From the Peaceful to the Hectic

We travelled to Langkawi, Malaysia for Christmas 2007 to relax by the pool and enjoy the warm sunny days. Langkawi still has that ‘tropical paradise’ feel, having managed to avoid the push for the tourist dollar that has turned its neighbour Penang into the high rise hotel jungle it has become. There is a wide range of accommodation and restaurant options on offer, from backpacker to five star luxury.

If you’re looking for somewhere where relaxation is the number past time then Langkawi is the place for you. There are only a handful of attractions to see and the shopping is not all that special, except for the alcohol which thanks to Langkawi’s duty/tax free status is very cheap.

Hong Kong on the other hand is go…go…go; a non stop city of shopping, bars, restaurants and people. Designer labels galore, electronic shops on every corner and an odd fusion of colonial style architecture and oriental lifestyle; and that’s just Hong Kong Island wait until you get to Kowloon!

Quick Tips:

When in Hong Kong you must do a dim-sum lunch. The little portions which are so often used as preludes to the main course in other cuisine styles become the central focus in the dim-sum experience.

There are sooo many people in Hong Kong, so expect to be jostled and pushed in shops, at attractions and in the subways. It takes a lot of patience to realise that this is just the way it is in Hong Kong. They don’t get upset with each other; it’s not deliberate rudeness; you just have to go with the flow.

Best Way To Get Around:

The cheapest and esiest method of getting around in Langkawi is to hire a cab for the day. It costs RM80 for the first 4 hours and RM10 for each additional hour.

In Hong Kong the only way to get around is via the subway system. It is an excellent service with trains running very frquently. Alternatively the Taxis are reasonably priced, but be wary of the tunnel tolls; 2 of the tunnels are privately owned and have large tolls. The third is government owned and therefore cheaper, however everyone uses it so it's more congested.

We stayed at the Le Méridien Cyberport Hotel on Hong Kong Island. Cyberport is a technology based business park which has been constructed on reclaimed land in the Telegraph Bay, or, Kong Sin Wan, area on the southwest side of Hong Kong Island. Its construction was intended to promote the development of information technology and multimedia industries in Hong Kong to take advantage of the rapid growth of the internet.

Nettled amongst the many IT companies is the Le Méridien Cyberport. Each of the 170 rooms features both cutting-edge technology and a panoramic view of Telegraph Bay. Only minutes from the city centre and close by Aberdeen Harbour, Ocean Park, Jumbo Floating Restaurant and Repulse Bay, the Le Méridien Cyberport offers easy access to all of Hong Kong’s sights and sounds without all the hustle and bustle of a city hotel.

Whilst the rooms were relatively small by our standards they are apparently big by Hong Kong standards. The bed was comfortable; we had a 42-inch plasma television, cable TV, video-on-demand and cordless phone. The room had wireless internet access at a charge of HK800 per week, which I considered too steep; especially considering it was free in the lobby, restaurants and bars. We had lots of work space thanks to a unique swinging extension to the desk, two lounge chairs and coffee table. Everything in the room could be switched on and on from the bedside console and there were plenty of power outlets available.

The bathroom was large enough, with sleek glass, chrome fittings, rain showerheads, a separate hand held shower head, a bench seat in the shower and the full length glass walled shower allowing the not so privacy conscience to watch the sunset through the large floor-to-ceiling windows while showering. With a flick of a nearby switch a curtain comes down for those wanting a little privacy.

We found the staff to be generally very friendly and the concierge was extremely helpful. They have a business card with the hotels details in both English and Cantonese on one side, and the names of top 12 attractions in English and Cantonese on the other side; this is an excellent idea which made catching a taxi very easy.

The Le Méridien has a number of restaurants to choose from;

Prompt – a multi-cultural buffet with a wide selection of dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Umami Restaurant & Bar - a sushi bar, serving unique Tamaki and Sushi in an outdoor setting or romantic dining area. Its cocktail bar offers a variety of creative cocktails to compliment the meal.

PSI – is the perfect place to retreat in the evenings for a tropical cocktail above the panorama of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.

Podium – a wine bar serving small plates/tapas. Podium also includes the Sunset Lounge; a large bean-bag filled room overlooking Telegraph Bay, which we visited on most nights to relax and unwind.

Nam Fong – an upmarket Cantonese restaurant with an extensive menu ranging in price from acceptable to ‘you have got to be kidding!’

All in all our stay at the Le Meridien Cyberport was very comfortable and we will definately stay there next time we visit Hong Kong.

For more pictures and information on Hong Kong please visit my website Shane Currie's Website

In December 2007 we travelled to the north western shore of Peninsular Malaysia, to an ancient group of islands collectively known as Pulau Langkawi, or, Langkawi, to enjoy a warm, relaxing Christmas holiday. And relax we did, spending at least 6 hours a day sitting by the pool soaking up the sun, food and drink.

We stayed at the Sheraton Langkawi Beach Resort, a charming resort with both hotel style rooms and private chalets designed in traditional Malaysian architecture. The resort is located along an idyllic stretch of small private beaches, only 15mins from the airport and is set amidst 15ha of lush tropical forest; complete with monkeys, flying shrew and very loud beetles which let fly each sunrise and sunset with a rather loud and annoying song...ahhh nature at it's best. The sprawling gardens which are perfectly manicured contain a dazzling array of tropical plants.

The chalets all seem to afford some level of ocean view through full length French windows, which open out onto a private balcony complete with a 2 person couch, table and 4 chairs; perfect for a quiet sunset drink with that special person...or a group of friendly monkeys.

The rooms are very well appointed offering the understated luxury and comfort we have come to expect from a Sheraton property. From the Sweet Sleeper bed, to the unbelievable large bathroom, to the spacious sitting area, nothing has been overlooked. The bathroom opens out over the sitting area offering the option of a quiet bath or one with conversation. The separate shower is larger than some hotel bathrooms and, complementing the natural surrounding, is serviced by a solar hot water system.

There are some subtle touches at the Sheraton Langkawi Beach Resort which add to the overall enjoyment of your stay;

Shuttle Bus - there is a non-stop shuttle bus service which circles the grounds for those times when you don't want to walk. Our path to the pool and restaurants was mostly downhill, which is great until you want to come home...that's when the bus service came in handy.

Boardwalk - the timber boardwalk along the waters edge makes the walk to breakfast an absolute pleasure and provides the setting for a romantic evening stroll.

Free Postcard - every hotel offers a free postcard, but the Sheraton Langkawi Beach Resort will even post it for you...free. We always send a postcard home so it's nice to get it for free.

Restaurants - every restaurant has their menu and pricing displayed outside the front door all day, so you can make your dinner decision early.

Check-in - relaxing on a comfortable sofa with a fresh glass of Lime juice as you go through the check-in procedure makes a pleasant change.

The pool area isn't large by resort standards however it compliments the 3 beaches quite nicely. The infinity edge, swim up bar, BBQ Area and poolside dining made our day by the pool more than tolerable. If soaking up the rays on the beach is more your style then the Sheraton Langkawi Beach Resort has you covered. Close to the pool are 2 small beaches which are serviced by the pool staff, Further toward the western end of the resort is a beautiful long white beach, whose quiet tranquil - lack of children - appeal more than makes up for the BYO food and drink; although room service will deliver to anywhere on the resort grounds.

I must say that the hotel which finds a way to stop people reserving seats by the pool early in the morning, only to go out sightseeing all day will have my undying loyalty. This seemed to happen a lot during out stay.

There are the usual non powered water sports on offer, some free, most not;

Free - table tennis, beach volleyball, swimming

Chargeable - Surfcat RM70, Kayak RM30, Windsurfer RM50

For more pictures and information on Langkawi please visit my website Shane Currie's Website

The Feast Restaurant offers excellent views over lush forrest, the pool area or the Andaman Sea with the option of either indoor or outdoor alfresco dining.

A typical hotel buffet with a slight twist; there are 2 cooking stations that prepare your selected food as you watch. There are 5 buffet tables to select from;

Seafood and meat - a good selection of tiger prawns, mussels (already cooked), mantis prawns, crab, steak or lamb,

Noodle bar - a selection of stir fry ingredients.

A third buffet table contains the normal selection of cold meats (no ham), cheese, salads, smoked fish and a big selection of Asian dishes; some of which were nice and some of which were not!

A fourth was a selection of bay maries containing vegetables, chicken, fish etc, and a freshly roast.

Last but by no means least is the dessert, fresh fruit and bread buffet.

At RM98 Feast is excellent value allowing you to experiment with some of local cuisine safe in the knowledge that you could always retreat to the familiar.

Breakfast is also served in Feast at RM58 and makes an ideal stop off on the way to the pool each day, however don't spend too long searching for the bacon...no ham or bacon here.

For more pictures and information on Langkawi please visit my website Shane Currie's Website

A visit to Aberdeen Harbour isn't complete without stopping at the Jumbo Kingdom Floating Restaurant. First established in 1976 the restaurant is modelled on a Chinese Imperial Palace complete with Golden Dragons at the entrance. Inside are 3 floors housing 4 different restaurants serving various styles of Cantonese food.

We elected to try the Dim Sum restaurant on the 3rd floor.

The reservation system was something of a experience in of itself. There is a small lectern behind which stands the reservations person, the most powerful person in the room. After fighting our way through the throng of expectant dinners; we have learnt that in HK you are not rewarded for standing back, we were given a numbered docket - Yellow 084. When I asked how long it would be I was told 1hr. We went for a walk around the various floors for 30mins after which I checked again...it was still 1hr. It reminded me of the Seinfeld episode where Jerry, George and Elaine are at the Chinese restaurant and every time they ask how long before they'll get a table they're told 10mins.

Making things more interesting was the fact she was calling the numbers in Chinese; one of the many languages we don't speak. So I stood close watching her work the reservation sheet checking off numbers as patrons were taken to their table; the fact some people had green tickets and some yellow was a little confusing, anyway our number finally came up.

After waiting over an hour for a seat we were directed down 1 level to the Dragon Court restaurant. I'm not sure why this occurred, perhaps the staff on the 3rd floor did not speak English. I did note that the 3rd floor restaurant didn't have any non-Chinese eating there.

Anyway we were directed to a VIP room in the Dragon Court which contained 6 tables. It was a little different to any Dim Sum I had had before; normally a procession of carts come around and you selection dishes off the carts. The Dragon Court present you with a menu and you make your selections off the menu.

You have the option of 2 menus choices, a la carte or traditional Dim Sum; we choose the Dim Sum. Our choices were;

Deep Fried Bean Sheet Roll with Fresh Shrimp (HK23/3pce)
Steamed Rice Noodle Roll Filled with BBQ Pork (HK25 per dish)
Steamed BBQ Pork Bun (HK18/3pce)
Deep Fried Wanton with Pickle Sauce (HK18/4pce)
Steamed Chicken Claw in Black Bean Sauce (HK18/6pce)
Baked Shrimp and Smoked Duck Meat Puff (HK23/3pce)
Deep Fried Mashed Squid with A-gar-gar (HK23/3pce)
Heineken Beers - Glass (HK140)
So 7 dishes and 4 beers cost us HK343.20 (inc. taxes) which isn't bad.

The quality of the food was excellent and the restaurant was clean and tidy; which is always reassuring.

After lunch you should not miss the opportunity to take a San Pan ride around Aberdeen Harbour. At only HK200 for about 20mlns you get a real insight into how tuff life is for the local fishermen and their families. Not only are their boats their livelihood they are also their homes. It really was a humbling experience to see how these relatively poor people live their lives. It makes you appreciate the fact we are lucky enough to be able to travel as much as we do.

Perhaps the oldest and best known sight-seeing attraction in Hong Kong, Victoria Peak is well worth visiting just before sunset for absolutely breathe-taking views over Hong Kong city and Kowloon. Starting life as a residential district for Hong Kong's wealthy, Victoria Peak is the highest point on Hong Kong Island at 552m above sea level.

There are several ways to get to Victoria Peak; bus, taxi or via The Peak Tram, each of which is an experience in itself. We elected to take the Tram up and a taxi back mostly to avoid the crowds, which were quite large.

The Peak Tram, which connects the city and the Peak Tower, was constructed in 1888 and cost 15c per return trip - a far cry from today's HK48. In its first year the tram transported 150,000 passengers, a fraction of today's 4 million, to enjoy the views. The Peak Tram is a double reversible funicular system which means there is a tramcar going up the hill as another is descending. This allows the tram to complete 90 x 7min trips per day, leaving every 15mins, carrying 120 passengers along the 1,365 metre track at angles of up to 27deg.

The track is carved out of lush forest which obscures the view for part of the trip. However once you clear the growth the views are amazing, particularly on the right hand side of the tram.

Once at the top you can enjoy the magnificent 360deg views from the comfort of the multi-level Sky Terrace. We arrived late in the afternoon so as to enjoy both the sunset and night views of Hong Kong. While waiting for the sun to go down, we spent a few hours browsing the souvenir shops and restaurants before returning to the viewing platform.

Be warned though, once you exit the outside viewing platform you can not return without buying a new ticket at HK20.

For more pictures and information on Hong Kong please visit my website Shane Currie's Website

Located on the North side of the island is the Oriental Village & Cable Car. The village is a themed shopping centre of individually designed buildings showcasing Malaysian and Oriental architecture, selling a mixture of local souvenirs.

The cable car is located towards the rear of the village which means you have to walk through the oriental garden and souvenir shops. It costs RM25 per adult and goes to the top of Mt Mat Chinchang, Langkawi's 2nd highest mountain.

The day we went there was a large line for tickets and an even longer line to board the cars. Given the large numbers of people who obviously visit the cable car we were quite surprised by the relatively low number of cars actually on the cable. There was nowhere near the frequency that you would see at say a ski field. Each car held 6 people and there were only 2 cars being loaded at any one time. Compare this to the 8-10 at a decent ski field. It took us about 15 minutes to purchase the tickets and then about 1hr 20 mins to get aboard a car.

Given the heat and humidity the ride was surprisingly comfortable with the breeze flowing freely through the car's ventilation windows. Travelling the 1.7km to the first platform, or middle station, takes about 10-15 mins, which at 652.50m above sea level gives excellent views of the Oriental Village, surrounding rain forest and ocean.

The 2nd & main viewing area is further 450m and 5-10 minute ride up the cable and sits at 708m above sea level. From here there are excellent unobstructed 360° views of the Adaman Sea and surrounding hills. The whole journey covers a little over 2.2km and at points is climbing at as much as 42°, I'm sure those afraid of heights would have a difficult time on getting to the top.

This is very dramatic landscape; large mountains thrust out of the ocean by volcanic activity now completely covered in thick lush green foliage. There are a few recognisable landmarks;

The boat harbour
The airport
Cenang beach
Telaga Tujuh waterfall

From the 2nd platform you can walk down and out over the 'Horseshoe' shaped foot bridge suspended between two hill tops. The view straight down is awesome, however the overall scenery isn't really much better than that at the main platform, so I'm not sure it's worth the considerable effort walking down and then back up the many steps between the bridge and cable car platform.

All in all though a worthwhile attraction to visit.

For more pictures and information on Langkawi please visit my website Shane Currie's Website

Hong Kong Disneyland is the newest of the Disney Parks, having opened in 2004; there is still some construction going on. Whilst it is considerably smaller than the other Disneylands, it still has the same 'happiest place of Earth' feel about it, including a Disney Parade and fireworks show.

I read a lot of negative reviews about HK Disney before we went, mainly about how much smaller it is than the others; how it doesn't have enough rides etc. However, I now think that being smaller has some advantages;

The lines were shorter - we never had to wait more than 30mins once during the whole day.

You can see the whole park in one day - we took several days at Anaheim and we've been to Tokyo Disney twice because we didn't see everything the first time. We saw everything at Hong Kong Disney and even had time to browse the shops and see the shows, eg. The Golden Mickey's, Mickey's Philharmonic etc.

You don't need to get there at the crack of dawn - we arrived at 11am and stayed until after dark.

We reserved a good seat for the 5pm parade by arriving only 30mins before it began.

The park doesn't have all the usual Disney attractions, however it does have a lot of the old favourites;

Main Street USA

Tomorrowland

Autopia
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
UFO Zone
Space Mountain
Orbitron
Stitch Encounter

Fantasyland

Mad Hatter Tea Cups
Cinderella Carousel
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Sleeping Beauty Castle

Adventureland

Jungle River Cruise
Rafts and Tarzan Treehouse
Festival of the Lion King

Like all the Disney parks we've been to this one was very clean and tidy, the staff were all friendly and the food and drink were quite reasonably priced. It wasn't very busy, perhaps because it was a week day, however there were enough people to create an exciting atmosphere.

It is definitely worth a visit.

How to Get There
Hong Kong Disneyland is located on Lantau Island in Hong Kong. By train, take the MTR Tung Chung line to Sunny Bay Station, then to the Disney Train to the Disneyland Resort Station. There is a ticket window at the MTR Hong Kong Station which will save you lining up at the park. Tickets range from HK295-350 for adults and HK210-250 for kids.

For more pictures and information on Hong Kong please visit my website Shane Currie's Website

Located between Aberdeen Harbour and Repulse Bay is Ocean Park. This somewhat disjointed theme park is worth a visit if only to see the "Mr Squid" food stand! Ocean Park is a fairly large park made more so by the fact it is spread out over both sides of a rather large mountain, connected by a cable car.

By far the biggest attraction on the lower side, and perhaps the whole park, is the Panda Bear exhibit, and I think they know it as it is by far the best maintained and presented display in the park. There are three Panda Bears in the enclosure 2 females and 1 male. They are fairly inactive spending a lot of their time sleeping. We were however luckily enough to see one of the females sitting down for lunch. As if aware she was the centre of attention she sat looking directly at the crowd of enthralled onlookers. Seriously how cute are these guys?

We could have sat there for hours watching her eat her bamboo leaves. They certainly have a routine in the way they eat their food, obviously preferring the lower shoots they methodically collect 10 or so in their mouth before discarding the stems and munching away on their mouthful.

What makes them sooo cute; apart from their big black eyes and cuddly furriness? The way their ears move while they chew of course!! Back and forth synchronised with their chewing motion.

The rest of the lower mountain is taken up by amusements, so we made our way to the cable car for the trip to the backside of the mountain where the aquatic displays are housed.

Now we've been to a few aquarium on our travels, from the biggest eg. San Diego, to some of the smallest eg. Guam. Ocean Park is closer to the Guam end of the scale than it is to the San Diego end, however it is still worth a look.

What it lacks in size it does come close to making up for in quantity and diversity; they pack the tanks with every conceivable fish species. The wildlife displays include;

Shark Aquarium

Atoll Reef

Sea Jelly Spectacular

Pacific Pier - Sea lion and Seal display

Bird House

The dolphin show was a little disappointing though. It was almost as if they were doing a training session; the handlers had to give the commands several times on some occasions. However the sea lion was clever.

There were a couple of rides on the backside which helped make it more of a theme park than simply an Aquarium;

The Dragon - a rollercoaster

Ocean Park Tower

Ferris wheel

Crazy Galleon

Raging River

Eagle

The Abyss

For HK250 per adult a day at Ocean Park is a day will spent. Perhaps the only criticism is how spread out the park is which makes getting around a little painful.

For more pictures and information on Hong Kong please visit my website Shane Currie's Website