Cliff(y) Goes Travelling

Hi, everyone! I hope all of you're safe and sound wherever you're. Pikachu and Melon are going for a quick travel again soon to Eastern Europe, so they'll be taking a short break from blogging for the time being. They're so excited! Do look forward to more entries in the near future!

Near Gate 32, El Dorado International Airport, Bogota, Colombia The flagship lounge of Avianca is located on the second floor near Gate 32 of El Dorado International Airport. While it may not measure up to the standards of some other flagship lounges globally, it's fairly spacious and divided into two areas: one for Business Class passengers and Star Alliance Gold members, while the other is open to travellers accessing using programs such as DragonPass.

103-09 Avenida El Dorado, Bogota, Colombia Named after the legend of a mythical city of gold, El Dorado International Airport is the primary gateway to Colombia. Known as one of the busiest airports in Latin America, the airport serves as a key hub for both Avianca and LATAM Airlines, the flag carrier of Colombia and Chile respectively.

Cundinamarca, Colombia As a quick recap, in  Part 1 , I immersed myself in the beauty of Guatavita Lake outside of Bogota, Colombia. After a delightful lunch, the full-day tour continued to the awe-inspiring depths of Zipaquira Salt Cathedral. Completed in 1950, this remarkable structure is hailed as one of the most notable achievements in Colombian architecture. 

Cundinamarca, Colombia Our adventure beyond Bogota continued the following day with a full-day tour, the second one that my BFF and I signed up for with Beyond Colombia. Priced at  COP 310,000 (~S$92.45)  per person, the tour first led us to the enchanting Lake Guatavita, a destination that promises natural beauty and ancient legends.

Cundinamarca, Colombia During our trip in Colombia, my BFF and I decided to book two tours to take a respite from the bustling capital city with Beyond Colombia, a highly rated company that's been operating since 2013. The first tour we chose was a half-day trip to marvel at Tequendama Falls, followed by a visit to a coffee plantation called Hacienda Coloma.

Bogota, Colombia Monserrate is a mountain that rises above 3,000 m, overlooking the city centre of Bogota. Considered sacred since pre-Columbian times when it was inhabited by the indigenous Muisca people, the mountain is a pilgrimage site with a church perched at its summit. Beyond its spiritual significance, it's also an iconic tourist attraction.

Bogota, Colombia Bogota is the vibrant capital city of Colombia where colonial-era architecture blends seamlessly with modern urban life. Sitting at an altitude of 2,640 m above sea level, it's one of the highest capital cities in the world. The elevation gives Bogota a cool, refreshing climate that remains pleasantly consistent throughout the year.

823 Calle 66, Bogota, Colombia For a safe, quiet place to stay in Bogota, you may want to consider the Chapinero area, which is one of the more affluent districts in the capital city of Colombia. Hotel Vilar America began as a small family-run establishment in 1979 and has since expanded to provide 73 comfortable rooms for its guests.

PTY-BOG (1h 40m) Boeing 737 MAX 9 ETD:  9.30am (GMT - 5) ETA: 11.10am (GMT - 5) My initial skepticism about Boeing 737 MAX 9 stemmed from the two tragic accidents involving Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines, which led to its grounding worldwide from March 2019 to November 2020. Despite that, I finally decided to give it a try, opting for a relatively short flight with Copa Airlines from Panama City to Bogota, Colombia.

Avenida Domingo Diaz, Tocumen International Airport, Panama City, Panama Daily: 5.30am - 9.00pm Before embarking on our morning flight to Bogota, Colombia, my BFF and I had the opportunity to visit the flagship lounge of Copa Airlines at Terminal 2 of the principal international airport of Panama City. The lounge, which can accommodate up to 420 guests, boasts a captivating design. However, the breakfast offerings left much to be desired.

Avenida Domingo Diaz, Panama City, Panama Tocumen International Airport is the principal international gateway to Panama, which is situated over 20 km from the capital city. Since its inauguration in 1947, it's grown to become the busiest airport in Central America. There are two terminal buildings, the second of which was opened in 2019 to accommodate the increasing demands of air travel.

Miraflores Locks, Panama City, Panama Panama Canal is one of the world's crucial arteries of international trade, ranking among the largest and most challenging engineering projects ever undertaken. Completed in 1914 after years of ambitious construction, the artificial 82-kilometre waterway has transformed global trade by providing a vital shortcut between the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.

Panama City, Panama The capital city of Panama is a vibrant metropolis known for its dynamic blend of history and modernity. Located at the Pacific entrance of the renowned Panama Canal that's significantly boosted global trade and the economy, the city was founded on 15 August 1519 by a Spanish conquistador named Pedro Arias Davila.

Calle Aquilino de la Guardia, Panama City, Panama Situated in the heart of the financial district of Panama City, The Executive Hotel Panama (4*) is a boutique hotel offering a total of 150 guest rooms, each equipped with a 42" flat-screen LCD TV and a refrigerator. It's located in a relatively quiet area at night, and isn't far from El Carmen subway station.

CUN-PTY (2h 45m) Boeing 737-800 ETD:  11.35am (GMT - 5) ETA: 2.20pm (GMT - 5) A member of the Star Alliance, Copa Airlines serves as the flag carrier of Panama. It's no coincidence if the livery reminds you of the now-defunct Continental Airlines and the current United Airlines because Copa Airlines formed a partnership with the former in 1998 and adopted a similar brand image.

Cancun-Chetumal Highway KM 22, Cancun, Mexico Located approximately 16 km southwest of the downtown area, Cancun International Airport is the easternmost airport in Mexico. Even though it's the second busiest airport in the country, handling approximately 35% of all international passengers, it's larger in size than Benito Juarez International Airport in the capital city.

Federal Cancun-Puerto Morelos Road, Cancun, Mexico My BFF and I were supposed to have the opportunity to unwind and enjoy a lovely dinner on the beaches of Cancun for half a day. Alas, it slipped away due to our WetJet flight cancellation. With our original hotel reservation cancelled, we quickly booked a room at City Express Plus Cancun (3*) located not far from the airport.

YUL-CUN (4h 25m) Airbus 330-200 ETD:  2.40pm (GMT - 4) ETA: 6.05pm (GMT - 5) Founded in 1986, Air Transat is a Canadian airline based in Montreal with a fleet of 37 Airbus aircraft at the point of writing. Had it not been for the massive cancellations by WestJet, including our flight from Toronto, Canada to Cancun, Mexico, I probably wouldn't have been aware of the airline, let alone purchased a flight ticket from them.

Near Gate 53, Montreal - Trudeau International Airport, Quebec, Canada Daily: 4.00am - 10.00pm Today's short post is on one of the lounges at Montreal - Trudeau International Airport, a pretty highly rated one that my BFF and I accessed using our Priority Pass membership. The National Bank of Canada is the largest bank in the province of Quebec and the sixth largest commercial bank in the country.

975 Romeo - Vachon Boulevard, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Situated 20 km west of downtown Montreal, the international airport serving the area is named in honour of Pierre Elliott Trudeau, the 15th Prime Minister of Canada and the father of Justin Trudeau. The airport also houses the corporate headquarters complex of Air Canada, the nation's flag carrier.

1085 Rue de la Cathedrale,  Montreal, Quebec, Canada Mon-Fri: 7.00am - 7.00pm Sat - Sun: 7.30am - 7.00pm  In an unexpected turn of events, my BFF and I found ourselves in snowy Montreal after a 6.5-hour bus ride from Toronto. Making the best use of our time before heading to its principal airport to continue with our journey, we visited the third largest church in the province of Quebec, once a French colony of Canada.

332 Prospect Street, Niagara Falls, New York, USA Aside from the Schengen area, my international land border crossings were limited to Singapore - Johor Bahru, Malaysia, Hong Kong - Shenzhen, China and Macau - Zhuhai, China prior to this trip. With the Niagara Falls straddling the international border, a simple bridge crossing took me from the Canadian side to the USA, adding another experience to my travel repertoire.

Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada Niagara Falls is a group of three waterfalls spanning the border between the province of Ontario in Canada and the state of New York in the USA. The largest of the trio straddles the international border, while the other two lie within the USA. In Canada, the city that goes by the same name was incorporated on 12 June 1903.

5577 Ellen Avenue, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada I suppose seeing Niagara Falls is one of the essential experiences when visiting Ontario, Canada. Without checking out of our hotel in Toronto, my BFF and I embarked on a quick 2D1N trip to the iconic destination. We opted to stay at Super 8 (2*), a budget-friendly choice managed by Wyndham Hotels, which offers complimentary breakfast to guests.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada Toronto, the capital of the Ontario province, is the largest city in Canada. As an international centre of business, finance, arts, sports and culture, it's one of the most multi-cultural and cosmopolitan cities in the world. It's said that approximately half of its residents were born outside of Canada.

249 Queens Quay West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Strategically located in the heart of Toronto downtown, specifically at the Harbourfront area, Radisson Blu Toronto Downtown (4*) caters to both leisure and business travellers. It's located within walking distance from Union train station, and is also in close proximity to the iconic CN Tower that stands at 533.3 m.

[BR226] SIN-TPE (4h 35m) Boeing 777-300ER ETD:  1.15pm (GMT + 8) ETA: 5.50pm (GMT + 8) Here's to a new travel series! Join us as we set out on our very first round-the-world trip, a voyage filled with anticipation and wonder as we went back to Canada after the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and ushered in the festive spirit of Christmas in Panama and New Year in Colombia. The journey began with EVA Air BR226 from Singapore to Taipei, Taiwan.

KIX-KUL (7h) Airbus 330-300 ETD:  9.55am (GMT + 9) ETA: 3.55pm (GMT + 8) The eagerly awaited post-pandemic family trip concluded with a pretty enjoyable flight on Malaysia Airlines MH53 from Osaka, Japan to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, followed by MH607 to Singapore. Unlike the inbound flight  MH52  that encountered a one-hour delay, the outbound flight departed on time as scheduled. 

2-5-1 Kasamatsu, Izumisano, Osaka, Japan Situated not far from Rinku-Town station, Hotel Stay the Kansai Airport (1*) is just one train station away from Kansai International Airport, the primary airport serving Osaka and the broader Kansai region. Having been in operation since 2020, the self-check-in hotel has got a few rooms that can accommodate groups of 6 to 8 people.

Yuasa, Wakayama, Japan Located to the south of Wakayama City, Yuasa is a small, but thriving port town. Since I was in the prefecture, I made it a point to go to this birthplace of shoyu (Japanese soy sauce). In the past, Yuasa was a resting place for pilgrims travelling the oldest pilgrimage route in Japan known as Kumano Kodo.

Wakayama City, Wakayama, Japan Wakayama City is the capital and the largest of the nine cities of the prefecture bearing the same name. On average, it takes just about an hour by train from Osaka, and an hour and a half from Kyoto. The area occupied by the city was the centre of the ancient Kii Province (紀伊国), from which the Japanese bookshop chain Kinokuniya (紀伊国屋) derives its name.

2-1-7 Kuroda, Wakayama City, Wakayama, Japan A chain of Japanese business hotels founded in 1986, Toyoko Inn (3*) has been expanding rapidly since the 1990s. At the point of writing, the franchise boasts an extensive network with over 300 branches, including overseas ones in the Philippines, South Korea, France and Germany. My family and I stayed for two nights at the branch near Wakayama station.

Nara, Japan A public park located at the foot of Mount Wakakusa, Nara Park is a captivating blend of natural beauty, cultural richness and enchanting wildlife. Established in 1880, the expansive park that sprawls over 500 hectares is renowned for its friendly inhabitants: over 1,200 free-roaming sika deer that's native to much of East Asia.

728-10 Kawakami-cho, Nara City, Nara, Japan Perched on the slopes of Mount Wakakusa, Mikasa Ryokan (3*) is a haven of tranquility, making it a choice of accommodation that I was truly grateful for booking. It was a restful one-night retreat, thanks to the peaceful ambience and picturesque surroundings. The hotel provides a free shuttle service from its small office near Kintetsu Nara station.

46-1 Takama-cho, Nara City, Nara, Japan I first found out about Henn-na Hotel (4*) through my friend's social media posts detailing her stay at the Huis Ten Bosch branch in Nagasaki Prefecture. Intrigued by the world's first robot-staffed chain of hotels registered under the Guinness World Record, I decided to check out the Nara branch that's located near Kintetsu Nara station.

Omihachiman, Japan One of my personal aspirations in life is to visit all 47 prefectures of Japan. For that, I brought along my family on a day trip to Shiga, a landlocked prefecture encircling Lake Biwa, Japan's largest freshwater lake. The quaint Omihachiman district was our destination, which is easily reachable by train from Kyoto.

Osaka City, Osaka, Japan First of all, Happy New Year! Formerly known as Naniwa, Osaka stands as Japan's second largest metropolitan area after Tokyo. It's served by two airports: Kansai International Airport  (KIX) and Osaka International Airport that's also referred to as Itami Airport (ITM). This short post features two areas renowned for their pulsating nightlife and culinary delights.