaps by utilising its amazing public transportation network and services. The transport line at 131 500 will provide you with guidance regarding the timetable which the transportation network in Sydney follows. This will give you a clear idea as to which modes of transportation would be available at your disposal at the time you require them.

A guide to using public transportation in Sydney

Here is a guide to public transportation in Sydney from the moment you arrive in this gorgeous city.

The best thing to do the moment you decide to travel by public transportation in Sydney is to get to the city center. To get to the city center, the best mode of transportation is the Sydney Trains. The Sydney trains go around the city and stop at many convenient stops for you to get off including all the way to the Blue Mountains, but getting to the city center or the seafront is the best thing to do if you wish to go to the best places for tourists – the Opera House, Bridge, Cathedral etc.

At the city center is a free shuttle service of bus which operates in the city centre all throughout the week on route 555. It is also the easiest way to get Sydney buses in the city centre because it is the focal point of the city for such a purpose. The Sydney bus service will take you to all the gorgeously breathtaking spots within Sydney which a tourist must visit at least once in his or her lifetime at a very cheap fare. Some of the most famous places which the Sydney bus service takes tourists are Bondi Beach, Opera House, The Rocks and the Manly.

Another point of advice while travelling within Sydney at nighttime is this; whenever planning on taking a trip around Sydney, make sure you use the 131 500 number for the official trip planner. This hotline will get you all the information you need regarding the places you want to go and will help you draft up your trip in a very efficient manner. Only in Sydney do the people care about your experience and try to make it as wonderful as possible; Sydney is truly a heaven on earth.

If beauty is what you seek…

…buses will do you no good if beauty is what you want to enjoy. Take the ferry in the harbour of Sydney to have a serene experience surrounded by the beautiful city. There is a service known as Water Taxis, which will take you to all the preferred harbour locations for tourists to make your experience truly memorable, so do make sure to check them out.

I’m currently out in Japan, hope to bring you more stories soon!

Safe travels.

My North Korea Trip 2013

2013 was a very busy year for me as the Travelling Hong Kong Girl visited about 10 new countries in one year including Iran, Israel, Brunei and North Korea. Although I had stepped foot in North Korea in 2011 at the border with South Korea, I finally got round to booking a tour in 2013.

My Iran Trip 2013

I totally loved Iran and we spent a full month there in 2013. After getting an Iran Visa in Trabzon, Turkey we crossed the border into Bazargan and toured as much of the country as we could. I totally loved Iran.

My Iraq Trip 2014

My boyfriend and I toured the Middle East in 2013 – 2014 and for a surprise we decided to visit Northern Iraq on the last part of this tour. The reason was – not many travellers will want to go there and we knew it would be special.

It really was! We toured Iraqi Kurdistan and loved it.

backpacking erbil iraq
Travelling Hong Kong Girl in Iraq – outside the Citadel in Erbil here.

My Antarctica Trip 2010

So far in life my favourite trip was my amazing Antarctica adventure in November 2010. Not only did it complete my visit to all seven continents, but I met my long term backpacking boyfriend Jonny on this trip too!
panny yu antarctica 2010
My Antarctica Trip in 2010!

We started in Ushuaia in Argentina and headed down across the shaky Drake Passage. Our first landing was at Barrientos and the trip was a special 13 day one. I booked it last minute and got a special deal!

Jo San La!!!

Jo san la!!!

I am Wing Wang and I am from Hong Kong a ma. Yes, my main language is Cantonese (Guangdonghua) and we often speak with a “la” and “a ma” twang even in English.

I have studied English in New Zealand and travelled to all seven continents. On this site I aim to tell my travel stories, share my experiences and photos and give some tips to any travellers.

Mgoi sai!

Wing
Travelling Hong Kong Girl