“The diamond cannot be polished without friction, nor the man perfected without trials…” – Chinese Proverb
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(Christ the Redeemer at Rio De Janeiro) |
We boarded the 12:35 flight JJ3186 to Rio de Janeiro. Arrived Rio de Janeiro at 14:30 and were met by our guide, Mr. Ricardo. Rio de Janeiro or 'River of January' is the second largest city in Brazil, on the South Atlantic coast.
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(Arriving at Rio de Janeiro Airport) |
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(Welcoming drinks at the hotel) |
Rio is famous for its breath-taking landscape, laid back beach culture and annual carnival. The harbour of Rio de Janeiro is comprised of a unique entry from the ocean that makes it appear to be the mouth of a river. Additionally, the harbor is surrounded by spectacular geographic features including Sugar Loaf Mountain at 395 meter, Corcovado Peak at 704 meter, and the hills of Tijuca at 1,021 meter. These features work together to collectively make the harbour, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.
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(Copacabana beach at sunset) |
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(A 4 km Copacabana Promenade) |
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(The skyline along the beautiful beach) |
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(Beach volleyball and dancing on the beach) |
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(One of the cafe along the promenade) |
We checked in Americas Copacabana Hotel situated in the Copacabana beach area. This hotel is within a 15-minute walk of Copacabana Beach and Ipanema Beach. Attractions like Sugar Loaf Mountain and Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden are also within 10 km distance from the hotel.
After a short rest we had a leisurely stroll along the beach and watched the sunset over Rio skyline from the beach.
Day 12: Friday, 27 Oct 2017
Route: Rio de Janeiro Tour
Hotel: Rio de Janeiro Americas Copacabana Hotel, Brazil
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(A quieter Ipanema Beach) |
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(The Tram to Corcovado Mountain) |
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(The map of Rio de Janeiro) |
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(The tram business hours) |
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(Colourful crystals of the Redeemer) |
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(Brazil Soccer collectibles) |
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(The famous Marius Restaurant) |
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(The lunch is worth every penny) |
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(A full house during lunch hour) |
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(A restaurant with unique deco) |
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(A must visit dining establishment) |
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(A kissing giraffe outside the restaurant) |
After visiting Christ the Redeemer we had lunch at one of the famous restaurant, the Marius Degustare, an organic meat and seafood restaurant offering all you can eat. It is world renowned and a must visit dining established mentioned in Patricia Schultz’s book “1000 places to see before you die”. It is a place for an unforgettable gastronomic and sensory experience with unique décor of antique artifacts from Brazil’s farming past.
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(A refreshing drink at the poolside cafe) |
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(The view from the hotel rooftop) |
It was a free and easy afternoon and evening for a stroll at the beach or at the night market along the Copacabana beach. We overnight again in Rio de Janeiro Americas Copacabana Hotel.
Day 13: Saturday, 28 Oct 2017
Route: Rio de Janeiro Tour
Early in the morning we boarded a 4x4 vehicle to visit Tijuca Forest, the World Largest Urban Rain Forest and visited Monkeys Waterfall, the Chinese Viewpoint, Mesa do Imperador and Taunay’s Waterfall.
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(Mario Filho Football Stadium) |
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(Brazilian Football team caps for sale) |
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(Masjid El-Nur) |
After visiting the urban jungle, we visited Mario Filho Stadium also known as Maracana Stadium mainly used for football matches between the major football clubs in Rio. This stadium used to host the 1950 FIFA World Cup, in which Brazil was beaten 2-1 by Uruguay in front of the home spectators.
We also visited Masjid El Nur or Mesquita da Luz. After our prayers at the mosque, we visited Escadaria Selaron, a world famous colourful mosaic steps. Escadaria Selarón, also known as the 'Selaron Steps', is a set of world-famous steps in Rio de Janeiro. They are the work of Chilean-born artist Jorge Selarón who claimed it as his tribute to the Brazilian people. The steps are in fragments of blue, green and yellow tiles – the colours of the Brazilian flag. There are also beautiful murals and paintings on the wall.
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(The cable car ticket) |
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(A long ride to the peak of Sugar Loaf Mountain) |
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(A colourful painting) |
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(Mid-way to the Sugar Loaf Mountain) |
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(A view of the mountain and the bay) |
Next we boarded the cable car to Sugarloaf Mountain for a good view of Rio, Guanabara Bay and the beaches. Sugarloaf Mountain is a peak situated in Rio de Janeiro, at the mouth of Guanabara Bay on a peninsula that juts out into the Atlantic Ocean. Rising 396 meter above the harbor, its name is said to refer to its resemblance to the traditional shape of concentrated refined loaf sugar. It is known worldwide for its cableway and panoramic views of the city. The mountain is one of several monolithic granite and quartz mountains that rise straight from the water's edge around Rio de Janeiro. The mountain is protected by the Sugarloaf Mountain and Urca Hill Natural Monument, created in 2006. This became part of a World Heritage Site declared by UNESCO in 2012.
On the way back to the hotel we passed beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana, famous official locations for FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.
Day 14: Sunday, 29 Oct 2017
Route: Rio de Janeiro - Dubai - KL
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(Rio de Janeiro International Airport) |
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(A lot of time to rest before our flight) |
We checked out of the hotel around 23:30 and were transferred to the airport for our International 03:05 EK248 flight to Dubai then boarded the 03:50 EK346 flight to Kuala Lumpur.
We arrived safely at KLIA around 14:55.
Alhamdulillah…
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(Souvenirs from Machu Pichu) |
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(Caps from Argentina, Peru and Brazil) |