Langkawi, Day 2

We slept well and woke to a gorgeous morning for my 41st birthday, in my home country. We are always away for my birthday, and I can highly recommend it. French champagne was served with the breakfast buffet - the first time that I have seen this, and it couldn't have been more perfect. After breakfast we swam and then caught a buggy ride to the hotel spa for a one hour massage, which was wonderful.

The spa had its own pool, complete with monkeys - which makes 4 pools and not 3 as I said earlier. We had the pool and the view over the beach and islands to ourselves. We decided to go kayaking in order to have a closer look at the limestone cliffs that we could see from the beach. It cost us $6 for an hour - only thing is that we probably should have kayaked first, and not after the massage! Brilliant fun.

Apple martinis

More swimming and pool bar lunch in the sunshine. There were many more people about today. We taxied to town to explore another shopping centre, but again, not very exciting. We did find veerrryy cheap spirits - $10 Absolut and $40 VSOP.

Private dinner at the end of the jetty

Dom had booked a private dinner at the hotel jetty in honour of my birthday, and it was superb. The location, the staff and the food were all magnificent. It felt very special. Thank you.

Singapore to Langkawi

Dom’s flight arrived early as well and it only took him 10 minutes from stepping off the aircraft to sitting in a taxi! We met at the hotel and headed out into the evening in search of dinner. The hotel is located right on Orchard Road, one of the world’s great shopping strips. Hunger over powered my desire to shop (it does happen sometimes!) and we caught a taxi to Lau Par Sat, a hawker centre near the CBD, and a favourite of ours (the original Satay Club stalls). 

Satays and stingray flap

It is such a wonderful and familiar thing, to settle at a plastic table on stools and order Tiger beer by the jug, and world famous satays. We ordered stingray flap, which is basted with sambal (chilli and garlic), and Char Kway Teow, my favourite noodle dish, fried with soy and chilli. The food was amazing and cheap - $27 AUD for 3 dishes, which would have fed 5 or 6 people easily. We’d forgotten what small and large mean in Asia (small is enough for two, large is enough for a village!). The smoke and aromas from the satay fires and the constant bustle of locals and travellers make for a fabulous atmosphere. 

We opted to let our dinner settle by setting off on foot for home. We usually stay at the marina, which is a pleasant stroll back from Lau Par Sat, but after 15 minutes' walk we were still a 10 minute cab ride from the Mandarin Orchard. I really enjoyed seeing older parts of Singapore and the renovated shop houses, now homes to boutique shops and bars. I am amazed at how much of Singapore I have never seen – I have been here many, many times, so it’s comforting to know that I still have much left to explore.

We were on the 30^th floor of the hotel but the noise from a night club or bar was quite invasive when we went to bed. We were so tired that it didn’t worry us and all was very quiet later in the night – certainly no street noise at that height.

In the morning we ordered coffee to the room ($20 AUD!). We rarely get breakfast included in Singapore as it is quite expensive (I can’t eat $30 worth of buffet breakfast and still walk around) , but often share a coffee as we get ready to go out for the day.

We packed and checked out on the TV – Singapore has always been one step ahead of Australia in technology for common use – then cabbed back to the airport in a London Cab. Very cool.

Air Asia now operates out of Terminal 1, as does Jetstar. Both used to operate from the low cost carrier terminal, which was much less salubrious. Terminal 1 at Changi has a very long concourse filled with luxury goods shops (Bally, Salvatore Ferrangamo, etc) and duty free (cheaper than Australia – the same gin was $20 cheaper here).

Our flight departed on time and the hour and twenty minutes passed quickly. To our Girls - we had our first kopi susu and thought of you all! To the uninitiated, kopi susu is coffee made with sugar and condensed milk, and is extremely tasty and energy-giving. On Air Asia it came all mixed together and dried in a packet but was still delicious.

Arrival was smooth and we had no problem organising a taxi to our hotel. In many of the Asian airports, ordering a cab can be a little confusing. You need to look out for a booth with a sign relating to taxis, let the person know where you want to go, pay them, collect a ticket, then find another booth closer to the exit, have an expectant look on your face, and then someone will take the ticket and guide you to a taxi. We learnt this the long way on our first visit to KL, and now know what to look for.

The drive took about 20 minutes through relatively undeveloped but lush, lush, lush countryside. This is definitely not a modern place, but rather beautiful in its original asian, unhurried way.

Main pool with pool bar

I must say, friends, that this place is my heaven on earth. The Westin Langkawi Resort and Spa sits on its own calm, clean beach, with three pools and an amazing view over the ocean and surrounding islands. I was truly impressed - the photos of this hotel on the internet go no way towards showing how wonderful the place is.

The afternoon was spent in the horizon pool, watching the boating traffic pass below us, and the clouds ebb and flow above us. The heavens did open, but we were wet anyway, so lounged in the pool bar with a mojito. It was a magnificent way to while away time.

Later in the afternoon we took a $3 cab ride to town where there was little to see. It is an old style working town for locals and not a town dedicated to tourists. We wandered back towards the hotel through unkempt gardens. It is so very different to Singapore where there are teams of men in orange overalls, tending to the foliage on a daily basis. This place looks as though it had a heyday, and it was 20 years ago. That in itself is charming, and does help us with our original plan to spend this part of the holiday just relaxing.

Tomorrow is my 41st birthday, and we'll be celebrating in fine style. Forty was an amazing year for me, despite some tough learning at work. This particular birthday always had such a stigma, such a presence as a historical milestone. It has now passed for me and I feel that another chapter is starting; one that feels new and exciting and uncharted.

Melbourne to Singapore

I woke early from a comfortable night's sleep, despite the distant roar of the aircraft. I did have to put a pillow over my head to lessen the noise when I went to sleep, so perhaps if you're sensitive to noise then a room on the other side of the hotel may be in order. I think the view was well worth it, and the room was otherwise very quiet and comfortable.

The hotel has a gym, pool, spa and sauna, all of which I've enjoyed the use of in the past. Checkout was smooth and it's only a short walk across the road to the airport.

I am travelling with Jetstar today, which allows me access to the Qantas Club through my membership. International Qantas Club serves a hot breakfast and champagne - very civilised! I had no trouble at all with check in and immigration, and was amazed at how much the airport has changed since I was last here 12 years ago.

The flight left on time, despite being late in. I had two seats and a window to myself which made me happy. As it was Jetstar there was no included service at all, but I found the prices were very reasonable and the food was tasty. It was an all Singapore crew, aside from the Captain and First Officer. I paid $15 to watch as many movies as I wished, although the choices were limited. I managed to watch 3 during the 8 hour flight.

I always enjoy flying in Asia as I love seeing the towering clouds form fantastic shapes. Our arrival was smooth and on time, to a fine Singapore afternoon. Half an hour after touch down I was in a taxi heading along the lushly planted highway for our hotel, the Mandarin Orchard, on Orchard Road.

The adventure begins in Melbourne

(Friday 27th) Our Asian holiday began for me in Melbourne. I finished work a day earlier than Dom and so flew to Melbourne in order to pick up a postponed Melbourne-Singapore flight with Jetstar. Dom will depart tomorrow on Etihad from Brisbane.

My friend, E, agreed to spend the day with me in Melbourne so we set off with Qantas, arriving ahead of schedule, to a lovely, cool Melbourne morning. I left my bag at the Parkroyal Melbourne Airport (formerly the Hilton) – the most conveniently located hotel at the airport. We caught the SkyBus, which was waiting at the kerb, to the city ($28 return). It’s a swift ride and by 10am we were strolling down Spencer Street toward the new South Wharf shopping precinct.

We had lunch at a riverside restaurant adjacent to the casino and then continued our wandering through the pleasant Melbourne afternoon. Coincidentally, there was a display by the Singapore Tourism Board on the riverside, so we chatted to Singapore locals making traditional rice packets, and entered a competition to win a shopping trip!

When we were shopping-weary we returned to the airport (on the SkyBus which was again waiting for us) and I checked into the hotel to be rewarded with a magnificent view of the terminal and runways from the top floor! I’ve stayed here three times and this is the best view I’ve had. I know that I’m a plane geek, but I still think it’s special to see a dynamic airport at work. 

Tomorrow I depart for Singapore, where Dom and I will meet up. On Sunday we travel to Langkawi in Malaysia, then later in the trip to Bangkok and Singapore again. I have not been to either Langkawi or Bangkok and am very excited to be exploring new places.

Travel Money

I usually buy a little cash for each country prior to departure, but only enough to buy food and transport for a day or so. I also take Australian cash to exchange on the streets with the money changers - in my experience they have best exchange rates available.  I no longer take travellers cheques.

Mostly we use credit cards and our savings account cards. There are charges for withdrawing cash overseas and these vary between the banks. Credit card providers charge a foreign currency conversion fee of a few percent of the purchase. I like to carry cards from two different banks, in case there is a issue with one bank and funds are not available for a day or more.

I once had a problem in that a savings account attached to a credit card could not be accessed from overseas. I had to use internet banking to transfer cash to the credit card and then withdraw it as a cash advance - obviously not ideal. I now carry a card that only accesses my savings account, just for that reason.

It is important to call the credit card provider prior to departure to let them know you'll be overseas. Otherwise, the foreign transactions could flag a potential card or information theft and they may put a stop on your card.

Three Days in Bali - Part II

We woke early  to a beautiful blue sky day - quite a rarity in my experiences of Asia! After breakfast I used the free internet at the bar to do some banking and then relaxed in the pool. The water temperature was just right.

We had organised for our driver, Michael, to collect us at 10am. We met Michael yesterday. He was a driver for the hotel, but negotiated a private deal to take us to Ubud for the day. It took 1.5 hours through mostly heavy traffic to reach Ubud, thus reducing the time available for shopping. Michael was adamant that we had to depart by 3pm to avoid the afternoon traffic. I really wanted to disagree and stay longer, but decided that he probably knew best. We were never going to see everything in three days, anyway.

Ubud was just as I remembered. First stop was the palace, which is quiet, with lush green gardens and intricate carvings. We crossed the road to the market where handicrafts, clothing, jewellery and carvings are sold. I like shopping here in the relative cool of the shade. I find the marketeers to be very friendly and not too pushy as long as you are firm and polite with your 'No thank you's.

We hurried on down Monkey Forest Road, feeling pressed for time and so only looking in shops of great interest. There are many fabulous shops in Ubud - arts and craft and jewellery. Many vendors are ex-pat designers who employ the Balinese to produce their items. Most shops are air conditioned, giving a few moments of relief from the heat as you browse.

D and I both purchased beautiful, theatrical wooden masks, hand carved from hibiscus wood. I had wanted to buy one on my last visit, but was concerned about delaying our arrival through customs in Australia. I have since given up that concern, as it takes very little time to show them the articles if you pack them at the top of the case.
 
We passed the Monkey Forest (D decided that it wasn't a priority to go in on this visit) and walked up Jalan Hanoman, where I was sure my favourite handbag shop, Sisi, was. It was still there and they still made lovely leather and fabric bags - it was originally recommended to me by another friend in Australia!

We stopped at an art gallery on the way back to Kuta, still in search of a copy of a painting D saw yesterday. There was nothing like it at all. We asked Michael to take us to Ku de ta www.kudeta.net
which is a fabulous bar & restaurant in Seminyak. Lounge music, cocktails and a lovely ocean view all make for a relaxing way to watch the sun set. They serve fabulous food there too.

We cabbed back to the hotel and, after a quick rest, took the hotel shuttle down to their beach club where we sat at a table in the sand, drinking mojitos and enjoyed a lovely seafood bbq.

Informed Travellers

Before we leave the country, I register our travel plans with the Australian government at www.smartraveller.gov.au . The website has advice, checklists and tips for happy and safe travelling. They can provide updates by email on health and safety in any country.

Travel Insurance

I'm often asked which travel insurance I use. I now use TID - Travel Insurance Direct. I just purchased a year long, world wide policy for the family, costing $500, less 10% discount as a returning customer (available to family and friends too) plus $25 to reduce the excess to nil. That covers my husband and his daughters (under 21 years of age) as well, whether we travel together or not. Impressive.

I've needed to claim twice in the past, and TID have paid within 10 days on both occasions.

www.travelinsurancedirect.com.au

Three Days in Bali

A friend of mine expressed a desire to 'get away' for a few days and on a break at work, we decided to go to Bali! Bali is a 6.5 hour flight from Brisbane and I had been once before. I am always keen to return to Asia and in November 2011, off we went.
We flew with Virgin Australia, who fly direct from Brisbane. The flight landed at 11.30pm, and we swiftly tracked through the entry procedures and paid our USD25 for the Visa on Arrival. It is the same price as on our first visit in 2008! They accept other currencies these days, and the exchange rate is displayed.

We caught a taxi to our hotel, Novotel Nusa Dua (AUD 12). There are many people waiting outside the terminal to assist you with luggage and I had forgotten that they need a tip for their help - in Aussie dollars, please!

It was only a 10-15 minute ride to the hotel and all was quiet on arrival. The exchange rate in Brisbane was 7200 to 1, but even at the airport in Bali on arrival it was 8600 to 1! Amazing.

Kuta Beach

I woke with the sun shining in and went down for a swim, only to find that the staff were still cleaning the pool! No matter how many times I travel to Asia, I seem to forget that the world really doesn't wake up early here. We breakfasted at the hotel and then set off for the Kuta Discovery Mall. I wanted to show D what Kuta looked like at least.

The mall is a big shopping centre in Kuta - a bit of an eyesore, but handy for toilets and a Starbucks coffee when you need a rest. There is a large store filled with batik goods of all sorts, which I like. I particularly wanted to buy a couple of dresses from there - beautiful soft cotton house dresses. It's a great place for gift shopping, too. 

Jalan Seminyak

We walked north a little, past hawkers in early morning mode - not too harassing, but keen, none the less. We hired a taxi to take us to the shops in Seminyak, and appreciated being inside during an early downpour. The traffic choked the beach side road, so we left the cab and walked.

Made's Warung

We ducked in and out of the fabulously varying shops on Jalan (means Street) Seminyak and stopped at the famous 'Made's Warung' for lunch, at a cost of $10 each including a drink!

D commissioned two pairs of hand made leather shoes at a cost of $40 each! They would be ready in 2 days. I was a little sad that I didn't get my act together to order some - next time.

Novotel Nusa Dua

At about 5pm we decided to head home and took a cab through peak hour traffic to the hotel. It is not a long ride during off-peak hours, but is certainly bumper to bumper at other times. The drivers are quite polite and tolerant and there isn't a lot of tooting or yelling.

We were very happy to escape the heat with a long dip in the pool, followed by a massage at the hotel spa (AUD 40 for an hour).