Coming Trip: Chengdu

It has been two months since I posted my last entry. Though I have been busy with work, the little time I have has been spent reading and planning my coming trip to Chengdu. The highlight of the trip will be Jiuzhaigou. There are other major tourist sites such as Panda Research Base, Mt. Emei, Leshan Giant Buddha, Dujiangyan, all of which are World Heritage Sites that I have to read up and plan for. In the course of the last two months, I have found a friend through CouchSurfing and also started to learn how to use my Garmin, which I had abandoned for lack of free maps. Now, I have them.

In fact, during this hiatus, I have also been reading and planning for a trip to Taiwan, which friends have expressed their interest. It was also because of them that I planned the Taiwan itinerary. Unfortunately, during the Airasia fares promotion recently from 20 - 23 September 2012, there was no firm commitment from them, i.e. to book the flight to Taipei. So, on the last day of the promotion, I booked myself a return ticket from Kuala Lumpur to Yangon, Myanmar for a week's holiday in May next year for MYR172 as opposed to Taipei which would have cost over MYR1,000.

Many people would not have heard of Jiuzhaigou. I never knew such a beautiful place existed until I saw the photos on Worldisround website. I was browsing photos of Sichuan when I saw them. I was blown away by this scenery back in 2005. I don't have the name of the owner of the photos but thanks to him for sharing, I discovered Jiuzhaigou.

Since then, I told myself that I have to visit this place and fortunately, Airasia offers that opportunity.

From that first impression of Jiuzhaigou, I have been reading up on the place from time to time. Finally, in February this year, I made the booking to Chengdu during an Airasia promotion. For Jiuzhaigou, I have booked myself three nights and two days there.

My leave has been approved, accommodation has been reserved and the itinerary has more or less been finalised. My CouchSurfing friend is ready to bring me around Chengdu during weekends and my Garmin knowledge has improved. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, I would be in Chengdu on 22nd October 2012.