nateniale's travels

{ Australia Feb/Mar 2009 - Day 7 & 8 - Kangaroo Island, South Australia } The first day in Kangaroo Island 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. 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. 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 cott...

A must have traditional local breakfast if you found yourself in Singapore.  kaya toast soft boiled eggs coffee with condensed milk While you can find this in any local coffee shop, my favourite is still from  Ya Kun Kaya Toast  that have many branches all around the island. 

One of the many wall art that has been cropping up in Penang!  Can't wait to be back in Penang for Chinese New Year,  and take a walk around the city spotting those wall art!

Thaipusam 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. 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. 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 ...

{ November 2012 - Phnom Penh, Cambodia } Spent three days in Phnom Penh - a much needed holiday after a long hiatus from travelling! Bought the tickets at the last minute, with minimal planning, but armed with Lonely Planet, of course. It was our second trip to Cambodia, the first being the amazing and fabulous Angkor Wat in Siem Reap about 4 years ago.   The trip was pretty relaxing. Walked around the town, with lots of tuk tuk rides in between. Visited some "wat" (temples) and walked around the markets. Had coffee in various cafes, and ate a lot of Cambodian food (no tarantulas, though!).  Just the right mix of culture and relaxation for us. Here are some snapshots taken from my trusty iPhone. 

{ May 2011 - Florence, Italy }  Piazzale Michaelangelo located on a hill just off the city centre of Florence has a lot of steps to conquer from reaching the top, and when we reached there, we realised it was just a big round parking lot. However, walking to the edge of the piazzale, the majestic panoramic view of Florence laid out before us. Built in 1869 and dedicated to the famous Renaissance sculptor and painter Michaelangelo, a replica of a large bronze David (who has now turned green) stood in the middle of square.    As of all the squares in Italy, I love to people watch! From the locals to the tourists, and the artists and buskers, the piazza was a great place to relax, have some gelato and enjoy the amazing view of that beautiful and wonderful city called Florence.    ::: Footnotes ::: { Piazzale Michaelangelo }   The square can be reached on foot, by car or by bus. However, be forewarned - walking u...