Paris (Supertramp)

Following our 1 week stay in London, we boarded the Eurostar for Paris. Around 2 hours of picturesque view of the French countryside from our windows before reaching Gare du Nord. Citadines Prestige Saint-Germain-des-Prés Paris was our stay for the first 5 nights followed by our last night at Mercure Terminus Nord. The former offering convenience right in the centre of Paris along the Seine, whereas the latter is just across Gare du Nord, leading to the airport. We didn’t purchase the Paris Pass since the price didn’t justify the places that we intended to cover. Almost everything was within walking distance from our hotel or was just a few metro stations away. I almost wanted to buy a ticket to the Champions League match between Paris St. Germain and Porto at Stade de France on our arrival day but the timing was just not feasible. It would have been cool to watch Ibrahimovic and company in action.

We walked to places like Notre Dame de Paris, Centre Georges Pompidou, Pantheon Paris and even managed a short stop at La Grande Mosquée de Paris. The iconic Tour de Eiffel was amazing especially after dusk. Arc de Triomphe Paris was another stop which was located at the top of The Avenue des Champs-Élysées, the French version of Orchard Road, where more bags were bought by Fadelinah and even I succumbed to one from Lancel, before heading to Printemps and Galeries Lafayette for more variety. Prices so much cheaper than the boutiques in Singapore that it would be almost sinful to return home without buying one. Food-wise, not as much as what London offered us and apart from the occasional stops at Mediterranean eateries, we indulged more on the macarons from Ladurée and Pierre Hermé. Fadelinah prefers the former but I prefer the latter. A stark contrast in quality between theirs and the all-too-sweet ones we ate in Singapore. And it seems Ladurée will be opening a branch in Singapore soon.

One cannot come to Paris and leave without appreciating the famous art pieces that the city contains. A visit to Musée du Louvre is a must to see most of them, especially the one and only Mona Lisa. So as we wondered through the different parts of the humongous museum, lost in paintings, sculptures and ancient artefacts, the feeling that even staying inside the museum for a month was not enough dawned, so beelines were made to only the important ones. True enough, the only display that had a really big crowd in front of it was the Mona Lisa. So you smile as she smiles back at you and you ask yourself “That’s it?”.

One of my primary objectives in Paris was to try and visit the underbelly of the city, so to speak, Catacombes de Paris, where human remains are stacked forming boney mounds and hanged along the earthy walls. Alas, upon reaching the discreet little hut that forms the main entrance to the macabre, the sign informing that the place is closed for maintenance was still hung. Disappointed, I returned to join Fadelinah at the hotel for more retail theraphy. At least I managed to visit Cimetière du Père Lachaise prior to that, to visit Jim Morrison’s grave, on what would have been his birthday.

Paris, the City of Lights, lived up to its name, and we are glad to have made the journey and experience the culture and surprisingly, friendly people. Not too sure if a return to Paris is on the cards but I still cannot get over missing out on the catacombs and besides … Fadelinah has something to settle with one Mr Julien from St. Laurent.

London Calling (The Clash)

Something that has been on my mind the past year finally came into fruition last November 28th. Having Ooyah passed her endurances for 4 and 7 hour flights, we boarded Singapore Airlines for a 13 hour flight to London. Fadelinah wanted to shop her heart out and I wanted to be inside Emirates Stadium watching an actual live match, rather than just make do supporting Arsenal from the couch at home. It was fuss-free booking the essentials a few months in advance and to have them delivered to Singapore, like the London Pass, which proved very useful throughout our stay in London. Be it going into the tourist attractions without having to queue and unlimited travels on the Tube and buses. The actual cost of the London Pass was recovered halfway through our journey and there is absolutely no way for anyone to cover everything, even if it is a 2 week stay.

Ibis London Blackfriars was booked for the initial 2 nights as it was just built in October. Simple clean interior with competent staff and located right in the centre of London, with Halal food available just a street away and the nearby Southwark station made travelling a breeze. On hindsight, we should have just stayed there throughout our stay, if we knew that the second hotel we booked for the next 4 nights, Studio 2 Let at Cartwright Gardens, was utter crap. Never have we stayed in a more deplorable place than that. Just a night was enough for us to foresake the cost of the remaining 3 nights and head straight to Pullman London St. Pancras across the road. A lesson learnt, never stay in a typical building to have the feel of the locals, unless it is run by a reputable hotel chain.

We managed to cover a few tourist attractions during the first few days. H.M.S. Belfast, permanently docked along the River Thames, offered an insight into the living conditions of the crew that went through various wars in it before the ship was turned into a museum in 1971. The Tower Bridge offers a learning experience into the history and mechanics that makes the amazing bridge works, unlike the London Bridge featured in the nursery rhyme that just looks boring, until lit at night. The architectural buffs would definitely appreciate the Millennium Bridge that spans from St. Paul’s Cathedral to Tate Modern. Tower of London is interesting in a medieval and spooky kind of way, but we enjoyed it nonetheless. Basically we stopped by any interesting spots along the River Thames, including Shakespeare’s Globe, and managed to board a Citycruise boat in the evening from Big Ben.

The highlight of the trip, at least for me, was sitting inside Emirates Stadium watching Arsenal’s match against Swansea City. Even having signed up as a Red member months ahead, I couldn’t manage to get extra tickets for Fadelinah and Ooyah, but given the constant swearing and seat-slamming Gooners around me, perhaps it wasn’t a good idea after all to bring them along. Anyway, both of them were busy shopping at Oxford Street while I was watching the match. Arsenal eventually lost through 2 late goals from Michu. Even in defeat, I would gladly do it all over again if given another chance. The 3 of us returned the next morning for a proper tour of Emirates Stadium. Ooyah decked in her Arsenal gear had fun running around the place and posing beside statues of Tony Adams and Thierry Henry.

We visited a few more places like the Portobello Market, Piccadilly Circus and the Household Cavalry before spending the remaining days in London hopping in and out of the London cabs shopping at places like Harrods and Primark. Fadelinah also got her much-awaited English scones at The Tea Room. We love London and we will be back. It is just a matter of when.

Osaka (The Kickovers)

Truth be told this trip should not have happened. It seemed like a good idea to book the flight tickets a few months ago due to Jetstar’s promotion but eventually became too close to our main holiday to London and Paris; just a day apart.

We reached Osaka on 23rd November and just did an exploration of Osaka rather than venture out to Kyoto or Nara, which were less than an hour’s train ride, during our full 3 day stay. Sheraton Miyako Hotel Osaka was our base. Osaka is not as tourist-friendly as Tokyo when it comes to directional signs and network maps in English, took longer than usual to figure out things but we somehow managed in the end. We went to Osaka Castle on the first day, which proved to be a nice place to appreciate fall albeit a drizzling weather, surrounded by the yellow and orange leaves of the many trees.

The entire second day at Universal Studios Japan was for Ooyah. I guess the main thing that separates Japanese theme resort attractions from their counterparts would be the parades, held during the day and night. We didn’t see such things at Singapore’s Universal Studios. The cool weather helped reduce tiredness as well.

Our final day coincided with the Osaka Marathon and the front of our hotel just happened to be part of the route. I had fun taking pictures of some of the runners in their quirky outfits, from Doreamon to Ultraman. After that, we headed to Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, that just resemble any other aquarium attractions in the world, before taking a ride on the Tempozan Ferris Wheel, offering panaromic views of the whole of Osaka. The night before our departure was confined to the Dotonbori area, where we had some food which Osaka is famous for, apart from the typical sushi.

We foresee transitting at Osaka in the future … before heading to Kyoto and Kobe.

Kids (Folk Implosion)

The recent week-long September school holidays was the perfect opportunity for Ooyah to embark on the Kidzania experience, that she had been clamouring for ever since missing out on it during her Jakarta trip with Fadelinah. Whereas for us parents, a good time as any for another food fest in Kuala Lumpur. A few quick bookings and we found ourselves onboard a double decker Transtar coach heading towards the city.

Kidzania is the brainchild of one Mexican genius, basically a family entertainment centre where the kids are given a small token of in-house currency called KidZos, to start their careers, earning and spending their way through the various ‘companies’ and ‘organisations’ within the Kidzania compounds. Thoroughly enjoyable for the kids as they run around working for hours on end. Ooyah took no less than a dozen jobs throughout our 7 hour stay there, including the much-coveted fire fighter, spraying down an ablazed hotel. A surgeon at a specialist hospital was also one of the jobs, the irony. Other jobs at places like Merrybrown and Sushi King would have the kids making their own burgers or bento sets. It is highly likely that we go to Kidzania again before she turns 10, before it all gets to be too lame for her.

The Royale Bintang Damansara, not to be confused with the nearby notorious The Royale Bintang The Curve, was our stay throughout the trip. A decent hotel with nicely furnished rooms and facilities, including an in-house ice skating rink, that Ooyah and I had the chance to skate and fall on the night before our departure. I sure hope that the ongoing courtesy campaign for their staff work, since the front desk staff might be the ones bring down the name of the hotel soon.

Riot On The Gold Coast (Ease The Medic)

We seldom have any problems during holidays when it comes to the flights themselves, be it low cost or full fledged carriers. But trust our own Singapore Airlines’ new budget airlines venture, Scoot, to be the first to actually activate our travel insurance plan. We already heard the news about the screw up for their maiden flight to Sydney, a few days before our own flight to Gold Coast. So it was with much trepidation that we made our way to Changi Airport in the evening of 12th June, hoping that things would be different. Any new airline would have worked harder to make sure of no repeated delays given the reputation at stake, but it seemed the CEO right down to the staff had other ideas. Our flight to Gold Coast itself was perhaps deja vu for the airline crew. Our sickly plane, Barry, had to make a U-turn due to a faulty door. It took roughly more than an hour for them to rectify the problem while we waited in the plane. But that paled in comparison to our return flight which was delayed for six hours because of a computer advisory message that needed investigation and a fuel tank seal that needed replacement. It was bloody Barry yet again.

Yes they put in a lot of effort for the fanfare surrounding their maiden flight to Gold Coast, from the moment we checked in to our arrival at Gold Coast Airport. The Noose’s ‘Pornsak Sukhumvit’ and ‘Barbarella Posh-Beckham’ were on board to entertain the passengers and some complimentary items were given. We even spotted ‘The Voice’ himself, Brian Richmond, who was gentlemanly in his ways, with his son, Mark, who I couldn’t care less about. After touching down, the plane was given a salute of sorts by a couple of of fire engines that doused it with water while it was approaching for disembarkation, as a welcoming sign for new airlines that use the airport. Upon passing through the Australian customs, there were also roving entertainers with some people from the press waiting and Fadelinah was interviewed by one of them.

Meriton Broadbeach was our choice as the base for our stay in Gold Coast. Seeing the expansive beach from our 24th storey balcony was a sight for sore eyes. As usual, we started the first day by just exploring the nearby areas and went to Pacific Fair for some shopping respite and meals. The only bad thing about Autralian shopping centres is the fact that they close early around 5 pm and only open till 9 pm on Thursdays. We headed to Sea World Resort & Water Park the next day and stayed a night since they were having a joint promotion for both accommodation and park tickets that was too hard to resist. The hotel looks very dated, more suited to the days when Farrah Fawcett hairdos were the fad, and kind of set the standard for things to come. Having visited Tokyo’s Disneyland and Disneysea, every single theme parks we went to after them no longer seem attractive, even the ones in Singapore are miles ahead of those in Gold Coast. Ooyah had a blast in Sea World though, especially when she had her own personal time interacting with a dolphin.

I guess no trip to Gold Coast is complete without a visit to the famed Surfers Paradise. We were there for their night market and some beach lounging during the day. As our stay at Sea World also covered Movie World, we just had to give a try and after a few hours seeing whatever there was to be seen in that little place, ventured next to Paradise Country, which is just behind it and Wet ‘N’ Wild. It was a toss between Paradise Country and Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary for some close encounters with the furry kind, and we opted for the former due to its proximity. A sheared sheep and sip of Billy Tea with damper later and we were back at the hotel.

The final day was just spent within Broadbeach, enjoying the food and more playing by the beach. Comforting especially in the chilly weather. If only we had more days to spare. There are actually loads of things that can be done in Gold Coast, like riding hot air balloons and whale watching, but we just couldn’t cover them within 5 days. Really regretted not doing the whale watching part, as there was a reported sighting of a rare species in the news while we were there. Definitely see us returning to Gold Coast in the future, just not with the bloody Scoot airline.

Hong Kong Phooey (Sublime)

How does one ruin a nice place with undulating hilly peaks, watery surroundings and modern architecture? By letting irritating tourists from mainland China, Taiwan and South Korea roam free all over the islands. A week may have been a bit too long to spend in Hong Kong, but given it’s an end-of-the-year holiday, I thought it was alright since I didn’t foresee us returning. Having experienced the whole culture there, that’s a certainty.

The whole itinerary was divided into 2 nights in Lantau, 2 nights in Hong Kong Island and the final 3 nights in Kowloon. Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel, South Pacific Hotel and Novotel Nathan Road Kowloon were our bases respectively. Hong Kong’s version of the Disneyland Resort, even with their latest Toy Story Land attraction, pales in comparison to the Tokyo one we went to last year. Perhaps the many rushing ‘tourists’ that made me want to shove Mickey Mouse figurines up their asses played a part in the underwhelming experience. The local Singaporeans’ kiasuism can’t hold a candle to these idiots. Taking them away from the whole scenario, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and its 2 hotels are still enchanting enough for people new to the whole Disney magic. The Enchanted Garden Restaurant at our hotel was an enjoyable experience for Ooyah as the popular Disney characters dropped by our table for some photo-taking sessions. The maze within the hotel’s compound is also an interesting feature where the children can play hide-and-seek.

It was initially a half-hearted decision to select South Pacific Hotel as our second accommodation due to some less than favourable comments from former guests of the hotel but given its close proximity to some Halal eateries and attractions, I booked it. Masjid Ammar and Osman Ramju Sadick Islamic Centre is just a stone throw away, where Halal dim sum, apart from other dishes, could be had. Singapore’s Razack’s Seafood Kitchen and Tang Tea House Hong Kong Cafe come to mind, so no need for any bated breath. Any Halal eatery in a foreign land is still God-sent no matter the quality, so regulars we were while within the Wanchai area.

Ocean Park is one place anyone who goes to Hong Kong must visit. It’s definitely much better than Disneyland Resort, offering lots of attractions suitable for both adults and children, be it at the base or on top. And a visit there is not complete without a cable car ride up the steep slopes of the park, offering stunning views of the ocean and cliffs. Nerve-wrecking yet enjoyable. Love it.

Traversing both sides of the Victoria Harbour on Star Ferry was a cheap and enjoyable transportation option, rather than taking the MTR, which we only used once to travel from Disneyland to Hong Kong Island. Around only a couple of HKD, we were treated to stunning views of either sides of the harbour. We went to The Peak twice, the first accidentally all the way up by a double-decker bus and on The Peak Tram the following day. So much for the hype over the tram ride that only provided blurry views of seemingly 45 degrees inclined buildings. The tram was packed and the ride was over within minutes. The bus ride turning corners around cliffs was so much more interesting. We had fun posing with the various ‘stars’ inside Madame Tussauds Hong Kong located within The Peak, especially Ooyah who did an impromptu dance in front of Lady Gaga’s wax figurine, entertaining the many tourists close by. The Peak’s a location worth staying till evening for as one can see Hong Kong lit up in its full glory.

If there’s one lesson I’ve taken from this trip, it’s to avoid destinations frequented by tourists from China, Taiwan and South Korea. The last basically put paid to our intention of visiting their country. No more loud-mouthed people ever again.

Khmer (Nils Petter Molvaer)

The ‘Land of Smiles’ title should rightfully be handed to Cambodia instead of Thailand, as we came to realise throughout our 6-day trip to Siem Reap starting 10th June. Be it the welcoming staff of the hotels or the many ordinary folks we encountered daily, wealthy or poor; the latter more frequently. Tara Angkor Hotel was deemed a suitable base to start our explorations of the temple grounds, especially the majestic Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom. Rated #1 by Tripadvisor but with surprisingly modest room rates, we weren’t expecting much as we would be out often throughout our 2-night stay. It was alright with competent staff nonetheless.

Same, the driver whom we had engaged to bring us around for most of the time, proved reliable with his knowledge of the various temples and assisted with whatever information I had gathered prior to our trip, particularly with regards to restaurants serving Halal food, like D’Wau and Muslim Family Restaurant. He was always on time, even when called upon to bring me to Angkor Wat for a sunrise shoot at 5 in the morning. Not early enough it seems as daylight was already rampant by the time I reached the favourite photography spot. Having visited Borobudur, Angkor Wat is miles ahead in terms of scale and grandeur, the intricate carvings throughout the complex would take years to appreciate and decipher. So equipped with just a 3-day pass, it was somewhat of a rush trying to visit as many temples as possible, especially those in the outskirts of Siem Reap, like Banteay Srei.

Templed-out by the third day, we headed to Hôtel de la Paix for our next 3-night stay, a contemporary hotel decked out with Art Déco elements, housing some of Siem Reap’s world-class restaurants under its roof. Apart from being visually stunning with its many architectural details, it’s also a socially-responsible hotel, judging by its support for the less-privileged community. With staff remembering you by name, it’s hard not to be repeat guests.

Trips out of the town area are what Cambodia is all about, as French colonial-inspired buildings give way to acres of paddy fields interspersed with water buffaloes and the locals going about their daily lives. Along the way one will also see many non-governmental organisations, with the typical foreigner sticking out like a sore thumb amongst the Cambodian kids; volunteering as teachers throughout their stay in Siem Reap.

We visited Puok Silk Farm to learn about the process of making silk, where Ooyah valiantly held a chunky silk worm, and Artisans d’Angkor, where the Cambodians’ excellent craftsmanship was put on display for sale. We also managed to catch an Apsara dance performance at Sophea Angkor Pich Restaurant, not exactly a great venue to appreciate one of the prides of Cambodian culture, with its bustling surrounding of people making beelines for the buffet tables.

The fourth day was set aside for some horse-riding at The Happy Ranch Horse Farm, with stables of well-groomed horses and managed by the hands-on and friendly Mr Sary Pann, who also entertained Ooyah’s love for horses by letting her feed and bath Geronimo. An hour’s worth of ride through the scenic countryside affording close encounters with the local villagers, that cost as much as the 15-minute ride Ooyah had in Langkawi. Needless to say I had to join in.

The highlight of our trip was the almost 2-hour boat ride at Tonlé Sap, a massive freshwater lake where many Vietnamese and Cham communities live on floating villages around it. It was indeed an eye-opener for us to see their living conditions first hand. We stopped for a while at a school for the poor and also a floating platform where a restaurant was located next to a few seemingly hungry crocodiles. We were making our return trip from there when dark clouds loomed above and a storm took place. Caught in a storm with the boat stuck among thick water hyacinths is hardly much to call a holiday, but having seen the faces of those around us trying to live normally amidst such conditions was mesmerising. One image that’s forever etched in our minds is that of the drenched young boy above trying with all his might to help his family push their sampan through the water hyacinths. Whatever hardship we may face in our lives back in Singapore don’t even come close.

We spent the following 2 days just relaxing in our hotel and enjoying the Cambodian people’s friendliness and hospitality. Same sent us back to the airport on the final day and we promised to use his services again when we return. How could we not?

Shanghai (12 Girls Band)

The parent company had planned a full-day training session for its Asean counterparts, so a few hours after a late night company event in Singapore, the design team headed to Shanghai. It was conducted inside the Shanghai showroom, which is perhaps the most impressive by far, given the showroom’s high ceiling with proper displays of the latest models. Davide, the technical specialist, conducted the session with extra emphasis on assisting the Shanghai and Taipei representatives. We were intrigued more by the introduction of the latest proprietary ceiling hood and wine chiller.

Exhausted after the compact training session had ended, everybody headed off to a famous restaurant to try something that somebody had enquired about during lunch earlier. Enough to say that I tried my best not too be a bad guest without compromising on personal food preference; with the sometimes weird dishes being placed non-stop on the lazy susan. The hosts were definitely trying their best to make sure everything was catered to be it lodging, food and entertainment, and we appreciate it very much. The New Beacon Qingzhilv International Hotel was our base throughout the whole trip.

Bar Rouge, at Bund 18, was the final stop for the night and the place definitely lived up to the hype. The freezing weather in Shanghai weren’t being too kind while everybody was out on the open roof terrace overlooking the Huangpu River. Luckily, I had my pack of ‘Double Happiness’ cigarettes for company.

Our return flight was close to midnight the following day, so we had practically the whole day to explore the rest of Shanghai. First stop was the XinTian Di district, a rather hip area made up of boutiques and restaurants. The architecture of the surrounding old buildings were attractive enough for some people to be posing along the lanes for their pictures to be taken. We then took a public bus to Yuyuan, kind of like Shanghai’s Old Town, where many locals gather for the abundance of street food and also to absorb some cultural and historical places of interest. I managed to do a little bit of shopping for souvenirs, including some traditional Chinese tea, at this place.

Soon after, a quick ride on the Shanghai Metro, and we reached The Oriental Pearl Tower. Something that just had to be done, so RMB150 poorer individually and we were at the top of the imposing building. The highlight was of course having vertigo while walking on the glass floor that afforded the view 350 metres below.

The last dinner in Shanghai was to be had along the streets of Ninghai Road, where I finally managed to patronise a truly Halal joint, run by Uyghurs. Long sticks of spicy mutton satay. So long that most people used them as darts to aim into the dustbins resulting in bouquets of satay sticks.

Safe to say Shanghai is not a place I long to return to. Weather was chilly like Tokyo during that time, which I love, but the surround sound of ‘Harkkk Ptuiii’ almost every ten minutes wasn’t to my liking. Hopefully, the suggestions by the many representatives to make it an annual affair would be realised. It would be nice to return to Bangkok after so many years.

Tokyo Blue (Najee)

Promises kept on the exact date of the anniversary of her surgery. To see real-life Disney characters and play in the snow. And the nearest place that could offer both was Japan. With only slightly more than a week to spare, we spent most of the days within Tokyo, absorbing the stylish and clean environment of the city with visits to Disney attractions. Originally planned for just a day each at Disneyland and Disneysea, we upgraded to the 3-day passport, since Fadelinah and I were totally smitten by the Disney magic, reliving what we could only capture on television back when we were little kids. Ooyah definitely has gotten a headstart.

I decided to just book a room at Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku throughout the whole duration, since lugging our bags to change hotel would be too troublesome. The Japan rail and metro stations were already complicated mazes themselves, let alone child-friendly. The trains were always full but thankfully we managed to escape the notorious packed-like-sardines situations. The hotel room booked was spacious enough for the 3 of us, having properly checked beforehand that it wasn’t tagged with the word ‘economy’; reference to less than standard bed dimensions. Luxurious hotel rooms in other countries would equate to Tokyo’s compact ones in terms of rates. We also decided to forego purchasing the Japan Rail Pass in Singapore as it didn’t prove economical given the side trip planned. The Suica Card was a better choice.

Our itinerary of visits to the various districts in Tokyo were cut short, partly due to the extended Disney visits and also the fact that Shinjuku, Shibuya, Harajuku and Ginza started to look the same after a while. Although Fadelinah got herself a Burberry Blue Label, shopping is not exactly the top draw in Tokyo. Ooyah got basically all the Disney stuff she wanted and for myself, a few T-shirts as always. No wonder the Japanese go crazy when they find themselves inside our shopping centres. A cashless society these Japanese are not, judging by the frequent cash rather than credit cards exchanged over the counters. I made the mistake of changing only $2000 worth of Yen before departure to cover our daily expenditures but found us running out of cash two thirds through our trip. The ATMs inside the 7-Elevens are lifesavers in this instance.

Food-wise, a tricky affair too as they really love their swines, I don’t know what made me think they only like fish. Equipped only with the words ‘arigato’ and ‘sumimasen’ in my Japanese vocabulary, conversing was difficult but technology came to the rescue yet again in the form of written translations through an iPhone app. All I had to do was typed in English and flash the interpreted version to the locals. There are Turkish and Indian cafes around and essentials like a portable cooker and utensils that we brought along also proved handy, not forgetting the ‘halal’ food packed into our luggage prior to arrival.

We went to the typical tourist spots, at least as far as our legs could carry us, to places like the observatories at  Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building to have a panoramic view of the city, the Meiji Jingu shrine buildings at Yoyogi Park, the loyal Hachiko statue and had our lattes in Starbucks overlooking the famous crossing to watch the scene from the ‘Lost in Translation’ movie unfold.

Disneyland and Disneysea were unforgettable, especially the rides and parades; the latter worth waiting for compared to the queues for rides that could last more than an hour for the popular ones. While Ooyah was more than thrilled hugging and posing with the many Disney characters on site, Fadelinah was almost brought to tears by the ‘It’s A Small World’ boat ride, so engaging that it was. Whereas for me, never did I imagine the Big Band Beat led by Mickey Mouse to bring the house down with big band and swing tunes. They even did my favorite ‘Sing Sing Sing’. Between both resorts, Disneysea wins hands down, as agreed by many who went to both. Disneyland gave us enchanting parades and the fireworks behind the Disney castle scene, which those born in the 70’s would identify as the intro prior to any Disney programmes on television back then. Disneysea, on the other hand, is the only one in the world and lends an entirely different feel to the whole Disney experience. Needless to say, we never did manage to cover all the rides, even if we had spent a week there. We hope to return perhaps during one of the spring seasons.

The final day before departure was reserved for visiting the snowy peaks of Gala Yuzawa, but due to a thunderstorm during that particular morning, the resort was closed and we had to change to the Prince Snow Resort at Karuizawa instead. We took the Nagano-Joetsu route on the Shinkansen. A ride so smooth and fast that I wish we had one in Singapore to destinations in Malaysia and Thailand.

Tokyo was an eye-opener for us. It was amazing to watch the Tokyoites go about their daily routines, so chaotic yet organised at the same time. Stylish people they are that even the few homeless people we saw looked decent compared to their Southern counterparts. Everybody cleaned up after their meals and return the trays back to the counters, something we had to keep reminding ourselves to do every time. I found the quirky sides of Tokyo more amusing; ranging from the trivial to the adult kinds.

This Tokyo trip was the furthest the 3 of us had ventured and God willing, we’ll be on a longer one come next long school holidays. Fadelinah wants a Turkey-Greece combo, whereas I am more than happy with a seat inside the Emirates Stadium.

Bad Romance (Lady Gaga)

Lady Ooyah has a bad romance …

Bali (Wondermints)

Not by choice as it was a company retreat and was free … so who cares.

Got off to a great start though when midway through our KLM flight, we spotted someone familiar who turned out to be the one and only Adam Lambert. He was probably in first class and decided to check on some of his entourage in economy, in which we just happened to sit amongst. Didn’t take him long to spot one Papa-razzi zooming in and clicking away on his DSLR and his immediate reaction was to smile and flash the peace sign. Since it was a hassle to scoot over a few seats to get his autograph, we decided to catch him again after alighting. Even with a black cap to hide his wild hairdo and look like the many other Caucasians around, Fadelinah managed to spot him and we got him to pose for a couple of pictures.

That completed, we embarked on our first venture into Bali, assisted by a tour guide engaged by the company, as we made our way to The Bali Khama, our stay for the next 2 nights. Situated in Tanjung Benoa and away from the touristy areas, it was a nice boutique resort albeit missing better nightlife and shops. Dinner by the beach an hour upon arrival and the Denpasar Moon made its appearance. Couldn’t have asked for anything better.

Food in Bali is not something to be craving about. Right down from the breakfast we had at the resort to those we had at a few restaurants. We ate with much trepidation since unlike other parts of Indonesia, halal food is not the norm and signboards advertising the popular Babi Guling along the roads didn’t make it any better. Perhaps there are good eateries to have Halal food in Bali but we just didn’t happen to be near one during our trip.

Tanah Lot was in our itinerary for the second day, apart from a couple of visits to some tourist traps. I definitely like this particular place as it offered loads of photographic opportunities. Too bad we didn’t have time to wait out at the place till sunset. We did manage to buy a couple of souvenirs, including some wooden carvings for the house in Horizon Hills. A quick dinner at La Scala in the evening and our second day was done.

We decided to forego more sight-seeings on the final day and just enjoy the facilities in the resort, including a Balinese massage, till it was time for departure in the evening. While a few of us tried out para-sailing, Ooyah was in her element on the beach and in the pool. I really think she enjoyed herself the most out of this trip, having been doted upon by Chea and the rest.

I don’t think we’ll be going back to Bali anytime soon. The Muslim-friendly Lombok and nearby Gili Trawangan islands are my target for our next Indonesian trip.

Road To The Crater (Half Film)

This would be one trip that we’ll remember for a long time. Not necessarily for all the right reasons.

Among the many parts of Indonesia, the one that I’ve always wanted to go to is Bandung, apart from the Lombok region. Maybe it’s the many comments I’ve heard from Indonesians about it being their favourite place. It didn’t make sense how much different Bandung could be from dirty Jakarta given their 2-hour separation by the Cipularang Toll Road, but it had to be done due to the rave reviews.

So on 16th June, we boarded the first Jetstar flight out to Jakarta, followed by a few hours road trip to Bandung. Our driver throughout the trip was Iwan, who happens to be the husband of our new helper, Siti. Our first helper, Leonilyn, had been ‘repatriated’ the very week her bond finished. That’s a whole post by itself, if I ever bother to write about it.

Our first itinerary for the trip, a stopover at Puncak before heading to Bandung, had to be scrapped since it was raining cats and dogs upon our arrival at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. The occasional landslides that occur at Puncak during heavy rain didn’t justify the risk. Needless to say, what was supposed to be a 2-hour road trip stretched to 4 hours due to the weather and traffic. What a way to start a holiday.

Things turned for the better as the rain stopped upon us reaching the outskirts of Bandung and we were awed by the serene beauty of the natural landscapes, engulfed by mist and as expected, due to the higher altitude, the outside temperature dropped to our delight. Bandung also contain some very beautiful and grand Art Deco buildings and residences; none of the nondescript Singapore ones.

We checked into Aston Bandung Hotel & Residence, before heading out to one of hundreds of factory outlets that are scattered within the town area. Dinner at Riung Sari proved to be one of the best meals we’ve had in a long time, none of that pseudo Indonesian fare from the likes of Garuda and Tambuah Mas.

Tangkuban Perahu, an active volcano reeking of sulphur, was the highlight of the trip. It’s also the venue where the Legend of Sangkuriang took place. One can still see the poisonous gases emitting from a corner of the crater. As with most tourist spots, we were constantly being followed by a group of peddlers under the guise of guides who kept repeating the same old facts. It last erupted in 1983. I got it!

Ooyah had her own fun at Tangkuban Parahu, as she kept riding different ponies that cost only 2,000 Rupiah per ride. On our way down the volcano, we stopped by Restoran Padang Sederhana and a strawberry farm to pick our own strawberries. Another fun activity for our little girl. That’s her flashing her ‘L’ sign … as in ‘Loving It’ … not ‘Loser’ …

By this time, we were going into full swing shopping at the numerous factory outlets before dinner at Karamba Sundanese Bistro, another fine eatery where the rest of the family had their first taste of Iga Bakar, grilled beef ribs that put Tony Roma’s to shame. I last ate it in Yogyakarta and just had to have another go in Bandung.

The third day was when something weird happened. By the time we reached Pos Indonesia to post a parcel containing gifts for Siti’s daughter, I was already reeling and vomitted whatever it was that was causing my diarrhoea earlier in the morning. The smell inside Pasar Baru, our next stop, only made it worst and I decided to just try and sleep it off, even staying back in the van while the rest tucked into Ayam Goreng Suharti. Felt better after a while before visiting the local zoo which was quite pathetic and more visits to factory outlets, including Paris Van Java, the latest shopping centre in Bandung. We ended the night at Braga City Walk, the shopping arcade right below our hotel, where a few of us had some local fares.

1 …

2 …

3 …

The number of victims added to the Bandung-diarrhoea saga prior to our road trip back to Jakarta. Ayah was the one worse off, vomitting a few times en route to the airport, hardly able to walk and had to be transported in a wheelchair. So much so that the airline staff in Jakarta kept asking repeatedly what illness he was under and whether he’s fit to travel. Some white lies muttered just so we could get through as we didn’t want to be held back in Jakarta. Even the bigger Lufthansa plane back to Singapore failed to lift our spirits.

On hindsight, Fadelinah, Ayah and Ibu think it’s the ‘es chendol’ from the night before, whereas in my case, I can only guess it’s the ice cubes in my cold drinks or the curse from that one and only peddler/guide I didn’t buy from after he tailed us throughout Tangkuban Parahu.

Thank God Ooyah doesn’t like ‘es chendol’.

Water From The Wells Of Home (Johnny Cash)

When you basically have just the typical Wednesday per week and the first Sunday off for every month, being able to escape work even for just 3 days is a luxury. This year just happens to have a few public holidays fall close to the first Sundays and in typical fashion, I slot my annual leaves in between to make the minimum 3 days. While planning for the trip to Japan this year, the shorter trips to different parts of Malaysia suffice to keep me sane from the drudgery working environment.

It’s been more than 4 years since our trip to Port Dickson with Jarrod and Geetha. We stayed at Ancasa Allsuites that time and thoroughy enjoyed our trip despite the absence of shopping centres and night entertainments. Since the rest of the family have yet to set foot at the place, I scoured the internet for an accommodation worthy of us spending our money there. Let’s face it, a popular beach destination it may be for the residents of Kuala Lumpur and Singapore alike, the water there does not exactly scream ‘dream resort’ and seems perennially at low tide and covered with little creepy sea creatures. I definitely remember it being a haven for flies, that appear the moment you’re trying to have a meal at any of the eateries.

The only reason we opted for Port Dickson instead of heading to Malacca or Kuala Lumpur which were safer bets was The Legend International Water Homes, only a few months old and the latest under The Legend Group chain of hotels and resorts. The main difference between this hotel and the popular The Avillion is the fact that the former is the only one to offer a private pool within the room itself, actually I think the only one in Malaysia to offer such a facility. Irregardless whether one stays at the stilted villa above the ocean or one in the main tower, every room comes with its own pool. So what’s the big deal? For one, there’re no prying eyes watching your every move like when you’re using the hotel’s outdoor pool and availability even in the dead of the night. Blame it on the villa we stayed in Phuket for pampering us to such extent.

Needless to say, most of our time was spent within the compounds of the Sky Pool Grand Villa, as there wasn’t much to see within Port Dickson itself. Even when we did go out, it was merely to check out the various food vendors along the main road and those inside the night market. Good food that’s scarce has been worsened further after our experience at Nasreen Songkhla Seafood. This place served us great food 4 years back but not only has service nose dived, the quality of the food as well. The place was packed with more than 30 cars parked around it and people standing around waiting for available tables. Were they, like us, ex-patrons from years ago looking forward to taste the same or merely people better known to have sub-standard taste buds or like what Malays would call ‘Tekak Ular’. The black pepper crabs that we ordered had gone bad and the ‘blur-like-sotong’ waiters have definitely ruled us out from ever going back there again.

Here’s hoping that better eateries appear in Port Dickson soon as we do intend to return … just simply to relax and do nothing much at all.

Pots And Shots (Potshot)

Camwhoring on the day off …

Cats Under The Stars (Jerry Garcia)

We covered Sabah, or at least tried, by venturing to the popular parts of Kota Kinabalu within a short span of a few days about a year ago. So it was high time we tried to do the same for its neighbour, Sarawak. I had little knowledge of this part of Borneo, apart from the headhunters of the past; not to lead some big corporations but to ‘decorate’ the beams of the house, purely for rubbing some souls the wrong way.

A major disadvantage of being married to a teacher is that I need to plan our holidays to coincide with the school and public holidays, when rates are not really that favourable. We flew Air Asia when it would have cost the same on a different date to take a full-fledged airline to a more exotic destination.

Anyway, I booked Pullman Kuching for the first night and Damai Beach Resort for the second. Both overshadowed the originally intended Hilton Kuching and Damai Puri Resort respectively, simply because the former’s 80’s decor was too much for me to stomach and the latter came with deplorable reviews from past guests. The third night was left open prior to our departure, depending on the outcome of the second night.

We started our first day in Kuching by chartering and traversing the Sarawak River on a rickety small boat for about 20 minutes that cost MYR 20. The typical fare to cross from one side to another cost 50 cents per passenger. Something that needed to be experienced by any tourist in Kuching. Just be wary of the fact that there are seldom any lifejackets on board and it can be quite nerve-wrecking when the boatman lets in too many passengers. The brown water of the Sarawak River is only about 10 cm from the rim of the boat when that happens.

It was also planned for us to arrive in Kuching on a Saturday, with the Jalan Satok Sunday Market getting into full swing from around 3 pm on Saturday till the following morning. Hardly differs much from the longer Sunday Market venue in Kota Kinabalu, with the exception of ikan terubuk masin being available; a delicacy it seems with the older generation. We bought a few, including the pricier fish eggs, to bring back home.

We also tasted local fares like Laksa Sarawak and Kolo Mee, the halal version. I don’t get the hype over them. The first one tasted like normal laksa infused with traditional jamu and the second hardly worth eating at all. Perhaps the missing minced pork was the reason?

And to be in Sarawak without tasting and buying their famous Kek Lapis is unthinkable. We had already bought a few from some vendors in town and the market on Saturday, before being informed that we needed to cross the Sarawak River to where the best ones originate from. So back to the river we went the following morning. A short boat ride and we were in Kek Lapis Mecca. A long stretch of road flanked by many Kek Lapis specialists but we made a beeline for Kek Lapis Dayang Salhah, supposedly the best one (not exactly so compared to the ones we bought from another shop across the road from them) and frequented by many Malaysian artistes. They even have a wall where many pictures of these celebrity patrons are pasted and as luck would have it, someone came in together with his family shortly after we arrived, who made Fadelinah hyperventilate. Some Tony Eusoff guy who acted in some Malaysian dramas and movies I think. So this guy who just happened to have a DSLR hung around his neck was made to do some paparazzi shots surrounded by hundreds of Kek Lapis.

Upon checking out,  the van driver I engaged to transport us throughout the trip, brought us to Damai Beach Resort, about 45 minutes from the main town. I simply love the pictures of their hilltop suite when I was browsing for resorts online, and they’re really true to form. There’s a kitchen on the lower level where barbecues can be had, while the upper level contains the sleeping and living areas. The view from the balcony in front of our beds was breathtaking. Ooyah had lots of fun in the swimming pool near our suite, the second one provided by the resort; more private compared to the one on the beach level which was just too crowded.

Later in the evening, we took the resort’s free shuttle to Beach Seafood Restaurant, where they serve decent seafood. Nothing impressive unlike the one we had at Kota Kinabalu’s Port View Seafood Village. We had thought earlier that we were being brought to the better ones at Kampong Buntal. Miscommunication I reckon.

Having to miss visiting the Sarawak Cultural Village due to an early morning rain and our suite already booked by another guest, we decided to head back to town. Somerset Gateway was our stay for the third night. I had always held in high esteem The Ascott group, with Somerset and Citadines being under their wings. However, things didn’t really go right during our stay. Not so in terms of service which was impeccable, but maintenance of the property. A loose part of the baby cot actually fell on Ooyah while she was sleeping, resulting in a slight bump on her forehead, not that she’s not used to the accidental bumps now and then. The property manager has been in contact with us since the incident and we’ll probably settle things eventually.

On a personal note, I find Sarawak to be the cleanest of all the Malaysian states and the people to be very friendly and helpful. Not once but twice, that they went out of their way to help us. Ordinary folks who guided us through the crowded market to find the items we were looking for and look for a taxi when we ran out of ideas where to look for one. Taxis don’t come by often in Sarawak and rather expensive when you do get one. Trips less than 5 minutes about town usually cost MYR 10 and those further out to Damai and Santubong would be around MYR 50. The meters in the taxis are merely accessories. Nobody uses them.

That being said, I’m not sure if we’ll return to Sarawak but there’s a niggling feeling that quite a bit of things were left undone during this trip.

It’s Martini Time (The Reverend Horton Heat)

 

This year’s Mosaic Music Festival as always featured loads of acts, and one that I was very keen to bring Fadelinah to was Pink Martini. It’s their first time ever playing in Singapore. Knowing how she enjoyed it when The Bar At Buena Vista dropped by Singapore 5 years ago, I booked the tickets a few hours upon them being made available for sale 3 months back. The venue was Esplanade Concert Hall and most came dressed to the nines, especially the ladies.

The concert started with the group’s leader, Thomas Lauderdale, doing a solo on the piano before slowly being joined by the rest, and eventually the loudest applause was reserved for China Forbes, who sang her way through their repertoire of songs effortlessly, be it in English, French, Italian or Spanish. She even broke into a song in Malay, without the slang typical of Caucasians trying to speak or in this case, sing in a different language. Fadelinah couldn’t stop smiling when she did Bai Kwong’s ‘Waiting For You To Come Back’. It was Shanghai Lounge given a complete twist.

After countless songs within the 2 hours, China received a bouquet of flowers and they bade farewell … only to return a few minutes later for the encore requested by the crowd. ‘Brazil’ proved to be the last song for the night as everybody stood up and swayed.

One of the best concerts I’ve been to in quite a while, albeit them not doing my favourite ‘No Hay Problema’. And as remarked by China herself, perhaps we’ll get to see them again, since they now realise they have quite a huge fan base in Singapore.

Black Market Gardening (Fila Brazillia)

Somebody’s been asking for a chance to grow her own plants the past week. I have no idea where she got the idea from. Probably from one of the children programmes on Disney Channel she’s addicted to. So off we went to IMM yesterday to get the items needed for her to start.

The process documented through images by her trigger-happy Papa this morning. 4 multi-coloured plastic pots with different seeds planted individually. Basically egg tomato, lemon balm, tropic fiesta and zinnia. Fingers crossed that at least one sprouts within the next 10 weeks, especially the egg tomato, knowing how she loves eating them. Little plastic figurines were placed inside the pots to decorate what would otherwise have been bare soil.

I’ve never had a green thumb … perhaps she didn’t inherit that.

Driven (Road Trip)

The Chinese New Year holidays is my least favourite time of the year for the sheer fact that I have too many days off with hardly any decent place to go. The flight and hotel rates sky-rocket weeks before the period and as always, a road trip is inevitable … meaning anywhere in Malaysia reachable within 8 hours or less. We decided for the closest one this year, just a bridge across to Johor; a night’s stay at Thistle Johor Baru and a detour to Desaru the next day before heading home. This was also to be Leonilyn’s, our new maid, first holiday trip with the family.

It was a pleasant surprise to be joined by Cik Nor and family at the last minute … literally. We were already on our way out when Ibu received a call from Mak Jang asking if we were planning to go anywhere that day, as they couldn’t think of a place. A quick call to the hotel and 2 additional rooms were booked for them. The former Hyatt Saujana has been revamped quite nicely by the British company and the white, grey and deep purple colour combination lent a very contemporary touch to the rooms. I would rate it the best hotel to stay in Johor currently, given the reasonable room rates and stylish decor. Definitely better than splurging on the local ones.

We also took the opportunity to check on the progress of the construction works at our purchased unit in Horizon Hills. Definitely on track and seems ahead of schedule based on the targeted October hand over. Can’t wait to design the interior of that place, as well as the replacement unit in Teban Vista in 2 years time, following the en-bloc takeover of our current unit. As always, we dropped by the clubhouse and showed Cik Nor’s family around the place.

Following a quick dip in the pool for the kids the next morning, we headed for Desaru. As if the 3-hour traffic jam at the Second Link the previous day wasn’t bad enough, we had to endure a never ending one while making our way to the popular beach destination for many Singaporeans and locals alike. I was really half-hearted about Desaru as I’ve been for years about that place. If not for a few in the family who seemed enthusiastic about going there, I would rather we travelled further up north to Kuala Lumpur and pig out. Always expected it to be similar to Singapore’s East Coast, and when we finally reached the stretch of beach, I was somewhat right. Saved for a cleaner stretch compared to those in Singapore and bigger waves, the rest were unremarkable. I was already thinking about the impending traffic jam returning to Singapore while Ooyah and Nini tried building a sand castle.

Desaru, you’ll never see my face again. That’s for sure.

Hip To Be Square (Huey Lewis & The News)

Hipstamatic … put through its paces … during last Saturday night’s sleepover at Jarrod and Geetha’s place.

I love it.

Sleepless Nights (Patty Loveless)

The days that we’ve been dreading ever since we knew of her condition, just passed last Saturday morning.

And to think that nobody knew about it, from the day she was born at Thomson Medical Centre, to the various GPs who usually check her whenever we consulted them for the typical flu and fever. There was absolutely no tell-tale signs normally associated with the problem and as informed to us, it’s usually detected when a child enters primary school.  It took just one very meticulous female GP at a clinic in West Coast Plaza, whom we have never consulted until that day,  to unravel the problem, when we brought her in for mild coughs. She managed to get an urgent appointment for us the following day with a specialist at KK Women’s & Children’s Hospital and was concerned enough to give Fadelinah a call a few days later to check on our little girl. Soon after, she received a bouquet of flowers from Ooyah as a sign of appreciation.

A month passed and we were back at the hospital to meet with the head of the department and his Japanese associate, who was eventually to perform the procedure on Ooyah. After concurring with them on the operation, a date was fixed. But still, at the back of our minds, we wanted to seek a second opinion, just for some form of reassurance that we were doing the right thing. Jarrod’s specialist acquaintance at Mount Elizabeth Hospital was the second party. Albeit being a private practice, charges were waived, at least from his side, for the necessary equipments to be used to ascertain the problem. He was sympathetic and informed us that the problem could be left untreated till the child matures, but by then, complications may arise and a major transplant may be called upon. The best way was to find a permanent solution and nip the problem in the bud.

Throughout this whole episode, the risks were made known to us. 1% was what they kept reiterating. Well … that figure could also be us we thought. Maybe it was the downplaying of the major ones that made us agree to the operation about a month ago. Thanks to Domo Arigato Dr Roboto, we almost wanted to call the whole thing off a day before the procedure, especially when damages to the kidney and brain were uttered under the same breath as the word ‘DISASTER’. That only weakened our hearts further as we looked at Ooyah surrounded by her soft toys and watching Nemo stuck in the anemones for like the hundredth time.

We decided to only tell her progressively on what was going to happen but it seemed as though she already knew. Maybe the earlier visits to the hospital and specialist were enough for her to gauge. Her responses were different from usual, as if to tell us that everything’s going to be alright, even if it would hurt her. I would trade places with her then even if the pain was a hundred times more just to spare her if I could.

Wednesday came and as the staff prepared her for the surgery in the morning, one by one, we broke down and were left helpless as we waited for 6 hours for it to end. It didn’t help that I had to see a dead child’s body being wheeled out of the ICU surrounded by grieving parents and relatives, while waiting for my own daughter to be sent out from the operation theatre to the ICU. And when they did, it broke my heart yet again.

The period between the start of the operation till Ooyah was ready to leave the hospital was unexpectedly fast, surprising our family, relatives, friends and even the doctors and nurses. As remarked by one of them, Ooyah seems to have a high threshold for pain and while the other patients, older and younger than her were admitted earlier, it took only 3 days for her to be cleared. We saw her resilience as early as the day of admission when blood was drawn out of her by the doctor without a single whimper. I guess we didn’t realise how strong she was mentally compared to the both of us.

The following 2 days were interspersed with moments of tears by a few family members and visits by concerned relatives and friends, as we watched Ooyah persistently asking for water and to be carried, to the point of breaking free of her hand restraints and crouching on all fours just to get away from the numerous surgical tubes attached to her body. I guess it was a matter of comfort over pain. And for the same reason, there was also a rather comical moment when she asked to be bathed and we know all too well how she hates being bathed in the morning. Hearing your own child begging to be carried and not be able to do anything about it is not a position any parent wants to be in.

Fadelinah and I managed to book a family room in the same building and took turns watching over her from midnight to the early morning. During the times that we stayed within the ICU area, we got to know other parents who have children going through the same condition if not worst. There were also very touching letters and pictures posted on a wall along the corridor of the ICU, from parents of ex-patients, most who have recovered and a few who died. The latter pictures were needless to say, saddening.

So begins the estimated 3 to 4 months of recovery period for Ooyah. We have placed ourselves on confinement, away from the crowds, till the day she’s ready. And fulfill one of our promises to her next year we will, to play with real snow and mingle with real-life Disney characters.

On a final note, we thank God for the surgery that went without a hitch. We would also like to thank the people who offered their prayers, well wishes, emotional and financial supports, the moment they knew about Ooyah’s condition. Even though we didn’t require the last, such gestures will forever be remembered. You know who you are.

On Eagle’s Wings (Steve Hall)

It was a week into December that we embarked on a trip to Langkawi, after having to postpone it due to fully-booked hotels during LIMA 2009. The maiden trip for most in the group but my third. Langkawi’s a little laid back compared to the nearby southern islands in Thailand yet offering much, that I think I only managed to cover one fifth of the island thus far.

It was also the first time that we took Tiger Airways. Albeit smooth journeys to and fro, the extra charges for our luggage were just too complicated to fathom. Definitely the last time we’ll be taking the airline if we can help it. And that Budget Terminal is just a bitch to commute in.

As much as I tried to shift our flight schedules to coincide with available rooms, I still couldn’t get them at that one damn resort, so Mutiara Burau Bay Beach Resort turned out to be my return stay twice in a row. It was the only one out of the available five still reasonably priced during that period. Rather dated decor-wise but it’s a 2 bedroom suite with an outdoor jacuzzi. I couldn’t complain. Ooyah and I loved it … and so did the troop of monkeys that greeted us upon our arrival.

As usual, I woke up early every morning during our 3 night stay to take pictures of the rising sun and whatever wildlife that came out during that time.

Funny how I’ve heard of the Langkawi Cable Car and never once thought of riding in one, thinking it’s probably no more different from Singapore’s. How wrong could I be upon seeing what laid before my eyes when we passed through the turnstiles of the base station. Truth be told, I was waiting for someone to just say that he or she wanted to back out and I would have ‘volunteered’ to accompany the person. Like frightened sheeps, we were herded into one car and sat as still and silently for like the longest time as it made its way up pass a few towers. Great but scary views indeed. Let’s just hope no smart aleck suggest for glass-bottomed ones.

The temperature at the top was slightly cooler and from the second stop, it was possible to venture down and walk on perhaps the first of Mahathir’s curved and crooked bridges aspirations. The roughly-made steps down to the steel cable-suspended sky bridge meander around the side of Gunung Mat Cincang and it’s enough to say that the return trip is not for those weak in the knees. I don’t know how long those old women who came after me took to climb back up.

The bridge is an amazing engineering feat on its own and anyone who doesn’t want to feel nauseous need to walk across without stopping. Just one stop in between is enough to feel it swaying. And no dropping of anything less than 3 centimetres wide or it might just slip through the gaps in between the pathway.

I guess the scariest point of the cable car ride would be when it starts descending from the first stop. Surprisingly, Ooyah remained the coolest in the group.

The trip sort of lost its thrill factor after that as we hurried to other tourist spots scattered all over the island. Padang Matsirat’s Beras Terbakar was a waste of time, comparable to looking at a bare grass patch in any open field. The only ‘proof’ of the incident is a bowl inside a nearby glass case with some burnt rice seeds in it. Makam Mahsuri at least has more to substantiate the curse of the innocent woman.

As with any trips to Langkawi, the Dataran Lang is a must-stop. We didn’t have time to do the eagle-feeding island trip so opted for the next best thing; do weird poses with the Langkawi landmark like Fadelinah. My wish to capture flying eagles using a loaned 400 mm lens having gone down the drain, I decided to just check out the nearby beaches available within the short time that we had. Pantai Pasir Hitam offered a view of the nearby Tarutao islands but I didn’t really fancy the rough sand there. Pantai Pasir Tengkorak‘s soft white sand was alright but the beach was just too small and offered little privacy. The locals and wild monkeys around seem to like it though. Pantai Cenang still remains as the one that left a lasting impression on me, at least when I was there a few years ago.

The highlight of the trip was watching Ooyah ride a full-grown horse through a forested area next to Langkawi Island Horses. Not a moment was she afraid of holding and riding the horse. It was almost a natural affair for her and till today she still remembers Coolbo, the horse she rode, and perhaps others as we will be bringing her back for more horse rides in Langkawi in the future. Perhaps even enrol her in a proper course when she’s up for it.

Formula One Generation (Pooh Sticks)

The F1 fever is back in town and I took the opportunity last Friday to join the Alphadslr group for an outing, organised by the people at Sony. My first time shooting an F1 event, so just brought along a couple of old Minolta lenses including the rare and much touted 28-135mm f4-4.5 a.k.a. The Secret Handshake, that I acquired recently. Ended up using the 70-210mm f4 more due to its longer reach.

Met the familiar faces of Alphadslr early around 12pm at Chevron House’s Mos Burger, and got to know a few more who were friendly and entertaining.  We made our way to DXO, the venue for Sony’s carnival, only around 3pm but a few like yours truly, got sidetracked and ended up along the barrier shooting the passing cars instead of entering DXO. So much for the free food and drinks.

Shooting speeding cars entails more on panning and I got my share of practice that day. Too much that it grew monotonous after a while and I decided to leave earlier than expected, especially since Katy Perry wasn’t performing as a sideline event that night. The Australian act, Strange Fruit, was entertaining enough though for me to hang around at the Padang before making my way to the exit.

Three (Sugarbabes)

Our darling daughter turned 3 yesterday and to commemorate the event, we had just a simple dinner at The Central’s Manhattan Fish Market before heading home for a small birthday party with family members. It’s a pity that her birthday always fall during the fasting month for the past 3 years so a birthday bash with friends and relatives were never planned. But still, the age of 3 is quite a big thing when it comes to toddlers, when they appreciate the company of their own little friends more and understand better the concept of a birthday party. She’s been harping about her own birthday, especially after she’s been to those of her cousins. The usual suspects, Elmo, Noddy, Thomas (or as she pronounced it Tore-nurse), feature regularly in her little conversations with us when it came to her birthday party.

So we will probably have one for her. Not this month for sure, but belated in November.

I guess when it comes to organising one, the venue plays a big part. Still looking around for a suitable location. Could be just a chalet as what we’ve been to for a couple of her cousins’ birthdays or a room big enough for fifty people perhaps. Frankly, I would prefer an outdoor park for the kids to just run around. We’ll see.

On a personal note, it’s been almost a month since my last update on this blog. Just one of those things I guess like what most bloggers go through, when the desire to jot down one’s personal statements on this virtual platform is no longer there. Blame it on Facebook and Twitter.

Short of saying I’m quitting for good, I’ll just keep things at random mode for now. Just a virtual diary to return to whenever something significant, at least I think so, pops up. Besides, a few posts on this blog of mine have proved very crucial when trying to recall the dates of certain happenings, for arguments’ sake with incompetent government board officers. Like when somebody lost her passport, not for the first time, nor the second, but the third time.

The Javanese Gamelan (Jogja Kraton)

More than a week since the trip ended and only now am I able to do a post on it. 3000+ worth of pictures taken. A great camaraderie forged.

4 days of almost continuous photography with a group of shutterbugs from Alphadslr, from the moment we stepped on the tarmac of the airport at Yogyakarta until our return to Changi Airport. It was a very fruitful trip and went so smoothly that there are already talks of doing another one at a different location. Amazing how people with different personalities can gel so well simply because of a common share of interest.

Basically, Kok Mun handled transportation, Tak Wai the hotel at Borobudur and myself the one in town. Every single destination in our original itinerary was met and even a model shoot at the last minute was organised by our driver, Jodi, on our final day in Yogyakarta. We practically did almost all aspects of photography to say the least. I went equipped with only my Sony kit lens and old Minolta lenses, while the rest were armed with thousands of dollars worth of Carl Zeiss lenses.

Upon arrival in Yogyakarta, we stopped by the famous Ayam Goreng Suharti restaurant for lunch before proceeding to Mendut and subsequently, Manohara Resort Hotel, which was supposed to be the base for our exploration of Borobudur. Top-tier accommodation it’s not but at least we didn’t need to travel far, or so we thought. It turned out our sunrise shoot of Borobudur the next morning was to be from an isolated hilltop location, which we had to wake up early around 4 am for and pillion-ride a group of motorcycle gang through the dark village roads. The unexpected surprise came when we got off at the base of the hill and were told to climb Telomoyo Hill. The whole thing reminded me of the dreaded dawn attack during my military days. With the aid of only 2 torchlights, we made our way up through the dark forested areas. The groans and pantings heard throughout the climb was suffice to indicate that we were ill-prepared. But all that disappeared when we saw the ray of sunlight peeking from behind a cluster of mountains and the ghostly mist engulfing the land below them, with the top of Borobudur appearing and disappearing from time to time. Totally surreal.

Following our descent a few hours later, we headed back to our hotel. Safety didn’t seem to be an issue with a few as we kept shooting the local folks even from the back of the motorcycles.

Borobudur is just a sight to behold. I do appreciate great architecture, irregardless of their originally intended purpose. Walking around the various levels of the UNESCO World Heritage site, every single detail from the carved reliefs on the weathered walls to the numerous stupas at the top were laden with symbolic meanings. On a lighter note, 1 particular stupa had various people climbing it, in all sort of weird positions,  trying to touch the right ring finger of a sitting Buddha for good luck. All thanks goes out to Sir Stamford Raffles for bothering to have this magnificent structure excavated from its volcanic ash grave.

Upon checking out of Manohara Resort Hotel, we headed to Hotel Novotel Yogyakarta, our base for the following 3 days.

On our third day, we woke up early at 3 am and travelled for about one and a half hours to Kali Adem, a mountainous region where we were to shoot our second sunrise from. Within less than an hour upon our arrival, the dark blue starry sky was broken by the first ray of sunlight and revealed before our eyes, the most active volcano in Indonesia, Merapi, with smoke still bellowing out from the top. Words can’t describe the feeling of being in close proximity to such might. We also walked past a ‘river bed’ where molten rock and lava flowed when Merapi last erupted in 2006.

From Kali Adem, we went to Kali Urang, a picturesque area where natural spring water flowed through. With the towering trees around us, I couldn’t help but recall the old ‘Salem High Country’ television advertisements. So similar yet I didn’t have to travel to some faraway country to experience it.

Our packed third day itinerary continued onwards to Prambanan. But not before stopping by a paddy field in Selorejo, where a group of women were busy working on it. Totally unplanned for yet I really love the shots we got at this particular location, especially of 1 old woman who was the most boisterous of the lot and full of character. A few of us later chipped in a couple of Rupiahs for wasting their time being impromptu models for us.

Prambanan has a few temples standing with quite a few still being re-built following the earthquake 3 years ago that toppled them. The place was crowded and I didn’t get many good shots there. However, while exploring the Sewu temples alone, I had a chance encounter with a staff who was helping with the restoration effort and given a personal tour of restricted areas being repaired and also briefed on the building fundamentals of the temples. The crumbled temple pieces strewn all over the area basically resembled loose pieces of a big jigsaw puzzle.

Our next destination was Ratu Boko. An interesting place that deserved more exploration time given our tight schedule. The sunset in front of the place was obviously the star attraction judging by the number of photographers who had already picked their spots by the time we arrived. Not exactly the best sunset I’ve seen compared to other locations in Yogyakarta, but the surrounding structures around the place made for interesting silhouettes.

And when one is in Yogyakarta, watching the Ramayana Ballet is a must. It’s a 4-part art performance that’s beautifully choreographed containing rather touching stories based on the legend of Ramayana. Depending on when one visits, a different story might be told. So after dinner at an adjoining restaurant, we ended our third night in Yogyakarta watching it. Hardly any word was uttered by the characters yet through the make-up and movements, the story unfolded itself and became easily comprehended.

We finally didn’t have to wake up so early on our last day in Yogyakarta. After breakfast, we headed to Imogiri, a cemetery ground for the Javanese royalty. 345 steps up were enough to sap the energy out of us, especially when guided by an elderly man who insisted that we followed diligently behind him through the various parts of the compound. I could barely understand what he said, let alone the rest. The need to change and dress in traditional Javanese garbs was the main reason why we didn’t go into the 3 prominent graves of past rulers. I did catch sight of a few members of the royal family who were gathering inside a restricted area while we there though.

We then returned to our hotel before proceeding for lunch at Iga Bakar, that serves kick ass ribs. Forget about Tony Roma’s, this one is streets ahead better. The following stops were Taman Sari and Parangtritis. The former used to be the Sultan’s water palace, that was unfortunately undergoing renovation to the pool area when we arrived. Parangtritis, on the other hand, is one long beach area with powdery dark brown sand and very strong waves. Definitely not a place for swimming unless one wants to come back in a body bag. Seriously.

Actually, I don’t know why I bother posting this since words don’t do justice to Yogyakarta’s beauty. The hundreds of pictures posted in my Flickr and Facebook accounts are what I will return to whenever I miss Yogyakarta. It’s simply a place every person with Javanese ancestory need to visit to appreciate. I know for sure I need to return someday, for 4 full days are just not enough to cover the region, even if one wakes up to explore before dawn and return close to midnight.

The people are polite and friendly. The food aplenty to tempt one’s tastebud. And yes. We did eat the famous Gudeg.

Beyond The Java Sea (Metal Flake Mother)

This Jawa Murtad is heading to a place tomorrow that I have always longed to go to. A journey of discovery pertaining to my heritage. This time around not with my own family, partly due to the risks involved at some of the destinations, but with a group of shutterbugs.

Looking forward to exploring places and witnessing events, such as the followings, when I’m there for the next few days.

• Mendut Temple
• Borobudur
• Kraton
• Water Palace
• Mount Merapi
• Prambanan Temple
• Ramayana Ballet
• Imogiri
• ParangTritis Beach

A Different Story (Paleface)

Perhaps the result of watching too many crappy Malay movies, some people misinterpreted ‘passed out’ as being dead. In actual fact, she was admitted to I.C.U. due to a stroke.

Here’s hoping that she makes it through.

The only one that seems to be treading a different line and dares to go against the mainstream.

R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

25th July 2009

I wasn’t expecting Yasmin Ahmad to die at 11.25 pm this evening while I was watching Sepet. A great talent lost within the Malay community.

Archive (New York Dolls)

Getting addictive this Facebook thingie. Especially when I stumble upon groups championing for causes or interests I can  relate to or simply like this particular one, archiving old pictures of Malays contributed sometimes by their descendants, mainly in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. Some are truly gritty stuff, like that of freedom fighters and mystical figures, in their heyday and a few, in death. There are also a few of famous personalities and those from the political arena.

But what I find most fascinating are the pictures that really capture the poignant moments of their lives. The top 6 are a few of my favourite ones. The first 2 artistically captured, the following 3, their livelihoods, and the last one I find very nostalgic personally. The old television, most likely a Telefunken, in its wooden casing and stand taking centrestage while the children gawk in front of it.

Already contributed a few pictures from my personal collection to the site and most likely will scan a few more soon.

Honey Bee (Zee Avi)

Malaysia Boleh!

Now this is real talent. Not one of those ‘I-went-to-London-to-record-an-album-at-my-own-expense-so-my-countrymen-will-think-I-have-talent-and-am-very-famous-worldwide’.

More please …

House Construction Ahead (Mariah Levine)

Based on the miniscule floor plans available on the developer’s website, I built up the new house visually from the foundation up to the roof so as to get a better feel of its potential, interior and exterior wise. The exterior view needs some touching up but at least the form is there.

Still wondering how to tackle the issue pertaining to the ugly concrete drains along the house. Perhaps timber works going over them with allowances for drainage? Astro turfing very likely to replace the ones they’ll be providing. And definitely this to take the helm of the entire outdoor area.

And to realise the dream of having an island kitchen, a good size one with ample space for food preparation and cooking, the utility room on the first storey will have to go. Should check with the developer whether it’s possible for them not to build one in our unit before handing over. I can almost see the bustlling of activities in both the dry and wet kitchens; the dirty works in the latter. An LCD television will also be incorporated into the dry kitchen.

This is going to be one contemporary-designed house if I have my way, provided the rest don’t push for their English-style decor. That’s so passe.

Tales From The Beach (Incognito)

A little picnic by the sun decks in front of Club Islander. A few dips inside the sea for a father and his daughter. A couple of shots by 2 shutterbugs. A quick dinner at Vivocity before returning home.

Everything happened except the last. Perhaps Michael Jackson’s death earlier in the day had made these fans of his lose their marbles and dump the original day’s itinerary, heading to Marina Mandarin instead to drown their sorrows while listening to Michael Jackson in the car. So we rushed through the entire Marina Square floors to buy our takeaway food and return to our rooms to watch the Michael Jackson tribute on Star World that never materialised.

The continuous coverage of the King of Pop on almost all cable channels was enough to set somebody to tears late in the night. Not me. Somebody.

An enjoyable yet sombre day. A monthly thing perhaps for Le Cirque De Voyages?