Painting the Globe Red

Milan or Verona for the last stop in Italy?

2009-03-27T00:25:00.001-07:00

We had the choice of going to Verona, where the age-old romantic story of Romeo and Juliet unfolded or to Milan, the modern and chic fashion center of Italy for our last stop before proceeding to Switzerland. We succumbed to our more materialistic side...what's so great about the balcony where Romeo had professed his love for Juliet centuries ago anyway? It had very little meaning to us so, Milano it was.

Bus ride from Venice to Milano...again, the barren fields and farmyards.

Love the blue skies though, the skies are always so blue here in Europe.

An old castle on the hill by the highway.

A small town at the base of a hill with its own church and campanile.

Morning tea break at one of the stopovers on the highway...I couldn't resist taking a shot with this cute huggable bear... :P

Milano is the second largest city in Italy, being the capital of the Province of Milan, which sits on the region of Lombardy. I've heard and read about Milan so many times in fashion magazines that I instinctively felt a thrill before we even arrived at the place. Boutiques and shops sounded like a very good way to go for the shopping maniac in me...all the better if there were nice sights to see as well along the way.

We've rolled in the streets of Milano on a quiet morning - quiet, only because it was the weekend and very few people were working.

A typical sight on the street...people literally 'window-shop' here, peeping from one window to another for new trends.

Many water features such as these as well all around the city.

An overcast morning in Milano.

Our guide cleverly chose the Galleria Vittoro Emanuelle II, which is located at the Piazza Duomo for our shopping spot of the day. This is also where the impressive Duomo di Milano stood with its spires piercing the skies. Duomo di Milano was most certainly quite a sight to behold. It is the third biggest cathedral in the world after all (after St Peter's Basilica in Rome and the Cathedral of Seville) and is one of the best representation of Gothic architecture in Italy.

Duomo di Milano, a very impressive cathedral in Milan. Hear that sound? That was my jaw dropping... Looks like something out of a fairy tale, so you see, fairy tales DO happen!!!

A clearer picture.

Frontal view of the cathedral.

Dang...can't remember the significance of this statue outside Galleria Vittorio Emanuelle II...*sigh*

The equesterian monument in Piazza Duomo.

Galleria Vittoro Emanuelle II, centered in its pallazo-like facade.

An Arc-de-Triumph motif in the Piazza Del Duomo entrance.

The Galleria Vittorio Emanuelle II connects two of Milan's most famous landmarks, the Duomo and the Teatro Alla Scala, which is one of the world's most famous opera houses. Unfortunately, I do not have any pics of this opera house. :(

Another shot of the cathedral from a different angle.

The arcade passage is covered by an arching glass and cast iron roof - a traditional design for arcades in the 19th century.

Outside Rinascenter Shopping Mall.

Finally...something familiar for lunch - Mc D's, which was not quite so cheap here...the most expensive McD meal for two we've ever paid for!

Different design and color - the logo is in black and gold, perhaps to symbolize the prestige of the place...?

Right at the other end is the La Scala theatre.

This shopping arcade houses the most prestigious brands, like Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Prada.

Taking a walk around the Piazza.

Potable water everywhere - nobody would die of thirst here, not the fluid kind anyway.

La Rinascente where we did our shopping. For Burberry lovers, the price here in Italy is strangely cheaper than in London so...this is where you'd want to pick up your merchandises before heading out of Italy.

A side view of the Duomo, with the tall arched windows...very, very pretty!

Final shot before we ended our short tour around Milano.

Granted, there were so many more places that we did not manage to see here in Milano, too many shops that were left unvisited. My advice is to plan more days here if you're a shopping fanatic! Otherwise, you'd leave very unsatisfied, like me. :(

Venice, Italy

2009-03-24T18:28:00.000-07:00

"Water, water everywhere, but not quite a drop to drink". This about sums up what I feel about Venice, the city which is world-famous for its canals or waterways. Funnily enough, a bottle of mineral water here costs at least RM 10, so...you get the picture about the second part of that phrase.

Anyhow, Venice is known as one of the most romantic places in the world and I agree whole-heartedly. Located in the north of Italy, it is the capital of the region Veneto. There are about 150 odd canals here in Venice, spanned by 400 over bridges. Quite an amazing tally and just looking at the bird's eye view of Venice in the travel brochure left me agape - it was a maze of buildings and canals and bridges.

We headed out of the Tuscany region...somewhere near Pisa where we put up a night after visiting the Leaning Tower very early in the morning, wanting to make full use of the daylight hours romping around the famous tourist destination. Another amazing but short bus ride.

Spotted a quaint looking church along the way.

Another Autogrill along the highway.

Locating our next destination in the map of Italy - Venice, here we come! :)

And finally, we got close enough to the island to catch a glimpse of the expanse of water. There was some kind of marathon going on during that time. I was surprised to find that most of the runners were middle to old-aged men and women. Italians are very health conscious people!

There...so began our 'water, water everywhere' journey!

Along the highway that led us to the jetty.

Lovely colorful sailboats, dotting the horizon...my favorite view!

A nice shot of the bridge...

And so, we reached the jetty, where a boat would take us to the island. Lots of souvenirs to gape at or buy here...some sexy ones as well!

Those up there were aprons, erm...very creative ones. There were painted face masks, tri-angels, t-shirts, clocks, little ceramic statues and buildings, watches, hats, scarves, etc...you name it, they have it here!

This is the jetty where we waited for a boat to take us to Piazza Saint Marco on the main island.

There were many boats docked here - motorised waterbuses that they called the vaporettis. The main mode of transportation used to be the gondolas, but now they are only used for tourists - mostly for weddings, funerals or other occasions. I personally think they cost too much for any other purposes!

Taking a shot before stepping into the boat. It was a very wonderful ride whereby you'd be able to get a bigger picture of Venice from a distance.

There, this is a very nice pic of Venice from the boat...you could quite easily spot the St Mark's campanile (bell tower), the bulbous domes of St Mark's basilica and the Doges Palace here. Unfortunately, you can't see much of the Bridge of Sighs from this angle.

A better view of the Basilica of St Mark.

I love this shot distant shot of Piazza San Marco.

A different view from the boat.

The Saint Mark's Campanile, which is one of the most recognizable symbols of the city. It stands alone in a corner of Piazza St Marco.

The cool air was very refreshing, so I came out to the open air area of the boat to cam-whore a little.

We finally set foot on Venice. :)

The marathon ended here, a spot near to where our boat was docked. Three cheers to those who managed to finish!

Seafood display outside our restaurant of choice. Pretty, isn't it? Unfortunately we were too poor to have a taste of the lobster that cost a hand and a leg. :(

The expresso that costs close to RM 40 per cup! *Barf*

Italian spaghetti Bolognaise...I regret now that I couldn't quite bring myself to try the squid pasta, which is very famous in Venice. I was deterred by our guide, who told us that the dish was inky black, with a very fishy smell and squid eyes rolling and peeping out at whomever dared to eat it. Alas...it would have been quite a life experience I think!

Tiramisu - simply translated into English, it means Lift Me UP! Cute, huh? This one here was fantastic, unlike most of those I had back in Malaysia - dipped in expresso and liquor...I think it was rum.

Ahh..finally a pic of the Bridge of Sighs or in Italian, Ponte Dei Sospiri. There's an interesting story behind how this bridge got its name. It has windows with stone bars and is made of limestones. It spans Rio di Pallazo, connecting the old prisons to the interrogation rooms in the Doge's Palace. Thus, the last view that the prisoners saw before their imprisonment was the view from this bridge. It was said that the convicts would sigh at the final beautiful view of Venice and freedom before being led into their cells, not knowing when they would ever be free again. So there you go...Bridge of Sighs... *sigh*.

This is the beginning of my short term relationship with the pigeons of Venice. They love me...way too much in fact! Well, actually they loved my food more...

A closer view of the Basilica of St Mark, which is an incredible place of worship and declaration of power.

Venice is famous for glass blowing - we managed to catch a show or demonstration on how this is done. Very amazing indeed. I practically gaped as this man pulled that orange lump of thing into a beautiful glass swan in a matter of seconds! Needless to say, these glass ornaments are not at all cheap - very much the contrary in fact!

Expert at work. This guy has half a lifetime long of experience in glass blowing. I salute.

Me in the glass shop, before I realized no cameras were allowed here. *Ooops!*

Taken by a rebellious sod anyhow haha... One of the owners of the shop explaining to us the so called 'promotion' that was ongoing at that time. Yep, promotion alright! Nothing in that shop was less than a few hundred Euros at least - discount or no discount! To be fair, the ornaments were very, very pretty...I would have loved to take home a few if they weren't so fragile and pricey.

Gondolas on a canal. This is the cue for Italian folk music to play in the background and for people to fall head over heels in love! *dreamily sighs* :P

Another shop selling glass ornaments in one of the alleys.

One of the 400 odd bridges in Venice behind me.

A hotel that overlooks the canal. Quite a nice sight from the rooms I'd say, though I was told that usually people would not opt to stay here for the night. Everything closes early here in Venice, and the whole place would be shrouded in silence and darkness before it got too late. Pretty boring if you asked me.

Taking a stroll along the Grand Canal.

Pinocchio! This is where he came from! There are plenty of shops selling souvenirs on the island itself as well. I'd buy more definitely if I had like 8 octopus tentacles instead of my two humanly hands! Masks used for the carnival in Venice are sold here as well, very beautiful, hand-painted ones that immediately calls to mind that movie, The Phantom of the Opera.

My favorite shot of the docked gondolas, the classical mode of transport for Venice.

Ah, yes, my dance with the pigeons continues...

The Saint Mark's Basilica's very unique architecture.

A packet of corn and they attack you like piranhas in air.

The facade of Basilica St Mark. The colorful piece behind me is made of crushed glass, or so I was told.

And back to the pigeon... There were so many, prompting us to take more and more and more pictures!

Meet my new friend! He loves perching on my head.

If you can't beat them, join them! So I did...or tried to.

Alfresco dining at Piazza San Marco, which is the principal square in Venice.

Hmh...this is quite the scenario one usually sees on the big screen...extravagant dining out in the open with a band playing...

Me with the Campanile of St Mark.

A shop selling very nice decor items.

On a bridge spanning a canal.

Waiting for the gondola to pass by.

A gondola.

The Lion of St Mark's - can't recall the significance of it though... :(

The campanile and the other tall structure bearing the symbol of venice...the Lion with wings.

A closer shot of the facade of Basilica San Marco.

Catching the Symbol of Venice by its tail...strange, I would have thought this to be the symbol of Singapore.

The jetty for gondolas.

My favorite shot of the gondolas with Piazza San Marco at the background.

In front of the Doges Palace, waiting for the boat that would take us back to the mainland.

Sunset skies...actually it was not so late, but daylight hours were short, thus the gloominess. It was drizzling slightly by the time we left and getting pretty cold!

Bye bye Venice...

Trying on a face mask. :)

I feel so mysterious suddenly...going for a Masquerade Ball... haha...

There are rumors that Venice is sinking...I don't know how true this is, but I have this to say: Venice, wait for me till I come and fall in love here all over again! ^.^

Florence & Pisa, Italy

2009-03-24T06:29:00.000-07:00

Walking around Florence, Italy was quite like taking a virtual flip-through on a European history book - it was so rich and diverse with culture and past that it seemed to emanate from every corners of the city. Almost everything that you set eyes on - the statues and sculptures, the Renaissance buildings, the churches, domes, bridges, fountains and museums all had a story of their own and it could get quite overwhelming if you have not researched first on this city before you take your tour.

If you did not, then you're most likely to miss out on all the features that made Florence or Firenze, as it is locally known one of the most visited places in the world. There's a chance that you probably would not know it even if you're looking at something which is historically significant.

First of all, an introduction on the city: if you did not know, Florence is one of the world heritage sites declared by UNESCO in the early 1980s due to its exceptional cultural heritages. It is the capital of the region Tuscany in Italy, with a high population. Most importantly, it is the birthplace of Italian Renaissance...which is why you'd never be short of interesting things to see while you're here.

Our trip to Florence from Rome started very early in the morning. The bus ride was particularly relaxing and the views outside my window were something like these...most of the time, anyway:

Yes, acres and acres of field and barren land due to the impending winter, with the faded mountains as a backdrop. I found the architecture of the houses here very different from back home. We passed by some castles along the way, quite run down though they were. Interesting enough, this ride.

This was taken during one of the stopovers along the highway, something like our Sg Buloh rest area along the North-South Highway. They had plenty of Autogrills along the way.

Lunchtime - hungry for a steak and icy cold beer - the best combination ever!

That's one of the most expensive steak I've ever eaten - over RM 150 for that piece! And it did not come with fries or salad too! *gulp*

Hmmmhh...juicy piece of meat! Very very delectable.

Okay, okay, enough on the meat...

Now, we were heading towards Piazzale Michaelangelo, where we were guaranteed of a fantastic bird's eye view of the city of Florence. Spotted this cute quad bike along the way. There were quite a few here.

And we finally reached the top of the hill. Piazzale Michaelangelo is just a large parking lot on the edge of a hill, located south from the center of the city. Ahh, yes, the magnificent view which is so characteristic of Tuscany...you see this in posters all the time.

Can you spot the Duomo and campanile (bell tower) in the pic? It is quite prominent in Tuscany's skyline.

Posing with the wonderful view!

There...the statue of the not-so-bashful David de Michaelangelo silhouetted against the sunlight.

A closer shot of the world-famous statue. Artists back then thought the human body was artistic enough so...

Up here at Piazzale Michaelangelo, you could do your souvenir shopping, though I found the price here not quite so competitive compared to shops in the city itself.

There were plenty of street painters or artists, if you will, who did wonderful pieces of art like these...but they were very pricey. Art doesn't come cheap here, unless it is computer printed.

I love this piece on Firenze...but not enough to blow a hole in the pocket purchasing it. :(

Spying the city of Florence from the hilltop.

The backside of the Statue of David with the backdrop of very blue skies and the mountains of Italy - hmmhh, cheeky!

After that, we headed for the city to tour around. This is one of the most famous sights in Florence - the domed cathedral of the city also known as Santa Maria Del Fiore or simply, the Duomo. It consists of Brunelleschi's dome, Giotto's Campanile, along with the Baptistry building. What a sight to behold indeed. Such a piece of artwork in itself that one couldn't help but to keep on staring.

The Duomo, which was built a good 600 years ago, is still the largest dome in the world built in brick and mortar, so you're looking at a world record over here.

There seemed to be some ongoing construction here...but that did not dim its allure.

The amazing Gothic-styled sculptures on the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore located at Piazza Del Duomo. I just...gaped...such intricate details indeed! I wonder how long it took to complete this building.

The basilica with Giotto's Campanile (bell tower)

The facade, which is wholly dedicated to the Mother of Christ

Statues outside the Basilica

Ahh...the Golden Gates of Paradise. These are the gates that serve as entrance to the Baptistry of Florence, designed by a bloke called Lorenzo (who was a very famous artist in his time). Coincidentally our guide's name was Lorenzo, that's how the name stuck in the memory. These bronze doors are covered with scenes from the Biblical fables - I can off-hand only remember two of them: Adam & Eve and Noah's Arc. :(

Me with the Golden Gates of Paradise...*knock*knock*

Another shot of the facade

The beautiful Brunelleschi's Duomo

An artistic shot

Hmhh...another bell tower. I can't recall the significance of this building... :( Told you it was overwhelming!

Piazza Della Signoria is the square near the famous Ponte Vecchio or the medieval bridge you often see in travel brochures or articles. There are many interesting things to see here from museums to statues and monuments. It is considered a very enchanting open air museum that accentuates the greatness and power of its civilization.

Alfresco dining at Piazza Della Signoria - lovely, especially in such a weather! Tea break does not come cheap here though!

At the square with the equestrian statue at the back

The statue of Neptune from afar, situated in front of Palazzo Vecchio. It is the symbol of the Florentine's superiority over the sea.

The multitude of jewelry, souvenir and art shops on the Ponte Vecchio (which is by the way pronounced Vekkio) that is held up by stilts. These shops used to be occupied by butchers before. The Ponte Vecchio spans Arno River and is probably one of the most prominent structures in Florence. It is the oldest stone-made arch bridge in the world.

The neighboring bridges spanning Arno River.

The bridges had been swept off by the flood waters of Arno River twice before in history.

There's an interesting story to be told here on this old medieval bridge. It was said that the concept of bankruptcy originated from here. The merchants were known to display their wares on a table or banco in front of their shops in the olden days. If they were in debt and could not pay off their debts, a soldier would come by and break the table. The act of breaking the table is called banco grotto (which translates to broken table), after which business can no longer be carried out by the merchant. This was how the word 'bankruptcy' was first coined.

This is the Uffizi Museum, which houses the works of very prominent artists of the century. We did not go in here however. The queue was far too long, as can be expected all year round!

A human life statue...looks fake enough, doesn't it? I thought so until it suddenly moved and scared the daylights out of me! Plenty of these here.

Another close up shot of the statue of Neptune.

The equestrian statue.

The basilica and campanile from a distance.

After soaking up much of Florence, we headed to Piazza del Duomo, Pisa, where the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa was located. It was quite a long and winding distance away and although I was very excited to finally be able to see for myself the tower, when I finally got there, I felt that it was more of a hype than anything else. It was just a large square with a basilica, a dome and a campanile, as we have seen in Florence.

Of course there were many souvenir shops here that sold very cheap goods but the slanting tower itself was just that - a slanting tower. Imagine the millions of visitors that pour in from every corner of the world to see what was in reality an architecural or constructural flop - the tower was built on a compromised foundation with loose soil. Brought a new meaning to the phrase 'blessing in disguise' - it has to be the greatest celebration of failure ever. Or perhaps the marvel was in the fact that the tower has not collapsed just yet.

The basilica and dome, with the tower at the back.

Granted, the design and sculptures on the building was splendid enough.

Me, looking at the Leaning tower...somehow it wasn't quite what I had expected. :P

The Leaning Tower of Pisa was declared as part of the Piazza Dei Miracoli UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with the neighboring cathedral, baptistery and cemetery.

The board explaining the technical data for the tower. It is inclined almost 4 degrees from the vertical.

Final shot of the basilica and duomo before we left.

Glory Beach Resort, Port Dickson

2009-03-18T03:13:00.001-07:00

Glory Beach Resort offers luxurious service-apartments and is located right before PD town. There are a few choices for room accomodations here - 2-3 bedroom apartments, Business Class apartments, Penthouse and Suites.

The humble entrance

The reception area

I've personally only been to the 3-bedroom apartment some years back for a friend's party. Although not overly impressive like a hotel, I suppose it is not too bad for a service apartment, and it is ideal for a large gathering/ family vacation since it is convenient enough with a kitchenette that serves the purpose of making your accomodation 'a home away from home'. All apartment units are air conditioned, and standard amenities are provided, such as tea and coffee-making facilities, telephone, fridge and TV.

There are 4 F&B outlets in this resort. The special one in my opinion, would be D'Kokomo Beachside Cafe, famous for its alfresco dining out on the beach. Guests are serenaded by an in-house live band while enjoying the view and enticing cuisines offered by the restaurant. Besides that, there's the Coral Cafe that serves meals throughout the day and Bamboo Pub, where you can chill with your friends over drinks while being entertained by a live band deep into the night. There's also a sunken bar that serves snacks and cocktails/ mocktails by the poolside.

The Coral Cafe post lunch time

Surprisingly, this resort offers many recreational facilities, which I hardly expected. They are such as tennis courts, squash courts, basketball courts, beach volleyball courts, beach soccer patch, kayaking, a gym, steambath and sauna, as well as a BBQ pit for barbeque parties. Of course then, there's also the pool - a very big one, as you can see here.

The poolside with the Sunken bar at the corner

Kayaking facilities

A decorative boat near the poolside

They even offer spa treatments here, although I was personally quite tickled by the spa center building - it's shaped like a tree trunk and is not quite so big as I would have thought a resort spa center should be (it could only fit in a foot reflexology chair and two beds with curtains drawn across each other).

The Spa Center...odd isn't it? Hahaha!

Other additional facilities would be the business center, the convenience store, the souvenir shop and the children's playground.

The convenience shop

If you're looking for somewhere affordable and which gives you a good value for your money, this resort would be a good bet, although it is located quite a distance away from the vacation spots further down south. It is quite near to the town though - probably only a five minutes drive away.

For more activities/ places of interest in PD, click here.

Glory Beach Resort, Port Dickson

Batu 2, Jalan Seremban, Tanjung Gemok,

71000 Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.

Tel: 06-6516888

Corus Paradise Resort, Port Dickson

2009-03-18T03:06:00.000-07:00

Another one of the bigger and more popular hotels in Port Dickson would be Corus Paradise Resort. I have quite a history with this hotel as I watched it come into existence from scratch - it is after all located just a distance away from Port Dickson High School, of which I am an alumni. It has undergone quite a bit of changes since.

Corus Paradise Resort from the front

As far as a hotel goes, it is comfortable enough - very airy and spacious. Upon stepping into its threshold, one would be enthralled by the majestic staircase that leads to the reception area overlooking the lagoon and the Straits of Malacca. On a breezy day, you'd be greeted by refreshing gusts of salty wind, which courses through most parts of the lobby and reception area due to the open concept. The waiting lounge overlooks the pool, and I especially love the Thalasso concept present in the architecture and decorations of the hotel (shells, sand, marine animals and water features).

The grand staircase that leads to the reception area, quite an unusual design for a hotel

Spacious surroundings

The lounge opens up to the pool and lagoon, and one could catch glimpses of the Straits of Malacca

There are three F&B outlets here in the hotel. Dickson's Coffee House serves ala carte meals all throughout the day. The Laguna Restaurant on the other hand only dishes out breakfast and meals for special functions at the hotel. The Rhapsody Lounge is more like a pub, serving light snacks and drinks, which one can enjoy while listening to the live band. Besides that, there's a convenience store, WIFI connection at most of the hotel areas, a gymnasium, sauna & steambath, indoor squash courts, outdoor tennis courts, children's playroom and a video games room.

The beach area for alfresco dining/ beach events

For water sports lovers, there are many amusements for you here on the beach and the lagoon. Some of the facilities offered are such as jetski, sea rafting, banana boat rides, beach soccer, beach volleyball, telematches, management games and so forth, so it is quite ideal for company events. For meetings and conferences, there are 6 different rooms equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and facilities, named after the districts in Negeri Sembilan.

For those who prefer a relaxing day at the spa, there is a spa center at the hotel: the Seri Ratu Traditional Spa, which I have tried and in my opinion, is one of the better Malay traditional spa treatment centers that I have been to thus far. There are many packages to choose from, from massages to lulur treatments and floral baths.

The pool area

The convenience store

A karaoke jukebox room

The rooms, as far as I remember are quite big and tastefully designed. Most of the rooms faces the sea. They offer standard amenities like direct dial telephone, color TV with in-house video channels, radio, hair dryer, tea/coffee-making facilities, a mini bar and even an in-room electronic safe. There's broadband internet connection as well in the room.

Although not as special as the water chalets offered by Avillion or Legend Water Chalets, if you're just looking for a nice place to stay during your trip to PD, this would be a good bet as it is near to the PD town and vacation spots further down south.

For more activities / places of interest in PD, click here.

Corus Paradise from Jalan Pantai Port Dickson

Corus Paradise Resort

3.5 km, Jalan Pantai,71000 Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan DK, Malaysia.

Tel: 06-6477600

Avillion Hotel, Port Dickson

2009-03-18T02:44:00.000-07:00

When it comes to luxury hotels in Port Dickson, Avillion Hotel most certainly ranks very high up for me. In fact, it is one of the best hotels that I've ever stayed in...ever. Although it is very pricey compared to the rest of the hotels in PD, the concept is very unique and refreshing – think Maldives and water chalets/ water villas that stretch out into the open sea, along with a spa where you could have a relaxing massage, get a nice tan and enjoy the sea breeze with the sound of waves crashing, all at the same time – very Zen, I assure you.

A view of the hotel from the reception area

The whole resort sits on a lush 23-acre land; it has a very tropical rainforesty ambience with the vines and plants all around. The water chalets (I am not very sure about the rest cause I have not stayed in the garden chalets or the hotel rooms) are very spacious and there are two big beds (one’s a daybed by the window) so two couples can actually fit into one room (if you’re not planning on some romantic action that is). The place is designed in such a way that all the balconies faces the sea. You can actually fish or crab (yes, crab, not crap!) from your room during high tide – they have fishing rod and crab basket rentals for this purpose.

The water chalets

Balconies, from which you could fish or crab

The restaurant - The Crow's Nest, if I'm not mistaken. Besides, they also have the Village Court, which is a poolside cafe for alfresco dining, as well as a sunken bar called the Galley Bar & Lounge by the pool.

There are two pools. The Cochin pool is only accessible to adults…so, a lot of privacy for you to sunbathe here without being disturbed by splashing water and screaming children.

Public pool for kids and adults alike

Hmh...love the tropical ambience here...

The Cochin pool for adults only

An old bullock cart for the traditional feel...Avillion was inspired from a cultural Malay fishing village after all...

There are other facilities such as karaoke bar with Safari-concept karaoke rooms called the Jungle Fringe Karaoke & Bar, a childcare center, a business center, a gym facing the sea, and of course a spa center, the Avi spa.

Jungle Fringe Karaoke and Bar

A mini petting zoo...yes, they have it here too.

The Avi spa which overlooks the Straits of Malacca

The perfect indulgence...

Water feature outside the spa center

A playground for children

A childcare center...very convenient for families with young children!

I highly recommend this for honeymooners or couples celebrating a special occasion – it is one of the most romantic hotels I’ve ever stayed in really. A perfect 10!

A Malay gong/ musical instrument

Avillion Port Dickson

3rd Mile, Jalan Pantai,

71000 Port Dickson,

Tel: 06-6476688

Rheinfalls, Switzerland

2009-03-16T23:56:00.001-07:00

This is a very short account of my visit to Rheinfalls, Switzerland before proceeding to the Black Forest in south-western Germany. Apparently, it was a must-visit, all the more because it is the biggest waterfall in the whole of Europe. Needless to say, I was quite looking forward to it because I loved to be enthralled by nature. I was thinking more along the lines of...Niagara Falls or something like that to be honest. It was the biggest in Europe after all at 23 meters in height. So imagine my reaction when we finally reached Rheinfalls in Schaffhausen...okay, the jaw did drop, but not for the expected reason.

Rheinfalls, although beautiful no doubt, was not quite so big after all. Perhaps we did not visit during the right season for it to be swollen enough to be impressive. But still, it was bigger than most of the waterfalls I've been to in Malaysia so...there you go.

We did some souvenir shopping here as it was our last stop in Switzerland and all of a sudden, there were so many things we did not or forgot to buy in the country...we were certainly getting the tourist's itch, so to speak. It was way, way too cold to be out in the open for far too long anway. There was a cute little cafe nearby, but too bad for us, it was closed for some reason or another. The river, which was more sheltered around the cafe was very trout-infested...very, very big, juicy trouts swimming just below the surface, which was quite interesting to watch.

In the bus on the way to Rheinfalls

Hmh, a pretty church along the way, set against very blue skies...beautiful day to be traveling!

Here we are...at Rheinfalls...

Walking closer to the falls

Pretty in the daylight

Billows

Walking towards the waterfall-view cafe, which was closed :(

See the quieter waters behind me? Yeah, that was where those monster-sized trouts lived. I'd die before I fell in there honestly!

The cafe

Ghee Hiang Stampede-Launching Biscuits - Penang

2009-03-11T07:52:00.000-07:00

An observation that people would immediately make about Penang is that food is uber-important and very diverse here. Penangites are well known for their love for food after all. One of the most amazing things here when it comes to food (apart from the bustling hawker centers and seafood stalls) is the biscuits. Penang is famous for a variety of biscuits like tau sar pneah, beh teh saw, phong pneah and hneoh pneah. In case I sound like I'm speaking an alien language, tau sar pneah translates to green bean paste biscuit. Phong pneah (or swollen biscuit, don't ask me why swollen) is made of white sugar and flour, hneoh pneah on the other hand is made of brown sugar and flour. Beh teh saw is a type of pastry with sesame seed molasses filling. Stalls selling these biscuits are aplenty all over the island. I'm happy to say that I managed to squeeze into my busy agenda a visit to the most famous of them all during my stay.

An impressive 150-year success story

The Billboard

The set up

Ghee Hiang is one of the more popular brands of biscuits in Penang...with an impressive 150-year history as well. I was very impressed with the set up to be honest. The new shop is whopping bungalow on a considerably big piece of land (which does not come cheap on the island). They grew from their humble beginnings at a shoplot to such an extent just selling ...biscuits and sesame oil, whaddaya know! Impressive, isn't it?

The emblem

With a very cute mascot to boot!

The female version of the mascot

The retail outlet

The on-going promo

The setting

The old bicycle lends a very traditional feel to the place, doesn't it?

Hmmh...the founder?

The counter

Very antique...with a new mascot - the baby! And that's a gigantic bottle of sesame oil sitting at the corner.

Reaching out to a new target market possibly ...googoo gaagaa...

Ahha - the goodies, finally!

My share of goodies *yum*yum*

Very friendly staff

Hneoh pneah - the one with the black sugar...even I have a problem distinguishing them!

The product list

My colleague and I gave them very good business before closing time! :P

I suppose the set up and tremendous success of this company would testify enough on how good these biscuits are, so much so that people from all over the country would pay a visit if they could when they're in the vicinity. I hear too the queue is madness during weekends, so thank God we were there on a fairly quiet Tuesday. Good news too, we were told that they would be opening a branch soon in KL, much closer to home!

Had to take one with the cutie before leaving - my, my, what big head you have!

With the sweet little Penang lass who brought us around - I couldn't recognize the roads well enough to save my own life, unfortunately!

Taking a pic with history hehe

Wanna find out what's all the fuss over Ghee Hiang biscuits, just head right over there! You'll never know it till you try it, and you just might catch the biscuit-crazy fever!

Direction to the old shop

Direction to the new shop (which I visited)

The symbol of Penang - the Ferry service

2009-03-11T05:44:00.000-07:00

Here's an account of my very ferry-licious experience while I was in Penang after 17 long years of not using this service. Most must be wondering what's so great about this ferry service - historically, it is quite a big deal for us Malaysians, as it is the oldest ferry service in the country (it began its operation in 1920). The cutesy orange ferries have been quite iconic around the globe as well, splashed all over travel brochures and websites promoting tourism for Malaysia.

A fleet of ferries connect the mainland (Sultan Abdul Halim Terminal at Butterworth) to the island (Port Swettenham, Georgetown). They have since come up with more creative colors besides the orange ones way back when I was still quite regularly using their service. The earliest ferry from the mainland takes off as early as 6 am. The service starts even earlier on the island, at 5.30 am. The last ferry would be at 1 am for mainland and 12.30 am for the island. The ferry service played a very important role back in those years before the Penang Bridge was built and there was no other way to get to the island, except swim. If I remembered correctly, there used to be a fee collected before we could use the service, but there was no such thing when I was there a few days ago.

Oh, and the ferries have nicknames too, how cute is that? They're named after the islands in Malaysia, for example Pulau Pinang, Pulau Kapas, Pulau Undan, Pulau Angsa, Pulau Rimau and etc. The ferry is one of the best ways to enjoy the sea landscape of Penang and Butterworth, especially if you love watching boats like me. If you're driving, you can park your cars at the first floor of the ferry, switch off your engines and just laze around. The view is quite spectacular I assure you and the seabreeze is very refreshing, even at midday. And you can get quite a good peek of the Penang Bridge, another icon for our country from the deck. For pedestrians, the second floor is reserved for you. Motorcyclists on the other hand will take the space behind the other vehicles on the first floor.

The entrance to the ferry

Not too many people use this service anymore, especially after the Penang Bridge was built...it used to be a very busy port.

The tunnel for pedestrians

Joining the queue

Motorcyclists at one side, and cars at another

Hmh..nice view at Port Swettenham

You could close your eyes and pretend you were somewhere in Monaco... :)

Docked boats...one of my favorite sceneries...

In the ferry's belly

Leaving Port Swettenham behind

Spied Pulau Talang-talang during our journey (yes, I was refering to the ferry!)

A very cute ferry

A typical skyline of the island...don't they look like grazing giraffes?

Camwhoring...nice breeze!

Riding on Pulau Undan

Motorcyclists

The Penang bridge in a distance

Another iconic feature in Penang

Me with the bridge

Nearing Butterworth

Stairway to the second floor

Pedestrians

An old uncle enjoying the view...

Nearing the terminal at Butterworth

Pulau Payar, docked here

Cheezels! At the end of my ferry ride...

Verdict: Go for it!! :D

Vistana Hotel, Penang

2009-03-09T07:09:00.000-07:00

I stayed at Vistana Hotel at Bukit Jambul, Penang during my business trip here. While it was not very attractive in terms of location for vacationers (far from the vacation spots and the beaches), it was good to go by for visitors on business. It was located very close to the Bayan Lepas airport, for a start, and not too far from the Penang Bridge. I doubt there were many places where you could walk to from here, save for some small shops. But still…

The hotel itself was pleasant enough…very clean with very nice interior decors. There’s a spa center, a gym and a pool – good enough for me. There are some function rooms as well for conferences and other events. As for the room, it was quite standard, offering amenities like a coffee maker, fridge, tub and toiletries. Nothing much to shout about but have a look for yourself – here I put into action that a picture speaks a thousand words!! ^.^

The reception area

The restaurant - brekkie is on the house!

Area towards the lifts...

Hmhh..a closer shot of the restaurant...

The concierge

The lounge area

The waiting area

The main entrance

The bedroom

View outside the hotel...yeah, I had time to kill...super bored at the hotel...

Traffic watching...quite interesting besides swatting imaginary mosquitoes and biting my fingernails, I do assure you...

The lift area

The fitness center - gym and spa bundled into one

The gym for the fitness fanatics...

In the fitness center

Hmmhh...

The massages offered

Outdoor - 2nd floor, towards the pool

Water feature

The pool...pretty empty though...

The gym looks out to the pool

Lucerne, Switzerland

2009-03-07T08:21:00.001-08:00

Our next destination after visiting Lugano was Lucerne, which is another city in central Switzerland, the most highly populated in fact. Lucerne is regarded more highly compared to the rest of the cities in Switzerland in terms of tourism. This is hardly surprising considering the fact that it offers many scenic landscapes - of mountains and lakes and medieval structures, not to mention a different kind of landscape for crazy shoppers like me - rows and rows of retail outlets with plenty of choices for anything at all you could name! *Woohoo!* Also worth the mention is that two of the most famous landmarks of Switzerland are here - the Lion Monument, which is the oldest figurative monument in Switzerland and the Chapel Bridge or Kappelbrucke which was built in the 14th century...yes, very historical and old.

The Lion Monument, carved into a former sandstone quarry wall

We stopped at a small park near a place called Lowenplatz to catch a glimpse of the mournful lion. It wasn't such an incredible structure from afar, and I did wonder momentarily why all the fuss over the statue of a mere lion that we had to walk such a distance in the drizzle and cold, past puddles of water and cut through the park to get to it.

I was forced to eat my thoughts word for word upon setting eyes on it. Words could never describe how humanly expressive the features of the dying lion, that it evoked such an emotion even in a person who was as detached from Switzerland's history as I was. It just made you want to...cry...the air seemed thick with the city's melancholic past.

The lion was carved from the rock of a cliff, its head bowed and a broken spear sticking in its shoulder. So what is the significance of this monument? I'm a sucker for stories just like anyone else, especially stories attached to such an artistic piece like the Lion Monument. History has it that the monument was erected by an officer who survived the 1792 massacre during the French Revolution, just because he was off-duty...saved by the bell, literally.

Hundreds of Swiss Guards who were not so lucky were killed defending Marie Antoinette when revolutionaries stormed into Paris, France back then, never knowing that the royals they were defending had long fled. How tragic is that? *sniff*

Writer Mark Twain regarded the Lion Monument as "the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world" and I agree ever so completely!

Throwing a coin for good luck

Another shot of the poor dying lion in his lair... *blows nose* RIP, brave soldiers of yore!

We headed to the hotel for check-in after that...I think it is called Hotel Flora, not bad, as you can see here, very cozy! And you could walk to the shopping places and the famed bridge from here without breaking a leg or two.

Taking a walk around Lucerne city was quite fun despite the constant drizzle, which did not stop until we left. I suppose it's one of those times when one would not mind getting wet just to soak up the foreign experience. The Chapel Bridge or Kappelbrucke is a medieval structure located at the junction of the river and the lake of Lucerne (also known as Vierwaldstättersee, or Lake of the Four Forest Cantons, what an interesting and dreamy name for a lake indeed!!) The main feature of the wooden bridge is the octagonal water tower or the Wasserturm, which used to serve as a light house, or a lucerna - this is where the city got its name in fact! The bridge which was built in 1333 is 204 meters in length and you will see a series of paintings all along from one end to the other, which is a pictorial chronicle of the city's history.

Side view of the Kappelbrucke, with the water tower

A clearer shot of the water tower

Oh, and I forgot to mention that this bridge is actually the newer version of that built in the 14th century...all thanks to one smart smoker who threw his cigarette butt and started a fire that ravaged much of the poor bridge back in 1993. Brilliant restoration though, it looked well preserved enough to me.

Walking around Lucerne on a rainy day...posing with a time machine/ ancient clock.

Choccies galore...even the cars advertise them!

Drinking fountains are aplenty here too...just like in Italy.

More chocolates to tempt the window shopper... *salivates*

My Swiss mate. *giggles*

Strolling by the Lake of Lucerne...the paddleboats did not quite entice in the rain. :(

A swan swimming on the clear lake

On a bridge over the Lake of Lucerne

A better shot of the Kappelbrucke...the gulls added a much needed 'marine' ambience to the scenery, didn't they?

Camwhoring around the Kappelbrucke haha

Ice cream in a bun...or some sort like it *slurps*

Uni-unicorn! Don't we just love mythical creatures?

A weapon shop... *shivers*

More weapons...What's so fascinating that we had to stop and camwhore for so long at this spot, taking pictures of potentially life-endangering weapons of destruction??? Sigh. --___-- *Men*

At one of the cafes, having an apple pie...very, very delicious!

And who could do without the hot choccies...?

Cute display at the local supermarket

Sex shops...yes, many of these as well here... *oops*

Another one

In the belly of the Kappelbrucke...don't anybody dare smoke here while I'm passing through!!

Our cozy little hotel

At the lobby before heading out again...we couldn't get enough of shopping! Swiss pocket-knife fanatics, Lucerne is where you go on a rampage and get your best deals!

Inside our room

Dinner of pasta and grilled salmon ...yummers...

A last shot of the water tower before leaving Lucerne

Mount Titlis, Switzerland

2009-03-07T06:56:00.000-08:00

My first Swiss Alps experience was a very sweet and memorable one. It was very easy to fall in love with the scenic mountaineous regions of Switzerland after all, more after watching 'The Sound of Music' for only the hundredth time before taking this trip up, which fed our heads with such crazy, romantic notions of the place. Okay, in the end I found out that the real Von Trapp family stayed in Austria and fled to Italy instead of Switzerland but still...I found myself singing over and over again in my head "The hills are alive with the sound of music..." and it was!

The first sight of the Swiss Alps

Getting closer to the base of Mount Titlis, Engelberg

Mount Titlis on a clear morning...beautiful, isn't it? *Singing "The hills are aliveeee...."*

My heart practically sang all the way from Lucerne, where we boarded the bus that took us to the base of Mount Titlis and then up to Titlis and back down again. What made it all the more a valuable experience was the Rotair most certainly. The Rotair is an aerial cable car (the first in the world in fact) which rotates 360 degrees along a 600-meter long segment that starts in Stand and ends at the mountain station Klein Titlis. This station is approximately 3020 meters above sea level and all the way up, you get a spectacular view of the Engelberg valley - a landscape we're most definitely not so familiar with. It was a short ride though - a little above 5 minutes and no more, but the excitement was overwhelming and I found my jaw dropping at the abysses and snow capped peaks outside the gondola. I somehow had this feeling of wanting to memorize every single detail of the panoramic view so that I could 'revisit' again in my head in the future. I was that amazed by it.

At the base of Mount Titlis

Me, with the Alps as a backdrop

A totally different experience altogether

Inside the Gondola

Breathtaking panorama unveiling itself outside

There! Finally a picture of me with the first rotating cable car in the world! Woohoo!

I was a little disappointed though, that the Ice Flyer glacier chairlift was closed due to the weather and snow. That would've been one of life's greatest experience for me - sitting back and enjoying the glaciers on the top of Mount Titlis. Since nothing could be done about that unless I made an arrangement with God himself, we just amused ourselves at the Glacier park. Bummers here as well. I was told that during the summer time, one could rent many equipments like sleds and other thingies to slide on. There were none of those during our visit though. Blame it on the weather. But me being me, I still had fun in the snow of course, I couldn't get enough of it, coming from a tropical region where snow was nothing but a figment of your imagination (unless you head to Genting and bask in the artificial snowfield...BAH!).

Snow! :D

Running amok in the snow field

A few minutes out in the snow field on the top of Mount Titlis, and it began to snow!

Okay, I was trying to make a snow angel here...unfortunately, the blanket of snow wasn't quite so thick...

It was bloody cold outside ... - 38 degrees Celsius, according to the thermometer! That was why I was stuck here most of the time. See the holes on the seat behind me? Heaters, that's what they were...

Spying the Buddha rock formation across Titlis - I can't quite remember the story behind it though...something about an adventurer who got lost up in the mountains, who after praying to a rock formation that had looked like Buddha, managed to find his way back home... Obviously grateful, he returned there to pray quite so frequently and that was how the story got around.

There you go...3020 meters above sea level!

Jumping to make it 10001 feet! Haha...

On the way to the Glacier park...the Ice Flyer was closed... :`(

Snowfight!!!

The sleeping Buddha...NOT!

Contrast...

Outside a retail outlet selling Swiss watches

At the restaurant - pretty expensive lunch, I tell you! Nothing below €5 here so best you come prepared!

Outside the Restaurant

Posing at the border between Engelberg and Bern

Interesting, innit? Being 147 feet under rock and ice! Gggrrrr...

Snowboarding...how I wish!

Yeeeehooooo!

Back down at the base of the mountain, where my Titlis adventure ended quite so abruptly... :(

Lugano, Switzerland

2009-03-07T06:27:00.000-08:00

Our short visit to Lugano, the quaint little town at the border of Italy and Switzerland was rather too short for a place that held so many scenic wonders. In fact, I actually felt that way about all of Switzerland. What a shame there could not be more time to explore everything that they had to offer – the beautiful parks, museums, churches and lake side attractions especially. Still, it couldn’t be helped because we were there during winter, when everything was somewhat somber with skies that quickly turned gray and dark (very little sunlight), laden with showers at the most crucial times when we had wanted to head out sightseeing. Yes, quite unfortunate for us because we missed out on so many natural beauties that must have been heavenly in spring and summer.

Anyway, back to our visit. We headed out from Milan, Italy to Lugano by bus, which was quite convenient as it was located along a motorway called the A2 motorway. We were told that it was one of the stops on this motorway that stretches all the way from Rome to Amsterdam. Fine and well, as the bus careened towards the border, we were warned that there might be immigration checks on our passports, but this did not materialize. I was too busy peeping out at the sound proof mechanisms the Swiss have erected up on the highway to keep from noise pollution – quite stunning how rich these people are and how civic minded.

A chess game anyone? At Lugano for an afternoon walk.

There was something very distinct about Switzerland as we first rolled on into the country – it is a place of wondrous lakes at one side and magnificent mountains at the other. Undoubtedly it is one of the most naturally scenic places I have ever been to. During our bus ride to Lugano, we were able to catch glimpses of the lake – albeit in its rather moody countenance because it was drizzling outside. Also, we could see many boats – from cruise boats to pedal boats on the lake, but they were all docked because of the dreary weather.

A little more about the town itself. Most of the people here speak Italian as Lugano lies in the Italian canton of Ticino. It is most famous for its banking facilities and in fact is the third financial center of Switzerland. Kind of reminded me of those spy movies where the drug lords have Swiss bank accounts to keep from being tracked, haha – which begs the mention the Swiss practices a very stringent policy when it comes to privacy. No institution can force them into belching out who their clients are ever, or so I was told. This may be the reason why it is preferred by mafias and such, but this is only my opinion. Lugano thrives in 3 aspects – tourism, business and banking. Most of the people here are very affluent – it is after all a very rich country, and as far as I was told, everyone here – women or men have undergone military training at least once in their lifetimes. They’re paid for it in fact on top of getting paid leaves from their employers, and they get many other incentives, including a gun *gasp!*. Oh, guns are sold here too; you could probably buy one although you’d get busted at the immigration for sure.

Our first stop was at a piazza, a square by the lakeside called Via Nassa, where we did plenty of shopping. Shops here generally open from 8 to 9 in the morning up to 6.30 during the weekdays. Some shops close later on Thursdays – at 9 pm. We were told during the weekends; the closing time is even earlier – at about 4 to 5 pm – this is the opposite of the practice in our country whereby shops close even later during the weekends to cater to the weekenders...the Swiss places high importance in family life and living, I suppose. Only the supermarkets and departmental stores are open all day long so it is the best bet for the weekends.

Via Nassa

Taking a breather...Via Nassa offered a broad range of branded goods.

Wooooo...nice ride! In front of Bucherer, famous for its high quality watches.

A display of Swiss knives on the cow (symbol of Switzerland)

More cows in different colors...

Hmmhh...I have a fetish for cows...MoooOOOOooooo! :P

Shopping in Lugano was very pleasurable indeed. We had a whale of time looking at the items that were offered at the shops – it was definitely a very long and diverse list. There were a lot of high quality and branded watches here – from Tag Heuer to Longines, offered at a price much cheaper than back home. Needless to say, they offered a far wider range as well. Besides that, the other thing that caught our interest were chocolates – plenty and plenty of chocolate shops, some offer testing. Very delectable! There were also jewelry, embroidered items, music boxes, souvenir items and the famed Swiss pocket-knives, which we were told by our guide not to buy here. Lucerne would be a better place to get those souvenirs so we pulled on tight on our handbrakes here – better not get too excited lest we should lose out on the best bargains! Oh, I’ve to mention too that the Swiss are famous for their prestige, so you’re most definitely ensured of a high quality product – the only difference would be the price and value-for-money.

More watch shops...

Coop City, some sort like a mini market selling anything from confectionary to household items and clothes.

There were markets too here in Lugano, quite similar to our pasar pagi or pasar malam at home ground, except it was much, much cleaner here. This was where the small farmers offer their goods directly to the public. So you can get many fresh items from here – flowers, vegetables and fruits mostly.

The rest of the time, we just took leisurely strolls around the town by the lake. Thankfully the shower had trickled into a drizzle which barely kissed our faces. It was quite invigorating along with the cool and crisp breeze. And my goodness, the view was just…indescribable. To see the mountains mirrored in the lake, you can’t help but feel a deep sense of peace and wonder. There are many nice things to appreciate along the way – like water fountains, statues and other decorative items that dot the streets. It's really a very beautiful place to be at.

A statue facing the lake

Lake Lugano on a dreary day

A water fountain near the lake

The night walks can be exceptionally romantic – one can see the shimmering lights of illuminated homes from the base of the hills almost right to the top – like an incredible Christmas tree in the night. This is in fact one my favorite-est recollection of Lugano. Most of the houses are built on the hills – one could only imagine how wonderful the view must be from those houses. There’s even a humongous fountain on the lake – sadly my digital camera couldn’t catch its magnificence in the dark. I don’t quite recall what its significance is though.

We had our dinner here...Chinese food, didn't get to taste much of Lugano's authentic food :(

Our hotel during our visit...I remember it being pretty small, though I admit I don't recall much else about it...

Display at one of the shops...

The fountain on Lake Lugano at night ... it was much much better in real life, I promise!

There...a blur shot of my metaphorical Christmas tree at night...

Another shot of the fountain with a night view of the shore line

The quiet streets outside our hotel...nary a soul but us!

This is a bitter sweet trip, I have to say. I’ve done my research on Lugano sometime before we visited and there were so many places that we couldn’t go to and had to skip. So many more things to do, experience and see, which is why I’m going to end this post by saying you best visit Lugano in summer when the weather is better, and prepare to spare more time here to get the best of your visit!

Panoramic Lugano...how I've missed it!

The Legend Water Chalets, Port Dickson

2009-03-06T04:10:00.000-08:00

My first impression when I heard of this hotel was that it was a copycat to Avillion Resort Port Dickson. Water chalets above the sea – the idea was not very new in PD anymore because for as long as I could remember, the words ‘water chalets’ were synonymous to Avillion, if you lived for some years in Port Dickson and knew a bit of its history anyway.

Presenting The Legend Water Chalets...

Nice view from the carpark :P

Your perfect home away from home on stilts...

So I was in for a surprise when I finally got to visit Legend Water Chalets for myself. Situated a distance away from the vacation spots further down to the south of PD, this hotel sits at a location near Tanjung Gemok at Batu 2, a little before PD town. Surprisingly, the sea view here was not as bad as I have expected compared to the more popular holiday hangouts and you can actually see the shorelines of PD town including the jetty from the edge of the hotel or from the chalets.

A close-up shot of the water chalets...

The facilities that they offer in my opinion meet international standards. It is very family oriented, with a landscaped swimming pool as well as a children’s pool. There’s also the children’s outdoor playground and play room. For the fitness and health fanatics, there’s a well equipped gymnasium to work out those muscles even during your vacation, as well as a sauna and a garden jacuzzi. There are sports facilities such as table tennis, bicycle rental, and fishing and crabbing equipment rentals. For entertainment, you could also head to the karaoke rooms, spa center or the arcade. For dining, there is a coffee house where you can have local and international gourmets throughout the day and a lobby bar lounge for refreshing beverages and snacks.

Eunice at the lounge area

The table tennis tables

Nice pool!

The spa center, offering body massages and foot reflexology sessions

Eunice on a buggy...

Foot reflexology anyone?

Other facilities are such as laundry service, mail room, convenience store, safe deposit box, hospitality desk, postal and facsimile services and a business center as well as Wifi internet access at selected locations in the hotel.

The convenience store

The arcade for the kids (or the kid in you!)

Yes, I'm a big kid too! *grins*

A pool table in the arcade room

But the facilities were not the highlight of the hotel. What interest me most were the chalets (there’s the deluxe water chalet, the executive water chalet and the premium water chalet) – they are most indescribably romantic and offer a brand new experience if you have not stayed in a room on stilts above the water before that is. Luxurious modern living with a Malay fishing village concept, yes, very refreshing indeed.

The shower...

Ooohh...this is evil...hehe...

There’s even a peephole on the floor right in front of the bed that is very devilish – it allows you to peer down onto the waters below during the high tide (or for the occasional peeping tom or perverts to peep up at you in fact so beware if you’re going to be pretty naughty). The open concept of the shower and Jacuzzi undeniably reeks of sensuality. Also, there’s a day bed right beside the window where you could hang out with a book with an amazing view of the sea. This day bed is big enough for two adults, so a family with two young children will be able to fit into one chalet with no problems at all.

Oh, if you love fishing or crabbing, you could do so right outside your room balcony! There are equipments (rods and crab baskets) for rent - you could ask at the reception. Interesting way to pass the day, and a great way to save $$$ since you can practically catch your own dinner if you're lucky enough!

Open concept for the bathroom - and do you see that peephole?

The Premium Water Chalet....I absolutely HEART!

Another peephole in front of the bed for the exhibitionist in you...tsk tsk tsk...

Hello, can I stay here forever and ever...? Pweety pweety pweeessee?

A must-try, just for the sake of a new experience. For those who cannot afford a 5-star Maldives vacation (just yet), this is just the perfect spot for you! Thumbs up to Legend Water Chalets!

For more information on Port Dickson, click here.

Port Dickson - a favorite weekend getaway in Malaysia

2009-03-06T00:30:00.000-08:00

Of all the getaway spots in Malaysia that I could probably write about, Port Dickson ranks very high up in my ‘favorite’ list. I have a soft-spot for it despite all the seaside heavens that I have been lured to thus far. The reason is simple – it is the place I’ve called home for nearly a quarter of my life...not like I am some ancient being now though. Thus, this would be the one place that I would know best, or at least I hope that I’m still quite updated about this quaint little town that holds so many cherished childhood memories for me.

Me and my swimming team at Pesta Port Dickson a good 15 years ago...

My first sailing experience - RPDYC

Chillin' with friends - nothing like a guitar, some mocktails with the salty seabreeze on our faces!

Beach games...

For many people, PD as it is affectionately called is still regarded as one of the preferred perennial beach holiday destination in Malaysia. Of course, if compared to the other islands in Malaysia like Pulau Redang/ Perhentian/ Tenggol and the likes, little old PD does not offer very clear blue seas that allow you to a peep right down to the bottom from the boat or while snorkeling. Still, the beaches are pretty clean at some places and considerably charming and there is an array of activities that may interest the visitors, specifically a variety of water sports, fishing and sailing, not to mention a lot of swimming!

Beach right outside the Yacht Club

Dusk

I love the serenity of the sea

Near the sailing area

Ala - Titanic at Marina Bay, PD

Sunset at Marina Bay - PD

Retrospection...

Mini casuarinas on the beach...

Located in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, PD is about one and a half hour’s drive away from Kuala Lumpur – very convenient via the SKVE. You start getting a very touristy feeling once you pass the town area and on towards the south where all the hotels, resorts and activities are. The whole town is practically set by the sea and the main road actually frames the coastline so that you are in touch with the many faces of the Straits of Melaka all along the way until you reach the border.

Places of Interest

Beaches - Teluk Kemang Beach & the Blue Lagoon

There are many public beaches whereby you could just stop and plunge right into the cool waters for a swim or just laze around, work on a tan and sip fresh coconut water. A famous spot for stopovers would be the Teluk Kemang beach at the 8th Mile, famous for its lovely stretch of sandy beaches fringed by shady casuarinas and coconut trees. It is a very convenient place to swing by as there are ample parking spaces, public bathrooms and toilets, and even lifeguards to ensure public safety, along with many souvenir and F&B outlets. On top of that, yes they have it, the main attractions of PD – water sports! You can rent a float or a kayak/ canoe here from the local vendors. And then, there’s jet skiing, windsurfing and banana boating for the more adventurous. Similarly, one can head to the Blue Lagoon for more fun in the sun. For those who are not very fond of crowded public beaches, there are many private ones that belong to the hotels.

The Blue Lagoon

A public square at PD

Swim, swim, swim!

Beach bum

Mermaid - almost...

Blue skies, blue seas, nice wind, wonderful sunshine - what more could a person ask for?

Rachado Point

This is a famous site in PD for a romantic little jaunt, frequented mostly by lovers; not as though non-lovers are restricted to the place though – there are people who go there for the scenic ocean view, and then, there are other people who go there for a different ‘view’.

This is where the Rachado Lighthouse is located. So what’s so special about this lighthouse, you may ask. It is only the oldest light house in Malaysia – built in 1528 by the Portuguese during the colonial times to guide its ships. There’s a historical tang to it too – some sort of marine war between the Dutch and the Portuguese had taken place here just so you could get some of the ancient vibes.

A nice place to hang out, but it is not an easy way up – one has to be prepared to work those muscles up a mini hill before reaching it. The view is of course worth every huff and puff. It has a very tropical feel as it is part of the Tanjung Tuan Forest Reserve. If the weather is at its finest, you can even see the silhouette of mainland Sumatera right across the Straits of Malacca or peer down the shore to see some corals in the waters.

I’m not sure whether the lighthouse is still open to public though. Hearsay is that it has been closed for some reason or another.

Museums

There are two museums in PD as far as I can remember – the Lukut Museum and the Armed Forces Museum. On a side note, I’ve always wondered why the place is called Lukut – in Hokkien it translates simply to “going down the ditch”, so people are usually quite tickled when I tell them about this place. Anyway, the former museum is located at the foothill of Fort Lukut. If you’re the kind who thrills in seeing ancient artifacts and relics – this is just the place for you. Mostly, they are related to the tin mining industry, which flourished in Lukut ages ago during the British colonial times. And here’s the best thing – the entrance is free.

The Armed Forces Museum on the other hand is located further south from the town, at the military area of PD. Here you can see various combat vehicles, decommissioned artillery, trains, tanks and old planes. A must visit if you’re an air-force and navy fanatic.

Accommodation

Top 5 hotels in Port Dickson:

1) Avillion Beach Resort
2) Guoman beach resort
3) Selesa Beach Resort
4) Corus Resort
5) Legend Water Chalets

Top 5 resorts & Service Apartments in Port Dickson

1) Ancasa Suites
2) Tanjung Tuan Resort
3) Admiral Cove
4) Glory Beach Resort
5) Bayu Beach Resort

(Please tune back for hotel reviews, which I will hyperlink once I have them posted)

Activities in PD

1) Sailing/ Yachting

For those who enjoy sailing or want to learn how to, you can head to the Yacht Club located at the 4th Mile. Though, you will not be able to enter unless a member brings you in. Alternatively, you could obtain a temporary membership that enables you to rent boats – catamarans, lasers or optimist boats at a price. They have boat boys there who will help you with the boats. The club offers many other facilities like a pool, tennis courts, squash courts, a gym, a snooker room, a library, an arcade, restaurants and even a mini casino on the second floor. My honest opinion is that it is a very beautiful and cozy place to hang out at – my second home when I was much younger, in fact.

The room at Royal Port Dickson Yacht Club (RPDYC) - fairly priced and clean enough for me!

Playground & Sea View from the room

Pool view from the room

Another agenda for the night - a little casino!

Late night drink at the clubhouse

Nice ambience and people - there's usually a band playing country songs every Saturday night!

Pool at RPDYC

Swimming...my favorite activity in PD ... after sailing of course!

Playground at RPDYC - second childhood

The Sailing Area - boatboys at work

A Laser 2 boat

A peeping happy hippo

Lifeguard at the pool - he's been working there for the past 12 years at least!

Walking towards the sailing area - RPDYC

Fascinating sailboats...because I could never sail one on my own even though I tried!

Me & my sailboat :)

For yachting, some of the hotels actually rent out yachts for a price, and some even offer a hands-on approach to sailing a yacht. Price per person is from about RM 120 -150 depending on the season.

2) Water sports – jet ski, banana boat

Most hotels and public beaches offer these facilities. Jet skiing does not come very cheap though. Usually, the price for an hour of jet skiing is around RM 240 (hotel price). For half an hour, it is half the price (quite naturally, no discount here). Banana boat rides can cost from RM 15 – RM 25 depending on where the boat takes you. Be prepared to get thrown into the water though – the boat boys are a cheeky bunch as far as I know.

3) Boat Rides

One would be able to charter boats as well to go out fishing or just to enjoy the sea breeze and sun. Some hotels offer this facility. They usually set a minimum of 5 people and a maximum of 20. Usually a boat can cost anywhere from RM 180 – RM 250, depending on the type.

4) Kayaking

Kayaking is charged by the hour per person. Most of the hotels and public beaches offer this facility. Price would be around RM 25 – 35, depending on the location.

5) Water Skiing & Knee Board Skiing

This is available in some hotels, priced around RM 145 – RM 155.

6) Ostrich Park Showfarm / Mini Zoo

This attraction is located at Batu 9, Jalan Pantai Port Dickson and tailored for the whole family. Despite its name, I don’t think it is really an ostrich farm – more like a petting zoo since there are many other birds and animals that are not quite so confined – they run quite freely and you can chase them, feed them and pet them if you like.

Granted, there are many ostriches here – close to a hundred perhaps, and they promote many ostrich-related items like souvenirs (ostrich oils, eggs, leather and feather dusters) and ostrich sate (roasted meat on sticks), which costs about a whopping RM 10 for 6 sticks (am not sure if the price still applies). There are even ostrich rides (RM 4) and races, how cool is that! I still have the mental picture of my mother riding on a poor ostrich and she isn’t very light! There’s a weight restriction though – you’ve got to be 75 kg and below otherwise you’ll have a pancake of an ostrich running about in no time. And to animal lovers out there, rest assured that the ostriches are only permitted two rounds each at any point of time. There are people selling bird feed which you can use to lure the birds closer to you (quite like dove-feeding in Italy – just a different type of bird, what do you think about that?) Similar to the very aggressive doves in Italy, the ostriches are quite the fearless bunch…they can get quite aggressive and peck you into oblivion – no, I’m just kidding – they’re playful, perhaps I’ll leave it as that.

Along with the ostriches, there are also jungle fowls, peacocks, pheasants, rabbits and even crocodiles, which beg the question, what are the reptiles doing in an ostrich farm in any case??? A good place to go just for the experience since I doubt there are many other ostrich farms around the country.

The Ostrich Showfarm/ Petting Zoo/ whatever-you-wanna-call-it

7) Fishing & Crabbing
There are some popular spots where you could fish – one’s at the Tanjung Agas Bridge, which is located about 20 km from the town center. You’ll have to pass by Teluk Kemang and Pasir Panjang town towards Malacca in order to reach it. The view is quite scenic here and it is favored by the locals as a fishing spot. You could also fish in Kuala Lukut or translated simply, Lukut Estuary. Here you can even rent a boat to go out to sea to fish.

If you’re staying in Avillion or Legend sea chalets, you could also fish or crap…I mean crab from your room balcony. Rental for a crab basket or a fishing rod is about RM 30 for the first 3 hours and RM 10 for every subsequent hour. A deposit of RM 30 is charged as well for the rod/ basket. I was told you can quite easily catch crabs that you can bring to restaurants nearby for dinner – and they will cook it for you for free (of course you have to order other food to go along with it)

8) Horse Riding at the Eagle Ranch

First things first – there are no eagles here! So if you're hoping to see the kings of the sky at flight here, you're sure to be disappointed. The Eagle Ranch, which sits somewhere south of town at the 14th Mile is a full-fledged recreational themed resort. While it used to be a public horse riding center, there are now many other attractions like go-karting, paintball, archery, canoeing, trekking as well as kayaking. To experience a typical Malaysian fruit orchard, you could also head to the back of the Eagle Ranch and pluck for yourselves a range of succulent tropical fruits like durian, mangosteen and rambutan. There are actually a variety of accommodation choices here as well if one would like the ultimate tropical experience – from water chalets to log cabins, to camps and even teepees (yes, Red Indian teepees, I simply MUST try them one of these days!).

9) Wan Loong Temple

Translated simply, it means Dragon in the Sky. Just another Chinese temple and we visited it out of curiosity because it stood out like a jewel in the sand from the main road.

Kwan Yin statue

A little pond with koi fishies...

A cheeky monkey with the Monkey God

10) Raves/ Events
Every now and then, Port Dickson is flooded by visitors of a different kind – clubbers who enjoy raves and loud music and booze. It is usually held near Admiral Cove, a distance away from the residential areas. Even I have been to these raves for a couple of times during my (ahm!) younger years.

Kent Event at Guoman Resort - Port Dickson

Friends at the Kent Event

Ravers...

A friend & I during the rave

Drinkers...

Food

And lastly, what would a seaside vacation be without seafood? There are plenty of places to eat here whether you like Chinese, Malay and Indian-mamak food, and for most of the restaurants or cafes, the food is passable as long as you’re not too fussy. There are a handful of choices that come highly recommended (by me). There’s also a night market (pasar malam) at the 4th Mile on Saturday nights if you’re interested to try out local foods.

The pasar malam - a place to stock up on local goodies during your weekend getaway

One of the local Malay restaurants that we tried out near Batu 3 - not supremely good, but not too bad either...

This 3-taste (3-rasa) fried Siakap was not too bad...nicely crispy on the outside but soft on the inside...

Fooooooood...tom yum yum yum...

Restaurants, which are a MUST to try out:

1) Gin Men Seafood Restaurant
2) Seaview Restaurant
3) The Coconut Grove

(Please tune back for food reviews, which I will hyperlink once I have them posted!)

The Vira Bali, Bali, Indonesia

2009-03-03T01:32:00.000-08:00

Our hotel of choice when we were visiting Bali was The Vira Bali, which was very cozy and convenient in our opinion as it was situated at Kartika Plaza Street, South Kuta Beach in Kuta. This was very near to the beaches and surf spots, as well as the main artery of the small town - the strip of restaurants and cafes, retail outlets, pubs and mall, as well as a water park. It was very reasonably priced too - a good value for money, I would say, although it was a little small compared to most of the hotels that I have been to. This was not my main concern however, considering the fact that I would be out of the hotel anyway for most of the time.

The Vira Bali

The poolside

The lobby

Although there were not many guests, it was wonderful in a way because it was so private and we were taken care of like royals. The tropical ambience of the hotel was very welcoming and soothing - there were ample amount of greens everywhere, which I found very calming indeed. The room itself was pleasant enough - heavily teaked, clean and complete with amenities like a coffee-making machine, toiletries, a minibar, TV with a wide selection of channels, and a comfortable bathtub for a relaxing soak after a tiring day.

The bedroom - crisp white, clean sheets

Toilet amenities

Gleefully planning out the agendas

We were immediately treated to complimentary mocktails and a massage at the Siloam Spa upon arrival. This was very good to kick off our mini little vacation I assure you. The Indonesian masseuses at the hotel were fantastic. Other facilities in the hotel were such as an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a bar, an internet cafe and a souvenir shop.

Hanging out by the poolside at night

Chillin'

Another shot of the pool

Very tropical, don't you think?

The Restaurant - the food was so-so, nothing to shout about though

The plus point was that there was a van which was almost always ready to take us around wherever we wanted to go, courtesy of the hotel. They even arranged transit from the airport. The service was commendable - not bad at all, really. Thumbs up for the Vira Bali!

Hotel Columbus, Monaco-ville, The French Riviera

2009-03-02T23:59:00.000-08:00

During my visit to Monaco, I stayed at Hotel Columbus, which was about close to two hour's drive away from the Cote D'Azure Airport, perhaps shorter depending on traffic. I loved it to the core the moment I stepped into the lobby and read the tag line on the wall and on the t-shirts of the receptionists: Live life, Love life - short, simple, and to the point. Yes, just what I believed in, living live to the fullest, and I was bursting with life force just about then! The people at the reception were very friendly and helpful although they struggled quite a bit to understand my English - most of them speak French and very little English.

Outside the Hotel

The place was very strategically located I must say -there was no problem getting anywhere at all from the main lobby - most of the buses transit at a spot quite close to the hotel and it was near amenities like shops, a hypermarket, McDonald's and other restaurants/ cafes. On top of that, the palace, museums and other attractions were just a walking distance away. There was even a helipad right outside of the hotel, a prefered entry to Monaco-ville for the rich and famous. Also, you could stroll to the marina at your own free time without subjecting your legs to too much torture.

By the lake at the park

Morning walk at the park

Beautiful flowers

A mini waterfall

Water cascade

The Helipad

The hotel itself was designed to be chic and modern, with facilities like a pool, a gym, a retail outlet, a restaurant which served very delicious International gourmets, a cocktail bar and for the business oriented, they offer state-of-the-art conference rooms as well. My room was as elegant as a hotel room could ever be, spacious and airy with a wide balcony, from which one could catch a glimpse of the aquamarine ocean and hear the waves crashing in. There was even a wonderful patch of green right outside the hotel - a park, complete with a little creeks, a myriad of colorful blossoms, peculiar statues and other water features.

My bedrooom...exquisite isn't it?

Room amenities...I absolutely HEART!

My little snack bar...which was more for visual purposes because of the cut-throat price!

Don't mind indulging on the champagne though...Veuve Cliquot! Woot! Woot!

The view from my balcony overlooking the little park

A peep of the sea at the horizon

The view, further inland - typically Monaco

The waiting hall

The Restaurant/ they call it the Brasserie...surrounded by wines and champagnes

The Cocktail Bar

The Pool, which I did not manage to use

The retail outlet, selling souvenirs and toiletries

I very highly recommend this hotel to anyone who is visiting Monaco. Perfect 10!

Sheraton Golf Parco de' Medici, Rome, Italy

2009-03-02T21:17:00.000-08:00

We stayed in the Sheraton Golf Parco de’ Medici during our visit to Rome, Italy. This is a very exquisite hotel indeed - very country club-like, obviously because it is affiliated to a golf club so there was a very homey and cozy feel to it. The lounge area was filled with golfers having an evening chat, in fact when we checked in.

There are chalets (the more expensive choice of course) and hotel rooms, a wonderful pool that would have been lovely to take a dip in during spring and summertime, a gym, a shop and a restaurant, which serves very tasty meals. It is located quite far from amenities though, no places where you could walk to from the hotel - no pubs, no shops, no shopping complexes, no cafes and restaurants - just a nice little homey garden where you could take a romantic walk under the moonlight with your loved one.

Taking a stroll outside the hotel - it was quite early then, but day light hours are short during winter, hence the darkness

The flower garden

The side porch

A very cozy fireplace at the lounge area

The outdoor sitting area by the poolside

S for Sheraton :)

The pool, which was closed for winter

The chalets

The room itself was passable - clean sheets and bathroom. Oh, they also provide very cute hotel amenities with a golf theme. I thought the golf ball shaped shower foam, soap and shampoo was pretty interesting - we took the whole set home as a souvenir! Our balcony overlooked the mini garden outside the hotel, not that it was of utmost importance - just a small visual plus point since the garden was nothing much to shout about anyway.

Me in my room - with basic amenities like a TV, a snack bar, a refrigerator, toiletries, air conditioning (not that we needed it in the wintertime), coffee making facilities and a bath tub.

Golf themed toiletries - very cute ones!

There was quite some confusion getting to this hotel though. Apparently there are a few more Sheratons around the vicinity! We went to two Sheratons around Fiumicino International Airport before we could find our hotel. *.*

The Vatican City & Rome, Italy

2009-03-02T05:08:00.000-08:00

Behold the land of aqueducts, fountains, baths, Basilicas, ancient temples, churches, monuments and sculptures! The historical city of Rome, Italy was my first stop during my European tour, and it proved to be a great start to a wonderful and memorable trip! After a very long and tiring direct flight from Malaysia, we landed in Fiumicino International Airport, Rome right at the crack of dawn, albeit a very gloomy one. It was drizzling and the skies were overcast – dark grey clouds hung like a bad premonition above us as we made our ways to our first destination of the day. Still, the chilly and wet weather did not dampen my excitement stepping on foreign soil in Europe for the first time.

The journey began...a shot from the coach.

Rome, the capital city of Italy is also the country’s largest and most densely populated city. Thus, it did not come as a surprise that the streets were already congested with vehicles and a bustle of people, making their ways to work even at such an ungodly hour. The honks of the buses and taxis zig-zagging on the road sounded very familiar to my ears, but nothing else was. The city looked just as the travel books described it to be – many ancient buildings and monuments with a strong baroque and Renaissance influence. Everything was new and refreshing to me – the awe-inspiring magnificent sculptures on the buildings especially, along with the many fountains and water features that sprinkled across the city.

Art pieces in a shop

Walking around the city

Small alleys

Steps to the palace

Statues...

And more steps...

Another water feature...

Icons

A close up shot...

A square - wide open space...wheeeeee...

Another mobile florist...

Polizia...is that the way it is spelt?

Ham & Meat shop

I love these flowers!

A very nice painting of Mary on the way to the Colliseum

Statues...

Vatican City

The Vatican City is the smallest country in the world by both population and area, located in the interior of Rome city itself. It is discrete from the Roman Catholic Church, which is the central authority of Rome, and is ruled by the Bishop of Rome, the Pope. It is in fact the residence of the Popes since the 14th century. One of the most distinctive attractions in the Vatican City is the Basilica of St Peter.

Basilica di San Pietro/ St. Peter’s Basilica

The Basilica was really quite so impressive – it is the one Christian church in the world which can house over 60,000 people at any point of time. As one of the four major basilicas in Rome, it has a very domineering presence in the city. My first sight of the dome from afar was very jaw-dropping because of its sheer magnificence. This was hardly astounding as one of the most outstanding names associated to the Basilica is that of Michelangelo, who is still regarded as one of the best artists of his time. Architecturally, the basilica is considered as one of the supreme buildings in its era.

Basilica di San Pietro from a distance

Nothing like a horse carriage for the romantic atmosphere... :)

Pigeon frenzy...

Majestic pillars

The basilica

Artistic

The Pope in mortar

And then, I was bewildered by the rich history that resonated from the place, dating back to the fourth century. St Peter was buried here – his tomb is believed to be below the altar of the basilica, and because of this, starting from the earliest popes, many of them were buried here too, which was pretty chilling in a way if you asked me because that made it a very huge cemetery – a holy one though.

The dome from the inside

Arches

Amazing sculptures

RIP

Peeping...

Another one of the Pope

My 'Enlightenment'

Regal

Duomo

The Christian cross

I Confess....to being a camwhore...haha..

The Museum

Outside the Basilica...just finished touring the museum.

The Swiss Guards in their peculiar uniform

Another famous attraction around the vicinity is the Castel Sant-Angelo, which served as a mausoleum for one of the Emperors of Rome. It is now a museum.

Fontana di Trevi

The Fontana di Trevi or The Trevi Fountain is one of the most well-known fountains in Rome. The road that led us to the fountain from the main boulevard was small, cobbled, puddled and lined with shops, cafes and gelato parlors at both sides – so unassuming, that when the fountain finally came into view, it came as quite a pleasant surprise. We were told to throw three coins with our right hand over our left shoulder into the fountain – this would bring very good luck to the thrower. I’m not sure about the history of this though, but we did that just for the sake of it – better good luck than nothing at all in any case! As far as we could see, there were many, many coins glimmering back at us from the bottom of the fountain – they were collected from time to time to aid the needy in Rome, or so I was told. What an interesting way to go – to feed the poor with a mere legend!

A fruit & vegetable market along the way to Fontana di Trevi

Triton, Greek God of the Sea

The top part of the fountain

What's happened to the water? :(

Another full shot

Gelato - can't leave here without getting a taste!

My first cappucino upon landing

ET, phoning home hehe

The Trevi Cafe

Finally, here comes the water!

A local cheese shop along the way

Italian vegetables - zucchini

Strawberries, so fresh

Other berries...

Another Italian veggie...?

Colliseum & Arco di Constantino

Ahhh…so we finally arrived at the world-famous amphitheatre, the birthplace of gladiatorial combats and many other public events. I felt a shiver running up and down my spine when the elliptical structure became more and more apparent – think Gladiator, with a very buff and sexy Russel Crowe to boot! Very exciting indeed as my vivid imagination conjured up images of battles between gladiators, and/or gladiators and beasts (man versus lions/ wild animals) – heck, the imagination worked much better when you could bask in the ambience, feel the very vibes of yesteryears emanating from the ruins and walls. Very unsettling though, that so many lives were lost during the games – humans and beasts alike; all the more terrible that they were lost on the account of entertainment for the more privileged lot. May their souls rest in peace.

My first glimpse of the Colliseum

Peace!!

The Colliseum

The other side of it

What remains today...

Yes, the Colloseo...

Ancient...

My Kodak Moment... :)

Right next to the Colloseum is the Arch of Constantine or Arco di Constantino – I make it a point to learn the local names of the places I visit so…there you go. It is an arch built to commemorate Constantine’s (obviously someone named Constantine because that’s the name of the arch!) victory in a battle back in the olden days.

Arco di Constantino...yes, very Italiano... :P

Arch de Triumph

A closer shot...

The Pantheon

This is a temple that housed the Gods of Ancient Rome – in fact, the word Pantheon in Latin means ‘The Temple of All the Gods’ – how direct indeed. It is also the oldest standing dome structure in all of Rome. An interesting place to visit, although like all other buildings in Italy, it is so historically rich that I felt overwhelmed by all the narration of who-did-what-and-when by our guide. One could never get enough of the domes though.

The Spanish Steps

The Spanish Steps, or Scalinata della Trinità dei Monti (okay, I did not remember this Italian name because it was such a mouthful – I looked it up on the net, I confess!) is a series of steps that joins Piazza di Spagna at the bottom of the steps to another Piazza at the top – Piazza Trinita Dei Monti. So what’s so special about these steps? It is the longest and widest staircase in the whole of Europe, that’s what! So imagine my hesitation to climb all the way up and down. A plus side was that there were a lot of cafes and retail outlets housing top brands like LV, Gucci, Burberry and the likes near the steps, so that quite made up for it.

LV Boutique near Piazza di Spagna

Another type of steps which is not quite so Spanish ahhaha

Yes, an outdoor cafe, waiting for my lasagne

Serenaded by a very talented musician, so typically European!

A statue that is *gasp* alive...a common sight in Rome

The Spanish Steps

Immaculately Monaco

2009-02-23T04:35:00.000-08:00

Monaco has to be one of the most tranquil, chic and immaculate countries that I have ever visited so far. The name itself rings of luxury and evokes thoughts of the rich and famous cavorting on the streets of high fashion outlets and top brand names, sunbathing on their million-dollar yachts out in the Mediterranean Sea with the sun on their backs, or laying down a bet or two in the world-famous casinos in their evening gowns and tuxedoes, leisurely sipping on champagne and enjoying caviar. I had a taste of this said extravagance as soon as I stepped out of the plane and found out that a bottle of mineral water would cost me approximately €10 (around RM 48), making my esophagus tighten quite so instinctively.

My recollection of my visit to Monaco is by far simpler and more humble – none of the shenanigans of the glitterati for me, since I couldn’t afford to be cruising on a magnificent yacht with the salty wind in my face, nor do I gamble very much to begin with. Nevertheless, there were plenty to keep me occupied during my week long visit, whether it was frolicking on the quiet streets just people-watching, taking a stroll down the quiet marina, having a cuppa or dining out in the open in the many cafes and restaurants that lined the streets, or visiting the museums and the palace.

Since there were no direct flights to Cote d’Azure airport in Nice, I took a flight from Malaysia to Heathrow Airport in London, and there on to Nice via British Airways. There are many other budget airlines like Ryanair and EasyJet to choose from. After surfing the web, I found that this was the cheapest way to go. The flight from London to Nice was a very bumpy and terrifying one alas, since it was a small aircraft (quite the rollercoaster ride I swear to God, and there were times I thought I was going to barf out the tuna crossaint I was fed in the aircraft), but despite that and a little setback upon arrival in Nice (my luggage was quite damaged to my dismay, I doubt BA staff had been very gentle with it), the near perfect weather compensated for it – well, almost…until the cab that took me out of the airport cruised along the smooth road towards Monaco-ville and the landscape began to change, much to my delight. The journey took an hour plus, almost two hours. There was not much traffic along the way, and as the coastlines and emerald blue sea became more and more apparent, my heart began to sing a very happy tune. So this was what drew countless many to this part of the world year after year, despite its cut-throat price!

I stayed at Hotel Columbus, which I was told belonged to the F1 legend, David Coulthard. This begs the mention that Monaco is also very famous for its Grand Prix events that take place on the last week of May every year. That’s a tip for you not to visit during that period of time unless you are an avid motor-racing fan or you simply love to be a tuna fish in a value-for-money can.

Jardine's Garden

Being in Monaco gave me the feeling of being carefree, which probably arose from everyone being so affluent and leisurely. It almost seemed as though nobody worked here! People were just strolling around, walking their dogs which probably had better lives and wardrobes than most of us here, jogging in the parks, sipping a latte in the cafes or doing something along those lines. Perhaps it was just the fact that a big chunk of Monaco’s income comes from tourism and most of the people you actually see are tourists themselves. There were never-ending streets of souvenir shops that you could spend just hours in – many mementos you would probably want to bring home in remembrance of this wonderful place, except that they cost a hand and a leg – nothing at all was cheap here! The smallest and most insignificant items would at least cost €5 or so, thus be prepared to over-spend.

The Marina

The plus point is that you couldn’t possibly get lost in Monaco. It is after all the second smallest country in the world. The whole stretch of Monaco-ville is probably only some kilometers in length and even the bus routes are simple enough for the dummies. Most of the people here speak French and understand English although they may not/ do not want to speak the language. As long as you’re good in sign or body language, you’re good to go on your own without a guide.

For art lovers, the Musee de la Chapelle de la Visitation is a must to visit. There are many priceless and rare religious art items here by Vermeer and some other famous names that I cannot recollect since I do not know enough about art to actually appreciate them fully. The entrance fee was about €3, a small price to pay for a great experience. I very much enjoyed the Musee Oceanographique instead – I felt it was much livelier and the collection of marine fishes and creatures there were quite an interesting spectacle indeed. Some of the fishes were so peculiar one would just keep on staring, wondering which crevices of earth they came out from. A few looked pretty alien to me, and probably they were, you’d never know! There was also a showcase of the history of marine activities – boating, whaling and such, not to mention there was a terrace at the top floor with the most magnificent view!

The Prince’s Palace of Monaco would be another place worth a visit. It was a fortress with a very long and dramatic history, being bombarded and besieged by many foreign forces ever since it was founded in the 12th century. Although one would have to climb a few hundred steps all the way up (there was no other way up I was told unless you suddenly sprouted wings), the view at the top was worth every single step, especially the night view, which was breathtaking indeed. The baroque architecture of the palace was interesting to observe, as was the fact that the imperial guards were quite camera shy – they did not like their photos taken, and might even reprimand you for doing so, thus be warned. There were also many souvenir shops here for you to do your shopping if the price did not scare you too much.

The food in Monaco was impeccable – although I’ve had my qualms trying foie gras/ goose liver and smoked salmon/ beef/ duck back in Malaysia, I was quite prepared to have my dose here in Monaco…and they tasted like heaven. Of course, it helped that the said dinner was in Le Meridien Beach Hotel and the cuisine was faultless – the best I had during my stay. For wine and champagne lovers, there are plenty of French ones to choose from. For the latter, I highly recommend Veuve Cliquot - it is very popular here. Certainly, there are many other choices too, for example fast food outlets like McDonald’s or other small cafes if you’re on a budget, so I doubt anyone would go hungry here.

As for casinos, you could visit the Monte Carlo Casino if you have a bundle of spare cash to splash. Here, one could see the bold and the beautiful in their element with their flashy rides. Hotel De Paris, one of the priciest hotels in the area is located just next to the casino and you could dine in Café De Paris, which boasts of A-list guests like stick-thin supermodels and celebrities. Since I lacked the moolah, I just did the best thing I could do back then – human-watching, and how interesting indeed it was, all the more because it was free!

I suppose being young and not so established yet in Monaco has its setbacks. If I had a chance to go back to Monaco in the future, I would definitely take a drive down to Cannes, where the Film Festival is held every year and probably take a trip to St Tropez, made famous by Princess Diana’s clandestine tryst there with her lover before their untimely deaths. Till then, I have my wonderful memories of Monaco-ville to keep me satisfied.

Beautiful Bali

2009-02-18T20:17:00.000-08:00

Just the mere word ‘Bali’ is enough to conjure up images of idyllic white sandy beaches fringed with swaying palm trees, clear blue waters all the way to the bottom with colorful corals & diverse marine life, age-old temples in a very dreamy, rustic setting and of course, an expected bit of shopping and massages by the beach. A perfect paradise for a sun-loving beach bum like me, well almost, considering the spate of events that threatened to dim its allure prior to our visit – fear of bombing, fear of tsunami, fear of unrest as well as hearsay of dirty waters and even dirtier beaches – what can I say? Human beings are a fearful lot! I’m glad that we did not succumb to our fears as I sit here now and reminisce on the wonderful days and temperate, romantic nights we spent at the peaceful haven that is Bali.

Upon our arrival at Denpasar Airport after a flight of approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes, we were greeted by hot blasts of balmy air very similar to Malaysia. In fact, nothing much else differs – the friendly smiles, warm welcome and humble people quickly gave us a sense of being at home. Most of the hotels here arrange transport from the airport to the hotel, so it was not a problem at all getting to our destination, in fact quite fuss-free! The streets towards Kuta, where our hotel was situated were small with many abrupt turns (possibly short cuts) and the air was commonly punctuated by honks from vehicles and the drones of motorbikes. Once in a while, you can hear too the steady click-clack of horses dragging carriages passing by. Horse carriages lend a very romantic ambience to the whole place I must say and I was prepared to be swept away by Bali at first sight.

For accommodation, there were plenty to choose from. Most of the hotels were not majestic or even sky scraping like those we find at the city back home. In fact, most were quite modest, garden-styled and homey. There were a few grander ones of course, but unless you’re the kind who loves hanging out by the pool or room all day long poring over a book, I would say it is not so important to choose a particularly grand hotel. What matters most is the location. Many were passable, clean and most importantly, the service is splendid. Our hotel of choice was The Vira Bali.

Instead of staying in, we quickly changed and headed to Kuta Beach, which was a mere five minutes drive away. The little town was a busy little beehive, with many people walking around, mostly tourists, and there were many stores, shops and even a mall on the way. On the beach, there were throngs of people going about their businesses – and having mentioned that, there were plenty of businesses, from old wrinkled women trying to sell anything from beads to massages and hair braiding services to men doing tattoos (semi-permanent or permanent). These people can get quite persistent and once they have set their eyes on you, they seldom give up, so be warned. Nevertheless, there were plenty to experience here – the whole place was dotted with activity and you’d never get bored for sure. As expected, there were many massage and spa centers, and for many of these places, you can hack the price – anything is negotiable here as long as it is reasonable for both parties. We managed to get very good packages along the way. As for nightlife, we only noticed one disco which was pretty empty during our time here. There were sprinkles of pubs here and there and many, many up-class restaurants serving pretty expensive seafood though. So where to eat or go during the night time would depend on how much you want to spend on your trip.

We quickly checked on the available packages for island hopping the next day. One could actually make bookings from the internet prior to arrival, though I personally think it is a hundred times more probable that you’d get ripped off that way. No hurry, there were plenty of choices and many operators who were willing to let us haggle for a better price – they were practically falling over each other trying to promote their tours to us. There were many different packages as well for every kind of preference – cruise ships with fancy candlelight dinners, smaller sail boat outings, dolphin watches in the wee hours of morning, sea walking, surfing and etcetera. Some tours take one full day while others take only half a day. Most of them provide lunch, snacks and beverages including beer and water. Depending on operators, some even provide snorkeling equipment and towels.

Since we were more on the adventurous side, we chose the ocean rafting package – not for the fainthearted for sure. This one came with a warning label, so just signing up for it gave me an adrenaline rush. In case you’re worried on how genuine these operators are, you could request to pay for the package the next day when you are being picked up from your hotel, and yes, hotel pickups could be arranged, wherever it is you’re staying around Kuta. Tour packages (the ones we enquired about at least) starts from approximately RM 150 onwards, and most operators accept credit card.

The ocean rafting day tour proved to be one of the best experiences I’ve ever had for a long time. It was exhilarating from the start! Instead of some old chunky boat that chugged on the surface of the water like an old hag, we had this powerful orange dinghy that practically bounced off the water, no different from a rollercoaster ride. The driver had cheap thrills trying to scare the heck out of us by abrupt turns and stops and accelerations, so this is highly NOT recommended for people who are speed phobic, have some conditions or are pregnant or could easily get sea-sick.

Then of course, there was the sight seeing bit. We were taken to Nusa Penida, which was a landscape of rocky cliffs, billows, blowholes and arches – very breathtaking indeed. And the water was so blue and crystal clear one could hardly believe it. We even chanced to see humongous manta rays in their natural habitat beneath the surface of the water. Snorkeling was fun here, although I had a nagging feeling that the marine fauna and flora could have been more colorful and vibrant at some places. Lunch was near Lembongan Island, at one of the smaller islands which had been wiped out by the tsunami in 2004. Seemed like the island had rejuvenated and healed itself though it did look kind of deserted. After that, we were taken to the seaweed village, where seaweed was processed into its edible form, whether for cosmetics or food. Lembongan Island was very rural and green, with its zinc-roofed homes, lush vegetation and topless children running wild and free. Here, just like any typical Malay village, they reared chickens and ducks and other farm animals. We were briefed on how seaweed was processed – quite a new and interesting thing to learn since I never knew how or where the seaweed I ate originated from.

After more snorkeling, the boat took us to the middle of the ocean, where there were a few pontoons, equipped with water slides, jet skis and what not. Perfect for the younger and rowdier bunch, but it was not for us, so we just lazed on the deck chairs and stared into the horizon which was blue all the way, soaking up the sun. One of the highlights of the trip was the visit to Balihai Beach Club. For those who want to experience staying in Asian wooden chalets, this would be the place to go. There were quite some facilities here including pools, a spa and water sports center. The strip of beach here was lovely, and one could just imagine having a romantic dinner out here and watching the sun set in streaks of orange, pink and purple.

We headed back as it got later, and the seas began to get choppier and the waves higher. sometimes the boat would get lifted up high before free-falling some meters. And the wind was madness, howling past our ears. At some points, I could feel butterflies doing acrobatics in my stomach and I would grip the side of my seat so tight my knuckles turned white. We were assured that the boat was very safe, but one would never know, would one? Still, I loved every bit of that fear because it was when I felt most alive to be honest. Nothing too drastic happened and we finally arrived back at the jetty.

A trip to Bali would never be complete without the shopping of course, especially if you’re a huge Quicksilver/ Roxy/ Reef/ any other surfer brands fan. There were many shops carrying these brands – some are boutiques located smack in the middle of Kuta town. The boutiques are not really the place to shop however if you’re hunting for bargains. The warehouses are the places to be! We found one near Tuban, which offered discounts of up to 70 % on all items from bags to t-shirts to surfer pants and belts. What more can I say? Shopping frenzy!

Food wise, I could not quite get used to the local dishes there to be honest, everything tasted a bit too sweet for my liking. We were even given sugar to go with our food for some reason or another, whether it was vege or meat. One dish to try out would be the flying gurami, a deep fried fish served with sour-spicy sauce. They would recommend it anywhere, and the one we had wasn’t quite so bad. It was very fresh because we picked it off the aquarium. Another place to try for seafood would be Jimbaran, an open air seafood restaurant where you can enjoy your food along with the setting sun. It’s about half hour to one hour’s drive away from Kuta.

Finally, there was surfing to test our perseverance. I’ve never surfed in my life and it was my first time. Good thing it was at Kuta I was told, where the waves were rather small. They called it baby waves. Which stunned me quite a bit because the fierce ripples of white-capped water body crashing onto the sand had looked anything but baby. Imagine Uluwatu, where all the experts go and the waves could go up to a few meters high. I couldn’t imagine really. Surfing there had seemed like a death sentence to me.

Anyway, back to my baby waves. To learn surfing, you could engage a trainer for half a day or a few days, depending on how serious you are to be a real surfer. It did not come cheap – a few hours of training could cost around RM 400- 500. I mentally prepared myself for what was to come as the trainer gave us land training on how to catch a wave on that puny board. Oh wait, it was humongous for me and pretty heavy too. By the way, the better the surfer, the smaller/ shorter the board. Since we were practically surfer noobs, we had to take the biggest (and heaviest) ones. It was a great experience no doubt, but one of the most challenging sports I have ever tried - I still have mixed feelings for it despite being quite the aqua girl.

First of all, when you’re about my size and you have to slave to bring that surf board out to the sea, battling the strongest waves at the shallowest parts, it is tough. Very tough. If you aren’t careful, the waves could smash the board into you. After a few rolls in the waves, a bruised thigh, a few broken fingernails and countless scratches, I was able to finally get my balance and go all the way without falling off the board…and I’ve got pictures to prove that! Thank God for technology really! Woohoo! Be prepared to get burnt however. I was told the best times to surf was at high noon onwards because that was when one could experience the best waves. We ended the training quite successfully, with certificates to boot. A certified wave-rider, yeah, that’s me!

On our last day at Bali, we visited Tanah Lot, famed for its ancient temples and Balinese culture. The journey took more than two hours through very winding roads we were almost unsure whether we would arrive at all. It was a rainy, gloomy day but that did not deter many from visiting, including me perhaps because I had read so much about it and seen so many pictures of the unique rock formation painstakingly shaped by the tide over a hundred of years that I just had to see it no matter what the weather. Just like the rest, we rented bright colored big umbrellas. Oh, and entrance was not free, we had to pay before being admitted inside – not a whopping amount though. And thus began a long walk down a path with souvenir shops on either side. Many Balinese handicrafts, clothes and accessories are sold here and if you had the time, there are many interesting things to see along the way, including a big vampire bat perched on the branch of a tree. There are many food stalls as well, so you won’t get hungry.

There are many myths surrounding this place and I could feel a sense of mystery as we stepped in. Remember what they said about history weighing down on a place – this was one of those places where you just felt it. It was said that Tanah Lot was the resting place of a high priest who worshipped the sea god. The temple you see in the picture is one of the seven sea temples along the Balinese coast. People believed that poisonous sea snakes guard the temple at bottom of the rock formation from evil spirits and unwanted intruders. We also managed to peep into the cave rumoured to house a giant snake, which was the temple’s guardian. How true it was we never found out because they charged quite a bit for tourists to go in and be blessed by the said serpent and on top of that, I wasn’t the biggest fan of slithery creatures. Thus for us, what peeped back was darkness from the mouth of the cave. Whatever snakes lay in there, God bless their souls. Tanah Lot at sunset was undeniably beautiful, silhouetted against the dying light and it made everything worthwhile somehow. At least it mesmerized me enough to make me forget about my wet jeans, shriveled up toes and shoes. And it proved to be the perfect way to end our vacation.

Things to consider before the trip

Visa

Malaysian passport holders do not require a visa to enter Bali and Indonesia. No entry fee is levied, though there is an exit fee of 15,000 Rupiah that needs to be paid upon departure from the airport.