Reviews

Kyushu, May 2026

Kyushu is the Southern-most main island of Japan. It is known as the “Land of Fire” because of the many volcanic activities.  Indeed the emphasis of this tour is the many landscapes left behind by the volcanic activities.
 
After we landed, we went on a cruise round Kujukushima, Nagasaki.  The coast of Sasebo is reputed to contain 208 islands.  The islands were formed millions of years ago from volcanic activity, tectonic shifts and rising sea levels.  It serves as a reminder that Japan sits on the intersection of Tectonic Plates and it contains 10% of the world’s active volcanoes.
 
After lunch we took a cable car to the top of Mt Inasa where we had a panoramic view of Nagasaki City.  We were able to locate where the Atomic Bomb landed.  It is understandable that a city with such a history will contain numerous slogans and buildings which express a desire for Peace.  I noticed one such slogan – “May Peace Prevail on Earth”.  There was also the Peace Park and the Peace Stadium.
 
Chinatown in Nagasaki is just a short street.
 
The 2nd day we took a ferry with our bus to Kumamoto prefecture, where we visited Kumamoto Castle. This was the site of the Satsuma rebellion that ended the power of the samurais.
 
Next we visited Suizenji JoJuen Garden a Japanese landscape garden.
 
We ended the day in a hotel in which some of us had rooms facing Sakurajima, a famous active volcano.  One can see ash/smoke spewing from Sakurajima.
 
Day 3, we took a short ferry ride to Sakurajima Visitors Centre.  On arrival we first visited the foot bath facility fed by volcanic water.  Then it was off to Lava Road, where magma from the Sakurajima had solidify and could be seen and touched.
 
We then visited a vinegar factory where we had lunch.  After lunch we went up to Shiroyama Park Observation Platform for a bird’s eye view of Kagoshima City with Sakurajima in the background.
 
The next day, we went to Kirishima in Mayazaki prefecture to view a unique structure at the beach known as “The Devil’s Washboard”.  This is a jagged bed of rock (arranged neatly in straight lines) that is a result volcanic/tectonic activity.  It gives the appearance of a washboard and stretches 8 kilometers along the coast of Aoshima.  We were there at low tide and could see very clearly “The Devil’s Washboard”.  On Aoshima Island there is a shrine and Aoshima Island is connected to the mainland by a bridge.
 
After this we went to Sun Messe Nichinan, where is put up, the only authorized Moai statues outside Easter Island.  The statues were authorized by the Elders of Easter Island in gratitude for the assistance the Japanese offered to erect fallen statues.
Day 5, was Takachiho Gorge day. It is a deep gorge carved by ancient volcanic eruption and the Gokase River.  We went up and down a walking trail until we reached the bridge where we could see the famed high basalt cliffs and cascading Manai Falls with boats at the river below.  The journey through the gorge and back took at least 1 hour.
 
We had lunch at the foot of Mt Aso. After lunch, we wondered across a vast green grassland (located just across the road from the lunch place) where we could view Mt Aso spewing ash/smoke.  I heard there were 3 deaths on Mt Aso.  They cannot extract the bodies hence we were not allowed up.
 
On day 6, we had a chance to see the richness of volcanic soil when we visited Kuju Flower Park.  Rows of multicolored flowers were planted on volcanic soil and it was indeed a riot of colors.  In the afternoon, we visited Beppu, a famous resort city in Oita, Kyushu.  Although there are 8 “Hells of Beppu” because of time constraints we were only able to visit 2.  We visited the “Blood Hell Pond” – the red colored pond and the “Spout Hell” – that erupts at regular intervals.  Although Beppu is well known for its hot springs, the 8 hells Beppu are not for bathing as they are too hot.  Beppu produces most hot water in Japan.
 
On the last day of our tour, we visited Lake Kinrin which’s water is warm.  It is a neighbor of Beppu but the scalding thermal hot spring is mixed with ice cold fresh spring water hence it is warm the whole year round.  We managed to visit the shops round Lake Kinrin.
 
Then we headed to Fukuoka, on the last leg of our journey.  At Fukuoka, we had lunch at Tenmangu Shrine, a shrine for scholarship.  Thereafter we went shopping.
 
The next day at 10.00 am. We boarded a plane that would take us home.  
 
It was an eye opener, to see that the shape of the earth is determined by what goes on beneath the surface.
 

Yik Tze Kong

New Zealand, April 2026

In late April 2026 a group of 16 participants left in the early morning of Saturday 25th April to tour New Zealand’s North Island.
 
We arrived late evening and rested for the night. The following Sunday we had breakfast and then we proceed to on a city tour of Auckland. We explored Mt. Eden Park, Queen Street, Sky Tower, a historical church, the Auckland Museum and a memorial garden!
 
On the second day, we left Auckland to go to Waitomo where we explored their famous Waitomo Glow-worms Caves and grotto as part of a guided tour! We marvelled at the starry light displays illuminated by the tiny lights of thousands of glow-worms! We then continued our journey to Rotorua by coach. Along the way, we visited a Redwood Forest, one of New Zealand’s greatest natural treasures.
 
For Day 3, we visited the famous Huka Falls. We then proceed to take a boat cruise on Lake Taupo and managed to view the famous Māori rock carvings! On the way back to the city of Rotorua, we dropped by a Māori Arts and Crafts Institute for dinner and an evening performance and tour of a Māori village. We also got to see boiling mud pools, the Famous Pohutu geyser. We also visited the Kiwi House enclosure to see the rare sight of the Kiwi birds. 
 
Day 4 was the day we visited the Hobbiton Movie Set. This 12-acre site features 44 Hobbit Holes, the Millhouse, the Double Arched Bridge, and the famous Green Dragon Inn. Later in the evening, we went for a cable car ride and had our dinner at the top while catching amazing views of the city of Rotorua!
 
We visited The Agrodome on our fifth day and was treated to a stage show about the farming life in New Zealand. We even went on a tractor tour of the premises. We even got to feed the farm animals!
We then proceeded to return to Auckland via Hamilton. We visited and explored Hamilton Gardens along the way.
 
On our final day in Auckland, it was a free and easy day. We did our last-minute shopping and also dropped by Davenport, a harbourside suburb and had our final meal at Auckland Fish Market before flying home on the night of 1st May.

Johnson Tan

Shanghai, April 2026

Shanghai->Hangzhou->Suzhou->Wuzhen


Twenty- one members from Silver Horizon flew to Shanghai on 10 April then went by coach to Hangzhou, Suzhou and Wuzhen. It was a delightful trip with beautiful landscapes, sumptuous meals and lots of fun.

Shanghai was a brief stop, but some of us managed to snag good bargains for cashmere cardigans on a quick shopping stop. The Xixi wetlands and famous Xihu lived up to their reputation of exquisite beauty. We also learned about Chinese history including palace intrigues! 

In Suzhou, we learnt a beautiful Chinese poem associated with the bells at Hanshan Temple. The highlight of the tour was our overnight stop in the old water town of Wuzhen, where we were all enchanted by the magical mix of ancient buildings, picturesque landscapes and modern amenities. We all felt one day was too short and hope to return!

Dr Agnes  Tay

Shikoku, Japan: March 2026

This was an outstanding trip, and the pace was just right for seniors: unrushed, with well-timed toilet breaks and no pressure to keep up.

 

Best parts: Ritsurin Garden was breathtaking, Shodoshima Island was a real gem, and the hands-on udon making was so much fun. The sakura along river banks, gardens, and at Matsuyama and Kochi castles made the whole route feel like a painting. Dogo Park was another highlight.

 

Guides: Ms Akiko, our English speaking local guide, showed great initiative and always made things easy for us. Our tour leader Jimmy was great too. He would always WhatsApp us with supplemental info while Akiko was explaining the scene, which helped us understand so much more.

 

Most memorable moment: Crossing the Iya Kazurabashi vine bridge in the mountains. Knowing it was made by weaving together wisteria vines made it even more special.

 

Final day treat: The Kobe beef teppanyaki lunch in Osaka before flying home was the perfect ending.

 

Verdict: Highly recommend this for nature lovers, garden lovers, and seniors who want a comfortable, well-planned trip. Silver Horizon really understands mature travelers.

 

Rose Huang

Guilin, March 2026

My Guizhou & Guilin Escape

 

It was a delightful and memorable holiday with the beauty of nature, of mountain peaks, rivers, water falls, caves and old towns.


We were lucky to have been there at the peak of the cherry blossom season, and we visited a cherry blossom forest at Pingba with 700,000 trees! The trees were planted by prisoners years ago, and now it is open for public enjoyment.


We also visited a tea plantation which was also a research station, and the professor gave us the complete experience from donning the hat and carrying the basket and picking the tea leaves.


We were also showed how the leaves were processed, and graded and also the fine points of drinking tea. At night, beautiful light up buildings, especially traditional ones like the pagodas, like this one by the side of the Li River, was a feast for the eyes.


We enjoyed delicious meals in top restaurants featuring local cuisine, and in the evenings, we retired to the comfort of 5 star hotels.


It was indeed a good getaway to rest and recharge.

Dr. Chuang Jee Leng

MONGOLIA, AUGUST 2024

Mongolia trip to the Land of Eternal Blue Sky was so memorable. I am moved to record it as a beacon for those who have never visited. Go for it at the next invite for the following reasons:

  1. Experience, get overwhelmed by the immensity of the landscape of endless grasslands/steppe against white clouds and blue sky. As far as the eye can see.
  2. Grasp physically the nomadic way of life. See, feel, and taste what the nomads experience living in their abode; round tents called Ger and with their livestock around them. They also use modern technology eg vehicles, mobiles where they can. Our Gers out in the grasslands have full amenities, comfortable.
  3. The horse is ultra-special to the Mongols. On visiting a horse farm, we were dramatically greeted by a racing herd of horses; accompanying our arrival. Life in a horse farm was shown us. Some of us capped the visit with a 1 hour guided horseback ride into the rolling hills.
  4. Our lunches and dinners were superb in quality and quantity. Salads was surprisingly fresh and tasty, different from the servings at home. All table meats are grass-fed; unlimited pastures.
  5. I had thought of Mongolia as an underdeveloped country. Wrong. The capital, Ulaanbaatar, is as modern as S’pore. Purple/blond hair and ripped jeans are common. Traffic jams in the city are worse than ours.
  6. Highlights of shopping are pine nuts and cashmere apparel.
  7. Education wise, we learnt primitive as they were, the Mongols conquered/ ruled the Asia-Europe continent through Chinggis Khaan (aka Genghis Khan) and his successors. The national museum showcasing the history and artefacts were impressive, attesting to their supremacy in those days.
  8. Our local travel agency and accompanying group manager (Jimmy) coupled with our host guides and drivers rose to the occasion for us. We give thanks!

Dr. Chin Wah Seng

Chengdu & Jiuzhaigou, May 2025

Before our tour we were quite anxious about the weather. However, it turned out just nice, no heavy rain, no sweltering heat – we were truly blessed. The hotels were good, although some had minor problems.

 

At the Dujiangyan Panda Base, we met Le Le, (Singapore born, 14 August 2021), who returned to Chengdu in January 2024. He was very busy having his bamboo lunch. In Chengdu and Jiuzhaigou we visited many scenic places, including the Diexi lake and the Songpan Ancient town. 

 

The Min River flowed endlessly through, while our coach followed faithfully along its twists and turns – a marvelous sight. In Jiuzhaigou we saw glimpses of snow-capped mountains, waterfalls, and true-blue lakes. Huanglong was challengingly freezing and oxygen scarce. But we survived the cable car ride, bus rides and endless walking! 

 

Three of our members (Karuni, Irene and Lena) managed to climb down to the temple and viewed the colorful ponds and climbed up again! They were our heroes! 

 

At the Chuancais Museum, we learned to cook the world-renowned Sichuan cuisine, namely the Panda steamed dumplings, Ma Po Tofu and Kung Pao Chicken. All passed with flying colours. Sichuan Opera was an eye opener, showcased the Face changing skills and Hand shadow skills. 

 

Also in Chengdu we learned the history of the three Kingdoms, at Wuhou shrine, about Zhuge Liang, Lui Bei the empower of Shuhan and Chow Chow. History repeats itself – a lot of fighting and many perished. 

 

The food was the best, we were feasted at every meal, no complaints except some of us had numbed tongues after tasting the peppercorns! Last but not least, we enjoyed the shopping along the way. Thanks to Travel Hub (Alice) for such an enjoyable and great experience in Chengdu, Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong!

Shirley Wan

Okinawa, March 2025

After a long hiatus, Silver Horizon organised a tour to Okinawa, Japan in March 2025. A group of 25 participants left in the early morning of 11th March for Naha, Okinawa and returned safely in the afternoon of 16th March.


The group itinerary consists of visits to farms, castles, gardens, and other tourist sites. We stayed in Hotel Collective throughout our week-long stay. This hotel is located along the famous Kokusai (Shopping) Street. Shopping was very convenient in the evenings after our dinners.


The weather was good most days except for the last two days when it rained a bit. Food was good; we had tonkatsu, teppanyaki, and the usual buffet spreads. Mainly international cuisine for breakfast supplemented by local Japanese dishes.


For the last day, we indulged in a Traditional Japanese dinner before going home!

Day 1 started with a visit to Itoman City Market. We were served breakfast and then we proceed to browse the area’s markets which sold fresh seafood, and other foodstuffs. We also visited a Premium Brands Factory Outlet nearby. We then checked in to our hotel on the famed Kokusai Street in the late afternoon. Dinner was an Okinawa Dining Experience at a restaurant nearby. We went shopping along Kokusai Street after dinner.


On the second day, we visited Okinawa World Culture Kingdom in the morning. Within Okinawa World, we explored Gyokusendo Cave, a large, 5-kilometer-long cave system, considered to be the most beautiful in East Asia, and other attractions such as a snake museum. We also watched an Okinawa Eisa Drum Dance Show. In the afternoon, we visited the Peace Memorial Park. It was followed by a stopover at a sea grape farm where we observed how it was farmed and harvested. We then had a grand teppanyaki dinner at Kokusai Street.

For Day 3, we stopped by a supermarket on the way to a Salt Factory where we saw how salt was harvested from the sea. We had a simple lunch at the salt factory before we proceeded to explore the nearby park and beach. We also visited the beautiful Royal Shikina-en Gardens, a UNESCO Heritage site after lunch. We also indulged in a Coral Dyeing Workshop where we used corals to create artwork on T-shirts, tote bags, scarfs etc. A final stop was the Royal Mausoleum where the urns of the ancient royal family was kept! We then had pork tonkatsu for dinner today! 


We crossed the Kouri Bridge on the fourth day to visit Kouri Island. Unexpected rain denied us a good view of the scenery as we went up the Kouri Ocean Tower. We then visited the famous Churaimi Aquarium after lunch where the main attraction was a massive whale shark in the main tank! In the afternoon, we visited the Nakajin castle ruins and the Heart Rock at Tuni Beach. The final activity of the day was a cooking demonstration where we also had our dinner.

On Day 5, we were divided into smaller groups for our home visits. We spent some time with an ordinary family in Okinawa and experience their lifestyle, learn Japanese and Okinawan cultures while enjoying lunch with them. We also visit the Okinawa Prefectural Museum that provides a superb overview of Okinawa’s history from the late 19th century onward. Our final dinner was a traditional Japanese dinner where we also bade farewell to our gracious local guide Aki, and we wore traditional Japanese clothes for the occasion. Everyone had an unusual and fun experience in Okinawa! We flew home on the morning of 16 March.

Johnson Tan

Memories from Hainan Tour,  24 – 30 Jan 2026

By Shirley Wan


Hainan Island tour was the first SH tour for 2026. Twenty four members joined and experienced an interesting journey through the places such as Danzhou, viewing the ancient salt fields and visited the Dongpo Academy, in memory of Su Dongpo, a renowned literary giant of the Song Dynasty. Then to Wuzhi Mountain rainforest for a healthy forest bathing exercise, and to Binglang Valley (Betel Nuts Valley), where we experienced the Li and Miao ethnic minorties’ heritage. 


Sanya Nanshan offered a unique cultural Chinese Garden visit, including a buggy ride to the 108 meter statue of Guanyin. The journey continued to The Ends of the Earth, Tianya Haijiao scenic coastal area. We took many photos by the ocean. 


Next we visited the Bo’ao Forum for Asia, saw the Wanquan River, the third longest river in Hainan and returned to Haikou Arcade Old Street offering great shopping at local shops and cafes. We were awed by the satellite launches set up and displays in Wenchang. Explored the Soong Family residence in Wenchang, the Confucius temple as well as the Dongjiao Coconut Groove. 


The food was excellent and the company as well. All five star hotels were impressive. All participants enjoyed the care provided by Alice and her team. Many fond memories collected in the photo album.