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A Day in Gyeongju, South Korea

Sun, 08 Nov 2026 00:00:00 +0000

A day in Gyeongju

After a 4–5-hour drive from Sokcho, we checked into a hanok village and had about 4–5 hours before sunset. We visited Daereungwon Tomb Complex, walked to Donggung Palace but found it closed, and stopped at Cheomseongdae Observatory before returning for dinner.

Explore the other parts

Seoul
Sokcho and Seoraksan national park
Jeonju — upcoming
Gongju — upcoming
Incheon — upcoming

Driving from Sokcho to Gyeongju

After exploring Sokcho and Seoraksan, we continued our South Korea road trip to Gyeongju. The first half of the next day was completely taken up by the drive from Sokcho to Gyeongju, which took us about 4–5 hours. As always, the drive was easy and relatively uneventful. We made a short stop somewhere in the middle for a snack and a coffee, but I don’t recall much about it, as it was just a usual Twosome Place.

Earlier in the trip, on the second day, we woke up pretty early to avoid traffic jams and set off for Sokcho. As usual, it took me a couple of hours to get used to a new car and adjust to driving on the other side of the road. Korean roads are exceptionally well organized, and the navigation system built directly into the car was equally impressive (usually, I use either Google Maps or Waze).

First impressions of Gyeongju

During my research, I read that Gyeongju is the only truly Korean place, so I had reasonably high expectations. I expected to see a movie-like Korean village, Korean restaurants, parks, etc. Everything Korean! In my imagination, it would be something similar to Kyoto. We even booked a traditional Korean wooden house to stay in overnight.

The reality was slightly different! Firstly, as our hotel was in a traditional wooden house, we stayed in the heart of the traditional, historical area (a hanok village). It wasn’t easy to drive and park there, but it was really nice to see historical buildings around us. The historical area looks nice in the photos, but we almost immediately understood that the majority of the buildings are pretty modern (including our hotel).

Once we checked in, we decided to make use of the time before sunset (we only had about 4–5 hours), so we went straight to a nearby historical site.

Daereungwon Tomb Complex / Tumuli Park

Our first stop was a nearby tomb complex located inside a nice park. Possibly because it was winter or because we arrived at the wrong time, I wasn’t impressed by the park. It’s nice and quiet, with tombs around (which is a bit weird), but nothing more than that.

After that, we decided to check out Donggung Palace, but after a long walk we realized that the palace was already closed. We decided not to return the next day so that we could see other parts of Korea.

Cheomseongdae Observatory

Lastly, we decided to check out another local highlight: Cheomseongdae Observatory, an ancient Korean observatory. The place was on the way back to our hotel, so we went straight to the building. Again, I would say the impression was very different from how the place was advertised. The observatory is located in a nice, large park where locals definitely love to spend their time.

There are a lot of big, open fields where kids fly kites and dogs have fun and roam around.

The observatory is an unusually shaped tower surrounded by a small fence. After taking a couple of pictures, we went straight to a hanok village.

As usual, dinner and drinks afterward were nice, but the majority of places closed pretty early, so we went back home. The traditional old house showed its character, as one of the appliances didn’t work (I’ve already forgotten which one), so we had to ask our host for help.

The overall impression was mixed, so I noted to myself that half a day in Gyeongju is enough and that I had no plans to return, unlike our next destination—Jeonju!

Things to Do in Sokcho and Seoraksan: Our 2-Day Itinerary

Sat, 31 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

A memorable road trip to Sokcho and Seoraksan National Park, filled with stunning mountain scenery, fresh seafood, coastal temples, and local craft beer. Unexpected snowfall brought a magical touch to the adventure, while icy hiking trails made exploring Seoraksan both challenging and unforgettable.

Our two days in Sokcho and Seoraksan

Day 1: Drive from Seoul to Sokcho, stopping at a highway rest area. After seafood for lunch, we visited Naksansa Temple and a local craft brewery.
Day 2: Drive to Seoraksan National Park for a snowy hike, then return for Korean BBQ and a visit to MontBeer. Icy trails and our lack of winter hiking gear made the hike more challenging than expected.

The drive from Seoul to Sokcho took us about 2–3 hours. Our next stop was Gyeongju.

Explore the other parts

Seoul
Gyeongju
Jeonju — upcoming
Gongju — upcoming
Incheon — upcoming

Sokcho

It was a reasonably short drive, about 2–3 hours, but we decided to stop after an hour to refuel ourselves and see if there was a way to top up our highway card. And I have to say, I was impressed by Korean highway rest stops!

It was nothing like what I was used to: a small petrol station with a coffee counter and a 7-Eleven for snacks. Instead, it was practically a shopping mall! The place had a food court, several small snack shops, a bookstore, and even a dog park!

After a good break, we continued our journey to Sokcho.

Most of the time, the landscape was quite boring, but things changed dramatically as we approached the mountains. Mountain ridges, ravines, and rivers all gave us a hint of Seoraksan’s beauty, which we expected to experience the following day.

Interestingly, Korea has very well developed public safety alert system, we received similar notifications on our mobline a few times a week:

The most fascinating thing for me was seeing traces of snow, something I hadn’t experienced for quite a while. I knew Korea could get cold, but I hadn’t expected to see snow, so I was really excited!

Sokcho is a beautiful, small town that’s incredibly easy to fall in love with. It has a lovely, windy coastline that supplies fresh seafood to countless small, family-run restaurants. If you’re a seafood lover, this place is made for you!

The town also offers fantastic views of the Seoraksan mountain range, which is about an hour’s drive away.

We booked a Wyndham hotel, which was completely ordinary but very well located. After checking in, we headed straight for a seafood lunch, obviously, and finally managed to buy and top up our highway card.

Exploring Sokcho and the Naksansa Temple

It was already about 3 PM, so we didn’t have much time left before sunset. We decided to visit a nearby temple called Naksansa Temple around Jeonjin-ri, about a 30-minute drive from our hotel.

The climb to the temple starts from a lovely sandy beach, which wasn’t particularly appealing in the cold weather.

After a short hike, we reached the top of the hill, where a large gazebo offered outstanding views of the surrounding area.

As an added bonus, the temple was home to plenty of cheeky, playful, furry guests!

Interestingly, local bus stops desinged to protect you from natural forces:

After visiting the temple, we decided to check out a local craft brewery called CraftRoot. Not only did it offer a great variety of beers, but it also served excellent fish snacks.

After a beer tasting, we headed back to the hotel to recharge before our hike in Seoraksan the following day.

Seoraksan

This day was particularly special because it was one of the highlights of the entire trip for me.

A long time ago, my friends and I had planned to organize a bro trip, which unfortunately got cancelled due to COVID. One of the destinations we had considered was the beautiful Seoraksan National Park. So finally getting the chance to visit felt pretty special.

After waking up, we headed straight towards the park. It was cold, and a mixture of rain and snow had started falling. Can you imagine that at just 5 degrees Celsius? But we were mentally prepared and decided to continue anyway!

Before reaching the park, we decided to make a quick stop for a snack, brunch, or whatever you want to call a meal at that time of day.

We picked a random street on Google Maps along the way to Seoraksan, but when we arrived, none of the restaurants or cafés were open.

We had a chance to get a coffee at extremeley nice local coffee shop called On Fine Day, but at that time they didn’t have food:

However, there was something even better: an extended 7-Eleven!

While we were having breakfast, it started snowing!

And for me, it was an absolutely fantastic, mind-blowing experience.

There’s something very special about the moment when the first snow starts falling in Russia. It’s something you anticipate for a long time, something you’ve been waiting for, something you’ve been preparing for. And then, finally, it happens.

Now imagine this: I’m a simple Russian guy who lives practically on the equator, experiencing something deeply personal and fascinating in the middle of nowhere, thousands of kilometres away from home, in Korea.

I was completely stunned and fascinated.

Just you, your loved one, a coffee, a snack, and pure, white snow.

What else could you possibly need?

Hiking in Seoraksan National Park

After that mind-blowing experience, we continued driving towards Seoraksan National Park, where, luckily for us, there was a dedicated car park.

Btw, I extremely enjoyed our rental car - Toyota Aventis! Great driving experience!

The entire place was extremely well organized right from the entrance. You could grab a coffee, get something to eat, take a toilet break, buy any necessary hiking gear (which we didn’t!), and even pick up a heat pack!

This was something I had never experienced before in the Western world: a specially designed chemical pack that keeps you warm for an hour or so. Such a simple but incredibly convenient invention, and apparently very popular in Korea!

Finally, after another coffee and a snack, we started hiking!

And I have to say, the park was absolutely amazing!

The mountain views were breathtaking, but we quickly realized that we wouldn’t be able to complete even the easiest hike because we lacked proper winter gear.

Many people around us were wearing appropriate winter clothing and hiking boots, carrying walking sticks, and even using special traction chains attached to the soles of their shoes.

We hadn’t brought, bought, or rented anything like that. All we had were our usual outdoor clothes and sneakers.

As a result, the hike turned out to be extremely challenging. The trails were simply too slippery, and walking downhill was particularly difficult.

Eventually, I had to find a couple of branches that we could use as makeshift walking sticks to help us get back down safely.

Despite all these challenges, we absolutely loved Seoraksan National Park. The dramatic mountain scenery, the unexpected snowfall, and the whole experience made it one of the most memorable days of our trip.

We enjoyed it so much that we decided we would definitely return during our next visit to Korea.

And guess what? We actually did, in 2026!

The day ended with a great Korean BBQ dinner:

And visit of another iconic local brewery - MontBeer:

If you are in the town, don’t miss the opportunity to check out this place!

Driving in South Korea: Seoul Car Rental, Parking and Hi-Pass

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Starting a South Korean road trip in Seoul, exploring car rental, parking challenges, Hi-Pass toll payments, and WOWPASS convenience, before enjoying Gangnam’s vibrant streets and discovering the famous Bar Zest cocktail bar.

Our South Korea road trip route

We started in Seoul, where we picked up our rental car and spent the night before driving to Sokcho. After exploring Sokcho and Seoraksan, we continued to Gyeongju, followed by Jeonju, Gongju and Incheon. This first part covers our Seoul car rental, parking and Hi-Pass experience, along with an evening in Gangnam.

Explore the other parts

Sokcho and Seoraksan national park
Gyeongju
Jeonju — upcoming
Gongju — upcoming
Incheon — upcoming

Arrival in Seoul

The majority of journeys start in the capital, and this one is no exception. This time, we decided to rent a car and stay overnight in the capital. The next morning, we were planning to head down to Sokcho.

Car rental

As with our last trip to Jeju, we decided to rent from Lotte Rent a Car, as we had such a smooth experience last time. We spent a little bit of time finding the airport kiosk, as it was quite hard to spot (at the other end of the airport), but the information desk quickly pointed us in the right direction.

The overall experience was extremely smooth. A young gentleman who spoke good English explained how to use Hi-Pass, the caveats about parking, and handed us the car key. The car was located in a nearby car park, so we were on our way to Seoul in just a few minutes.

Parking

One important thing we learned about driving in Korea is to check parking payment options in advance. During our trip, we found that not all car parks accepted our international credit cards or cash, and we once found ourselves with no way to pay. Luckily, a local young lady and her friend rescued us. Payment options can vary, so check the signs or ask the car park operator before leaving your car.

WOWPASS

To complete the conversation about parking, we have just returned from another road trip in Korea, and my wife realised that WOWPASS was a convenient way for us to pay for parking.

We bought the pass directly at the airport and immediately topped it up. It could also be used at establishments including CU and GS25, and we found it easy to top up through a mobile application. If you’ll be renting a car, it’s worth checking current acceptance and top-up options before relying on it.

Hi-Pass

The second, even more important thing to note is Hi-Pass, South Korea’s electronic toll collection system. Our rental had a Hi-Pass card, but you should check the equipment and payment arrangements for your specific car before setting off. Visit Korea’s driving guide explains that drivers can also use regular toll lanes; if your rental doesn’t have a Hi-Pass device, avoid the blue Hi-Pass lanes. If you enter one by mistake, check with your rental company about payment.

During our trip, the car rental place gave us a card with about SGD 30 loaded onto it for free. But the tolls can add up, and we used two-thirds of our card balance pretty quickly, so the question was how to top up the existing card.

At the first rest stop, with the help of friendly locals, we realised that our card couldn’t be recharged through a conventional kiosk (Hi Plus Charger). The local store didn’t have a valid card either. We were told that a couple of local convenience stores, such as CU (Nice to CU), might have a card.

Once we arrived in Sokcho, we started exploring nearby convenience stores, and only one store had a pile of cards. Thus, I would advise testing whether your card can be recharged in advance and swapping it for another card in Seoul if necessary.

Lastly, we realised that highways were toll-free during the national holiday, so we didn’t pay much and still have a Hi-Pass card with about SGD 70 on it. Is that a reason to return?

For more information about the system, check out this guide to Korean expressways and Hi-Pass.

Bar Zest

We spent the day walking around Gangnam, had a nice lunch at a local restaurant, and checked out a local art gallery. After a short break at the hotel, we returned to Gangnam to check out Bar Zest, a bar ranked among the world’s top 10 in The World’s 50 Best Bars.

We’ve been to Jigger & Pony before, so I more or less knew what to expect.

I really enjoyed the exterior at night: a huge, warm, orange-glowing window in an old, rustic building inviting you to come in from the cold winter air into the warmth of Zest.

Unfortunately, the bar didn’t really impress me much. It’s nice to try cocktails based on local ingredients, such as makgeolli, but I still couldn’t see much difference compared to a good, regular bar offering a very similar cocktail selection with traditional ingredients, but at a significantly different price point.

Final Days in Taiwan: Taipei and Beitou Retreat

Sat, 04 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Our final stay in Beitou was a relaxing highlight, featuring hot springs, scenic views, and a beautiful hotel near Yangmingshan. We enjoyed a short hike, a traditional dinner, and some last-minute shopping before winding down the trip. Although I wasn’t feeling my best, the experience was a perfect and peaceful way to end our Taiwan journey.

Links to the next parts

Journey Back to Taipei

This is the final post summarizing our last two days in Taiwan. Unlike the other posts, I combined two days into one, as not much happened and our journey back to Taipei took a few hours.

The next day, we went straight to the railway station. By the way, at the beginning of the trip, I forgot to mention that the actual station name isn’t Kaohsiung, but Zuoying. I’m not sure why, but if you’re traveling there, keep this in mind — it took us a while to figure it out.

We had a quick breakfast and decided to explore the terminal. Completely out of nowhere, we stumbled upon the cutest thing — a dedicated corner with cats adopted by the station. It’s a small, cozy area for a few friendly street cats. I assume the station staff take care of them.

In general, I got the impression that Taiwan is an extremely cat-focused (or cuteness-focused) country, with many places trying to embrace and even capitalize on that “cuteness” factor.

After that, we boarded the train. The journey from Kaohsiung to Taipei took about two hours. The trains are extremely comfortable, so I spent some time playing on my Steam Deck and watching movies — time passed very quickly. During the train ride, I started feeling sick and developed a sore throat, probably caused by strong winds. I didn’t feel cold during the trip, but something definitely felt off.

Shopping and Arrival in Beitou

Once we arrived in Taipei, we had a couple of hours before check-in, so we decided to grab a quick lunch. At the same time, we discovered a few very nice dinnerware shops near the station. I had recently broken one of the bowls we bought in Germany, so we decided to take a look. We are big fans of Villeroy & Boch, but this time we also discovered other brands like Royal Copenhagen. In the end, we left with a couple of beautiful plates. After finishing our dinnerware shopping, we headed straight to our hotel. At the end of the trip, we decided to splurge a little and booked a fantastic stay at Grand View Resort Beitou.

The hotel is located not far from the famous Yangmingshan National Park, making it a perfect hot spring area with great hiking opportunities nearby. Our room even had a private hot spring bath with a breathtaking view.

The hotel also offered other great facilities, including a common bathhouse with gender-separated areas, similar to a traditional Japanese onsen.

Yangmingshan and Hotel Experience

Before checking in, we went for a hike on the windy slopes of Yangmingshan, enjoying a beautiful panoramic view over Taipei Unfortunately, due to the strong winds, my sore throat worsened, and I was coughing quite badly by the time we returned to the hotel. In addition to the beautiful room, we had booked a dinner course at the hotel’s restaurant. The menu featured traditional Chinese cuisine, including the famous Buddha Jumps Over the Wall.

It was my first time trying this dish, and I really enjoyed its rich flavor and unique taste.

Trip Conclusion

On the last day, I was completely out of it due to my sickness, so I followed my wife’s lead as we made our way to the airport and flew back to Singapore.

Overall, I really enjoyed the trip. However, next time I would prefer to focus on visiting Taipei, Hualien, and Alishan.

Exploring Fo Guang Shan and Qishan Old Street

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

We wrapped up our time in Kaohsiung with a train ride back to Taipei, discovering a surprisingly charming cat corner at Zuoying Station along the way. The journey was smooth and comfortable, but I started feeling unwell during the ride. Despite that, it was a calm and memorable transition back to the capital.

Links to the next parts

Planning the Day Trip

After trying to sort out plans for the day, we quickly realised that all major sites were already covered. My wife and I decided to explore one-day tours, and we quickly discovered three popular destinations: the Alishan Mountains, Kenting National Park, and Tianliao Moon World. We had already visited the Alishan mountains, so this option was eliminated pretty quickly. Personally speaking, I don’t mind returning there, but for the long term. Kenting National Park looks extremely interesting, but it’s a long trip without a car, so we decided to eliminate it. Lastly, Moon World seems like a fantastic place in photos, but after a quick research of the reviews, I realized that it’s quite a small place with a limited number of things to do. The tour to the mountains also included a few stops, such as E-DA Theme Park, which appears quite outdated. After another round of research, we identified that Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum and Meinong Folk Village are worth exploring. Also, Google Maps indicated that there is a Qishan Old Street and a Meinong Hakka Cultural Museum nearby, so we decided to dedicate a day to these places.

Breakfast and Journey

The plan was pretty straight forward: breakfast, a cab to Fo Guang Shan, and a cab to the Folk Villages. After that, we had a plan to take public transport back to Kaoshiong as taxis were reasonably costly, around SGD 50. Before “the grand journey”, we returned to the same street food place, where we had breakfast the day before. The food was outstanding, and we still had options to try. And, obviously, we wanted to interact one more time with cute little dogs. This time my wife ordered a pancake and an omelet with different filling, and a porridge. Lastly, she also got some soup with a sour taste, which was very uncommon for my taste buds. I never tried anything similar to this, neither in Russia nor in Singapore. After a short interaction with doggos, we ventured on our trip to Fo Guang Shan.

Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum

Originally, I was under the impression that Fo Guang Shan is an active monastery, and, actually, there is a monastery. But, mainly, it’s a Buddha Museum. Consequently, the place has quite a lot of interesting, unusual exhibitions. But let me start from the beginning. Firstly, the place is huge. It’s actually HUGE.

There is a long gallery with pagodas on one side and a gigantic pyramid-like structure with the Buddha statue at the end. The statue is actually in the museum. I’m not a religious person, but I very much enjoyed the exhibitions here. Personally, my two main highlights are an exhibition about Buddhist celebrations and about underground palaces.

The underground palaces were the most eye-opening. I didn’t know that Buddhist temples have special, sealed areas. It’s actually a time capsule with a particular time when it should be opened. One of these palaces will definitely be on my visit list. The museum also has a small, but very beautiful and tranquil temple. And, obviously, there is a breathtaking view at the top of the pyramid. This place definitely is a must-visit on my list!

Change of Plans

After Fo Guang Shan, the plan was to go straight to Meinong Folk Village, a cultural museum, or Qishan Old Street. We discovered both places through Google Maps, and both places are surprisingly highly rated, about 4.2 stars with thousand reviews. All three places are clustered in the same area, so we planned to visit one place and take public transport to the other ones. Based on Google Maps, we realized that different places have different opening times, and the best place to go is Yong’an Old Street. Also, Google Maps indicated that the Hakka Cultural Museum is temporarily closed, so our only option was the old streets.

Qishan Old Street Experience

During the taxi ride, the driver mentioned to us that Meinong Folk Village consists only of a few old, renovated buildings, but the place isn’t really worth spending half a day there. Without second thoughts, we decided to limit ourselves to Qishan Old Street. Before starting our exploration, we quickly check the way to return to Kaoshiong, and, luckily, there is a direct bus. There were a couple of options for the return trip, but we quickly decided not to spend more than 2 hours there. Why did we make this decision so quickly? Actually, there are a couple of reasons. If you look at the google photos, the place looks really nice with a unique, vibrant vibe, with decent pedestrian zones, etc. But, actually, it was a completely different place. Either we walked in the wrong area (but the place was quite small) or the place is just over hyped. Firstly, the town doesn’t look like a great place for exploration. There are pedestrian areas, but they are fully occupied by motorbikes or street vendors, leaving extremely narrow areas to walk by. Secondly, we didn’t manage to find the vibe from the photos. We are a gray, unwelcome, messy town. I truly believe the place has a lot of good food, but at that time, we were already full, so we haven’t had a chance to taste local cuisine. Eventually, we didn’t spend too much time at the famous Qishan Old Street, and decided to get a public bus to return to Kaoshiong. I still had some discomfort from my knee, so we just returned back to the hotel to rest and pack our bags.

Kaohsiung Day 5: Pagodas, Cijin Island, and City Views

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

A food-focused day in Kaohsiung: a great breakfast spot with adorable dogs, a disappointing science museum, then a long walk around the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas park with its wildlife. You finished with udon near Kaohsiung Arena, a quick ferry to Cijin Island (beachy but windy and underwhelming), and dinner at a rooftop bar with city views.

Links to the next parts

Breakfast find near the hotel

The fifth day of our trip was fully dedicated to Kaohsiung exploration. Near our hotel, my wife found an exceptionally good breakfast store, which was extremely highly rated on Google Maps. Firstly, the food at the place was fantastic: local buns, omelette with cabbage, and, lastly, differently flavoured soy milk. However, the main highlight of the shop was two extremely cute, well-behaved dogs that were free to roam on the premises. We fell in love with them.

Kaohsiung science museum

After breakfast, we took a cab to Kaohsiung’s science museum, which very much reminds me of the museum that we visited in Taichung. In general, unfortunately, the place was quite disappointing: old, dilapidated, and outdated. The museum has quite a few very interesting ideas, e.g., an exhibition dedicated to Taiwanese Nobel Prize winners, an exhibition about Taiwan’s infrastructure, and about the island’s industrialization. It was crazy to see Taiwan’s share in various electronic production, e.g., keyboards or hard drives. At a certain time, it was almost half of the world’s production! But the majority of the exhibitions and exhibits are old and rustic, so if you visited a similar museum in Taipei or Taichung, don’t waste your time here.

Dragon and Tiger pagoda and the park

The next stop for us was an iconic Dragon and Tiger pagoda. The place is located near the high-speed rail station, where we originally arrived. At the pagoda, we quickly realised that it was not a single building, but a huge park. Obviously, firstly, we went to see the pagoda! The place is fantastic - a traditional Chinese pagoda, with a brightly painted tiger and dragon that has various scenes from Buddhist hell inside.

The place reminds me of a similar pagoda in Malaysia that we visited a while ago. In addition, from the top of the pagoda, it’s possible to enjoy a breathtaking view of the whole park!

Wildlife walk and Kaohsiung Arena mall

After the pagoda, we decided to walk around and enjoy different pagodas, dedicated to different deities.

The park is really nice and both bicycle and pedestrian-friendly. In addition to the nice greenery, it has a plethora of wildlife: big, fat, furry squirrels and ‘aggressive’ geese, who truly consider themselves owners of this public space. After the long walk, we went to a shopping mall near the Kaohsiung Arena. I had a bowl of tasty, flavorful udon with a couple of toppings.

Cijin Island ferry, beach, and lighthouse

The next stop for us was the famous Cijin Island, which is famous for its beach, old streets, and a lighthouse. Surprisingly, we realised that the ferry, which was supposed to bring us to the island, was located near Pier 2, which we visited just a day ago. Thus, we are literally just going through more or less the same destinations as yesterday. The ferry took only about 10 minutes to reach the island. I expected a similar experience we had in Hong Kong: a remote, isolated, secluded place with its own unique lifestyle. But Cijin was completely different. It’s just literally an extension of the main island. I didn’t get the appeal of the old streets, as they also really are not much different from regular streets. There is one dedicated semi-pedestrian food street, and that’s it. The beach was nice, but I think we arrived at the wrong time of the year, in winter. Firstly, a big part of it was fences for some uplifting kind of work. Secondly, the weather wasn’t that great - a strong, biting wind. There is a very nice beach bar with a fantastic view, and I’m pretty sure it’s a perfect place to watch the sunset, but we weren’t hungry or thirsty at that time. Lastly, the island has a fantastic viewpoint - a hill with a lighthouse! Unfortunately, my knee pain was back, so we decided to get back to the main island.

Rooftop dinner with a view

By the time we got back to the mainland, it was already about 6 P.M. Consequently, we decided to return to our hotel for dinner at the rooftop bar with a fantastic view of the town.

Taiwan Day 4: Kaohsiung’s Pier 2 and Night Market

Sat, 27 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Day 4 was a transition day: we packed up in Taipei and headed south to Kaohsiung, a smaller and very different city. With a midday departure, I squeezed in a minimalist gym session where calisthenics saved the day, then we grabbed a quick Mr Donut snack before a swift train ride brought us to our next stop.

Links to the next parts

Packing up and heading south

On day 4, it was time to pack our luggage and move to Kaohsiung, our next destination. Kaohsiung is, in a certain way, diametrically opposed to Taipei, and, surprisingly, population-wise smaller than Taichung: 1.5 million versus 2.5 million.

In the morning, we had a chance to take a short break, as our train was scheduled to depart around 12 PM. I had a chance to go to a gym, which, surprisingly, was almost non-existent: a couple of treadmills and that’s it. In this situation, calisthenics truly shines - I was able to have a proper workout just the walls and the floor.

At the train station, we had a quick snack from Mister Donut, a fantastic Japanese bakery. The train was extremely swift, I think only 30 or 40 minutes, and we arrived at Kaohsiung.

Hotel Duo and the Pier 2 district

After the train, we quickly jumped into a taxi and in half an hour arrived at our hotel. The place was called Hotel Duo, and it was a pretty decent, stylish place. If you’ll be around, I strongly recommend checking out this place as a value-for-money option. And it also had a pretty solid rooftop bar!

We dropped our belongings and set off towards a hipster district, Pier 2, which we discovered during a taxi ride. The place was relatively far, about 40 to 50 minutes, but the weather was great, the city pedestrian-friendly, what else to desire?

One thing that stood out immediately is a high consentration of Christian buildings in the city. Quite a few buildings either have a quote from the bible or an image of Jesus.

After a while, we made our way to Pier 2, which was an abandoned warehouse. The place is very similar to Guillemard barracks in Singapore or New Holland in Saint-Petersburg. There are a lot of hipster places that serve ice cream, artistic coffee, craft burgers, etc. Also, there are plenty of exhibitions, art centers, and art shops. Also, the place features quite a few buildings with unusual, futuristic architecture.

Interestingly, near Pier 2, there is a part that is built on top of an old train station. It’s very similar to what we experienced in Taichung. The park has quite a few old, rusty trains with an ice cream store in one of them. Lastly, we spotted quite a few unleashed dogs here. I’m pretty sure this park will be heaven for my dog.

Central Park and the lantern temple

After a short break, around 5 PM, we left Pier 2 and went to a place called Central Park. The park, indeed, is located quite centrally, but it’s quite a small place. Google Maps promised a few modern art installations, but they definitely weren’t worth visiting.

The next stop was a temple, which my wife managed to find on TikTok. The video featured a temple with a stunning ceiling, full of red Chinese lanterns. Once we reached the temple, it was already quite late, and the majority of people had left the location. The spot to contemplate lanterns was blocked by renovation works, so we just managed to look at the ceiling from bottom to top. Thus, I would probably skip the place if I knew about these details.

Night market and local craft beer

Lastly, we went to must-visit place in any Taiwanese city - a night market (夜市). The place was completely different from what we experienced in Taichung. It was completely oriented for tourists! The place had seating tables and beer! And open every day! Not an original 夜市!

We didn’t really get anything to eat there, but got a fantastic bowl of rice with beef at a nearby food stall. Oh, I forget to add that, obviously, we got a pack of dumplings, something you can’t avoid in Taiwan!

Lastly, we walked to a local, surfing-style craft beer place to check out local beer culture. The place was really nice, empty, with a few interesting local beers to offer. Paired with a decent snack (correct, it was dumplings!).

Automating Travel Blogging: Voice, AI, and Hugo in One Hour

Thu, 25 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This article describes how I reduced the time spent writing travel blog posts from 3–4 hours to about one hour by rethinking my workflow and using AI-powered tools. By switching from typing to voice notes, automating transcription, and leveraging ChatGPT to clean up text and generate Hugo-ready Markdown, I streamlined content creation significantly. The result is a faster, more enjoyable blogging process and several extra hours of free time each week.

Introduction

How to save 3 hours per week of life with AI?!
In this article, I’m going to share how I managed to decrease the amount of time I spend preparing a trip review from a couple of hours to about an hour (3-4 times). It’s not an article on text generation, fine-tuning, or other AI techniques, but more on how to chain various tools to make processes more efficient. In my blog, I’m trying to document my travel experience, but due to a lack of time, I managed to cover only one of six trips this year. Btw, don’t forget to check out our fantastic experience in Bhutan - start from day-1!!

Original Content Creation Workflow

Usually, to prepare an article, I go through the following steps:

Text Preparation Stage

Firstly, I just dumped my thoughts on a trip in a Google Doc. At this step, I don’t spend much time thinking about grammar, structure, or links.

Secondly, I go through the text and come up with a proper structure, review how cohesive it is, and use Grammarly to check my grammar.

Lastly, I added links & references that I mentioned during the narration.

This stage usually took about 2-3 hours.

Image Preparation Stage

Firstly, I export all trip-related images from my phone to my Mac, pick the most notable / interesting, and, lastly, sort them according to the day of the trip.

After that, I convert the images from HEIC to JPEG, and create a thumbnail image

Lastly, I upload these images to a dedicated S3 bucket.

That’s a pretty straightforward step, and I spent about 30-40 mins.

Markdown & Hugo Formatting

At this stage, I have to convert the text to a Hugo-digestible Markdown page. It’s not a difficult process, but quite a booking stage, where I have to pick relevant keywords, tags, etc.

This stage takes about 15-30 minutes.

Deployment

Lastly, I deploy the website to AWS and kick off invalidation of a CloudFront distribution. It’s still a manual step, but I’m going to fix it soon.

Another 5-10 mins!

The Problem Summary

To conclude, it’s not an easy process that can easily take 3-4 hours of my time per post. Recently, I managed to significantly improve the process and reduce the per-post time to roughly an hour.

Voice-First Content Creation

Firstly, I realised that I can express my thoughts much faster by my voice than by typing. Secondly, it’s not hard to see that each article takes only 5-6 minutes to read, so I thought it would be far easier to talk through the experience and then convert my voice to text. Thus, I decided to test this hypothesis during our last trip to Taiwan. After each day, I record a voice note on my phone about the day. Each note length is roughly only 15 minutes! Once we returned, I pretty quickly sorted out how to leverage Google Cloud to translate voice to text: create a bucket with files, upload voice files (I converted m4a to flac via ffmpeg), and kick off the transcription! And, voila, post ready! Obviously, I have a lot of garbage words, so I leverage ChatGPT to clean up my lexicon and highlight grammar issues that I can fix during the review.

NOTE: While I was writing an article, I discovered that Google API isn’t needed, and the iPhone can translate your voice memos to text easily.

Automating Hugo with ChatGPT

But that’s not it! I was quite annoyed with writing a markdown for a post every time, but ChatGPT can easily help with it. I spent some time tweaking the prompt and managed to get perfect results. To avoid saving the prompt, I created a custom GPT to format a pure piece of text into a Hugo post. Now I have 30 minutes of my life back every week!

Conclusion & Next Steps

To conclude, with the above automations, I managed to bring down time per post from 3-4 hours to about an hour (or even shorter). The next step is to vibe-code an application to join the above steps together. I will provide text and images, and the app will combine them into a hugo-disestable post, which will be published after a review!

Stay tuned!

A Day Trip to Alishan National Park

Sun, 21 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

A day trip from Taichung to Alishan National Park offered ancient forests, historic railways, and mountain serenity. From walking beneath towering cedar trees and visiting the peaceful Sister Ponds to riding a scenic mountain train and warming up with sour-cabbage hot pot back in the city, the day blended nature, history, and local cuisine into an unforgettable Taiwanese experience.

Links to the next parts

Journey to the Mountains

For this day, we decided to visit Alishan (阿里山) National Park, which is located quite a distance from Taichong. To avoid complicated mountain roads, we decided to just buy a day tour. The starting point was located quite far from our hotel, but Uber saved us again. Upon arrival, we quickly identified our tour guide, “Alisha from Alishan,” and how she introduced herself.

The bus ride to the national park was pretty straightforward, with a quick stop on the way, where I had bought “government-approved” Taiwanese tea. But why go to the mountains? Firstly, it’s a beautiful place, developed by the Japanese at the beginning of the last century. The government carefully presented Japanese artifacts such as a railroad, a rail station, trains, etc. In addition, Alishan is famous for its tea and cherry blossom season, which we hadn’t had the chance to witness. Lastly, Alishan is a habitat of local Taiwanese tribes that inhabited the island even before the Chinese dwellers. Unfortunately, we didn’t have a chance to visit them, but this visit is definitely on my travel list now.

Lunch Above the Clouds

At the arrival point, our guide handed us our lunch - locally made, sticky rice-based, dragon boat dumplings called zongzi (粽子). The dumplings were extremely cheap, flavourful, delicious, and hot! The letter was especially important as the weather up there was quite chilly. Also, we had a chance to grab a couple of snacks in the highest 7/11 in Taiwan! What an honour!

Walking Through an Ancient Forest

Most of the time, we were walking downward, except for one extremely short (maybe a minute long) hike. I can say that the forest in the mountains is simply breathtaking! Gargantuan, sentinel old trees surround you like a cathedral pillar with a vaulted canopy of leaves high above. The park’s nature and feeling are extremely similar to what I remember from my homeland hiking experience, as you can have a very similar vibe in Russian pine forests. The overall feeling is pretty surreal, and I felt truly a part of a fairytale. Probably, Harry Potter had a similar feeling in the Forbidden Forest, or the Hobbits, who entered the Ents’ ground. The Taiwanese government is truly preserving the park, and visitors have a chance to experience the true wonders of the ancient forest.

Sister Ponds and a Temple Stop

After a short walk, we approached a place called Sister Ponds. It’s two serene ponds separated by a tiny piece of land. Locals have a tearful fairytale explaining such an unusual arrangement. You should try to guess it! The area has a couple of flower arrangements, which frame the pond, and a gazebo. After the pond, we came down to a park with magnolias, but it wasn’t the right season, so we didn’t see any blooms. The walk ended in a small rest area centered around a Taiwanese temple. Here, I managed to get a tiny tea pet (茶宠) for my set.

Riding the Historic Railway

Lastly, we went down to a train station to return to our bus. During the walk, we had a unique chance to contemplate another batch of ancient trees, each of which has its own unique number. After a short wait, an old, steam-powered train arrived, and we boarded the car number for, backwards, to a station as suggested by our guide. It gave us a fantastic, unblocked view of mountains, forests, and rivers along the way! After the train ride, it was a noticeable ride back to the city.

Hotpot to End the Day

To conclude the day, we went to a hotpot restaurant, which we spotted on our first day in the city. The place (the name - 劉家酸白菜火鍋（台南裕農店), address - No. 360, Yunong Rd, East District, Tainan City, Taiwan 701) was a unique, exemplary sample of local cuisine - sour-cabbage-based hot pot! We arrived at the restaurant (on a weekday!) around 7+, and the whole restaurant was fully booked, and the place isn’t that small! Luckily, a waiter brought us to a restaurant extension (literally, a tent connected to a main building) with a couple of available tables. We got hotpot (the only dish!) with the whole shebang of side dishes - meat, tofu, dumplings, vegetables, etc. I can say it feels tremendous to have hot pot after freezing weather in the mountains! I highly recommend this place, so try it out if you visit Taichong in winter!

Taichung Day 2: Earthquakes, Markets, and Ice Cream

Sun, 14 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Day two in Taichung was packed with culture, food, and walking. The day started with a local-style breakfast, followed by a visit to the impressive 921 Earthquake Museum, built on the ruins of a destroyed school. After exploring a refurbished train station and its flea market, the highlight was Miyahara, a beautifully designed dessert emporium. The day ended with legendary Cremia ice cream and a long walk to a lively night market, before heading back to the hotel to prepare for the Alishan trip.

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Breakfast and Local Flavors

The second day, we started with breakfast, which was really nice. The hotel breakfast had a lot of local foods and flavors. The spread had such delicacies as chicken feet!

921 Earthquake Museum of Taiwan

Firstly, we decided to visit the earthquake museum. The official place name is the 921 Earthquake Museum of Taiwan. The museum is located maybe 20-30 minutes from our hotel, so we decided to grab a bite, as the place is located in the middle of nowhere.

The museum was interesting and totally worth visiting. Roughly 10 or 20 years ago, after a huge earthquake, one of the local schools was completely destroyed. The government decided not to rebuild it from scratch but to build a museum to educate the population about the dangers of the natural disaster. The museum was literally built on top of a demolished school, i.e., you can see the school buildings, cracks, and humongous damage made by the natural forces.

The exhibition focuses on tectonic plates, their movements, and how to design earthquake-prone buildings. The place is interactive, and you can try to build your own earthquake-prone construction! I had a great time, but I reckon kids will be even happier!

In addition, there is a separate hall with exhibits that talk about rescue dogs participating in the rescue operation for the kids in the school who didn’t manage to escape the earthquake.

Lastly, there is a separate building dedicated to art and to the earthquakes in general. It’s possible to see photos of rescue teams in action across the world, e.g., a Russian team, which was a part of multiple rescue operations. In addition, there is a separate space where it is possible to learn more about the indigenous people of Taiwan.

The cherry on top of the cake is an attraction where you can go and experience a real earthquake around 5° on the Richter scale. That was also an interesting experience because it’s also well intertwined with the story of the school. It’s possible to see the devastating destruction the earthquake brings together with the sharing of the eyewitness accounts.

Old Train Station and Flea Market

After the museum, we got another ride to the city center to an old train station that has been refurbished into a vibrant social place. Luckily, the same day, the station had a flea market. We explored what the local craftsmen have to offer.

The Taiwanese craftsmen had a lot of knitted items, and the majority of the stuff is again some anime-related things, pins, whatever, some local drawings, etc

Miyahara: More Than a Gelateria

On the way to the station, I discovered a quite interesting place not far from the final destination - a Japanese gelateria called Miyahara. Originally, I thought it was an ice cream parlor, but we discovered that it’s more than that.

Thus, after a quick lunch, we went to Miyahara, and it was a fantastic place. It’s really a fantastic, well-decorated emporium, reminding you of the Eliseyev Emporium on Nevsky Prospect in St. Petersburg.

The place really has a Harry Potter kind of vibe with animatronic figures, Japanese attention to detail, tons of unusual desserts, and delicate packaging. Obviously, we weren’t the only ones who discovered this place, so it was quite crowded. The queue for ice cream was pretty long, so we decided that the wait wasn’t worth it and grabbed a couple of cookies for takeaway.

Archaeological Museum (Skip It)

After the lunch pit-stop, we headed over to the next destination - an archaeological museum. The walk was pretty long, about 40 minutes. At the museum, I can’t really recollect a lot of memories, only that the museum was a bit dilapidated and outdated. Thus, I don’t really recommend it.

IMPORTANT NOTE – The Best Ice Cream in the World

In the Taipei airport, we discovered that Taiwan has the best ice cream in the world, called Creamia, a very delicate Japanese ice cream with a biscuit cone. The combination of ice cream and biscuit makes it a very special, unique dessert.

As I saw the ice cream at the airport, I was constantly looking for the right place to indulge in it, and Taichung has a couple of outlets! Thus, after the museum, we decided to check out the ice cream shop.

After a short walk, we managed to locate the store. Last time we tried it at Sapporo, Cremia had only three flavors: vanilla, chocolate, and their mix (twist). These days, the chocolate has been dismissed and replaced with a tiramisu flavour! And for the New Year season the company released a strawberry flavor, so the number one priority for me was to try all possible flavours of Cremia.

Night Market Finale

After a quick dessert stop, we decided to check out the Taiwanese version of pubs - night markets (夜市). The night market was about a 20-30 minute walk, so we decided to enjoy walking and clicked a record high 35,000 steps!

And, obviously, the market didn’t disappoint. We got the beef cubes, which were okayish, not as great as the beef cubes that we had in Taipei last time. Mushrooms were surprisingly good, especially with condiments - salt and seaweed. It was extremely delicious. And we had some Taiwanese dumplings!

After the dinner, we headed straight to the hotel to prepare for the day trip to Alishan mountains.

Taiwan Trip Day 1: From Taipei to Taichung

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

I was a little bit reluctant to go to Taiwan because of the visa issues. Last time we went there, the country was visa-free for Russian citizens, but just before COVID, the russian government decided not to extend the visa-free agreement. Thus, I have to apply for a visa to visit Taiwan. Surprisingly, it was an extremely simple process. The visa officer didn’t really want to collect the usual documents like your bank statements, tickets, flight tickets, hotel reservations, blah blah blah. The visa form and an employment letter were enough to get a sought-after stamp. The whole process only took two or three days. Due to such an easy and straightforward process, we decided to proceed with our trip.

We’ve been in Taiwanfor a few years in Hualien and Taipei. For this trip, we decided not to spend time in the capital and move to the undiscovered side of the country.

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Arrival in Taipei

The first day was rather hectic. Our flight was early in the morning, around 8 AM. Consequently, we took an early ride at about 5:00 A.M., and arrived in Taipei around 12:00. By the way, during the flight, I managed to complete seven out of eight acts of Dispatch. Fantastic game! I really recommend it if you’re a fan of critical role types of characters.

The customs check was extremely quick, and after the customs, we take the direct train to the Taipei station. The ride was quick (about 40 minutes), and around 2 P.M., we were at the capital. Our train was supposed to be at 5:00 p.m. in Taichung, so we had about three to four hours of free time. My wife discovered a jade markets not far from the Taipei central station, so the decision to check it out was quite natural.

We quickly stored our luggage at the train station’s lockers, booked a taxi, and headed to the market.

Jianguo Holiday Jade Market

Jianguo Holiday Jade Market is a fantastic place. It has all types and varieties of precious or semi-precious stones. It’s possible to find corals, opals, emeralds, obviously, jade and all types of this type of stuff. Predictably, the majority of jewellery motifs are related to Buddhism, Chinese tradition and beliefs. At that time, we were looking for more interesting stuff like meat-shaped at stones. Earlier, my wife discovered that these types of stones are available on the market through TikTok. Also, during our previous visits to Taiwan, we saw a similar stone at the National Museum. After a quick walk through the markets, we managed to find an auntie who was selling these stones, and we got one for about 200 NTD, which is slightly less than 10 Singapore dollars. There is a lot of other stuff there, but two major themes are the precious stones and varieties of tea and teaware. I was thinking of getting a tea pet, but I didn’t find anything to spark my interest.

Returning to the Station and Taking the Train

After visiting the markets, around 4:00 P.M., we returned to the train station. It wasn’t easy to get a cab, and it took us about 20 minutes to get an Uber. We pretty quickly arrived at the central station, about half an hour before the train. After a short waiting, we boarded a bullet train which was pretty reasonably priced, around 30 SGD one way.

Arrival in Taichung and Visiting a Local Brewery

In less than an hour, we reached Taichung Taizong and took an Uber to our hotel. We quickly checked in at OKU Hotel, a nice, Alice-in-Wonderland decorated hotel. After the check-in, we headed to an interesting local brewery. ChangeX Beer brewery was not that far from the hotel, about a 20-minute walk. The brewery is located in an extremely nice, renovated, historical building. According to Google reviews, the place serves local beers and bar food. The weather was fine, and I was pretty comfortable in a T-shirt and shorts. Without a doubt, we decided to take a short walk. The city seems pretty safe and pedestrian-friendly. About 20 minutes later, we arrived at the place and immediately ordered some beer. I really wanted to try a tea-based beer, which we had once at Goose Brewery in Beijing, but unfortunately, this restaurant didn’t have anything similar. The food was quite mediocre, so I would advise having dinner in advance. The bar atmosphere and crowd were nice. After a couple of pints, we headed back to the hotel to get ready for the next day.

Our trip to Bhutan: Day 6, Hike to the Tiger Nest Monastery

Sun, 31 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The last day was a pinnacle of the trip with a hike to the breathtaking Tiger Nest Monastery. I read a few posts about how difficult the hike is; some people mentioned the hardest hike they’ve done in their lives. It’s easy to believe when you are looking at the monastery, which looks like a part of a rock.

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Hike to the Tiger Nest Monastery

We deliberately started the hike early in the morning, around 8 AM, to avoid midday heat, but the weather was on our side the whole day. Clouds blanketed the sky, soft and low like a ceiling about to burst. The starting point was crowded with other tourists and their guide. We realised that it’s possible to reach the midpoint of the journey, a lovely, scenic cafe, on a mule. Also, our guide shared that not everyone hiked to the monastery, but only had a quick look at it.

Our gentle driver passed us two walking sticks made out of bamboo, and our hike started. In general, I say the hike wasn’t easy, but not impossible. I think if you focus on the hike, you can conquer the whole distance in one and a half hours. For us, it took about an hour to reach the midpoint of the journey - a scenic cafe with a magnificent view of the Tiger Nest. We admired the view, took a couple of photos, sipped a glass of tea, and resumed the hike.

The second part of the journey was far easier than the first one. It was a relatively short, about half an hour, hike up. After that, we mainly walked down or straight. On the way to the monastery, we walked by a few stunning observation points. To completely overwhelm a visitor, there is a breathtaking waterfall just before the monastery.

After a final hike, we have to hand over all our stuff, take off our shoes, and enter the monastery.

[!WARNING] Important note: wear warm socks! The monastery floor is made of stone, and it may be quite freezing if you aren’t used to this condition. I didn’t feel my feet after an hour of walking inside the monastery walls.

During the excursion, we learnt a lot about the place’s history, about a fight between Guru Rampichi and Naga, and various temples in the monastery. It’s not a single monastery, but 7 different, tiny temples that spread across a small area.

The way down was far easier, and we managed to go down in probably hours in a very relaxed fashion with a nice tea break.

I finally managed to put my calisthenics skills to the test and make a flying crow in front of Tiger Nest.

After the hike, we went to a local souvineer shop to get a tibetan tiger rug, which I saw once on my friend’s photo. They aren’t cheap, but for sure very authentic.

Archery

At the end of our journey, we went back to the hotel, where our guides kindly showed us how to play archery. The game looks relatively easy from the side, but it’s quite complex once you try it. As a beginner, it feels like archery requires a lot of coordination between your body, hands, and, obviously, eyes. My wife and I gave up after a few shots, but the guides showed us mastery by hitting the mark a couple of times.

Way back home

The next morning, we had a heartwarming farewell with our amazing guides and their beautiful country. Once we boarded the plane, a flight assistant approached us and told us that the Queen of Bhutan was sharing the same flight with us back to Singapore. What? Not a private jet or even a dedicated plane? We witness your highness approaching and boarding the plane. At that time, we knew nothing was going to happen to us on the way back home. And, as expected, the return was very smooth and easy.

A few final words

It’s common to see hypocrisy in Asian countries toward certain values, e.g., a luxury hotel may be vocal about its stance towards zero net efforts, sustainability, or ecology. But once you step out of the hotel’s premises, you can see garbage and pollution around. It feels different in Bhutan. Indeed, people here aren’t rich, but they look really happy in Bhutan, a country with wonderful landscapes, beautiful air, and fantastic food.

Our trip to Bhutan: Day 5, Punakha festival

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Before I deep-dive into your trip, let me say a few words about the trip arrangement. Firstly, how did we choose Bhutan? I’ve been to Nepal before and heard about Bhutan being an Asian Switzerland, so visiting this country was on my list a long time ago.

Secondly, we did not plan much, the travel agency did everything for us. We expressed our interest and the itinerary was adjusted based on our tastes. In addition, the itinerary was customized even more during the trip according to our desires. The guide was very attentive and helpful.

Lastly, our package included everything—three meals a day, a hotel, flight tickets, etc. We brought some money but barely spent any. Our main expenses were a few alcoholic drinks, which aren’t included, souvenirs, and generous tips for our amazing guide and driver.

I want to say a big thank you to Breathe Bhutan and personally to Sonam and Kuenga for our fantastic time in Bhutan!

Links to the next parts

Visiting a ceremony and young monks

The next morning began with a short visit to a local monastery, located close to the eco lodge. Young monks, together with a senior monk, performed a cleansing ritual on us. We didn’t know what was happening, but it was extremely interesting to observe the young monks. They were more interested in us than in the ritual. Some youngsters weren’t too focused and a bit sleepy (it was quite early in the morning) during the ritual. From our point of view, it was extremely interesting to observe their daily routine.

During the ritual, we’d offer some tea and fried rice. Lastly, an older boy poured a bit of aromatic water on our heads as a sign of cleansing.

After the ritual, we planted a tree with the help of our guide.

The festival in the Punakha fortress

That was our second stop at the Punakha fortress. A couple of days ago, we saw a preparation for the ritual, and on this day, the actual ritual occured. From the walkway to the bridge, I felt something in the air. The space was more crowded than usual, people were dressed differently, and I was able to hear traditional tunes in the distance.

The fortress’s ground had a dedicated area for tourists, where we were taken. One of our guides had a friend in the monastery, so we had a unique privilege - an old carpet.

The overall scene looks immensely surreal: an ancient, Bhutanese fortress with walls, draped in bright, festival fabric, a huge, massive, old tree, like an ent from LoTR, in the middle of the yard, and a plethora of Bhutanese people, dressed in traditional cloth. Truly a scene from a fantasy movie.

But things got even more surreal when the dancers started their performance. Firstly, a group of ladies, dressed in traditional costumes, presented a traditional dance. After the first 5 minutes, a group of gentlemen joined the ladies and presented something extremely similar to a Russian traditional, round dance (хоровод).

And after the first, intro performance, the main action started. People in various costumes and masks started coming to the center of the square and dancing. Firstly, I would like to say a word about their costumes. Each costume has a great deal of detail. All dresses are extremely colourful with a plethora of long ribbons that develop on the fly. Secondly, it’s a mask. Each mask is made of wood with a great level of craftsmanship. A mask has a lot of intricate details carefully crafted and painted. In general, it feels like a performer’s mask is a separate piece of art.

Lastly, it’s not a single individual in a costume, but a big group of them. At some point, I realised that it’s really hard to decide where to look as too many things were happening at the same point in time. We spent about a couple of hours at the festival and headed back to the Paro valley.

Back to Paro

After the festival, we headed back to Paro, a town with an international airport. We used the same road before, so it was a long, 4-hour ride. The most interesting place at the end was our hotel - COMO Uma Paro. This low-rise hotel spreads through a relatively big area, with a main building in the center with only around thirty rooms. The place is tranquil, but the main highlight is dinner.

It’s not just your usual hotel dinner (which is, btw, a part of a package), but more like fine dining. You can pick a menu set: either a traditional Bhutanese menu or a Western menu. For each part of dinner, you have an option to choose from. Needless to say, the food is exceptionally good and flavorful.

Our trip to Bhutan: Day 4, Phobjikha valley

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

I want to say a big thank you to Breathe Bhutan and personally to Sonam and Kuenga for our fantastic time in Bhutan!

Links to the next parts

It was the last day at this fantastic homestay with amazing food and extremely attentive and lovely personnel.

A drive to the Phobjikha Valley

This morning we were told about a relatively long drive to Phobjikha valley, which is located in the northern part of Bhutan. The guide told us to be well-dressed for this trip, but I decided to ignore his advice. That was a grave mistake. Up in the mountain was far colder than in the Punakha, so I was shivering the whole day.

The road to the valley was the same as other roads in Bhutan - breathtaking views on each turn. Just 10 minutes before our arrival, we realized that cows, who usually graze on the road shoulders, somehow changed. They became furrier, bulkier, and with long horns. Thus, we quickly realized that’s Yak herders. Our guide and driver spot our excitement and immediately stop near the herd.

The northern Bhutanese are still nomads, and the herd belongs to them. The northerners were extremely friendly, and gladly showed us yaks, and calves, and offered a piece of yak cheese and yak milk.

There is a separate story with yak cheese - long necklaces of this cheese are hanging all around. I kept trying out a piece, and this was a perfect moment. We bought the whole string and realized that the cheese was as hard as stone. Our guide shared that the yak cheese is used like a local chewing gum during cold times, and it helps you to get warmer. It is also used in cooking for the Bhutanese traditional dish - chili cheese, which we tried multiple times during the trip.

A short hike from Pelela to Kumbu

After interacting with Yal’s herders, we went for a short walk (it wasn’t really a hike) around the valley. Firstly, we walked through a nearby village, where it’s possible how people in this area live. To be honest, it doesn’t look like they are poor - we were passing by the wealthy households, with well-developed fields and equipment. Obviously, it’s different from the city-life lifestyle and more leaning toward a rural way of living.

The main road slowly transferred to a tiny pathway that led us to a groove that stretched around the valley.

This walk was almost like in Russian forests in early fall or late spring - a slightly cold air, an aroma of pine trees, and a churn of pine needles under shoes.

The walk almost ended at a stunning observation deck that gave us a view of the whole valley. Likely I brought my binoculars, so it was possible to view intricate details across the valley.

Black-necked cranes sanctuary

After the walk, we had a quick lunch and headed down to the black-necked crane sanctuary. Actually, the whole valley is a crane sanctuary, but there is a small building to educate tourists on Bhutan’s efforts to preserve its nature.

At the building, there is a small cafe, an exhibition dedicated to the birds of Bhutan, a cinema room with a short movie about black-necked cranes, and, lastly, a space with mounted binoculars to contemplate cranes from afar. Unfortunately, we haven’t had a chance to see these beautiful birds in the wilderness, but the sanctuary has a couple of cranes for the public to admire.

Gangtey Monastery

After the sanctuary, we had a brief stop at the local monastery. The most interesting thing is that the monastery doesn’t belong to the central monk body, and sustains only on donations. The monastery itself also looks different compared to other Bhutanese monasteries. Firstly, it is structured differently - it’s a square-shaped, sturdy building surrounded by thick walls. The place looks more like a fortress than a monastery. The northern, nomadic people are using this monastery as a temporary storage, where they keep their stuff during the transition between various stops.

Gaselo Eco Lodge

Lastly, our last stop was at the Gaselo Eco Lodge, where we settled for the night. The stay was amazing, and you have your very own Bhutanese traditional home. The houses are wonderful, but we had one minor issue - the place was rather cold at night. But, surprisingly, we didn’t freeze during the night and the overall stay was great.

Our trip to Bhutan: Day 3, Punakha town

Fri, 30 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

I want to say a big thank you to Breathe Bhutan and personally to Sonam and Kuenga for our fantastic time in Bhutan!

Links to the next parts

The third day started with a hearty breakfast with this breathtaking view:

A hike to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chörten

After breakfast, we proceeded to our first semi-serious hike. All these hikes, actually, well-prepared us for the final challenge - a hike to the Tiger Nest Monastery. The hike started at one of the rafting boarding points, so we had a chance to have a look at local river rapids.

The beginning of the trail went through scenic local fields full of crops and vegetables. After the first 5-10-minute hike, we started meeting cattle and also had a unique chance to oversee the whole valley from the top.

The hike was quite straightforward (very similar to a Bukit Timah hill in Singapore), and we managed to reach the temple in around 30-40 minutes. At the end of the hike, we were greeted by a very friendly dog who welcomed us to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chörten.

The temple is very similar to the rest of Bhutanese temples. The main difference is the 3-floor structure, which is rather unusual. The last floor had a breathtaking view of the whole valley, so I had a chance to use my binoculars extensively.

Suspension bridge, local food, and archery match

Bhutan’s national game isn’t football or cricket, but rather unusual archery. On the way to the temple, we saw a match between two teams and asked our guide to have a short stop on the way back. The guide explained to us that it’s a friendly competition between teams from two districts. The distance between aims is around 40 meters, and competitors are allowed to use only traditional bows. Thus, it’s an extremely challenging task to hit a target. But not for Bhutanese, we’ve been on the field for around 10 minutes and saw the target being hit twice. Each hit is usually followed by a dance from teammates to celebrate the hit.

After the completion, we went to see the longest suspension bridge in the country. The bridge is about 100 meters long and gives a visitor a fantastic view of the mountain river. The water is crystal clear and you can see schools of fish.

At the end of the bridge, we had lunch in a local restaurant where I tried butter tea. To be frank, that’s not a drink for everyone. No surprises, it tastes like somebody put a slab of butter in tea. I managed to finish only a third of the cup. The rest of the dishes were quite usual - chili cheese, rice mandu, etc.

Punakha Dzong

After lunch, we went to the main attraction of the town - Punakha Dzong. It’s an ancient fortress and is currently used by both administration and monks. According to a legend, the fortress was erected in a year with the help of a local deity as all construction materials were brought by river.

A tiny island, where the fortress is based, is connected to the mainland by an elegant, beautiful bridge. It was possible to peek through the edge of a bridge to see the river flow, but no fishermen. When I did it, I saw a myriad of fish in the crystal clear water. Later our driver shared with us that it’s prohibited to catch fish here, but some people still do that.

The Dzong’s area, which is open to the public, consists of three yards. The first, largest, yard belongs to a region’s administration. The center of the yard is decorated by an astonishing, fantastic tree, which almost hugs the yard with its tall crowns. We also saw a couple of gentlemen rehearsing some dance, and our guide explained to us that it was a preparation for an upcoming festival. In a couple of days, we’ll be able to witness this event.

The other two yards belong to a central religious body of the country - a central monk body. We didn’t spend much time at the second yard as it’s only possible to see a facade of an ex-defense tower, which has been repurposed for religious purposes. The last yard has another monastery. The monastery is unique due to the inside painting that reflects all stages of Buddha’s life. I probably, spent at least an hour there learning about the Buddha life, a completely missed piece of knowledge in my education. Lastly, we had a chance to witness a praying ceremony performed by monks.

I thought it was our last visit to the Dzong, but I was wrong and we returned here just a day after the next day for the festival. As the day before, the day ended with a delicious dinner at our homestay.

Our trip to Bhutan: Day 2, Thimphu City and Fertility temple

Thu, 08 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

I want to say a big thank you to Breathe Bhutan and personally to Sonam and Kuenga for our fantastic time in Bhutan!

Links to the next parts

Buddha statue

The second day started with a short trip to a giant Buddha statue, overlooking the whole Thimphu valley. The statue’s size is massive (54 m tall) and it’s hard to explain in words its dimensions. As later we will understand, the statue can be visible from almost every road, which leads to Thimphu. In addition to the statue, there is an amazing observation space to enjoy the views of the whole town. Lastly, there is a small temple inside the statue.

Takin sanctuary

Bhutan’s national animal is Takin (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takin), a funny-looking creature that looks like a mixture between a goat and a yak. There are not many zoos in Bhutan due to their deep connection with Buddhism, which prohibits the imprisonment of living forms. Thus, there is a small, but lovely wild sanctuary, where you can contemplate these beautiful animals as well as some other Bhutanese creatures like Yaks and mountain goats. The sanctuary is rather small, but it’s nice to see that animal conditions aren’t too different from the wild nature here.

Thimphu

After the Takin sanctuary, we drove to the city center for a short city tour. Firstly, we stopped at an observation point to have a quick look at a fortress and the king’s palace. A king’s palace is nothing like old European monarchs, but just a few tiny houses near the fortress. Interestingly, the fortress was shared between the central monk body and the government institutions. We’ll see a similar collaboration between religion and official ruling powers in many other places later.

The busiest street in Timphu:

Art college

After a short stop, we drove all the way down to a local art colleague. The college doors are open for the tourists as soon as the latter one keeps gentle and silent. It is possible to walk around the classroom and see how artists are learning various traditional arts: pottery, painting, embroidery, etc. It seems that traditional painting is the hardest, and it takes about 10 to 12 years to master this art.

Local market

The next stop for us was a local market in the center of Thimphu. To be frank, the majority of goods are pretty standard - vegetables, fruits, species, etc. The main difference is that we weren’t able to see any meat. And there was a particular reason behind it - the auspicious month. During this period of time, all the meat on the market is locked and Bhutan has stopped importing meat in the country.

108 Stupas

After the city tour and a quick lunch, we left for our next big destination - Punakha town, which is famous for its fortress and breathtaking scenery. The ride usually takes about a few hours, so we had a few stops on the way. The first one is a 108 Stupas monument, which has been built to commemorate Bhutan’s victory in the operation “All clear”. Also, we were supposed to see Himalayan peaks from here, but, unfortunately, the weather wasn’t favorable.

Fertility temple

The second stop was a famous fertility temple - Chimi Lhakhang. A short hike to the temple goes through scenic, astonishing farm fields and local houses.

The first thing you’ll shortly notice it’s a plethora of penesic paintings as well as their wooden statues.

It’s all due to the local saint - Divine Madman, who used his phallus to fight and subjugate demons. He also loved to be drunk, spend his time with beautiful ladies, etc. So, it seems it’s not that bad to be a saint afterall.

After a short hike, we arrived at a small, densely populated dogs, area with a small temple.

Inside the temple, you can see a photo album of people, who managed to conceive a kid after performing a ritual at the temple. The ritual is quite straightforward - a lady should wear a backpack with a giant penis on it and walk three circles around the temple. After the ritual, the lady should receive a blessing from Divine Madman and conceive in a near future.

Dhumra Farm at Punakha

After approximately an hour’s ride, we arrived at Punakha.

Stunning view from our lounge:

Perfect spot to ejoy the view with a cup of tea:

One of houses in the farm:

Our delicious dinner:

It was already quite late, but it was self-evident that the place was amazing. A small valley is jagged to pieces with a strong, mountain river with a beautiful, medieval fortress at the center of it. In addition, we stayed at a wonderful homestay that uses only local ingredients for their meals. No surprises, our dinner was outstanding. Lastly, it is worth mentioning the fantastic view that we were able to enjoy for the next two days!

Our trip to Bhutan: Day 1

Fri, 02 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

I want to say a big thank you to Breathe Bhutan and personally to Sonam and Kuenga for our fantastic time in Bhutan!

Links to the next parts

Day one wasn’t full of events. There are only two flights per week from Singapore - on Thursday and Sunday. We did pick Sundays to save vacation days. On Sunday, around midday, we boarded the plane and prepared for the flight. The flight is about 6 hours with a short stop at the Indian city of Guwahati. The only notable thing in the airport is the air quality. Compare the below images from India:

And from Bhutan:

There is a visible difference, and both places are relatively nearby. It’s less than an hour from Bhutan.

The landing in Paro Valley is known for its complexity, and pilots have to undergo special training to be able to land planes there. As a passenger, I definitely experienced it. On the way to the airport, the plane makes multiple turns and you can see how close the mountains are.

After the landing, we entered the beautiful airport, which is built in a traditional Bhutanese architectural style. The small, intricate details are everywhere: from the baggage lane to the emigration counter.

After a smooth emigration clearing, we were greeted by our guides, who performed a quick, but lovely, welcome ceremony. They gave my wife a bouquet of flowers, a welcome scarf, and a bag with locally made gifts.

On the way to our first hotel, we had a quick stop by a local temple for a first glimpse of Bhutan. It was amazing - a fantastic landscape and a beautiful temple with a suspension bridge, covered by a hundred flags. Exactly at that space I really feel a sensation that’s an entire new world and an amazing adventure awaits.

After the temple, we went straight to Bhutan’s capital - Thimphu. You really expect capital to be something big and grand, but it’s not true for Thimphu. On a Western scale, it’s just a small town with a population of 100k, scattered in the mountains. The whole town is a low rise as Bhutan is considered to be a seismic-prone area. Also, Thimphu is a great place to contemplate the success of a unified design code imposed by the Bhutan government. Every building in the country is supposed to preserve traditional architectural values while enabling modern development. Thus, the town looks visually coherent, clean, and stunning. It’s just a pleasure to have a stroll around the central area, enjoying the buildings with beautiful paintings on them.

The first day ended with dinner with our guides and an office representative. The dinner was lovely and casual. I tried a Yak burger as well as local beer Red Panda, which I would definitely recommend to try if you’ll find one.

Vibe Coding a Telegram Bot: from idea to a service in a couple of hours

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The Practical Part

After discovering Cursor and the concept of Vibe Coding, I was eager to test it on a greenfield project. I revived an old idea: building a tool to help amateur guitarists (like me) memorize notes on the fretboard in standard tuning (e-A-D-G-B-E).

Firstly, I strongly recommend installing one of the popular vibe coding tools such as Cursor, WindSurf, Loveable. I started with Cursor because it integrates based on VS Code. You can quickly learn how to use the tool through a short tutorial or with a couple of below videos:

In short, the cursor has a few modes to work with, and this thread summarize it very well.

The cursor is quite intuitive, so you’ll grasp it in minutes. However, the way you interact with the tool is slightly different from the usual IDE usage. Here is the algorithm that I leveraged to build my bot:

In chat mode, I describe a functionality (a feature request, PRD, etc) to the cursor in as many details as I can. Then, I ask if Cursor requires further clarification.
After the clarifications, I ask Cursor to generate an execution plan with atomic steps like these steps are going to be followed by a junior engineer. Ask not write any code, and ask Cursor to assume that’s the plan is going to be executed by junior engineer.
My first prompt is: “I want to create a Telegram bot to help users learn the guitar fretboard using Python. The bot should quiz users by displaying a fretboard in ASCII art, with one random note hidden behind a question mark, prompting users to guess. Here’s an example ASCII fretboard generated via ChatGPT: (include actual ASCII example here). DO NOT CODE. Prepare a step-by-step execution plan as it’s going to be implemented by a junior engineer. If code is necessary, use pseudo-code.”
I save and commit the example at the plan.md file and use it as a context later.
Then ask Cursor to implement the first step and test it
If the results look satisfying, push the change in the repo
Otherwise, explain the problem as clearly as you can and ask Cursor to fix it
Repeat until done!

Lastly, I used ChatGPT to generate an icon and description, packaged the bot into a container using Cursor, and deployed it via fly.io. The entire build and deployment took around 2–4 hours, with an extra hour spent refining the ASCII fretboard.

The Result

You can try out the bot right now on Telegram - just type @FretBuddyBot to get started.

The project repository: https://github.com/amsilf/FretBuddy

A quick demo:

Best Practices for Efficient Vibe Coding with Cursor

To conclude, a few practical pieces of advices on how to leverage Cursor to ship your ideas with the speed of light:

Always use version control, even for personal projects, because tools like Cursor can make extensive changes that are hard to track.

The original thread

Follow a structured feedback loop (such as the one described above), rather than simply dumping requirements into chat.
Use a proper .cursorrule file to enhance your development efficiency. I recommend using awesome-cursorrules.
If you are a seasoned engineer, I assume you have a set of best practices that you would like to follow; it’s the right time to leverage a Cursor’s context to ensure that your code / infra builds according to your accumulated wisdom.

The original thread

Learn at least fundamentals of LLMs to understand what these tools are capable of. My favorite courses on the topic are:

For corporate projects, remember to adapt these practices to meet organizational requirements. This includes ensuring security guardrails are robust, pipelines are performant, LLMs are hosted internally, and DevTools align with your company’s standards.

To conclude, I think vibe coding is the best thing that has happened to the industry in the last 10 years, so I finally can complete all my POCs & ideas.

Various long weekend trip to Malaysia

Sun, 08 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This year, the author visited three destinations in Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur, Desaru, and Johor Bahru. In Kuala Lumpur, they celebrated their wife’s birthday with a stay at the Hotel Majestic, a fine-dining experience featuring local flavors, and a visit to the awe-inspiring Batu Caves. Desaru offered a relaxing weekend with stays at both Westin and Amara hotels, each with unique perks—Westin being cost-effective and beach-accessible, while Amara offered exclusivity and activities like open-air cinema. Finally, Johor Bahru presented challenges like traffic jams, confusing navigation, and an encounter with traffic police, yet highlights included an exhilarating go-karting experience and discovering a delightful dim sum restaurant. Despite some hiccups, each trip brought memorable moments and enjoyable experiences.

Kuala Lumpur

It was my wife’s birthday, and she wanted to spend time in KL, so who am I to refuse her? We got a flight to KL this time with Air Asia, and after reviewing available options decided to stick with our usual choice - Hotel Majestic. I always consider it as a cheaper version of Raffles. The hotel was majestic as usual, so I won’t deep-dive into how great it is. If you’ll be searching for a place to stay in KL, I’ll strongly recommend that place.

On the birthday day, we visited a nice restaurant with an amazing view of the entire city. This time we decided to get dinner with a vine-pairing, which this time was pretty decent. The place was nice, and I definitely would recommend you to try it out as it’s fine dining with local ingredients and flavors.

Lastly, during the trip, we went to Batu Caves as somehow my wife hadn’t been there. The place is astonishing as usual, the cave’s size is incomprehensible and indescribable, you just have to see it. It’s also very special to see Hindu temples inside the cave as it’s quite an unusual thing. Lastly, it’s an awesome view from the stairs, so I was genuinely happy to return back here.

Obviously, it was a lot of visiting various shopping malls, but I don’t remember any of them, but I very much enjoyed CNY decorations.

Desaru Coast

This time we decided to go to Desaru for two main reasons: to buy a set of bed sheets and to chill over the weekend. The idea was simple, to cross the border on Thursday night, and spend a night at Johor Bahru. My wife and I took a half day leave on Friday, but we still have to work for the second, morning half. So, we spent the morning handling work matters in JB. We decided to try a different hotel this time - Capri, and I think that’s the best choice for JB. After that, we headed to the Johor Premium outlet for some shopping, and it’s cheaper than in Singapore.

After that, we headed straight to our hotel in Desaru. After about an hour, we arrived at Westin. Last time we stayed at Amara, so let’s quickly compare both hotels. Firstly, Westin feels more commercialized when Amara more focuses on you, e.g. Westing has more rooms, fewer facilities, etc. Amara is more exclusive with a couple of nice bars and restaurants on the hotel’s territory. Even during our stay at Westin, we drove to Amara’s sky bar for a night refreshment. Also, I personally very much enjoyed Amara’s way of transportation around the hotel - bicycles. Lastly, Amara had a couple of very unique events, e.g. an open-air cinema watching.

On the other hand, Westin was a couple of hundred dollars cheaper and still pretty decent. It had a great pool, a lovely lobby bar with decent wine and snacks, and, obviously, access to the beach. Thus, it’s a hard choice to pick, but if I had the money, I’d pick Amara.

Johor Bahru

As Malaysia extended VEP deadlines, we impromptu decided to spend a weekend there. This time our hotel choice was the Holiday Inn, and I didn’t like it at all. Only one elevator was working, it was pretty unobvious where to park (partially, due to the mess in JB’s city center), and the room was just okay. Secondly, as I mentioned before, the city center was in a huge mess due to the construction of a railroad between JB and Singapore. It was extremely difficult to navigate. Thus, the overall driving experience was quite unpleasant. Ah, I almost forgot the famous Jams! We spent about 2 hours driving from Midwalley to our hotel (the driving time is 20-30 mins).

Due to traffic complications, during one of our rides, I made a wrong turn by mistake, and it led to a stop by the traffic police. The officers almost immediately start talking some gibberish, which is an immediate signal that the conversation should be somehow smoothed up. And, no surprise, the best lubricant is a “small contribution to a police fund”. Thus, it was my first time improving the well-being of Malaysian police (300 RM).

Despite all these difficulties, it was a great trip. Firstly, we tried a local go-kart, which was great. I very much enjoyed the experience as cart dynamics are completely different from a car. Also, it’s very much fun to feel the acceleration and inertia of this tiny machine.

Secondly, my wife discovered a completely astonishing dim sum restaurant. Actually, on the way to this restaurant, we got “fined”. The place is very similar to Singapore’s Red Start, but with its own, unique set of dumplings, with a nice ambiance and vibe. Lastly, the queue moved very quickly and the final bill wasn’t too big.

On the way back, we crossed the bridge in Woodlands without a delay (it was about 11 AM), and the overall waiting time didn’t exceed half an hour, which was truly a miracle.

Long weekend trip to Manila

Sun, 01 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

A long weekend in Manila started with a stay at The Peninsula Manila in the Makati district, offering a luxurious experience worth recommending. Arriving late, we explored the nearby Raffles Hotel and enjoyed drinks at the Long Bar. Day two was filled with sightseeing—starting with the National Museum of Natural History, which was underwhelming, followed by the impressive National Museum of Fine Arts with its grand architecture and art collection. We also visited Fort Santiago, Casa Manila, and Saint Augustine Church, admiring the colonial-era architecture and rich history. The final day included shopping, food, and navigating Manila’s infamous traffic jams.

Day One

Our internal struggle to choose a destination for a long weekend was resolved this time to the capital of the Philippines - Manila. I was last in Manila during my MBA on a business trip, when we focused on learning more about the Philippines - the country’s economy, culture, and nature. For the current trip, we decided not to go far and wide, and spend the whole time in Manila.

After about three and a half hours of flight and a taxi ride, we unpacked our luggage at The Peninsula Manila, an incredible hotel in the heart of Makati district. The hotel offered various stay-in packages with access to the hotel’s private lounge, which includes afternoon tea and drinks, but we decided to opt-out. In general, the hotel is gorgeous and really worth every cent, so I strongly recommend checking it out.

As we arrived reasonably late, we didn’t have much time on the first day to explore the city, so we just walked around the hotel and discovered that the Raffles Hotel is also nearby. So, we decided to check out the famous Long Bar and get a Singapore Sling! Obviously, Singapore isn’t the right location for that :) It was fun to see the crowd and how ladies in years start dancing after a couple of cocktails.

I personally enjoyed this masterpiece:

Photo from Asia Bars

Day Two

National Museum of Natural History

The second day we were entirely dedicated to sightseeing. First, we headed to the National Museum of Natural History. The museum entrance was nice, but, unfortunately, the internals didn’t impress me - mediocre “skylift”, mediocre exhibition, and mediocre gift shop. The only notable thing was the speed of the elevator once we offboarded from it. It took maybe 30 minutes to bring the next batch of people to the top. Ah, also, there is no air conditioning, so don’t expect cool air like in Singapore.

National Museum of Fine Arts

The second museum, the National Museum of Fine Arts, is much more than the first one. The museum building is far more notable and grand, and some of the rooms have aircon to escape excessive heat! But jokes aside, the museum art collection is very lovely, and I truly enjoyed seeing both international and Filipino artists. The most notable art work for me is a monumental mural that encompasses the history of the country.

Fort Santiago

After the National Museum of Fine Arts, we went to Fort Santiago, a must-visit in Manila. It’s truly a remarkable fortress, and it’s an interesting experience to see a conventional Spanish fortress a thousand kilometers away from Spain. I’ve been there last time, so it was just a pleasure to keep an eye on details and reminisce on my last visit.

Casa Manila

Lastly, the two last signs we covered that day - Casa Manila and Archdiocese of Manila. Casa Manila is a gorgeous museum that “features the lifestyle of an affluent Filipino family during the late Spanish colonial period”. The place has an amazing interior with intricate ornament, carved furniture made of various types of wood, elegant marble-top tables, and elegant wicker chairs. It was truly a visual pleasure exploring this space.

Archdiocese of Manila

The second place is the gorgeous Saint Augustine Church. Firstly, the place is grand and visually stunning. It truly reminds me of “The Name of the Rose” with its detailed description of a medieval abbey. The place is insanely beautiful, but it also has a lot to learn about, especially augustinians’ involvement in the Philippines’ development.

We also had a quick stop in a local Chinatown with a quick visit to a museum of Chinese culture, which is great I learned a lot about the amalgamation of both Chinese and Filipino cultures, but I don’t really have too many photos from there.

Last Day

The last day was about shopping and good food, good food and shopping.

Sponsor of the next paragraph - traffic jams in Manila! Traffic Jams in Manilla, you can complete an entire book while you are stuck! As we spent a lot of time in traffic jams, I had a chance to read this amazing resource about AGI and what type of future awaits - Situational Awareness. If you are keen to learn more about how AI is going to affect the future, that’s the right resource to check out.

Famous Jeepney, an evolution of US hammer:

Probably, I can highlight only a little Venice, a grand mall with a canal in the middle:

No surprises, it’s as far from Venice as Manila is.

Kota Kinabalu: long weekend trip

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

After years of planning a trip to Kota Kinabalu, the closest city to Mount Kinabalu, COVID-19 delayed my dream of hiking Malaysia’s highest peak with friends. Recently, I convinced my wife to join me for a long weekend there, where we stayed at the well-located Hilton hotel. We explored fireflies and proboscis monkeys via boat tours, enjoyed scenic views of Kinabalu Mountain from Nabalu and local dairy farms, and even hiked near hot springs and saw the world’s largest parasitic flower. A visit to the MariMari cultural village offered fascinating insights into local tribes and their traditions, while evenings at the vibrant quay added a lively touch to the trip. Despite a lackluster museum experience, the journey was a mix of adventure, culture, and unique wildlife, making it unforgettable.

The first day

Kota Kinabalu is the place where I wanted to travel for a long time. Mount Kinabalu is the highest point in Malaysia with a stunning 4 km height. My friends and I wanted to hike the mountain a long time ago. We even booked a tour to bring us all the way up, but then COVID happened. Some friends moved out of Singapore, so we didn’t make it. And I couldn’t go to Kota Kinabalu, the city closest to the mountain for a long time.

But things changed recently as I convinced my wife to travel there for a long weekend. A quick flight, a taxi ride, and we are at the pre-booked hotel. We didn’t plan our itinerary at all, and simply bought a few tours - to the mountain, a tour to see famous proboscis monkeys, and the local cultural village. I’ll come to all the activities one by one.

We decided to stay at Hilton, which is a relatively cheap, but decent hotel in the area. The hotel is very well located, with an amazing bar and restaurant inside, so I strongly consider this hotel for the next trip.

After a short break, we handed over our luggage (just two backpacks) to the concierge and boarded for a trip to see fireflies and monkeys. The way to the boat tour was about two hours in one way, so I had plenty of time to complete The Legend of Vox Machina, a show based on a critically acclaimed D&D campaign. If you have a few free hours and a passion for D&D, I strongly suggest checking it out.

After a bumpy ride, we arrived at the observation sight at the nearby city. At the site, we had some basic refreshments like tea & coffee, and snacks, and after a short break boarded on a boat. Each boat has about 10 people armed with binoculars. That’s a must-have! It’s not a zoo, so it’s not always possible to spot a monkey with a naked eye. I bought binoculars for my trip to Antarctica, so it wasn’t an issue for us. The trip lasted for an hour and it was great fun. Firstly, it’s always entertaining to be like a ranger, trying to spot a monkey on a tree. And it’s always a ton of exaltation when you can spot a specimen or a whole family. Secondly, it’s fun to see unique wildlife and fauna - birds of paradise, region-specific trees, etc. The experience was great, and I enjoyed seeing such funny-looking, unique monkeys in the wilderness.

After the monkey observation trip, we stopped at the same spot for a quick, simple dinner, and boarded the same boats to see fireflies. The ride was pretty short, just half an hour, but completely out of this world. It’s a totally magical experience to see how suddenly a tree got entangled by firefly traces in pitch darkness.

After the fireflies, the bus was brought up back through the pan-borneo expressway. That’s probably the first time I can see an operational highway without any lights on the roadsides.

The second day

On the second day, we had a trip to the Kinabalu mountain foothill. We started the journey at a short stop on the way to the mountain, where we were able to try a local BBQ. After that, we stopped at a place called Nabalu, which is just another tourist trap. You can try some local fruits, buy souvenirs, enjoy local music, and, enjoy the stunning view of the mountain.

The next stop was at the largest dairy farm in the district. Unfortunately, the tour schedule was quite packed, so we didn’t have much time at such a big, crowded place. My wife and I managed to try freshly made ice cream, check out cattle, and enjoy the view.

After lunch at some local establishment, we did a quick hike near the local hot springs with a part of the road through hanging roadways. It wasn’t easy and a little bit scary for some of the people.

Lastly, we check the world’s largest flower in the nearby garden. The flower is amazing, but it was a great surprise to realize that it’s a parasite. Ironic…

In the evening, we checked out a quayside not far from the hotel. The place is very nice, lively, and vibrant with a plethora of restaurants, bars, and a couple of nightclubs. We checked a couple of local delicacies and I got some Kilkenny, which is almost impossible to get in Singapore.

Last day

On our last day, we visited Mari Mari cultural village. It’s strongly suggested to get a cab from the hotel and ensure that the guy will wait for you or get a tour. The village is located in a quiet secluded area and it would be challenging to get a taxi from there. We had an extremely nice, pleasant guide who showed us through all the activities in the village such as local tribes’ culture, craftsmanship, food, and incidents. I enjoyed the way of solving problems by the local hunters - just chop a head.

After the MariMari, we checked a local museum, but it wasn’t nice, so I don’t recommend spending time there. I had only one interesting revelation there - actually, there are quite a lot of standing monoliths on Borneo, so some of the places in my must-visit list now.

Our trip to Beijing and Xi’An: Part 4

Mon, 11 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Xi’An was a key destination for its Terracotta Army, which I had long wanted to see. We traveled by high-speed train, stayed at a wonderful Hilton, and explored unique spots like the grand shopping mall with animal enclosures. Visiting the Terracotta Warriors museum was breathtaking, with intricate statues and ongoing excavations, followed by the nearby Huaqing Palace, Xi’An’s spicy local cuisine, and the Silk Road Theater’s spectacular show. Our final day included the Wild Goose Pagoda and the historical museum, making for an unforgettable experience in Xi’An.

Links to the previous parts

Xi’An was the main destination for the trip as I always dreamt of seeing another World Wonder - the Terracotta Army. Instead of taking a short flight, we decided to try famous Chinese high-speed trains. A train ticket price was slightly cheaper than a plane ticket, but the duration was 4 hours compared to 1ish. The boarding was confusing as foreigners were allowed to enter last, and the ride was very comfortable and comparable to European trains.

At Xi’An, we decided to try Hilton, and weren’t disappointed - the hotel was gorgeous, and the staff was amiable and helpful. Also, at the checkout, a receptionist gave me a couple of lovely gifts.

As we arrived in the middle of the day, we decided to check a local Russian restaurant, but it was a slight disappointment. The restaurant has an upscale ex-Soviet aesthetic, but as Chinese people thought it was. In general, the artifacts and interior elements from various decades were mixed up together. Secondly, the menu wasn’t more like Russian-inspired food, but far from true Russian food:

But it was an educational experience for me. The second unusual place we visited that day was a gargantuan shopping mall. The mall has at least 10 levels (we didn’t check the roof and parking) with various installations inside such as enclosures for wild animals (rabbits, tortoises, gooses, and swans), an artificial waterfall, and even an LED ceiling to imitate a blue sky! Singapore is famous for its shopping malls, but this was something on another level.

The second day was heavily packed with various tourist activities. Firstly, we decided to get a guide to watch as much as we could. Due to a misunderstanding, the package included the guide only without a car, so we had to travel from place to place by taxi. Our first stop was at a famous terracotta warriors museum. The ride is about 30-40 minutes from the city center and all the way I was in anticipation. We started intentionally early as the place can be quite late due to its popularity.

We arrived on time to beat the crowd and with no further adieu bought tickets and entered the museum. The museum consists of four pavilions each of which reveals various aspects of the mausoleum. The first pavilion is the main one and once I entered it, I stopped in fascination. It’s a huge hangar with hundreds of warrior sculptures.

The pavilion is a bit crowded and some uncles & aunts can be quite rude, but in general, everyone was reasonably polite. Despite the crowd, it’s possible to spend hours contemplating the intricacies of statues: facial expressions, armor, weapons, postures, etc. Each statue is different from each other.

The guide shared a lot of interesting details. Firstly, the statue’s height is about 1.7 m and it was surprising to me as I always thought the ancient Chinese (and Asians in general)were far lower. There are a couple of hypotheses around it - warriors were selected once, it’s an artist’s exaggeration, etc. Secondly, share a lot about the warrior’s attire & armor - how to guess a warrior’s rank based on his weapon & attire and we’ll see more about it later.

The burial site is huge, and Chinese archeologists still keep excavating the site and assembling new statues. The site has examples on their WIP for statues of warriors and horses.

There are 3 of the most iconic statues presented for a closer look. Try to guess their status, position in a military formation, and rank. I added answers at the end of the article*.

Lastly, we checked the last pavilion, where unexcavated warriors were buried. The site has been already X-rayed and it’s possible to see a computer-based reconstruction.

The most impressive fact is that only a fraction of the terracotta army has been dug out, and the majority of the warriors are still revealed to the world. Netflix recently released a fascinating movie on the topic, so if you are fascinated by the Terracotta army, I strongly recommend you to check it out.

After the Terracotta Museum, we checked out the nearby Huaqing Palace. That’s an amazing place, but due to the extensive heat, it was rather difficult to explore it. I’m sure it will be a far more pleasant walk in Autumn.

After the park, we stopped by a local restaurant to try Xi’an’s food, which is contrasting from Beijing’s. I tried a pancake (Chinese burger) before in BingZi (Chinese street food in Singapore), but it was original. And I love the food - it’s spicy, nutritious, chewy, tender, and many more epithets.

Lastly, we went to check out the famous local show - Xi’An Silk Road Theatre: Legend of the Camel Bell. I didn’t capture a good video out of it, but I found a good one on TicTok. The show is incredible - fantastic decorations, live, tamed animals, entertaining dances, and even an artificial waterfall! The show’s duration is an hour, but you are constantly following the rotating scene, so the time flies in a blink. After the show, our guide helped us to book a Xi’An historical museum via WeChat. Otherwise, we won’t be able to get tickets. After that, we decided to take a break and went back to the hotel.

Btw, a funny fact about Xi’An. It’s Xin Jin Ping’s hometown - the current Chinese ruler. Do you know what local people call him? Xi’Uncle (Sounds like Xi’An Uncle).

On the final day, we had only two activities - a wild goose pagoda and the museum. Our first stop was at the museum, which was relatively close to our hotel. The museum, unfortunately, was just okay. There are interesting exhibits, but, to be honest, only a few of them. The place is also quite crowded, so anything notable is always surrounded by a group of people. Obviously, we saw a famous chariot:

And various silk-road-related artifacts are in vast:

How do I feel after 4 hours of straight sun:

After the museum, we had a quick refreshment in the gargantuan mall again - a fried yogurt. It tastes great, I wish Singapore would have a similar desert soon:

Lastly, we decided to check Wild Goose Pagoda.

The place is extremely among locals for photo taking - the whole area is flooded by people, who want to have creative photography:

*First one - linear warrior, the second one - general, the last one - bowman

Our trip to Beijing and Xi’An: Part 3

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

During our visit to Beijing, we explored several fascinating places including the Team Labs exhibition, which I found even more impressive than the one in Singapore due to its extensive installations like the obstacle course and crystal universe. We also visited Maliandao Tea Street, a haven for tea enthusiasts filled with tea shops and a massive mall dedicated to tea products, and concluded with a view of the iconic TV tower from a nearby bar, although we couldn’t enter due to its closing hours.

Links to the other parts

Team Labs

There are a couple of more interesting places that we visited in Beijing, but I haven’t talked about them yet. Firstly, it’s a team labs exhibition. Team Labs is in Singapore, in the ArtScience museum, and I love their Future World. It’s good for both kids and adults. Thus, it was quite an easy choice to check out the Beijing branch. Team Lab’s Beijing is located relatively close to the Pop Land so that you can visit both places simultaneously.

What can I say? Team Labs never disappoints - the exhibition is brilliant and stunning. To be honest, I enjoyed Beijing’s space more than Singapore’s.

Firstly, Beijing’s studio has more stuff in it. There is an easy, but entertaining obstacle course, a couple of crazy spaces with wall projections and optical illusions, and, obviously, the famous crystal universe.

In addition to that, I fell in love with a space with washable foam (the area name is something about clouds). It’s a totally crazy experience, and a unique chance to feel like a kid again.

The tea ale from Goose Island Brewing Company:

Maliandao Tea Street

As a vivid tea drinker, I wanted to explore Beijing’s tea scene. After a quick research, I discovered the right place - Maliandao Tea Street. The place is truly a heaven for tea drinkers. Firstly, there is a huge shopping mall dedicated to tea ware and varieties of tea. I assume you may be able to find literally anything in these corridors. Surprisingly, shop assistants weren’t too annoying, so you may explore the place without being persuaded all the time.

Secondly, you should explore not only the shopping mall but the whole street. The street has plenty of authentic shops where you can find the right tea or teapot for yourself. At least, that’s what I did.

TV Tower

Lastly, the TV tower. The height scraper is very famous due to its unique shape and the park that surrounds it. The place is also located in Beijing’s CBD, so you’ll have plenty of places to explore. We decided to enjoy the view of the place from a nice bar that serves uniquely crafted cocktails and walk to the place after that.

Unfortunately, the entrance was already closed at the time we arrived, so we were able to enjoy the side view only:

My souvenir from Universal studios Beijing:

Our trip to Beijing and Xi’An: Part 2

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

In the second part of our Beijing itinerary, I’m going to talk about our visit to the Beijing Zoo, a very nice, local restaurant recommended by my friend, a newly opened Pop Mart theme park, and, lastly, our trip to the Great Wall.

Links to the other parts

The Beijing Zoo

Pandas are the symbols of China and we weren’t able to miss a chance to watch them in their country of origin. At the beginning of the day, we decided to go to the Beijing Zoo. Our hotel was well-located, so the overall trip didn’t take too much time - only about 30 minutes in the metro. The Zoo is located very close to a metro station, so it took us only a couple of minutes to get tickets and enter the place.

Panda-enclosure is the most famous place in the entire zoo, so we immediately went there in an attempt to beat the crowd. I think we succeeded even though the place was rather full of people at the time we were in. The enclosure is big enough and provides a lot of opportunities to observe pandas. From my last trip to China, I still remember that you have to be early enough (before 11) to see pandas awake as they are sleeping the majority of the day. It was a great pleasure to enjoy the cuteness of these animals, to see their playful nature, and to enjoy their clumsiness. We spent about half an hour at the enclosure and continued exploring the rest of the zoo.

The Zoo is a bit run down, but it was still nice to see the other animals, such as giraffes, zebras, a variety of monkeys, tigers, etc. We decided not to go to the oceanarium, as it looked a bit too dilapidated.

Baoyuan Dumplings

The next stop after the zoo was a restaurant recommended by my good friend. The restaurant was in a different part of the city, so it took quite a while for us to reach the place. That’s a traditional restaurant specializing in local dumplings, so we were saving space for the whole day, and it was worth it. The dumplings are not only good-looking but extremely delicious. There are a variety of dumplings and their flavors, so we blindly followed my friend’s recommendation. I don’t remember the exact taste of the items, but I do remember that we left the place very satisfied.

The restaurant name and address:

Baoyuan Dumplings

Suggestion to order:

二两饺子
五彩茄子
炸小黄鱼
水煮牛肉

Pop Land: Pop Mart theme park

On the way to the metro, I also spot a couple of statues of Molly, the most famous Pop Mart figure. A quick detour for people, who don’t know what Pop Mart is. That’s a collectible figure that recently became extremely popular in Singapore. The main Pop Mart characters are Labubu, Dimu, Skull Panda, Molly, etc.

Labubu is a mischievous, wide-eyed creature with a playful and cheeky personality; Dimu is a mystical and dreamy character often depicted with elements of fantasy and space; Skull Panda is a unique, dark, and edgy character that mixes gothic and cute aesthetics; Molly is a curious and expressive girl known for her distinct pout and whimsical costumes.

Figures a packed in blind boxes, so you can’t really guess what’s inside before you open the box. It’s common in Singapore to see people trying to identify what figure is inside the box by shaking it. Also, Pop Mart collaborates a lot with various brands and artists, so there is a huge variety of these figures.

My wife wants to visit the park very much, so I can’t refuse. The park reminds me a lot of Snoopy park in Jeju that I described a while ago. It consisted of a various playground with Popmark characters- Plaki, Labubub, Demu, etc. But Plaki and Labubu dominates it. There is a huge Pomart store on the first floor of an artificial castle. The second floor is an event space, but the first floor has an interactive show. The show is a story about how Plaki got her cat. It was nicely crafted and entertaining, so even I enjoyed it. By buying a couple of new figures from the flag store, we concluded that day.

Goose Island

We wrapped up the day in an amazing local brewery - Goose Island Beer Company:

I highly recommend their green tea beer.

The Great Wall

The next day it was another must-have destination in China - the Great Wall. Two pieces of the wall are easily achievable from Beijing - Mutianyu and Jiankou. I’ve been to the first one 10 years ago, and, we also, read that the second piece is less popular due to its reactivity. By Universal Studios’ example, we learned that queues aren’t a joke in China, so we decided to visit the Badaling piece with a tour.

After about an hour’s drive with Mubus, a tour company of our choice, we arrived at the wall. It’s important to keep in mind that you have to pay extra - a ludge, and a cable car to the different segments of the wall. It’s obviously possible not to pay for the cable car, but you should be reasonably fit to be able to conquer the wall on your own within a given time slot. The luge is not mandatory, but it’s really fun, so we decided to get everything. The combined pay was about 150 RMB per person.

That’s my at the other pieces of the wall 11 year ago:

The guide shared his suggestion of what to visit first, and we just followed his advice. Firstly, we went to a part of the wall with the luge as he told us the queue to the luge can grow fast quickly. It was a great pleasure to return back to the wall, enjoy the viewers from the top, and admire the engineering complexity of it. I also enjoyed a bit of exercise as it’s necessary to walk up & down to conquer various pieces of the wall. The slide back on the lodge also was quite fun as you were in full control of the cart and could enjoy the beautiful views.

After a short break, we went to the second part of the wall. It’s a bit easier to get and walk there as the second part of the wall is more flat. We spent there may be a half an hour as the viewers are very much similar to the first part of the wall. In total, we spent about 2 hours enjoying the Chinese engineering genius and went back to Beijing.

The evening ended at another craft brewery - Great Leap Brewing 大跃啤酒:

Highly recommend this unique and authentic place. Also, I would advise you to allocate at least an hour to explore the district, where the brewery is located.

Our trip to Beijing and Xi’An

Mon, 21 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The last time I was in China was more than 10 years ago, so I was very keen to check out the country’s progress. During the last trip, I wasn’t able to visit Xi’an and see one of the world’s wonders—the Terracotta Army. Thus, I spent a couple of weeks convincing my wife to come onboard on this trip.

Links to the next parts

Arrival at Beijing

In addition to hotel booking, we pre-purchased a couple of things like tickets to Universal Studios and a tour of Forbidden City, but the majority of the things haven’t been pre-planned. Also, a couple of my Chinese friends gave me a few good recommendations.

After a reasonably long trip, about 8 hours, we landed at Beijing airport. Likely, there is a metro that connects the airport with the city. Later on, we realized that Beijing’s analog of Uber/great, didi, is relatively cheap, but at the beginning, we used public transport a lot. So, after about an hour’s drive, we reached our hotel. Interestingly, Beijing’s nature and planning are quite similar to Russian ones - the same trees, grass, and planning - it was quite a big contrast with Singapore to me.

Universal Studio Beijing

Our flight was early in the morning, so it wasn’t possible to check in, so we decided to drop off the luggage and went straight to Universal Studio Beijing (USB). Our hotel was very near the train station which is actually on the same line as USB, so we decided to use the lovely Chinese metro. The important caveat is that we weren’t able to buy train tickets at the e-boot, but had to look for a boot with a human operator, it wasn’t very convenient and it wasn’t always easy to find the boot location. After a long ride (about an hour), we arrived at the USB’s entrance. My first shock was the queue length - it was huge. Even on Friday morning.

I was prepared to spend an hour queueing to enter the place, but, luckily, everything was very well organized. The giant queues followed us during the whole trip, and it seems the Chinese can manage them pretty well. After we successfully entered, we went straight to our stop number one - the Hogwarts theme area. I was very surprised at how nicely it was decorated - it was easy to imagine that we were in Hogsmeade looking at the castle. Locals also surprised us - a lot of people were dressing up in wizard’s outfits with gowns, wands, etc. Our first stop was a Hogwarts ride with obviously a one-hour queue (but it’s one of the most popular rides).

I would strongly encourage you to download the Beijing U.S. mobile application - you can see the current queue for various rides there. After the lovely ride, we explored the decorations and went to the remaining areas. USB isn’t too different from Universal Studios Singapore, but its area is far larger, so we explored a minions world, kung-fu panda, Jurassic world, etc. I can’t resist trying a minion ice cream. It’s funny to realize that a minion in Chinese is 小黄人, which literally means a little, yellow people. Lastly, on the way back, which was around 4 PM, we checked out the queue - it’s completely gone. So, I probably would advise you to go an hour after the park opens - you won’t need to spend too much time waiting in queue.

After Universal Studios Beijing, we went straight to the hotel to shower and rest for a bit. On that day we just walked around the hotel’s area and decided to go to sleep earlier.

The Forbidden City

On the next day, we decided to visit one of China’s must-have places - the Forbidden City. As I’ve been there before, I thought it was a nice walk, but things changed a lot. Firstly, we have to buy tickets in advance, but we haven’t done this. To overcome this limitation, we decided to get a guided tour, which comes with tickets. On the next day, after a nice walk, we met a tour guide and headed straight to the forbidden city. To our surprise, the guide gave us money and told us to buy the tickets on our own. But that was the main point for us to get the tour! So, we have to go through a long queue and wait for the rest of the group. After passing all the types of security checks (be prepared - security checks are everywhere in China), we entered the Forbidden City. The place is as beautiful as before with grand, amazing buildings inside. It was interesting to listen to the guide, but the weather was extremely hot that day, so it was hard to concentrate. Also, the crowd was huge, so it wasn’t easy to walk in certain areas.

During the tour, we also lerned the art of identifying a gender of a lion guardian. Chinese guardian lions, often seen in front of temples, palaces, and other significant buildings, are traditionally depicted in pairs with one male and one female. Here’s how to distinguish between them:

Position: The male lion is typically placed on the right side (as you face the entrance), while the female lion is on the left. This positioning is consistent with traditional Chinese customs, where the right side symbolizes strength and dominance.
Symbol under the paw: The male lion has a ball or sphere under his right paw. This represents power, authority, and the protection of the structure. The female lion holds a small cub or a paw over a cub under her left paw. This symbolizes nurturing, care, and the protection of those inside the building.
Facial expressions: While subtler, male lions often have a slightly more assertive or fierce expression compared to the female, which can look gentler.

These differences highlight the balance of protection (male) and nurturing (female) in traditional Chinese symbolism.

I would say that the Forbidden City is definitely a must-have, but, probably, not in the summer. Also, I think I’ll enjoy walking there more freely, thinking about the times it was occupied by Chinese emperors and their servants than with a group. Nevertheless, I very much enjoyed the tour and the beauty of the place.

The Temple of Heaven

After a break from the heat and a quick snack, we decided to visit Beijing’s central square - Tiananmen Square. Unfortunately, the square was closed and we had to apply for a ticket/time slot to go there. We hadn’t done that, so the decision was to proceed to the next place - the Temple of Heaven.

During my last visit, my friend and I weren’t able to find the place, but this time it was easier. After a refreshing drink in the park, where the temple is located, we proceed to it. Firstly, you have to climb there - it’s not a difficult hike, but keep in mind the heat. Secondly, the temple was unfortunately closed for inside inspection, so we had to enjoy its beauty from the outside only.

The temple is stunningly amazing, and it was a pleasure to enjoy its iconic Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, with its striking circular shape and deep blue-tiled roof, standing on a marble platform, symbolising harmony between heaven and earth. After the temple, we had a quick dinner and went straight to the hotel to prepare for the next day.

Busan: 2 days itinerary

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

To conclude our trip to Korea, let me cover our 2 days in Busan. Before the trip to Korea, we decided that 7 days was too much for a tiny Jeju, and we decided to spend a couple of days in Busan. In this post, I will share our one-day plus (one whole day and two halves) Busan itinerary.

Busan - 2 days itinerary - day 1

The first day was dedicated to hotel check-in and a brief exploration of the hotel’s vicinity. Once we landed in Busan, we went straight to our hotel, Ramada Encore, which is conveniently located near the train station. As I was extremely hungry, the vicinity exploration had to be pushed down in our priority list—food was priority number one.

We managed to find a korean viking-themed restaurant called Viking Hus. The food was quite ordinary, but I very much enjoy the interior, e.g. a longship themed table.

After the late lunch / early dinner, we decided to check out a nearby USA town. To my great surprise, it has little to do with the US and A, and mainly has people or shops from Russia, China, or Philippines. The majority of shops have signs in both Korean and Russian. The overall atmosphere is quite depressing - the place reminds me of the devastation and poverty of ninthees.

Lastly, we discovered a truly hidden gem - a very special brand of Korean Makgeolli. On the way back to the hotel, we decided to get a bottle of a local vine for a movie. As it was quite late, the majority of shops were closed, so the 24/7 shops at the railway station had an answer. While walking at the train station, a bright, neatly decorated shop caught our attention. The shop was dedicated to a local Makgeolli brand - Boksoondoga. In Russia we have the saying - “We were looking for silver, but found gold”. That was the exact moment. The shop had a degustation option, so we ordered a couple of glasses to try the drink at the shop. The flavour was sweet, tangy, and slightly effervescent. The vine reminded me of a sparkling, sweet kefir infused with a touch of alcohol. The vine’s creamy, smooth texture with a gentle fizz that gives it a refreshing lightness. To conclude, it was love from a first sip. If you would have a chance to get a hold of Boksoondoga, I strongly recommend not to lose it.

A few russian snacks to enjoy with korean wine:

That was the conclusion of our first day.

Busan - 2 days itinerary - day 2

The second day was the most intense. As our time was quite limited, we purchased a tour to explore the most interesting part of Busan: Gamcheon Culture Village, Haeundae Beach / Songjeong Beach, Taejongdae Park, Haedong Yonggungsa, Cheongsapo Daritdol Observation Deck, and Huinnyeoul Culture Village. I’m going to briefly cover each attraction.

In the morning, we boarded the bus with a very enthusiastic Korean guide, who announced that the first stop was going to be Haedong Yonggungsa temple. After an hour, we arrived at the Haedong Yonggungsa temple. The temple is famous for a unique architecture and scenic beauty. The majority of the South Korean temples are located in the mountains, but Haedong Yonggungsa is built on the ocean side with a stunning ocean view. Once you come down the stone ladder with the twelve zodiac animals, the temple against the rolling waves is mesmerizing. Haedong Yonggungsa has much to offer: unique architecture, bright colors, and a serene atmosphere.

After about an hour at the temple, we left for the second attraction - Cheongsapo Daritdol Observation Deck. Before visiting the deck, we had some time to try Korean seafood and delicacies. Even though we weren’t hungry, we ate a couple of meals as the food was so fresh and delicious.

The observation deck is a great place to have a side view of the Busan. During our visit, the place was partially under renovation, and it was quite amusing to observe construction workers renovating a monumental construction. No surprises, the view from the point is stunning - an endless sea with caravans of ships from one side and the concrete jungles from another.

After the observation deck, we took a tourist wagon that led to Haeundae Beach / Songjeong Beach, where “wagoneers” reunited with the whole group. Our second last attraction was Huinnyeoul Culture Village that the guide was constantly referring to as Korean Santorini.

The place is similar to Santorini only with its color schemes - blue & white. That’s it. The rest is a nice cliff-side walk with some artsy cafes & restaurants, and shops, but nothing more. I think we spent about an hour there and left for another cultural village.

Lastly, we head to the Gamcheon Culture Village. This place has been referred to by the guide as the Korean Machu Picchu. Again, I have no clue why he called it such, but there is nothing similar to Machu Picchu. He might refer to the Caralluma neighborhood in La Paz, but I can’t be 100% sure. In a couple of months, I hope I’ll write about our trip to Bolivia. Let’s get back to Korea. The place is great. There are a lot of authentic restaurants and shops, various graphites, and amazing views. We spent a great time at the place looking through the antique and craftsman shops.

At the end of the tour, the guide passed us a couple of postcards and even sung a song for the sake of a good rating that we gave to him. The end of the day we spent at the hotel with Boksoondonga.

Busan - 2 days itinerary - Last day

On the last day, we didn’t have much time to explore the city, so we decided to check out only one attraction - the local oceanarium. Unfortunately, I didn’t really enjoy the place. Firstly, it was a little bit noisy due to a group of school kids around, who were on holiday. Secondly, the oceanarium was a little bit rundown and outdated. There are not too many unique creatures or enclosures compared to other oceanariums. Lastly, the place was quite small, so I won’t recommend going there.

Jeju: 5 days itinerary. Part 5: Jeju City and the Coastal Road

Mon, 30 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

For the final day of our 5 days itinerary, we decided not to rush through the island, but enjoy a slow, easy trip through the island. Our itinerary was quite straightforward: visit an ocean road, check wind turbines, checkout a Sanbangsan Canola Field, and head back to Jeju city to enjoy the eveing.

Links to the other parts

Hotel and new car

Lastly, we spent the final day of our 5 days trip with a new car and in a mood to slow down our exploration a little. Firstly, we picked a different hotel - Grand Hyat. Our room had amazing, panoramic windows with breathtaking views of the city. The hotel offers lovely amenities, an SPA, an outdoor pool (which didn’t apply to us due to part of the year), and diverse dining options. I quite enjoy the SPA with its different temperature rooms and tranquil atmosphere. We tried one Korean restaurant, which was pretty decent. The hotel offers great value for money and is perfectly located near major attractions in the town center. If it fits your budget, I highly recommend staying here, even if just for a night.

Secondly, we switched our car to something a bit more upscale. I wanted to try something different from a budget option, so we decided to rent a Genesis. While the car certainly had a nice design and a couple of high-end features, it didn’t quite deliver the luxury feel I expected. Surprisingly, I ended up enjoying the simplicity and practicality of our first rental car more, which felt more suited to the road trip and easier to handle.

Coastal Road

During our first day of the trip, I read about Jeju Coastal Road, which is located on the west side of the island. During our exploration of the west part of Jeju, we didn’t have time to check out the coast road, so the mistake was fixed during this trip. It’s quite an easy ride, so you’ll have plenty of time to look through the window. And there are plenty of things to pay attention to: giant fields of wind turbines that power the island, scenic coastal curves, and picturesque cliffs all around the road. There are plenty of opportunities to stop around, so we decided to pick one of the spots to have a look at one of the wind turbines.

Wind Turbines

There were plenty of observation spots, so we picked the closest one and proceeded to a wind turbine. No surprise, a wind turbine should be contracted in a windy area, but it was on another level. I don’t know the exact speed, but I’m pretty sure it was quite close to a hurricane-force wind. Thus, the beginning of the walk wasn’t that pleasant.

It was amusing to watch the local fishermen near the windmills wearing multiple layers of “wind armor”. The layers consisted of thick jackets, scarves, and hats. The sight of them, almost resembling human fortresses reminds me of Russian fishermen, who frequently fish in a similar outfit during winter time.

We managed to walk to the wind turbine and, under the stiff breeze, tried to enjoy the view. The view is stunning. It’s hard to imagine the scale of the wind turbines. Standing beneath the massive structure, it was hard not to feel dwarfed by its sheer size and power. I would strongly advise you to experience it yourself.

Sanbangsan Canola Field

After the wind turbines, we decided to find a warm place to recover a bit. After exploring google maps, we picked an area near Sanbangsan Canola Field. Unfortunately, due to the season of our travel, we weren’t able to witness the canola field. Even Though, it was a couple of interesting encounters in the area. Firstly, there is a beautiful temple on the mountain with a lovely observation deck.

Secondly, we had a rare opportunity to see the real “aunty diver”’ (Haenyeo) in real action. Unlike the touristy performance, this was non staged way of life. It wasn’t a touristy event, but rather a local fish market where they sold their fresh catch, ranging from sea urchins to abalone. The atmosphere felt authentic, with the divers chatting and negotiating with local buyers, reminding us of the traditions that still in Jeju.

The way back and sightseeing

Lastly, we decided to enjoy the last evening of our trip at the hotel and its surroundings. On the way back, we took a break in a lovely local coffee shop with a Ghibli-vibe view.

Horse statues

Before heading back to the hotel, I realized that we didn’t manage to see the famous horse statue, so we decided to make one more last stop. The statues aren’t directly accessible, but very well visible from a nearby park. The park is very lovely by itself, so I would suggest spending an hour or so in the vicinity. It also has quite a fair bit of local eateries.

After checking out the main attraction, we left our hotel and flew back to Singapore the next day.

Jeju: 5 days itinerary. Part 4: East Jeju, Extended

Sat, 21 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

On the fourth day of our 5 days itinerary, we took a ferry to Udo Island. Afterward, we hiked Seongsan and enjoyed the view from the summit. Unfortunately, we missed the famous divers’ show but enjoyed the jetty & sea view. LAstly, we had dinner in Jeju City with my friend.

Links to the other parts

Jeju Itinerary, day 4: East Extended

⁤On 4th day of our 5 days Jeju itinerary, we did a lot of walking and hiking. ⁤⁤We took a ferry to a tiny island near Jeju main island - Udo. ⁤⁤We explored the island on foot, enjoying its scenery and discovered its local peanut-based products. ⁤⁤Then we hiked to Seongsan Ilchulbong, a volcanic crater with amazing views. ⁤⁤The hike led to the top, where it’s possible to see a caldera and panoramic vistas of the ocean. ⁤⁤Afterward, we returned back to Jeju City for dinner with my friend.

Udo island

The day was full of hiking & walking. We started with a trip to a nearby island - Udo island. The island is located about 15 minutes from the main island by a ferry (don’t forget to check the schedule!), which departs from one and only ferry terminal in the area. Udo is ten times smaller than Jeju island and can be walked through in a day. At the jetty on the Udo side, there are a lot of so-called bike rental shops. The places are renting various bike-looking vehicles, but you have to be prepared to present a valid motorbike driving licence. Unfortunately, I didn’t have one, so we had to explore the island on foot.

We walked for a couple of hours across the island, enjoying the scenery and nature. We also realised that the island somehow is popular for its peanuts-based products: alcohol, sweets, ice cream, etc. At one of the local places, we tried a peanut coffee & ice cream, which were pretty decent, and left back to the main island.

Seongsan Ilchulbong

Our last stop on the east side of Jeju was Seongsan Ilchulbong. The park has two observation decks - one leading all the way to the top and the second one has a way to the sea. The seaside has a famous women divers show. The show happens twice a day, so please don’t forget to double check the official schedule (I used this website). We didn’t make it for the show, but enjoyed a small jetty with a diver’s shack.

After the diver’s jetty, we went all the way up to the mountain. It’s a reasonably easy hike with an astonishing view of the volcanic caldera at the end. The interior of the caldera is adorned with lush vegetation, giving it a vibrant green hue that contrasts beautifully with the surrounding blue waters and sky. The crater itself is relatively shallow but expansive, creating a broad, bowl-like depression at the summit.

At the Seongsan’s summit, we enjoyed an amazing view of the caldera. Its edge is rough and broken providing amazing views of the island and ocean. The volcanic rock adds to the beauty of the peak. Seongsan is a famous spot for tourists to enjoy the sunset, and I strongly recommend coming over here to enjoy the last lights of the day.

Back to the Jeju City

In the evening, we had a quick dinner with a friend, who also arrived in Jeju. The dinner was only notable by the fact that the restaurant that I picked was closed, and we urgently had to look for something else. Interestingly, this was the first restaurant where the waiter didn’t recognize the usual gesture for asking for the bill—miming the act of signing a receipt in the air. As a response to my gesture, the lady brought us a pencil and a piece of paper. Except for this funny episode, the food was fresh and tasty.

The restaurant that I wanted to visit originally looks pretty interesting: Jeju Gommak Restaurant

64 Gujwahaean-ro, Gujwa-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, South Korea

If anyone reading the post has been there, please share your thoughts.

Jeju: 5 days itinerary. Part 3: East Jeju

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

On the third day of our 5 days itinerary, we traveled to the Terrarosa cafe, checking out the cafe, surroundings, and the place itself. After that we went to the Folk Village, visited Snoopy Gardens, Lava Tube, and, lastly, Bunker des Lumieres. Lastly, we stopped at a hotel near the Seongsan Ilchulbong.

Links to the previous parts

Terarosa Coffee House

On the third day of our 5 days itinerary, we started with a brisk morning walk in the area near the Terrarosa cafe. Since the place had not yet opened, we took the opportunity to explore surroundings. Just beside the cafe’s entrance, there is a lovely beach that is not only quite but also home to a wide variety of stray cats. It seemed like these felines have made this beach their habitat, giving it a unique charm. As we walked along the shore, the sight of a picturesque lighthouse standing.

After a short walk, we proceeded to Terrarosa for breakfast. Honestly speaking, I was positively surprised. The place is great not only because of food and coffee, but also due to the lovely vibe. Terrarosa is located in a small factory building with a small hallabon garden. The cafe unfolds as a serene haven where nature and modernity dance in harmony. Sunlight filters through expansive windows, casting a gentle glow on the natural wooden surfaces and stone accents that embrace the space. The minimalist design, with its clean lines and subtle hues, creates a tranquil canvas where indoor greenery adds a refreshing burst of life. Elegant, contemporary furnishings complete the scene, offering a chic yet cozy retreat for those seeking both beauty and comfort.

The cafe also has a small shop, where I bought a lovely cup with a Jeju motif. I would say Terrarosa is definitely a must-visit gem in Jeju.

Terarosa 27-16 Chilsimni-ro 658beon-gil, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, South Korea

Folk Village

After breakfast, we proceeded to the west along the scenic road towards the Jeju Folk Village. This open-air museum is has a numerous recreated traditional buildings that depict life in old Jeju. As we walked through the village, we were able to explore replicas of traditional thatched-roof houses, barns and communal spaces.

But the Jeju Folk Village offers has other activities. Scattered throughout the site, there are several workshops where craftsmen demonstrate old techniques such as wood carving, pottery, weaving, and blacksmithing. The village also features a range of restaurants.

From there, we made our way to the Snoopy Garden.

Snoopy Garden

I’m not a huge fan of Snoopy and don’t know much about the character’s story, the Snoopy Garden was a nice surprise to me. The place was more about enjoying the appearance of a well-kept garden with some mentions of the iconic cartoon dog. The garden itself is well designed, offering a tranquil atmosphere, lovely arranged flowers, and walking paths, perfect for a low-paced stroll.

The Snoopy Pavilion is filled with varous installations featuring Snoopy, Peanut characters in different scenarios. These displays depict Snoopy in different moods and activities: he’s napping on his iconic doghouse, hanging out with his pal Woodstock, or embarking on his adventures. Even without knowing the character, it was fun to see how the installations captured the Snoopy’s world.

Personally speaking, I mainly enjoy the garden with its scenic landscapes.

Lava Tube

The famous Jeju Lava Tube is located quite close to the Snoopy Garden, so it was our next stop. The lava tube is actually a very long cave formed by lava. The tube has a light backlight, so you should be careful walking there. In about 30-40 minutes, we walked to the end of the cave and back, enjoyed stalactites & stalagmites and left for the Bunker des Lumieres.

Bunker des Lumieres

The last stop for us before the stop for a night was the Bunker des Lumieres. It’s an art space where you can watch animated and projected paintings of different authors. If I’m not mistaken, during our visit we watched Van Goh’s and Wassily Kadinskiy’s paintings projected on the bunker’s walls. Even though we visited a similar show in Singapore, it was still an impressive performance. This place definitely would be in a must-see list for me.

The hotel

Lastly, we stopped by at Co-Op city hotel, which is just an ordinary 4 star hotel. The main hotel advantage is an astonishing view of Seongsan Ilchulbong.

Jeju: 5 days itinerary. Part 2: South Jeju

Fri, 13 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The hike to Hallasan Mountain started on a misty morning, creating an ethereal atmosphere as fog enveloped the landscape. Initially, the weather was calm, but heavy rain and strong winds soon turned the hike into a challenging adventure. Despite the poor visibility, the experience was memorable. After the hike, an attempt to visit a nearby temple led to a deserted location, teaching a lesson about trusting tourist maps. The visit to Eongtto waterfall was also underwhelming, as it was dry. However, lunch at a local Korean restaurant was a highlight, with outstanding food near the seaside. The day ended at the GoldOne Hotel & Suites, offering stunning views and a jacuzzi. The evening concluded with a visit to a craft brewery in Seogwipo, which was vibrant and lively.

Links to the previous parts

Hallasan Hiking

A hike to Hallasan Mountain on a misty morning feels like stepping into a dream. The dense fog cloaks the towering trees and volcanic landscape in a soft veil, with muted sunlight gently filtering through. The sound of rustling leaves and distant bird calls echo in the cool, damp air. As you ascend, the mist parts to reveal moss-covered rocks, and the air grows crisper. Each step brings a sense of solitude and mystery, as the mountain’s ancient beauty reveals itself in fleeting glimpses through the fog.

Our goal was to conquer the mountain and take in the view of the caldera, but nature had other ideas. The day began with perfect conditions—clouds and a light breeze. We knew the weather could turn quickly, and after just half an hour of hiking, we found ourselves slipping into raincoats. An hour into the hike, every layer of clothing was drenched as torrential rain poured down and the wind howled fiercely. Though the trail itself wasn’t particularly challenging, the relentless wind and rain made the ascent far more demanding.

On the way to the top, we saw plenty of spots with potentially great views, but everything was blocked by misty fog. I’m confident that on a clear day it would be an amazing hike, but I enjoyed our experience too.

An Abandoned Temple

After a cup of hot tea, we decided to explore a nearby Korean temple. Unfortunately, the tourist map led us to some abandoned, manless facility. The road there was pleasant, but we didn’t manage to find a temple. The learning point - don’t always trust tourist maps!

Eongtto Waterfall

After the disappointment with the temple, we set out to explore a nearby waterfall, hoping for a more rewarding experience. Unfortunately, luck wasn’t on our side again. We arrived at a beautifully designed observation deck, complete with benches and railings, positioned perfectly for what should have been a breathtaking view. However, the waterfall was nowhere to be seen. The rocky cliff stood bare, without even a trickle of water. It seemed that the waterfall only appeared after heavy rains or during specific seasons, leaving it completely dry at other times. Despite the serene surroundings, it was a letdown after the long walk.

A Unique Korean Restaurant

Since it wasn’t time to check in at the hotel, we decided to grab lunch at a local restaurant. With the help of Google Maps, we stumbled upon a charming seaside spot that turned out to be a hidden gem. The food was absolutely outstanding. Every dish was fresh and fragrant, with the flavors of the sea woven into each bite. The seafood was tender, perfectly cooked, and seasoned with just the right amount of spices, bringing out its natural taste. The side dishes were equally delightful, bursting with vibrant flavors and freshness. I highly recommend checking out this spot if you’re ever in the area—it’s a must-try!

The place name and location:

오병이어

South Korea, Jeju-do, Seogwipo-si, 특별자치도 World cup-ro, 161-1 2층

Awesome view from quay side near the restarant:

GoldOne Hotel & Suites

Our choice for that night was GoldOne Hotel & Suites. The hotel is quite lovely, especially the view, with a jacuzzi in the room. The hotel is also proud of the Korean movie “The Witch: Part 2. The Other One” has been shot there.

In Jeju, you’ll find some charming local touches that just make you smile, like the unique way they protect their cars from scratches. Instead of worrying about dings and bumps in tight parking spots, many locals stick small blue foam pads on their car doors. It’s such a simple yet brilliant idea—these little foam protectors act as cushions, keeping the car safe from accidental scrapes when doors swing open too far. It’s a subtle but thoughtful gesture that shows a lot of care, not just for their own cars but for everyone else’s too. A perfect example of the island’s laid-back and considerate vibe!

Street Food & Craft Brewery

For dinner, we decided to take a quick drive to Seogwipo, and it turned out to be the perfect choice. Even on a weekday, the town was buzzing with energy, with its vibrant night market filled with an array of street food stalls and lively bars. The aromas of sizzling skewers and freshly cooked seafood filled the air, making it hard to resist stopping at every corner. However, we were headed to a specific brewer - Jeju Beer Fountain Olle market, known for its unique local craft beers. After a brief walk through the bustling streets, we arrived at the brewery. The atmosphere was cozy, and the beer was both unusual and delightful. Each glass had distinct flavors—some fruity, others rich and malty, with a refreshing crispness that spoke of local ingredients. It was the perfect way to end the evening, enjoying a taste of Jeju’s brewing craft.

Jeju: 5 days itinerary. Part 1: West Jeju

Mon, 02 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Originally, we had plans to travel to Italy in November, but our plans drastically changed once I realized that I couldn’t apply for a visa due to my employment pass validity. Likely, I understood it early enough to shift the gears. I was searching for a country, where I don’t need a visa and still have places from my bucket list.

Thus, we decided to visit a famous Korean island - Jeju. During the quick research, we also understood that Jeju isn’t that big, about 2.5 times larger than Singapore. Thus, we decided to check out the second-largest Korean city - Busan.

The most important stuff packed:

This trip was unique for multiple reasons. Firstly, we made a decision to rent a car. Nothing special about it except the fact that’s my first overseas rental car experience. Also, I never drove on the other side (right) side of the road. Secondly, we haven’t done any research on what spots we should visit on the island. The only planning that we’ve done is booking hotels on different sides of the Island and booking a car. That’s significantly different from our usual experience when my wife has a detailed plan for each and every day.

Links to the previous parts

Jeju Itinerary, day 0: the city centre

The first day of our 5 days itinerary was very straightforward. After the long, 6-hour flight, we landed in the Jeju airport. Surprisingly, the customs checks were extremely quick, and nobody checked my ETA. Once we passed the customs, we started looking for a car rental place. It seems that the practice of renting a car is pretty popular in Jeju as public transport is quite underdeveloped outside of Jeju City. Thus, we managed to find a direction towards the car rental company (Lotte car rental) pretty quickly. There is a dedicated area where buses bring people to various car rental companies. After a short, 5-minute ride, we quickly grabbed a queue ticket to get our car. The processes seem quite well-polished as in about 10 minutes, I got a car key. The car was, obviously, a Korean hatchback. Interestingly, Jeju (and the whole of Korea) doesn’t use Google Maps as the country has its own maps services: Napster and Kokao Maps. But the car had a pretty decent GPS system itself.

I was a bit anxious leaving the car lot as it was my first time driving on the other side of the road, but eventually, everything was just right. Jeju drivers, despite Singapore’s drivers, are pretty chill and give you a pretty large room for mistakes. For my first drive, I honked only once - when I didn’t turn right on a red light. Also, all rental cars have a unique symbol on the car plate. Consequently, the locals can easily recognize possible “foreigners” and give a hint.

Once we parked at the hotel, I decided to get a break from driving that day, and we left for a walk. As it was relatively late, about 3 pm, and we were quite tired, the decision was quite straightforward - to visit one, maximum of two museums. Fortunately, my wife had an idea where to go - Jeju’s computer museum. It was about a 35-45 minute walk from our hotel. The weather was very lovely, about 18 degrees, which is heaven after Singapore’s heat, so we decided to have a nice stroll.

It’s quite unique Jeju thing - a rope-based road carpet for pedestrian convenience:

After a lovely walk, we reached a modern-shaped building, where the computer museum resides. I love the museum as it was almost like a trip back to childhood. The museum had dedicated stands for various computer games such as Prehistoric, Prince of Persia, Zeldas, etc. It was a great pleasure to one more time enjoy the games that I used to play ages ago with my brother.

After the museum, we just returned to the hotel to have some rest as both of us were pretty exhausted. I’ll be talking a little bit more about Jeju City Center on the last day of our itinerary.

For the first night, we decided to stay at the local hotel, which is LOTTE City Hotel Jeju. To be honest, I don’t have much memories of the place except that it was decent.

Jeju Itinerary, day 1: West

That was the first day of our trip across the island and the first day in our 5 days itinerary. The hotel had a brilliant map of the whole of Jeju Island with the most notable places across the island including museums, natural wonders, parks, trails, and amusement parks. Only one thing that the map was missing - the food places. Thus, the day before the next day we did planning and decided where we should go.

In the morning we decided to go to a place called “Nohyeong Supermarket”. As you can guess, it’s not a supermarket, but a media art exhibition. I had zero expectations, but Singapore has a brilliant art space called “Future World” as well as a Vah Goh’s immersive experience. Thus, my bar has been driven by these two experiences.

I can clearly say that the whole experience is rather outdated and old-fashioned. The experience is tailored to the Korean audience, so you shouldn’t expect any translation. I admit that some of the visuals are pretty lovely and entertaining, but the majority of experiences are rather boring and outdated (and some of them are quite weird).

Hallim Park

The second stop was Hallim Park, a natural part of the west side of the island. It took about half an hour to drive from Jeju City to the park. We parked at a beach car park, a stone’s throw distance from the park. The quayside was nice and lovely and we spent a lot of time enjoying the nice weather and breeze. It was a great surprise to realize that we spent a few hours enjoying the quayside, and we decided not to spend time at the Hallim and go straight to the modern art museum.

Museum of Contemporary Art

On the way to the tea museum, we decided to stop at the Jeju Museum of Contemporary Art. The museum isn’t that great, but I enjoyed the weather and overall vibe. The museum has a nice sculpture park and permanent exposition. We skimmed through relatively quickly and left for the tea museum.

Osulloc Tea museum

I’m a huge tea fan, and, because of that, I was looking forward to the team museum. A couple of years ago, I bought a great Yixin teapot in Seoul and I was looking for something similar in Jeju. If you’ve been in the Osulloc Tea Museum, you, are probably, already laughing. It was a great disappointment for me to realize that’s not an actual tea museum, but a nicely arranged teashop.

There are three shops available on the museum’s territory: two cafes, and a cosmetics shop. My wife and I bought some facials for ourselves and my wife’s friends, who had a birthday a while ago. The place was extremely crowded compared to all previously visited establishments.

International school

At the end of the day, we decided to find a supermarket to get some snacks. Google Maps pointed us to a western-looking supermarket not far from our hotel. On arrival, we spotted quite a few foreigners and the supermarket had even more foreigners inside. After a quick research, we realized that the supermarket vicinity has a pretty big international school. It was a big surprise for me that such a tiny place as Jeju has a decent international school.

Dinner

Lastly, we ended the first day of our 5 days itinerary with an amazing dinner in a great place for famous Jeju black pork - BongSoon’s Black Pork. The restaurant address is 1010 Gueok-ri, Daejeong-eup, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, South Korea. I strongly recommend the place if you’ll be around.

Long weekend trip to Yogyakarta

Sat, 14 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

It was a big question for us where to go during the long weekend. I think we visited the majority of “long weekend” types of destinations, so our bucket list for the short vacations was rather empty. Likely, it was a notable place where we haven’t been - Yogyakarta. The number one attraction is Borobudur, an enormously huge, beautiful Buddhist temple. I knew Yogyakarta is on mountainous terrain, so it should have hiking, breathtaking scenery, etc. Thus, we quickly decided to dedicate our Labor Day weekend to exploring this destination.

The first day

Our first day was almost eaten by the flight and transportation to the hotel, so I’m not going to dive deep into it. Particularly, I don’t remember much, except the beautiful view from the hotel room:

Also, on the way to the hotel, we learned from a taxi driver that Yogyakarta is still a monarchy and a ruler, a member of a royal family, appointed by a president. That’s a very unusual government structure, and I never heard about anything similar before.

On the contrary, the second day was pretty packed. We started from the main adventure - Borobudur. Before heading to the temple, we decided to visit one of the Yogyakarta hills with an astonishing view of the temple - Punthuk Setumbu. It was quite a special experience to contemplate how completely pitch dark the horizon was uncovered by the morning Sun. It’s like a distant puppeteer slowly pulling down a theatrical curtain, and a viewer enjoys an exceptional masterpiece - a hilly, arched valley wrapped up by clouds like a giant blanket.

The attraction point of this still life was a gem of the area - Borobudur. Obviously, the place is a bit touristy. In the morning, there is a reasonable crowd (surprisingly, with plenty of Russian tourists), photo spots, and food places, but it really can’t shadow the beauty of the view.

After the observation deck, we went straight to the cherry on top of the Yogokarta’s pie - Borobudur. The temple is beautiful from both inside and outside. I really enjoy its appearance, architecture, and surroundings.

Also, I very much enjoyed the engraving of the temple walls - stories of the previous Buddha lives. The design is completely unique and intricate.

After the Borobudur temple, we had a little bit of sorrowful fun. We headed down to Gunung Merapi. You probably wonder why it’s fun. The place is far in the mountains, so there is a unique chance to ride 4x4s in the area. Why sorrow? The area has a village that has been affected by a nearby volcano eruption. The majority of the houses were destroyed, cattle burned alive by lava & volcanic ash, and people who hadn’t been able to run away. I enjoyed the 4x4 ride, but I still have an image of the ruined houses in my head.

Lastly, we visited another religious complex - Prambanan Temple and its vicinity. Surprisingly, it’s quite comparable to Borobudur, but not that famous. This complex is quite huge and, obviously, beautiful. Unfortunately, we were quite tired, so we didn’t have the energy to fully explore this place, but I would strongly recommend spending more time in this area.

The second day

On the second day, we decided to explore the city center and the imperial palace. Even though the city center was within walking distance from our hotel, we took a cab as the city streets aren’t tailored for pedestrians. After a short ride, we headed towards Taman Sari, a former royal garden of the Sultanate of Yogyakarta. The place is a little bit rundown, but there is some beauty in it.

In general, the city centre has a small, pedestrian area, so it’s quite fun walking around and enjoying the architecture. Each tourist attraction has a bunch of guides offering their services, and usually, I’m not a big fan of guided tours, but there was a second time when I didn’t regret joining the tour (the first one was a Machu Picchu). The guide brought us through the only locally known way across the district and showed us the ruins of one of the royal buildings, which was completely stunning.

Lastly, that day we decided to check out the emperor’s palace. The place is great but rather empty. It has plenty of interesting exhibits, but it doesn’t really feel holistic or complete. Because of that, we didn’t really spend too much time there and covered the place pretty quickly.

On the last day, we hadn’t done much but decided to check on the local batik craftsman. Our hired driver recommended a local master, so we went straight to his workshop. The place is rather unnoticeable, so I wouldn’t go there without a recommendation. The place’s name is Kabul Painting Gallery (Kabul is the artist’s name). During our visit, the place was rather empty, so the artist personally walked us through the gallery and showed us different batiks. Eventually, we picked a magnificent, colorful image of Borobudur:

Recent trips to Johor Bahru and Desaru Coast

Sat, 23 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

This summer my wife and I did two short trips to Malaysia. The first trip was in July, and it was a quick trip to Johor Bahru to test a newly opened train between Singapore and Malaysia. The second trip was to a small, local holiday destination called Desaru Coast.

Let me start with the short trip to Johor Bahru. There are multiple ways to go from Singapore to Malaysia: a bus, a plane, a boat, your own foot, a taxi, etc. And I tried the majority of them, but, unfortunately, I haven’t yet had a chance to try a train that runs between Singapore and Johor Bahru.

A while ago, both countries had a plan to build a highway between two major cities - Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. Unfortunately, the initiative failed, and the whole rail track in Singapore has been converted into a long (about 23 km), narrow park. However, the last mile of that railroad is still operational and connects Singapore and a nearby city from the Malaysian side - Johor Bahru. The ride is extremely short, about 5 minutes. But it’s very convenient as the train line has a dedicated custom line due to the train schedule. On a busy day, it may take up to 2 hours to cross the border, but for the train line, it’s no more than 30 minutes. Consequently, it is very difficult to get a train ticket.

But my wife can do impossible things, so she managed to purchase train tickets a few months in advance. On the trip day, we jumped in a cab about an hour before the train’s departure, and, as expected, managed to easily cross the border. It was an extremely pleasant experience as the waiting time was reduced to only half an hour. It’s a 5 minute ride on a train and we are in Malaysia.

Interestingly, one of the reasons for the train tickets deficit is a group of Malaysians, who are living in Johor Bahru, but working in Singapore. The cost of living in Johor Bahru times less than in Singapore. Consequently, there is a group of people, who are willing to sacrifice 2-4 hours of their life daily to save a significant amount of money on an apartment rental.

Once we crossed the border, we proceeded to the usual Singaporean routine in Malaysia: got a famous banana bread, had lunch in a nice, cosy, old eatery, and watched a movie. The time passed pretty quickly and we returned back home at about 8 pm. To conclude, it was a very nice half-day trip overseas.

The second trip was far more interesting. During my first drive to Malaysia, we visited a very lovely, local vocational area called “Desaru Coast”. The area has a nice, surf beach with a small cluster of different hotels. During that trip, we managed to eat breakfast in the Hard Rock Hotel, visit an ostrich farm, and note the place as worthy to explore further.

I always thought that hard rock was a genre of music associated with independence, loneliness, and individualism. It was quite a surprise for me to realize that the Hardrock Hotel is just a family hotel with a crowd of kids roaming around a lonely guitar in a breakfast hall. That was quite an ironical revelation.

For the subsequent visit, we decided to spend a bit more time in Malaysia. The last visit to the Desaru coast lasted only for half a day. This time we decided to extend our vacation for a long weekend. As per the original plan, on Thursday evening I picked up a rental car and in the afternoon we crossed the Malaysian border. Both my wife and I were working that day, thus we decided to spend our lunch moving to Malaysia during non-peak hours so we could continue working that day. That day the bridge between Singapore and Malaysia didn’t have heavy traffic, and we managed to cross the border in about two hours. After a swift dinner and a couple of night calls, we were done for the day.

On the next day, both of us still had to work half a day, thus I managed to squeeze in a meeting with my manager as well as some documentation work. After half of the work day, we left for the second most important attraction at Johor Bahru - Premium Outlet. Obviously, the first and the most important is Legoland*. Once we bought the necessary stuff for our new house, mainly bed sheets and towels, we moved toward our hotel at Desaru.

Personally speaking, I quite like the road to Desaru. It’s a relatively free highway, with a fair bit of amazing views, and no speed cameras. Usually, it takes about an hour to reach the Desaru Coast, so we arrived at the dot to check-in.

The hotel was amazing. It has a great, unblocked view of the ocean not only from the hotel lobby but also from the room. There are plenty of activities within the hotels such as night movies, BBQ, two types of restaurants, and two types of bars. It also has plenty of bikes to move around the hotel’s grounds. Lastly, the hotel has a great breakfast with a pretty good spread. It was quite a surprise when I met one of my ex-colleagues on one of the breakfasts.

The room was very spacious with a great balcony and bathroom. The staff provided us with a fruit platter and a cake due to our “anniversary”. That’s the usual trick that we abuse from time to time. Pretty frequently, the 4-5 star hotels have freebies for couples, who celebrate (e.g. create memories) with them. The cake was amazing, by the way.

On the other hand, I was quite disappointed with the number of attractions/activities on the Desaru Coast. There are three options: a golf course, an aqua park, and an Insta-worthy cafe. That’s it! Obviously, there are a couple of restaurants and bars in the other hotels, but there is nothing outside of the “hotel circle” that we didn’t visit.

The aqua park that weekend was very empty and I’m not a big fan of aqua parks. Also, I didn’t bring my golf clubs, so I didn’t have a chance to have a game on the golf course. Thus, I’ll share my findings on the Insta-worthy cafe.

I found this cafe accidentally by scrolling Google Maps, but the place very much deserves a small detour. It’s located south of the Desaru coast, I think in the abandoned dock. Firstly, the cafe is nice and cosy with an attractive interior painted in azure and white colours. In addition, the cafe has quite a pleasant, unblocked view of the Singapore Strait with plenty of oil tankers far away and a gas or oil refinery afar. I understand that not everyone enjoys industrial views, but for me, it’s a big plus. Lastly, the place had quite a versatile menu. I especially enjoyed a coffee in a pink cup that perfectly matched the Barbenheimer theme that was the main news topic at that time.

Unfortunately, we didn’t find anything else in Desaru, so the majority of the time was spent in the hotel. Fortunately, as I mentioned before, the hotel was gorgeous. I very much enjoyed both local and western restaurants, two giant swimming pools, friendly and attentive personnel, and, lastly, a long, non-crowded, strip of sandy beach. It was the first time I swam in the sea this year.

To conclude, I very much enjoyed the Desaru break, but I won’t be repeating it too often as there are not many things to do there. On the other hand, I’ll definitely return back to the place to enjoy its tranquillity.

*That’s the joke, the most important attraction is the shopping mall that is connected to the customs.

My trip to Guangzhou

Sat, 26 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Hi there!

The last time I travelled to China was 10 years ago in 2013. It was a rather interesting experience, but a few things were notable to me. Firstly, the very high pollution in Beijing. It was hard to breathe! In Beijing, I started to think that a face mask isn’t such a bad idea. Secondly, the issues with communications. It was quite challenging to navigate in the city environment. Lastly, the traffic was quite overwhelming. Thus, I was keen to see the transformation in China.

In addition, I realised that there are plenty of friends and acquaintances in Guangzhou. Firstly, my classmate from studies in Saint Petersburg. He is originally from Guangzhou but decided to pursue his studies in Russia. Since he graduated, we haven’t met. My Chinese teacher is also from Guangzhou, and I never saw her before in person. Lastly, one of my colleagues is also from Guangzhou. As my wife wasn’t able to travel with me, I’ve decided to pay a visit to this beautiful city.

Upon arrival, my university mate met me at the airport. It was great to see an old friend ten years after graduation. It was very exciting and thrilling to see a familiar face in a faraway land. I was a bit concerned about my friend’s Russian skills, but I was extremely surprised to realise that his skills have drastically improved.

After a little delay in the airport, Yikun and I went to the city to meet Kary, my Chinese teacher. It was a great meeting together. It was the first time I tried local Guangzhou food, which was delicious. In addition, the Chinese food in Guangzhou was completely different from what you can try in Singapore.

On the second day, I decided to spend some time exploring a few notable places located in my hotel’s vicinity. It includes a touristy, pedestrian street and an old ancestral hall near a park.

Firstly, I decided to take a stroll towards the pedestrian street. The walking distance was relatively short (about an hour), but it took me a while as I was exploring various places on the way to the final destination. In addition, it was extremely hot (even hotter than Singapore), thus I was quite exhausted once I reached the street. Unfortunately, it was quite a disappointment. The street was completely focused on tourists with a lot of consumer goods and various food stalls. The place was quite memorable for me as it was the first time I used WePay and it was a successful transaction.

Actually, it’s a separate story with WePay. Firstly, it’s extremely difficult to configure both WePay and AliPay if you are outside of China. I tried multiple times with various cards (both debit and credit), but all my attempts were unsuccessful. Luckily, Kary had a spare account, so I was able to borrow it for the duration of my trip. It’s still a mystery to me how non-Chinese citizens, i.e. tourists, can use QR-code payments.

After the pedestrian street, I moved towards the ancestral hall. It was a pretty short walk, and after a bit of struggle, I managed to get a ticket inside. The hall was relatively pretty, but I’ve seen quite a fair bit of Chinese temples and ancestral halls in different countries including Singapore. Thus, I wasn’t that much impressed. The real gems were hidden in a souvenir shop - a collection of Yixin teapots. Obviously, I can’t resist temptation and “adopted” one of the teapots.

Lastly, I decided to check out the nearby park. It was quite a short walk from the ancestral hall. At that point in time I was pretty tired and exhausted by the hot weather, so it was a bit difficult to enjoy the park’s beauty. In general, the park was lovely, but not exceptional. Only one thing caught my attention - the fully occupied sports ground. People of all ages were playing table tennis, basketball, doing tai chi, etc.

The same day I met up with my ex-colleague, whom I knew only virtually. It was a great pleasure to see him in person.

On Saturday, I spent the whole day with my Chinese teacher. Firstly, she introduced me to her niece and her son. Initially, I thought that the boy would be at least 18 or 20 years old, because Kary mentioned that he really should spend some time clearing up his schedule to meet me. It was a great surprise to me when I realised that the kid is only 12 years old. The kid was insanely focused on education by taking a huge amount of extra-curricular activities: english, maths, physics, baseball, etc. I was very happy to see somebody from the younger generation and chat with him about school, travelling around China, and Guangzhou sights. https://makarovalex-images.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/trips/2023/guangzhou-2023/carving.jpeg In addition to that, the restaurant food was delicious. It was a dim sum place. Surprisingly, the majority of the food has milk as a component, and I’m extremely missing good quality milk in Singapore. Why was I so surprised? Because Singapore has quite a decent percentage of lactose-intolerant people. Thus, the variety of milk-based products is quite limited here.

During the second part of the day, we visited an excavation site and Guangzhou’s central business district. Unfortunately, my knowledge of Chinese history is still quite limited. Therefore, it was quite difficult for me to truly appreciate various excavation layers.

However, I was very interested in the central business district. Singapore’s central business district is undoubtedly famous across the Globe. Hence, it was quite interesting for me to compare the two districts. Surprisingly, I found out that the Guangzhou central business district is very much comparable to Singapore’s. With Skyscrapers everywhere, and quite a lot of futuristic-looking buildings with a jewel in the centre - Guangzhou Tower.

Lastly, that night Kary’s friends and I went for an incredibly delicious dinner followed by drinks in the central business district. Obviously, the city was completely transformed at night. Scrappers were lit up and rooftop bars opened up their doors. We had a reservation at one of the bars with an outstanding view of the city.

The last day was quite lazy. In the morning, I decided not to leave the hotel till late morning. After brunch, I spent some time walking around the quay side, enjoying the light breeze from the river.

In the evening, I met with my friend who brought me to a local eatery and treated me to a local, herbal tea. In the end, I made an attempt to enter the Guangzhou Tower, but it was pointless due to the overwhelming number of people.

To conclude, the trip was fantastic because of my friends and the hospitality of local people. I will definitely return to China. Hopefully, the next destination is Guilin.

To complete the writeup, I’m going to add a few disjointed personal observations:

I was hugely surprised to see people from Africa on the streets of Guangzhou. My friend explained to me that they are exporting clothes and textiles from China to Africa.
I was overwhelmingly pleased by the hospitality of the people. Everybody was overly welcoming and helpful.
The city is hot and humid. That’s another dimension in which Guangzhou can compete with Singapore.
The huge number of e-vehicle. It’s easy to deffirintiate e-vechincal vs conventional. The green car plate means e-vechincle, red - conventional.
It’s far more common to see people using umbrellas as sun protection.

Stay tuned!

Bookshelf Q2 2022

Thu, 14 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Hi there!

This post is about books that I read in the first quarter of 2022.

Mastering Blockchain: Unlocking the Power of Cryptocurrencies, Smart Contracts, and Decentralized Applications

The book should truly be called an “Introduction into Blockchain” as it covers a lot of topics, but the book lacks depth. The book describes the fundamental concepts with a bit of history. It begins with a brief introduction into Bitcoin history followed by a detailed description of how the Bitcoin blockchain works. In the next chapter, the author talks about “Blockchain 2.0”, where he mainly covers Etherium with a set of coins that are built on top of the Ethereum blockchain. Closer to the end of the book, the author talks about new developments in blockchain worlds such as stablecoins, other types of blockchains, and about ways regulators approach this new phenomena.

As I mentioned in the first sentence, the book feels like a whirlwind tour. It covers everything and, at the same time, nothing. I would recommend it to somebody who is completely new to the blockchain world, but who is keen to have a broad introduction into the brave new world of crypto coins.

Link

Dune Messiah

I’m a big fan of the original “Dune” book that I read a while ago. After watching Dune by Denis Villeneuve in 2021, I decided it was a good time to move forward to the second book, which is “Dune Messiah”. The book is talking about the period of time after Paul Atreides defeated the Emperor and seized power. It’s interesting to read how Frank Herbert managed to explain how the new ruler managed to maintain power in the long term. Paul’s empire is controlled and driven by a new religious cult that worships him as a new God. The emperor started the Great Gihad to spread “the word” across a thousand worlds that lead to the death of 61 billion people.

As expected, there is lots of politics, intrigue, and treachery, but, compared to the original book, there is not as much action. The main scene for the book is Arrakis undergoing transformation from the desert to an oasis. The three main powers - Bene Gesserit, Spacing Guild, and Tleilax are united to get back their original places.There is a lot of dialogue among the main characters in an attempt to overthrow the new Emperor.

To conclude, I would highly recommend the book to somebody who would like to take a deep dive into the world of intrigue or for true fans of the original “Dune”.

Link

Quantum magician

I think this book is the discovery of the year for me, even though only half a year has passed. I fell in love with the book only after a few short chapters. The book shares a story about a person, who represents a new, genetically modified type of human. The author called them Homo Quantum for their ability to comprehend a world on a quantum scale. The majority of the Homo Quantum is based on a small asteroid, which is designed as a facility to study the Universe. The main character, Belisarius Arjona, is an outcast. Instead of dedicating his life to a noble goal of comprehending the Universe, and, particularly, studying the structure of black holes, he chose the life of a con man.

The main story is about the greatest con in Belisarius’ life with an outstanding reward. An exceptional job requires an exceptional plan and an exceptional team. Thus, a decent part of the book tells us how the main character assembles his team and develops a plan. During the story, the author unveils the complexity of the book’s Universe with entangled relationships among various nations, races, and corporations.

I would strongly recommend the book to everyone who likes high-grade science fiction on a cosmo opera scale. The last book that gave me a similar impression was “Hyperion” by Dan Simons. “Quantum Magician” is only the first book of a trilogy about Belisarius, so expect at least two more reviews from me about this world.

Link

Stay tuned!

What you shouldn’t outsource?

Thu, 30 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Hi there!

These days it’s quite common for big enterprises whose core business isn’t IT to outsource their work to third-party providers. Here lies their main mistake - misunderstanding of competencies that are “outsourceable”. The enterprise’s managers frequently forget that any modern business is an IT business. Consequently, you have to keep core IT competencies on the company side. Otherwise, the huge dependency on a third-party provider will be created.

I’ve seen and heard many stories on how a project has failed due to lack of vision, lack of competencies, lack of resources, etc (I’m pretty sure you have your own story of a project failure, I’ll be happy to hear it). Consequently, I truly believe that there are four areas where you must have a core competency in your company to deliver a successful IT product: user research, API contracts, solution architecture, and data modelling. I truly believe that certain areas of IT such as coding, high fidelity mockups, quality assurance, project management have been heavily commoditized. Thus, it will be possible for you to find a reasonable replacement for a particular function. On the other hand, if you have no clear vision of your product architecture or you can’t answer who your users are, your project is doomed.

Let me deep dive into each area and explain my thoughts.

User research

It’s difficult to overestimate user research. You have to know who is going to use your product. Can you define personas and user journeys? Can you link your deliverables to user needs? If you answer “no” to any of the above questions then you have to revise your product development model.

If you don’t understand who will be your final user, why are you building the project in the first place? You have to spend some time with your management team to identify the correct personas, user stories, benefit hypotheses, etc. Once you gather the required information, you have the fundamentals to start working on a project.

API contracts

The second important area is API contracts. Firstly, what is an API? To put it simply, it’s a way computer programs interact with each other. I believe that the majority of readers are IT-savvy people, so I won’t spend time explaining what API is, but if you are keen to see a very clear explanation here is a splendid video that explains this concept extremely well.

What types of APIs are usually available in the information systems? In a nutshell, there are two types of APIs: internal and external (or public). Which one is the most important? A lot of people would say that the external APIs are the most important, and to an extent they’ll be right about this. On the other side, I would argue that a clear definition of internal APIs is critical. Let’s talk about each type of API separately.

The public API is the front door to your application. Your public API defines how the final user interacts with your application. If you won’t think your API through and don’t provide good documentation, your client’s user experience will suffer. And if the client suffers, your business will suffer too.

The private API is important as it defines a level of coupling in your system. If you have a high coupling in the system, one mistake can cause a snow crash effect. Your IT system will fall like a set of dominos. In addition, the poorly defined private API directly affects developer’s productivity.

Architecture

The next crucially important thing is your solution architecture. What do I mean by solution architecture? It’s everything you need to create your application: information architecture, infrastructure architecture, application architecture etc. In short, the solution architecture is a map of your application development. How detailed should it be? Should it describe each and every path or high level details? These are questions for you to answer.

Is it possible to successfully run a project without a well-defined architect? Obviously, yes. But is it possible to sustain a project’s expansion and development over time without architecture? I doubt it.

Data Modelling

The title of a famous book by Niklaus Wirth, who is one of computer science pioneers, is “Algorithm + Data structure = Program”. The data model, which is a modern “data structure”, is almost half of your information system. It’s impossible to underestimate the importance of the data model in an early stage of the software development, when you “just need to store it somewhere”. But at a certain point of time you might have a lot of “data model intensive” requests related to audit, compliance, complex reporting, etc. Does your data model support it by design? If the answer is “no” you should be prepared for a complex, error-prone, and costly refactoring. Thus, I always think it’s a good idea to spend time during your planning phases to accurately design your data model to avoid potential issues in the future.

The above four items don’t form an exhaustive list, but I would argue if you are building a relatively complex application, you will not want to let go of control of the above areas.

Do you think differently? Please, feel free to comment or drop me a message, I’m always happy to have a nice conversation!

Stay tuned!

How SMEs can leverage public data to make business decisions?

Thu, 02 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Hi there!

Recently, a friend of mine was complaining to me that his business has reached a saturation point in Singapore, and he simply doesn’t have a space to expand his venture. I decided to conduct a small amount of research to find out if his business has exhausted all available growth points.

Firstly, let’s try to understand the nature of my friend’s business. He shared a few important facts about his venture:

Due to technical requirements, his business can only be conducted in shopping malls
The target audience are middle-age adults, young adults, and secondary school kids
The business has a seasonality factor (which isn’t important for the current exercise)
Lastly, moderate foot traffic (footfall) is required to have a decent return

To understand, if my friend’s business has a room for growth, I’ve decided to establish how many shopping malls Singapore has. I picked a well known website as a reliable resource - Wikipedia. It has quite a comprehensive list of Singapore’s shopping malls. I was shocked - Singapore has more than 100 malls!

The next step was quite straightforward - I requested that my friend share the locations of his points of sales (about 25 locations). Then I simply plotted both sets of data on google maps (blue labels - shopping malls, red labels - my friend’s sales points):

I think it’s quite straightforward to see that my friend’s business has a big potential for growth. There is an important caveat. Even though Singapore has a lot of shopping malls, many of them are old or outdated. They aren’t popular among young adults or school kids. Thus, it’s required to find a way to sort out suitable malls. In addition, my friend developed certain areas of Singapore pretty well, e.g. there is not much room for improvement within the city center.

To narrow down the search criteria, I’ve decided to do two things:

Sort out shopping malls based on google reviews. My hypothesis is if a mall’s rating is higher than 4 it could be considered a “good mall”
Try to create a population density map of Singapore to see if there is an under or over presence of sales points in certain regions

It was quite straightforward to get a malls’ ratings simply through the google search. On the other hand, I was faced with couple of difficulties during my work on the density map.

Before starting the work on the density map, I decided to conduct a small amount of research to understand how people visualize density levels. Pretty quickly, I managed to realize that the perfect way to visualize Singapore’s population density is a choropleth map.

In just a half an hour, I was able to find a magnificent guide for beginners on how to build a choropleth map from scratch. The article guides you through an approach to utilize a few popular python libraries such as pandas, numpy, and matplotlib to create a choropleth map of cities in Indonesia per province.

Once I realized that it’s quite straightforward to produce a choropleth map, I decided to park this activity and look for data for visualization. In short, I needed to find a piece of information on Singapore’s regions and the population density per region. Likely, the amazing website singstat.gov.sg, maintained by the Singapore Department of Statistics, helped me out one more time (that’s my first research on rental prices in Singapore). Firstly, the website has a link to Singapore’s master plan - the country development strategy for the next 40 years. The master plan is developed based on a country’s territorial division, which looks as follows:

The territorial division part is exactly what I needed for a visualization.

The second source of information is Singapore Census of Population 2020. The report has comprehensive analytics on Singapore’s population dynamics including population distribution per each geographical district including age distribution. That’s exactly what I needed! At this point in time I had everything that I needed to produce a density map.

Definitely, I wasn’t able to join data set immediately. There is always something wrong: extra characters, non-ASCII characters, inconsistent naming, etc But after a little bit of struggle, I’ve managed to produce a pretty decent density map:

If you aren’t aware of Singapore’s geography, you may be wondering why certain areas are completely uninhabited. The bottom left part of the city-state is occupied by the major industrial area together with Singapore’s port. That was the main engine of Singapore’s economy in the last century. The top right area is dedicated to a couple of natural reserves. Two patches in the city center are a military base and natural reserve. Lastly, the huge empty area on the right is Changi, an amazing airport in Singapore.

Once the density map was ready, I placed the same territorial divisions on a previous map with shopping malls and sales points. Thus, now it’s possible to compare both maps!

At this stage, the research was almost completed. The last step is to combine available data points! Once I had combined these data points, a few observations arose:

There are a few important, highly dense areas, where my friend is lacking of sales points such as Jurong West, Woodlands.
There are quite a few areas that are over-saturated with sales points such as Rochor.

Once I had gotten my hands on the above facts, I got a list of shopping malls per each area sorted based on google reviews. My friend and I, based on sales data, proved that there is a positive correlation between positive reviews and good sales. Based on that information, I managed to prepare a list of shopping malls that might have sales potential.

Is it possible to go further and beyond to improve the research? Definitely! There are quite a few improvements that can be applied:

The Singapore Census of Population has information about age distribution. Consequently, it was possible to apply age filtering to get cleaner results.
It was possible to represent all data points on the same map, but I was too lazy to do such processing.

Stay tuned!

Bookshelf Q1 2022

Thu, 14 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Hi there!

This post is about books that I read in the first quarter of 2022.

This is the first article of a series that I’m going to make permanent.

Real-World Cryptography

When I tried to understand how cryptography (and cybersecurity) on the web works, I was surprised how many engineers (!) know very little about the topic. It’s hard to underestimate the importance of cryptography in the modern world. It’s everywhere: your e-mail, bank transactions, or cryptocurrencies. But the cryptography remains a field studied by few. In addition, there are a lot of fallacies about crypto algorithms. Let’s say people still believe that an SSL certificate is a thing that you should trust, even though it easy to get one.

In addition, there are very few books that are a balance between complex math (Galois field, isomorphism, Euler’s theorem, etc) and real-world usage. In addition, every book about cryptography that I have read before is talks about the history of cryptography. The history section is quite entertaining, but completely useless because none of the historical algorithms can ever be used in modern life. To conclude, “Real-World cryptography” has only actual information that is useful in the real-world and everyday life.

To summarize, if you would like to get real-life knowledge and understanding of modern cryptography techniques then “Real-World Cryptography” is a brilliant book. I think every IT professional will benefit from this book.

Link

The Fall and Rise of China

The book starts with the famous words of Napoleon about China “Let China Sleep, For When She Wakes, She Will Shake The World”. The country that a few decades ago had never been considered a World Power. But in the most recent decade, nobody could refuse the fact that China is one of the global superpowers. The book covers the relatively modern part of the country’s history - from the 18th century to the modern days.

Would you like to understand why Hong Kong belonged to British Empire for a century? Why Taiwan is separate from mainland China? What happened in Tiananmen Square? Then this book is definitely for you. Richard Baum, the book’s author, is a USA ex-china watcher (pekinologist) who had a unique opportunity to contemplate the formation of the country’s development from a third-world country to a first world country.

Obviously, you should be a little bit skeptical about his views due to the current ideological tension between USA and China. On the other side, the author is trying to be balanced in his opinions to avoid picking sides.

To conclude, if you are looking for a decent book about a modern piece of Chinese history, I would recommend this book to read.

Link

The chronicles of Amber

“The Chronicles of Amber” is an unperishable classic of fantasy literature. I have a hypothesis that many modern books are influenced by the chronicles like the game of the thrones or the series “Keeper of the Swords” by Nick Perumov. Why do I believe this? The chronicles have a lot of unique features that have been borrowed by other authors: a deep and complex political game between members of the royal family of Amber, a rich storyline that is heavily based on traditional British mythology (the legend about King Arthur, stories about Avalon, etc), and, lastly, a unique concept of the multiverse where each world is a projection of one true place.

If you like a well-built fantasy that is full of intrigue, violence, and politics then “The chronicles of Amber” is the right choice.

Link

Stay tuned!

Why majority of cloud certificates are useless?

Tue, 18 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Hi there!

Last year I managed to pass three professional certifications: “AWS Certified Solution Architect - Professional”, “Certified Kubernetes Administrator” (CKA), and “Terraform Associate”. I realized that the majority of exams test your knowledge via multiple-choice questions (MCQs). This is fundamentally wrong and below I’ll explain why.

What is the point of passing a certification? Generally speaking, there are two main reasons: enhance and structure your knowledge in a particular area, and get solid proof of your knowledge on a certain topic. However, during my preparation, I realized that the first part isn’t necessary. It’s possible to pass an exam with quite basic preparation, and without any practical experience. Why is this possible? Because of the MCQ nature of an exam.

Let me walk you through my personal experience first. In the beginning, I’ll be talking about the famous AWS Certified Solution Architect - Professional. The exam has been designed to be tough, and it’s tough. What is the exam supposed to test? Obviously, examinee’s knowledge and skill as an architect. Firstly, I was a little bit surprised that the solution architect exam lacks the kind of questions that include architecture diagrams as a part of the question. Diagrams are an essential part of an architect’s toolkit that is used on a day-to-day basis, but I haven’t even had a single question that includes any diagrams. Secondly, it’s a bit peculiar for me that an architects’ knowledge is tested via MCQs under time constraints. How often do you need to make an important architectural decision in 3 minutes? Is it necessary to test if an architect is capable of picking a proper tool under heavy time constraints? Usually, to make an architecture decision, it’s necessary to spend a few days thoroughly analyzing requirements, cherry-picking the right tools to solve the problem, and discussing it with colleagues and stakeholders. Does the exam test your knowledge as an architect? I don’t think so.

The second test that surprised me even more was the “Terraform Associate” paper by Hashi Corps. An exam supposes to test my knowledge of terraform, so why not ask me to write or to debug some terraform code? However Hashi Corp has decided to bombard the examinee with another set of MCQs! The interesting point here is that an exam is quite straightforward (that’s an associate exam overall), so it’s even possible to pass the test without any practical experience with the tool.

Lastly, I have a few words about the CKA exam, which is closest, from my point of view to a perfect test of actual knowledge. Firstly, it’s a truly practical exam. You’ll be given an actual cluster where you are supposed to perform a set of tasks. Secondly, tested tasks represent problems that you’ll be facing in the real world: debugging a wrongly configured cluster, deploying a new workload on a cluster, and fixing existing deployments. Even though the exam is quite challenging, you don’t feel pressured for time. It’s possible to complete an exam in around an hour or so if you have practical knowledge. I truly enjoyed the CKA exam.

Also, I would like to say a few words about these exams in general. What else is wrong with MCQ? Usually, there is a pretty straightforward strategy to eliminate one or two answers. This strategy taught almost at any course, and it also completely irrelevant to to the tested area. What’s the point of testing student’s ability to eliminate 2 wrong answers out of 4? If examinee can master “the path of elimination”, he will already have 50% probability to answer the question correctly.

There is only one good thing about cloud certification. The time that you’ve spent preparing for the topic. It heavily depends on the course that you’ve selected. I’ve seen quite a lot of courses that train you for an exam, but not for real-life problems. Likely, I’ve picked the right course from Adrian Cantrill that helped me to master certain gaps in my knowledge.

The IT industry is rapidly changing. New technologies are raising, and old ones are dying. Only certification exams aren’t yet evolved. Almost 15 years ago, I was going through the Sun certification program for Java developers. Unsurprisingly, the exam consisted of a set of MCQs. Many other companies have employed the same approach (and I’m pretty sure Sun wasn’t the first), thus the majority of the tests are pretty miserable right now.

How can the certification process be improved? Partially, I’ve answered the question above. Firstly, a practical part should be introduced where it’s applicable. Why should I answer MCSs if I can prove my skills in real life, i.e. by fixing a problem in real code? Secondly, appropriate questions have to be used, i.e. MCQs aren’t a panacea. Therefore, the bottom line is that an exam has to be as close to real-life as possible.

To conclude, I think the majority of MCQ-based exams are useless, and it makes no sense to force your staff to get another badge. The certification process looks like a cargo cult for me. If your organization forces employees to go through the certification process, it’s a good time to question the vision and the validity of the cloud leader’s strategy (if the strategy even exists).

Do you think professional certifications should change or am I wrong? I will be very happy to hear your thoughts on the topic.

How to build and host a static website in one weekend?

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Hi there!

Is it possible to build a personal website in one weekend? Short answer: yes. As my first post to kick it all off, I thought it would be great to deep dive on this topic. There are a lot of related posts out there, but most were vague at best and overlooked the less popular but important bits. Let’s firstly discuss on why should you build your website.

My reasons for a personal website

Here are the highlights:

I have always wanted to pen my thoughts and share my knowledge, and a personal blog is the perfect platform to do so.
English isn’t my native, so translating my thoughts is also the perfect way to improve my writing and storytelling skills.
There is no limitation, censorship, or other boundaries on a personal page. A red-tape free zone where anything goes!

A pure static website

Let’s get down to business. I’ve decided to go with the most basic and lean solution - a static website. Why so? Firstly, it’s easy, cheap, and perfectly fulfils the most basic needs. Secondly, static websites are well indexed by search engines. Lastly, it’s quick and painless - I’ve only spent a couple of hours building and hosting the website. Once I understood that a complex solution is not required, I searched for the perfect fit. The criteria was pretty simple:

It should be a quick way to start with content creation – no time should be wasted configuring some cumbersome CMS
A static website is cheap and an easy way to host a solution. Not necessary to spin up any complex infrastructure.
Well-known formatting language, preferably markdown

There are many articles about what engine to choose for a static website, e.g. techradar or review of top-5 static site generators. I read up on a couple of articles and quickly made my decision – I swiped right on Hugo.

The next important decision is how to host the website. The answer was obvious - AWS S3 Static website hosting. There are tons of online guides about how to configure static website hosting on S3, and I’ve relied on aws official guideline. That was a straightforward step, and I was able to access the website via the S3 website endpoint.

DNS Delegation

Lastly, it’s required to move your domain DNS under Route 53 management. This was a tiny challenge from GoDaddy. I started with the creation of a public-hosted zone for my domain. A newly created hosted zone has NS records with 4 DNS servers, that supposed to be populated on the GoDaddy console to delegate domain management to Route 53. I updated records set per official gulde lines. Waited for 2 days… And nothing. Then I tried again. And zero, zip, zilch, nada!

Thus, I delved into the Humankind’s most sacred knowledge source – StackOverflow. No surprises, there were tons of similar issues, and the root cause of the problem is GoDaddy’s care of end-users - they’ve locked changes for DNS for only ‘experienced users’. Thus, I should have consciously enabled it. Fine, I did it.

Once I was able to delegate DNS management to Route 53, I was able to configure two ‘A’ records to resolve my domain name S3 stored website.

Important Note

If you are using other services from GoDaddy, e.g. their SMTP for a mailbox on your domain, don’t forget to copy (or export/import) other DNS records

SSL Certificate installation with CloudFront

The last step of the process is the installation of an SSL certificate. I wasn’t keen to introduce a compute level, thus I leveraged CloudFront for encryption. To issue a certificate, I decided to use Let’s encrypt which is a pretty famous certificate authority (CA). The main advantage of Let’s Encrypt is that their certificates are free, and it’s not required to pay extra to AWS. But there is a small caveat - any Let’s Encrypt certificate is only valid for three months. So the certificate has to be re-issued and re-deployed every three months, but this should be an easy task to automate.

There is a brilliant instruction on how to issue a certificate through certbot (a Let’s Encrypt tool to work with certificates) and to install it in your CloudFront distribution.

Important Note

If you followed the above notes, you should be able to disable bucket policy during certbot execution. I achieved it by the most common IT technique – copy/pasting the policy. Down the road, I’m going to modify the policy and set up a GitHub action to renew the certificate.

There is a couple of minor caveats missing in the above guide about the configuration of CloudFront distribution:

Alternate domain name (CNAME) should be specified for your CloudFront distribution
Custom SSL certificate has to be selected (it will be available in the drop-down menu)
Default root object has to be specified as index.html

Once you’ve completed the above steps, it’s time for a cup of coffee or beer – whatever floats your boat – because it will take from five to thirty minutes for CloudFront to deploy your website to edge locations around the World. Once the distribution has been deployed, I tested the website and realized that links were broken. One more step was required.

Additional configuration for Hugo to fix broken links

II realised that I’m not the only person puzzled by this unexpected behavior. The root cause of the problem is pretty straightforward - Hugo does not add ‘index.html’ (a direct reference to a page) at the end of the URL. There are multiple ways to solve this issue such as redirect rule on S3, redirect via web server, or Lambda Edge.

I decided to have a look at the issue from an application point of view. After a quick investigation, I realized that a few people faced with a similar problem. This article has a pretty detailed explanation on how to configure your static distribution to fix the above issue.

I quickly applied the above configuration locally and deployed it in AWS. Surprisingly, the issue still was there. But I quickly realized that I had yet to update the CloudFront cache. After cache invalidation, the website was up and running without any issues.

Future improvements

It’s not a complete solution, but it’s a start. Down the road, I’m going to introduce a few minor items:

Setup GitHub actions to renew the certificate (I’m about to use Let’s encrypt for that)
Automate my manual process of uploading updated files into the S3 bucket, i.e. update a website on ‘git push’.
Allow bucket access through CloudFront only, i.e. configure OAI properly.

Stay tuned!