Time Out Hostel/Hotel in Vienna, Austria

I have bucket load of negativity when I book this place.
Not sure why though.
But when I arrive, it was the perfect location.
Except for one thing. 

We took the train from Salzburg (I think) and we figure out that we can walk from the train station to our hostel, as usual the European (locals) says it is just a 15 mins walk which normally translated to 30-45 mins walk for us Asian. Ahaks. Perhaps that we feast our eyes and got distracted a couple of times while searching for the hostel.

Once you locate the hostel, you'll realised it is very easy and convenient but looking for it the first time was hell, kid you not! I threw tantrum which is very rare when I travel. So I thought perhaps I can share some tips on how to get to this place.

#TravelTips 1 : As you arrive Wien Westbahnhof (Vienna West station), you have 2 choice, either you walk which takes 30 mins at max (depending on speed) or take the metro which is about 2 stops only.

If you choose to walk...
You proceed to Mariahilfer Straße or Mariahilfer Strasse (Street) until you see Neubaugasse Metro Station exit U3 (mind you that there are many exit point for Neubaugasse Station). Proceed to walk further down till you see United Colors of Benetton (UCB) on your right and McDonald on your left. Turn right at the UCB junction, the Time Out City Hotel is at the first corner.

If you choose to take the train...
Take the train from Wien Westbahnhof (Vienna West station) and stop at Neubaugasse Metro Station exit U3 and walk further down till you see UCB on your right and McDonald on your left. Turn right at the UCB junction, the Time Out City Hotel is at the first corner.

#TravelTips 2 : The walk from Neubaugasse Metro Station exit U3 at takes approximately 5 mins or 100m or so. Once you see the above UCB on your right, you are on the right track.

#TravelTips 3 : There are many restaurants, shops, supermarket, boutiques along this street, superbly convenient.

You is how the building looks like from outside. Very safe surrounding (but we did hear a Friday night drunkard at mid night from our room, hehheheheeee...).

 The registration counter is very small and simple.

The room we got doesn't have an attach bathroom as those with was already full (sob sob). Other than that, everything was great and most importantly - clean.

A 5-7 mins walk from the hostel will take you to MuseumsQuartier and from there you can practically walk almost everywhere. Give yourself 1 full day to walk around town, you can definitely cover the old city on foot.

#TravelTips 4 : It is really cost effective to stay here or around this area as you can walk almost everywhere and grocery/supermarket/restaurants is 2 mins away.

#TravelTips5 : If you plan to cover only the city, allocate 3 days for a leisure stroll with some museum hunting session and perhaps some souvenir shopping. Else, 2 full days would be enough.

Remember earlier on I said that there is one thing bad about this place? They were doing some road construction on the whole main street and some of the smaller lane, I bet by now everything should be A-OK *smile*.

Have a fun in Vienna!

Fajar DiBukhara (Book Signing)

I am proud of my friend.
I am privileged to know you.

It said that this is a very unique story to tell, not just about the book but the writer herself, Marini Mat Zain. The book was inspired by the script she wrote for a TV drama and later was requested to be turned into a novel. As the trend nowadays is that most TV drama or movie is a spin-off from a popular book makes #FajarDiBukhara a very unique journey to this talented novelist as it the other way around. This itself shows the strength of the drama series which will be aired during the month of Ramadhan, the 26 episodes take viewers to Uzbekistan where 80% of this drama series were film at.

Novelist Marini has always dreamt of becoming a writer, started her career in magazines later stylist, editor, script writer and now novelist, she has gone far, further than she even dreamt of. Devoted to her passion, Marini pour her heart and soul to produce this beautiful script where nothing eludes her writing and everything heartfelt detail was taken into account.

Teaming up with Zizan Nin, Actor and also the Executive Producer for Fajar DiBukhara, this is one series that is not to be missed.

Courtesy of YouTube.

All the best Marini, and hope more drama, movies and novel to come.
Believe in yourself.

** Lepas ni cerita travelerlah pulak, make sure I ada dalam cerita. Hahhahahhaa....

*** I will make sure my trip to Uzbekistan materialise *smile* 

I found my Wolverine in Ranua Zoo, an Arctic Zoo (Part 2)

Previous entry :
Ranua Zoo, an Arctic Zoo of the Lapland (Part 1)

There are 2 things I was looking for aside from those mentioned in my earlier entry, which is.... jeng jeng jeng... Polar Bear and Wolverine!

Before I start, you guys need to know this facts about Rania Zoo (bangga okay I dapat pergi)

Ranua Wildlife Park (Finnish: Ranuan eläinpuisto, better known as Ranua Zoo) is a zoo that opened in 1983 in the municipality of Ranua, Lapland, Finland. It is the northernmost zoo in the world. The zoo's animals consist of approximately 50 wild animal species and 200 individuals, including top predators such as lynx, brown bears and wolves but also European moose and deers. The zoo has Finland's only polar bears in artificial snow. The Ranua Wildlife Park is an accredited member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA).

From Wikipedia

My first thought (and always) is that polar bear are chubby, fluffy, friendly and of course cute. Boy, was I wrong about this, they were nothing like what I imagined. What they actually are flabby, not snow white and fierce, oh! they are also a carnivore. You heard me alright, which means..... they can eat us. And do you know that in Svalbard, there are more polar bear than us human? I am so not going there man.... that's like suicidal. Full respect to Azuan Zahri as he and his lovely wife are brave enough to step foot on Svalbard, wanna know more? Visit his blog HERE.

Polar Bear 
Polar bears are the largest land carnivores in the world, rivaled only by the Kodiak brown bears of southwestern Alaska. Polar bears sit at the top of the food chain in the biologically rich Arctic. The most carnivorous of the bear species, polar bears feed primarily on the fat of ice-dependent seals. The remains of these seals provide food for many other Arctic wildlife species, giving polar bears a vital role in their ecosystem.

Scary much now?

Aaahhh... I was pratically hopping when I saw this sign. I have never seen a wolverine live and this is my greatest opportunity, not that I have seen the other Wolverine live either (Hugh Jackman), hahhahahaaa....

Yes, This. Is. Wolverine.

Nothing. Like. Saber tooth. Nothing!

With a name like wolverine, my expectation was wolf with toughness and meanness, like The Wolverine from X-Men. I was so wrong. They were so cute running around playfully that now I have no respect for the wolverine character. Dang!!!

You know what happened? 

While I was trying to get the wolverine to look up (of which I fail successfully with flying colours!), not sure how to "address" it, we start calling "Hugh Jackman! Hugh Jackman" which made the visitors behind us chuckled. Sure dia kata budak-budak Malaysia nih merapu. Hahahahahhaaa... Truthfully, they were fully entertained by us. Keh keh keh....

Other animals at the Ranua Zoo is those animals your kinda expected, plenty of all deer species.

This is one animal that I did not expect to see nor have any expectation at all and I fell in love the first time I laid my eyes on this beautiful, regal, sleekest creature. Of all the white arctic animals I saw during my trip here, Arctic Fox is the most beautiful one in my eyes.

I was quite lucky as there is also a mini/little Igloo Bar in Ranua Zoo, hence we do not spend any additional dollars to experience 'lepaking' in an Igloo Bar, How untung is that!

And you know what else is untung to visit this place?

Ahhhh.... Make sure you read my next entry *wink*

Taiping Heritage Trail Launch, 2015 (#JejakWarisanTaiping)

Recognising Taiping's wondrous heritage of the famous 33 first, the town is now officially announce its much awaited Taiping Heritage Trail. Launched by the Taiping Municipal Council, Datuk Dr Muhammad Amin Zakaria, representing Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir on April 10 said that with this great initiative by Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) and the Taiping Municipal Council, this RM2.9mil project cost is able to promote and preserve heritage and tourism. 

Being the oldest zoo in Taiping, it has been identified as one of the 33 attractions included in the Taiping Heritage Trail thus it will be given an extensive upgrade. The 11.2km route takes visitor reminisce our past through St George Institution, Old Kota Mosque, Perak Museum Fort Carnavon, Taiping train station, the First Galleria, Taiping Land and Mines Office and Lake Gardens among others. The Taiping Heritage Trail project costs RM2.5 mil is part of the Greater Kamunting Conurbation, 

Taiping will be promoting environment-friendly electric bus which operates on rechargeable batteries on the 40 minutes route thanks to the great collaboration between NCIA and the Japan International Cooperation Agency. The electric bus can accommodate up to 25 passengers and can travel for 25km per journey.

A #DiscoverPerak Media Fam Trip in collaboration with #GayaTravel