Monday, March 4, 2013

What's in Danang

Danang's main public recreation park, Cong Vien 29 Thang 3 is off Duong Nguyen Tri Phuong Street which is also near the airport.
The park is beside the Ho 29/3 lake and also act as a amusement park for children.

The dragon roller coaster(Vietnamese: Rồng Cao Tốc) is one such attraction in the park.

During public holidays,it will be crowded with families bringing along their children to have a great time here.




 Duy Tan University (Đại Học Duy Tân, Đà Nẵng, Việt Nam) (DTU) near the southeast corner of Lake 29/3.
Address:209 Phan Thanh Street, Thanh Khê District

A private university established on November 11 th, 1994,the first and largest in Central Vietnam.

A new 3+1 program collaboration between DTU and Coventry University in the UK, in affiliation with the Auston Institute of Management in Singapore took place at DTU on June 14,2012.
 
Duong Nguyen Tri Phuong Road  along  Lake Ho 29/3 connects from the airport meeting at the main arterial road junction of Danang,Duong Dien Bien Phu.
From this point to walk towards the main new bus terminal takes about 35 minutes.
The nearest walking route to riverside and  old section of the town from airport is via Nguyen Van Linh.
The two buildings were new shopping plaza across the Lake 29/3.
Danang is the 3rd largest city in Vietnam and many shopping complexes are sprouting in this vibrant city.



There were many low budget hotels along Dien Bien Phu Road
such as
No:73  Hoang Thuy Sinh Hotel  Tel:0913 488 667
No:259 Gold Star Hotel
No:289 Phuoc Long Hotel
No:291 Son Long Hotel
No:1245 Hoa My Hotel
No:5019 Anh Doang Hotel

Room rates from 200,000 VND

 Thanh  Long Hotel (distance to Danang main bus terminal 3km)
Address: 130 Dien Bien Phu - Da Nang
Tel: 0511.3649941 - 3649101
Fax: 0511.371211
Email: thanhlonghotel@dng.vnn.vn


 Co-op Mart located at Dien Bien Phu Road.
A leading local retailer supermart chain with wide range of local produce.













Statue at traffic circle pointing towards Le Duan Road which is also the direction of Danang Railway Station at Hai Phong Street.











Local bus stop,no shelter show your hand signal and the bus will stop.

Bus 1 Danang to Hoi An (20,000 VND)
Bus 2 Hoa Khanh to Cho Han
Bus 3 Danang to At Nghia
Bus 6 Danang to My Son.











The University of Danang along Le Duan Road.
There's a bus stop here to catch any of the inter district buses.








The yellow bus,no aircond for an hours drive to Hoi An.

Non express,will stop along the way to pick up passengers as well as letting off passengers who were on short trip.



Lotteria Vietnam,a Korean fast food restaurant chain located at the corner of  Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street and Le Duan Road,Hai Chau District.

Owned by the Lotte Group of South Korea,it started operation on October 1979 in Korea  and then expanded into Vietnam in 1998 with its house specialty the sogong-dong cheese hamburger.

There's also another outlet at Vinh Trung Plaza,Hung Vuong Street (Ong Ich Khiem Street) where the Big C Supermarket is located.




 Nha Nghi Ha Chau,a guesthouse off the main road at the Le Duan and Dien Bien Phu Road intersection.
Room rates 150,000 VND fan only with attached bathroom.

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Danang railway station timetable


Train Timetable to Dong Ha.
SE2: 11:51-15:59 128,000 VND
SE6: 10:18-14:40 80/110/120,000 VND
TN2: 06:38-12:06 58,000 VND
SE22:08:35
SE20 16:50 -21:00  100(hard)/110,000 VND soft


SE 4 (Danang - Hanoi )
Depart 14:42 Arrive 05:00
A/c soft:550,000 VND
A/c hard sleeper 6 beds-890/850/724,000 VND
A/c soft sleeper 4 beds-940/930,000 VND



SE2 (Danang - Hanoi)
Depart 12:06 Arrive 04:02
A/c soft: 533,000 VND
A/c hard sleeper 6 beds-823/786/670,000 VND
A/c soft sleeper 4 beds-870/860,000 VND

T2 (Danang - Hanoi)
Depart 06:58  Arrive 03:05
Normal hard seat:270,000 VND
Hard sleeper 6 beds:660/600/530,000 VND

SE20 (Danang - Hanoi)
Depart 16:30 Arrive 11:10
A/c hard seat 465,000 VND
A/c soft seat 505,000 VND
6 beds sleeper 800/765/650,000 VND
4 beds sleeper 845/835,000 VND

SE6 (Danang - Hanoi)
Depart 10:34 Arrive 04:45
Normal 320,000 VND
A/c Hard seat 455.000 VND
A/c soft seat 496,000 VND
6 beds sleeper 765/733/622,000 VND

SE22 (Danang - Hue)
Depart 08:59 Arrive 12:20
Hard seat a/cond 38,000
Soft seat 58,000 VND
6 beds sleeper 99/93/80,000 VND
4 beds sleeper 109/100,000 VND

SE8 (Danang - Hanoi)
Depart 23:22 Arrive 15:38
Soft seat a/cond 533,000 VND
6 beds sleeper 823/788/670,000 VND
4 beds sleeper 870/860,000 VND

SE1 (Danang - Saigon)
Depart 10:31 Arrive 04:00
Soft seat 630,000VND 
6 beds sleeper 954/913/775,000 VND 
4 beds sleeper 1005/997,000 VND

SE3 (Danang - Saigon)
Depart 13:12 Arrive 05:00(next day)
Soft seat 650,000 VND
6 beds sleeper 1032/987/840,000 VND
4 beds sleeper 1090/1,078,000 VND

SE5 (Danang - Saigon)
Depart 08:56 Arrive 04:40
Hard seat 578,000 VND
Aircond seat 538/586,000 VND

SE7 (Danang - Saigon)
Depart 21:41 Arrive 15:05
A/cond soft 630,000 VND
6 beds sleeper 954/913/775,000 VND
4 beds sleeper 1008/997,000 VND

TN1 (Danang - Saigon)
Depart 04:38 Arrive 03:03
Hard normal 320,000VND
6 beds soft 766/694/616,000VND

Southern line station stops:
Tam Ky - Mui Thanh -Dien Tri -Tung Hoa -Nha Trang - Thap Cham - Binh Tuan - Long Khanh - Bien Hoa - Saigon.


Northern line station stops:
Hanoi - Giap Bat - Phu Ly - Nam Dinh - Ninh Binh - Bim Son - Thanh Hoa - Cho Sy - Vinh - Yen Trung - Huong Pho - Dong Le - Dong Hoi - Dong Ha - Hue - Lang Co - Danang

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Trip to Ujung Pandang,Makassar,Sulawesi.

Arrived late in the evening about 5pm at the Bandara(a short name for Airport city)Sultan Hasanuddin,Makassar,Sulawesi Island,Indonesia.

The airport is about 30km from the main capital city,Makassar.

During the early days as part of my history lesson,we spelt Makassar as Macassar while Sulawesi was known as Celebes Island.
This being one of the dominant lucrative trading center during the colonial period.



The low cost airline listed this city as Ujung Pandang,a name popularly used during the twentieth century but the word Makassar looked more ideal.

China has the Silk Road while Indonesia played an important role in the Spice Trade Route which was one of the early maritime trades route pioneered by the Portuguese explorer navigator Vasco Da Gama during the late sixteenth century.

An early days medieval maritime trading boat was displayed at the concourse of the Bandar Udara International Sultan Hasanuddin.


One thing good for new arrivals at nearly all airports in Indonesia is the availability of public transport to the city center operated by the DAMRI state owned bus company.

Visitors have the options of choosing the comfort of this aircond minibus that operates every hour as you emerge from the exit of the arrival hall towards your right.No hassle,as the bus will be waiting in front of the terminal.

You pay Rupiah 20,000 per one way trip and the word return trip seemed confusing.

Over here travelers just hop into the bus and pay the bus conductor so you need not buy the ticket at any specific counters.

It's a flat rate irrespective of which town you want to stop along the designated bus route.












The airport shuttle bus route to city Makassar:










Hotels near airport:
 KG(KanakaGianna)Hotel..kanakagiana@gmail.com +624114813722 +628124752747 (SMS)

1) Jalan P Kemerdekaan:
-About 10th kilometer from airport,you have Makassar Town Square,Ramayana Department Store and Carrefour Supermarket,ATM Mandiri near Sungai Tallo River.
Place to stay:
Ramayana Hotel,
Jl Perintis Kemerdekaan
Tel:(0411)581-198
Ramayana Hotel
Jl Perintis Kemerdekaan, Makassar
(0411) 581-198
- See more at: http://caritahuhotel.blogspot.com/2012/10/hotel-hotel-di-makassar-berikut-daftar.html#sthash.nTZ0HR6Z.dpuf

2) Jalan U Sumorharjo:
Hotel Kamanre,opposite Sungai Tallo River far from shopping area.
Wimsa Agung Mas (km 19) Tel:553-457


3) Jalan Gn Bawakaraeng:(location unsuitable unless with own transport)
Hotel Ramayana Satria
Tel:(0411)442-479
Hotel Merlin Tel:(0411)449-795


5) Jalan Kajaolalido:(area quite near coast and port)
My Place Spa & Cafe(0411)361-5777 in front  Singgasana Hotel (Tel:(0411)327-051)

6) Jalan Arif Rate

7) Jalan Sultan Hasanuddin
Hotel Celebes Tel:320-770
Hotel Wisata Inn Tel:324-444
Hotel Delta Tel:312-711
Pondok Suada Indah
Hotel Mira
Hotel Santika Tel:332-233

8) Jalan Patimura(Pasar Baru)

9) Jalan Ujung Pandang
Wisma Sanur

10) Jalan Riburane:-Ideal last bus stop from airport
Guesthouses many,within walking distance to churches,temples,historical sites,and  Chinatown.
Jl Jempea:
---Losmen Semeru,Wisma Permata,Hotel Yasmin

Jl Ahmad Yani:
--Wisma City Inn (Tel3631168) behind KFC

Other cheap Accomodations("Penginapan" in bahasa Indonesia):("Losmen =Guesthouse)

Wisma Faris

Irian Losmen-Jl Dr Wahidin Sudirohusodo 49, Tel:361-4022,362-3110

Samalona Losmen-Jl Samalona 11 Pattunuang, Wajo Makassar 90174 Sulawesi SelatanT:el:3613348,3621788

Lima Penginapan -Jl RA Kartini 159-A Batupasi, Wara Utara Palopo 91911 Sulawesi Selatan Tel:(0471) 21175

Haska Penginapan - Jl Wijaya 1 Botto, Lalabata Watansoppeng 90811 Sulawesi Selatan T:(0484) 21138

Monton Wisma -Jl Abdul Gani 14-A Rantepao 91831 Sulawesi Selatan T:(0423) 21675

 Pondok Sera-Jl Raya Lanto 46 Bantaeng 92411 Sulawesi Selatan (0413) 21600

Pondok Borobudur Indah- Jl Sarappo 143 Makassar 90164 Sulawesi Selatan (0411) 3613290

Fajar Wisma- Jl Merdeka 11 Makale 91811 Sulawesi Selatan (0423) 22022

 Ayu Wisma -Jl Andi Paggaru 18 Sengkang 90913 Sulawesi Selatan (0485) 22634

Ganggawa 2 Penginapan Jl Andi Makkasau 13 Pangkajene Sidrap 91611 Sulawesi Selatan (0421) 91068

Kanang Penginapan Jl Jend Sudirman 77 Takalar 92212 Sulawesi Selatan (0418) 21077

Haska Penginapan Jl Wijaya 1 Watansoppeng 90811 Sulawesi Selatan (0484) 21138



Returning to airport,this is the ticketing booth in front of Jalan Ahmad Yani.
On the right will be towards the town centre financial district and also the police headquarter located.
Jalan Jempea where you have cheap guesthouses and also Chinatown is  a street behind this road.
Holland Bakery shop is off the road on the left.
On my arrival the first day,the bus drop me across the Riburane road(Jl) near the junction to Jl Ahmad Yani when I told the bus conductor  "turun dekat Jempea" (get down near Jempea.



For better location identity of  getting a bus back to aiport,this blue building in front is the RRI Makassar.
RRI -Radio Republik Indonesia.
Across the road ,vehicles will be moving towards the coast via Fort Rotterdam.









Map of the island of Sulawesi .
Makassar City is near the south western tip of the island whereas Manado,the second largest capital city of  North Sulawesi located in northeastern tip.

This island seemed to have lots of colonial interest including the Japanese capture of Manado as well as the heavy Allied bombing during World War II..

Sulawesi is the world's eleventh largest island surrounded by Borneo to the west,Philippines in the north,Maluku(Moluccas)to the east,Flores and Timor to the south.



The blue dot is where the bus drop me from the airport while the red spot is where you embark for your journey back to the airport.

Jln Jempea is part of the Chinatown  where I parked myself at one of the cheap guesthouses.