tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103270472024-03-13T20:33:29.742+08:00nateniale's travelsnatenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comBlogger417150tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-34917620340752254832021-09-28T20:39:00.001+08:002021-09-28T20:39:00.191+08:00Where would I go after this pandemic?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1665" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VEgE3m1Go5s/YVLc-hQDbsI/AAAAAAAAEoo/8eAHe7sunyYMko70TjsLCoXTU1XLK25SgCLcBGAsYHQ/w325-h400/190DE457-8B3F-46D5-9F04-5EE24C6619E5.jpeg" width="325" /> </div><span style="text-align: left;"><div><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>Travels have probably changed for good - our last big trip was in December 2019 and last flight taken was coming back from Penang, Malaysia after the Chinese New Year celebration in February 2020. Little did we know then that we would be in Singapore for the next 2 years (and hopefully not much longer)!</span><p></p><p>Before we have children, we travelled extensively as a couple - averaging about 6 different countries in a year, in between our full time job. Even when I was pregnant, we travelled whenever we can and even with our little baby girl. Little Em travelled to Bali, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Hong Kong before she turned 2. Little Ed came along, and together as a family, we travelled to Central Vietnam, Australia, Indonesia, Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Laos and to multiple places in Japan and Malaysia. </p><p>And it all stopped. </p><p>After years of travelling whenever we have pockets of time, and planning itineraries in between work and life, I suddenly felt a little lost. Suddenly, all our holiday plans had to be cancelled and there were no new holidays being planned. The first few months were spent cancelling flights and hotels, waiting (and arguing) for refunds. Then I tried to fill in the gaps with places to go in Singapore, but it is only that big, and with that many places to go.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JRqlc79ca8o/YVLc9oMF5PI/AAAAAAAAEog/ZEG5lD1ATjMsMt987c183nsHdHUahZh4ACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/B4822576-735C-479E-99B7-F492F3A9AAE9.jpeg" width="640" /></p><p>Then, I thought, why not I just continue planning for holidays! I did, and now I have more than 20 trips planned, and no idea when we can go! </p><p>When will we be able to </p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>experience the cool glaciers in Iceland</li><li>camp in the Sahara Desert and experience the colours of Marrakesh, Morocco</li><li>road trip in England (and beyond)</li><li>see the pandas in Chengdu, China </li><li>count the castles in Germany</li><li>eat Italian food and experience Italian hospitality in Italy</li><li>see the Great Pyramids in Egypt</li><li>show my daughters the Eiffel Tower in Paris</li><li>see the onion-shaped domes in Russia</li><li>float in the Dead Sea in Jordan</li><li>ski down the slopes in Hokkaido (or maybe not)</li><li>bring the girls to an African safari </li></ul><p></p><p></p><div>and so many more places and experiences that the world offers. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">For now, we await for the world to heal. For us to grow. And when the time is right, we'll be out there exploring.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Happy travels (soon)!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">~ nateniale</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5gFvB6kqnhc/YVLc-H09ejI/AAAAAAAAEok/wpidYa_80ZIqIN3SzMqcf7wL8KFykuXXgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/FAC5DD31-119A-4F34-8005-2810A8BEF873.jpeg" width="640" /></div><p></p>natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comSingapore1.352083 103.819836-26.958150836178845 68.663586 29.662316836178846 138.976086tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-70113446581683334982019-10-28T12:13:00.010+08:002021-09-24T15:29:52.216+08:00Luang Prabang, Laos with Kids<p>The last we were in Laos was back in 2010, just the two of us before marriage and before children! We visited <a href="https://nateniale.blogspot.com/2011/01/buddhism-and-french-food-in-vientiane.html" target="_blank">Vientiane</a>, the capital of Laos. Laos is authentically Asian with paddy fields, saffron-robed monks and timeless quality of relatively rural life. However, in the main towns like Vientiane and Luang Prabang, the French influence is strong in their architecture and food - with lots of cafes and French restaurants. </p><p>We spent 5 days in Luang Prabang, Laos with 2 children, Ed 2 years old and Em 4 years old, in Oct 2019. It can actually be done in 2 full days, but we decided to take it slow and spend time in the hotel. </p><p></p><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>5 days 4 nights</li><li>1 country - Laos</li><li>1 city - Luang Prabang</li><li>1 UNESCO World Heritage Site - Town of Luang Prabang</li><li>1 timezone - GMT+7</li><li>1 currency - Laos kip, but you can use US Dollars in hotels too</li></ul><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CNrtbpRizq0/YUlR8c587aI/AAAAAAAAEoM/6KUemZzTn8E1NQDtNrze8-yGSBCHhAw3wCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h480/FCF33B4B-0C38-4A2A-8EE3-E9D1B20337BA.jpeg" width="640" /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Day 1 | Flight & Hotel in Luang Prabang </h3></div><div>3 hours flight to Luang Prabang from Singapore - a short flight that was just enough to get the girls excited. As Laos kip was not easily available in Singapore, and probably other countries as well, exchanging to kip in the airport was recommended. We settled in our hotel for a rest. </div><div><br /></div><div>On our first evening, we walked around the <b>night market</b>, and had the tasting menu of Lao cuisine at Coconut Garden in town. This is our second trip to Laos, and I still can't really appreciate their cuisine! A big fan of their neighbours' cuisine though (Thailand and Vietnam). </div><div><br /></div><div>We splurged on <b><a href="https://www.pullman-luangprabang.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pullman Luang Prabang</a></b>, a beautiful hotel with paddy fields around us. We don't normally spend a lot on hotel rooms, but we made an exception for this trip. We wanted a holiday with culture, and yet a relatively relaxing one! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9svFGxdEaeU/YUlR6kvom-I/AAAAAAAAEoA/zniEbUyBGEAsnQxcLsSh9gzYRfzkM3SMACPcBGAYYCw/w640-h480/EA22E88F-2BBC-4973-84B9-B632B784DD66.jpeg" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5KfdFckh0fk/YUlR79k8WxI/AAAAAAAAEoI/F77zACpGV2w4Za4bmkvN_r_S0lP32SGOwCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h480/F9327A55-7C3F-4EDD-AE4D-91ED3241BE15.jpeg" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Day 2 | Bamboo Bridge & Phu Si Hill </h3><div>After a lazy start, we crossed the Bamboo Bridge for lunch. The <b>Bamboo Bridge</b> was built every year and in place for about 6 months. During the rainy season when the water levels and currents were too high, the bamboos are removed and stored away. A small token was collected to cross the bridge. Em (4) was very excited and walked by herself across the slightly wobbly bridge! I had to carry and balance little Ed (2)! Having children had definitely made me braver!</div><div><br /></div><div>Lunch was at <b>Dyen Sabai Restaurant</b>. It had comfortable recliner seats on the floor with cushion which was good for the girls, and we had mookata-like dishes that they called "Lao fondue". </div><div><br /></div><div>Next up, we visited the <b>Royal Palace Museum</b>. We walked all the way in, only to realise that the ticketing was in another building and the locker room for bags in another! The hot and humid weather made us almost giving up, but kudos to Papa who did all the walking to get the tickets. There were thrones, elephants, golden pillars, golden robes and rooms of the royal family. </div><div><br /></div><div>With a little negotiation and persuasion, and some carrying, we climbed up the 329 steps to <b>Phu Si Hill</b>. There was a small Buddha temple and lots of people were vying for spots for the "best sunset view in Luang Prabang". The small area was not interesting to the little ones, and down we went before the sun actually set! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1616" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ok9mfY1MuPw/YUlR0kHWChI/AAAAAAAAEoM/rmm-9RnlWt4E9GrXOom8Joi5z0QHeL0rgCPcBGAYYCw/w268-h400/710B88E3-42BB-476C-AE8F-3BDB0D0525E7.jpeg" width="268" /><img border="0" data-original-height="1616" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gumZjjF6USM/YUlR3pLMD2I/AAAAAAAAEn4/ZK1fyFtNqRMsucWn2CpVWXLr2Smh0sFbgCPcBGAYYCw/w268-h400/9BA917A8-6EB2-49D3-A396-EFE676EF0EFF.jpeg" width="268" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1379" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EZu8LXMtLnc/YUlRyk3oo7I/AAAAAAAAEn4/XbjY4UcYUi4smo23X17U6DtUu0yzxE97gCPcBGAYYCw/w269-h400/42244BF5-0D45-4BCE-80B3-87B2491241E4.jpeg" width="269" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="428" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q13o-V1YPlg/YUlR7jh8WAI/AAAAAAAAEoI/kwZUkxjW97s8e6BU-BDNE6HM1qdMWFvmwCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h428/F4B636DD-C027-4DD7-A264-B05431D78A66.jpeg" width="640" /></div><p></p><h3>Day 3 | Pak Ou Cave & Tat Kuang Si Waterfall </h3><div><div>We arranged for a car to drive us out of town for the day, and we crossed the Mekong River to <b>Pak Ou Caves</b>. Boat rides were always fun for children, even if it was a rickety rackety boat that the girls had to hold on tight to us! Pak Ou Caves had upper and lower caves, and there were steps to climb and dark caves! Em didn't want to go inside the caves, so I stayed outside with her while Papa brought Ed in and she prayed to all the Buddha. </div><div><br /></div><div>We had lunch at <b>Tat Kuang Si Waterfall</b> and walked around the area. The multi-layers Kuang Si Falls started with smaller falls with lots of people, and as we continued walking, there were fewer people and more beautiful falls! We visited the sun bear rescue centre as well and it was a nice break to just watch the bears play around. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rs6V24CV0Oo/YUlR21f-fbI/AAAAAAAAEoM/8Sv0zurMjyA09JcbFuixi7_SXc47OIg9ACPcBGAYYCw/w640-h480/985E59A3-2DA2-4732-86DF-CFFF59E27660.jpeg" width="640" /><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f9GRhamxhzk/YUlRzwqeAFI/AAAAAAAAEoE/Udvw7_PhC7cAOCiucalVkfogUYDAUDPgACPcBGAYYCw/w300-h400/5B4DCEA6-840C-44C5-9423-727AC3C01F70.jpeg" width="300" /><img border="0" data-original-height="1616" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DQiIa1LjPvo/YUlR1gxa4wI/AAAAAAAAEoI/04pAb48FRv0mvXIbiyZ9Rm8w60q9zKq_gCPcBGAYYCw/w268-h400/7D0BCAFB-5A0D-436F-AF49-5C3C4EDE2C19.jpeg" width="268" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="428" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YOEHOCk5Gag/YUlRyp-o5gI/AAAAAAAAEn4/BqfUPh9jybYXfVjrksEFSP96uY9wu7QYgCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h428/2078CE65-C2AB-4BB8-AFAE-1B28213FF41B.jpeg" width="640" /><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YuLi4xqUYcQ/YUlR1TBMF2I/AAAAAAAAEoI/wu48PV2UdEAwhYhDgc17oyNpWWPozDGoQCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h480/71980D0D-C61B-4AB9-9759-E36B7ECDE3B0.jpeg" width="640" /></div><div><h3>Day 4 | Temples & the Old Town </h3><div>We visited <b>Wat Xieng Thong</b>, a beautiful golden temple that means Temple of the Golden City. It has many different golden and shiny structures, and we loved taking some time to just sit inside the temple for some quiet time. The little one prayed to all the Buddhas she saw in this trip. We met a nice Japanese lady who gave the girls some candies, just for being young and cute! </div><div><br /></div><div>We had lunch at <b>Le Benneton</b>, and because it was a French bakery, we ordered croissants and coffee, plus other dishes like pizza, gallette, ice chocolate and ice cream. Luang Prabang has many cafes with French inspired cuisines, so do explore and enjoy short breaks while exploring! </div><div><br /></div><div>We then walked around the town, admiring both the traditional and European architecture. Though the weather was hot and sunny, making us wish we were actually back in our hotel pool! We stopped by Ock Pop Tok, a boutique selling Laos textiles. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="428" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OFBkxZeqAFw/YUlR3IQf6FI/AAAAAAAAEoI/u5YKJUC54rI3ZBxAuuZNCDOWyWFHYIeHACPcBGAYYCw/w640-h428/99F18ABD-0C8D-4C07-9A8E-ED11B32EC367.jpeg" width="640" /><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U-9DeSPgYuw/YUlR7eJaxRI/AAAAAAAAEoE/Zk30ju8lraEfmmb4icP28bPXiZCptTfywCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h480/EBD1714F-6DEA-4DD7-8933-3306BCC99213.jpeg" width="640" /> <img border="0" data-original-height="1616" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3d9c9w95jJA/YUlR5BDpAZI/AAAAAAAAEn4/92YRFEVNKdomkmTVpPVOfTnRnKFUH82dQCPcBGAYYCw/w268-h400/B5C52BAA-D4DE-4D88-8F5D-5D57AAD63610.jpeg" width="268" /><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N0v7sJAOFEI/YUlR4sgbA3I/AAAAAAAAEn0/Qf06rQB0rH4UnWxuKmR8tb3xbMHZ4xPWQCPcBGAYYCw/w300-h400/A01CC4A2-3BB6-4A45-AAAF-46AA78CC09E1.jpeg" width="300" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="428" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2XzfGOauW34/YUlR2rDxy1I/AAAAAAAAEoI/pGSbt0b-WHcXf0y7M8p5DMVpONdmKhN_ACPcBGAYYCw/w640-h428/8CF9D14A-D9E2-4BD3-AE3F-8472ABDDF266.jpeg" width="640" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1485" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FRMiXNPJp2M/YUlR5IJ8K8I/AAAAAAAAEn4/8Fne43MiFvIliZ_DemWXXN_kDctyxO1rwCPcBGAYYCw/w290-h400/B3617EB4-5EBD-4813-B962-3396F555547A.jpeg" width="290" /><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1243" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qTTVoISDxMM/YUlR0fZ939I/AAAAAAAAEn8/yES4eX1xhTcFnyane09fTcdfUb5XahOtQCPcBGAYYCw/w242-h400/65CE7C62-2155-4F92-B4A1-E771F62BC8DB.jpeg" width="242" /></div><div><br /></div><h3>Day 5 | Flight Home </h3><div>Flight home via Vientiane took about 5 hours. A hot but relatively relaxing trip. </div><div><br /></div><div><h3>Afterthoughts</h3><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The trip can probably be shortened to a 2 full day, but we wanted to have time to relax. </li><li>We couldn't find fresh milk in town, so some UHT milk with ice cubes saved us many times!</li><li>There were no specific playgrounds and parks for the girls, and so we took breaks in the hotel pool and kids room. They each brought a soft toy and we always travelled with a bag of arts stuff (papers, stamps, stickers, crayons) to engage the girls while waiting for meals. </li><li>Our hotel was not in the main town, so there were a little shuttling to and from the hotel to the town. There are many accommodations in the town, and lots of tuk tuk to bring you around. </li><li>Many travel sites and travel books will recommend Tat Bat - a daily alms giving ceremony for Buddhist monk that takes place early in the morning as the sun rises, beginning on the main street of Luang Prabang and spreading out to all side streets. However, it is a spiritual and religious ceremony, so do respect the monks and the locals if you do decide to observe it. </li></ul></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;">A story behind this photo: Our hotel room has a photo of this temple and its roof, and Ed kept saying that she really liked the photo. We didn't know which temple this was, and while walking on the streets, the children pointed out the temple! So, of course we had to capture a similar shot as the one in the room! </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1616" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j5XeaOyPBOU/YUlRyyIs6SI/AAAAAAAAEoI/9x1wOiIF-csIAAaK1xZE2NtwH5xuzNN2gCPcBGAYYCw/w268-h400/20C398BC-72FD-49EA-8156-FC69C334289C.jpeg" width="268" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Happy travels! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">~ nateniale</div></div></div></div></div><p></p>natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comLuang Prabang, Laos19.883285 102.1387166-8.4269488361788447 66.9824666 48.193518836178846 137.2949666tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-69845072422449364802019-07-29T15:48:00.229+08:002021-09-21T12:20:46.042+08:00Kota Kinabalu and Kinabalu Park in Sabah, Malaysia<p>Sabah is a place that I've always wanted to go - the idea of the sea and mountains, a place to go diving and hiking. Then there's Sandakan and around the area with wildlife and orang utan sanctuary. </p><p>We suddenly found a space in our schedule and managed to squeeze in a trip to Sabah, Malaysia in July 2019, with 2 children, Ed 2 years old and Em 4 years old. We could not include all the places in Sabah, but managed to include Kota Kinabalu and Kundasang where Mount Kinabalu is. </p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>5 days 4 nights</li><li>1 country - Malaysia</li><li>2 cities - Kota Kinabalu, Kundasang </li><li>1 UNESCO World Heritage Site - Kinabalu Park</li><li>1 timezone - GMT+8</li><li>1 currency - Malaysian ringgit (RM)</li></ul><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="429" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-50p4O9TlOwY/YUhaCFXcT0I/AAAAAAAAEkQ/e9oB3Frj1j8tfTWPeSY7AivIAwzyXiFrACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h429/1D776F97-B3E7-471C-99BA-68E747BCF742.jpeg" width="640" /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><h3 style="text-align: left;">Day 1 | Flight to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah</h3>Flight to Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysia took about 2.5 hours from Singapore, and we went straight to the hotel in Kota Kinabalu. We stayed in a nondescript hotel in the city but there are many resorts to choose from if you would like a more luxurious hotel instead. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We took a walk around the hotel and then just spend time in the hotel room. The girls enjoyed having a change of scenery.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><h3 style="text-align: left;">Day 2 | Kundasang & Canopy Treetop Walk</h3>We stopped in Tamparuli Town on our way to Kinabalu Park. The tour guide said that the name of the bridge was built temporarily, but they liked it so much that it is now permanent, and so, they called it <b>Jambatan Tamparuli</b>. Not sure if I really believed him! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Climbed up the rainforest to reach the <b>Canopy Treetop Walk </b>and only while we were waiting for our turn, it crossed my mind that they may not walk across the bridge! Luckily Em managed to complete the walk which were hanging about 40 metres above ground. Ed, on the other hand, had to be carried across the wobbly bridge!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We rested and soaked our feet at the <b>Poring Hot Spring </b>after walking back down from the rainforest, only to be soaked wet from the sudden heavy rain!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We stayed at <b>Kinabalu Pine Resort</b> for the night - with the cool weather, playground for kids, view of Mount Kinabalu and included meals, we enjoyed our stay. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1260" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Znt1H4YdrUE/YUhaDpWT4LI/AAAAAAAAEkk/0BcYnN8QAbM7_yWHSKUSM07-21LCXXQWACLcBGAsYHQ/w246-h400/66195999-05EF-4A09-832A-256240E2786B.jpeg" width="246" /><img border="0" data-original-height="1616" data-original-width="993" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XN23uawyF7c/YUhaGqvOSoI/AAAAAAAAElM/23Vc_EoSZiQnOhrDCtMaoTX_p7Z7IgOjwCLcBGAsYHQ/w246-h400/EDC6F19A-3D30-441B-A77C-AC1224B0755C.jpeg" style="text-align: left;" width="246" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="429" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0WJpNq8gqRE/YUhaEKmO73I/AAAAAAAAEks/Ef0JnR6wTEEzMSpLxkntyMRV0EgGPXeiQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h429/794D6755-F494-460A-90C0-ADC068FC4079.jpeg" width="640" /><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="429" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b-bZk8CJpdQ/YUhaFniqPXI/AAAAAAAAElE/9xs-sSMYYiMSlsU0mTUFhk6JNx6QgR-YQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h429/D270A018-330C-4AEA-B59B-E1CA328CCBD8.jpeg" width="640" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="790" data-original-width="1081" height="470" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ok01UzE6QMw/YUhaEuPI4JI/AAAAAAAAEk0/2O31lSRiurY_ZyVKXBF2qZIO-pEHFyCbQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h470/A7DDD87B-C7AD-4566-9209-C04D78217145.jpeg" width="640" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><h3 style="text-align: left;">Day 3 | Cow Farm & Kinabalu Park </h3></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Desa Cow Farm </b>was packed with people (not as many cows), but with the cool weather, calf feeding, yoghurt, ice cream and beautiful view of Mount Kinabalu, the combination couldn't go wrong with the children!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Kinabalu Park</b> was Em's 36th UNESCO World Heritage Site at 4 years old, but she's unlikely to remember most of them. We were at 1,866m of Mount Kinabalu (it is 4,095m), the starting point of the climb but we loved being on the high elevation and amongst nature. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Back in KK and the food hunt brought us to dinner at <b>Fatt Kee Seafood Restaurant</b>, recommended by a local friend. They served fresh grouper fish and tasty soup with choice of tomato soup or tomyam soup. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="429" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lSqty_Oecvk/YUhaCQauCII/AAAAAAAAEkU/jbrCk1PApOY6ts_yFgCBIEBPacNjmYFJQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h429/151A8CB6-64B8-466F-A4BE-366F57FC91A1.jpeg" width="640" /><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="1271" height="416" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JAZ0SyZRdBQ/YUhaD7ffuWI/AAAAAAAAEko/X5Y00XD1j54uk8VuBNYqQptBU-PCHLd-ACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h416/72BEEE2F-2D27-49F1-B524-CF4B991173DE.jpeg" width="640" /><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="429" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KHp7tWg-Zy0/YUhaDS_JD2I/AAAAAAAAEkg/F1YuBYiAiZUEQHQ5JXbQ0C40OLCDz8lFQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h429/51CDDBC3-50DF-443F-BC83-EAC86947621B.jpeg" width="640" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Day 4 | Mari Mari Cultural Village </h3><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Mari Mari Cultural Village</b> was a touristy cultural centre, sharing information on the ethnic tribes in Sabah. While they were not "real", the settings, the houses built and the music and dance gave us a good chance to experience and understand the ethnic tribes in their natural surroundings. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Back in Kota Kinabalu, we walked around the market and had dinner at <b>Sin Kee Bak Kut Teh</b>. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4S-3HkOwgtA/YUhaGaXCgKI/AAAAAAAAElI/VYXDix828doHVov7Cgtk0Qev5vO4XuyugCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h400/E943AD90-5417-4846-8016-20CFEFCD25B4.jpeg" width="400" /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Day 5 | Flight Home</h3><div style="text-align: left;">We stopped by <b>Kedai Kopi Yee Fung</b> to have Sarawak Laksa, right after breakfast in the hotel. I had to say, that I was not a fan. We left to catch our flight home. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RBUbSw8WS8I/YUhaDETBizI/AAAAAAAAEkc/fXDutqiLJfwE9OxSgfr8YGlddUsdBWWfACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/27FFB474-B1E7-496B-86D4-3A22D604E685.jpeg" style="text-align: left;" width="640" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Glad that we finally made it to Sabah, and though it was planned at the very last minute, we enjoyed the highlands and would definitely want to go back and stay there for a longer period!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Happy travels! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">~ nateniale</div><p></p>natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comKota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia5.980408 116.0734568-22.329825836178845 80.9172068 34.290641836178843 151.2297068tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-82856834142188751142019-06-02T21:12:00.299+08:002021-09-21T18:01:43.461+08:00Fukuoka to Hiroshima, Japan<div style="text-align: left;">Japan is a country that we had been multiple times and can never get sick of! This time round, we trav<span style="font-family: inherit;">elled in springtime. A three generation trip to Japan in May 2019, with my parents in their 60s and our girls, Ed 2 years old and Em 4 years old. </span></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">9 days 8 nights</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 country - Japan</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">9 cities - Fukuoka, Munakata, Hagi, Yamaguchi, Iwakuni, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Tomonoura, Onomichi</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites</span></li><ul><li><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;">Sacred Island of Okinoshima and Associated Sites in the Munakata Region</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;">Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution: Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Coal Mining</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;">Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;">Itsukushima Shrine</span></li></ul><li><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;">1 timezone - GMT+9</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;">1 currency - Japanese Yen</span></li></ul><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="caret-color: rgb(25, 25, 25);">Day 1 | Fukuoka </span></span>福岡 </span></h3></div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span><span style="caret-color: rgb(25, 25, 25); font-family: inherit;">Flight to Fukuoka </span></span></li><li><span><span style="caret-color: rgb(25, 25, 25); font-family: inherit;">Ohari Park - playground, Fukuoka castle ruin</span></span></li><li><span><span style="caret-color: rgb(25, 25, 25); font-family: inherit;">Ichiran Tenjin Nishidori - ultra-rich porky soup with ramen</span></span></li><li><span><span style="caret-color: rgb(25, 25, 25); font-family: inherit;">Stay @ Fukuoka (1 night)</span></span></li></ul></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(25, 25, 25);"><br /></span></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(25, 25, 25);">Day 2 | </span></span><span lang="EN-SG" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">Munakata
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">宗像</span><span lang="EN-SG" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"> to Hagi </span>萩</h3><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span lang="EN-SG" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">Rent a car</span></li><li><span lang="EN-SG" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">Munakata Shrine - part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, built around the 12th century</span></li><li><span lang="EN-SG" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">Karato Market - fresh sushi and sashimi for lunch</span></li><li><span lang="EN-SG" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">Motonosumi Inari Shrine - 123 torii shrine gates, annexed in 1955 after a divine message from the white fox, a large torii gate with an offering box high above the head - if you can throw a coin inside, your wish/prayer will come true!</span></li><li><span lang="EN-SG" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">Stay @ Hagikomachi in Hagi (2 nights) - with hot-springs, onsen with spacious rooms featuring Japanese decor and full Japanese dinner for both nights. An amazing Japanese ryokan experience.</span></li></ul><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Day 3 | Hagi 萩</h3><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Hagi Castle Ruin - really a ruin with moats and castle walls<span lang="EN-SG" style="line-height: 115%;"></span></li><li><span lang="EN-SG" style="line-height: 115%;">Hotoritei Cafe - beautiful setting for a meal or just to have tea (or coffee!)</span></li><li><span lang="EN-SG" style="line-height: 115%;">Hagi reverberatory furnace - built in 1858 and used to melt materials to produce items such as vessel guns, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site for Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution. There's a 7-Eleven near it and its always a good place to do a quick shopping. It's amazing what you can buy in these convenience stores!</span></li><li><span lang="EN-SG" style="line-height: 115%;">Tokoji Temple - this was in our list but there was a meltdown (something expected when travelling with little ones) and we decided to forgo going in. We only managed to stand at the door outside!</span></li></ul><br /><div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Day 4 | Iwakuni 岩国</h3><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Drove by Yamaguchi and to Iwakuni</li><li>Kintaikyo Bridge in Iwakuni - the elegant wooden bridge with five arches onto massive stone pillars, crossing the Nishiki River</li><li>Ropeway up to Iwakuni Castle </li><li>Kikko Park</li><li>Stay @ Hiroshima (5 nights)</li></ul></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Day 5 | Hiroshima広島</h3><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>A-Bomb Dome / Hiroshima Peace Memorial - one of the few buildings to remain standing after the nuclear bomb, a UNESCO World Heritage Site</li><li>Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park - what used to be the political and commercial heart of the city and targeted by the nuclear bomb, with Cenotaph for the A-Bomb Victims and the Children's Peace Memorial (with origami cranes)</li><li>Peace Memorial Museum - provides history of Hiroshima and the effects of the nuclear bomb, some of the personal details including photos could be upsetting for children (and adults alike)</li><li>Hondori Street - shopping street</li><li>Lunch @ Ekohiiki with oysters</li></ul></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Day 6 | Miyajima 宮島</h3><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Ferry to Miyajima - train to Miyajimaguchi Station and a short walk to the ferry pier</li><li>Itsukushima Shrine - the iconic "floating" torii gate, built over water, low tide when we were there, and the sea water started coming in later in the evening. Do check the timings of the tide. </li><li>Lunch @ Restaurant Kaki-ya - oysters!</li><li>Walk around the streets and lots of things to snack on like Momiji Manju - maple-leaf shaped bun filled with red bean or matcha paste among others</li><li>Daisho-in Temple - row of spinning metal wheels inscribed with sutra, an important Buddhist temple</li><li>Ferry and train back to Hiroshima</li></ul></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Day 7 | Hiroshima広島</h3><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Mazda Museum - tour of the Mazda Museum and factory, free but reservations required</li><li>Shukei-en Garden - beautiful landscaped garden</li><li>Hiroshima Castle and a big castle ground</li><li>Okonomimura - a Okonomiyaki building with 25 different okonomiyaki stores</li></ul></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Day 8 | Okunoshima (Rabbit Island) 大久野島 > Tomonoura 鞆の浦 </h3><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Tadanoumi Port to take a ferry to Okunoshima (Rabbit Island) - to purchase rabbit food here</li><li>Okunoshima (Rabbit Island) - a tiny island full of rabbits</li><li>Tomonoura - an old fashion fishing village, rustic old houses with wooden facades, Joyato Lighthouse (built during the Edo Period</li></ul></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Day 9 | Flight Home </h3><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Flight back to Singapore</li></ul></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Afterthoughts</h3><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Driving in Japan takes some getting used to, but it's definitely doable. They use a system called "mapcode" where every place has a code where you can enter into the GPS system in the car. When all else fail, use Google Maps! We realised that it brings us where we want to go as well!</li><li>There are convenience stores everywhere in Japan and they are a great place to grab snacks, breakfast and even dinner! They have almost everything that you would need all packed in one small store. </li></ul></div></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Happy travels!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">~ nateniale<br /><br /></div><p></p><style class="WebKit-mso-list-quirks-style">
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</style>natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comHiroshima, Japan34.3852894 132.45530556.0750555638211523 97.299055500000009 62.695523236178843 167.6115555tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-35158152022673843142017-09-14T17:19:00.004+08:002021-09-21T12:26:11.781+08:00Central Vietnam with Children I've always wanted to visit Hoi An - old world charm, yellow dirty walls, travelling in boats and bicycles and foot. Not to mention, it is in Vietnam which has some of the best street foods.<br />
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Somehow, we never managed to plan a trip there, till now, with 2 children in tow! Was a little reluctant at first - a cultural trip with an erratic almost 2.5-year-old toddler and a 4-month-old baby. In the end, after considering various other countries, we decided to go, but spend a longer time there and take it slow with lots of breaks and naps.<br />
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So here are the details of our 7 days Hoi An trip with 2 children in tow, in July 2017.<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>7 days 6 nights</li><li>1 country - Vietnam</li>
<li>4 cities - Danang, Hoi An, My Son, Hue</li>
<li>3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites</li>
<ul>
<li>Hoi An Ancient Town</li>
<li>My Son Sanctuary</li>
<li>Complex of Hue Monuments</li></ul></ul><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Day 1 | Flight to Danang & off to Hoi An </b></h3>
An early morning flight at 9am means waking up before sunrise! Not the best timing for flights with children, but as there are limited (direct) flights to Danang, we didn't have a choice.<br />
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Our hotel provided free transfer from the airport to Hoi An, where we will be staying for 4 nights. We chose <b>Lantana Hoi An Boutique Hotel & Spa</b> as it was relatively near the old town, where we plan to visit often.<br />
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As we were still early and our rooms were not ready, we headed out for lunch at <b>Mai Fish Restaurant</b>. It was a relatively up scale restaurant, with lots of local food options. The price was generally high, and the food was average.<br />
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The afternoon was spent resting in the hotel, and to let the children nap. The husband, on the other hand, was eager to explore the town a little, and he came back with the famous <b>Banh Mi Phuong</b>. It was tasty and spicy, with lots of different things inside.<br />
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We walked around the town in the evening and were surprised by the number of people there. Was it because it was a Sunday? Or was this the normal crowd in Hoi An? After a few days there, it seemed that the town really had lots of tourists every single day!<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Day 2 | Hoi An</b></h3>
This was the day where we started our exploration of the Hoi An old town. With its yellow walls, a little grey and dirty parts, some plants dotting the buildings, Hoi An was as promised. It was easy to capture many picturesque shots.<br />
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Even with a short rest in the hotel after lunch, we managed to cover a few of the tourist spots - <b>Japanese Covered Bridge, Tan Ky House, Fukian Assembly Hall </b>and <b>Quan Cong Mieu</b>. Many of them had Chinese influence so they were relatively familiar in terms of the architecture and style.<br />
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Lunch was at the famous <b>Morning Glory Restaurant</b>, which seemed to be recommended by almost everyone. The food did not disappoint and there were lots of options to sample local food. If you plan to be here for dinner, do make a reservation as the queue may be quite long for dinner.<br />
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In between the sightseeing, we had coffee at <b>Hoi An Roastery</b>, our one and only cafe stop during the trip! Somehow, with the 2 children in tow and wanting to visit as many places as we can, we did not manage to chill and relax as much as we wanted to!<br />
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We had dinner at <b>Hai Cafe</b>, whose menu seemed to be catered to Westerners - there were pizza, pasta and grills. So, it was not really the right choice for us who absolutely love Vietnamese food!<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Day 3 | My Son</b></h3>
A tropical storm brought the rain to us and we were armed with umbrellas for our day trip to <b>My Son Sanctuary</b>. Note to self: bring raincoats and stroller cover when going to a country that may rain.<br />
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It was definitely difficult to walk around in the rain, and with the baby in a carrier and holding a big enough umbrella to cover the both of us. Luckily Ed slept most of the time! Must be the sound of the rain and the cool weather. Em was in the stroller as much as the road allowed, and when she was out of the stroller, she wanted to be carried, or walked by herself with the umbrella, splashing water. We were not able to appreciate the ruins as much as we would like to, but given an option of not going there versus what we experienced, I would still choose to go.<br />
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My Son was definitely not as impressive as some of the other ruins around the region, namely Angkor Wat. So, if ruins are not high on your travel to do list, you can consider giving My Son a miss.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zoC16Hw8XaY/WbpEbwr9j6I/AAAAAAAAEQ0/A0wSgOA2yY0jSqLDidHssLDxJ5HZ3KvjACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_2899.JPG"></a><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7vEjNllVdJU/WbpEdve5zWI/AAAAAAAAEQ8/JPlvFkqxdUY_-IS_RQMoMkINKWgkKzaowCK4BGAYYCw/s320/IMG_2900.JPG" width="320" /><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SakyIEpBd_0/WbpEi2R4vUI/AAAAAAAAERM/_88td-ZzIsUgZRty-bX8zLU2Ar6f64g0wCK4BGAYYCw/s320/IMG_2902.JPG" style="text-align: center;" width="320" /><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Re-zJAAlsQ4/WbpEg0eYMcI/AAAAAAAAERE/pirCerD1BH4GzEtfwJjH2U5dTpR4mesMwCK4BGAYYCw/s320/IMG_2901.JPG" style="text-align: center;" width="320" /><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aURPkTZenrg/WbpE4Lzzp_I/AAAAAAAAERU/BlFImFaxGH4DETKULKmQScIXIBnK_y-FwCK4BGAYYCw/s320/IMG_2903.JPG" width="320" /></div>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Day 4 | Another day in Hoi An</b></h3>
A "bonus" day included in the trip for us to do anything we want. Due to the limited direct flights available, we stayed an additional day in Hoi An. There were various options to spend another day in Hoi An - An Bang Beach, Tra Que Vegetable Village and trip to fishing village.<br />
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However, we opted for another day in the old town - shopping, eating and relaxing. Managed to buy quite a bit though bargaining was required (which I absolutely hated).<br />
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We had lunch at <b>Ly Cafe</b> for the best meal we had in Hoi An, and the most reasonable too. Dinner was at <b>Cargo</b>, a sister restaurant of Morning Glory, serving similar food but with Western food options.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Day 5 | Hoi An to Hue</b></h3>
With a pre-arranged tour from Hoi An to Hue, the three hour journey were broken up nicely with stops along the way.<br />
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<b>Marble Mountain </b>- Thankful for the lift that allowed us to go up the mountain without climbing hundreds of stairs. Only managed to see one section of the mountain the floor were wet and slippery and the other parts were far away (and no lift!).<br />
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<b>My Khe Beach</b> - The sand was smooth and the beach was clean, but the sun was too hot as we reached there around noon. Just spent a short while for Em to play with the sand. Lots of activities to do if you're a beach person!<br />
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<b>Hai Van Pass</b> - Made famous by Top Gear, many tourists were on motorcycles. Definitely a very picturesque road to use for travelling to Hue, albeit being the longer route.<br />
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<b>Seafood lunch at Lap An Lagoon </b>- A rainy day meant that we couldn't really appreciate the beauty of the lagoon, while enjoying our seafood lunch. Not very cheap and so, we did not have lots to eat!<br />
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We reached our hotel in Hue in the afternoon. <b><a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/vn/pilgrimage-village-hue-boutique-resort-spa.html?aid=1355847&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2&room1=A%2CA" target="_blank">Pilgrimage Village Boutique Resort and Spa</a></b> was a huge sprawling hotel off the city centre.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Day 6 | Hue</b></h3>
Another day tour to visit some of the important monuments in the city of Hue that were also recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.<br />
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We visited <b>Khan Dinh Tomb, Minh Mang Tomb, Thien Mu Pagoda</b> and the <b>Citadel</b>. We even had a boat trip down the <b>Perfume River</b> on a "dragon boat" (a boat with a dragon head). Em still talked about the dragon boat occasionally!<br />
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We had lunch at <b>Hanh Restaurant</b>, and we probably ordered everything in their menu. Extremely satisfying lunch with lots of new food that we would not find in Vietnamese restaurants overseas.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Day 7 | Hue to Danang & Flight Home</b></h3>
The 2-hour journey from Hue to the Danang International Airport was broken down with a trip to the <b>Elephant Spring/Waterfall</b>. A cascading waterfall, with an elephant sculpture of course, with lots of stalls set up for resting and changing. Very clean water for a refreshing dip!<br />
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We stopped again at <b>Lap An Lagoon</b>, and this time, the weather cooperated, and it was just beautiful.<br />
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And we took the evening flight home, ending our trip in Central Vietnam. All in all, we managed to do most of what we have planned, and it probably went better than I have anticipated! Yes, there were meltdowns, and yes, some days were hard managing the two children. However, like I always say, staying home taking care of them may also include meltdowns, so why not have those in another country!<div><br /></div><div>Happy travels! </div><div><br /></div><div>~ nateniale </div><div><br />
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</div>natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comHội An, Quang Nam Province, Vietnam15.8800584 108.338046915.6357424 108.0153234 16.1243744 108.66077039999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-90058357390482939262014-05-27T20:24:00.000+08:002014-05-27T20:24:00.622+08:00Walking along Kloof Street<i>{ April 2014 - Cape Town, South Africa }</i><br />
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After lunch at <a href="http://nateniale.blogspot.sg/2014/05/first-lunch-in-cape-town-at-cafe.html" target="_blank">Cafe Paradiso</a>, we walked along Kloof Street to <a href="http://nateniale.blogspot.sg/2014/05/the-companys-garden-on-our-first-jet.html" target="_blank">The Company's Garden</a>. It was an easy 20 minutes stroll (with lots of stops to snap photos) under the beautiful weather of Cape Town. Along the way, we saw why Cape Town was voted as the World Design Capital 2014. The shops' signs, the road signs, and just the city seems to be beaming with creativity! And that's just one street near where we were staying.<br />
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I remembered thinking, "I think I am going to like this city".<br />
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natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-68843879241758006212014-05-25T22:51:00.000+08:002014-05-25T22:51:05.231+08:00First lunch in Cape Town at Café Paradiso<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>{ April 2014 - Cape Town, South Africa }</i></div>
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Our first lunch in Cape Town set the standard for our meals in the city. The food was delicious and fresh at Café Paradiso, with an amazing view of the Table Mountain. The outdoor seats were casual yet charming, and the waiter was friendly and helpful. A perfect combination for a great casual lunch.<br />
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<b><i>::: Footnotes :::</i></b></div>
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Café Paradiso</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
110 Kloof Street, Gardens, Cape Town, South Africa</div>
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Tel +27 21 423 8653. </div>
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<a href="http://www.cafeparadiso.co.za/">http://www.cafeparadiso.co.za</a></div>
natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-85601738254940654472014-05-24T18:06:00.002+08:002014-05-24T21:30:49.693+08:00The Company's Garden on our first jet-lagged day in Cape Town<i>{ April 2014 - Cape Town, South Africa }</i><br />
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</i> Before I went to Cape Town, I have heard that it is a beautiful city. Even then, that did not prepare me for what we experienced and felt on our trip there. We spent about 5 days in the city and that was probably just enough to really experience it. <br />
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We arrived in Cape Town after a 14 hours flight from Singapore, with a one hour layover in Johannesburg. We drove our rented car to our amazing apartment/hotel in Gardens, Cape Town. The view of the Table Mountain greeted us in almost every single turn, making such a wonderful backdrop to the city.<br />
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Feeling a little jet-lagged, we decided to take it slow for the day, having lunch and walking around the area, experiencing the city. We made our way to The Company's Garden. It is a small garden right in the middle of the city, with trees and flowers, and many scampering squirrels! Various buildings are situated around the garden, including the National Gallery, Library, Parliament and a cathedral. It was a lovely place to start our trip.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">The squirrels (and birds)</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">The buildings</span></b><br />
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natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-58560201246254500612014-03-29T11:41:00.003+08:002014-03-29T11:41:46.317+08:00Bruno Mars moonshining in Singapore<div style="text-align: center;">
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You know how certain songs are tied to certain events? Well, our road trip from Singapore to Kuantan back in 2010 will always be associated with the song Grenade. The song kept playing on the radio throughout our drive. I mean, if a guy says that he'll catch a grenade for you, I'm sure you will take notice too!<br />
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That was the first time I took notice of Peter Gene Hernandez, or better known as Bruno Mars. He is one of those singers out there who can actually sing amazingly well. Of course, his groove and moves make him a great performer!<br />
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His concert in Singapore on 26 March 2014 was an evening of great music, great showmanship and lots of great moves. It was a tad short, as I would have loved to keep hearing him groove. Most of the songs were performed with his band member, and it was when he sang "When I Was Your Man" that you can feel his emotions - a man with his guitar singing about lost love. Would love it if he did more of that - no band, no moves, just a man singing. He has the voice and the talent to do just that.<br />
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Looking forward to more great songs, from this talented singer and musician!<br />
<br />natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-63260885677838561272014-01-13T22:52:00.000+08:002014-01-13T22:56:12.838+08:00Take Me Out<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Take Me Out is a play that I would not have expected to be produced and performed in Singapore.<br />
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It covers something close to everyone's heart - tolerance, inclusion and acceptance of everyone no matter the background. The dialogue is brilliant, it is insightful yet funny and the actors played their characters brilliantly. The 2002 play by Richard Greenberg won the 2003 Tony Awards for Best Play.<br />
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The play is set in the locker room of a professional baseball team, and has an all-male cast with great physique that we will expect of a professional baseball team. The <a href="http://www.timgarnerproductions.com/" target="_blank">Tim Garner Productions</a> of Take Me Out features Juan Jackson (whom I last saw in <a href="http://nateniale.blogspot.sg/p/performances-ive-watched.html">Next to Normal</a>), Hayden Tee, Chris Bucko, Johnny James, Paul Lucas (who is also the director) and Tim Garner (who is also the producer).<br />
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So, why did I say that it is a play that I would not have expected to be produced and performed in Singapore? Well, the theme of the play is on homosexuality and racial prejudice. A topic that not all Singaporeans (or Asians) are comfortable with. So, bravo to Tim Garner Productions for bringing Take Me Out to Singapore.<br />
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Oh, and did I mention about the very authentic shower scene?<br />
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<b><i>::: footnotes :::</i></b></div>
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<i>Take Me Out plays in the DBS Arts Centre from 8 to 16 January 2014 and Alliance Française Theatre from 18 to 31 January 2014.</i><br />
<br />natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-68714519584579175392014-01-04T16:43:00.000+08:002014-01-04T16:43:17.591+08:00Thoughts on my travel to Myanmar (Burma)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"This is Burma and it is unlike any land you know about.” Rudyard Kipling wrote in 1898. More than a hundred years later, it still hold true for me. I have travelled to <a href="http://nateniale.blogspot.sg/p/travels-by-numbers.html" target="_blank">a number of places</a>, and yet, the country is truly different.<br />
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Myanmar or Burma (there is still an ongoing debate of what the country should be called), is a country surrounded by China, Thailand, Laos, India and Bangladesh. It was a country of kings and dynasties, where Theravada Buddhism became a prominent and important religion. In the 19th century, the British colonised the country, but it has since became independent for 65 years. Independence from the British, that is, but under a closely guarded military rule for most of those years. Elections came and went, and winning politicians were jailed or put under house arrest. However, in the last couple of years, since 2010 as a matter of fact, the country suddenly found themselves reforming and opening up.<br />
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It was with these history, and the recent onslaught of tourism, where we spent nine days in some parts of Myanmar that has been opened for tourism. Many places are still off-limits for foreigners. Tourism is still relatively new to the people in the country, many of the people we met and came in contact with, are friendly and welcoming. They seemed genuinely happy to see us, and many times, children and even monks, waved and smiled happily to us. Many would continue going about their daily lives, without regard to the tourists that seemed very interested in the things that they are, and have been, doing for centuries.<br />
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In Inle Lake, fishermen tried to find a quiet spot away from the speeding tourists boats that were all too interested in watching them fish. Women bathing and washing clothes by the river and lake tried to ignore the trigger-happy tourists with their cameras of different shapes and sizes. In a street in Yangon where the local carpenter were making wooden furniture, we were pretty much left alone to watch them work. In Bagan, farmers still use bull carts and cows to plough their land, and bring their goats out to graze the grass next to the temples. In the glistering golden pagoda and Buddha statues, prayers are made and flowers offered.<br />
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These made Myanmar an amazing country to travel around, and so unlike any other countries that I have been. In most of these countries, tourism became part and parcel of daily lives, and has even became an industry where the whole town or even island, is a part of. In places like <a href="http://nateniale.blogspot.sg/search/label/Santorini" target="_blank">Santorini</a> and <a href="http://nateniale.blogspot.sg/search/label/Bali" target="_blank">Bali</a>, I felt that everyone I met are tourists like me, and even the locals are from other areas who went to work in the tourism industry. Many of the visitors to Myanmar are those who wanted to experience the country before tourism hit it hard. They are usually those who are prepared to rough it out, and not demand five star hotels and restaurants, because there are little, if any, of those.<br />
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In the cities and towns we went, we felt safe and welcomed. Smiles are plenty, with faces of women and children spread with a yellowish-white paste called thanaka, and men with red betel chewing teeth. In Buddhist temples, we left our shoes and slippers outside the temples without worry that we may find ourselves barefooted for the rest of the trip. I walked on the streets feeling safe from bag-snatcher and thieves. I bought souvenirs and shopped in markets without worrying that I have been cheated. Some haggling is necessary, but the prices quoted were usually pretty reasonable.<br />
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All that being said, I have noticed the impact of tourism to the ways some of them lived. In Bagan, more and more children are dropping out of school to sell trinkets and postcards. Many of them learnt English, Malay, French and other languages to communicate and sell to tourists. In some villages, children asked for money from tourists. In Inle Lake, resorts and hotels with creature comfort are being built on the lake. Restaurants are opened with more acceptable cuisine such as Chinese food and "western" food, amongst the Burmese cuisine to cater for varying tastes.<br />
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And so, I am torn. I am torn between asking people to visit the country while it is still charming and naive (for a lack of better word), and trying to keep it a secret with the hope that they will stay innocent to tourism and the good and bad that came with it. But from the way it looks, Myanmar is speeding, towards that direction - towards development and tourism, and trying to open up and hoping to catch the attention of the world. And it looks like they are not going to stop anytime soon.<br />
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natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-913018982690346142013-12-13T15:22:00.000+08:002013-12-13T15:22:00.317+08:00Notre-Dame : windows and roof <i>{ Mar 2012 - Paris, France }</i><br />
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natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-27533535866736891332013-12-11T15:23:00.000+08:002013-12-11T15:23:01.027+08:00Notre-Dame : the facade<i>{ Mar 2012 - Paris, France }</i><br />
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natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-2148381445436110742013-12-09T21:00:00.000+08:002013-12-09T21:00:10.875+08:00Our Lady of Paris<i>{ Mar 2012 - Paris, France }</i><br />
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That's the translation for the name of this gothic cathedral, the famous Notre-Dame de Paris. The first time I came across this name and cathedral would be the Disney's animation The Hunchback of Notre Dame!<br />
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From one end of <a href="http://nateniale.blogspot.sg/2013/12/place-dauphine-in-ile-de-la-cite.html">Île de la Cité</a>, we walked by Sainte-Chappele (did not manage to get in) and La Conciergerie (where prisoners were kept during the French Revolution, including Marie Antoinette). We were met with this imposing symmetrical gothic facade. There were lots of people on the square in front admiring the facade. We were mesmerised by the front and was so excited, that we went straight in!<br />
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The inside of the cathedral was as beautiful as the outside - from the nave, the apse, the organ, the alter and the chandelier hanging down from the ceiling. And of course, we went up to the roof and towers to see some of the older bells and the gargoyles! They all looked different with different positions. It would definitely have been a better experience if it wasn't for the grills on the roof. I could definitely imagine, the hunchback bell-ringer Quasimodo, living here!<br />
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<br />natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-41474681765300848242013-12-07T10:00:00.000+08:002013-12-07T10:00:00.565+08:00Place Dauphine in Île de la Cité<i>{ Mar 2012 - Paris, France }</i><br />
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A small little island right in the middle of Paris and surrounded by the river Seine - that's Île de la Cité. It is considered the epicentre of the city, and it is where the famous Notre Dame Cathedral is on.<br />
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Wanting to start our exploration of Paris on <a href="http://nateniale.blogspot.sg/2013/12/first-day-in-paris.html">our first day</a>, we started on the other side of the island. We reached it via Pont Neuf, where we were instantly met by the statue of Henry IV right in the middle of the bridge. Pont Neuf means "New Bridge" but it is now the oldest standing bridge in Paris. From here, we took some steps down to the River Seine, and had our first stroll along the river bank.<br />
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Just a few steps from there, we walked into an open triangular square. This small, quiet and charming Place Dauphine is a great place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city if you ever needed to wind down. Just to think that across the river bank, are all the traffic and people in the metropolitan Paris.<br />
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We read that you may sometimes see lawyers on their lunch break playing boules! But no, we did not see that when we were there. Instead, we saw a group doing tai chi! Just goes to show how universal the world is! That is one thing I realised whenever I travel - the more places I travel to, the more I realised how similar we are all becoming. We also see Parisians walking their dogs, and enjoying the beautiful weather on the bench.<br />
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For a small square, Place Dauphine has many cafe and restaurants, and is a great place for lunch or dinner. We decided to have lunch by the park at the restaurant Le Caveau du Palais (17 Place Dauphine 75001 Paris). We asked for recommendations, and ordered duck confit and another roasted meat dish. It was probably my first "real" French duck confit, and even after a few more in the country, the one we had on our first day was pretty amazing.<br />
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We ended the lunch with espresso, to fight off the jet lag and to get ready for our walk on Île de la Cité which will bring us to Notre Dame Cathedral.<br />
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<br />natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-38420653150910210472013-12-04T21:46:00.000+08:002013-12-04T21:46:00.152+08:00First day in Paris<i>{ Mar 2012 - Paris, France}</i><br />
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Before I started to plan the trip to Paris, I was never a Paris kind of girl. When I think of Paris, I thought of those classy Parisian ladies with their Chanel bags and stilettos. I am not one of those, and while France was in my list of country to visit, I never really yearned to go.<br />
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That is, until I started seeing photos of <a href="http://nateniale.blogspot.com/2010/08/paris-je-taime.html">miniature Eiffel Tower</a>, started watching French movies (love Audrey Tautou!) and read about living and travelling in France. That probably started in late 2010, started <a href="http://nateniale.blogspot.sg/2011/10/wanderlust-paris.html">planning the trip to Paris</a> (and around) in late 2011 and was there in spring 2012!</div>
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When I reached Paris, I probably caught the Paris syndrome. It caught me by surprised just how beautiful and mesmerising it was. I kept telling myself and my boyfriend then (now, husband), "We are in Paris!" While I expected it to be pretty, the real thing was more than I expected. There was just something about it, something that I can't really pinpoint even till now. The architecture? The people? The air? The light?<br />
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From the first glimpse of the Eiffel Tower, we walked along the River Seine, visited the famous Notre Dame and bought the book "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" from the bookstore Shakespeare and Company. Paris, with its grey roof, red chimney and iron balcony railings, managed to captivate me like no other city had ever done.<br />
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And all this was on my first jet-lagged day in Paris. I was excited to see what else the city has to offer!<br />
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<br />natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-31810392657294053292013-12-02T21:45:00.000+08:002013-12-02T21:45:19.177+08:00Animals, rocks and sand in Kangaroo Island<div style="text-align: left;">
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<i>{</i><i> Australia Feb/Mar 2009 - Day 7 & 8 - </i><i>Kangaroo Island, South</i><i> Australia }</i></div>
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The <a href="http://nateniale.blogspot.sg/2010/03/preview-of-kangaroo-island.html">first day in Kangaroo Island</a> was spent with a lighthouse, honey farm, fish and chips and small tiny penguins. The remaining two days had more lighthouses, limestones, rocks and sand with lots of animals thrown in between.<br />
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Woke up in the morning at the Emu Bay Holiday Homes and getting acquainted with the area we spent the night. Arrived very late the night before and the whole area was pitch black! And before we know it, we had to leave! Oh well, that's the thing about road trip around a big island - you can't really stay put in the same place. We drove to a nearby town to a simple brunch and coffee.<br />
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First stop for the day is to the most charming little square-shaped lighthouse, Cape Borda. We went there just in time to see the historic cannon being fired - specially for just the two of us! Yes, it was pretty empty when we got there. There were the old lighthouse keepers cottages and a small museum. The lighthouse was in a cliff, and in the days when the lighthouse keepers were staying there, supplies will reach by boat and hauled up using a steel railway at Harvey's Return. They stayed there in a small little community, without much contact with others. It must be quite a tough job for the lighthouse keepers, and their families. Down the road was a small Lighthouse Keeper's Cemetery. The next lighthouse we saw, Cape du Couedic, was a more typical lighthouse - a long thin cylindrical shaped lighthouse!<br />
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We then made our way to Admiral's Arch with hollowed-out limestone and lots of seals! The area is home to a colony of some 4,000 New Zealand fur seals that play in the rock pools and rest on the rocks. It was my first encounter with seals, although they were pretty far away! With the strong wind, bright sun and beautiful scenery, it was turning out to be the kind of trip I was hoping for in Kangaroo Island! <br />
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Next in our list is a place called Remarkable Rocks at Kirkpatrick Point. With a name like that, we expected some interesting looking rocks, but still, the real thing blew my mind. It turned out to be a collection of gigantic rocks of weird shapes balancing on top of massive granite dome. After years of strong wind, the boulders are now of various shapes and sizes!<br />
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Being in Kangaroo Island, we decided to stay in a "hotel" with a difference. The Western KI Caravan Park and Wildlife Reserve. It has small little huts that are rented out if you do not have a caravan. We spent some time exploring the Flinders Chase National Park, seeing lots of animals unique to Australia - wallabies and koala!<br />
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The next morning, we went to the Kelly Hill Cave, a limestone cave and Little Sahara, a white sand dune. It was our first encounter in a sand dune, and the sheer volume of the sand was intimidating. I started imagining strong wind blowing the sand and covering me up! Suffice to say, that we did not spend a lot of time there, although the experience is still vivid to me!<br />
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The next and lost stop is a must-go if you happen to be in Kangaroo Island, the Seal Bay Conservation Park - home to the Australian sea lions. We managed to be up close to them, sharing a beach and just watched them sun tanning, playing with the birds, and making noisy sound. It was quite funny watching them move about!<br />
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Spending three days in Kangaroo Island was just the right amount of time to drive around the island at a slow pace, enjoying a relaxing break from the city and experience the beautiful weather, scenery and amazing landscape. We returned our rented car, took the ferry back to Cape Jervis and then bus back to Adelaide.<br />
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<i>This is part of the </i><i>travelogues of </i><i><a href="http://nateniale.blogspot.com/search/label/Australia%202009">Australia 2009</a> trip.</i></div>
natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-32908865902959752472013-11-30T16:13:00.002+08:002013-11-30T22:48:48.737+08:00Starlight Express<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
What do you get when you combine psychedelic lights, 80's rock and disco music, roller skates and trains? Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express! The way it was presented was definitely different than any other musicals I have every watched, so it definitely caught my attention when the show started. </div>
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However, as the minutes go by, the story line was predictable, the songs not too catchy, and I found myself drifting away and feeling bored. I guess I expected more - what with it being an Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical. Overall, it was still an interesting musical, and I am sure that it was beyond its time when it was first shown in 1984. </div>
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Caught the musical when it was playing at the Marina Bay Sands in November 2013. </div>
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natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-14054054654171917222013-11-18T22:36:00.000+08:002013-11-18T22:36:00.153+08:00Universal Studios Singapore in Sentosa Island<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
I am not a fan of theme parks, and I have probably been to a just handful of them. So, it should not come as a surprise that after more than 3 years, I have just stepped foot on <a href="http://www.rwsentosa.com/language/en-US/Homepage/Attractions/UniversalStudiosSingapore" target="_blank">Universal Studios Singapore</a> a couple of weeks ago. It was a day out with my colleagues, and let's just say that I am still not a fan of theme parks. </div>
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I love movies and performances, and theme parks love those too. Maybe, they love them a bit too much. They bring movies and characters to life, and let you be part of the whole experience. But I don't get it. I do not get why people would pay so much money to be scared, and (almost) thrown out of their seats. </div>
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Guess, I am just one of those who would rather be a spectator than a participant. </div>
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<br />natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-55527568528235211722013-11-15T23:28:00.000+08:002013-11-30T22:49:31.220+08:00Matchbox Twenty<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Push</div>
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3 A.M. </div>
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If You're Gone</div>
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Unwell</div>
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Bright Lights</div>
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She's So Mean</div>
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These are the songs by the rock band, Matchbox Twenty. </div>
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And some of the songs sang in the first rock concert I have ever been to!</div>
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The concert was the last of their North Tour.</div>
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natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-26225634558579897442013-11-12T22:44:00.000+08:002013-12-02T21:48:38.487+08:00Scrapbook: playground injuries, graffiti art and travelsCaught the quirky play <a href="http://nateniale.blogspot.sg/2013/11/gruesome-playground-injuries.html" target="_blank">Gruesome Playground Injuries</a> by <a href="http://pangdemonium.com/" target="_blank">Pangdemonium</a> - a local production company that I hope can continue to grow and expand, bringing more great productions to the local Singapore theatre scene. Buy the 2014 annual ticket to support them!<br />
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Read a post on <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2013/11/08/travel/berlin-wall-locations/" target="_blank">surprising locations of the where the Berlin Wall</a> ended in after the demolition of the wall. Well, a part of it was actually <a href="http://nateniale.blogspot.sg/2013/07/berlin-wall-in-singapore.html" target="_blank">in Singapore's Bedok Reservoir Park</a> for 3 years. It was housed in an impressive case in the middle of the park. That was definitely a world's apart from how urinals were mounted on them in a men's room in Las Vegas.<br />
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Watched <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/video/shows/anthony-bourdain-parts-unknown/" target="_blank">Anthony Bourdain's Parts Unknown</a>. It can be classified as a travel programme, but it is definitely not your typical feel good shows. It is engaging, controversial at times and not shy to show the not-so-touristy and pretty sites.<br />
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Graffiti is getting very interesting and the <a href="http://www.banksyny.com/" target="_blank">series of graffiti in New York</a> for the month of October has come to an end. Check out <a href="http://banksy.co.uk/" target="_blank">Banksy's whereabouts and latest art pieces on his website</a>. Another graffiti artist to follow is <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Ernestzachas" target="_blank">Ernest Zacharevic</a> who has done many pieces in my hometown Penang (like the one above). Of course, the Berlin Wall was full of graffiti art too!<br />
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And hope that you'll support this site, and be updated via my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/natenialetravel" target="_blank">facebook page</a>!natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-69480083289610222212013-11-09T10:30:00.000+08:002013-11-09T15:44:37.651+08:00Travel Tips: Where to eat in Penang, Malaysia<div style="text-align: left;">Here's the second part of the Travel Tips series for Penang. I will continuously update this list, so do come back often to check. Do start with <a href="http://nateniale.blogspot.com/2013/09/travel-tips-what-to-do-in-penang.html">What to do in Penang, Malaysia</a> if you have not done so.<br />
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This is a list of recommended places to eat in Penang - most are my favourite places, while some are recommended by others. This is by no means the full list. Explore the city yourself, and start your own list! Do remember to eat without expectations, as some food may have the same name as those found in other parts of Malaysia and Singapore, but they will be different! </div><br />
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<h3><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #800040; font-size: large;">Hawker Centres</span></b></h3><b><br />
</b> <b>{ Gurney Drive Hawker Centre, Gurney Drive }</b> Lots of choices, with some good food even though it may be packed with tourists. Prices may be a little steeper than other places. Lots of laksa stalls (walk around, and try to sniff for the best stall!), char koay teow (look for the one with long queue), ‘jiu hu eng chai’ (Cuttlefish Salad with Kangkung), rojak (Ah Chye’s Rojak). Only at night.<br />
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<b>{ <a href="http://www.newworldpark.com.my/" target="_blank">New World Park</a> }</b> Variety of hawkers food. Recommended ones are rojak, ais kacang, “bak chang” (dumpling) and cucur udang. All day long.<br />
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<b>{ Hawker stalls in New Lane } </b>Lots of food along the road, but price is generally higher.<br />
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<b>{ Pulau Tikus Market }</b> By the road side, next to the Pulau Tikus market. Recommended food are lok lok (similar to steamboat, in skewers), char koay teow, roti babi, “or-chean” (oyster omelette), koay teow th’ng (soup) and satay. Only at night.<br />
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<b>{ Kopitiam in Kimberley Street } </b>The coffee shop in Kimberley Street has lots of food choices.<br />
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<h4 style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #800040; font-size: large;">Food stalls</span></b></h4><br />
<b>{ Cendol }</b><br />
Penang Road Teochew Cendol, Lebuh Keng Kwee, Off Penang Road (11am to 7pm). Lots of choices, with some good food even though it may be packed with tourists.<br />
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<b>{ Asam Laksa }</b><br />
Air Itam Asam Laksa, Air Itam Market Pasar Road (early morning till afternoon). Beside the Air Itam Market, with tables and chairs by the roadside.<br />
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<b>{ Curry Mee }</b><br />
+ Lorong Seratus Tahun Curry Mee, off Macalister Road (lunch time)<br />
+ ‘Squatting’ Curry Mee, pathway to Ayer Itam Chinese Methodist Church, Off Jalan Air Itam (after the bridge) (early morning to early afternoon). Two old sisters crouched on a tiny wooden stool, surrounded by pots of noodles, curry and condiments. Curry mee comes with cuttlefish, tofu puffs, beansprouts and blood cubes. The chilli is very spicy - so eat with care!<br />
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<b>{ Hokkien Mee }</b><br />
Green House, 223, Jalan Burma (Mon-Sat 8pm-4am, closed Sun). Also sells Lor Mee. You can try asking for a mix of Hokkien Mee soup with ‘Lor’ – that’s how some Penangites like it.<br />
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<b>{ Lor Mee }</b><br />
Next to Kuan Yim Temple, Masjid Kapitan Keling Rd<br />
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<b>{ Ah Thooi Mee Suah }</b> Duck drumstick wheat flour noodle soup<br />
Roadside Stall at Jalan Sungei Pinang in front of Boon Siew Honda workshop<br />
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<b>{ Rojak }</b> Penang's style is mainly cut fruits with prawn paste<br />
+ Ah Chye Rojak at Gurney Drive Hawker Centre<br />
+ Rojak stall at New World Park Hawker Centre<br />
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<b>{ Char Koay Teow }</b><br />
+ Lorong Selamat Char Koay Teow, off Macalister Road (afternoon). Quite expensive by Penang’s standard. With big prawns. Can find good char koay teow in most places! A few coffee stalls along the road with many hawker food.<br />
+ Sisters Char Koay Teow, Macalister Rd (lunch time). Quite expensive by Penang’s standard. With crab meat.<br />
+ Siam Road (Jalan Siam) Char Koay Teow, located at the end of Siam Road (3pm to 11pm, closed on Mondays). Stall will shift to along Anson Road after 8pm. Need to wait an hour. Eat at coffee shop opposite the pushcart (by the road side).<br />
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<b>{ Zhu Cheong Chok }</b> 猪肠粥 Pig Intestine Porridge<br />
+ Lebuh Cintra (Cintra Street). Nice yam cake and "bak chang" (glutinous rice) in the shop opposite the porridge coffee shop. Will serve over.<br />
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<b>{ Char Koay Kak }</b><br />
+ Pushcart stall outside Seow Fong Lye Cafe at 94C, Macalister Lane (7:30am to 12:30pm). Also try the Chee Cheong Fun.<br />
+ Pushcart stall outside Suiwah Supermarket on Jalan Air Itam (morning).<br />
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Keep updated via my facebook page - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/natenialetravel">https://www.facebook.com/natenialetravel</a><br />
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natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-52901123370671837912013-11-06T21:40:00.000+08:002013-11-06T21:40:00.273+08:00Which city will I choose to live in? That was the question I asked myself and my husband. Of all the cities in the world, if we were given a chance, which city will we choose to live in? It does not have to be permanent. It could just be for a couple of years.<br />
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Well, it did not take us long to both came to the same answer - Paris, the city of lights. A city so pretty and beautiful, that it is long associated with being love and romance. A city which I was so excited about while planning the trip, and I was even more excited when we were there. Everything about the city surpasses my expectations (well, except for the smell under the bridge by the Seine River). It is arty, it is beautiful, it has an air about it and yet, still friendly enough to draw me in. Of course, if we live there, we will definitely take the chance to hop on the train (or flight) and travel around Europe!<br />
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Now, all I need is to figure out how get us there and to learn French.<br />
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<br />natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-84158911519249891102013-11-03T23:02:00.003+08:002013-11-30T22:49:41.301+08:00Gruesome Playground Injuries<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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What a title. I have to admit that I do not know what the show is about when I bought the tickets. We were out having brunch with some friends when we were wondering what we can do for the afternoon. I remembered that <a href="http://pangdemonium.com/" target="_blank">Pangdemonium</a> has a show on, and that it is a play. That was all it take for us to decide to hop to the Esplanade to catch the play. </div>
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Right before the show, I quickly read up the synopsis from the website, and here's what it says.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">LOVE HURTS. And in Gruesome Playground Injuries Pulitzer Prize finalist Rajiv Joseph has crafted "a perfect dissection of contemporary love-lost relationships." (Idaho Statesman), and one of the most startlingly original and screwed-up love stories of modern times. </span></blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">We follow Kayleen (Seong Hui Xuan - Pangdemonium's Rabbit Hole) and Doug (Alan Wong - The MTV Show) from age 8 to 38, leaping back and forth over the course of their lives in a deliriously disjointed time-continuum. Doug is full of life and absurdly "accident-prone"; while Kayleen hates her life and hides a painful secret. And for each of them the physical wounds they endure turn into emotional and psychological scars that never truly heal, and come to define who they are. As they careen and collide into and out of each other's lives, they become damaged goods for life, but are forever bonded together by bloodstains, broken bones and bandages.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">While examining two tortured lost-soul-mates in search of each other, we discover a bittersweet, savagely funny and achingly romantic love story of the most bizarre and surprisingly poignant kind. "Layered with quirky humor and poignant intensity - a crash course in growing up, getting hurt and the healing power of love" (The Washingtonian), Gruesome Playground Injuries is hilarious, haunting and heartbreaking. </span></blockquote>
Well, the reviews are spot on. The play is on a simple stage, and it starts to engage you right from the moment you stepped inside the theatre. It goes back and forth, telling the story at different times of their lives. You try to piece the story together, to try to understand what happened to these two tortured souls between those times. You laugh with them, you cry with them, and you cheer them on hoping that everything will turn out right. The play is superbly executed by the two actors, and as always, <a href="http://pangdemonium.com/" target="_blank">Pangdemonium</a>'s productions have not disappointed me.<br />
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To all of you in Singapore who love a good theatre production, do support Pangdemonium. It is a local theatre company created by local artiste Adrian Pang, with his wife Tracie Pang, and it brings some of the best local actors on stage with affordable ticket prices. Do catch the beautiful and messy Gruesome Playground Injuries, and check out their 2014 productions. Remember to book a date with them! </div>
<br />natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-73848469866044065702013-10-28T22:00:00.000+08:002013-11-06T23:55:22.742+08:00How they live on Tonlé Sap, Cambodia<i>{ June 2008 - Siem Reap, Cambodia }</i><br />
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Seeing the houses on the Tonlé Sap lake was an eye-opener, and while the boat that we were in slowly move further down, I kept looking around, trying to get a glimpse of their daily lives. Some were taking a nap on hammock, saw some stoves on the small little boat hut, there were boats going around selling vegetable and fruits, a small restaurant (which looks like it is for tourists), and kids playing on the water. There was even a school with basketball court!<br />
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If you take away the fact that all these are happening on the huge lake, this is just a village where the people live their day to day lives. Plus the girl with the snake, who smiled so sweetly and innocently that I could not help but snap a photo, and she turned to me to ask for a dollar after that!<br />
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natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-7453499478539768722013-10-26T14:00:00.001+08:002013-11-06T23:57:07.345+08:00Temples, ruins and tree roots in Siem Reap, Cambodia<i>{ June 2008 - Siem Reap, Cambodia }</i><br />
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I think it is safe to say that the trip to Siem Reap back in June 2008 was the trip that started my travel bug. With numerous budget airlines that started sprouting in Asia, travels became cheaper and as I started to have more savings from my career, travelling became something that I really wanted to do - seeing the world, experiencing culture and enjoying the journey.<br />
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Siem Reap was a great starting point of this adventure of a lifetime, and Angkor Wat was the main star together with countless other temples such as Bagan and Angkor Thom. It was interesting walking among the temples, gigantic tree trunks and roots, climbing the steep stairs and hiking up the hills. Of course, the food and the people made the experience so much better. <br />
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natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-24549460169305344822013-10-24T22:00:00.001+08:002013-10-24T22:00:06.847+08:00Charismatic Greece<div style="text-align: center;">
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<i>{ October 2013 - Greece }</i></div>
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Greece is a charismatic country - the beauty, the history, the weather, the people.<br />
Here are some photos taken with my mobile and posted on <a href="http://instagram.com/nateniale" target="_blank">Instagram</a>. </div>
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natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-4098289689332888992013-10-04T00:50:00.000+08:002013-10-04T00:50:39.044+08:00I made a huge difference to that one!<br />
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It is a story that I have heard many times. The story about the thousands of starfish that had been washed up on the beach.<br />
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A boy picked up the starfish and one at a time, he threw the starfish back into the water. Someone asked the boy why he is doing so, when he can't possibly save them all. "You can't possibly make a difference". The boy looked down, bent down to pick up another starfish, and threw it back into the sea. He replied, "I made a huge difference to that one!"<br />
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Today, someone shared this story, and shared a heartfelt story about his life, his family and how he has not lost hope in his wife. And he shared, how insurance has helped to make a difference to his life and his family.<br />
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As he shared his story, I reflected and thought - all the hard work and effort that I have put in to launch the product made a difference to his life and his family. In a way, I made a huge difference to him. The months that I have spent on the product is worth it, if it meant making a difference to one person and his family. And I hope that I can continue to make a difference in someone else's life.<br />
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Read his story at <a href="http://www.prayforpinky.com/">www.prayforpinky.com</a></div>
natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-65714523000012559742013-10-03T21:51:00.000+08:002013-11-30T22:49:51.956+08:00Hairspray the MusicalCaught the musical Hairspray at the Singapore's Esplanade Theatre. It is such an enjoyable musical with catchy tunes and groovy dance moves.<br />
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After the show, I tried to catch some snippets from Hairspray the movie, and I cannot believe that John Travolta - the one and only from Saturday Night Live and Grease - played the mother! Got to watch the movie one of these days!</div>
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natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-39974094038424722102013-10-01T21:49:00.000+08:002013-12-02T21:48:56.327+08:00Scrapbook: over the weekendSpent the weekend working, and realised how empty the streets are in the central business district on weekends.<br />
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However, I was able to have a slow breakfast outdoor with the cool rainy breeze. Enjoyed eating local breakfast while watching many tourists having traditional local breakfast. Saw a family of Caucasians who ordered the breakfast set but wanted to eat it the western way - with salt and pepper. Of course, the uncle tried to explain the local way of eating with soya sauce and pepper, but they don't seem convinced. Wonder if that is how I am when I travel!<br />
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Queued for around an hour and a half to have dim sum in the Michelin starred Tim Ho Wan in Singapore. The wait is still shorter than the original tiny shop with 20 seats in Hong Kong. While I am not usually one to queue for food, I have to say that I do not mind queuing up again!<br />
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Watched the movie <a href="http://www.rushmovie.com/" target="_blank">Rush</a> with the amazing Chris Hemsworth (who looks so much older than he actually is). It is amazing how much zeal and determination these drivers have that make them risks so much and tried so hard to win a race and to get what they want. I wonder what goes on in their mind.<br />
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Watched a clip of the funny Jimmy Fallon with Justin Timberlake conversing in <a href="http://youtu.be/57dzaMaouXA" target="_blank">#hashtag</a>.<br />
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Bought a new toy for our next trip. Hope the camera does not fall!<br />
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<br />natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-79410597468848018652013-09-30T23:48:00.000+08:002013-09-30T23:48:14.950+08:00This time next week<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This time next week</div>
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I will be enjoying a beautiful sunset</div>
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amongst the bright blue roof with white-washed buildings.</div>
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<br />natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-64732395390334649912013-09-12T14:25:00.000+08:002013-11-30T22:50:04.303+08:00The Addams Family<i>{ Singapore - July 2013 }</i><br />
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Take a famous beloved albeit weird family from a cartoon / TV series / movie and turn it into a musical. It has such huge potential to be funny and entertaining. Well, The Addams Family musical was entertaining and sometimes funny, but it felt like a normal family doing funny creepy things. Rather than a weird family doing what they think is normal, making it funny and creepy. Which is what the Addams Family should be about.<br />
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So what do I like about the musical? The opening song was a fun one - with catchy f<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">inger snapping </span>tunes - making use of the opening song from the original TV series. Which says something about the musical when the best song is a reproduction of the original song. </div>
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I caught the musical during the Asian tour in Resorts World Sentosa in July 2013. </div>
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natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-90084524970110064152013-09-09T23:23:00.000+08:002013-09-09T23:23:00.443+08:0040 Days of Dating<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Read a few "days" from the blog "<a href="http://fortydaysofdating.com/" target="_blank">40 Days of Dating</a>" where two long-time friends decided to engage in an experiment where they started dating each other for 40 days, and told their stories through a series of daily blog posts. The posts were published on a daily basis, with beautiful and creative visuals. Each day both of them answer a series of questions. An interesting experiment, that uses the power of technology and through social websites became vastly popular. Who knows, maybe it will be turned into a movie one of these days.<br />
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<i>Snapshot taken from the website <a href="http://fortydaysofdating.com/" target="_blank">40 Days of Dating</a>.</i>natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-78807606233471742842013-09-07T18:52:00.001+08:002013-11-09T15:44:34.594+08:00Travel Tips: What to do in Penang, Malaysia<div style="text-align: center;">
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Here's a short simple guide on things to do and places to go in Penang. They include some of my favourite places to go whenever I am back home in Penang.<br />
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Check out this page for <a href="http://nateniale.blogspot.sg/2013/11/travel-tips-where-to-eat-in-penang.html">the list of places to eat</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://nateniale.blogspot.sg/search/label/Penang" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FrSCwV_LXW4/Uiq7RXdPhzI/AAAAAAAADFE/j-PJ9sKjdqU/s320/blogger-image--1418886973.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #800040; font-size: large;">Recommended places to go for a heritage feel</span></b></h4>
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<b>{ Heritage sites around Armenian Street } </b>Spot all the street art around the area! Old shophouses with charming shops.<br />
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<b>{ Visit the clan temples } </b>Khoo Kongsi, Cheah Kongsi, Yap Kongsi and many more.<br />
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<b>{ Walk the planks of the clan jetties } </b>Tan Jetty has nice long plank-y walk out to the sea. Be careful!<br />
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<b>{ Visit the Pinang Peranakan Mansion } </b>At 29 Church Street. Baba and Nyonya architecture, furniture and antiques.<br />
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<b>{ Around Light St and Beach St (Lebuh Pantai) } </b>Beach Street is also known locally as “Bank Street” with many colonial style buildings. Light Street has the Victoria Clock Tower, Fort Cornwallis, Town Hall, City Hall, etc.<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #800040; font-size: large;">Recommended places to go for a spiritual feel (and food)</span></b></h4>
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</b> <b>{ Goddess of Mercy Temple (Kuan Yin Temple) }</b> At Masjid Kapitan Keling Road. Lor Mee next to the temple is pretty good.<br />
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<b>{ Kapitan Keling Mosque } </b>At Masjid Kapitan Keling Road. Famous ‘Nasi Kandar Beratur’ next to it – Beratur means queue, so be prepared to do that! Opens at 10pm onwards, till late!<br />
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<b>{ All the clan temples around the heritage area } </b>Khoo Kongsi, Cheah Kongsi, Yap Kongsi, Teochew Temple, etc.<br />
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<b>{ St George’s Church } </b>At Farquhar Street.<br />
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</b> <b>{ Kek Lok Si Temple } </b>In Air Itam. Can have the famous Asam Laksa next to the Air Itam market after visiting, and my favourite “squatting” Curry Mee.<br />
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<b>{ Snake Temple } </b>In Bayan Lepas. There used to be many snakes around the temples, but there are now only a handful. A little far from the city!<br />
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</b> <b>{ Along Gurney Drive } </b>This is the main shopping street with Gurney Plaza, and the new Paragon. If you shop till night fall, you can eat at the Gurney Drive Hawkers Centre. Lots of choices, with some good food even though it may be packed with tourists. Prices may be a little steeper than other places. Lots of laksa stalls (walk around, and try to sniff for the best stall!), char koay teow (look for the one with long queue), ‘jiu hu eng chai’ (cuttlefish salad with kangkung), rojak (Ah Chye’s Rojak). After eating, walk along the drive for sea breeze.<br />
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<b>{ <a href="http://www.straitsquay.com/" target="_blank">Straits Quay</a> }</b> In the newly developed Seri Tanjong Pinang. Not really for shopping, but a nice area to hang out for food and interesting shops. With a marina with yachts.<br />
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</i>natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-23999207450235059622013-09-07T13:19:00.002+08:002013-09-07T13:19:56.052+08:00agitated spiderSaw the most surprising watch that uses the Singlish term "kan cheong spider" very well! It was unexpected, and definitely put a smile on my face. What better use than to put it on a watch face!<br />
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And to those not familiar with the colloquial Singaporean English, Singlish, term, here's the meaning (thanks to the <a href="http://www.singlishdictionary.com/" target="_blank">Singlish dictionary)</a><br />
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<b>kan cheong</b> /kahn cheong, kɑn tʃiːɒŋ/<i> a. </i>[Cant. 紧 kan urgent, in haste, pressing, important + 张 cheung to bend a bow; to extend, to stretch; to open; Mand. jĭnzhāng nervous, keyed up; tense, intense, strained: jĭn urgent, pressing, tense + zhāng open, spread, stretch; magnify, exaggerate<br />
Also kancheong. 1 Nervous, keyed up. 2 Tense, intense, strained. </blockquote>
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Comb.: <b>kan cheong spider </b><i>n. & a. </i>[Eng.] A n. A person with a nervous disposition, one who is easily flustered. B a. Kan cheong.</blockquote>
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I have been trying <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/9389451" target="_blank">bloglovin</a> to read my favourite blogs, and you can also follow me on <a href="https://twitter.com/natenialetravel" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/nateniales-travel/241234819241038" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=Nateniale" target="_blank">sign up for emails</a>. Not forgetting my favourite social media - <a href="http://instagram.com/nateniale" target="_blank">Instagram</a>.natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-53747710570254836242013-09-04T23:01:00.001+08:002013-09-05T00:02:07.123+08:00Will you give up your seat to those who need them more?<br />
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If you are stopped and are asked the following questions, what will you answer? How do you think anyone will answer?<br />
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<li>Will you give up your seat to those who need them more?</li>
<li>Will you move in for others to board?</li>
<li>Do you feel that it is faster for everyone when you queue up and give way to alighting passengers?</li>
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Well, I can bet you that 9 out of 10 (if not, 10 out of 10) people will answer "Yes!" to all three questions. So, I am not surprised by the result of the survey...<br />
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<li>94% say that they will give up their seats to those who need them more.</li>
<li>96% say that they will move in for others to board.</li>
<li>98% felt that it is faster for everyone when they queue up and give way to alighting passengers.</li>
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I mean, what do you really think the answers will be to such questions?<br />
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But the fact of the matter is, if you need such a campaign, doesn't it mean that you realised that there is a problem that needs to be solved? How does putting up such posters solve anything? I personally do not see commuters doing so.<br />
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I do not have the answers to solve the problem. But I definitely do feel like screaming at the people who are standing in the middle of the train carriage with so much spaces around them, refusing to move in, while those near the door are squashed like oranges and those in the station are unable to board.<br />
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And to those 1000 that were surveyed, remember that actions speak louder than words.<br />
<br />natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-45898946801146175612013-09-03T21:53:00.000+08:002013-09-03T22:10:43.341+08:00Whose Line is it Anyway...?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have heard of the TV show "Whose Line is it Anyway...?", but I have never really watch it regularly. So, when the original stars of the legendary hit British TV show came to Singapore to perform, we went. I went without much expectations, and happy to say that I truly enjoyed it. </div>
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The talented bunch of British comedians Andy Smart, Stephen Frost, Steven Steen and Ian Coppinger, made it a night to remember, and a night where I learnt to truly respect the wonderful and difficult job of a improvisation comedian. </div>
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Gotta go for more comedy shows! </div>
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<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/9389451/?claim=vg7755z8dpr">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-8467592924177857472013-08-31T17:12:00.001+08:002013-08-31T17:12:23.000+08:00Planning a holiday is more fun than planning a wedding<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-idjJ6RYBBxQ/UiGx65PbDNI/AAAAAAAAC6w/cJFNhGPMiXM/s1600/photo-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-idjJ6RYBBxQ/UiGx65PbDNI/AAAAAAAAC6w/cJFNhGPMiXM/s320/photo-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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People expect the bride to be excited and happy about planning her wedding. I tried to be, but every time I switched on my laptop to start planning the wedding, I ended up daydreaming about where I want to go next. I will start reading up on new destinations, looking for air tickets and deciding where our next trip will be. I have now finished planning my honeymoon, and moved on to two more holidays after that. My wedding? Well, it is not really done yet.<br />
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Is there something wrong with me? Why aren't I excited on what some people call "the happiest day of your life". Well, if the wedding day is the happiest day of one's life, than that's pretty disappointing for the marriage life! Don't get me wrong, I am excited about being married, it is the process of getting to the state that I dread.<br />
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I have finally decided that planning a wedding is just not for me. The effort, the costs, the time required to plan the wedding is not just worth the end result. And I have already cut down the ceremony to be as simple as possible. I am not doing the full customary Chinese wedding, just the tea ceremony and the dinner reception. Even then, there is the hotel to choose, the invitation card, the cake, the colour of the table cloth and chair, the flowers, the dresses, the dishes to serve, the music to play, the photographer, the videographer, .....<br />
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And halfway through that, I found myself googling for flights to Myanmar.<br />
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Can we just elope? Paris, maybe?<br />
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<br />natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-62753791401953422932013-08-14T00:28:00.000+08:002013-08-14T00:28:07.105+08:00Traditional Singapore breakfast<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
A must have traditional local breakfast if you found yourself in Singapore. </div>
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kaya toast</div>
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soft boiled eggs</div>
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coffee with condensed milk</div>
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-BUVfsUShj-E/UgpbdtxbU6I/AAAAAAAAC6U/x_K4lSuum_0/s640/blogger-image-1700273251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-BUVfsUShj-E/UgpbdtxbU6I/AAAAAAAAC6U/x_K4lSuum_0/s640/blogger-image-1700273251.jpg" /></a></div>
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While you can find this in any local coffee shop, my favourite is still from <a href="http://yakun.com.sg/">Ya Kun Kaya Toast</a> that have many branches all around the island. </div>
<br />natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-54509397529820890482013-08-08T16:24:00.001+08:002013-08-14T00:23:05.182+08:00yoga<div style="text-align: center;">
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Did some yoga a few years back, but never really continued. Knowing that I need some exercise, I tried a few - run, walk, aerobics - but could never keep them up. </div>
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I decided to take out my yoga mat and started with some simple yoga moves. Happy to report that I have managed to continue doing yoga for the last week or so. Hope that I will continue this, for a healthier lifestyle! </div>
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natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-37114977195979262022013-08-03T12:12:00.000+08:002013-08-03T12:12:32.882+08:00Wish list<div style="text-align: center;">
Some people called it their wish list, or bucket list, or even a simple to do list. Whatever you call them, I encourage you to have one! You can have simple and easy to achieve items like eating your favorite food, or visiting your local museum. Or you can have outrageous and hard to achieve ones like going to Antarctica, climb Mount Everest or even fly to the moon! Who knows? Maybe one day you will! </div>
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The important thing about the list is to start one, keep adding more and most importantly, start ticking them off! The more interesting and exciting they are to you, the higher chance that you will actually do something to achieve it! </div>
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<a href="http://nateniale.blogspot.sg/p/my-wish-list.html">Here's my list</a>! Where's yours?</div>
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natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-90826095700006655872013-07-06T01:33:00.001+08:002013-07-27T12:05:02.523+08:00Berlin Wall in Singapore<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
I am quite sure that not many people know that there is a part of the Berlin Wall in Singapore! It was displayed in the Bedok Reservoir Park for about 3 years, but has since been removed. The owners decided to bring them back to the United States to be displayed in their own property. </div>
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I wonder how you go about owning a piece of the wall (or four panels to be exact). Do you carry a piece of the wall home with you on a lorry after the wall fell, or did the government sell the wall? Wonder if I will ever know the answer to the question. </div>
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Nevertheless, I am glad they came to own the panels and decided to display them in Singapore for a short while. It was great to see a piece of the famous wall. Now, I just need to plan a trip to be at the site where the wall used to stand!</div>
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natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-58054756445183552932013-04-16T00:20:00.001+08:002013-04-16T00:20:18.255+08:00Laocoön and his sons vs Snake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-nFq9kY8zWXs/UQAHgODTs1I/AAAAAAAACzw/G5APUmVc6R8/s640/blogger-image-1498342561.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-nFq9kY8zWXs/UQAHgODTs1I/AAAAAAAACzw/G5APUmVc6R8/s400/blogger-image-1498342561.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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On the left is "Laocoön and his sons" at Vatican Museum from 25BC.</div>
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On the right is "Snake" at Singapore Art Museum from 2012AD.</div>
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More than 2000 years separate the two sculptures.</div>
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natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-25329653094040198332013-02-06T23:09:00.000+08:002013-02-06T23:09:02.957+08:00Wanderlust: London<div style="text-align: center;">
Aren't these the cutest?</div>
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I have been wanting to go to London and the rest of the United Kingdom for a long time.</div>
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Wondering when I will finally make my way there. </div>
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natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-24547309570458592622013-02-02T00:17:00.001+08:002013-02-02T00:17:29.451+08:00Penang wall art<div style="text-align: center;">
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One of the many wall art that has been cropping up in Penang! </div>
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Can't wait to be back in Penang for Chinese New Year, </div>
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and take a walk around the city spotting those wall art!</div>
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natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-33638906381664594322013-01-27T23:38:00.000+08:002013-01-27T23:38:01.290+08:00Thaipusam in SingaporeThaipusam fell on a Sunday this year, and I thought it was a great opportunity to catch the celebration in Singapore (since Thaipusam is not a public holiday). Started the day late, and caught some of the kavadi carrier on the road. The procession starts from Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple at Serangoon Road and ends at Sri Thendayuthapani Temple at Tank Road.<br />
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The atmosphere at the road was quite muted, compared to the elaborate celebration that I have seen in Penang - where there would be piles of coconuts thrown on the road, loud music, elaborate tents set up, and hundreds of devotees walking together with the kavadi carrier. <br />
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In the wonderfully organised and heavily regulated Singapore, the celebration was quieter, and well, organised. Walked with some of the devotees towards the final stop at Sri Thendayuthapani Temple, and that was where I could feel the Thaipusam atmosphere. Shoes taken off, milk offered, prayers made, and even with some drums and dance. From the temple, the path lead to a very organised tent right outside where the kavadi were taken off.<br />
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If any countries need to learn how to organise an event and ensure that they are orderly, they just need to learn from Singapore. I wonder how Singapore would organise an event like the Spain's bull running. Bet they would be able to find some bulls who would only run in designated paths.<br />
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<br />natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-22899042954617252662013-01-23T22:56:00.000+08:002013-01-23T22:56:00.308+08:00The story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons<div style="text-align: center;">
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Jersey Boys is a fun musical!</div>
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Didn't know all of those catchy tunes were from the four men in suits. Sometimes, the best music comes from a man, or in this case, 4 men, in suits, a microphone, a simple band of musician, a song with great catchy lyrics and tunes, and an amazing voice.</div>
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But how come nobody stand up to sing and dance towards the end of the show? I felt the same way previously, in <a href="http://nateniale.blogspot.sg/2011/08/jacky-cheung-is-still-going-strong.html" target="_blank">Jacky Cheung's concert</a>. Is it the country, that I'm in? That aside, the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, told in a musical makes perfect sense. It is a fun and enjoyable musical. </div>
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-WIvqvezjYYo/UPLPphRXKnI/AAAAAAAACwU/byC8OlKEf1I/s640/blogger-image-2128388229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-WIvqvezjYYo/UPLPphRXKnI/AAAAAAAACwU/byC8OlKEf1I/s320/blogger-image-2128388229.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-5492693788684383332013-01-20T18:46:00.001+08:002013-01-21T23:56:36.846+08:00Wanderlust: Driving in Spain<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Planning a drive through Spain for a week, starting and ending in Madrid. This would be our longest road trip in Europe! Our previous road trips in Europe were short trips, lasting a few days each. We have driven through the amazing rolling Tuscan hills, and from Paris to Mont St Michel. </div>
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After reading about the various cities around Madrid and in Andalucia, the route planned gets longer and longer. There are so many cities, which have different things to offer - from fairy-tale castles, medieval streets, Gothic cathedrals, mosque with great Islamic architecture, dream-like white villages, and even an aqueduct!</div>
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I have mapped out the current plan. Hope that we would be able to cover most, if not all, of these cities! Shall continue planning the rest of the trip!</div>
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natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-21671784148817961522013-01-16T23:49:00.000+08:002013-01-20T18:45:03.056+08:00Cravings for Penang FoodI may have travelled to many places in the world, but I still find the best food when I am back home in Penang, Malaysia. After leaving my hometown for 14 years, I still crave for Penang food after awhile!<br />
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p/s When I'm in Singapore, my favourite place to have Penang food is at the <a href="http://nateniale.blogspot.sg/2011/06/penang-food-in-singapore-at-penang-road.html" target="_blank">Penang Road Cafe</a>. </div>
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natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327047.post-86791698900523869262013-01-14T23:43:00.001+08:002013-01-14T23:43:54.411+08:00blueberriesweird little blue fruit that is amazing in all sorts of desserts - muffins, jams, cakes - but it is best eaten fresh! <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-z29wNiz3UXE/UPQntkY0cEI/AAAAAAAACyM/UFYEK7zfm3E/s640/blogger-image-1500937786.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-z29wNiz3UXE/UPQntkY0cEI/AAAAAAAACyM/UFYEK7zfm3E/s640/blogger-image-1500937786.jpg" /></a></div>natenialehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686149786840383241noreply@blogger.com