tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56076512012-01-27T14:24:58.057ZLooking for the Malaysian flavour abroad. Sharing our santan and sepuluh sen with all who cares to listen.Irenenoreply@blogger.comBlogger1001100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-7599101692905691022009-11-25T10:43:00.005Z2009-11-25T16:07:10.691Z

Time flies … I didn’t realise that it has been over a year since my last post. During this time, KL and I has since started new jobs, bought a flat, car and had a baby (all in that order).So, it has been a busy and exciting time for the Wong family. We have now settled into more-a-less routine with baby Ian and hope to introduce him the joys of travelling! Our previous 2 mini trips to Wales and

Irenenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-77188199422482371332008-02-26T15:06:00.010Z2008-02-26T16:38:17.915Z

KL and I are finally back in London after a long 6-month stint in Hong Kong, and not before making a detour back home for Chinese New Year. Apart from the tiring commute in a short 2-weeks span (covering Singapore - Kuala Lumpur - Kuantan - Taiping - Ipoh and back to Singapore), it was nice to be home for the festivities. After all it has been 7 years since we last celebrated CNY with the

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-57138646155898399602008-01-04T21:38:00.000Z2008-01-04T21:47:08.057Z

On our recent trip to China, we were heavily contemplating between a trip to Guilin or to a nearby town, Yangshuo. After much reading & research over the internet, we decided to opt for the later. It's apparently a smaller town, less hectic and touristy. I definitely needed that after living smacked in the hustling and bustling of HK for so many months. We stayed in this quaint little hotel,

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-51607982815756749802007-11-28T09:47:00.000Z2007-12-04T11:16:07.496Z

KL brought me for a lovely birthday treat to a French restaurant, Le Pont De La Tour on our short trip back to London last month. It has a lovely view of the Tower Bridge and a nice formal atmosphere. The only complaint I had was the tables were too close to one another. To make matters worse we were seated to a very loud American. Thankfully, he left soon after that we were able to enjoy our

Irenenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-34181677307317272032007-11-03T16:38:00.000Z2007-12-04T11:19:24.033Z

This trip was over a month ago but never got round to finishing it.========================================================After a trip back to Malaysia and armed with brand spanking new passports, KL and I are on the road again! First stop, Macau (err...well, after Thailand and of course Singapore :p)!Since Macau was just a couple hours away, we thought we'd explore it on a daytrip over the

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-89997726819897027702007-10-16T23:29:00.001Z2007-10-16T23:31:00.658Z

I've always wanted to go to the floating market but never realised that it was a 2-hour drive away from Bangkok! It was definitely a long (and early) ride for a market that opens for less than half a day.We were warned by friends and family alike that the market has turned extremely touristy in recent years. So we were prepared to jostle against tides of tourists but were extremely lucky to be

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-82603994642803006312007-10-11T11:13:00.000Z2007-10-11T11:16:37.784Z

Yoohoo... we're back in London. Nice cool weather, lots of greenery and I'm in the comforts of our home, treating ourselves to some nice home cooked meals. =) Even though it's just 2 weeks before we head back to HK, I intend to fully utilise my time at home.Anyways, back to our Thailand trip. We were in Bangkok's Khao San area looking for tours that included the floating market, elephant rides

Irenenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-92046232959525783992007-10-08T12:20:00.000Z2007-10-08T12:21:08.609Z

KL and I spent 4 days and 3 nights in Bangkok recently for a short well-derserved break (well, for him anyway!). We booked ourselves into the hotel, Silom Serene I stayed in a few years ago when I was in Bangkok for work. I had fond memories there (long working hours aside, of course), bargain shopping in Pat Pong and the late night supper along Silom Road with my then colleagues.The buffet

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-46605186449954325412007-10-02T10:08:00.000Z2007-10-02T15:57:47.288Z

Our plans to Taman Negara had to be shelved much to KL's dissappointment. Now in his 30's, he's starting to find motivating a bunch of middle aged men and women to take on leech infested rivers and slippery mud trails quite a task. List of excuses for non-attendance included pure laziness (re: Roy), work commitments or family obligations. Truth be told, we were partially to blame as we extended

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-78809205401689878802007-10-02T08:19:00.001Z2007-10-04T09:37:50.382Z

I'm now back in HK after spending a month dividing my time between home, Singapore and a spot of travelling in Thailand. Hence, the silence on the blogging end!The trip home has been great - managed to meet up with friends, spent time with the family, met a new addition to the family (my cousin sis just had a baby) and of course, stuffed ourselves with local food.My big bro took us to many great

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-86608899965021274202007-09-13T04:56:00.001Z2007-09-13T04:56:36.235Z

Hong Kong is definitely a mecca for those who enjoy shopping. It has something for everyone whether it be highly expensive branded goods in huge departmental shops, small boutiques or bargain road side markets. It never fails to amaze me that the shopping outlets are always jam packed with people all day (and night) long! I guess the locals not only work hard but they shop like crazy too!I have

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-43572072436635836682007-08-28T05:07:00.000Z2007-08-28T05:34:29.351Z

We have since gone back to Under the Bridge restaurant a couple of times as we really enjoyed the food there. That said, we have not tried their fried garlic with spring onion crab specialty until yesterday.The crabs were good but again, I still prefer the sweet and sour cooking style!KL's colleague introduced him to this noodle place, Nam Kee in Central. We have since found out that they have

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-48120810294505637492007-08-25T16:45:00.001Z2007-08-25T17:54:01.102Z

This post is especially dedicated to my cousin, Tyan. She has been raving about this restaurant way before I set foot in Hong Kong. Apparently, it served the best congee that she'd ever tasted, even to the point of dreaming about it! We finally went to the place on Tuesday and I had to agree with her whole-heartedly. We have since went back a couple of times.The restaurant specialises in congee

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-50714272824936331112007-08-23T12:46:00.000Z2007-08-23T12:49:21.619Z

KL and I ventured out to Aberdeen over the weekend, located on south shore of Hong Kong Island. We had expected a traditional fishing village but boy, were we surprised!! Instead of wooden homes on stilts lined with red-sailed chinese junks we were greeted with a plethora of modern high-rise buildings, with yet more scaffolded ones waiting to sprout!While the traditional homes have gone and the

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-55189361773564308802007-08-22T05:17:00.001Z2007-08-28T05:06:44.146Z

We came upon this small little restaurant by chance. KL and I were walking along Jaffe Road in Causeway Bay in search of Banana Leaf Restaurant which apparently serves decent Malaysian/Singaporean dishes. I reckon the address I got from Lonely Planet and from the web was an old address.After checking out the menu and the prices didn't look too exorbitant, we decided to give this place a try. The

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-22089993501359169992007-08-21T09:05:00.000Z2007-08-25T17:16:27.827Z

Mak's Noodles (anther highly recommended place by my brother), a restaurant well known for its shrimp wan-ton noodles and it was even recommended by Anthony Bourdain. We were lucky we did not have to venture to far out to try out this place as it was literally just round the corner from the hotel we were staying in - Jardine Bazaar, close to Causeway Bay MTR Station. What else can we ask for? All

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-72698260036462552482007-08-20T05:08:00.000Z2007-08-21T08:12:23.290Z

The flower market located on Flower Market Street (surprise, surprise!!) is the hub of HK's wholesale and retail floral business.It's was surprisingly quiet when I was there - not too sure whether it's because it was on a week day or because there was a heavy downpour looming ahead. Anyway, I was extremely lucky to finish exploring the place before the heavy rain came. But I guess the Yuen Po

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-39707142639280929652007-08-18T14:55:00.001Z2007-08-18T17:14:45.899Z

After a week of bad weather in HK, we finally had some sunshine. So, we took the oppurtunity to visit the fishing villages in nearby Lamma Island. We opted for a short trek to work up an appetite for its well-known fresh seafood.We took a ferry from HK Central to Yung Shue Wan, north of the island and slowly made our way to Sok Kwu Wan. I thought it was an uneventful uphill walk (about 50 mins)

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-11098850182140651152007-08-18T12:43:00.000Z2007-08-18T17:15:33.161Z

I always thought that eating out would be an easier and hassle free option compared to home-cooked meals. Well, after being here for a week we have a constant dilemma as to what and where we should eat next!We have since discovered that restaurants are always crowded (even on weekdays) and dinner time seems to start from 7pm onwards right up to 10pm. After scouring the streets for restaurants

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-77385388275263945132007-08-16T03:24:00.000Z2007-08-16T05:03:01.578Z

The weather here has been pretty miserable the past few days. It's been raining on and off since I've got here. Oh well, who am I to complain? London is not far off anyway.Determined not to be put off by the rain, I made my way out to Mong Kok - the heart of Kowloon Peninsula. I have always enjoyed browsing through the many stalls but never seem to buy anything apart from food! ;) Anyway, it was

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-73026188146609954512007-08-15T04:57:00.001Z2007-08-18T17:10:11.972Z

Yung Kee, a restaurant in Wellington Street near Central is a popular restaurant among locals. There's an average waiting time of 20-30 minutes if you do not have prior booking (in fact I've heard they sometimes do not even take bookings). We were here once before and didn't think too much about the place - it wasn't bad but not much to write home about. Since my brother highly recommended this

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-24596213216818342562007-08-15T02:43:00.000Z2007-08-15T04:50:11.090Z

Chinese people are into feng shui but I did not know the full extend of it until we got here - the Goldfish Market. I've never seen so many shops selling fishes along a street ever!Ornamental fishes were known to bring good luck and wealth when properly positioned in the home. Just imagine having both sides of the street lined up with colourful fishes of different species and it was fully packed

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-41688756768669157312007-08-13T07:25:00.001Z2007-08-15T16:36:22.463Z

I do know this blog is more for our travels but thought I'd include the local food that we have tried. I've gotten a list of 'must-eat' places from my brother when he was here for work (did I mention that my family loves good food?). We ventured out to the one closest to where we were staying. KL wrote down the name of the place and showed it to the concierge and he kindly pointed the place to us

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-47821487357813381542007-08-12T15:23:00.000Z2007-08-18T17:10:33.550Z

Phew, talk about bad timing - I flew into Hong Kong on Friday only to be greeted by a typhoon. As there were no announcements made on the plane, I was clueless about the storm. Concerned text messages from KL and Esther (KL's good friend) were completely ignored. Little did I know that it was a "grade 8" typhoon which was in fact quite severe - offices and schools were effectively shut down for

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-72786808152341280862007-08-02T20:56:00.000Z2007-08-15T04:54:11.936Z

Since I'm on a roll, I thought I'd might as well put these photos up for my mum. My parents left London back in May but mum has been constantly asking me about the family of swans near our home. It's not how am I doing but have you seen the swans? Have the cygnets grown? Hmmmphhh....The family back in AprilIn June ...July I'd probably be taking a couple more photos before heading to HK with my

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-22873743819539879662007-08-02T20:11:00.000Z2007-08-15T04:54:33.474Z

KL's heading to HK for a project this coming week. Guess who's tagging along?? Me!!! The timing is just perfect - my contract job finishes tomorrow so I'm flying over to join him. As he's going to be working his ass off (excuse the language) - I intend to fully utilise the nice boutique hotel the company has booked him in and take the time to explore Hong Kong. We didn't do much of sight-seeing

Irenenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-61217981918728705652007-07-31T16:18:00.000Z2007-08-15T04:54:54.863Z

I've (or should I say KL bought me) finally got a myself a brand new toy, a Canon S5 IS. My old Canon Powershot A80 died on me when we were in Argentina. And around the same time, KL's SLR got stolen. Talk about coincidence!! Anyway, we've been living off a very basic digital camera which we bought in Patagonia for a very high cost.Over the weekend, we took the new camera for a walkabout. Here

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-37788682655582092402007-07-19T20:56:00.000Z2007-07-19T21:37:26.924Z

The signs below are taken from our trip around the world.Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. I couldn't agree more - we could do with no mosquitoes in this world! This photo was taken from in a hostel we stayed in Zambia. Hermanus, South Africa. Miami, Florida. I'm sure a lot of people will agree with that. A town outside Kyoto, Japan. I just included this photo in because I thought it was quite cute.

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-62347751490616605432007-07-18T13:19:00.000Z2007-08-15T04:55:32.130Z

3 weeks at work and I have not been sacked. Not bad eh…. for a person who has not been working for over a year. That said, it’s still a struggle trying to wake up at 7 in the morning especially when you are used to waking up at noon just in time to catch ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’ on TV and of course Wimbledon recently. =)KL and I did manage our annual pilgrimage to Wimbledon this year. It was

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-29190333480754285752007-06-25T22:59:00.000Z2007-08-15T04:55:58.938Z

It was a terribly long flight from Miami to Lima. It didn't help that our flight was a couple of hours delayed. Arriving slightly dazed in Lima, we took the next flight out to Cusco.Even though we were well aware on effects of the altitude sickness since Cusco was over 3,000m above sea level - we were pretty confident that we would have no problems. After all, we used to frequent the Alps and

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-21158032851602657442007-06-25T10:13:00.000Z2007-06-26T23:24:19.153Z

Seven more days before I officially end my travelling-bum days and rejoin the rat-race (oh yes, got the job offer last Friday). Thought I'd better get on with organising our photos from our Round-the-world trip. KL and I have been meaning to do it for so long since we returned to London but, somehow we've managed to keep putting it off.Anyway, as I plonk myself on the sofa, sifting through the

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-24990757568494189452007-06-21T14:04:00.000Z2007-08-15T05:02:57.353Z

Being a housewife (or, as KL likes to call it - the datin lifestyle) is definitely not for me. I have to admit, I really enjoyed it the first few weeks but the novelty has since worn off as there is so much you can watch on tv and clean.So, I'm now actively looking for a job - I reckon KL will be pleased. He's probably stressed up with my daily persistent phone calls asking him when he will be

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-54709309129213102882007-05-23T15:35:00.000Z2007-08-15T04:51:51.924Z

Apparently, according to a friend of ours this is a rare sight in Hong Kong - clear skies and a chinese junk in sight. So, we were really lucky considering we just spent a night there en-route back to Malaysia.

Irenenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-31423506872192630102007-05-07T19:06:00.000Z2007-05-07T21:35:59.756Z

Aston Martin DB7 as my birthday present! ........I wish! Well, a girl can dream can't she? We had a couple of gift vouchers to be used at Drivers Dreamdays. These guys are the organisers of a fun day at the race track where you can test drive the supercar of your choice. And so I chose the super-sleek and uber-sexy Aston while KL pitted his strength against the wild and bucking-bull of a

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-74986218595159599092007-04-20T14:10:00.000Z2007-04-20T15:06:08.709Z

We were contemplating long and hard whether to go for the rafting trip after hearing so many horror stories from fellow rafters who've been. Every single rafting trip has been accompanied with an accident - a guy air-lifted from the ravine after hurting his back, a girl in a neck brace, a girl who lost her basketball shorts and was left with her bikini bottoms! Honest to goodness!Anyway, after

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-24386110405168799142007-04-19T14:53:00.000Z2007-04-19T15:50:07.609Z

Well, I'm back! Finally got myself a brand-spanking-new Dell laptop last week and got connected today. Yooohooo...!!After our 10 month travel, KL is back at work (he had only 2 days of rest before starting work - poor thing) while I'm still at home bumming around. A proper rest is definitely required after all the travelling we've done ie. lugging our heavy rucksacs, planning our next destination

Irenenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1162266546527537292006-10-31T03:34:00.000Z2006-10-31T03:50:45.306Z

This National Park is absolutely gorgeous - it's a must go place even though it's quite a way off from any main towns.The deers oblivious to our presense in the park.And of course, the tigers - main attraction of the park (the main reason why we are here in the first place!).

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1162265284658015212006-10-31T03:04:00.000Z2006-10-31T03:33:44.323Z

It's been a long time since I last had the time to update this blog. It's either the internet access was way too expensive and it take really ages to sit down to upload the photos. Well.... that's my excuse anyway. Since KL and I are now chilling in the comforts of my uncle's home in Vancouver, thought it's the best time to get down to business - ie. writing an update on our trips. We're 2/3 into

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1141404220660923582006-03-03T16:42:00.000Z2006-03-09T11:21:05.163Z

This is Part II of our trip to Coppenhagen and Malmo in November. Obviously, I'm really wayyy behind in updating this blog. As most of you would already know - we're now busy preparing for our big mama round-the-world trip this coming April. Things have since calmed down as we've got most of the stuff sorted out ie. visas, vaccinations, insurances, flight tickets, gears, rough itinerary and

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1141144392474406722006-02-28T16:22:00.000Z2006-02-28T16:39:53.360Z

This picture was taken over the Christmas/ New Year period of last year in the Lake District. Obviously, our plans of spending a quiet holiday in London didn't materialise. We drove up to Lake District for a few days after Christmas.

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1139226233326082782006-02-06T11:43:00.000Z2006-02-06T23:29:15.890Z

Chinese New Year celebration was celebrated in full swing at Trafalgar Square – there were processions, fireworks, lion dances, and Shaolin Kung fu and dance performances throughout the day. It was said that over 200,000 people attended the celebrations; the biggest outside China. The dragon and the lion, side by side.The Chinese God of Wealth (“Tsai Shen Yeh”) making his appearance in London,

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1139152871242845632006-02-05T15:05:00.000Z2006-02-06T23:22:55.860Z

It's a quiet chinese reunion dinner for the Wongs to usher in the Year of the Dog.Fresh scallops as starters...followed by a romantic steamy dinner.NB: A note of appreciation to Mr.Khoo for the steamboat set, who'll be pleased to know that it's still being fully utilised!

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1138976002933337472006-02-03T14:04:00.000Z2006-02-03T15:02:55.646Z

This photo was taken 2 days leading to Christmas in Canary Wharf. I do appreciate this post is way overdue but .... better late than never!Pictures from National History Musuem. We were there to see the Wildlife Photographer of Year 2005 Exhibition. KL has been really busy at work while I was away at home. So, we were both quite contented in spending a quiet Christmas in London. My very first!I

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1137414358273764942006-01-16T12:03:00.000Z2006-01-16T12:44:02.736Z

Portobello Market, the world’s largest antiques market. I can't believe I haven't been more frequent than I should have. KL’s previous trip to the market was not memorable – hence we’ve never made it a point to come (until now, that is). I suspect he probably came on a wrong day.Anyway, after a hearty breakfast of ‘karipap’ and ‘nasi lemak’ washed down with ‘teh tarik’ at the Malaysian Hall, we

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1132929982454911632005-11-25T14:42:00.000Z2005-11-25T15:40:01.010Z

How can a trip to Copenhagen be complete without a visit to the famous Carlsberg brewery? That’s what I thought anyway. Since the hotel that we stayed in was only 20 minutes walk away, it only affirms our decision to make a quick trip to the brewery.The whole tour was quite enjoyable and quite value for money. It costs DKK40 per entry which equates to roughly £4. With that comes 2 free vouchers

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1132735632364471262005-11-23T08:38:00.000Z2005-11-23T13:52:55.816Z

It’s been awhile since we explored the vicinity of London as any chance we get, we’ll be trying to get away from the city. Anyway, we were looking for nearby places (by our definition - less than an hour to get to) so we decided on Epping Forrest - a forestry area well known for its fine woodlands and wildlife. A definite must for nature lovers, walkers and keen photographers!Epping Forest

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1129908849662285562005-10-21T15:27:00.000Z2005-10-25T13:40:42.526Z

The trip back to my hometown, Taiping was a very short one. As we had only a morning to spend in town before we head back to Kuala Lumpur - it was either sight seeing around the lake gardens or stuff ourselves with food - guess what we chose?! Heh!..... pit stop to one of my many favourite food stalls! The stall below serves the best char kuih kak (stir fried radish cake with egg & bean sprout)

Irenenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1129282523046346192005-10-14T09:33:00.000Z2005-10-14T10:26:38.300Z

We were on the way back from my uncle's durian plantation in Bentong when we came upon acres of rubber plantation. It was definitely a photo oppurtunity for us, so we asked our uncle to make a photo-stop.On a different note, KL's brother mentioned that we are becoming more like tourists - wanting to take pictures of everything and anything that we come across. I guess after being a way for so

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1126695049694699902005-09-15T10:28:00.000Z2005-09-14T14:55:13.373Z

Over the August bank holiday, a group of us went up to Scotland hoping to summit Ben Nevis via the classic route, the CMD arete.We didn't make it to the top due to horrid weather but I had a good time nonetheless This despite getting soaked through from top to bottom; having bad blisters on both my feet. To make matters worse, the heavy showers and strong gusts of wind made each and every step an

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1126621560635838362005-09-14T14:22:00.000Z2005-09-13T14:26:42.106Z

2 more days and we're heading home for 2 weeks.... YIPPEEEEE!!!!!!Bags are all packed, all set to start pigging out on local food ... oh, and of course seeing loved ones. :p

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1124463343813593642005-08-19T14:20:00.000Z2005-08-19T15:12:31.526Z

The Prague Castle (Pražský hrad) is one of the most popular sites in Czech. It's known to be the largest ancient castle in the world.The famous Charles Bridge by night....The bridge is constantly streaming with tourists all day long. The countless souvenirs stand and not to mention the street performances and musicians is an excellent place for a lovely stroll especially after a nice and romantic

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1124399745507412222005-08-18T22:51:00.000Z2005-08-18T21:34:22.253Z

Staromestske Namesti, in the heart of Prague is one of the most picturesque city in Europe. The old town square is fenced by a unique mix of Baroque, Romanesque and Gothic styles buildings, giving it a somewhat fairy-tale-like atmosphere. Did I also mention that the food was good and cheap?! Although vegetarians be warned -the Czechs only eat meat, meat and .. oh did I mention more meat!! The

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1124398219974702432005-08-18T20:22:00.000Z2005-08-18T20:50:20.006Z

The London Eye, one of the world's highest observation wheel, offers a panaromic view of London.Salvador Dali's Nobility Of Time Sculpture with the Eye at the background.

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1123765282910001432005-08-11T12:55:00.000Z2005-08-12T23:23:28.883Z

Curious to see what was there to experience outside Prague, we took a 50-minute train ride to Kutna Hora. It was a recommended day trip - being a medieval town and the second largest Bohemian city in the Middle Ages and all. In the end, we didn't have much time to explore the town – and just as well too because the town was extremely quiet that day.Anyways, we overshot our tram ride from the main

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1123705793315186612005-08-10T20:17:00.000Z2005-08-12T23:21:02.846Z

Borough Market is one of my many favourite places in London. Its constant buzz of activity, the delightful smell of fresh ground coffee, the colourful array of fruits, vegetables and flowers always seem to entice me back for more.The different types of cheese....... and more cheese stacked neatly in rows.Imagine my surpise when I came upon this plant... "Periuk kera"?

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1122074018265527422005-07-22T22:50:00.000Z2005-07-22T23:37:37.363Z

Back for the seventh time, our trip to Chamonix (this time, anyway!) was surprisingly more relaxing and less strenous compared to our previous trips. KL promised me a 'real' holiday with some climbing activities on the side. To be fair, I had my share of holiday (relaxing as what your would normally expect on a holiday) and he had his (climbing, climbing and more climbing till you drop). We had

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1121080261123238992005-07-11T11:02:00.000Z2005-07-11T11:12:01.296Z

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1120234447843106442005-07-01T16:11:00.000Z2005-07-02T10:49:13.000Z

The Wimbledon mania is back! The missus called up at 3pm insisting that we try our luck in the queue for the late afternoon matches.The queue was still extremely long even at 6pm, making us wait over an hour-and-a-half before we got to the main gates. Britain's favourite player Tim Henman playing on centre court certainly did not ease the traffic. The wait was worth it though - Irene got her fair

KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14403459074938291299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1119526934847022192005-06-23T11:39:00.000Z2005-07-01T16:10:53.090Z

The annual motor expo was held in Canary Wharf for the whole of last week (13-19th June). They were more than 40 manufaturers with exihibits of over 220 of the latest cars and bikes.We took the oppurtunity to drool over the cars they had out on display. Though much to our disappointment, the Land Rover had actually left the expo on Friday. Why they left before the weekend (I assume would have the

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1118611107455931912005-06-12T20:42:00.000Z2005-06-13T09:02:25.423Z

9 years in London and KL has never been to the zoo. It was a lovely Saturday afternoon and with an empty promise of a balloon and an ice-cream I managed to convince KL to accompany me for a peek at what the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) had in store for us.The ever so shy giraffe, graced us with its presence for a meer minute before getting stage fright. The playful lioness trying to get

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1118218302943171562005-06-08T07:54:00.000Z2005-06-12T22:22:55.866Z

On one sunny day, KL and I decided to venture out to London take some photos. Below are some snap shots of the famous St Paul's Cathedral.Click here for more information

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1118010660762977942005-06-05T22:20:00.000Z2005-06-05T22:31:00.766Z

We've finally developed the films from our previous Wales trip. I really liked this picture KL took. So, thought I'd put it up as well. It was taken at the campsite as the sun set.

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1117097204013007222005-05-22T08:42:00.000Z2005-05-26T13:16:28.466Z

Get-well flowers for ah ma. =) A very delighted Yi Qing with ah ma. Isn't she adorable? (ok - I'm biased because she's my niece!) Brother Joshua below.The 3 little hantus.Pictures taken in Jiku's garden ...

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1117096726030107452005-05-04T08:38:00.000Z2005-08-11T12:26:53.846Z

Irene having a go at outdoor climbing.Easy does it...Garry, our guide looking on as I removed the protection from the rock wall.-28th May 2005-

KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14403459074938291299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1117095989264043422005-05-03T08:24:00.000Z2005-05-26T13:14:12.226Z

Our solitary tent against the backdrop of the Snowdonia National Park.Dinner is served .....Photos taken near our campsite.-26th May 2005-

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1117095794179767212005-05-02T08:19:00.000Z2005-05-28T23:07:28.726Z

It was the Bank Holiday, KL and I decided to make our way to North Wales for the long weekend. It was more of an outdoor trip - where we did multi-pitch climbing and a day of trekking. Tiring but enjoyable nonetheless."Are we there yet? "The long trek up.... a view from the shoulder of Snowdon, the tallest mountain in Wales.Making our way down after taking slightly more than 2 hours to bag the

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1110535624014258222005-03-11T10:03:00.000Z2005-03-11T15:59:27.053Z

My attempt at making popiah was triggered by pure 'tam chiak'-ness (translated: gluttony). Imagine calling home on a weekend, mum was telling me that everyone was feasting on grandma's mouth watering home made popiah. That did it, I made my way to China town that very day determined to get all the ingredients I needed to make the filling. It's hard work - slicing up the bangkuang, carrots,

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1109109081678275022005-02-22T21:17:00.000Z2005-02-22T21:55:01.210Z

Talk about a home with a view!! We practically live a stone's throw away from the quaint and historical town of Greenwich, but never got round to capturing the night scene. I finally managed to drag KL out to catch these photos.A view of Greenwich, with the famous tea-clipper Cutty Sark and the green dome of the Greenwich tunnel, from across the river.The distinct GMT line emitted from the Royal

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1108466894700766802005-02-15T11:26:00.000Z2005-02-21T16:54:56.003Z

Chinese New Year celebrations in London.

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1107904024255775802005-02-08T23:07:00.000Z2005-02-10T14:54:59.966Z

Our Chinese New Year eve dinner to welcome the Year of the Rooster. Knowing that our family and dearest ones will be having a huge feast back home in Malaysia, we thought we ought to celebrate in style as well! Menu for the day: 1. Steamed sea bass with coriander, spring onion and ginger garnishing. 2. Brocoli served with Chinese mushrooms and shredded chicken in thick scallop sauce. 3.

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1106835278888805662005-01-27T14:13:00.000Z2005-01-27T14:17:37.476Z

Photo Credit: Andreas Spak

KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14403459074938291299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1106739575592921052005-01-26T11:39:00.000Z2005-02-10T14:58:43.250Z

When the missus said I get to pick the destination for this year's Christmas trip, I headed straight for Google and found Rjukan. Boasting 140 frozen cascades and a climbing season starting as early as November, I knew I could do no wrong - especially after encountering dangerously brittle ice in a warmer-than-usual Kandersteg last year. Having worked hard the last couple of months, Irene was

KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14403459074938291299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1105473439036443282005-01-11T19:57:00.001Z2005-01-12T14:02:17.776Z

Christmas this year was in Norway - our third trip here after 'whaling' in Tysfjord and 'fjording' in Bergen. I told KL we could go anywhere as long as there is a white Christmas - trust him to find Europe's premiere ice-climbing venue! Rjukan is a small town in the shadows of Gaustatoppen, the highest mountain in Southern Norway. The vibrantly coloured cabins at Rjukan-Hytteby where we stayed

Irenenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1104787818769675362005-01-03T21:30:00.000Z2005-01-03T22:08:02.533Z

It's the Christmas season again and the streets of London were adourned with colourful display of lights. Kids and adults were having fun with the mini-funfair in the middle of Leicester Square. Alas, KL's attempt at trying to win me a life-sized Tigger failed miserably! Lights display along Regent Street.

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1103484971414552942004-12-19T19:36:00.000Z2004-12-19T20:32:46.423Z

After Reykjavik and the hot springs, we ventured further north. Our first stop was Pingvellir National Park, where the shift in tetonic plates mark the divide between the continent of Europe and Northern America. The movement of the plates clearly shown in the photo above and below, continues even today at a remarkable rate of 10cm a year! It is said that in years to come, Iceland will be

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1102022370955833582004-12-02T21:19:00.001Z2004-12-02T22:28:44.210Z

A view of Iceland's capital. There are a lot of unique sculptures around the city centre, but this piece of a viking ship by Jon Gunnar Arnason is a favourite among tourists. Hallgrimskirkja, the cathedral dominating the sky line of Rejkjavik. Located at the front of the church is the statue of Leif Eiriksson, credited with the discovery of America.

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1101417737446012512004-11-25T21:22:00.000Z2004-11-25T22:47:02.743Z

Iceland is a hot bed of volcanic activities and unsurprisingly the main source of energy comes from its geo-thermal plants. The Blue Lagoon is a natural lake heated by the geo-thermal activities and is well-known for its healing properties. The place does need a little getting used to as the stench of sulphur is pretty strong. As we arrived, the temperature outside was a cool -2 degrees celcius

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1101337173329284702004-11-24T22:59:00.000Z2004-11-25T22:01:15.330Z

A surprise birthday getaway to the beautiful island of fire and ice - Iceland. For once, KL managed to keep the destination a secret until we reached the check-in counter! =) The majority of Icelandic landscapes around the capital city of Reykjavik consists of lava fields. We were greeted by this stunning sunrise (albeit at 10am!!) with the Northern Atlantic ocean in the horizon. The view

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1100730064405230352004-11-12T22:21:00.000Z2004-11-25T21:51:04.296Z

Canterbury, in Kent, has been the seat of the spiritual head of the Church of England for many centuries. It is also well known for its medieval tombs of royal parsonages, such as King Henry IV and Edward the Black Prince. KL and I decided to spend a day here. The interiors of the cathedral, with St.Augustine's Chair dimly lit in the background was where the archbishops were enthroned in the

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1099226692436029282004-10-31T13:44:00.000Z2004-11-25T21:40:31.096Z

We spent the afternoon at a fishing village, a stone's throw away from KL's home in Kuantan. Tanjung Api is said to be the place where fishermen unload their catch of the day. However, on arrival we were told that they have since moved to a brand new complex up the river. We were however, not disappointed by the ever-friendly local boys. We spent some time chatting and laughing at their

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1099226893823851572004-10-30T13:48:00.000Z2004-11-25T13:24:07.750Z

These photos were taken near the Kuantan market when we were out foraging for local food and groceries to bring back to London. It was an eventful and very 'fulfilling' day - not only we managed to get bags of chinese herbs, curry powder, salted fish but we also managed to stuff our faces with the local food - Malay laksa, char keow teow, lekur, ikan bakar, Kemaman coffee and more lekur!!

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1098819747172107432004-10-26T19:42:00.001Z2004-10-26T19:54:31.466Z

"I do! I do! Me!! Me!!" "Can you please hold on to my yo-yo while I'm in transit?" Signed, sealed and delivered.

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1098816954689214372004-10-26T18:55:00.000Z2004-10-26T19:27:16.563Z

... a new addition to the family. Meet Jaylyn, Aiko & Nina's labour of love! :p Big brother Joshua was clearly delighted to have a new play mate.

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1098220603229360322004-10-01T21:16:00.000Z2004-10-19T22:18:43.950Z

The Perfume Pagoda is located on the suburbs on Hanoi, only accessible through the river. Boatmen readily waits to bring you on a scenic journey along the waters. The limestone hills forms a beautiful backdrop as a lone boatman pedals along the river. Our journey to the pagoda also brings us through the vast open fields of rice. The harvest season gives us fields of gold as far as the

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1098209128311470492004-09-30T18:05:00.000Z2004-10-19T21:05:22.453Z

Guys, if I think I know what I think you are thinking ... boy you'll be devastatingly disappointed(for those of you who found this web-site via a dodgy search on google; go click somewhere else otherwise read on..!!!). This blog pays tribute to the hard-working women of Hanoi. Every crook and corner that we went there was bound to be a pleasant lady hawking her wares; ranging from fruits and

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1097698269252970982004-09-28T20:11:00.000Z2004-10-13T21:32:53.376Z

We happened to be in Vietnam during the Mooncake Festival celebrations and came upon a street vibrantly lit up with a display of chinese lanterns. The streets were buzzing with activities - locals doing their last minute shopping before the festival while kids tagged along carrying their lanterns and toys.

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1094927621773619732004-09-11T18:33:00.000Z2004-09-12T19:46:51.490Z

Being outdoor enthusiasts, we've accumulated many wonderful memories trekking, camping and even fly-fishing in the national parks scattered around the UK. Hopefully the series of photos below, with their unique and varied landscapes, share with you the reasons why we keep going back for more. Ranking high on our list of favourites is the rugged and dramatic Scottish Highlands. The highland

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1093380779569225492004-08-24T20:52:00.000Z2004-08-29T21:42:08.476Z

Alpinists making their first foray onto ice and snow in the French Alps. It's not always we encounter good weather in the Alps, so we took a breather to enjoy the spectacular view from the shoulder of Mont Blanc Du Tacul. Half an hour later, we were forced to retreat 200m from the summit due to a storm closing in.

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1093816082473799242004-05-29T21:48:00.000Z2004-09-04T23:40:27.013Z

This is one of the few pictures we have of the windmills of Zaanse Schaanz outside Amsterdam. The rest of the 6 rolls of film - together with pictures from the Amalfi Coast, Isle of Capri and Pompeii were lost when KL's camera bag was snatched in Naples. Travellers heading to Southern Italy, please beware! The bag was snatched right under my nose while our car stopped at a busy junction. The

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1094336526543751692004-04-30T22:22:00.000Z2004-09-13T19:57:07.056Z

This was a weekend away to South west England to celebrate KL's belated birthday and also to mark the end of his exams. It was quite a relaxing holiday - long walks and slow drives along the coast line, exploring quaint towns and eating scrumptous scones with cream (not forgetting the well-known Cornish pasty) . That said, after the first night we were keeping an eye out for chinese take-aways

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1092777493817885542004-01-17T21:18:00.000Z2004-08-29T22:18:19.560Z

Last year was a birthday to remember, KL surprised me with a snorkelling trip with killer whales (orcas) up in Tysfjord, a Norwegian fishing village 200km north of the Arctic Circle. It was an exhilarating trip right from the start. If you think swimming in the cold arctic waters was ridiculous, you should have seen the sight of me and KL squeezing into the thicker-than-thick double layered

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1092520310704965562004-01-14T21:51:00.000Z2004-08-29T22:17:42.496Z

The Arctic phenomena that is Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights). Standing by a frozen fjord 200km north of the Arctic circle, KL and I were freezing our butts off in sub-zero temperatures waiting for the spectacle to unveil across the sky. It was well worth the wait and I am really glad the pictures turned out ok.

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1092007679971775392003-12-30T23:27:00.000Z2004-08-17T22:40:20.240Z

After Saas Grund, we headed for Kandersteg - an alpine village well-known to hikers, cross country skiers and ice-climbers. We were based here for 3 days, one of which was spent strolling to the picturesque Lake Oeschinen. At 1578m above sea-level, the lake was completely frozen on the surface. And smack at the centre of the lake were a group of men ice-fishing, literally digging a hole

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1092006057474648832003-12-23T23:00:00.000Z2004-08-17T22:35:10.933Z

Ideally located in the Saas Valley of Switzerland, we set up home in the quaint little Chalet Stadel for a week. Thus begun our daily grind - lugging skis and 'mama'-sized boots up 3,100 metres for our skiing lessons. With a panaromic backdrop of snow-capped peaks we were soon in our element, zig-zagging our way through fresh powder snow. (We will, of course, not mention the numerous

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1091878204933648312003-07-07T11:30:00.000Z2004-08-17T22:30:32.403Z

We didn't take that many pictures this time, as we've took our fair share of photos during our last trip. But, thought I'll add these few in cos I thought KL did a very good job in composing the photos. Me? Hehehehe.... I was enjoying a 'continental' experience - siesta on a bench around the corner. The Lourve Eiffel Tower Another one..

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1091998856358212232003-05-10T21:00:00.000Z2004-08-08T21:18:04.530Z

Barcelona Market smack in the centre of the city - colourful and vibrant Dried chillies- work of art. The legs of cured ham(''jamon") dangling from the market stall. It's usually thinly sliced and taken with bread. It's rather tasty, though it looks deceiving. Sagrada Familia - brainchild of controversial architect Antoni Gaudi - UNESCO Heritage site The familiar Gaudi curves and

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1091964960315938322003-05-08T11:36:00.000Z2004-08-08T12:06:11.686Z

A lone rose in Generalife gardens, Alhambra. Lilies dancing in the wind at the gardens of Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos (Fortress of Christian Kings), Cordoba. Water lilies in full bloom.

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1091652597503549412003-05-04T20:49:00.000Z2004-08-07T11:18:53.093Z

The Alhambra, a UNESCO world heritage site, is an ancient palace and fortress of the Moorish monarchs of Granada, in southern Spain.   Palacio de los Leones (Lion Courtyard), symbolises Muslim paradise. At the centre of the courtyard, lies a fountain supported by 12 lions. Patio's gallery is supported by 124 beautifully carved marbles. The ceiling, a wonderful work made of cedar wood,

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1091568687735027162003-05-03T21:22:00.000Z2004-08-06T14:16:05.016Z

We were heading to El Palmar, a village surrounded by rice fields and lagoons from our camp site when we came upon this onion patch. Coudn't resist not taking a picture of it! Isn't it itchy looking?! A picture of the village, in view of fishermen boats overlooking the rice-fields. This place is the birthplace of paella. The mouth watering seafood paella (Spain's most famous dish), it's

Irenenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607651.post-1106739925495610972002-10-08T11:44:00.000Z2005-01-26T11:45:25.496Z

Sunset at final camp before our summit bid - cold, tired, hungry and in an oddly perverse way, totally enjoying it. Can't say the same for the my dear wife though.... no shower, no toilets and worse, no chicken rice or laksa. The final slog up the ridge leading to the summit, the Italian Alps hidden below the clouds. No higher mountain - view of the French Alps from the highest summit in

KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14403459074938291299noreply@blogger.com0