After saying sad goodbyes to my Mum and Dad, Leon and I boarded the Aeroline to Singapore. This was no ordinary coach; decked with a lower lounge area, cinema (ok not cinema but they showed some recent films), and a lunch of chicken rice, we felt like we were on some rock and roll tour bus than just a coach to Singapore!
The journey was a comfortable one and 5 hours later we were at Harbourfront Centre where we jumped in a cab to Nithya's house off Bukit Timah. Singapore was still as clean as when I last visited, which was comforting to say the least. We reached Nithya and caught up with the entire family who were all home, which is a rare occasion but great to see the whole crew there!
Day one was Singapore Zoo and Asian Civilisation Museum. Singapore Zoo is the best Zoo in the world, hands down. They have made a massive effort to make the zoo more 'open plan', so that instead of depressing, tiny cages, the animals have a lot more room and beautiful landscaped homes....we were pretty envious actually (their homes are probably much more comfortable than some of the ones that we will encounter on our travels!). Highlights of the zoo trip are definitely the feeding of the white tigers (not albinos: fact) and the meerkats because the latter reminded us of Luis and Olly and their obsession with THAT advert.
Now even though the zoo provided shelter the whole way round, it is safe to say that we both stank, having sweated buckets on our tour of the Zoo. Luckily Nithya was home so that we could stop over, have a loovely shower and head out again to the Asian Civilisation Museum. This was also incredibly interesting and I probably learnt more about Malaysia and Singapore in the 2 hours we were there than I have done over the last 26 years. We were also lucky enough to see one of Nit's mum's sculptures that she had lent to one of the art museums (Kumari is a wonderful and pretty well known artist in Singapore and internationally).
That evening we went home to be greeted by what could only be described as a party (!) in conjunction with some work that Nithya's dad and brother were involved in. Angeline and her family served up some peranakan food consisting of Curry Laksa and very tasty popiah - Ishwar also popped open a bottle or two of Pouilly Fume - yes, we were very spoilt in sing sing!
The next day after another sound night's sleep, we decided to venture down Orchard Road which is one of Singapore's famous avenues lined with shopping centre upon shopping centre, and labels galore. Leon seemed pretty chilled about the whole affair, even though he did swear in Malaysia that he wouldn't step into another shopping centre ever again@
We all tried our vegetarian dim sum for the first time ever and I have to say - it was a round of all thumbs up! Even Leon with his phobia of mushrooms managed a beaming smile after lunch.
In the evening we went to Holland Village to see a comedian called Kumar, formerly a man I believe and hilarious! Although I didn't take to kindly to his jokes about Malays being slow and lazy... what's that all about??! All in all we had a great day and went to bed... ready for our final morning in Singapore before we set off for Bangkok.
On the Thursday 7th we took a taxi down to Nithya's mum's gallery (which I would recommend to everyone.. who knew chili's and peppers could be so fun!) and then another sad farewell to young Nits before heading off to Changi for our flight. All in all the fleeting visit to Singapore was fun, relaxing and rather cultural, and next time hopefully we will get to stay longer.
Friday, 8 January 2010
Sunday, 3 January 2010
January the First, 2010
Waking up feeling fairly spritely (after all we were in bed by about 2 30), Leon and I ventured out for some early lunch. Destination: Nirwhana. Nirwhana is THE most popular banana leaf restaurant in Bangsar and given the fact that Leon had never experienced life the banana leaf way, I thought it was only fair that he welcomed in 2010 by trying something new. The place was packed when we arrived at 12 30 so the staff promptly unfolded some tables and chairs outside the bank next door (yes, it was that full) and we set about ordering our meal: 2 chicken biryani, 1 fried squid dish, 1 fried fish, 1 mutton masala, 2 ice lemon teas and 2 teh tariks. I know everyone out there is wondering where I put it all but trust me, give me 10 - 15 years and I'm sure the 'spread' would have happened by then!
Full of indian food and ready for a nap, I later went off to Kamboja in KL with my mother for our annual massage trip together. Off we toddled and I blissfully lay there taking in the aromatherapy massage.... in fact, I think I was so relaxed that I ended up snoring a little as the poor lady was massaging me!
All in all we had a great first day of the new year, and hopefully it's a sign of greater things to come in the year!
Full of indian food and ready for a nap, I later went off to Kamboja in KL with my mother for our annual massage trip together. Off we toddled and I blissfully lay there taking in the aromatherapy massage.... in fact, I think I was so relaxed that I ended up snoring a little as the poor lady was massaging me!
All in all we had a great first day of the new year, and hopefully it's a sign of greater things to come in the year!
31st December - New Years Eve....
New Years Eve day was allll about the preparations for New Years Eve, namely eating, sunbathing and reading, oh and getting our teeth polished and whitened for a fraction of the cost of the UK and buying alcohol at a cost considerably more than in the UK.
We had booked tickets earlier in the week to join a group of Alicia's old school friends at the Life Centre in central KL for an evening of live music. Now when I say live music what I actually mean is an underground rave. Having not put my raving dancing feet in to action since the late 90's I was somewhat dubious about our choice of party venue. Thankfully the presence of copious amounts of spirits and mixers at one of Alicia's friend's parties at a private residence of the Ritz Hotel (think 15 hotel rooms altogether), helped calm the nerves and we ended up having a fantastic evening of dancing to various youthful DJ's...Alicia cried tiredness at around 2ish and we returned home and were tucked up in bed before even Alicia's parents arrived home from their party at the Lake Club...my we are getting old!!!
We had booked tickets earlier in the week to join a group of Alicia's old school friends at the Life Centre in central KL for an evening of live music. Now when I say live music what I actually mean is an underground rave. Having not put my raving dancing feet in to action since the late 90's I was somewhat dubious about our choice of party venue. Thankfully the presence of copious amounts of spirits and mixers at one of Alicia's friend's parties at a private residence of the Ritz Hotel (think 15 hotel rooms altogether), helped calm the nerves and we ended up having a fantastic evening of dancing to various youthful DJ's...Alicia cried tiredness at around 2ish and we returned home and were tucked up in bed before even Alicia's parents arrived home from their party at the Lake Club...my we are getting old!!!
30th December: Unexpected Day Trip
Although Noraini and Ariffin could have quite easily retired by now they, like my parents, still feel the need to work all hours God sends and with the years end looming, several of the Malaysian coastal erosion control site projects Noraini is presently directing needed to have a report surmising the current state of the site composed and emailed.. In order to do this a number of site visits would have to happen all with need for a professional-ish photographer in tow. So, with a knock on the bedroom door at 8am for Alicia and the professional-ish photographer (thats me of course), it was a quick breakfast and out for a the 2hr journey to Haji Dorani.
The first half of the jourtenyt was uneventful with the now familiar palm oil lined highway keeping us company on our way. We stopped aa local cafe for sweet tea, Nasi Lamak and French toast at around 11am and reached the project site 45 mins later.
To the untrained eye, what was presented before me would appear only as a pile of rocks 10 mtrs out in to the sea, with some mud , sand and a few shoots behind it. In actual fact this pile of rocks is a carefully researched method and multi functional as a wave break and tidal control to aid sediment build up and prevent the washing away of new Mangrove seedlings and shoots. The seedlings sand shoots will eventually form a mature Mangrove network and the roots will bind the soil and sand thus preventing further erosion (is at a rate of 5mtrs a year at this site).....Anyway thats enough science....Whilst this was was carefully explained to me, I was directed what to snap and many of my the photos made it in to the report (lets just hope my work is properly acknowledged in the thanks section ;-)..
With the photo session finished, it was a well earned lunch before heading off home for some sunbathing and South East Asia trip preparations.
The first half of the jourtenyt was uneventful with the now familiar palm oil lined highway keeping us company on our way. We stopped aa local cafe for sweet tea, Nasi Lamak and French toast at around 11am and reached the project site 45 mins later.
To the untrained eye, what was presented before me would appear only as a pile of rocks 10 mtrs out in to the sea, with some mud , sand and a few shoots behind it. In actual fact this pile of rocks is a carefully researched method and multi functional as a wave break and tidal control to aid sediment build up and prevent the washing away of new Mangrove seedlings and shoots. The seedlings sand shoots will eventually form a mature Mangrove network and the roots will bind the soil and sand thus preventing further erosion (is at a rate of 5mtrs a year at this site).....Anyway thats enough science....Whilst this was was carefully explained to me, I was directed what to snap and many of my the photos made it in to the report (lets just hope my work is properly acknowledged in the thanks section ;-)..
With the photo session finished, it was a well earned lunch before heading off home for some sunbathing and South East Asia trip preparations.
Saturday, 2 January 2010
Malaysia 26th December - Boxing Day
Yet another lie in for Leon and Alicia, but I felt less guilty about this one given it is boxing day and usually a well earned public holiday and time for rest from the excesses of the previous days festive cheer. A late breakfast at 11am consisted of my now favourite way to start the day, Roti Cannai, fried chicken, beef curry, dahl and chicken curry and I then ploughed on with my last weeks worth of blog updates (I will not fall behind again!!).
Early afternoon we were joined by Alicia's childhood friend Sian and her Brummie Boyfriend Pete for Prima swimming and sun bathing action. Despite the fact the sun failed to make an appearence all day, I managed to get myself sun burnt??!!!....As our hazy clouds grew darker and the distant rumble of thunder began to get louder and more frequent we retired to the apartment for some cards.
Pete and Sian left us around 6pm and we quickly changed for dinner with Alicia's parents and her brother Lan and sister in law Sophie. This evening we were treated (again!!) to some Thai food in a restaurant run by Southern Thai's and Malaysia called Vicchuda. The set up was no frills but as with many street facing restaurant in Malaysia the no added expense on the decor was firmly replaced with extra loving care going in to the food. For the grand total of GBP20 we feasted on a full baked fish marinated in fresh seasonal fruits and chili, BBQ spit roasted chicken with an exquisite marinade (I was told I could ask for the recipe but I was likely to be laughed at for trying!) omelet, Tom Yam soup (a fragrant and delicate soup heavy on the lemon grass and with liberal helpings of birds eye chili...a good palate freshener!), Kuey Teow (a noodle dish close to Pad Thai), Prawn Fritters, Mango Salad, Sam Bal (squid in sauce) and what can only be described as a trophy of fresh rice, all washed down with lime juice and barley water....
We then retired to a coffee house around the corner for ice cream toast (sounds weird but it works) and some, good luck trying to sleep for the next 3 days, coffee.
Its now 11pm, I am a very tired boy and need my beauty sleep for our first venture outside of KL tomorrow. Alicia and I are off to the historic and supposeldy picturesque port town of Melaka on the SW coast on the Malaysian peninsula, an importnat town for the spice trade and therefore a town very much of interest to the Portuguese and Dutch in the 14th and 15th Centuries.......I will report back on my fiundings tomorrow!!!
Early afternoon we were joined by Alicia's childhood friend Sian and her Brummie Boyfriend Pete for Prima swimming and sun bathing action. Despite the fact the sun failed to make an appearence all day, I managed to get myself sun burnt??!!!....As our hazy clouds grew darker and the distant rumble of thunder began to get louder and more frequent we retired to the apartment for some cards.
Pete and Sian left us around 6pm and we quickly changed for dinner with Alicia's parents and her brother Lan and sister in law Sophie. This evening we were treated (again!!) to some Thai food in a restaurant run by Southern Thai's and Malaysia called Vicchuda. The set up was no frills but as with many street facing restaurant in Malaysia the no added expense on the decor was firmly replaced with extra loving care going in to the food. For the grand total of GBP20 we feasted on a full baked fish marinated in fresh seasonal fruits and chili, BBQ spit roasted chicken with an exquisite marinade (I was told I could ask for the recipe but I was likely to be laughed at for trying!) omelet, Tom Yam soup (a fragrant and delicate soup heavy on the lemon grass and with liberal helpings of birds eye chili...a good palate freshener!), Kuey Teow (a noodle dish close to Pad Thai), Prawn Fritters, Mango Salad, Sam Bal (squid in sauce) and what can only be described as a trophy of fresh rice, all washed down with lime juice and barley water....
We then retired to a coffee house around the corner for ice cream toast (sounds weird but it works) and some, good luck trying to sleep for the next 3 days, coffee.
Its now 11pm, I am a very tired boy and need my beauty sleep for our first venture outside of KL tomorrow. Alicia and I are off to the historic and supposeldy picturesque port town of Melaka on the SW coast on the Malaysian peninsula, an importnat town for the spice trade and therefore a town very much of interest to the Portuguese and Dutch in the 14th and 15th Centuries.......I will report back on my fiundings tomorrow!!!
Malaysia 25th - Christmas Day
With Alicia feeling unnecessarily guilty for taking me away from the family for the festive period, she had done her very best to provide me with a home from home Christmas day and apart from the lack of freezing temperatures and snow, I must say she did a splendid job!
With Christmas day excitement stirring, we awoke early and exchanged gifts with each other and her parents. For a now 30 year old expecting socks and handkerchiefs at best, I think I came off quite well being gifted with two shirts, a pen and a trendy cap to keep the sun off. We then chowed down on an all inclusive fry up including beef bacon, chicken sausage, beans , scrambled eggs and toast and then retired for the "traditional" English Christmas Day post breakfast nap (this isnt really a tradition in our family but it was a suitable excuse for an extra hours shut eye!).....
Around 2pm we all made our way to Sian's Mum's house, 5 mins down the road, for more present exchanging and pre-dinner drinks. The feast was presented to us an hour later and we enjoyed a full Christmas lunch of chicken, lamb , divine roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings and veg complete with crackers inclusive of cheesy jokes and low quality toys closely followed by a 4 layer chocolate cake, apple crumble and mince pies....I entertained our guests with a few games that lost their appeal in my household many many years ago, and then we retired home to slump in to a food induced coma!!!
All in all a perfectly English Christmas day, well done everyone involved in and responsible for preparations!!!
With Christmas day excitement stirring, we awoke early and exchanged gifts with each other and her parents. For a now 30 year old expecting socks and handkerchiefs at best, I think I came off quite well being gifted with two shirts, a pen and a trendy cap to keep the sun off. We then chowed down on an all inclusive fry up including beef bacon, chicken sausage, beans , scrambled eggs and toast and then retired for the "traditional" English Christmas Day post breakfast nap (this isnt really a tradition in our family but it was a suitable excuse for an extra hours shut eye!).....
Around 2pm we all made our way to Sian's Mum's house, 5 mins down the road, for more present exchanging and pre-dinner drinks. The feast was presented to us an hour later and we enjoyed a full Christmas lunch of chicken, lamb , divine roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings and veg complete with crackers inclusive of cheesy jokes and low quality toys closely followed by a 4 layer chocolate cake, apple crumble and mince pies....I entertained our guests with a few games that lost their appeal in my household many many years ago, and then we retired home to slump in to a food induced coma!!!
All in all a perfectly English Christmas day, well done everyone involved in and responsible for preparations!!!
Tuesday, 29 December 2009
The Run Up to Christmas...
After saying our goodbyes to Zara (who was jetting off back to Brisvegas) and Sarah (who was heading back to Saltburn for Christmas), we started preparing for Christmas, Malaysian-style a.k.a visit a number of large shopping centers, wander around the multitude of shops and go away empty handed! Needless to say we spent quite a bit of time buying last minute presents when secretly (or not so secretly), both Leon and I were dreaming of lazing by the pool and topping up our tans. On Christmas Eve, in line with tradition, we went to T-Club which has been our local bar for the last 10 years! Leon said that it was akin to one of the bars you'd find on a popular Greek island, but even with it's new refurb I still feel like it's my home away from home. A bit like Cheers, where everybody knows your name. Everyone was in the festive mood and we were given a bag of goodies by the bar staff to help us celebrate Christmas Day when midnight came around. Armed with shot glasses that lit up, party poppers and drinking dice, Sian, Pete, Leon and I sang through a number of timeless Christmas classics while sipping on some cocktails and beers. As we left T-Club, we were greeted with a mini street party, as people (including very young, naughty children!) started spraying us with fake snow in a can. Aaaah... Christmas has arrived!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
