Posts filed under ‘Đi chơi’
Dried fruits at Albert Centre (near Bugis)
I came to know about Albert Centre from a blog. Visited it yesterday and kinda regret for not knowing it earlier. I wanna buy dried fruits and this is really a good place. Several shops, various goods and quite good price. For example, raisins SGD 10/kg, dried cranberries SGD 14/kg, walnuts SGD 21/kg.
Remember to have a look around before buying anything. I thought I know this ‘at heart’, still end up buying things which are cheaper at another store just few meters away.
Will visit this place again when I need to buy dried fruits.
Level 3, Albert Centre
270 Queen St, 180270
About 5 mins walk from Bugis MRT
Jambo, jambo
Xuống Changi với đầy đủ hành lý mới thở phào, thế là đã đi về bình an. Hai ba bữa nay tim vẫn chưa đập lại theo nhịp sống bình thường, sáng nay còn phải xin nghỉ làm vì dậy quá trễ.
Một chuyến đi tuyệt vời.
Sẽ nhớ. Hàng phượng đỏ rực rỡ dưới nắng tháng mười hai. Mấy cây phượng tím chỉ còn lơ thơ hoa vẫn khiến mình ngoái nhìn hoài. Mấy bạn tù nhân áo cam đang cuốc đất. Tiết mục cúp điện liên tục trong nhà nghỉ. Những con muỗi mập. Món pizza ngon bá phát. Sáng ngày 25, lều mấy bạn Mỹ còn giăng đèn xanh đỏ. Con khỉ lạch bạch đi gần đó. Đang nghĩ “Sao lại có giống khỉ mập ù như thế nhỉ”, thì thấy ảnh cầm sandwich ăn thong thả.
Nhớ con suối lý tưởng để ngồi ‘hát ca bềnh bồng’. Con chim ‘tennis ball bird’ đậu trước lều, có lúc nó xù lên tròn vo. Buổi tối lạnh, cả đám mặc ba lớp áo đang đứng co ro thì nhìn thấy hai bạn tung tăng chạy nhảy, mặc có mỗi cái áo thun. Quá kinh cho đội Thụy Điển!
Nhớ cánh đồng bạt ngàn cỏ dại. Sương mù. Mỏm đá ‘kissing rock’ vì ai leo qua phải dang hai tay hai chân ôm lấy.
Nhớ cảm giác sợ khi đi giữa hoang mạc không một bóng người, ông guide mà có chuyện gì thì mình cũng chết theo luôn. Nhớ lúc hai chân hoàn toàn tê liệt, để đứng một mình là té nhào về phía trước, may không gãy cái gì.
Nhớ chai bia Serengeti khá ngon, uống một chai đã ngà ngà, ăn với bít tết thật là được.
Nhưng nhớ nhất, là đoạn nói chuyện với anh tài xế lúc mới tới.
Mày có thấy núi Kilimanjaro đằng kia không? Ùm… Ngay trước mặt đó, thấy chưa. Ùm ùm chưa… Mày nhìn theo tay chỉ đây, ngay đó đó, thấy chưa. Huhu tao không chắc, có phải cái kia không. Không. Hay là cái này. Không. Mày vẫn chưa thấy à, nhìn lại lần nữa đi.
Và rồi, sau một hồi vò đầu bứt tóc, mình nhìn thấy. Không phải nhìn ngang mà phải nhìn lên. Trời ạ, nó to lù lù, mây phủ kín, chỉ nhìn thấy chút mỏm tuyết. Cha là đẹp.
Thế là cũng thẫn thờ nhớ mấy câu.
Hái cúc dưới giậu đông,
Thơ thới nhìn núi Nam.
Khí núi ánh chiều đẹp,
Chim bay về từng đàn.
Trong cảnh có thâm vị,
Muốn tả đã quên lời.(Bài “Uống rượu”, Đào Uyên Minh)
Vậy là, ta cũng đã may mắn chạm được, tuyết trên đỉnh Kilimanjaro.
Jambo jambo. Mambo mambo. Pole pole.
Dada.
Climb Mount Kilimanjaro – Dec’15
My two cents from the Kilimanjaro climb in Dec’15.
Which Tour Operator
+ Read this article to have a general idea
+ African Walking Company: no website, need to book through agent?
+ Zara
+ Tro-Peaks
+ Team Kilimanjaro
+ Climbkili –> Lemosho 8-day: USD 2,490 (include airport transport)
+ Climbmountkilimanjaro –> Lemosho 8-day: USD 2,871 (include airport transport)
+ Peak Planet –> Group 4-6, Lemosho 9-day: USD 2,895 (no airport transport)
+ Ultimatekilimanjaro –> Lemosho 8-day, privte, 4pax+: USD 3,000
+….
After reading TripAdvisor comments and some email inquiries, I decided to go with Tro-Peaks. Total fee quoted for me (one person going 8-day Lemosho route in December 2015) is USD 1,820. Tour details are attached here KiliTour_Lemosho_2015.
My experience with Tro-Peaks has been positive. They are responsive in replying my emails and WhatsApp before I book the tour. The guide is experienced. The supporting crew is efficient. The whole team is extremely friendly. Food is good. Hotel is okay (bad wifi and sudden electric cuts, but nice room, good bar and friendly staff). Overall I am safe and sound, and quite happy about this first experience in Africa.
On the trip I met other groups going with other different companies. Things looked very well taken cared of, too. I think in general, the services provided by different companies are mostly the same, no big difference.
If you’d like to talk to Tro-Peaks, here are the contacts.
- tropeaksadventures@gmail.com
- http://www.tro-peaks.com/
- WhatsApp Daniel at +255 763 830 820
Note: Before booking the tour, please get all clarifications in writing.
+ What is the itinerary.
+ What the fee includes and excludes.
+ How many people the supporting crew will be. If possible, what is the tipping expectation.
+ How much is the rent in case you need to rent camping/climbing stuff.
Just Total How Much Money
This excludes cost of personal items (hiking shoes, jacket, etc.)
Lemosho Route
Read about different routes here
I chose Lemosho route as it’s seen as an average in terms of difficulty while the scenery is not sacrificed. It is a good choice for me.
I’m a beginner who doesn’t exercise or prepare for the trip physically. I reached Uhuru Peak at around 8:30am (starting at around 3:30am), all smiling. However on the way down I needed help from the guide as there were many parts I was exhausted, almost could not stand on my own legs. Gladly after some rest I could walk on.
I would say this route is doable for beginners. You will get there.
Visa to Tanzania
It is easy to apply for Tanzania visa at arrival. I arrived at Kilimanjaro airport >> fill in a form >> submit USD 50 >> queue >> done. No question asked.
I transit in Nairobi, Kenya. I didn’t get out of the airport and hence didn’t need a Kenya visa.
Air Tickets
I search using skyscanner.
It is cheaper to go from Kuala Lumpur than from Singapore. To save money, I decide to fly to Kuala Lumpur first.
My flights: Changi (Singapore) –> Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) –> Bangkok (Thailand) –> Nairobi (Kenya) –> Kilimanjaro (Tanzania). This is 5 countries in 2 days. Quite tired but .. surviving.
Return route is similar: Kilimanjaro (Tanzania) –> Nairobi (Kenya) –> Bangkok (Thailand) –> Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) –> Changi (Singapore).
As shown in the fee table above, my total cost for air tickets is USD 1,088.
Travel Insurance that Covers Mountain Trekking
- Direct Asia covers trekking up to 6,000m (page 18)
- AIG Travel Guard – up to 6,000m (page 9) / official policy
- Citibank for Citibank PremierMiles Visa Signature Card – up to 6,000m (page 12) – I don’t have this card…
- Citibank Smart Voyage – don’t seem to cover mountaineering
- NTUC Income – up to 4,000m (page 22)
- AXA Smart Traveller – up to 3,500m (page 20)
- MSIG – up to 3,000m (page 11)
- ACE Travel Insurance – up to 3,000m
- POSB Travel Shield – up to 3,000m
- AVIVA – up to 2,000m (page 7)
- Tenet Sompo TravelJoy – don’t seem to cover mountain trekking
Turns out when I booked the flights using OCBC 365 credit card, I automatically have its complementary travel insurance. However coverage is limited. I decided to buy an additional insurance with AIG.
Things to Bring
What I put in my daily pack: Water, hat, sunscreen, jacket, tissue, raincoat, camera.
Notes on Clothing
I went from 21 Dec 15 to 31 Dec 15.
Non-summit Days: generally it’s below 10 Celsius degree during early morning and late afternoon. It is warmer during the day.
+ Head: beanie
+ Top: 1-2-3 layers = pullover + fleece jacket + wind breaker. Layer up or down depending on the weather.
+ Bottom: 1 layer
Summit Day:
+ Head: beanie
+ Top: 5 layers = 1 base + 2 long-sleeve pullovers + 1 fleece jacket + 1 wind breaker
+ Bottom: 4 layers = 1 base + legging + 2 trekking pants
+ Feet: 1 pair of thick wool socks
+ 2 pairs of gloves
Electrical Socket
Same as Singapore.
What I would do differently
- Bring better gloves. I learn that my hands get cold easily.
- Bring medicated oil
- Bring lip balm
What I’m glad I did
- I bring a trekking hat, a box of disposable face masks, Panadol, Vitamin C, sunscreen, a small mirror.
- I ended the trekking one day earlier. It was supposed to be 8 days, we shortened it to 7 days. The day was used to go around Moshi town.
Good references
Pictures
Tags: Kilimanjaro, Lemosho, Uhuru, Tanzania, Africa, leo núi Kilimanjaro, đỉnh Uhuru
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