So today, our "Josephians of the Seventies" blog will try to play the role of holiday planner.
Let me start by listing some questions, just to trigger discussions ...
* Family holiday or solo trip?
* What do you look for in an ideal holiday?
* Are "guided tours" better or do you prefer "free and easy"?
* Do you have an overall multi-year holiday plan (on where you'd like to go)?
* Where did you go last year?
* Where are you considering this year?
* When and where was your all-time best holiday, and why?
Okay, let the conversations begin ...
So here you are, Georgie boy ... :)
ReplyDeleteMaybe someone want to join WJ on some of his dream journeys. see ...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.asian-observer.com/2008/11/journeys-id-like-to-make.html
I want to go to Siem Reap [missed the 2009 reunion] with my family in December.
ReplyDeleteI just contacted our friend Sinos and he will be in Siem Reap in December!
Also planning to go to Hanoi and Halong Bay. Need some tips and advice from those who have been there and done that.
Anyone want to come along to Siem Reap or Hanoi? :-)
I want nice beaches. Sun, sand, sea ... Preferably within Asia. Any suggestions?
ReplyDeleteGuys, if you want to send me nice holiday photos to illustrate your point, go ahead. I will post 'em up ... as long as you're not on a nudist beach.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever said "I would like to see as much of the world as i can" ? It's a common wish. But did you ever try to work out if it is even possible?
ReplyDeleteThere are almost 200 countries in the world. Assuming you want to see just 50% of them. That's about 100.
Let's say you have been travelling a lot. It is already quite admirable if you have visited 40 countries. That leaves 60.
How old are you? Let's say 50 (some more, some less). Let's assume you have 20 more years of good health and adequate agility to travel.
So the stark reality: can you visit 3 new countries a year, for the next 20 years?
Thanks for pointing that out, Holiday Consultant. It's a race against time for the late starters like me. That's why I want to visit 2 countries this December holidays ... ;p
ReplyDeleteHow about a cruise? Any Joes & families want to get together and join a cruise together? Should be lots of fun.
ReplyDeleteFor an exciting & cheap journey, what about a Pan-Borneo tour?
ReplyDeletehi.....all and George
ReplyDeleteAnother way of visiting more than 1 countries during a short holiday would be to go one a coach trip. I cannot give you informed information on Asian tours but in Europe (I have experienced this, once and that was many years ago). You can booked from many places. For eg. if you are visiting England, you can booked a 7 to 8 countries coach tour, travelling from London (or any city of your choice). The coach will pick you and your family up from a deisgnated city and travel down to Dover to get a ferry across to Calais (France). From there you will get to visit several European countries, like Belgium, Holland, Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland & France. It is normally a 7 day trip where there will be stopovers, sight seeing, shows and shopping - the only downside with such holiday is the journey and you have to prepare to seat in a coach for many hours.
Other options was the cruise where you will normally get to visit several countries including the Asian ones. I have recently done the West Mediterranean cruise which was great, we visited Spain, Italy and France (obviously I am only naming the countries).
I am sure there will be plenty of advice and information from our fellow friends on this blog, this includes our seasoned traveller - JY!!!
George - whichever holiday you choose, I hope you have a great one.
John, what about caravanning ? Is it still popular?
ReplyDeletebad economy. saving for a rainy day. storm coming. no holiday this year.
ReplyDeleteCaravanning here in the UK is very popular. Initial layout may be "expensive" (it depends on the size and quality of the caravan) but works out cheaper in the long run and that is if you like and have the confident to tow a caravan. I have been on a few caravan holidays but never towed one. I stayed at static ones and I have been staying at my in-laws caravan last year. Most established caravan sites have all modern mod cons and facilities - electric hook ups, water, even wash up and toilet facilities even though the caravan have these in the caravan, including the entertainment, shops, pubs, etc - for children and adults. Here in the UK, it is quite easy to tow the caravan and spend your holiday at different part of the UK. There are sites on the web and you can simply booked it on line or pay when you arrived however only advisable wduring the lull period. There are basic sites where you arrived and put your tent up and ebjoy the countryside. The UK have beautiful places. I go camping as well, although I only do it during the summer. I have my own 4 person's tent and simply arrive at designated sites and put your tent up. Camping sites are fairly cheap - between £4 a day to £15 a day. The price reflect on the facility at each site as well as either privately run ones or managed by the National Trusts. The only thing with taking holidays in the UK is the unpredictable weather whereas for those in the UK, people are going to the Meds (Spain, Greece, Portugal, Italy, or France, Cyprus, etc), eastern Europe and Northern Africa regions like Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt or even Turkey. Subject to the recent political upheaval and unrest in the area. Surprising the price to go to these places are not a lot different than spending it in the UK. You can also tow your caravan to Europe, especially, France, Spain or Holland. In other words, there are so many options and I personnally have done a few and enjoyed most of them.
ReplyDeleteAt this juncture, I will take this opportunity to mention that I will be going back to KCH calling at KL and Singapore in January 2012. Happy to meet up with our "old" friends there and it will be great to meet up with you too, James.
George and all, I will be going to Thailand with my wife and probably to Myanmar and Laos. I'll be there from 9th Dec 2011 to 4th Jan 2012. My wife's sis-in law is a Thai from Chiang Rai(northern Thai). Her family's home will be our base. From there we hope to visit as many places if possible. Mainly by road.
ReplyDeleteAccompanying the journey will be my 2 bro-in-laws and their family.
I love to visit kampungs, and would be interesting to learn their way of life, food, culture, and perhaps to know why the northerners are staunch supporters of Taksin. :-))
btw, most of my tour are "free and easy" and at our pace.
Guided tour is good too. The one I went are to Yunnan (Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-La). and Medan, Indonesia. The tour guides were good. Very good with history especially the one from Yunnan. He was an ex army. The longer tours eg 6-8 days is not too hectic and we have ample time I guess.
I do not have a plan holiday but depends much on budget airline. However my ultimate target is to Europe and Canada. Hopefully in 3 years time. Gosh! the 76ers we will be 55 by then. The retirement age for most private sectors in Malaysia.
Happy holidays (if you're planning to take one) to all! Cheers!!
John, will you be around in Kuching during the CNY (January)? I will be around. Maybe we have a mini reunion?
ReplyDeleteLet me know exactly when you'll be in S'pore, John. Barring any unforeseen urgent trips, I'll try my best to meet up and chat about old times.
ReplyDeleteI will be in:
ReplyDelete1. KL between 2/1 to 5/1 (staying at Hotel Pacific)
2. KCH between 5/1 to 10/1 (1st three days at Four Points, then homeless!!!)
3. S'pore between 10/1 to 13/1 (staying at my sister's in Pasir Ris area)
4. KCH between 13/1 to 24/1 (1 day plus in KCH for the CNY) - homeless
Joking....lol. Not planned yet where I'll be staying.
Hope we can meet up in any one of those dates.
Cheers....looking forward to it.
Thanks for such informative UK caravaning details, John. Brings back memories of my student days, Bob Chew, Leonard Ricketts, the late Andrew Kang and I went to stay at several different caravan sites along the Melbourne Great Ocean Road. It was a wonderful experience. Sometimes, we also brought tents and pitched them near the beaches. It was really cold to sleep in the tents and though we had sleeping bags, the ground was quite hard. You've certainly brought back some great memories for me.
ReplyDeleteWe will organise a get-together when you are back. But why are you flying off on 2nd day of CNY?
Gerard, you are so lucky to have such a long holiday. Which part of Thailand will you be visiting besides Chiang Rai? Will the recent floods affect your planning?
As you say, in 3 years, the 76ers will be 55 ... and entitled to senior citizens fare ... LOL.
Anyone else going anywhere else in the next couple of months?
how many countries have you been to, WJ?
ReplyDeletehmmm ... never counted.
ReplyDeleteHi...George
ReplyDeleteI wish I can stay longer but we are using up most of our holidays already. We are flying out from Manchester on 1/1/2012 and we only just managed to squeeze in the first 2 days of the CNY. We are going so early in the new year to attend a wedding on 7/1. To see the CNY in KCH will be our first in 23 years.
Hope to meet up with you and others in either KL/Spore or KCH.
No cruise for me ... I'm afraid I may get sea sick
ReplyDeleteGeorge, I hope to visit as many places in Thai if possible, esp in Northern Thailand. Province of Lampang, Nan, Chiang Mai, Golden Traingle, etc. Myanmar and Laos are in our itinerary, but it depends much on the current political situation especially in Myanmar.
ReplyDeleteI guess the flood has subside and hopefully things will be back to normal when we are there. I will surely missed the Chiang Mai flower parade which was scheduled in December and now has been rescheduled to February.
George, I hope you have a great holiday with the family.
John and kuchingnites, let's meet... we will meet. I'll be in Kuching for a week during the CNY.
Cheers!
No caravans for me ... I'm afraid I may get car sick :)
ReplyDeleteTIME FOR ANOTHER CLASS TRIP NEXT YEAR. WE AIN'T GETTING ANY YOUNGER, BOYS.
ReplyDeleteHi.....all
ReplyDeleteLet's be honest about the myth on taking holidays. Not everyone can afford to take one and with the high costs of travelling, how many can afford to go one or multiple holidays and not to say taking our family along.
Btw, this statement is not to offend, discriminate or patronise anyone, so please do not take it the wrong way.
Fortunately with the advance IT technology, we can all go on a virtual holiday in the world and at any given time. Of course, most of us, slogged ourselves with hard work and saved all those hard earned money and we deserve to spend a little for oneself and for our family, apart from other committments - further education, mortages, bills, luxury things and services, maintenance, keeping extended families, etc.
The most improtant thing (IMHO - In my honest opinion) is to look after number one, i.e yourself, your wellbeing, unwind, "away from it all", de-stress, etc. It does not have to be far flung places - for all the hard work that you put in, you deserve to recharge your battery and deserve to relax. Do something different, if you have a family, take them somewhere and have fun. A week or two away from home (be it 20 miles or 2000 miles away) can make a lot of difference to your health and the relationship with your family.
Yes, we are not getting any younger although age is only a number. You are as young as you feel. In modern times, 55 or 60 is still considered young and many are still very active in every aspect. I lived in the UK and our retirement age is 65 and the government just announced to extend it to 67 from 2026 - of course by then I will be already "retired".
But it is the very essence of it that people are living a longer and healthy life.
So what I am ranting about - that life IS too short as you will never never know what is "round the corner". So work hard (most people do), but take time out (i.e have a break, take a holiday of some sort), think of your family and have fun.
Just as well for Malaysians, you have the AirAsia budget airline to offer cheap holidays within Asia and the world. Grab it!!!! but do not pressure or stress yourself over it.
Have a great holiday or break, locally or overseas.
George, Gerard and James, and others who are reading this excellent blog - we shall meet up and yam char in the very near future.
XXX
There was one sci-fi movie I vaguely remember (don't ask me what title cos i forgot) which has a scene where people can plant a chip into their brain and it will make them experience a sensation or see certain things. So kind of virtual reality too. If you put in a "China Travel" chip, you start experiencing scenes of China ... cool huh?
ReplyDeleteHi...James
ReplyDeleteAre you by any chance referring to Total Recall? with Arnold Schwarzenegger & Sharon Stone in it.
Ahh, could have been, John. After all, if the sensation could be electronically stimulated, it's as good as being there, right?
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely.
ReplyDeleteImagine, you are still in your pyjamas, you put your headset on and from your pc or the subscribed device and select your desired destination. Pay via paypal, and voila you are in the Seychelles with white sandy beaches and the clear sea water splashing at your feet.....mmmmmm and with added services you can purchase or add ons that comes with beautiful waitress serving you with cocktails, etc. LOL........your imagination will be limitless!!!!!
You never know.....men landed on the moon?...they did.
@John - In another movie, the whole US "moon landing" was portrayed as an elaborate hoax, with all the moon scenes shot in a movie studio :)
ReplyDeleteWas that a movie or a documentary? There were a few conspirary theories and the most recent one was the 9/11 attacks in the US.
ReplyDeleteJames, I think you may have to create a new topic namely: Hoax (including April Fool day hoax) & Conspirary theory). LOL
So.....going back to the holiday theme. I wonder if anyone can recall their wonderful, unique or memorable holiday they had taken so far or had experienced.
Friends, I just had one of my most enjoyable holidays for 2 weeks in KCH, KK and KL. I call it 3F holidays - Friends, Food & Family - when I reunited with classmates and friendsI have not seen since we separated after form 5. Food and friends every day for two weeks. Sight seeing was a low priority. No need to worry what we were going to see each day. Of course it helped too with the Aussie 3 times the ringgit.
ReplyDeleteI would want a chip with many China dolls in my head, if I were to choose la, at a nude beach......
ReplyDeleteGeogie boy, I'm going over to Perth in December, want me to drop by and say 'hello' to Nigel for you?
No cruise in December please, year end, rough sea, huge tidal waves, not safe. Remember 'Pulau Kijang'?
ReplyDeleteNo cruise in December please, very rough sea, huge waves, not safe.
ReplyDeleteDecember very good month to visit Siem Reap Georgie boy,why not, you get the cooling wind from China. That's what Sinos said.
ReplyDeleteWish I could join you but I have other destination to visit.
I had wanted to go to Egypt to see the pyramids and sphinx but it might not be safe this period. What do you think?
ReplyDeleteHi, Sinboonpoh, Nigel is coming back in a couple of days. He spends his summer vacations with us, either in Kuching or wherever we go. Thanks for the thought. Btw, who are you?
ReplyDeleteHa ha ha .. I like George's reply. Especially the last bit. This blog can't do everything boys. Time to meet up f2f for a kopi.
ReplyDeleteDear Holiday makers... Yes, now is the best time to visit Siem Reap....cool, windy & dry. Pleasant for climbing up & down all those magnificent temples...Yes, cool winter wind from China is being shared by all here.
ReplyDeleteSo, better make up your mind & join George for a 2nd mini mini reunion Class of 76??
Thanks & bon weekend.
James, how do you meet f2f when you do not know who the "hell" you are corresponding/chatting with!!??!!.
ReplyDelete@John - Easy lah ... just arrange online to meet at some cafe somewhere ... then one wears a red rose and the other a white hat or something ...so you can regonise each other ... like in the spy movies !! hahaha
ReplyDeletewalau this posting is busy. so many comments.
ReplyDeletemmmmmmm.....may try that, James. LOL. Then again, I always made myself known although admittedly I did insert my comments anonymously sometimes.
ReplyDeleteI would recommend to those who are comtemplating going on a cruise. It was a great experience for me and my missus, with a wow factor albeit it depends on which cruise you take and which cruise ship you are travelling in. You cannot compare Pulau Kijang incident with the modern ships. Health & Safety is their top priority. And to those who may feel sea sick - not to worry, I too was worried about that but you will not feel a thing. It is like you are in a gigantic floating hotel, with shops, restaurants, bars, theatre, conference rooms, indoor/outdoor swimming pools, spas, gym, crazy golf, basketball court, casino, food/drink on the go all day, sun lounge, ice/roller skating, shows, games, entertaintments, etc, your cabin beds of course.
Aha, opportunity for SinBoonPoh to pull a fast one on Georgie. He can arrange for an aqua to standin and meet but Georgie cannot do the same as SBP definitely know who Georgie is.
ReplyDeleteAny Josephian loaded enuf to book a seat on Virgin's space trip? now that will be the ultimate trip !!
ReplyDeleteBlind date with aqua is not my idea of a holiday! C'mon guys, this section is about holidays. Tips and suggestions for where to go.
ReplyDeleteHere's mine: few years ago, I brought my family to Bali. Direct flight from Kuching to Bali. We had a wonderful time.
I was advised to stay away from the busy area of Kuta and we booked a hotel in Sanur which was quieter. We did visit Kuta during the day - very hip and happening.
We had a lovely barbeque lobster dinner on the beach at Jimbaran Bay, watching the sun set. We could see the planes landing at the airport and it was amazing, about a plane every 5 minutes.
From the beach, we went up to the Ubud highlands which is famous for its terraced padi fields. We stayed at a boutique hotel called Kajane Mua. It was really nice, with our own salt water pool and villa.
The best Bali roast pork [babi guling] is reputed to be in the Ubud highlands but unfortunately, the day we went was the national holiday and the place was closed so we missed out. But we did see processions along the street for the festival.
I would recommend a visit to the Dirty Duck Diner to eat the crispy duck. Yum! It overlooks the green padi fields. Nice.
Not me, Rocket Man. Instead I will be quite content to take a driving holiday in New Zealand, especially South Island. The scenery is simply breathtaking. And always bring a good camera.
ReplyDeleteWhat about Japan or South Korea? Those are always goo for a winter holiday.
ReplyDeleteSome nice holiday quotes ...
ReplyDeleteA vacation is like love - anticipated with pleasure, experienced with discomfort, and remembered with nostalgia.
-- Author Unknown
If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home.
-- James Michener
It is good to have an end to journey toward, but it is the journey that matters in the end.
-- Ursula K. LeGuin
Find what brings you joy and go there.
-- Jan Phillips
No man needs a vacation so much as the person who has just had one.
-- Elbert Hubbard
I'd like to visit Russia some time ...
ReplyDeleteFrom Russia with Love .. hehehe
ReplyDeleteI hear Cebu or Palawan in the Philippines are great seaside resorts. Anybody been there?
ReplyDeleteDa Nang in central Vietnam has nice beaches too, but not much by way of shopping. Go if you want a quiet and relaxing time as a beach bum.
ReplyDeleteLets go Da Nang then. When is th best time WJ?
ReplyDeleteDec and Jan is fine. Feb tends to be a bit stormy. Avoid Jun-Aug as it's too hot.
ReplyDeleteOne of the best beaches in the WORLD is at Boracay, Philippines.
ReplyDeleteBoracay is an island of the Philippines located approximately 315 km south of Manila. Boracay Island and its beaches have received awards numerous times. Boracay was awarded in the "Travelers' Choice 2011" by TripAdvisor as the second best beach (out of 25) in the world. (WIKIPEDIA)
The place was recommended by a Filipino friend. I think Dr Chong (Chi Nai) must have been there? Anything to share CCN?
Btw, for local tour/trip to unwind...one of the best places/beaches is Lundu Siar beach. Of course nothing to compare with Boracay, but it's fantastic for local standard.
I was there with the family not too long ago. I stayed at the SBEU Retreat Siar Beach and the accommodation total 38 rooms is fantastic.
The seafood at Sematan about 20Km from Lundu is great and affordable price (very very cheap to foreigners) too.
The Link to the retreat. Copy and paste to your browser.
http://mygobbledegook.wordpress.com/2009/06/20/sbeu-retreat-resort-lundu-sarawak/
Maybe we (SJS76ers) could have a family day there someday.
Cheers!
Copy and paste the link to your browser. Better pics here
ReplyDeletehttp://sweetsurrender.99.com.my/?p=7683
Cheers
Cuti Cuti Malaysia.
ReplyDeletecriteria for a beach bum holiday:
ReplyDelete* long, clean beaches
* fine sand (white preferably)
* luxury hotel/resort
* lots of cocktails served on beach
* lots of buxom babes sunbathing
* beautiful unobstructed sea view
* wonderful surf
* warm but not too hot
* good weather
A sub topic that you can share is: What is the most unique thing you saw, witnessed, experienced, etc, whilst you were on your holiday(s). There must be lots - for example:
ReplyDelete1. The twin patronas towers was an experienced to be up there
2. The Marina Bay Sands building - amazing engineering.
3. Las Vegas - glittering lights and the casinos, hotels, etc
4. Grand Canyon - amazing helicopter flights to see the canyons
5. London eye - wonderful views
6. Pyramids, the desert, camels in Egypt
7. Coliseums, ruins of Rome
just to name a few.
When I was in Rhodes (one of the Greek Islands), I hired a car and drove around the whole island. At the southern most point of the island, place called - Prassonissi is a haven for surfers. The unique thing about this area is that you can see the Aegean and the Mediterranean seas from a small hill. On one side is the strong wind with waves for advanced surfers and the other side, flat and calm sea. They are only separated by the sandy coves and you can be on either side within minutes. The weather during the summer seasons (Jun to Sept) is great, with beautiful blue seas.
What is your experience like? Some places are full of historical ruins, etc.
Hello Guys, it's been awhile. I had always wanted to attend a few World Cup football matches in my lifetime. Alas, England did not get the 2018 World Cup because that would be my excuse to visit the country with my English friends, currently working with me in America. For some body who has never been to Europe, my dream is to attend an English league football game especially my beloved Stoke City, before I retire home in Kuching for good. Most of us grew up in the playground and St Joe's football field, dreaming of seeing our English League players in person.
ReplyDeleteJohn Lee, extremely articulate with your comments and with regards to your 4th best destination, Grand Canyon, I would be more than happy to host you if you ever make to Arizona, United States as that's where the Canyon is located. Cheers, this is Alex Shim.
Hello Gerald, Glad that you like the SBEU Resort and even attach a link for readers to access. This Resort is a sentimental project for me as i was the turnkey design and built contractor for the entire project with the design done by my Architect brother. For your info, there was a new tree top viewing deck and a beachfront chalet completed in October 2011 and you should check them out in your next trip. Have a nice break in Thailand.
ReplyDelete@John - good suggestion. hmmm, let's see ... some memorable locations that literally took my breath away are these ... I call them my personal "7 Wonders of the World"
ReplyDelete1. The Great Wall of China
(no amount of viewing postcards will prepare you for when you see it for the first time, and then actually walk on top of the walls ... the grandeur, the history, the culture .. wow!)
2. The Strip at Las Vegas
(amazing night view of this surreal neon-lit , over-the-top wonderland ... and you realise it's in the middle of a desert ... even more amazing)
3. Angkor Wat temple, Siam Reap, Kingdom of Cambodia
(breathtaking view & cultural wonder - made even more memorable cos we visited in 2009 as a schoolmate mini-reunion trip)
4. The Bund in Shanghai
(loved standing on the Bund, contemplating the contrast of modern and preserved buildings in Pudong and Puxi, on opposite banks of the river)
5. Petronas Twin Towers
(I admit I see it a bit too often nowadays, but the first time was quite impactful)
6. View from Sausalito, California
(I love this little town, north of San Francisco, across from the Golden Gate Bridge. When in CA, always like to go over & spend a relaxing afternoon with good food & wine, and fantastic seaview. The vineyards of Napa Valley are also minutes away by car)
7. I'm leaving my #7 blank at this point. I suspect it will come from somewhere in Africa or South America, two continents I've never set foot on.
@rockviewtiger/Alex - aiya, you can still visit London during the 2012 Olympics, lah. Don't have to wait any longer.
ReplyDeleteAnita Sarawak used to have a show in Las Vegas ... anybody saw it? Celine Dion still has i think
ReplyDeleteHi Alfred,
ReplyDeleteyou did a GREAT and FANTASTIC job to the resort. Congrats!
the only drawback to the SBEU Retreat is the entrance (road) leading to the resort. The road I guess is a private one, hence it has not been tarred. Anyway, it's only about 400m long.
I would love to go back there again and Alfred (Kah Kung) I think the SJS76ers should have a family gathering there someday. Maybe the young at heart "55th years" reunion? haha...
Cheers.
i remember Anita S'wak - That's the way aha ahah ... LOL
ReplyDelete@Alfred - Any special discount for fellow Josephians of the 70s at the SBEU Resort?
ReplyDeleteHi...
ReplyDeleteAlex - thank for your invite and I will keep that in mind, although I have never been to the States/Canada region nor the South American countries - but one day I hope, and so many other places. I will never have the opportunity to visit some of these lovely, exotic, interesting places and would probably resort to site visits on the internet and watching these wonderful "Life" programs on tv.
Football!!!! - one of my fav topics. My team is Leeds United and I have a weakness also to support Liverpool. I used to follow Kevin Keegan career - his playing days and in management.
Stoke City is doing quite well this season. Good manager with a decent squad.
I agree with London At Heart (reveal yourself pls) - worth coming to the UK next year for the London Olympic. It will be massive and exciting. I guess London At Heart lives in London, have you got any spare room for a visitor(s)?....lol, i.e if Alex decided to come over.
I had the opportunity to be involved in the Commonwealth Games held in Manchester, back in 2002. Not participating, of course, how I wish!!! something to do with stewarding and security - this has to be another story though.
Alfred - well done to you. Never got the chance to meet up when I was last in KCH. Hope to meet up for coffee in Jan if you are not hopping around the globe. Any volunteer to take a "tourist" to visit SBEU Retreat - it looks great.
China - what a country. Can you imagine what it was like 25 odd years ago and the present? What's a transformation!!!
As I said earlier - to those who are unable to visit those many wonderful places, try google it and take a peek!!, that's what I do, much much cheaper!!!!.
I know - such massive and incredibly fast developments do not come without sacrifices. There will be displacement of people, environmental issues, sub standards projects, health & safety, etc.
Come on, boys/girls - lets share your experiences. Always remember, where ever you are living or residing - be it in Malaysia, the US, Canada, Middle East, Russia, Uk, Aussie land, NZ, etc. that you have interesting places in your own backyard and sometimes to you, it may seem normal and ordinary but not to others who has never been there, seen or heard of.
XXX
John Lee, you hit the nail on the head when you said that we take for granted about our "backyard",when tourists all over the world desires to visit our touristy places. To me , las Vegas has gotten "boring", simply I had been there too many times to remember. My tourists's friends, well, that's a whole different proposition. They think it's the greatest place on Earth. I don't even go there anymore. I just send my friends there via the tourist guide tours. How many people remember the movie "Rainmen"? The scene where Dustin Hoffenman got picked up by a prostitute in the lounge while he was waiting for Tom Cruise to come back? That was Caesars Palace where Anita Sarawak used to perform during the 80's. My buddies told me that the hanky-panky and whatnot,goes on at that lounge during the "Anita Sarawak" days at Caesars Palace.Ironically, "Rainmen" decided to film on location at that very spot. Celine Dion's concert is finished at The MGM. I've met the husband, he is one of the most generous man when it comes to tipping the workers at the casino. Bye, this is Alex Shim.
ReplyDeleteAnita Sarawak is very strange in that both Singapore and Malaysia claim she is one of theirs. I think Anita might be Singaporean by nationality but her mother was Siput Sarawak, a famous Malaysian actress in her day.
ReplyDeleteA happy problem to have, I guess.
WJ, Siput's mom is a Sarawakian. Anita's grandfather Dollah Sarawak was from Penang and a Chinese (paternal).
ReplyDeleteooops! sorry the diversion from the topic. :-))
Jimmy, everyone loves to go on holidays [or read about holidays], judging by the number of comments on this post. :-)
ReplyDeleteAlfred, I heard about the SBEU resort and visited the website. Apparently someone visited during the weekdays and the service was practically non-existent. You might want to alert the management about that.
John, yes, China is the most amazing transformation of them all. I remember in the eighties when I returned to Kuching - I remember my Dad telling me that he was sending money to his folks back there for them to buy a colour tv! Today, China is like ... WOW! The money flow has reversed and the world needs China's currency reserves to keep from going bust.
Btw, for travel tip, I heard from a friend that a place in China called Jiu Chai Kou is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Smoking is banned in all public places there, even in the open! Everything is pure and pristine.
Going back to holiday ideas, of course planning & budgeting is the most importance
ReplyDelete1. To those in Malaysia:
a) Most places are good to visit so if you are going to local destination, you should know where to go and cost should be minimum
b) For far flung places (those that you have to travel by plane), Air Asia is always offering special deals to Asian locations or speak to your friends and families, if all fails, go and see your local travel agents!!!. If you have never been to those places, take a chance, just because someone had a bad experience, it does not mean you are going to have the same outcome.
2. To those who lived overseas in European countries, the US, Canada or Australian regions - you know what to do. There is so much information on the web, local travel agents, advertising on tv, etc. Admittedely, most prefer to balik kampong (home....home...as in the film ET).
I wonder if you agree - most Malaysians are urban type of people and preferred to venture or visit urban destinations. when I go for my holidays apart from returning to KCH, my wife and I like to take long walks, enjoy the local culture, tasting local food rather than lying on the hot beach. We go camping (within the UK) at least once a year. Good fun with beautiful scenery.
Finally and do not forget, just because it is a norm for some people to take a holiday or two in a year, do not stress yourself that you must take one. Be yourself and if you are free of stress, and content, you will live longer. A holiday must mean a holiday!!!.
Best wishes to all and to those who are taking their holidays, hope you have a good one.
John, since you are in UK, can you give us tips on travel over there? I have not been to England but would very much like to go one day. What can I expect and what should I go to see?
ReplyDeleteDitto for others in different countries: Like Sinos in Siem Reap, Nick Lau who spent several years in Hanoi, Kevin and Philip in Perth, James Kuo in UK, Lip Kee in Canada etc etc. The boys of St Joe are scattered all over the world. Everyone has different tips on different holiday destinations. So, come on, share ....
WJ in London now? Share in posting and photo please.
ReplyDeleteToo bad Georgie boy, thought I can meet and see Nigel. Now I know he goes back every summer.
ReplyDeleteI'll let you know who am I when we meet again kay?
Say 'hi' to Shalene and Regina for me?
Dear SinBoonPoh
ReplyDeleteAs you are not revealing yourself and you expect George to convey your greetings to Shalene & Regina. hahaha
So, imagine this:
From George: Dear (Regina), SinBoonPoh say "Hi".
From Regina: Who is SinBoonPoh, George dear?
From George: No idea, darling. Not even sure if it is a he/she. Just a random person contributing his comments in WJ blog and he/she is going to Australia. Btw, he/she knows Nigel.
hahahaha. The beauty about web chat.
an important lesson to learn here, boys/girls.
It could be you or your children when you chat on line: unless you know who you are corresponding/chatting with, just be aware that the person could be a male/female; a child or an adult ageing between 12 to 70, who knows.
Happy chit chatting!!!!1
Hi....George
ReplyDeleteIt is huge task here but I will try my best to give you and other readers an overview from my perpective and it applies to other places. By all means, others can concur or give their own opinions or advice.
Most countries have their own unique and wonderful places of interests, sights, historical backgrounds, buldings, weather, culture, etc. From the harsh cold weather of Alaska to the hot desert in parts of Africa. Huge countries like China, Australia, or the US will take a lifetime to really appreciate the beauty of it's individual country's uniqueness.
Anyway, I am sure you know where I am coming from, so for the UK - which consists of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is just about the size of Malaysia. Transport system is good (apart from those commuters who may think otherwise) and unless you have been a student here before, most tourists will probably only visit LONDON. You can easily google it and you will get vast information about London. Depending on the time of the year that you want to come or to any other countries, it will have some consequences to your holiday. The UK weather is quite unpredictable and also depends on the region that you are visiting, as I type this, parts of Scotland is having a wintry, storming weather, with winds of over 100 mph; parts of Northern England have flood warnings. London is cold & wet, with sunny intervals. Last year, nearly the whole of the UK experienced unprecedented heavy snow falls. A lot of flights were cancelled or postponed.
This is just one of those unforeseen weather conditions you may need to know when planning your travel although coming to London is normally fine.
There is so much to do and see in London itself. Using the Underground "Tube" transport is an experience and I personally like it, to get around London. There are just endless places of interest to name here. Depending on the length of your visit, it can be very costly, not just your accommodation, you have to pay to see or visit some places of interest, food, etc. I am sure some of our readers here can provide further information or tips on accommodation - staying with friends or relatives is the cheapest option although in does inconvenience them, bed & breakfast, or you may be able to find budget motels, YMCA(?), ask James, where he is staying when he is in London (like he is now at present - probably on company's tab!!!). Just remember, you only need a bed to sleep in, not a luxury apartment when you are on holiday.
Part 1
Part 2: (got carried away with the content and would not accept to many characters!!! in one post)
ReplyDeletePlaces of interest:
China Town
Westminster Abbey
Parliament House
London Eye
Soho
Galleries
Museums
Parks
Bridges
Buckingham Palace
Camden Markets
Tower of London
Theatres
Shops...shops...shops
and many many more
Currency is Sterling and the exchange rates vary but never exchange at any Airports
Hire a car - forget it, unless you want to travel up and down the country. A few friends did this but they used to study in England and have an idea. Do you know Lee Kien, she and her husband came over last year but travel to Europe first before coming over to Edinburgh, Scotland and hired a car and travel down and visit many places along the way and at the same time meeting up with old and new friends. We met up in York (northern part of England). I think her visit to Europe was an organised one from the travel agent in Malaysia which ended in Holland and they made their own way to the UK.
IMHO - as you never been here, is to go and see your local travel agent on organised trips, works out cheaper this way - unless someone disagree. You can combine your trip to London and parts of Europe (coach tour which I mentioned earlier).
Btw, I lived in Huddersfield (northern England, about 200 miles from London. I rarely visit London.
Finally, there is the London Olympics 2012 (again I mentioned this earlier). Everything IS going to be expensive and probably difficult to find accommodation but it will be such an experience to be part of it. So if you are planning to come over to London in 2012, lookup the calendar events - there will be massive and lots of things going on throughout the year before and after the Olympics.
I hope this little information helps and hopefully other readers will chip in too.
I'm having a nice break in London and Devon. Weather a bit chilly, but that's not stopping me from having a good time.
ReplyDeleteCheck out some interesting historical sites I visited while in Devon on my other blog on The Story of Sarawak. Click on
ReplyDeletehttp://story-of-sarawak.blogspot.com/2011/12/memorable-visit-to-sheepstor-part-1.html and also at http://story-of-sarawak.blogspot.com/2011/12/memorable-visit-to-sheepstor-part-2.html
Hi, I'm back from Perth. Wonderful city and makan on a plate is a big portion, my, scary la, can't finish, fish n chip, very big plate. Can fill the 'ang mo' belly but not asian stomach.
ReplyDeleteSorry KC and PT for not calling on you two as time did not permit me to. Was racking some money at Burswood till time's up and have to go.
I promise I will call on you two on my next trip.
No worries, SinBoonPoh. Glad that you like Perth and had a great time at Burswood. The trick to polishing up those big portions is to drink a lot of beer first!
ReplyDeleteAnyone interested in going to Myanmar?
ReplyDeleteGoing to KL for 3 days.....any advice what to do there?
ReplyDeleteMyanmar sounds goood....anon 12.28am, you from Kuching? If you are, then I'll get in touch with you about the trip.
ReplyDeleteSo when you plan to go? Single or family trip?
@Anon - KL huh? Eat, eat, eat ...
ReplyDeleteThis was a popular posting. I counted almost 90 comments. WJ, maybe you should start another one to help us decide on holidays for 2012.
ReplyDelete