Siem Reap – Cambodia -2008

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Cambodia, Siem Reap, weekend away

Three days visiting the Angkor temples

When I worked in Hong Kong, I made a decision to travel to neighbouring countries as much as I could on the weekends.  One of my friends was living in HK at the same time and we discussed visiting Siem Reap.  I had been to Phnom Penh at that stage so was eager to travel again to Cambodia.  So I met my friend and her daughter at the airport one Friday for a long weekend away to see the temples.

Seim Reap is a really popular resort town and this is because it’s the gateway to the Angkor region and in particular the Angkor temples.  My friend did the research and booked us into a wonderful resort.  We knew, because the weather was so hot, that we would only do sightseeing in the morning then after lunch return to our hotel and just relax.  So we definitely needed somewhere with a pool, spa and area to sit and read in the shade.   Our resort was perfect for just these things.

Over the weekend, we engaged a tour guide through the hotel and were firstly taken to the most famous sights in Siem Reap, Angkor Wat being one, which is truly spectacular especially its reflection on the lake.  One thing I do remember about this temple is the one on the national flag of Cambodia.  Bit of worthless information really!!

Unfortunately we did not make it to see the sunset over Angkor Wat (think this was due to us finding extremely cheap cocktails in the restaurant/bar street of Siem Reap) where we also enjoyed incredibly delicious and inexpensive Cambodian food.

We visited many temples and each was different and amazing.  It truly is a mind-blowing experience to see these temples and structures and hear about their history and restoration.

We visited Angkor Thom, Angkor Prohm and the Bayon Temple. Really so much to see in such a short time.

And I think most people know that Angkor Prohm is where the movie Tomb Raider was made with trees growing in and out of the ruins; a spectacular sight.

One of the parts I loved was walking into one of the Wats (temples) but I can’t recall which one, there were statues on the side as you walk up to the entrance.  (for me it reminded me of the walk to the Ming Tombs in Beijing with the statues lining the pathway for the Emperor).  We also posed for some fun photos whilst still trying to be respectful.

On our last day we took a boat ride along the river and saw some amazing sights; people living along the river in little huts or on boats – it was something I am really glad I did as it showed me how some of the Cambodians live in Siem Reap.

And the locals going about their daily duties…

Another friend of mine is going to be working in Phnom Penh in 2017 and I have promised I shall visit as I would love to re-visit Siem Reap – it’s so incredible!!

One final and [I think] humorous photo is of a local monkey eating an ice-cream – I guess you need that if you have just drunk four bottles of beer (ha ha)…

Macau – PRC – 2008

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Macau, prc

An overnight stay in The Venetian Hotel, Macau

I met a wonderful Chinese lady whilst I was in Hong Kong in 2008 and we became close friends.  She would often invite me out to wonderful restaurants to introduce me to the cuisine of Hong Kong; and her husband taught me how to [properly] use chopsticks.

We discussed visiting Macau when we both could get time off work, and one weekday we caught the fast boat from Central on HK Island to Macau which takes about an hour.   Macau has many casinos and we decided on the Venetian as it had a good mid-week deal and is somewhere we both wanted to see if it was gaudy or stylish!

We caught the shuttle from the ferry terminal to the hotel which took about five minutes and checked in..it was a little gaudy inside but I liked it, there was a range of different roof murals everywhere in the hotel.

After we unpacked we took a walk throughout the casino.  It was so big…there were waterways with gondolas, shops and more shops and many restaurants..you name it this casino has it – oh and lots of gaming rooms which we didn’t even bother going into.

Over the next day and a half, we went for a walks exploring Macau and saw the old Macau and the new.   There is lots to see and do and I bought some lovely ‘antiques’ from a small shop.

We went to the famous Lord Stowe’s bakery and ate some Portuguese style tarts..which were absolutely delicious and visited one of Macau’s best known landmarks; the ruins of St Paul which are the ruins of a 16th-century complex of what was originally St. Paul’s College and the Church of St. Paul.

We had dinner one evening in one of the restaurants within our casino..all enclosed with an artificial sky with some parts Italy and other parts definitely China (I think the panda bear at the window and the one at the restaurant’s doorway really gives the China influence away).

And we did lots of other sightseeing just checking out the shops.

All in all a lovely couple of days and a place that is definitely worth a visit…

 

Poachers Pantry – Murrembateman – NSW – Australia – October 2016

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Australia, Murrembateman, NSW, Poachers Pantry, restaurant

A birthday lunch

 

One of my friends was having a birthday so organised a lunch at a family owned and operated restaurant just outside of Canberra.  This restaurant was previously a grazing property and in 1991 was converted to a country smokehouse.

Since the grazing property became a smokehouse, it has grown and now has its own wine range and cellar door and a function area for larger groups and weddings. There is also an outdoor and indoor restaurant and after you eat and drink there are smoked meats,  jams and olive oils to be bought from the small shop.

The restaurant has received good reviews and is one I have been to a couple of times and enjoyed the food and also the atmosphere.  However…things were different on this occasion.

A friend of mine picked me up along the way to the restaurant and we drove the twenty or so minutes together.  It was very busy and all tables both inside and outside the restaurant were full when we arrived.  As there was quite a large group of us, we were advised by the restaurant that we had to order from the Tasting Menu rather than the usual menu.  That is usually ok for me but the menu on this occasion was rather basic for the cost ($55 per person for a main meal and shared antipasto platter).

I saw there was only one vegetarian option but as I like gnocchi I was happy to order it.  We were seated inside, and after some considerable time our waitress took our food and drink orders.

Again after some time, our table of about twenty, was served a couple of platters of antipasto comprising three different dips/meats and pickled vegetables.

Our host had to ask twice for the vegetarian platter which arrived some fifteen minutes after the meat platters had been served.

There were two vegetarians on the table so one platter of dips and picked vegetables was served.  I was a little disappointed as the waitress knew we were seated at the opposite ends of the table, [and I think two smaller platters could have been prepared] as unfortunately we had to keep passing the platter around the table disturbing others who were chatting.  Now you know I just love eggplant (especially cooked Chinese style) but I did not enjoy this eggplant dish at all. Cold eggplant = yuck [but this is not the restaurants fault of course]!!

There was also bread and biscuits served with the meat platters and by the time the vegetarian platter was served, there was hardly any bread left and none was forthcoming from the restaurant.

Our main meals arrived and as I had asked for the feta cheese to be removed, my gnocchi was served with the spinach and basil oil.  I must say it was very bland and even my friend who ordered the same dish with the feta said it needed something more like a burnt butter sauce or just any type of sauce really and it definitely required some seasoning.

I didn’t know the people sitting down our side of the table but enjoyed chatting with them throughout the afternoon.  The lady sitting next to me ordered the barramundi fillet with the carrot panna cotta. She said the fish was tasty which she finished, but only had the smallest mouthful of the panna cotta as it was cold and dry [and bland] which gave it an awful consistency.  A dish that didn’t taste as good as it looked!

The birthday girl, and many others, ordered the braised lamb shoulder with polenta and horseradish cream. There were varied reviews around the table; with most saying the lamb was very fatty with little meat and that the polenta was sloppy and looked unappetising on the plate.

On a positive note, the grounds of Poachers Pantry are stunning and you enter through two old gates under a yet to blossom wisteria.  Once through the gates you walk along a paved pathway to the restaurant where there are several tables outside along with a little fish pond. Then you enter the restaurant and smokehouse which on a weekend is always busy.  Sitting outside is extremely pleasant in the lovely summer days as you are able to enjoy looking at the surrounding gardens.

(sources: winegenius.com/estella-photography.com/tripadvisor.com)

My friend wrote to the restaurant complaining of the service and the food and received an apology stating that some wait staff had gone off sick and therefore they were understaffed.  Doesn’t account for the food though – so, unfortunately, I don’t think I will be returning any time soon!!

Monte Carlo – Monaco & Nice – France – November 2008

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France, Monaco, Monte Carlo, Nice, sightseeing

A wonderful European trip

In 2008, whilst I was working in Hong Kong, my friend Sandy and I made plans to travel to Europe for six weeks to visit the UK, France, Monaco and Switzerland.  We started in October when I finished in HK and had such a great time I wanted to record my memories on this blog, starting with a post on Monte Carlo and Nice.

To arrive in Nice, we caught the train from Lyon where we had been staying.  The train was great; very comfortable without any problems.  We had arranged a lovely hotel alongside the water and took a taxi from the train station when we arrived.  Sandy speaks intermediate French and she was speaking with the locals every day which made life a lot easier for us to get around.

Every day, we would take an early morning  jog along that famous Nice promenade along with many others undertaking their daily exercise.

I loved the buildings in Nice [well I loved the buildings wherever we went in France]…the architecture is so beautiful and such a great way to spend an afternoon; just walking around the streets and finding great places for a pastry and a glass of wine and back along the promenade.

After our exercise and returning to the hotel, we would head out usually for a late breakfast at one of the cafes along the beachfront which was a wonderful way to spend a couple of hours; sipping tea overlooking the sea before we went sightseeing.

The Nice coastline is beautiful; both during the day and evening…really and truly gorgeous.

One day we walked part way to Monte Carlo which is about eight kilometres from Nice and again had wonderful views along the way…

especially the fabulous boats; at the same time we were both wishing we were rich!!  Still wishing as I am typing!!

We also took a half day afternoon trip to Monaco with a tour guide in a small bus – this was a great way to see the municipality.  We first saw the Monte Carlo casino and of course took the obligatory photograph outside. We didn’t bother going inside as we didn’t have much time and instead walked around the area in the sunshine.

We then visited the Prince’s Palace of Monaco (just the grounds as time was limited) which is the official residence of the Prince and now, also Princess Charlotte and their twins.

We then were given the opportunity to walk around the local area to enjoy the sights including the beautiful mediterranean sea and some lovely cobblestone streets and buildings as the sun was setting.

And our final stop was a cafe in a beautiful old building before heading back on the bus to return to Nice.

Our next city was Paris…but that can wait for another time!!  And my one regret is I didn’t know my blogger friend Sophie, who lives in Nice, at the time of this visit.

 

Little Thailand Restaurant – Canberra – ACT – Australia – September 2016

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ACT, Australia, canberra, Little Thailand Restaurant, Thai food

An unexpected evening out in Canberra

A friend called me unexpectedly one Monday night and asked me out for dinner.  Now I usually don’t like going out on a Monday night, not really sure why but I just like to come home from work, go for a walk with my little dog and then rest up.  But I decided to go out and we went up to my local restaurant area and found my absolute favourite Chinese dumpling restaurant closed, so we decided on the restaurant next door which serves Thai food.

Service was excellent during the whole evening and we enjoyed sitting around for quite a few hours chatting and eating lovely Thai food.

We shared our main meals but ordered separate entrees.  I ordered the tofu with peanut sauce (delicious – perhaps a little too much sauce though) and my friend ordered the tempura prawns with dipping sauce.

For main course, we decided to share two dishes; the vegetarian pad thai with bean sprouts, chives and crushed peanuts and the mixed vegetables and tofu with chilli jam and cashew nuts…both dishes were lovely and fresh.  I really enjoy pad thai and often order it at Thai restaurants and this one was delicious especially with a squeeze of lemon.  We also ordered some steamed rice which came in the lovely silver dish that is so often used at Thai restaurants to serve the rice.

A nice evening with great fresh Thai food.  A place to remember to return.

Longqing Gorge – Yanqing County – PRC – August 2010

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Dragon elevator, Longqing Gorge, prc, Yanqing County

A day trip out of the Beijing smog coupled with a river cruise

In 2010 whilst I was studying in Beijing, I was asked to go on a coach trip with the Aussie Embassy staff.  The destination was Longqing Gorge and  I must say it was one of my favourite places to visit.  It’s a little bit kitschy (not surprising for lots of places in China are – but that’s what I love about the place)…and it’s truly beautiful with stunning scenery and a huge bonus…it’s a little bit cooler than Beijing because of its elevation. The gorge is located at the mouth of the Yanqing Old City River which is about eighty-five kilometres from Beijing.  We departed on a beautiful day in the middle of summer and arrived  an hour or so later.  There were fabulous views of the Badaling section of the Great Wall along the way and I was lucky to take a few snaps out of the bus window and some when we arrived.This area is famous for its gorge but the first sight you see when you arrive is the Longqing Dam. It’s inset between hills and is around seventy metres high.  To get to the top of the dam you can either use the escalator inside the body of an artificial dragon; yep thats right…inside the body of a dragon.  Or you can walk  up some steep steps, after which you can walk along the top of the valley …I chose the easy option and entered the dragon’s mouth to access the escalator to reach the ferry behind the dam.  From the dam, you can take a small cruise boat for a short ride through the gorge. The scenery is spectacular. It is a combination of rivers and steep cliffs and bare limestone mountains in many different shapes.  Truly beautiful!!  The boat stops at several places and you can get off and do a bit of hiking..I didn’t!!  I stayed on the boat for the whole ride, as we did a small hike from the top of the cable car station which to me was more than enough.

One sight we did see from the boat was a small house on the top of one mountain, with a cable from the house to the other mountain.  And amazingly enough there was a man on a bike riding high up in the gorge on this cable – my heart was beating fast just watching him!!We then took a toboggan ride to reach the exit.  There is also an option to go bungee jumping near the dam, not for me!!

In winter the gorge hosts an ice lantern festival with ice lanterns, ice carvings and snow sculptures.  Unfortunately I never got around to visiting in winter but friends did and said it was great [similar but on a much smaller scale to China’s well known Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, which I did get to, up near the Russian border).

(two photos from: http://www.thebeijinger.com)

A trip that was well worth a day out – I really enjoyed the magnificent scenery and gorge..just stunning!!

 

 

Waikiki – Honolulu – Hawaii – USA – September 2006

Tags

'From Here to Eternity', beach, Hawaii, Honolulu, USA, Waikiki

Two weeks’ in Hawaii

In 2006 I had a wonderful opportunity –  working in Waikiki for two whole weeks.   It was the middle of summer and the temperature was quite high [bit too hot for me if I am to be completely honest]. But no complaining as it was two weeks in Honolulu paid for by my employer.The beaches are lovely in Waikiki and very crowded with lots of Americans and Japanese and many other nationalities including us Aussies.  So one weekend when we did not have to work, we took the opportunity to get out of the hustle and bustle and a group of us hired a car and drove around the island.  It was such a beautiful day so we stopped along the way to the northern beaches to take lots of photos.We then drove up to a particular area along the northern beaches where the beach scene from ‘From Here to Eternity’ was shot.  I was shown the exact spot (well sort of) where Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr rolled around in the ocean; it was nice to see but must say nothing special.  But the other beaches were just lovely…As part of the reason I was in Hawaii, my colleagues and I went to Pearl Harbour and we were given a private tour along with a tour of the USS Arizona Memorial which is a floating memorial built over the sunken hull of the USS Arizona.    Waikiki was such a busy place; at all hours of the day and night so it didn’t matter what time you went out it was always crowded along the streets and in the bars and the shops.  For me the lovely part was the water which was incredibly blue and clean.  I enjoyed walking along the shore in the early mornings and evenings just enjoying people watching and looking at the different colours of the ocean. But, I think my most favourite time of the day in Waikiki was sunset.  I was told of a particular hotel on the beach overlooking the water that was famous for watching the sun set.  I walked to this particular hotel one afternoon and found a chair and table overlooking the ocean and took the following photos sitting down with a glass of wine…All in all an incredible experience and whilst Waikiki was a little commercial it was lovely getting up to the northern beaches as the scenery along the way was magnificent.