After two days of exhausting travelling (taxi, ferry, train, bus, another bus, ferry, sangtaew...which got lost...) we were happy to have found our way to paradise, literally, where we were staying looked like we could have been in a postcard. Matlang resort, made up of thatched cabins along a garden leading to the beach, could not have been more perfect for what we needed! We also made use of the pool in the resort next door, the power of a blue towel!
We enjoyed six days of cocktails, massage and more cocktails with some amazing thai food thrown in! Ko Samui, I live there!
Friday, March 13, 2009
Melting in Malaysia
After a very scenic train journey through the jungle we arrived in Melaka, our first stop in Malaysia. A small town, originally a colonial trading port, we were interested by the very red dutch buildings which lined the streets. Beyond these you could see everyday life happening in the open chinatown shophouses. Most importantly, the food in Melaka was quite delightful! The hawker centre treated us to some malaysian favourites-chicken rice, which is as it sounds but somehow tastes infinately better than anything I could dish up. Our favourite place has to be capitol satay, where every table had within it, wait for it, a bubbling vat of satay sause! So we chose our satay skewers and cooked them in it, just like fondue but so much better...because its satay sauce! Our hostel, the travellers lodge, made a good base, and the rooftop terrace would have been a great place to relax were it not for the 40 degrees of heat!
Our next stop in Malaysia was Penang. Another colonial port, we were impressed by the grand colonial buildings interspersed with what used to be very ornately decorated houses which could now do with a little renovation. A project for later life. Again the food in Penang is worth a mention, most especially our dim sum breakfasts! We were intrigued by this concept and thought we would give it a go, I picked what looked like a white puff off a trolley and took a big bite. I was pleasantly suprised by the soft dough and delicicious BBQ pork inside, so much so I had another, and another, and we went back the next day.
Penang hill was another exciting adventure, right at the top of a venacular railway built by the english elite to escape the heat (did i meantion the heat??), it gives you stunning views of the city. If you are lucky like us you can even spot a monkey or two in the jungle on the way up!
Fully exhausted by the heat we were ready for some relaxation and island time...
oh and in Malaysia- (direct quote) 'toilet paper is not included in the price of the room'!!
Our next stop in Malaysia was Penang. Another colonial port, we were impressed by the grand colonial buildings interspersed with what used to be very ornately decorated houses which could now do with a little renovation. A project for later life. Again the food in Penang is worth a mention, most especially our dim sum breakfasts! We were intrigued by this concept and thought we would give it a go, I picked what looked like a white puff off a trolley and took a big bite. I was pleasantly suprised by the soft dough and delicicious BBQ pork inside, so much so I had another, and another, and we went back the next day.
Penang hill was another exciting adventure, right at the top of a venacular railway built by the english elite to escape the heat (did i meantion the heat??), it gives you stunning views of the city. If you are lucky like us you can even spot a monkey or two in the jungle on the way up!
Fully exhausted by the heat we were ready for some relaxation and island time...
oh and in Malaysia- (direct quote) 'toilet paper is not included in the price of the room'!!
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Sticky in Singapore
We arrived in Singapore after a very easy flight, thankyou Quantas, and settled into the comforts of a b and b, aptly named 1bandbsingapore! Our first day we spent exploring chinatown, which was incredibly clean-as is the whole of Singapore, jam packed with ornate little colourful houses, market stalls and food stalls. For dinner we checked out one of the world famous Hawker Stalls and had to try some carrotless carrot cake, given its name from the shallot ingredient which is supposedly related to the carrot! It is basically egg, shallot, wheat and soy, tasted good to me!
The next day we visited the colonial region, where Sir Raffles first landed and declared Singapore an international trading port, making it the thriving city it is today (minus the whole japanese invasion part). The buildings here were very grand indeed, made more so by the heat glaring off them and making the white sparkle! We took a look inside the asian civilisations museum, one of the most prominent buildings, and were especially entertained by the childrens areas, where you actually learnt very interesting factoids about food and culture! Down by the quay we tried some famous Indian Pratha Rota, recommended to us by a family friend of Ruthies, which was quite divine, dipped in some special sauce we ate as many as we could!
Of course no trip to Singapore would be complete without a Singapore Sling in Raffles! I had been looking forward to my trip to Raffles for a very long time, for which I have the programme Tenko to blame! Having been described as cough syrup to me I was pretty sceptical about this concoction, but it was in fact delicious and well worth the wait! We met Ruthies family friend in the long bar, where I had my famous drink, and which was also exceedingly busy. I think we were not the only ones to have thought to pop in to Raffles for a drink! The palm court especially looked exactly as I had envisaged, I was very happy to be there!
Our last day, I ventured to the National Museum of Singapore for a history lesson, and I have to say it is one of the best museums I have ever been to! With my audio guide I was literally taken through time and can now tell anyone, in great detail, about the events in Singapores history! That afternoon we checked out little India, which literally is like stepping into another country-India in fact! Jam packed with people and with tiny lanes and markets stalls everywhere. The buildings where bright but a little shabbier than the rest of Singapore. Tired and sticky from bustling around we retired to the quay to enjoy a final meal by the singapore river. Chilli chicken and tiger beer, delightful!
Overall Singapore is an amazing city where it seems so many different cultures coexist, everywhere you find tiny ornate houses there is a brand new tower block looming behind. You can step out of a brand new shopping mall full of labels and into a hawker centre where lunch costs you $5! And all this engulfed in overwhelming heat, and the occasional rain storm! Its pretty special!
The next day we visited the colonial region, where Sir Raffles first landed and declared Singapore an international trading port, making it the thriving city it is today (minus the whole japanese invasion part). The buildings here were very grand indeed, made more so by the heat glaring off them and making the white sparkle! We took a look inside the asian civilisations museum, one of the most prominent buildings, and were especially entertained by the childrens areas, where you actually learnt very interesting factoids about food and culture! Down by the quay we tried some famous Indian Pratha Rota, recommended to us by a family friend of Ruthies, which was quite divine, dipped in some special sauce we ate as many as we could!
Of course no trip to Singapore would be complete without a Singapore Sling in Raffles! I had been looking forward to my trip to Raffles for a very long time, for which I have the programme Tenko to blame! Having been described as cough syrup to me I was pretty sceptical about this concoction, but it was in fact delicious and well worth the wait! We met Ruthies family friend in the long bar, where I had my famous drink, and which was also exceedingly busy. I think we were not the only ones to have thought to pop in to Raffles for a drink! The palm court especially looked exactly as I had envisaged, I was very happy to be there!
Our last day, I ventured to the National Museum of Singapore for a history lesson, and I have to say it is one of the best museums I have ever been to! With my audio guide I was literally taken through time and can now tell anyone, in great detail, about the events in Singapores history! That afternoon we checked out little India, which literally is like stepping into another country-India in fact! Jam packed with people and with tiny lanes and markets stalls everywhere. The buildings where bright but a little shabbier than the rest of Singapore. Tired and sticky from bustling around we retired to the quay to enjoy a final meal by the singapore river. Chilli chicken and tiger beer, delightful!
Overall Singapore is an amazing city where it seems so many different cultures coexist, everywhere you find tiny ornate houses there is a brand new tower block looming behind. You can step out of a brand new shopping mall full of labels and into a hawker centre where lunch costs you $5! And all this engulfed in overwhelming heat, and the occasional rain storm! Its pretty special!
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