Adventures of PrincessNg

I had a long weekend and decided to escape away from the hustle bustle city of Singapore. There is only so much to explore in Singapore. And as a local, nothing is interesting to me.. *hmmmm*

Since I could get my hands on CHEAP airfares to Bali, the destination is SET.

For a more detailed breakdown, CLICK HERE for my itinerary!


It really is a FUN-FILLED Adventure. I would recommend Bali to just about everyone. I feel it has everything that could and would interest everyone. For a romance, or relaxed trip? For adventure? Or to see the myths come alive? Bali has it all!

Personally for me, I love adventure and to do things that I can't possibly do or see in Singapore. I thought 4 Days was too short, but since Bali is so close (just 2.5hr flight away).. I can visit Bali again.



Day 1: Exploring Kuta, Legian & Seminyak

This is doing very normal touristy things. Being in South East Asia and having so many beaches around me, I was greatly disappointed with what Bali has to offer. There were no pristine beaches, nor are they very clean. So TAKE NOTE..

I do know there are many more beautiful beaches around in the whole HUGE island (anything bigger than Singapore is HUGE to me... that makes it everything except the Vatican City). However, I chose to plonk myself in the tourist spot because I just HAVE to!! *haha* I like seeing things that is off the normal tourist traps, but I still love the amenities these touristy places provide. I don't want to have to take a cab for an hr just to grab a meal out of the hotel compounds.



Day 2: Climbing Mount Batur, Besakih Temple & Kerta Gosa

I seriously wanted to climb this active volcano to see the sunrise. And as luck would have it! It was raining as we trudge up the Volcano. Not only was I cold and wet (not so wet as it wasn't raining heavily), the Sunrise was hidden among all the LOW-LYING Clouds... Seriously!! Anyway, I would still recommend it!! I heard it is beautiful. And it was still an accomplishment for a non-seasoned hiker like me.

We visited the Holiest Temple in Bali. It is also the largest and is believed to be dated back to the 14th Century. So that is OLD!! (And coming from a Singaporean who's country history is so short.. I doubt anything from the 15th Century can be found either)

Most memorable: Lunch overlooking Rive Terraced Fields.. BEAUTIFUL!!! Living in a concrete jungle, seeing any form of agricultural land is virtually not possible.



Day 3: Cycling through the Villages of Ubud

It was nice riding through the villages and seeing another side of Bali. The less touristy side. I love the friendly children, the "uncles" sitting around, etc. It was nice catch a glimpse of the "REAL" Bali.



Day 4: Surfing & Ubud Market

I just HAD to learn how to surf. Singapore has pathetic waves that (and during my trip it still wasn't possible yet) to learn how to surf, we need to get on a fake surf machine. Yes... those stuff that spits jet of water and foam beneath to form the waves. Pathetic right...

So off I went to learn how to at least stand on the board!!



I'll see you again Bali....

I had heard Glen Canyon described, by those who planned to reserve that part of the river for hydroelectric power development, as an unspectacular, gently flowing stretch of the river unruffled by significant rapids, that in fact the Bureau of Reclamation had begun to dam. From the very first day, I was overwhelmed by the scenery--both in prospect and in description grossly underrated. The monumental structure of the towering walls in variety and color defied comprehension.
- Eliot Porter

Eliot Porter made his first rafting trip down the Colorado River through Glen Canyon in 1960. He became captivated by the region's beauty, and over the next decade, returned to it ten times to photograph its weathered trees, colorful rock formations, and hidden slit canyons.

Instead of heading for the highly famed Grand Canyon, I decided to visit Glen Canyon. The reason was because I chanced upon beautiful pictures of hidden slit canyons. And the photos were taken in Antelope Canyon. So... OF COURSE I had to head down to get some pictures of my own and to stand there in awe of what nature has created for us, and that many would have missed it!

So off we went. The view from Glen Canyon Dam is amazing.. We were at Glen Canyon Dam as the Visitor Centre is there too. We found out that the Tour of the Dam is free. Of course we wanted to go. But alas, we missed the tour timings for the day. So we just mingled around and viewed the exhibits and goofed around.



The next morning we were there. In true KIASU (scared lose: literal translation) Singaporean style we were there at 10:00AM to book for the 11:00AM tour. Little did we know, most Americans are KIASU too, just that they didn't know the term. So even though we thought we were 1 hr early, we took the last 2 slots for the tour.. It was a very educational tour. Something I appreciated.


Of course we talked to the park rangers about the different places we might see. And I was asking about Antelope Canyon. To get to Antelope Canyon, you MUST have a guide. Antelope Canyon is a cathedral to the older Navajo generation. They would probably pause before going in, to be in the right frame of mind and prepare for protection and respect. This would also allow them to leave with an uplifted feeling of what Mother Nature has to offer, and to be in harmony with something greater than themselves. It was, and is, a spiritual experience.

But my excitement was quelled!! It has been raining the past week.. And there was a high risk of flash floods! And to be caught in these hidden slit canyons would be a recipe for death. So... instead, the park ranger told me that I could hike the Horseshoe Bend trail.

It was WONDERFUL! Seeing the horseshoe bend.. It just popped out from my geography text books. I can only imagine how many decades and centuries of erosion it took look like this! The pictures I took didn't do any justice. For one, I didn't have a wide-angle camera then. (I was but a student who had to practically BEG her parents for a camera for her birthday.. Beggars can't be choosers).


It was truly a sight to behold. It reminds me how little I am compared to what the world has to offer.

WELCOME to UTAH

The snowcapped mountains that were enveloped with cotton-candied clouds.. This view sprawled in front of us as we were crossing the state line. It was a sight for eyes that were blinded by the bright lights! I couldn't wait to see what Zion National Park has to offer!

It was a rather unnerving drive, and somehow the winds were ridiculous! (It was very scary to have winds going at that speed and having the car you're in swerving from being blown) So there we were swerving away, hoping no trailers were near us! (It was later that night that we saw trailers being overturned by those winds)

We reached the gateway town of Zion National Park is Springdale. It is a quaint little village (I call it village because it is really our there in the mountains and you could walk one end to the other end of what I think is the "bustling town centre").

We had to stop. For one, I was HUNGRY!! And next I saw elks and buffalos.. You see, I am but a girl who predominantly grew up in the tropics of Singapore (albeit that short stint in California when I was young). And as a typical girl who grew up in Singapore, the animals I see are those that are in the zoo! And elks and buffalos aren't any of them. (Though oddly we do have the polar bears in the zoo here..)

So we spent more time again (if you are going there during the winter, don't do what we did.. REMEMBER to take note of the time). By the time we reached Zion National Park, the sky was a pinkish hue. We managed to walk around the Visitor Centre and collected some information about the park.

Then off to the motel we were staying. (Which was an hour away because that was what we could afford) BAD idea... As we were driving in Zion National Park (coz the motel was one hour from the other entrance) we saw the sun setting in the rear view mirror (meaning we were heading East). And you know roads in National Parks has NO LIGHTS!! There we were in the dark.. and there was snow around. And as if that wasn't bad enough, we had to drive through a winding section that had steep cliff-offs with no barriers.

The worst of it was that I, being in the passenger's seat, was on the cliff-off side! The HORROR!! If my friend drove anything more than 30mph I was screaming at the top of my lungs. We didn't have any snow chains on our tires. WHAT WERE WE THINKING!!

But we managed to reach Best Western Red Hills, the most expensive lodging we had for this trip. A luxury if you ask me!! (Dinner was MacDonalds as that was the only thing that was open)

The next morning we were back at Zion National Park! We hiked Canyon Overlook Trail. It was a really short trail. Just be careful of some steep cliff-offs (ok.. I'm a total chicken. But you can't blame me. I'm a city girl who practically lives in a concrete jungle)

Canyon Overlook Trail

Went to hike the Emerald Pool. Beautiful trail. It was lush greenery covered in snow! (I'm a sucker for snow coz I live in a region with 2 seasons Sunshiney or Rain) And to see the waterfall even if it was trickling in Winter. The beauty was astounding.. The tree branch at the bottom of the fall, totally icicled. But do take note that it is VERY icy.. better be careful. I was literally hugging the railings and pulling myself up.

Icicles anyone?

And we had lunch in the Park itself.. EVERYTHING is expensive in the park. Ridiculous!!

We wanted to try another trail before heading back to the motel. We decided to try the Echo Canyon Trail. What scared me even before starting the hike was the SIGN!!

"DEATHS has occured" due to the step cliff-offs. Can you imagine how scary that sounds... Noooooooo..... But I tried to be gutsy and trudged on. Oh it was a bad idea... Before seeing any cliff-offs, I was already falling on my bum as the trails was icy. So after trying for 10mins, we decided to head back before being a danger to ourselves.

I really love Zion National Park. It felt quaint and the views are varied. We have the rocks to see, and the lush vegetation.. Add on the trickling waterfall.

Truly MY WINTER WONDERLAND...

The drive down from LA was horrendous.. And by the time we reached Las Vegas, we were too pooped to even see what the town has to offer.

Driving down the interstate, you'll know when you've reached Vegas.. The lights will welcome you. Bright lights were a sight for sore eyes.. Especially lights coming from building rather than from the vehicles we were stuck with in the holiday madness traffic that seemed to be crawling from LA all the way to Vegas!


Bright lights.. Such a vibrant city!! All the sights you remember seeing on TV are all there for you to drool at. Yes... It looked just right out of the TV.

I walked the STRIP as it is called. And trust me.. One day is NOT ENOUGH!! And I don't even gamble..

Started in the morning when there seem to not be much people around. Walking and exploring. Seeing Paris, Bellagio, etc. Las Vegas and all its glitz is seriously a destination worth considering even if you're on a tight budget.. Because you can find FREE things to see, CHEAP food to grab, and it is highly entertaining to watch people gamble.

What is there for me to say? It is a place that would make your senses go BEZERK!!

What did I do? Walk down the strip and see the themed resorts. From MGM Grand, to Ceaser's Palace. From Luxor's ancient Egyptian Pharoahs to Caesar's Palace Roman Empire. From New York's skyscrapers to Paris' beautiful architecture. It was great to see all the things around.

Mini Eiffel Tower

New York.. Here I come!!

There's also a an M&Ms store with all kinds of M&Ms. I bought the colours you can never find. Lions to see, gardens to admire. And let's not forget my Ocean Eleven moment (together with the throngs of people I had to squash with) to catch the fountain show at Bellagio!




Animals to see, people to watch.. And of course the weird shops around that is sooo Vegas! I had so much fun going around.. It was fun..


And imagine I walked from morning right up till night.. and I only finished HALF the STRIP. but of course, I went into every hotel just to see their attractions I read about.

So plan your time well when you're there. And don't forget to set aside time for OUTLET SHOPPING. Awesome shopping with Nine West, Banana Republic, etc.. But I only had 1/2 a day before I set out again to my next destination.


Vegas was fun.. and What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas!! *wink*

Just look at that.. The sight that greeted me as I walked towards the main entrance got me riled up for an entire day of FUN! I purposely went there on the eve of Christmas so that I can have a relatively empty park. *evil grin* As you can tell, I am a rollercoaster fanatic. (And seriously, at that time Singapore didn't have any coasters worth riding.. and there's only ONE now)

I walked around, tried every ride.. And even got seconds and thirds for quite a lot of the coasters. All these before 5pm when the park closes during winter. First ones thru the entrance and the last ones out..

The best tip I can give is to continously scream that you're a SINGLE RIDER. I took the Goliath thrice in a row without ANY waiting time. The first ride I went in, someone noticed that I was alone and shouted for me while I clambered from the back to get the ride. And after I just kept running and taking.. AWESOME!!

The Goliath is the traditional rollercoaster ride. Dead drops, etc.. No 360 deg turns, no flipping s upside down. I love it.. Imagine going down at the speed of 85MPH in a carrigae with no overhead secure safety catch. It was those lock bar against your lap. YEAH!!!

Look at that drop!!

Tatsu was amazing. Legs dangling, we're rotated to "fly" like Superman.. And this is the new-age rollercoaster ride. Swerving, rotating, upside down... All these at the top speed of 62MPH..

It was a REALLY fun ride

I totally did not regret choosing this over Disneyland. Don't get me wrong.. Disneyland is great. But I have been there before (2 days for a kid was HEAVEN) and wanted to try something more adult this time around.


Check out for Opening hours and ticket prices HERE..

I came across San Diego Union Museum. It was the FIRST office of the San Diego Union Newspaper. This wood-frame structure was prefabricated in Maine and shipped around the Horn in 1851. The building is restored as it was when the Union printed its first edition on October 10, 1868 and was published as a weekly. Visitors can view the original printroom with a Washington press and the editor's office.
Admission: FREE

Lovely Building

Around the area, there is a beautiful church to take a look at, the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. The cornerstone was laid in 1868, but with the movement of the community to New Town in 1872, it lost its parishioners and was not dedicated until 1919. I find it simple, yet absolutely stunning. None of the intricacy of the churches of Europe.

The Church that is fully booked for ANY wedding for a year or more

Walking around is amazing! The place commerating the first time a United States flag is flown in Southern California, San Diego's first courthouse, hotels, etc. This place is filled with so much history.. yet being put in such a way that everyone can appreciate.

Check out their official website here.

There are also Ghost Tours available, if you are interested. (I'm a scaredy-cat thru and thru)

2. Statue of Cabrillo
I'm no US history buff.. Hence I couldn't appreciate the statue at all. I think Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo led the first European expedition to explore what is now the west coast of the United States. So here I'll just show you a picture of me monkeying around near the statue. But the view was awesome!! At that time I did not own a wide-angle camera.. But on a clear day, you can view San Diego and Mexico.. And of course the Pacific Ocean.

View of San Diego

3. Whale Watching at Cabrillo Lookout Point

From December to March, visitors have a great view of the Pacific Gray Whale as it travels along its yearly migration route from Alaska to Baja California. The lookout point, just south of the old lighthouse is ideal for whale watching.

Yes, I was there in December (late Dec, to be exact) but I did not manage to catch any whales. The only one I saw was the statue at the lookout point. But be sure to enjoy the panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean.

4. Old Point Loma Lighthouse

This treasure is a short walk from the Cabrillo Visitor Center and parking lot. Old Pont Loma Lighthouse stands majestically above the San Diego Bay and Pacific Ocean. In the main building, you can ascend to the second floor and see the refurbished living quarters of the keeper of the lighthouse and his family, much as it looked in the 1880s. It's amazing how tiny and cramped it is. And of course the famous spiral staircase!

The adjacent building has visual displays and large lighthouse lenses. It is really interesting to see the exhibits and all the stuff of that time.

Outside the lighthouse, a foot path leads to a scenic view point overlooking the ocean. And as you walk, you will see the toilet. A toilet with the BEST view EVER!!



5. Point Loma Tide Pooling

Point Loma Tide Pools is the largest and most prolific tide pools in San Diego County. You can catch it at low tide to see all that it has to offer. This is something I did not manage to catch. I did not plan ahead of time to catch the low tides.

For more info of the place, check out their official website HERE!

Just because I'm having an awful Monday, I'm going to write-up about a place that will always stay close to my heart. It's one of those places that is fairly ordinary but it will still blow you away. At least, that was what it did to me..

During the road trip, it was suppose to be Coronado Beach that I wanted to visit. Without a trusted GPS or a proper map for that matter (and me peering out to look for signboards), we missed the turn to Coronado Beach. And it looked awfully crowded!!

LESSON LEARNT: Never trust a tourist map on a tiny brochure, a third of roads gets drawn out into oblivion!!

As we were driving down, trying to find a a place to make a U-wey.. We came across a quiet beach. Perfect! "Let's just park the car so that we don't waste any time!" Because the whole purpose of going to the beach in winter was to take in the view of the Pacific Ocean in every imaginable shade of the fiery sunset.

And that was what we caught! A BEAUTIFUL sunset in a quiet beach. So quiet it seemed like we were the only ones on the beach. It was truly THE most memorable sunset ever.

The beach is located 4.5 miles south of the city of Coronado on Highway 75. The park is located on the sand-spit that forms the outer edge of San Diego Bay between Coronado and Imperial Beach. The park has 2.5 miles of ocean beach and 1/2 mile on the bay. The entrance to the park is from Highway 75, which serves as a divider between the ocean side of the park and the bay side.

It is a place that will hold many wonderful memories for me. And hence it's my favourite place thus far. Along with the wonderful memory that is etched within me, i remember the gorgeous scenery it had to offer.

It is such an underrated place (especially against Coronado!), but it was exceptionally beautiful.

Here are snippets of my memory of Silver Strand State Beach..

Map of Camelback Mountain

I'm not a fitness-nut. But I have to admit that when I was there, I was relatively fit (running and exercising regularly). But be absolutely prepared for what Camelback Mountain has to offer! I thought it would be an easy hike up. And boy was I proven WRONG!!

The Trail tried: Summit Trail (Echo Canyon Trail)

Directions to the trailhead:

Enter Echo Canyon Parkway east of Tatum Blvd. off of McDonald Drive. Parking is often limited. Trail ascends through spectacular sandstone rock formations and stunning views from the summit into Greater Phoenix.

Trail Length: 1.2 miles

Elevation Gain: 1,264 feet

Summit: 2,704 feet

Difficulty: Strenuous

Open: Sunrise to sunset

** Take note the difficulty, it said STRENUOUS.. If only I came across this info I before I embarked on my "Happy Hiking Day"**

At the trailhead, everything was great. The trail was easy and manageable. There were even wood that cut into the ground to create steps. But that was shortlived! Because I came face to face with a monster! (Yes, I was relatively fit.. But I'm not a seasoned hiker!)

Do you see how STEEP it is!!

That was possibly the worst, but it was relatively steep throughout the entire trail. But there were other sections with the rails, and chains to help poor newbies like me out!

Along the trail, the beauty of the desert can be fully appreciated. There were different cactus to admire, and the view along the way is just spectacular. Here is the infamous Saguaro Cactus that was 3 times the size of me. And seriously it was the only one I was daring enough to go for the photo-op. The rest seemed a little far off the trail.

Look how BIG it is!!

And reaching the top, one can only imagine the wonderful urban+nature view that awaits you.

The escape from the Urban Jungle was GREAT!!

I would definitely recommend just trying the hike because the view is worth all the effort. But be prepared for the strenuous hike! And seasoned fitness nuts using it as a fitness circuit! That means being overtaken tonnes of times by runners (Don't ask me how they run up those steep slopes!).

Check it out if you happen to be in the Phoenix.

This is an itinerary of my first ever Road Trip in the US of A! Ok, it is more like my first ever to plan on my own and embarked with a friend without any family members. (When I was little, I did remember road-trips my family made in California during the weekends and holidays)

This is for reference. I will highlight each place of interest in seperate entries.

For a more detailed breakdown, CLICK HERE for my itinerary!

DAY 1: Phoenix, AZ - San Diego, CA

The entire day is spent on the road getting to San Diego, CA. A great route that showcases great sceneries: desert landscapes, snow dustings in the mountaineous regions (Kumeyaay Highway), sand dunes (Imperial Sand Dunes) and wind turbines (on Campo Indian Reservation).

DAY 2: Exploring San Diego, CA Exploring San Diego.

Having been to San Diego before, I skipped SeaWorld. I went to explore the lesser known attractions it has to offer. Cabrillo National Monument, Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, Coronado and Silver Strand State Beach..



DAY 3: San Diego, CA - Los Angeles, CA

We thought we could leave later since Los Angeles was a short drive away from San Diego. However, I've always been a klutz.. (Still am!!) Wasted the ENTIRE DAY driving from San Diego to Los Angeles and back to San Diego (to pick up something I left at the motel! I did tip the housekeeping staff who kep my mobile phone safe..) and back to Los Angeles. Stayed off Los Angeles at Valencia.

DAY 4: Six Flag Magic Mountain, Los Angeles, CA

Six Flag Magic Mountain! Didn't want to go to Disneyland as i've been there when I was staying there. I know it changes, but I wanted thrilling rides! Off to the coasters!! And on Christmas Eve, it was EMPTY!!!

DAY 5: Hollywood, CA - Las Vegas, NV

A short walk around Hollywood. The usual: Grauman's Chinese Theatre, Kodak Theatre, seeing the Hollywood sign, etc. And on the road to Las Vegas, NV. A LOOOONG ride.. What essentially was a 5hr drive became far longer due to the MASSIVE traffic (everyone was travelling on Xmas day). Traffic was moving, but it was slooooow..

DAY 6: Las Vegas, NV

Headed to the Las Vegas strip and walked the ENTIRE DAY!! We walked down admiring the Bellagio, Paris, MGM, Sands, Luxor, New York, Caesar's Palace etc.. We walked the entire strip, taking pictures. We went into casinos, had cheap food. Saw tigers, aquariums, etc. Ur senses will go BEZERK. Saw the sun set and the glittering strip twinkled before me.

DAY 7: Las Vegas, NV - Kanab, UT

Outlet SHOPPING!! But alas, a quick one before heading on the road again. Back to the desert landscapes. But I do have to admit that when you cross the border to Utah, you will be amazed at the beauty just by crossing the border. AMAZING!! The most high-strung I've been on a road trip. Be very careful to plan really well. NOBODY should ever get caught like we did. The sun had set and we were driving through Zion National Park to get to the motel. Steep cliff-offs, snow, narrow winding road.. GOSH!!



DAY 8: Zion National Park, UT

Exploring the beautiful national parks the States have to offer. I absolutely love going to their national parks. Got up early to drive to Zion National Park. The first trail we went to was the Canyon Outlook. It was so beautiful seeing the scenery. Amazing. We did 2 more trails and called it a day. Lush greeneries with snow everywhere. It was a winter wonderland!


DAY 9: Kanab, UT - Page, AZ

Driving through, it was amazing the landscape that you see. The way they made their highways are great. Any great scenary can be admired especially with the slip-offs they have. The drive down was a slow and relaxing one. Reached Page, the gateway Arizonian town of Glen Canyon National Recreational Area. Stunning sceneray again.

DAY 10: Glen Canyon National Recreational Area, AZ - Phoenix, AZ

Woke up early to do a tour of the dam. It was FREE, and it was very educational. Wanted to see Antelope Canyon but it was raining for 2 days before. Just my luck!! It's a desert and it rained when I was there. It is where the beautiful pictures are taken of the canyon. So off we went to hike to see the Horseshoe Bend. The national parks is haven for ANY geography teachers. It was a scenery that was just breathtaking. And after, it was back to Phoenix, AZ.