under the coconut tree
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.
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 town of Fort William feels like our second home, having played host to many weekend trips (often involving all-night drives on Friday followed by two days of activities and a shatterring late Sunday drive home - well for KL anyway - I am normally snugly tucked away in a sleeping bag at the back! =) ).
At the final stretch of the winding road to Fort William, Glen Coe valley opens up to a spectacular and breath-taking view. Incidentally, this is also where the Braveheart and Highlander movies were shot.
On one of our attempts to scale the highest mountain in UK, we set up tent by a little stream over looking the notorious north face of Ben Nevis (summit partially hidden by heavy fog).
The distinct contours of the arete (high narrow ridge) leading to the summit of Ben Nevis. On a clear day, one will be hard-pushed to find a better view of the highlands than this.
Photo credit: PH Khoo.
This is a picture of my first winter ascent of a munro (that's what the Scots call a mountain above 3,000ft). Nothing like sipping hot coffee while KL works up an instant noodle treat (maggi assam laksa .... cepat dimasak, sedap dimakan!). The setting sun and the white powdery snow adds to the sense of 'surreality'.
In England, we have the Lake District National Park - less dramatic landscape to the her Scottish cousins but scenic nonetheless. Kendal and Keswick are also quaint English towns that attract throngs of tourists. The view of the valley from the slopes of Scafell Pike reminds me of paddy fields - a common sight in Asia. ;)
The rolling landscape that is the distinct trademark of the Lake District.
Last but not least, the rocky and flatter terrain of Peak District National Park. A favourite amongst rock climbers and trekkers, especially Londoners given its (relative) proximity.
I had the chance to experience what the park had to offer when I was working part-time at one of the UK's leading outdoor shop. The company sponsored the few of us on a fully paid weekend of outdoor activities ranging from mountain biking, rock climbing and trekking. We even got the chance to gear-test top of the range clothings, shoes, tents, sleeping bag...etc.
Thought I should include the colourful display of tents at the Peak District campsite. Mind you before you go on thinking that we were mis-treated into staying in some shabby cheapo tent, I'll have you know that these tents are the Rolls-Royce of tents! These babies have seen action in the world's most remote places - from the high altitudes of the Himalayas to the raging storms of Patagonia. For example, the large striking yellow dome on the far right is commonly seen at Everest base camps, and cost - wait for it - a cool £3500!!!
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.
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 snatch thief and his accomplices tricked me into unwinding the window to re-adjust an "accidentally" knocked side-view mirror, and with a blink of an eye, he reached in to snatch the bag away. Though it ruined our holiday, lucky for us the cameras were insured! As much as I would like to curse the thieves for 7 generations, I guess it's all part and parcel of travelling.
KL and I will be looking forward to newer cameras soon!
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 and Indian curry houses. Well, that's 'Ah pek' KL for you! ;)
One of our nicer walks was in Northern Cornwall to the Bedruthan Steps where we were rewarded with the view of a dramatic coastline. The amazing rock formations reminded me of the 12 Apostles along Melbourne's Great Ocean Road.
We stumbled upon this field of gold while exploring a fishing village near Falmouth. The sight of KL gleefully running through the flowers Bollywood-style was quite a sight to behold. Would have loved to put the photo up but KL had concerns that his manliness will come into question!! :)
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 rubber dry suit!!!! I needed 2 sets of hands, loads of talcum powder and after much tugging, stretching and squeezing did I manage to get into the full gear!!!!
I could not contain my excitement as I got on the zodiac rubber boats, scanning the horizons for the distinct water spouts of the orcas. It was awhile before we managed to spot a pod of whales and when we did, a surreal and almost magical moment indeed!
The whales were so close to us - their black fins breaking the surface of the water as they swam gracefully along, rising up and down in synchronised rhythm as the rising arctic sun illuminated the snow-peaked mountains with a faint tint of pink. It was just picture perfect!!
Cameras were clicking away - attempting to capture the moment. Me, on the other hand was one of the first few frantic ones to jump into the freezing Norwegian Sea in hope of catching glimpses of the whales underwater. No such luck! *sigh* KL, being the more rational one stayed back on the boat to see the shiny black dorsals gliding further away from the boat!!
In the evenings, we took slow strolls to the nearby fishing village. To cap the day off we were fortunate enough to be treated to the magical theatre in the sky that is the Northern Lights. All in all the Arctic Circle provided us with such beautiful memories - where else can you swim with whales, tuck into as much fresh salmon as your heart desires..... and wake up to scenery like that below, where the shallower shores of the fjord are frozen and the last splashes of water transformed into ice crystals.
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.
Looking for the Malaysian flavour abroad. Sharing our santan and sepuluh sen with all who cares to listen
