Travel Thread (Overseas)

[song cm]

OK...lets go international......

My fav city so far.....Prague....so dem lovely esp by the river, followed by London (i am unfortunately a little bias for UK), Salzburg (totally love it), Vienna and Rome.....I didn't like Venice, though....

[KoChun]

Not being to many places. Eh, Sinjarpor consider oversea ah? Anyway, that's not my favourite.

Guess I like Rome, since I've been there before. Lot's of historical buildings there. Went to Coloseum (Gladiator, remember?), St. Peter's Square and other many interesting places (cannot remember their names).

Note: I don't like Kuala Lumpur!

[song cm]

Not being to many places. Eh, Sinjarpor consider oversea ah? Anyway, that's not my favourite.

Guess I like Rome, since I've been there before. Lot's of historical buildings there. Went to Coloseum (Gladiator, remember?), St. Peter's Square and other many interesting places (cannot remember their names).

Note: I don't like Kuala Lumpur!

Yeah, Rome is nice.
Kochun, did you go into Vatican Citymuseum and see the painting on the ceiling? The sistine chapel, i think? by Michaelangelo....

[Dino]

Orlando Florida.
1)DisneyWorld (4 parks but my fav is the Epcot center).
2)Universal Studios
3) NASA!!! (Have to visit this place again!!)
4) SeaWorld......err.....a bit boring but if you have kids...then go for it.

Las Vegas, Nevada.
1) The theme hotels are the main attraction there. Big hotels Bellagio,Treasure Island,Mirage,Venetian,Paris,Luxor,MGM.
2) Las Vegas shows.....i recommend some Cirque du Soleil shows, Blue Man Group, Penn and Teller.
3) Las Vegas buffet.....yummmm.....$20 gets you a lot of stuff.

Seattle
Don't come....boring place. :(

[KoChun]

Yeah, Rome is nice.
Kochun, did you go into St Peter's museum and see the painting on the ceiling? The sistine chapel, i think?

Yup, went inside and saw all the paintings, including Michelangelo (I think). Took a couple of pictures there too, including St.Peter's grave. BTW, those hotels in Rome are all very low class wan. How come ah? Even worse than Yaohan Hotel in Sitiawan, I think.

[JC]

I would say:

1. Cornwall, England
2. Tokyo, Japan

[kamkuey]

London is a little too grey for me lar. But the city itself ok lar... but still grey.
Rome is nice...
I liked Venice.. too bad about the smell tho'
Salzburg... fuhyor.. absolutely beautiful.. makes you feel like climbing every mountain :D
Paris.. erm.. only liked the tower and the.. erm.. that square building with hole in centre wan.
Nice is dem nice. Too bad about the pebble-ly beach.
And.. erm.. that place in italy.. erm... ah yes.. Florence..
For some reason, I did not go scotland.. hmmmz...

[daLady]

Me only been to Korea and turkey so far. I likeTurkey better...they are rather liberal for a Muslim country. The good thing is that even as students, we could afford getting a belly dancer to our room and dance for us for an hour...guys would love this coz she would be wriggling her breasts to your face, asking you to stuff some notes in her costume bra...

Went to the Church of Constantinople and ruins of Ephesus...there are so many ruins of civilizations and temples...that I thought I was looking at Rome or Greece. But the best scenery is at Pamukkale...layers and layers of limestone pool. Party animals should head straight to Bodrum...countless discotheque and nightclubs. Most of the people who lives there go sailing/boating by day and party by night.

[piglet]

Orlando Florida.
1)DisneyWorld (4 parks but my fav is the Epcot center).
2)Universal Studios
3) NASA!!! (Have to visit this place again!!)
4) SeaWorld......err.....a bit boring but if you have kids...then go for it.

Las Vegas, Nevada.
1) The theme hotels are the main attraction there. Big hotels Bellagio,Treasure Island,Mirage,Venetian,Paris,Luxor,MGM.
2) Las Vegas shows.....i recommend some Cirque du Soleil shows, Blue Man Group, Penn and Teller.
3) Las Vegas buffet.....yummmm.....$20 gets you a lot of stuff.

Seattle
Don't come....boring place. :(

was in Orlando for a week for conference
it's a tourist place.....and it's really hot...
I love Epcot too....

[song cm]

I would say:

1. Cornwall, England
2. Tokyo, Japan

Cornwall? hmm...you must have loved the cornish pastries...hehe :D

[Dino]

was in Orlando for a week for conference
it's a tourist place.....and it's really hot...
I love Epcot too....

Did you do either Test Track or Mission Space??
Mission Space is unbelievable!!!

[piglet]

Did you do either Test Track or Mission Space??
Mission Space is unbelievable!!!
i went ter with 2 bimbo collegues.....spending most of their time combing their hair to look good at he camera...
1 day 1 roll of film each....s
I nearly lost my patience...miss quite lots of things :o

I went to San Francisco without visiting their Chinatown... imagine tht..

[JC]

Cornwall? hmm...you must have loved the cornish pastries...hehe :D
Food too expensive-lar... :o
Only managed to get lots & lots of fish & chips... :D

[song cm]

Food too expensive-lar... :o
Only managed to get lots & lots of fish & chips... :D
boy, i sure do miss all those fish n chips & aso all the chic pies... :D

[JC]

boy, i sure do miss all those fish n chips & aso all the chic pies... :D
Yup... missed those fish & chips... yum.. yum...
Dino, remember the Italian fish & chips shop in Headington??? Hhhmmm....

To all forumers, a fair warning....
Go England, dun ask for chili sause... kena charge like craze... 50pence for a stupid small packet....:mad:

[siewjang]

To all forumers, a fair warning....
Go England, dun ask for chili sause... kena charge like craze... 50pence for a stupid small packet....:mad:
Kena that in McDonald, Paris :mad:

[LiLiaN]

italy, my favourite country in europe... :)

venice, don't go to venice in the summer when it smells...
best time for venice is obviously during the carnevale (february) but it could get very packed..
instead, go just after carnevale, when it's back to la serenissima..
don't bother with map, you're bound to get lost anyway...
don't just stay at the main area, go to burano and other small venetian islands too...

rome, the sistine chapel is indeed by michaelangelo...
for more details can read "michaelangelo and the pope's ceiling"... very good book...
vatican museum rooms by raphael are also not to be missed...
AVOID the restaurants across from the vatican museum entrance AT ALL COST!!!
other hot spots include the colosseum, roman forum, trevi fountain, castel sant' angelo, campo dei fiori, pantheon...
try out little opera concerto playing at small chapels/churches - they're excellent...
main shopping street - via del corso (the road between the "wedding cake" and piazza del popolo)...
keep an eye for eurochocolate fair for choccie lovers...
accomodation wise, cheaper to stay at private rooms in hostels or b&b... hotel is rip-off!

[LiLiaN]

Kena that in McDonald, Paris :mad:
really..? do they give chilli..? i thought they only have sweet curry sauce (not nice!)..

[Dino]

Yup... missed those fish & chips... yum.. yum...
Dino, remember the Italian fish & chips shop in Headington??? Hhhmmm....



:eek: You were there???? Wow!!! those were good fish and chips and cheap too. I am impress JC!!!

[JC]

Yup.. those were great fish & chips, eh... do miss them buggers... :p

[LiLiaN]

hmm... decided i should promote ireland a little... hehe... :D

dublin
- see the book of kells at trinity college (i can get you in free, offer valid until sept 2007)
- visit guinness hopstore (where they make guinness)
- glance at "the spire" : just a phallus emblem, don't ask me why they put it in the first place
- pub crawl at temple bar (and around the city)
- go on hop-on hop-off bus : good value, get to know the city very quickly
- visit hill of tara : ancient settlement, currently under threat of motorway construction
- visit newgrange : the oldest monument in the world (600 years older than giza pyramids!)
- special : st patrick's day celebration (17 March)
- eat at : roly's, fitzer's, little caesar's, dune & crescensi, bang, etc etc
- shopping : grafton street, henry street

kilkenny
- visit kilkenny castle : it has toilet that WILL swallow a whole person in!
- check out kilkenny design : place to get some souvenirs and crafts
- join a walking tour : for all the scandals and hearsays from hundreds of years ago
- catch a game of hurling (during season) : weird sport combining football, hockey, baseball, rugby
- tour smithwick's brewery : yes, irish loves their drinks

galway
- take a day trip to connemara
- take a second day trip to cliff of moher and burren
- take a third day trip to aran islands
- special : matchmaking festival at lisdoonvarna (september)
- eat : oysters during oyster festival (september), mcdonagh (best fish & chips)

cork
- day trip to blarney and kiss the blarney stone, also buy some lace
- family day out at fota wildlife park : zoo equivalent
- quick visit to old gaol : it's an old prison
- churches : several of them, quite nice actually

dingle and kerry
- drive around the ring of kerry : absolutely gorgeous scenary
- visit dolphins at dingle : it's friendly and his name is fungie!
- visit muckross house : some english queen stayed there before
- try the jaunting car tour : actually, just horse carriage ride

so, how does land of leprechauns sound to you..?

[JC]

galway
- special : matchmaking festival at lisdoonvarna (september)
- eat : oysters during oyster festival (september), mcdonagh (best fish & chips)
Ireland... here I come.... :D

[Dino]

i went ter with 2 bimbo collegues.....spending most of their time combing their hair to look good at he camera...
1 day 1 roll of film each....s
I nearly lost my patience...miss quite lots of things :o

I went to San Francisco without visiting their Chinatown... imagine tht..

Pity..... :(
San Francisco Chinatown is ok....very much like every other ChinaTown i have been to. So you did not miss much.

[LiLiaN]

Ireland... here I come.... :Dmake it september hor... :D
can go find girl girl after oyster feast...

[Dino]

make it september hor... :D
can go find girl girl after oyster feast...

Errr....he's married with a kid leh....i think he wants to go eat fish and chips!!
:D

[song cm]

Pity..... :(
San Francisco Chinatown is ok....very much like every other ChinaTown i have been to. So you did not miss much.

But I totally love the Golden Gate. Beauuuuutiful........ :D

[song cm]

hmm... decided i should promote ireland a little... hehe... :D

dublin
- see the book of kells at trinity college (i can get you in free, offer valid until sept 2007)
- visit guinness hopstore (where they make guinness)
- glance at "the spire" : just a phallus emblem, don't ask me why they put it in the first place
- pub crawl at temple bar (and around the city)
- go on hop-on hop-off bus : good value, get to know the city very quickly
- visit hill of tara : ancient settlement, currently under threat of motorway construction
- visit newgrange : the oldest monument in the world (600 years older than giza pyramids!)
- special : st patrick's day celebration (17 March)
- eat at : roly's, fitzer's, little caesar's, dune & crescensi, bang, etc etc
- shopping : grafton street, henry street

kilkenny
- visit kilkenny castle : it has toilet that WILL swallow a whole person in!
- check out kilkenny design : place to get some souvenirs and crafts
- join a walking tour : for all the scandals and hearsays from hundreds of years ago
- catch a game of hurling (during season) : weird sport combining football, hockey, baseball, rugby
- tour smithwick's brewery : yes, irish loves their drinks

galway
- take a day trip to connemara
- take a second day trip to cliff of moher and burren
- take a third day trip to aran islands
- special : matchmaking festival at lisdoonvarna (september)
- eat : oysters during oyster festival (september), mcdonagh (best fish & chips)

cork
- day trip to blarney and kiss the blarney stone, also buy some lace
- family day out at fota wildlife park : zoo equivalent
- quick visit to old gaol : it's an old prison
- churches : several of them, quite nice actually

dingle and kerry
- drive around the ring of kerry : absolutely gorgeous scenary
- visit dolphins at dingle : it's friendly and his name is fungie!
- visit muckross house : some english queen stayed there before
- try the jaunting car tour : actually, just horse carriage ride

so, how does land of leprechauns sound to you..?

dem...should hv pop by Ireland when I was in England....I guess I was too worried abt the IRA... :(

[Sila]

ireland sounds cool, lilian. if i come, you take me around eh? :D

New England is what i know:

NYC (technically not new england but close enough): come visit, shop, eat. semua good. go see the Statue of liberty, empire state building, lots of cool museums. i only visit there for weekends n such. never lived there (and wouldn't like to - too many people, too small space). but it is amazingly varied - i even found a halal pizza place, open 24 hours some more :D but expensive - be prepared to pay.

Boston:
historical (of course not as old as europe) but very european looking - cobblestone streets. lived there a long time. beautiful in every season (although don't come in the winter - sounds fun but after 2 hours what are you going to do when it is 20F - roughly equal to -6C which is about normal for january). good museums, good food. Freedom Trail (walkable, quite cool), beautiful architecture. DON'T DRIVE IN BOSTON FOR GOD's SAKE!! the T (subway) is very accessible, plus all walkable. do not miss canolis in the the North End (go to mike's pastries). Boston Symphoni Orchestra v good - got house of blues. John Hancock tower can go and see small documentary on the revolutionary war (1 if by land, 2 if by sea). bunch of different things. if got interest, can PM me. unfortunately i don't live there anymore so can't stay with me. but i love it still even though i moved away.. boston can be expensive but living there as a student i got all kinds of tips for food and stuff. T quite reasonable, can get day passes and that sort of thing.

Maine, New Hampshire: go up and down the coast. good lobster mmmm. in winter can go skiing. don't jump in the seawater, even in late august early september (height of summer) water temperature is about 45F (= 6C). brrrr

[LiLiaN]

Errr....he's married with a kid leh....i think he wants to go eat fish and chips!!
:D
ops! didn't know that... ok, ok.. fish and chips only, fish and chips only...

[LiLiaN]

dem...should hv pop by Ireland when I was in England....I guess I was too worried abt the IRA... :(
aiyah, IRA in northern ireland lar... we here republic very safe one...
i have gone to NI once, it was ok, a bit depressing still even after cease fire...
come 5pm in evening, no one, i repeat, no one on the street, even in Belfast!
cannot talk too much, as there are equipments everywhere listen to your conversation etc...
but the giant causeway is actually good... pretty scenic...

[daBoss]

Errr....he's married with a kid leh....i think he wants to go eat fish and chips!!
:D
good that he's married leh... otherwise lilian will be the target :D

[LiLiaN]

ireland sounds cool, lilian. if i come, you take me around eh? :D
sure, let me know when... :) then i see if i can take more holidays...
(already will be going off 1 month this year in june home to malaysia.. :D )

[JC]

good that he's married leh... otherwise lilian will be the target :D
Aiyo!!! Secret out liao!! :eek: !
But, Lilian, still can contact you when in Ireland, hor?? Need a guide to bring me to good fish&chips, mah.... :p

[LiLiaN]

Aiyo!!! Secret out liao!! :eek: !
But, Lilian, still can contact you when in Ireland, hor?? Need a guide to bring me to good fish&chips, mah.... :p
can, can, no problem... there is a great one in dublin also... :D
helping people from same kampung, can lah...

[Fulat]

OK...lets go international......

My fav city so far.....Prague....so dem lovely esp by the river, followed by London (i am unfortunately a little bias for UK), Salzburg (totally love it), Vienna and Rome.....I didn't like Venice, though....

You like Prague for the sights of the chicks? How about Budapest? I met a topless dancer in Spain who was from Budapest. I tell you.....si pek sui!! somemore, the leg so long, up till my chest!!

[JC]

I met a topless dancer in Spain who was from Budapest. I tell you.....si pek sui!! somemore, the leg so long, up till my chest!!
You must be dem short, then...:D

[LiLiaN]

You like Prague for the sights of the chicks? How about Budapest? I met a topless dancer in Spain who was from Budapest. I tell you.....si pek sui!! somemore, the leg so long, up till my chest!!
prague where got good looking chicks? they're long gone... :D
at least i didn't see many when i was there in june last year...
never been to budapest, anything to recommend..?

[LiLiaN]

ops, sorry, misread.. you were in spain... which part leh..?

[Fulat]

Seattle
Don't come....boring place. :(

I'll second that! Went there twice a few months back. The first trip there, I was pretty excited coz never been to Seattle. Heard or read somewhere that Seattle is a very romantic place with great scenery. When I got there, KNN, I think Sitiawan more fun!! Also, the shopping sucks big time. During my stay there, I received another mail stating that I have to travel back again in a month's time, KNN! suffering not yet over, they ask me to come back again. The 2nd trip was pure agony! The last place I would want to go and I thought Hawaii Big Island was boring.....at least they have a nice beach!!

[daBoss]

...the leg so long, up till my chest!!
wah, very good lo... then your face postion just right liao :D

[Fulat]

Food too expensive-lar... :o
Only managed to get lots & lots of fish & chips... :D

KNN! I ask for ketchup to go with my fish and chips, they ask me for 5p a packet. Only vineger is free. Over here, order 2 pcs of chicken from KFC, take the whole bottle of chilli sauce for free!!

[LiLiaN]

KNN! I ask for ketchup to go with my fish and chips, they ask me for 5p a packet. Only vineger is free. Over here, order 2 pcs of chicken from KFC, take the whole bottle of chilli sauce for free!!
bottle hard to carry everywhere lar... when i was back at home for holiday, go KFC, McDo etc... ask my little cousins all go ask for packet chilli sauce.. then bring them back here! so i got ready supply, while stock last...

anyone knows where i can buy packet chilli sauce in bulk..? :rolleyes:

[Fulat]

I went to San Francisco without visiting their Chinatown... imagine tht..

Chinatown in SF no big deal lah! You didnt miss anything, of course, unless you were craving for chinese food with rice lah! But I went to the fisherman's whaft, all big bull lah! no big deal. I think our gurney drive better. KNN, the americano angmo really know how to make a pariah dog looks like a poodle.

[Fulat]

hmm... decided i should promote ireland a little... hehe... :D

dublin
- see the book of kells at trinity college (i can get you in free, offer valid until sept 2007)
- visit guinness hopstore (where they make guinness)
- glance at "the spire" : just a phallus emblem, don't ask me why they put it in the first place
- pub crawl at temple bar (and around the city)
- go on hop-on hop-off bus : good value, get to know the city very quickly
- visit hill of tara : ancient settlement, currently under threat of motorway construction
- visit newgrange : the oldest monument in the world (600 years older than giza pyramids!)
- special : st patrick's day celebration (17 March)
- eat at : roly's, fitzer's, little caesar's, dune & crescensi, bang, etc etc
- shopping : grafton street, henry street

kilkenny
- visit kilkenny castle : it has toilet that WILL swallow a whole person in!
- check out kilkenny design : place to get some souvenirs and crafts
- join a walking tour : for all the scandals and hearsays from hundreds of years ago
- catch a game of hurling (during season) : weird sport combining football, hockey, baseball, rugby
- tour smithwick's brewery : yes, irish loves their drinks

galway
- take a day trip to connemara
- take a second day trip to cliff of moher and burren
- take a third day trip to aran islands
- special : matchmaking festival at lisdoonvarna (september)
- eat : oysters during oyster festival (september), mcdonagh (best fish & chips)

cork
- day trip to blarney and kiss the blarney stone, also buy some lace
- family day out at fota wildlife park : zoo equivalent
- quick visit to old gaol : it's an old prison
- churches : several of them, quite nice actually

dingle and kerry
- drive around the ring of kerry : absolutely gorgeous scenary
- visit dolphins at dingle : it's friendly and his name is fungie!
- visit muckross house : some english queen stayed there before
- try the jaunting car tour : actually, just horse carriage ride

so, how does land of leprechauns sound to you..?

Sounds quite boring leh! I think I just go window shopping in Amsterdam

[LiLiaN]

Sounds quite boring leh! I think I just go window shopping in Amsterdam
"THOSE" windows... hmm...
(at least i know what kind of holiday you're searching for...) :p

[Fulat]

wah, very good lo... then your face postion just right liao :D

KNN! you are really daBoss lah! I never thought about it! Save the trouble of bending down.

[LiLiaN]

wow fulat... you're on fire today! :cool:

[Fulat]

anyone knows where i can buy packet chilli sauce in bulk..? :rolleyes:

I can sell you. Got loads at home from my collection from take aways. Prices are negotiable but cash term in local currency only.

[LiLiaN]

I can sell you. Got loads at home from my collection from take aways. Prices are negotiable but cash term in local currency only.
got expired or not...? cash in local currency no problemo... :D

[Dino]

Waaahhhh Fulat.....i share same views with you ahh???
Seattle....man....boring as hell.....a lot of Starbucks around but....thats about it!!!
Yup....SF ChinaTown.....nothing to see.....Fisherman's Whaft.....errr....very overated!!!

[piglet]

Chinatown in SF no big deal lah! You didnt miss anything, of course, unless you were craving for chinese food with rice lah! But I went to the fisherman's whaft, all big bull lah! no big deal. I think our gurney drive better. KNN, the americano angmo really know how to make a pariah dog looks like a poodle.

but i think the chinese food in chinatown (in new york..expecially hongkong eatery) is nicer thn the chinese food back here..

[LiLiaN]

chinese food in dublin is so-so only... a bit bland...

[piglet]

I like melbourne chinese food... it's really nice.. the tim sum is really superb... can't find such a nice timsum in s'pore...

[LiLiaN]

I like melbourne chinese food... it's really nice.. the tim sum is really superb... can't find such a nice timsum in s'pore...
want dimsum have to go hong kong/ china/ taiwan...
my uncle bought some taiwan biscuits the other day, no preservative ones, really good... yumm...

[piglet]

want dimsum have to go hong kong/ china/ taiwan...
my uncle bought some taiwan biscuits the other day, no preservative ones, really good... yumm...

the round bicuit in a red box.... ?

[LiLiaN]

the round bicuit in a red box.... ?
he bought some pineapply ones... in beautiful traditional chinese drawing box...
then also something like tau sar biscuit in brown box with calligraphy writing...

[piglet]

he bought some pineapply ones... in beautiful traditional chinese drawing box...
then also something like tau sar biscuit in brown box with calligraphy writing...

if I not mistaken.. is it called "tai yan bin"

[daLady]

eh...this is becoming like the food thread....continue in makan time okie?

[LiLiaN]

eh...this is becoming like the food thread....continue in makan time okie?
ops... yeah hor... now, anyone else to share travel tips etc..?
i now no time to dig into my brain... tomorrow ok... we go to paris... :)

[Diong_Gar_Loon]

OK...lets go international......

My fav city so far.....Prague....so dem lovely esp by the river, followed by London (i am unfortunately a little bias for UK), Salzburg (totally love it), Vienna and Rome.....I didn't like Venice, though....
The one thing I like about Prague is that the things are cheap. Three course meal you get it for RM10. A pint of beer you get it for RM2.00. Heaven for beer drinker.

[Diong_Gar_Loon]

prague where got good looking chicks? they're long gone... :D
at least i didn't see many when i was there in june last year...
never been to budapest, anything to recommend..?
hungary in budapest has lots of nice places to take pics. highly recommended.

[song cm]

hungary in budapest has lots of nice places to take pics. highly recommended.

Yah....Budapest is similar to Prague...those gothic Eastern European cities...furthermore, things are slightly cheaper than other Western European cities. I totally loved Prague (my fav city) and would have loved Budapest, but didn't visit Budapest when I was in Europe becoz they require a visa.... :(

[LiLiaN]

Yah....Budapest is similar to Prague...those gothic Eastern European cities...furthermore, things are slightly cheaper than other Western European cities. I totally loved Prague (my fav city) and would have loved Budapest, but didn't visit Budapest when I was in Europe becoz they require a visa.... :(
are you sure u need visa to budapest..? the last i check (june 2004) there's no need for visa for malaysian to either prague or budapest... i was considering going both places on top of vienna mah... but ended up too much hassles so was in vienna and prague... (actually that trip was more like paris-rome-munich-vienna-prague)... :D

[song cm]

are you sure u need visa to budapest..? the last i check (june 2004) there's no need for visa for malaysian to either prague or budapest... i was considering going both places on top of vienna mah... but ended up too much hassles so was in vienna and prague... (actually that trip was more like paris-rome-munich-vienna-prague)... :D

yah, u need....13 yrs ago lah.... :o
Did u like prague?
Which of the 5 cities u like most?
For me...Prague, Vienna, Rome, Paris, Munich

[LiLiaN]

yah, u need....13 yrs ago lah.... :o
Did u like prague?
Which of the 5 cities u like most?
For me...Prague, Vienna, Rome, Paris, Munich
wah... cannot ask me to choose one lar... each got different value to me...

i do like prague, wish i had more time there though...

the most sentimental one would be paris...
but if i had to choose, rome would be my favourite..
i love italy, for some reason, the places "speak" to me... :)

[song cm]

wah... cannot ask me to choose one lar... each got different value to me...

i do like prague, wish i had more time there though...

the most sentimental one would be paris...
but if i had to choose, rome would be my favourite..
i love italy, for some reason, the places "speak" to me... :)
hmm..wonder wat happened in Paris.... :p
If u like Italy, u would hv loved Florence.....

[LiLiaN]

hmm..wonder wat happened in Paris.... :p
If u like Italy, u would hv loved Florence.....
no lar, paris is like second home...
(actually, ex-bf lived there, so was there like 6 times a year or so...!
now, no more, but still love paris as it's so familiar and now that i speak some french, people are so nice...)

oh, florence is good... but verona is even better...
actually, scrap that, too many places i've gone in italy...
and i do ended up loving them all... just so beautiful...

[Fulat]

but i think the chinese food in chinatown (in new york..expecially hongkong eatery) is nicer thn the chinese food back here..

I Beg to differ. Even when I went to Hong Kong, with very high expectation of their supposingly good cantonese food, I was dissappointed. I think Beijing Restaurant or Back Street in Kampung koh much much better with the sweet & spicy pork ribs, fish floats with sea cucumber, or jian hock chew style anytime better. So far, in all my travels which I get to eat in good restaurants coz company pay, I have yet to have a particular chinese restaurant that I have been to that is memorable. The only good food I can remember is Klang Bak Kuh teh, German Style Pork leg in Sentul, pei pah duck in Jln Pudu, Best Char Siew in the world in Jln Alor, Tom Yam prawn in Jln Pudu, Assam Fish head in SS2 and Ipon, Jln Yan Kalsom...etc and these places are all in Malaysia.

Malaysia Boleh!!

[Fulat]

I like melbourne chinese food... it's really nice.. the tim sum is really superb... can't find such a nice timsum in s'pore...

Singapore food is crap! looks good only but crap!

[Fulat]

Brazilian girls anyone? Go to Copacabana or Ipanema Beach, your eyes will pop out! It is not that Brazilian girls are extremely beautiful, but they do have extremely hot bods! Their front {edited: reworded} are as big as Warhammer's head. Find a topless brazilian women on the beach or at the streets is easy as finding jaga kereta boys in KL after dark.

Was told by some visiting American men (lots of american's as it is their alternative to the european's Phuket) that the local chicks likes it up their a*** {edited: reworded}!! Go check it out!

[Linkinfark]

Ladies & gentlemen, when it comes to food, Fulat is the connoisseur. He introduced me to lots of good eating places in KL.. :D
Don't know whether Star Metro needs another food columnist?!

[piglet]

I Beg to differ. Even when I went to Hong Kong, with very high expectation of their supposingly good cantonese food, I was dissappointed. I think Beijing Restaurant or Back Street in Kampung koh much much better with the sweet & spicy pork ribs, fish floats with sea cucumber, or jian hock chew style anytime better. So far, in all my travels which I get to eat in good restaurants coz company pay, I have yet to have a particular chinese restaurant that I have been to that is memorable. The only good food I can remember is Klang Bak Kuh teh, German Style Pork leg in Sentul, pei pah duck in Jln Pudu, Best Char Siew in the world in Jln Alor, Tom Yam prawn in Jln Pudu, Assam Fish head in SS2 and Ipon, Jln Yan Kalsom...etc and these places are all in Malaysia.

Malaysia Boleh!!

I think u must go to Ayer Tawar, Han Seong ..and their try sweet & spicy pork ribs .. it's really good.
Pork Leg... there's one Hakka restaraunt in KL... it's their signature dish... must try..

[piglet]

Fulat .. if u like to eat... u can try visiting Taiwan...

[LiLiaN]

as promised, we go makan angin in paris today... :)

places to see: long list, but cannot miss...
- eiffel tower, arc de triomphe and champs elysees, louvre (mona lisa, venus of milo), sacre coeur cathedral, opera, musee d'orsay, notre dame cathedral, hotel du ville, pont neuf, pompidou centre, jardin luxembourg, jardin du palais, pantheon... etc etc etc...

some (often) overlooked gems:
- museum of erotic art in montmarte
- musee rodin
- bois de vincennes
- place de vosges
- parc du buttes-chaumont
- paris canal

some of my favourite eateries:
- krung thep : fantastic thai food (cash only, no credit card), rue Julien-Lacroix
- le petit troquet : at 7th arrondisment, rue de l'Exposition
can't really remember the name of the other places now... can only imagine them in my head...
but i do know the bakery of the road to rue de l'Exposition has the best croissant...!
and if you are at quartier latin, get some crepe there... ask for butter and sugar...or nutella..

[daBoss]

lilian, you must be the best travelled forummer... been to the american continent or anywhere else in asia (besides malaysia/singapore)?

i bet you got tons and tons of photos :D

[LiLiaN]

lilian, you must be the best travelled forummer... been to the american continent or anywhere else in asia (besides malaysia/singapore)?

i bet you got tons and tons of photos :D
neh, i won't say i'm best travelled forumer... bet there are lots of people here also travel, just a bit shy to share....

i do travel a good bit in europe.. since i'm living here, why not..? there's always cheap flights, then friends to stay with (and therefore free tour guide!)...i try to travel whenever i have holidays...

i have never been to the states... don't know why but never really have the urge to go there... i absolutely love europe though, from country to country, everything is different, that it's challenging to travel... the culture is so rich, and i love the sounds of the different languages...

asia - have only been around malaysia, singapore and a bit of southern thailand... was in thailand with interact club on student exchange... that's it... remember i moved here when i was 18... so prior to that, too young to go travelling by myself or with friends...

hehe... got some photos... hmm... got what gu wat...??? :rolleyes:

[LiLiaN]

this summer hoping to go to australia if my friend kim is there and not back in malaysia for holiday.... so now, have to save $$$$....

[Diong_Gar_Loon]

Yah....Budapest is similar to Prague...those gothic Eastern European cities...furthermore, things are slightly cheaper than other Western European cities. I totally loved Prague (my fav city) and would have loved Budapest, but didn't visit Budapest when I was in Europe becoz they require a visa.... :(
i like praque for one good reason. i can stop eating bread and tuna. when i did the europe tour, i had limited budget for it. went to switzerland first, next was munich and everything was bloody expensive. went on a bread and tuna diet for a week until i was kinda sick of the smell of fish.

[Diong_Gar_Loon]

this summer hoping to go to australia if my friend kim is there and not back in malaysia for holiday.... so now, have to save $$$$....
australia would probably be my next destination.

[LiLiaN]

i like praque for one good reason. i can stop eating bread and tuna. when i did the europe tour, i had limited budget for it. went to switzerland first, next was munich and everything was bloody expensive. went on a bread and tuna diet for a week until i was kinda sick of the smell of fish.heard switzerland very expensive... munich actually quite cheap ler... must go to the market near the glockenspiel... get fresh meatloaf and bread for 2euro!

[LiLiaN]

why bread and tuna? can have bread and cheese... germany got lots of wurst to get (just not the bloodwurst, a bit geli!)..

[LiLiaN]

managed to dig up some digital pics and upload it... of paris!


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/lilianl/sacre_coeur.jpg
sacre-coeur cathedral at montmarte...


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/lilianl/louis_vuitton.jpg
shop front of louis vuitton on champs elysees while under renovation..


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/lilianl/paris_plage.jpg
in summer, the beach will come to you in paris...


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/lilianl/arc_de_triomphe.jpg
the famous arc de triomphe by etoile...

[LiLiaN]

fun place to be when you're in paris and have plenty of time to kill...
take a day trip out to eurodisney - either the classic park or disney studio...
better, get a ticket, go to the studio, by 5pm, can enter classic park...
otherwise, the more expensive combi ticket can get you in both parks at all time!

here are some pics... (hope my bro won't kill me for sticking in his faces too!)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/lilianl/bj_adventureland.jpg
my bro at adventureland of the classic park...


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/lilianl/bj_mickey_lil.jpg
mickey, me and my bro at exit of aerosmith's rock and roll rollercoaster..
one of the best rollercoaster i've been... background, that's aerosmith tour bus!
(hmm... gamber a bit cacat after resizing...)


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/lilianl/eurodisney.jpg
me at entrance of classic park... this is an old pic taken a couple of years back...

[Dino]

why bread and tuna? can have bread and cheese... germany got lots of wurst to get (just not the bloodwurst, a bit geli!)..

Ooooohh.....wurst......and beer......yumm................

[LiLiaN]

Ooooohh.....wurst......and beer......yumm................
don't tell me you went on the beer trail - one litre for each munich brew...!

[Dino]

don't tell me you went on the beer trail - one litre for each munich brew...!

No laaa.....was introduced to it when i was in UK. :o

[LiLiaN]

No laaa.....was introduced to it when i was in UK. :o
not too bad then.. uk only use pint... was a bit shock with german drinking in litres! must try octoberfest someday.. should be interesting... ;)

[Dino]

not too bad then.. uk only use pint... was a bit shock with german drinking in litres! must try octoberfest someday.. should be interesting... ;)

Hehehehehe......1 pint enough for me. Although i've see some ppl drinking 10-15 pints non stop!

[Sarah]

ohh ... lilian, that's you ar.. i think i remember you already... but did u gain a bit of weight?? No offense, just that I had a feeling you were thinner last time...

[LiLiaN]

ohh ... lilian, that's you ar.. i think i remember you already... but did u gain a bit of weight?? No offense, just that I had a feeling you were thinner last time...don't worry no offense taken... time when photo was taken was right after exam... of which during study period (2 months!) for finals, stress = turning for comfort food... plus no exercise whatsoever as i hardly leave the house... really bad idea... :p

also, since living here, develop real liking to cream, cheese and whole lot of dairy product... bad, but good things are always bad anyway... :D

[LiLiaN]

Hehehehehe......1 pint enough for me. Although i've see some ppl drinking 10-15 pints non stop!yeah but in munich, every beer place only serve one particular brew of beer... and there are 5-6 authentic brew... i know people who went for all of them in a night!

[song cm]

don't worry no offense taken... time when photo was taken was right after exam... of which during study period (2 months!) for finals, stress = turning for comfort food... plus no exercise whatsoever as i hardly leave the house... really bad idea... :p

also, since living here, develop real liking to cream, cheese and whole lot of dairy product... bad, but good things are always bad anyway... :D

Aiyah...dem...can't view the pics from my ofis...must go back n see them... :D

[LiLiaN]

Aiyah...dem...can't view the pics from my ofis...must go back n see them... :Dcannot show your brother hor... after he shock... :D

[song cm]

cannot show your brother hor... after he shock... :D

ohh... i thot u meant, after he syoik... :D

[athena]

ohh... i thot u meant, after he syoik... :D
hahaha..i nearly forgot, ur bro and lilian same year wan hor...btw, lilian, the pics are great...hope that you share more :!!!!

[song cm]

hahaha..i nearly forgot, ur bro and lilian same year wan hor...btw, lilian, the pics are great...hope that you share more :!!!!
hmm...did anythin happen during schooldays dat I should know?? :D

[athena]

hmm...did anythin happen during schooldays dat I should know?? :D
hahahaha..i won't know la...i'm a year younger...we miss out a lot of juicy stuff from other years...hehe...i think my year too much juice :D

[Diong_Gar_Loon]

heard switzerland very expensive... munich actually quite cheap ler... must go to the market near the glockenspiel... get fresh meatloaf and bread for 2euro!
switzerland was expensive but was well worth it. went up to Mount Titlis by a cable car which rotates 360 degress non-stop so that you get a good view of the surrounding. wanted to visit the mountain where they shot james bond movie but didn't have the time. i visited geneva, interlaker and zurich. geneva was the best but of all the places i visited, i liked venice, rome and monte carlo.

as for munich, it was a short trip before prague. they had one litre beer glasses and you have to hold it with two hands. one of that nearly killed me. the sausages were great.

for those planning on honey moon trip, venice is highly recommended.

[Diong_Gar_Loon]

why bread and tuna? can have bread and cheese... germany got lots of wurst to get (just not the bloodwurst, a bit geli!)..
why i chose tuna was because in europe, you can get tuna paste in a colgate tube form. just imagine spreading colgate on your bread. it was very convienient as you do not need can openers and to dispose it was very easy.

[Sarah]

don't worry no offense taken... time when photo was taken was right after exam... of which during study period (2 months!) for finals, stress = turning for comfort food... plus no exercise whatsoever as i hardly leave the house... really bad idea... :p

also, since living here, develop real liking to cream, cheese and whole lot of dairy product... bad, but good things are always bad anyway... :D

ohh yeayea...i understand...:) but one good thing abt living in overseas is that complexion will be nicer hor..i see that ur complexion is good!:)

[Policegirl88]

prague where got good looking chicks? they're long gone... :D
at least i didn't see many when i was there in june last year...
never been to budapest, anything to recommend..?

architectural building and if you love jewel like garnet stone...

[Policegirl88]

switzerland was expensive but was well worth it. went up to Mount Titlis by a cable car which rotates 360 degress non-stop so that you get a good view of the surrounding. wanted to visit the mountain where they shot james bond movie but didn't have the time. i visited geneva, interlaker and zurich. geneva was the best but of all the places i visited, i liked venice, rome and monte carlo.

as for munich, it was a short trip before prague. they had one litre beer glasses and you have to hold it with two hands. one of that nearly killed me. the sausages were great.

for those planning on honey moon trip, venice is highly recommended.

agreed with diong gar loon.... swiss is lovely place to visit but yes expensive. is about same price to go to aussie.

so diong, have been to lausanne, lucerne, etc...

[song cm]

agreed with diong gar loon.... swiss is lovely place to visit but yes expensive. is about same price to go to aussie.

so diong, have been to lausanne, lucerne, etc...
i was at lucerne b4 the wooden bridge was burnt down....

[Policegirl88]

i was at lucerne b4 the wooden bridge was burnt down....

same here... but was later when they did renovation on....

[song cm]

same here... but was later when they did renovation on....

so...u could be as old as me?? :confused: :D

[Policegirl88]

so...u could be as old as me?? :confused: :D

not really... i was there on line of duty.

[song cm]

not really... i was there on line of duty.
sure...lemme guess...the bridge was burnt 1 to 2 years after I went...so, my guess is u r either class 88 or 89.....correcto?? :cool:

[Diong_Gar_Loon]

agreed with diong gar loon.... swiss is lovely place to visit but yes expensive. is about same price to go to aussie.

so diong, have been to lausanne, lucerne, etc...
yeap I have been to lucerne. nothing much there. need to pass by there to go up Mount Titlis.

how about you??? wanna share your experience with us. i kinda regretted not doing the skiing thingy.

[Policegirl88]

yeap I have been to lucerne. nothing much there. need to pass by there to go up Mount Titlis.

how about you??? wanna share your experience with us. i kinda regretted not doing the skiing thingy.

the last trip was turkey... something different which you can experience 2 world, europe and asia.

as overall, i still perfered SWISS :)

[Policegirl88]

sure...lemme guess...the bridge was burnt 1 to 2 years after I went...so, my guess is u r either class 88 or 89.....correcto?? :cool:

nah... i'm 5 years your junior.

[siewjang]

:eek: You are from Class '92 :eek:

[LiLiaN]

hmm...did anythin happen during schooldays dat I should know?? :D
nope, nada, nothing, zilch... (and this is not a case of the lady doth protest too much...) :D
he used to go out with one of my best friends alright....

[LiLiaN]

hahaha..i nearly forgot, ur bro and lilian same year wan hor...btw, lilian, the pics are great...hope that you share more :!!!!
thanks athena! actually have quite limited digital version of pics.. except for those taken last year in the summer... the rest may have to get them scanned...

[LiLiaN]

why i chose tuna was because in europe, you can get tuna paste in a colgate tube form. just imagine spreading colgate on your bread. it was very convienient as you do not need can openers and to dispose it was very easy.
hmm, really? must go and check at supermarket the next time i go there... for me, travel means to have fun and to eat local food... could be pricey but that's my splurging point... luckily, as daLady has pointed out before, earn here spend here so not bad... in fact, most places in europe is cheaper than ireland!

[LiLiaN]

this is something that will cheer people up about the difference of culture in europe and in italy... and turn on the volume!

http://users.pandora.be/stefdirrix/flash/italy.htm

[piglet]

fun place to be when you're in paris and have plenty of time to kill...
take a day trip out to eurodisney - either the classic park or disney studio...
better, get a ticket, go to the studio, by 5pm, can enter classic park...
otherwise, the more expensive combi ticket can get you in both parks at all time!

here are some pics...

becareful.. lilian..of 458

[LiLiaN]

becareful.. lilian..of 458
458? :confused:

[daBoss]

wah, all this travel talk really make me sad lah... in the past 9-10 years, i only had one holiday - that oso only to korea with dalady because it was so cheap... :(

[LiLiaN]

wah, all this travel talk really make me sad lah... in the past 9-10 years, i only had one holiday - that oso only to korea with dalady because it was so cheap... :(there'll be plenty of chance to travel... i'm travelling now just to take advantange of student discount... i can see a "dry holiday spell" for me this year... i no longer have 4 months summer holiday to work for money to travel...

[Fulat]

Fulat .. if u like to eat... u can try visiting Taiwan...

What is in Taiwan? Was invited to join my friends for a vacation there about 2 years ago but decided not to coz heard from quite a few people, there is really nothing much to do there.

Anyway, the only interesting Taiwan I know is in Ipoh, along Jalan Kampar. There was also this place in SEA park called Rumah Awan Taiwan, havent been there though to verify if it is exciting.

Linkinfark, Ball Ung, Alka, Cireria, Ausman any comments?

[piglet]

What is in Taiwan? Was invited to join my friends for a vacation there about 2 years ago but decided not to coz heard from quite a few people, there is really nothing much to do there.

Anyway, the only interesting Taiwan I know is in Ipoh, along Jalan Kampar. There was also this place in SEA park called Rumah Awan Taiwan, havent been there though to verify if it is exciting.

Linkinfark, Ball Ung, Alka, Cireria, Ausman any comments?

nothing much in Taiwan except if u like to EAT

[Sila]

last year i went to jamaica for xmas, and it was really an experience! lucky for me, one of my former roommates from college was from jamaica, so she and her family drove me around the island to go look at things which are not really on the tourist trail.

things not to miss in jamaica:
* Dunn Falls (one of the biggest attractions, can walk up the waterfalls and it is HUGE with a guide - lots of handholding, bit like a chain gang, wear good watershoes, get ready to be wet)
* Reich Falls (quieter, more out of the way, but still very cool. water a bit cold due to it coming from the mountains and all)
* Ocho Rios - lots of duty free shopping, for those who like to shop. i looked around and bought a few gifts, but i would rather hang out and sit on my balcony, look at the caribbean sea, enjoy a refreshing coke and read a good book
* we went to this old church in Spanishtown (close to Kingston), i forget what it's called now, but for those interested in history, the Spanish Conquistadors "founded" Jamaica and the church dates back from the 1400s
* also we visited a plantation house - the spanish killed off the native "Arawaks" and brought in slaves from africa and you can learn about it in the museums, quite interesting really, PLUS if you have to drive, jamaica, like us drives on the same side of the road as the british (so i was voted as substitute driver when my roomie's sister was busy)
* went to a local play about the history of jamaica and xmas, which was quite funny and something normal tourists wouldn't have gone to, which is their loss.

as for food, they have a variety of foods there since they also have a large population of south asians living there (although i thought everyone looked very similar, mon, no real differences). some stuff you must try if in jamaica:

* curried goat with rice and peas (rice and peas is a variation of nasi lemak with some kidney beans)
* ackee and salt fish (mmmmm - jamaican national dish)
* escovitch fresh fish
* jerked chicken (pedas! sedap! i bought jerked chicken sauce in a bottle so i can make it later) and festival (corn flour dumplings)

if you go with orang putihs, in kingston, ocho rios and practically every else you will be HOUNDED by people trying to get you to buy this or give them money. seriously, a huge pain. and in kingston, we did not go out at night without my friend and her family. no joke.

all in all, it was a fun time and we did "cultural enrichment" stuff as well as beach/waterfall fun. most people go there are in an "all inclusive" place, and if so you will probably miss out on everything listed above (except Dunn falls, that is a big attraction). but if you are going there without a local as a trusted friend and guide, i do not recommend you go to jamaica unless you go to an all inclusive.

[LiLiaN]

hmm... so look like jamaica won't make my "to travel to" list anytime soon... i don't know any jamaicans and i don't like to go on all inclusive type of holiday... part of the fun in travel is deciding where to go and what to do... not waking up 7am in morning to catch the morning bus call...

[Sila]

i agree lilian, i hate the all inclusive type hotels. i love being able to go and see things when i want to, and find out what the locals like to do and eat and feel like i'm in the place i'm visiting. in an all inclusive, i might be in malaysia or ireland, or even in ohio, except for the beach and weather! but jamaica was so beautiful though - we actually visited a few other waterfalls and they were all wonderful and the few out of the way ones were really cool. also the historical and cultural explorations included an old british fort where they fought the pirates (of the caribbeans) like Captain Morgan and all that. it was really a wonderful experience so start making friends with jamaicans!

:D

[LiLiaN]

haven't came across any jamaicans here in ireland... and i was heavily involved with the international students society in my last uni where i was an undergrad... so i would have met some if there's any of them here...many of the people i know here love those all inclusive packages.. moreover, they take packages to go to beach resort where they can do nothing but sit on the beach, then drink all day... hence why i hardly will want to go on holiday with my friends here... one girl i know insisted on going to McDo everywhere we went on a trip, gosh!!!

[LiLiaN]

sila, post some jamaican holiday pics here!! please... :)

[Sila]

sila, post some jamaican holiday pics here!! please... :)

i am going to have to dig them up and scan them in lah. am one of the few undigitized photo people left (will get a digital camera soon, i promise). so when i have time i will scan a few pics and post, k?

[LiLiaN]

i am going to have to dig them up and scan them in lah. am one of the few undigitized photo people left (will get a digital camera soon, i promise). so when i have time i will scan a few pics and post, k?
that'll be fantastic! (my digital tech only came about very recently also...)

[Dino]

I'll go to the Tulip festival this year and post some pictures for you all. Should be around April.

[LiLiaN]

I'll go to the Tulip festival this year and post some pictures for you all. Should be around April.
yay, would be great as i absolutely love tulips!!! :)
will be looking forward to that...

[Dino]

yay, would be great as i absolutely love tulips!!! :)
will be looking forward to that...

I recall the first time seeing a field of blooming tulips. Jaw drop to see such beautiful field of colors.

[LiLiaN]

I recall the first time seeing a field of blooming tulips. Jaw drop to see such beautiful field of colors.
it is wonderful! it's so simple, just bright cheerful colours... make a really effective bouquet just on its own without babybreath etc etc... beat roses at all rate for me...

[daBoss]

tulips? nice? you guys must be joking - i bet it's just the image and branding that the dutch have invested into tulips. i think it's a real boring flower...

i was in a huge tulip farm near amsterdam once and while the other people were pretending to be amazed with the tulips, i was busy looking for food :D

[LiLiaN]

tulips? nice? you guys must be joking - i bet it's just the image and branding that the dutch have invested into tulips. i think it's a real boring flower...

i was in a huge tulip farm near amsterdam once and while the other people were pretending to be amazed with the tulips, i was busy looking for food :D
it's not just tulips... i love flowers that look "neat"... tulips, lilies (nothing to do with my name, i swear!), orchids etc...
don't really fancy "busy" flowers like crysanthemum (unless as tea!), carnation etc... the exception: daisies... :)

[Sila]

it's not just tulips... i love flowers that look "neat"... tulips, lilies (nothing to do with my name, i swear!), orchids etc...
don't really fancy "busy" flowers like crysanthemum (unless as tea!), carnation etc... the exception: daisies... :)

i'm with you lilian. orchids, tulips and lilies are what i like. and daisies are SO cheerful, and quite simple. like a poor man's chrysanthemum :D 8 daisies maybe have enough petals to make 1 chrysanthemum. come to it, i actually like dandelions even, and wildflowers. hate the silly american notion that a lawn has to be perfectly uniform green... :(

[LiLiaN]

i'm with you lilian. orchids, tulips and lilies are what i like. and daisies are SO cheerful, and quite simple. like a poor man's chrysanthemum :D 8 daisies maybe have enough petals to make 1 chrysanthemum. come to it, i actually like dandelions even, and wildflowers. hate the silly american notion that a lawn has to be perfectly uniform green... :(
oh no! uniformly green lawn... not pretty... i love garden with colours, some low height shrubberies, with simple flowers....

my aunt and my uncle kept a great garden... there are flowers of all colours, the daffodils are due to bloom in another couple of months, and right after that the tulips... in the summer the roses bloom (my aunt loves roses so my uncle bought like, 20 types, and planted them!)... there are also pansies by the driveway, some broad leaves plants, apple trees, plus evergreens... and of course, the teeny daisies growing on the lawn as the weather gets warming and i'll be sitting out, making daisy chains... :)

[Dino]

tulips? nice? you guys must be joking - i bet it's just the image and branding that the dutch have invested into tulips. i think it's a real boring flower...

i was in a huge tulip farm near amsterdam once and while the other people were pretending to be amazed with the tulips, i was busy looking for food :D

Individual tulips are quite hopeless i would say but when u see the whole field full of it, quite nice actually.

[Sila]

oh no! uniformly green lawn... not pretty... i love garden with colours, some low height shrubberies, with simple flowers....

my aunt and my uncle kept a great garden... there are flowers of all colours, the daffodils are due to bloom in another couple of months, and right after that the tulips... in the summer the roses bloom (my aunt loves roses so my uncle bought like, 20 types, and planted them!)... there are also pansies by the driveway, some broad leaves plants, apple trees, plus evergreens... and of course, the teeny daisies growing on the lawn as the weather gets warming and i'll be sitting out, making daisy chains... :)

dino, i think even 1 simple tulip is preferable to a fancy flower.

i planted about 20 bulbs (tulips, narcissi, etc.) in my garden this autumn, but looks like at least half of them have been dug up. damn squirrels - i KNEW they were watching me when i was planting those things... we'll see if any of them come up in the spring. but i am a terrible gardener - suka tengok saja. my mom is the one with the green thumb.

to keep to the travel topic - i went to florida for xmas. flew in to miami and then spent most of my time in key west. miami - eeeeeh whatever lah. too citified and "cool" for me. overly hyped only. Key West however, was extremely extremely more my taste. the old town is quaint (although so many tourists...aiyaaa), they have kept the original architecture and there are so many big trees. everything is within walking distance. went to the Hemingway House and that was something else (put a few of his books on my reading list just because i saw where he wrote them). can go scuba diving, snorkeling, canoeing all the normal water sports. swim with dolphins also can. when i was snorkeling, someone in my crew saw a 10-foot shark. luckily i did not see it or i would've freaked out. supposed to just leave it alone and it will leave us alone (which luckily it did). those who want to party can "Start the Crawl at Zero Duvall" - many bars and things on duvall street (and indeed throughout key west) so it's a big party scene. i avoided it like the plague - aiya i'm all partied out la - but i did walk down duvall quite a bit - some nice outdoor restaurants. must try conch fritters if you are there - like cucur udang but with conch instead. mmmm. i should have brought my kg koh chili sauce - would've been better ;) and must try key lime pie, v good stuff.

there's a HUGE kapok tree that i liked a lot on one of the side streets and a grove of banyans that is just frankly, awesome. all intertwined - the root systems about as big as the tree itself. it had to have been at least 100 years old. made me homesick for sitiawan before they cut down all the trees by where the old sitiawan wet market used to be, with the ferns growing on the branches...

it's amazing - only 150 miles from Cuba (cuba libre!), doesn't feel like you're in the states. if can get rid of the hordes of tourists, even better! but i had a wonderful time - so steeped in history. went to some museums, including the Wreckers Museum - they have had many shipwrecks dating back from the spanish empire so they've been diving and recovering some centuries old gold, silver and the like. it was very cool.

if you go there, go to Abbondanza - great italian food at a very reasonable price, and believe me, will have enough leftovers to eat 2 lunches... :D

[euj]

italy was beautiful and the people were lovely, but i have to say, the best place to live is australia. lovely beaches, great lifestyle, relaxed people...is this off track?

[LiLiaN]

italy was beautiful and the people were lovely, but i have to say, the best place to live is australia. lovely beaches, great lifestyle, relaxed people...is this off track?
no, you're not off track at all.... and you're right, italy is beautiful (try to check back the thread by about 5-6 pages i think, there's a link to see a small cartoon of "italians vs europeans"... you'll find it funny...)

give us your recommendations of what to do and what to see in australia.. and post some pics if you can... :)

[daBoss]

yeah, but italy (and spain) are more 'dangerous' than the northern european countries...

we were travelling in a group - my friend got pick-pocketed, 2 hooligans stalked us, we saw a bunch of kids harass an old lady (while trying to steal stuff from her bag), etc. i admit that i didn't feel safe at all. the french may be snobbish but at least i felt safe in france.

[song cm]

yeah, but italy (and spain) are more 'dangerous' than the northern european countries...

we were travelling in a group - my friend got pick-pocketed, 2 hooligans stalked us, we saw a bunch of kids harass an old lady (while trying to steal stuff from her bag), etc. i admit that i didn't feel safe at all. the french may be snobbish but at least i felt safe in france.
very true....they say the more south u go in Europe, the worst it gets...
we didn't even dare to go to Sicily......

[euj]

no, you're not off track at all.... and you're right, italy is beautiful (try to check back the thread by about 5-6 pages i think, there's a link to see a small cartoon of "italians vs europeans"... you'll find it funny...)

give us your recommendations of what to do and what to see in australia.. and post some pics if you can... :)
australia is so big. depends which city you go to.
perth - lovely scenery, great lifestyle. great for outdoor stuff, especially with regards to beach and river.
melb - very european. very similiar to parts of western europe. great for eating out and shopping in the small streest around the city. great for eating out and having coffess.
sydney - great for partying/discoing. great night life, but very wanky people.
how do i put pictures in my post rather than just a link to a website?

[LiLiaN]

yeah, but italy (and spain) are more 'dangerous' than the northern european countries...

we were travelling in a group - my friend got pick-pocketed, 2 hooligans stalked us, we saw a bunch of kids harass an old lady (while trying to steal stuff from her bag), etc. i admit that i didn't feel safe at all. the french may be snobbish but at least i felt safe in france.
really..? i feel perfectly safe in italy, even on my own... the only nuisance is guys who tried to chat me up... (of which i would point to my gold "wedding" ring... plus pretend good-naturedly that i don't understand them...)

can't say how spain is as i was there with spanish friends... but yes, france is very safe (and the people are not that snobbish, they are just not friendly to strangers they don't know)...

anyway, no matter where you go though, you'll need to be savvy about your belongings... pickpockets etc are everywhere, not just in italy... you'll want to act as if you're sure of where you are going, what you are doing... in another word, observe the locals and do what they do.... walk past these people selamba, especially to street vendors who try to sell you something or trying to "borrow" your wrist to make colourful bands etc...

always, always, never parade your valuables openly (as the guidebook says e.g. hanging out brand new camera around your neck is equivalent to advertising to others that you are a tourist and you have a brand new valuable and it says "please steal me"...)...

[LiLiaN]

very true....they say the more south u go in Europe, the worst it gets...
we didn't even dare to go to Sicily......
well, i think sicily is a class of its own... and yes, even i won't venture there by myself...

[LiLiaN]

australia is so big. depends which city you go to.
perth - lovely scenery, great lifestyle. great for outdoor stuff, especially with regards to beach and river.
melb - very european. very similiar to parts of western europe. great for eating out and shopping in the small streest around the city. great for eating out and having coffess.
sydney - great for partying/discoing. great night life, but very wanky people.
how do i put pictures in my post rather than just a link to a website?
well, then you can do them in instalments... :) i am thinking of going to melbourne at some point, for a start...

you'll need to load your pics to someplace that will give you weblink... refer to "suggestion and feedback" thread at the very top of the page.. it's really easy to use...

[euj]

well, then you can do them in instalments... :) i am thinking of going to melbourne at some point, for a start...

you'll need to load your pics to someplace that will give you weblink... refer to "suggestion and feedback" thread at the very top of the page.. it's really easy to use...
ok. thanks for the tip. melbourne is my favourite city in australia. make sure you have lunch or coffee in carlton - lygon st. it's like a little italy. then you can go shopping in the city - collins st, little collins, burke st...then you have to make a pilgrimage to the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground). it's the biggest rugby/cricket pitch in the southern hemisphere. and you can have dinner in Toorak, St Kilda. also shopping is great in Chapel St.

[LiLiaN]

ok. thanks for the tip. melbourne is my favourite city in australia. make sure you have lunch or coffee in carlton - lygon st. it's like a little italy. then you can go shopping in the city - collins st, little collins, burke st...then you have to make a pilgrimage to the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground). it's the biggest rugby/cricket pitch in the southern hemisphere. and you can have dinner in Toorak, St Kilda. also shopping is great in Chapel St.
aik... so many shopping tips...? i'm a bit quirky and so i don't really like too much shopping... plus no money to shop....

[euj]

aik... so many shopping tips...? i'm a bit quirky and so i don't really like too much shopping... plus no money to shop....
well, you could always windows shop. also, you could go to albert park where the F1 in melbourne is held. you can hire rollerblades or a bike to cycle around it. that would be fun. it's a lovely park area. also, you can get a cycling tour that will take you around melb for a few hours, including a picnic lunch at the beach in st kilda.

[LiLiaN]

well, you could always windows shop. also, you could go to albert park where the F1 in melbourne is held. you can hire rollerblades or a bike to cycle around it. that would be fun. it's a lovely park area. also, you can get a cycling tour that will take you around melb for a few hours, including a picnic lunch at the beach in st kilda.
oh... i like the sound of cycling tour... rollerblade, cannot lar... i have innate fear for something fast that i can't possibly control! :p doesn't stop me from enjoying fast sports like formula 1 and skiing on tv though...

(ps: i'd rather spend my time doing sit at cafe and read than window shopping...)

[euj]

oh... i like the sound of cycling tour... rollerblade, cannot lar... i have innate fear for something fast that i can't possibly control! :p doesn't stop me from enjoying fast sports like formula 1 and skiing on tv though...

(ps: i'd rather spend my time doing sit at cafe and read than window shopping...)
then make sure you have a coffe in carlton - lygon st.

[Sila]

ok. thanks for the tip. melbourne is my favourite city in australia. make sure you have lunch or coffee in carlton - lygon st. it's like a little italy. then you can go shopping in the city - collins st, little collins, burke st...then you have to make a pilgrimage to the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground). it's the biggest rugby/cricket pitch in the southern hemisphere. and you can have dinner in Toorak, St Kilda. also shopping is great in Chapel St.

ah, euj, i'll have you know that the jamaicans are also VERY serious about their cricket. we drove by their stadiums (or pitches or whatever you call them) and even my roomie who has about as much interest for cricket as she has for hopping to the north pole on 1 leg pointed it out and mentioned how important it was ;)

[LiLiaN]

i just simply don't understand cricket... :confused:

[Sila]

i know the guy who pitches is called a bowler. there are wickets behind the batsman. there is a position called a "mid-off"? and the batter gets to bat until the wickets are knocked out (or something to that extent). he runs back and forth and that is what's counted, if he hits the ball.

that's about it. and also it takes days to finish a match ;) i believe i may have exhausted my entire knowledge of cricket.

baseball, i can explain better. if you guys come visit me during the summer, i'll take you to a major league game. i've been to quite a few now.

[Dino]

baseball, i can explain better. if you guys come visit me during the summer, i'll take you to a major league game. i've been to quite a few now.

I find Baseball games here in the states very patriotic. Especially when they sing the national anthem.....

[song cm]

i know the guy who pitches is called a bowler. there are wickets behind the batsman. there is a position called a "mid-off"? and the batter gets to bat until the wickets are knocked out (or something to that extent). he runs back and forth and that is what's counted, if he hits the ball.

that's about it. and also it takes days to finish a match ;) i believe i may have exhausted my entire knowledge of cricket.

baseball, i can explain better. if you guys come visit me during the summer, i'll take you to a major league game. i've been to quite a few now.

wah sila...I am impressed

Anyway I do find 1 day international very interesting but test matches does involve some tactics and luck...like the weather.

Btw, who do you support? I support England, of course... :D

[LiLiaN]

Anyway I do find 1 day international very interesting but test matches does involve some tactics and luck...like the weather.
why do they call matches test matches...? :confused:

[euj]

why do they call matches test matches...? :confused:
not too sure why, but it's the same for rugby. games between countries are called test matches.

[LiLiaN]

not too sure why, but it's the same for rugby. games between countries are called test matches.
why can't they just call it friendlies or qualifiers like in football??

[euj]

i know the guy who pitches is called a bowler. there are wickets behind the batsman. there is a position called a "mid-off"? and the batter gets to bat until the wickets are knocked out (or something to that extent). he runs back and forth and that is what's counted, if he hits the ball.

that's about it. and also it takes days to finish a match ;) i believe i may have exhausted my entire knowledge of cricket.

baseball, i can explain better. if you guys come visit me during the summer, i'll take you to a major league game. i've been to quite a few now.
very impressive sila, and of course australia is no.1 in both forms of the game - test matches (which take 5 days) and one day internationals (which last one day). cricket is the only major game i know of where the old values like courage, perseverance and gentlemanly play are still important, or at lease the semblance of it. and it involves a ball and bat, and skill and tactics. and i like how you can't be a flash in the pan, but have to apply yourself over an extended period of life. just like real life. and that's why i love it! having said that, my favourite team is pakistan. they are so talented, but very inconsistent, due to lack of discipline and possible corruption.

[song cm]

why do they call matches test matches...? :confused:

hey, good question....I guess it is becoz these matches are used to test each other skills/strengths....... :D

[LiLiaN]

hey, good question....I guess it is becoz these matches are used to test each other skills/strengths....... :D
i think more like testing their patience, if it goes on for days and days and days... ;)

[song cm]

i think more like testing their patience, if it goes on for days and days and days... ;)
true....dem patience...somemore play whole day as well..... :D

[LiLiaN]

now, where else can we go makan angin...?

[siewjang]

Anyone wanna talk about Cruising and their experience?

[Robin Kok CH]

Anyone wanna talk about Cruising and their experience?

cruising on North-South highway with cruise-controlled car?
So so only lah....if ship cruise, never taken before as I am aquaphobic

[siewjang]

Is cruise to no-where boring? What will we be expecting on the cruise? Just makan angin?

[Sila]

i've never been on a cruise and really don't feel like doing it at this point - maybe when i'm older? dunno i like to explore new places on my own with a guidebook and a friend ;)

but i think they have family friendly cruises which might be nice b/c then you can bring your kids but not have to look after them the whole time, and have some grown up vacation time with your spouse.

[Sila]

I find Baseball games here in the states very patriotic. Especially when they sing the national anthem.....

oh, you must go early and watch batting practise, and then catch the national anthem. i am always disappointed if they sing "God Bless America" instead of the traditional "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" at the 7th inning stretch. i like Take Me Out to the Ballgame. dino, are you a mariners fan?

[euj]

Is cruise to no-where boring? What will we be expecting on the cruise? Just makan angin?
a cruise is only boring if you're with the wrong person. depends who you're with.

[Sila]

wah sila...I am impressed

Anyway I do find 1 day international very interesting but test matches does involve some tactics and luck...like the weather.

Btw, who do you support? I support England, of course... :D

song, i actually only gleaned some stuff about cricket from my favorite indian restaurant ;) i donno anything about it and have watched a very minor amount of cricket on tv so i don't support anyone, really.

as to baseball, for the American League i am a boston red sox supporter (go red sox!!) and for the National League, i am a chicago cub supporter.

[LiLiaN]

Is cruise to no-where boring? What will we be expecting on the cruise? Just makan angin?
never been on cruise to makan angin, but have been on big ferry to travel from ireland to france... 18 hours, pure torture!!! i swore to god, never again... so it totally put me off the idea of going for cruise... people get sea sick everywhere, just soooooooo not funny!!! :eek:

[song cm]

song, i actually only gleaned some stuff about cricket from my favorite indian restaurant ;) i donno anything about it and have watched a very minor amount of cricket on tv so i don't support anyone, really.

as to baseball, for the American League i am a boston red sox supporter (go red sox!!) and for the National League, i am a chicago cub supporter.

i thot u were on the wrong continent to support criket....haha

[euj]

i thot u were on the wrong continent to support criket....haha
the first international cricket game was actually between the US and england in phillie in the late 19th century! and the US actually won! :eek:

[LiLiaN]

now, steering topic back to travel, does the other frequent travellers wanna share some best finds abroad leh...? we got air stewardess and pilot in the forum somewhere.... sure got lots of stories there.... :)

[Candy]

now, steering topic back to travel, does the other frequent travellers wanna share some best finds abroad leh...? we got air stewardess and pilot in the forum somewhere.... sure got lots of stories there.... :)

so who r d air stewardess n pilot here?? aiyahh me new 2 d forum so now trying to catch up lor, can ahhh?? :o

me been to Hong Kong and Shenzhen...
Hong Kong so-so niah but Shenzhen is nice, even d food but never ask for extra chilli sauce.. they charge u for it!