Manaus in 11 days

Manaus, and probably Brazil, is the most challenging country I visited. Had less than 10 English conversations and met about 5 Asians (all of them can speak Portuguese!). It is a surprise that I went through the last 10 days almost normally.

Stayed at a wonderful local house via AirBnB. Experienced the local Manaus, Amazonian and Brazilian lifestyle. Been a foreign cuisine for local insects' feast, from inside the airport to my room. Quite sure there are biting bugs and not just mosquitoes.

The Amazon is as awesome as expected. Pity can't experience more coz December is a rainy month and not all tours run everyday. There were only 1 river tour and 1 land tour date that fit in my schedule for Amazon Eco Adventures (AirBnB host recommended).

As unforgettable as this experience had been, it is unlikely I will come back here. My airfare to and fro Manaus is about SGD 3000 for mid-range tickets. The USD 800 to and fro Miami flights felt sketchy with terrible timings.

11 Dec (Fri)
- Panama City Tocumen International Airport (Air Margaritaville Restaurant)
- Manaus Eduardo Gomes International Airport

12 Dec (Sat)
- Itau Bank
- DB Supermarket
- Ichiban Sushi Bar

13 Dec (Sun)
- Ponte Rio Negro
- Iranduba Fazenda Jacobina
- Praia Da Ponta Negra

14 Dec (Mon)
- Amazonas Shopping
- Hospital Beneficiente Portuguesa
- Cemon
- Planalto roadside stall

15 Dec (Tue)
- Wyndham Garden Hotel
- Rio Negro @ Estrada da Ponta Negra
- Riverboat to Igarape Taruma Mirim

16 Dec (Wed)
- La Fonata Cafe
- Peixaria Morada Do Peixe 

17 Dec (Thu)
- Indigenous tribe inside Amazon Rainforest
- Dolphin feeding
- Floating Restaurant
- Pirarucu fishing
- Meeting of the Waters

18 Dec (Fri)
- Museu da Amazonia (Manaus Botanic Gardens)
- Firenze Condominium

19 Dec (Sat)
- Downtown Manaus
- Mercado Adolpho Lisboa
- Teatro Amazonas
- Arena Da Amazonia and Governo Do Amazonas

20 Dec (Sun)
- Cancelled forest tour to stay in coz down with a litle flu :(

21 Dec (Mon)
- Manaus Eduardo Gomes International Airport

- Miami International Airport

Florida in 14 days

Flew to Orlando for 11 days from Toronto, and then off to Bahamas, before coming back to Miami for 3 days. Didn't do much in Florida other than Universal Studios and Disney World. These are places that worth at least 1 visit in our lifetime.

My first credit card fraud happened in Orlando. Apparently, this is a common case in Florida. First fraud was like SGD 4, with the highest transaction at SGD 110. But this is also a place that everyone uses credit card everywhere.

Overall, I stayed in 3 fantastic AirBnB places here. Got a nice local experience at Miami and touristy experience in Orlando. Nice and warm in winter, but not as hot and humid as Singapore for sure. The best thing about Florida is the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

Orlando

24 Nov (Tue)
- Florida Center
- Florida Center North (T-Mobile shop)
- Bus #42

25 Nov (Wed)
- Universal Studios Orlando
- Islands of Adventure

26 Nov (Thu)
- Islands of Adventure

27 Nov (Fri)
- Universal Studios Orlando

28 Nov (Sat)
- Universal Studios Orlando

29 Nov (Sun)
- Cypress Fairway Private Residences
- Winn-Dixie supermarket

30 Nov (Mon)
- Disney World Magic Kingdom

1 Dec (Tue)
- Disney World Epcot

2 Dec (Wed)
- Disney World Hollywood Studios

3 Dec (Thu)
- Stayed in at Mystic Pointe II apartments

4 Dec (Fri)
- Orlando International Airport

Miami

9 Dec (Wed)
- Miami International Airport
- MIC station

10 Dec (Thu)
- El Prado Bakery & Restaurant
- Winn-Dixie Supermarket @ Central Shopping Plaza

11 Dec (Fri)
- Sushi Maki @ Miami International Airport
- Air Margaritaville @ Panama International Airport

Bahamas in 6 days

Other than the flight and accommodation, everything else was decided on the go. Not sure what to expect since a lot of things went haywire. Credit Card fraud, checked-in luggage broken into, AirBnB host did not turn up at the airport in the last minute, etc.

Nassau felt like a mix of Bali and Sentosa. The differences are sea colour and Asian population (less than 10%). From an outsider's perspective, the difference in islander culture is not distinct. Felt a little like Bali, but also has their obvious differences.

Thankfully, I met a new Bahamian friend here. She showed me around on her off day and I learnt so much about Nassau and Bahamas. At her neighbourhood I was the odd Chinese in their laundry room. All in all, the Caribbean had been a wonderful local experience!

4 Dec (Fri)
- Lynden Pindling [Nassau] International Airport
- 5 Nassau Stree (Town Court Apartments)
- Downtown Nassau
- Via Restaurant & Bar
- Groceries Supermarket

5 Dec (Sat)
- Fish Fry
- Nassau Straw Market
- Festival Place
- Sharkeez Restaurant & Bar
- Junkanoo Beach

6 Dec (Sun)
- Atlantis
- Ferry to and fro Paradise Island
- Queen's Staircase
- Fort Fincastle
- Coconut Grove (ghetto area), Nassau Village (middle class neighbourhood), and Cable Beach (high end neighbourhood)
- Drifter at Da Fish Fry

7 Dec (Mon)
- Glass Bottom Boat
- Senor Frog's
- Downtown Nassau (Pirate Republic Brewing)

8 Dec (Tue)
- Bahama Jammers
- Bus #21 entire route
- Downtown Nassau (Tortuga Rum Cakes)

9 Dec (Wed)
- Lynden Pindling [Nassau] International Airport
- Graycliff Divans Lounge