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Went on an exciting adventure through natural and cultural landmarks in Northern-Vietnam!! 😊😊
Normally we do DIY tour whenever we visit places, but this time we availed tour from Klook to explore Vietnam and that's the best thing that Jimson and I did, the entire tour was definitely worth the price that we paid which include pick and drop-off to your hotel with lunch buffet😉


Hoa Lu the ancient capital of Vietnam (under Dinh Dynasty), upon hearing the history of this place from our tour guide I really believe that this city is one of the best cultural identity of vietnamese in the entire Vietnam. Approx 3hrs from Hanoi located in Ninh Binh province you can enjoy the viewing of the two Kings temple.
ancient temple and relic sites are well maintained
As much as I would like to share tons of photos on this blog. I'd better not to post it because I want you to wonder and imagine how this place looks like, so you guys can also visit this place soon without much relying photos from the web. 
History 🗹 Palace surrounding landscape 🗹

Sampan Boat Ride at Tam Coc was absolutely breathtaking with incredible scenery. I can honestly tell this is one of my best experience ever!!
Tam Coc literally mean "three caves"  consist of three natural caves - Hang Cả, Hang Hai, and Hang Ba
on the way to pass the first cave
admired the skillful boatwoman for rowing boat trip for 1hr and 30mins
Tam Coc is famous for its wilderness of imposing limestone mountain along rivers ans impressive caves. It amuses me because of quietness, calm, pleasant and gorgeous. I must admit I prefer this than Halong Bay✌
Twa's a greatful way to end the tour, when you do biking along the countryside roads as a local.
Wish I could stay longer here 😔

Hiking starting point ( Shawka Dam Park)

Searching good-spot in UAE that locals and tourist can enjoy nature with extra adventure? Why not head to Shawka Pools and gets excite for canyoonering.

Knowing long holiday is coming (Eid Holiday), I planned to explore the wild mountainside with friends and enjoy hiking trails, natural pools.

Started at 4:00 AM and reached at Shawka pools by 6:00AM (Dated:  05-June-2019). 
a breath-taking trail scenery surrounded by Hajay Mountains, and highly recommended this trek for beginners. Best time to visit (November to February)

Shawka pool can also accessible using 4x4 car. Family can really enjoy the place as there are area for picnics and barbecues (but please! be responsible for your own garbage)
See the video below and enjoy! 

Ras Al Kahaimah Wadi Shawka Pools

Directions and Coordinates: on the Sharjah - Kalba road(E102), take left at Shawka: N25 04' 58.52" E56 01' 25.04" to Shawka Dam. After 2,8 km take right (N25 06' 26.12" E56 01' 37.58") and arrive at the Dam. Park your car near the start point of the trail.

25.094611, 56.066078 25.094611,Coordinates to Showqa pool


Warned you this place is pure nature. Once you embarked on the trek restrooms and food/drink stalls are available only at the parking area. 

Here's what you need to do:
  • Arrive early to beat the heat and the crowds.
  • Bring drinking water to avoid dehydration since the trekking will take about 40mins (depends how fast you are) and Food incase you get hungry after your swimming.
  • Leave your valuable things inside the car just bring some clothes, towel and sun-screen.
  • water proof camera (otherwise you won't get to take any picture inside the cave)
  • Life jacket is needed for those who don't know how to swim

Free Parking Area
Parked your car and take a one minute boat ride to cross the creek (One Riyal round trip boat ride per pax and last boat to return is 6PM), then start to hike. The track starts with flat, sandy and pebbly it can get a bit slippery so wear good hiking shoes.
Me.. yelling at Jimson to be quick while his taking pictures
Wooohooo!! and he's so excited.
I guess we are near since we saw flowing waterssss..
But were wrong! walked furthermore and lots of visitor are now showing up
Finally we arrived at the first stop! Did a 30mins rest and eat some snack we bought, look for a place where we can leave our backpack, though we've been informed by a local guy that nobody will touch our stuff. But you'd rather to keep always on the safe side, so don't bring your passport and lots of money here.
kids can enjoy at low tide wadi
The views going to hidden waterfall at the cave are spectacular. A natural stream of beautiful, clean and clear turquoise water. The watery part of the trek starts shallow then becomes deep enough that you will need to swim (good swimming ability is needed). Keep swimming and you get to a cave that barely allows enough room to stick your head out of the water.   ~wooo honestly I almost die here really its too deep.
Breathtaking 😱 cave well lit most of the part by natural day light and has a limestone ledge on either side so you can hold on to the sides as you cross. I won't spoil more photos 😜 to leave you wonder how gorgeous it is. Really worth the effort!


Drove towards to our next location, Bimmah Sinkhole was perfectly placed from where it is, surrounded with stunning sea view and mountain view on the other side. Bimmah Sinkhole was formed by a collapse surface layer due to dissolution of underlying limestone, a deep hole filled with fresh turquoise water.
Hawaiyat Najm Park
Jimson and I wasn’t sure if we reach bimmah sinkhole at the right place, and wonder why were we at the entrance gate of the Park? So with the help of Omani local, the direction was to enter the Hawaiyat Najm Park, walk further and you’ll reach the huge sinkhole. The Omani officials did a great job to preserve the Sinkhole, they have set up the park with gazebos, palm trees, and picnic ground area. The huge sinkhole walled round the edge and set a manageable steps all the way to the bottom.
Tadaaa.. Hello from Bimmah Sinkhole
People can swim in Bimmah Sinkhole and yes we did of course! The water is cool and clean.
There are many small fishes the ones who like to nibble your skin like in the spas.
Entrance Fee: doesn’t cost you anything! yes, absolutely FREE for everyone and hope you can visit this place.











Another get together with my Dubai family and this time we planned a full day Dhow Cruise in Oman. The tour arranged by Al Wasl, passport and visa copy required upon reservation (two days advance before departure date). This bookings are subject to weather conditions, pick-up and drop off point where also set.
Finally the day has come and all are excited! It was eight in the morning the service car was already down in our building apartment. If more people are going on this trip you can set your own convenient location for pick-up and drop off.

Roughly two hours drive going to Oman from Dubai proper and we stopped at the boarder. Omani officers came to us and inspected our passports one by one, assuring that we hold an exact passport.

As soon as we arrived at the pier we walk towards the big boat and immediately find a comfortable place to get relax. 

Situated on the Northern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, Musandam is replete with irregular mountain peaks rising out of waters and surrounded by wadis. Oman's most dramatic coastline and coined as the Norway of the Arabian Gulf with its inlets similar to Norway's Fjords, offering you the most stunning scenery in the Arabian Peninsula, the magnificent Hajar mountains.

A five hours Musandam dhow cruise will enjoy you from swimming, snorkeling, food, drink, sunbathing, fishing, banana boat ride with an International lunch buffet serves such as barbeque meat, fish, salads and vegetables meals. Plus fruits, bottled water, coffee and tea served on the tables.

By 4pm we gathered again to head back to Dubai. It was such a great and fun experience indeed despite the long travel.
Note: Tourist and transit visa holder also allowed on this tour (present original passport and visa copy). Children under three years old can go for free. 
There's a lot you'd be missing without stopping Emirate desert.
Experience and enjoy the Dubai desert safari adventure, the trill of a roller coaster ride on the massive sand dunes of the Arabian desserts.
So happy to have a good hearted friend who used to work in Travel and Tours company here in Dubai.
Gladly she made all the arrangement for our safari adventure with discounted staff rate.
Afternoon pick up point and Night drop point at Crowne Plaza Hotel in Deira via Toyota Land Cruiser 4x4 heading to Hatta road going to Oman. As soon as we arrived at the dessert site we advise to fasten our seat-belts, then driver drove the 4x4 twists and turn on higher slope. We stopped in the middle of the desert to try thrill of sandboarding and enjoying the fine-smooth sand.
After that we headed to campfire where you can get relaxed, to have our free dinner and dig into typical Arabian dishes like Hammus and Barbeque chicken.
Watched local entertainment performing belly dancing and the traditional Arabic Tanoura dance which is usually performed by sufi men who keep on going around like the dervish dance in Levant and Turkey. They used long colorful skirts that make a beautiful image when swirling around.

TIPs: Free Henna body painting. Don't try to hold and take picture with the Falcon in camp as they will charge you (10AED). Camel and Bike ride is excluded for the tour package.
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SealedSuitcase

SealedSuitcase
Hi! I'm Jessica. A Filipina expat in Dubai. A full time surviving worker!

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