Phuong Trang bus Saigon to Dalat, Vietnam

Our next destination after spending a day in Ho Chi Minh.

Shuttle took us from hotel to the bus waiting station at 4 in the morning. A bus trip, cost us USD11 each, from Saigon to Dalat by Phuong Trang. Book it when you are here in Vietnam instead on website (because its in vietnamese and no reply to email!) Highly recommended!

I found so less info about bus on my mentioned trip and we didnt know which bus company to choose and we dont want ended up like what we experienced in Cambodia (shall blog about that someday). A few bus companies got not-so-good reviews online, like mad drivers, dangerous overtaking and poor bus conditions.

But this Company, Phuong Trang is a big relieved for me. They are clean and organised & air conditioned! Well dressed professional and strict driver! And they do stop at every rest stops on the way, which is owned by them too. Every rest stops have toilets of course, convinience stores or small cafe to have a quick bite! And not to mention, they have FREE WIFI!! Im the happiest among my backpack-kakis (travel mates) because I want to update my family, hubby and instagram!!

This is how a sleeper bus looks like. We are all arranged on top row seatings. A small drinking water, wet towel and blanket is given (include in fare!) The seat is adjustable. And we have to take off our shoes and pack it in a plastic bag provided because the some locals tend to sleep along the corridors!

For your info, the bus will arrived at their own bus station at Dalat, and they will have free shuttle to sent the passengers to respective hotels or places in Dalat!

Double storey seatings!

3 rows seating!

The whole journey from Ho Chi Minh to Dalat, 

is about 6 to 7 hours of journey! Along the highland highway, small villages can be spotted and rainforests! Will blog more about our 2 days in Dalat (Both city and Famous Crazy House!)

My travel mates

My point of view: Friends is totally different from travel mates.

Friendship formed is usually from common background (school or work) & interests.
But I have to say, not every friends, have the same travel interests, opinions, funds to travel.

I never travel together with my friends before. Yes, its true.
And my first travel companion (other than my family) is my hubby to Taiwan.
The pros of travelling with him, I don't have to worry about anything as I know he take care all of them.
The cons of travelling with him, he always have his points of view but of course he always give in to mine :)



How I met my travel mates?


2011


Hubby & I travelled to New Zealand together in 2011.
Along the way, we met different travellers from all around the world
but we never have chance to travel with them.

Then, fate brought us to this group of friends from the same Kiwi packhouse.
Since all of us on working holiday & tight travel fund, we share cost of travel.

We don't mind dorm sharing with other travellers. We don't mind shared bathroom too. We walk instead of taking taxis in the cities. We don't mind go on a public transport (Bus) with the locals on a roadtrips. We always have fun time going on our own & more interaction with the locals instead of tour companies. We love backpack!!

Our first trip together, carpool to Rotorua on one weekend (Smells like rotten eggs everywhere!)
We had luge ride & went for mud bath :)

6 of us. From the left: Hubby, me, Kaka, XueYing, JJ, Ashley during end of Autumn

And we also went fishing on off days! 

At Tauranga jetty

We also went 15,000ft skydive, bungee & snow experience at Taupo.

Us in Skydive suits. The far right is Maki from Japan. Hubby not a fan of adrenaline rush in his veins. Haha.

Before bungee jump :)

Hubby, me & Ashley, JJ @ Taupo. With Tongariro mountain far behind us.

Snow experience on Winter

2012

Some of them still trying to catch up with happening life in Malaysia but We girls decided to go on another backpacking trip.


Cambodia

Yoga pose at Angkor Wat

We girls at Smiling Buddha & bought the same pants at Cambodia for that day!

2013

The backpacking spirit never left us. So here we go, another backpacking holiday. This time, JJ joined us. And XueYing better half, Bobby joined us too.

Vietnam

We walked 3km in the rain to see this Dalat Old Railway station. Strike a pose in raincoats!

Being silly is good!

Us in front of Notre Dame Cathedral, Saigon

We always got each others back ;)

2011: Rotorua Skyline, New Zealand
2012: Bayon, Angkor Wat, Cambodia
2013: Dalat, Vietnam
2014: To be continued.... :)

Its almost a week since our Vietnam trip, I still haven't fully recover myself from the holiday moods. Am looking forward to our next backpacking trip. Its going to be a long 2 weeks trip with lots of trekking. Some say, they are going to get married, and as for me, I wish to have my own kids. So, we'll see from here. :)