Red and White Sand Dunes of Mui Ne, Vietnam

THIS is it!
THIS was why I picked Vietnam.
THIS was why I decided on Mui Ne.

Wouldn't you?

The Red Sand Dunes

Overlooking the blue Mui Ne sea certainly gives this red sand dunes a breathtaking feeling, shops with hammock selling icy cold drinks was an advantage to tourist like me who can't bare the hot afternoon sun. The main activity here is sledding and you'll see kids renting their sled from the parking lot right till the sand dunes top, calling and attracting us tourist. Despite our initially thought of wanting to help these kids to earn an extra living, they are, however, smarter than any of us when it comes to negotiating and persuading (and conning). Don't be fooled.

For one to get a cool, long and high speed slide down, one need to climb higher and where I say climb, I mean really climb. High, tough, tiring climb. One thing for sure, the view up there is awesome even if you don't intend to sled.

And the annoying part is, whatever goes down, must come up. And no one enjoyed this part.

Tips
Negotiate the lowest most you can
The kids will insist you tip them highly after the sledding
The kids can be obnoxious when persuading you to tip them
Sunblock and hat a must
Protect your phone and cameras from sand
Wear slippers (I hate it when sand gets in my shoes)

PS : Budak-budak tu akan tolong you naik bukit lepas tu insist you tips diarang tinggi, then marah-marah, bahasa pun agak kasar.


The White Sand Dunes

This is one of the famous view if you are in Mui Ne and we managed to capture it.

Our next stop was the white sand dunes and to our joy, they offer ATV ride here and like a kid we jump to the opportunity. ATV ride at the sand dunes makes me feel like an adventurer in a making; Indiana Jones! Where's my whip?

The ride is not as challenging as those I've experienced (jungle) before, yet the instructor drove us, perhaps worried that we might hijack his ATV? Hahhahahha... My expectation is that the instructor will ride at a high speed, then break and skid (drift) while cornering (Yeah, I watched too many movies)... Dream on Lily! That will never happen. Never. Having said that, the climb up the sand dunes was thrilling and we even chased the cattle with the ATV. That was the coolest experience ever!

This was the reason why the instructor don't trust us. This ATV belongs to Andrea and Jard (siapa yang berat nih?).

The climb.

One of their worries, we might drove the ATV down the lake. Ahaks.

When traveling, company is important.

Tips
Get a fun instructor who will chase cattle with you
Get an instructor that will go the extra mile and take you wondering around the area
Sunblock and hat a must
Protect your phone and cameras from sand
Shoe is preferred (safety reason)

Teaser | Mui Ne, Vietnam

Mũi Né is a coastal resort town in the Binh Thuan Province of southeastern Vietnam. The town is close to the city of Phan Thiết. Tourism has transformed Mui Ne into a resort destination since 1995, when many visited to view the total solar eclipse of October 24, 1995. Mui Ne has many resorts on the beach, as well as restaurants, bars and cafes. Mui Ne is a popular destination for Russian tourists, and many of the restaurants and resorts are Russian-owned.

Mui Ne Beach is a popular tropical beach. Strong sea breezes make it very popular for kitesurfing and windsurfing. The tourist season is from December to May. The average temperature is 27°C, and the climate is hot and dry for most of the year. ~ From Wikipedia

PS : Sorry colour tengau, tapi kat sini memang panas terik pun.

Teaser | Dalat, Vietnam

Đà Lạt or Dalat, is the capital of Lam Dong province in Vietnam. The city is located 1,500 m (4,900 ft) above sea level on the Langbiang Plateau in the southern parts of the Central Highlands. In Vietnam, Da Lat is a popular tourist destination.

Da Lat’s specific sights are pine wood (forming the name: “City of thousands of pine trees”) with twisting roads and tree marigold blossom in the winter. The city’s temperate weather stands in contrast to Vietnam’s otherwise tropical climate. Mist covering the valleys almost year-round leads to its name “City of Eternal Spring” ~ From Wikipedia.

Things To Do In Terengganu (Part 1) - The Floating Mosque, Pasar Payang & Bukit Puteri

Terengganu, one of the most diverse and colourful state in East Coast.

Ok, above was the only sentence I can think of and was stuck with it for 2 long hours or so (while watching TV obviously).  Brain jammed + Blogger's block + Train of thought choo choo-ed away.

What and how do you even begin to write on a place that is so beautiful, serene and full of cultural (ampu-ing Tourism Terengganu 2013 heh?! Hehhehee...). No word can describe her beauty, doubt my pictures can do justice either. Sigh.... So, here's what I will do instead, share the places I covered and HOPE you feel it too.

Despite that I just came back from Redang in July with a quick trip around Kuala Terengganu town, I came to realised I did not cover most of the places, like... really cover! At this point, even I feel disapointed with myself, hahahhah....(and I call myself a traveler, podahcit [Anna lar ajar ni]).

Things to do in Terengganu (errr... Kuala Terengganu je kot).

Earlier entry
Penarik Beach at Sunset, Kuala Terengganu 

Hotel Review | Terrapuri - An architecture of a lost kingdom

1. Jetty
See jetty. See boat. See colour. STOP!
Just stop at any jetty on the way to ANYWHERE.... it won't fail you, trust me! In fact, I dont even know where the above pictures was taken. We saw this river, and this bridge, and screamed 'cantik!!!!!!' (beautiful), and park our car. Tah dahhhhh...... Beautiful heh! (well to me ler kan....).

2. Shops
Pay full attention.... they can be entertaining.
Just because they are small and out of nowhere (well, probably they're somewhere [strategic], but we[lar] don't know where hehheheheh), doesn't mean they are not interesting. Check out! Ahmad Albab Bridal Shop!!!


 

3. Car stickers
Terengganu icon
Need I say more.

 

4. The Floating Mosque or Tengku Tengah Zaharah

Serene. Calm. Peaceful.
Located in Kuala Ibai, it's the first real floating mosque in Malaysia - from Wikipedia. (Real floating mosque? Apa maknanye tuh... yang lain float tipu-tipu ke? Hehheheh....). What I like is the fact that this pure white mosque sets against the clear blue sky (lawa giler sangat-sangat). 

5. Bukit Puteri
A fortress.
Covering 658 hectares and at about 200 meters from the sea level. It was built between 1831 and 1876 to defend country from enemy attack. It gives you a great view of Istana Maziah, Pasar Payang and it's surrounding. Do check out the last picture - it's errr.... kinda funny.

Myth

Bukit Puteri was said to have originated as a place of residence for Puteri Bunian. However, the princess left Bukit Puteri when the local residents borrowed her cutlery and did not return them to her. According to legend, this hill was opened by a chieftain from Johor named Tuk Raja Menteri who came to Terengganu to install Sultan Zainal Abidin I as the first Sultan of Terengganu. *Credit - Cuti Malaysia

Eh! Song Seng Nim yang sesat?

Skodeng?

A MUST READ!! (Translation nih betul ke?)

6. Pasar Payang
Colours. Colours. Colours
Terengganu culture at it's best.

Dry food area.

Kuih's name? Anyone?

Tiffin carrier

Lastik / Slightshot sold here too.

Kris - Malaysia dagger.

7. Turtle Alley

Enough said. 

** Adam - Pencarian awek. Misi satu daerah, satu awek.



Twitter ID : lilyriani
Instagram ID : lilyriani
Pinterest ID : lilyriani
Blog URL : http://lilyrianitravelholic.blogspot.com/
Facebook Page : Globetrotter | Addiction of a Travelholic