In most of my travel overseas, a visit to the city or town main market is a must as it’s the best place to get a feel and dynamism of the locale.  A market tells a lot about the country that you are visiting. In Adelaide, a visit to the Central Market is a definite must-do. It has been described as a “multicultural hub with fresh produce, gourmet goods and lots of heart” in the South Australia Travel Idea Travel Ideas webpage.

Other than “lots of heart”, I can attest this market has certainly loads of fun too, even more so as it’s my 1st visit. But I have to attribute the fabulous experience was due in a large part by my affable host, Cheryl Turner from Food Tours Australia, who took us on a discovery tour around the market, uncovering nuggets after nuggets of information from a local’s perspective. For a travel blogger and photographer, this definitely cut short the lead-in time taken to ‘warm up’ to a new venue.

Established in 1869 and now with more than 90 stalls selling a wide range of local produces and attracting more than 8 million visitors annually, you know you are in for an adventure that transcends tomatoes and carrots. It is touted as one of the largest under cover market in the Southern Hemisphere.

 The Market Entrance

The market main entrance. Most visitors on self-drive road trip will access this entrance via Gouger Street. When you see where the stream of people are going, it will lead to this entrance. Do be mindful of parking at the roadside parking lots alongside this street as the parking warden is very timely on his rounds.

Stalls at the Market

The market carries a huge range of the freshest food like fruits and vegetables, meat and poultry, seafood, cheeses, bakery, small goods and health foods, along with some of Adelaide’s most popular cafes and eateries. With over 8.5 million visitors every year, the Adelaide Central Market remains the hub for multicultural cuisine and fresh produce.

Talk about Sausages! Did someone said, “you never know what you gonna in a stall of sausages”? Well, I bet Forrest Gump would say that if he had visited this sausage stall. The types of preserved meat are just mind-boggling.

The walking lanes are actually like those tarmac roads that we drive on. Clean and generously spaced for a good walk at the market.

Our host, Cheryl Turner from Food Tours Australia showing us a selection of meat.  Looked like the usual sausages till you see the tags- Venison, Emu and Kangaroo. Are you “game” for some alternative meat? Pardon the pun.

Now that’s a food with a difference. It’s Limey Green Tree Ants. No seasoning, just washed and placed in the fridge. And it tasted like Lime ! Yes, those green dots are the abdomens of the Limey Ants. What a way to take in Vitamin C, certainly an intriguing introduction to bush tucker cuisine.

Bush tucker condiments. Amazing to taste those salty shrubs, herbs and plants. Really educational I must say. Cheryl definitely make the vibrant market even more alive with her in-depth knowledge.

What??? Durians ??? Yes, my eyes did a double take when I spotted these durians. The market essentially retails local produce. But those imported ones, it will be prominently stated. But this is not imported, it’s grown locally in Australia northern territories. This batch retails at AUS35/kg. We didn’t get to try as there is no free sampling.

Cheeses ! Blue vein, Cheddar, Emmental, Brie and what great Aussie humour here, the shop’s name is The Smelly Cheese Shop.

Looks closely – Crocodile Tail Fillet, Emu sausages! Magpie Goose! Game Burgers! we are talking wildlife cuisine here! Crikey mates! 

Seafood anyone? sashimi lovers? Loads of fresh food from the sea awaiting the marine gourmands.

A last quick stroll at the lovely market before making way for our journey to Cape Jervis, where the ferry awaits to transport us and our car across to Kangaroo Island.

Food and beverages outlets at the market

Paella ! Paella is a Valencian rice dish that has ancient roots, but its modern form originated in the mid-19th century in the area around Albufera lagoon on the east coast of Spain, adjacent to the city of Valencia. Care to try some? Wallet please.

Lucia, one of the famed eateries at the market. Lucia’s Pizza Bar was the first pizza bar in Adelaide.Today, Nicky and Maria continue in the traditions of their mother Lucia, using her traditional Italian recipes.Lucia’s is famous for its pizza, spaghetti and traditional Italian dishes

As usual, whenever you see healthy crowd or queue, the food is good. We satisfied our hunger pangs at the Zuma Caffe. Awesome Continental food, Certainly a great start to the day.

I don’t usually take eggs for breakfast, but this perfectly poached eggs on champignon with toast was fabulous.

Conclusion

The Adelaide Central Market is definitely a must-visit when in Adelaide. Vibrant, bustling and fabulous introductory venue to ease any visitors to the beautiful Southern Australia state. Do take note of the opening hours and days though:
Monday CLOSED
Tuesday 7.00am – 5.30pm
Wednesday 9.00am – 5.30pm
Thursday 9.00m – 5.30pm
Friday 7.00am – 9.00pm
Saturday 7.00am – 3.00pm
Sunday CLOSED

Thanks for reading the article. For visitors keen on self-drive vacation in South Australia, please do visit my self-drive adventure in Kangaroo Island which commenced after this market visit. Or perhaps swim with tuna in Victor Harbour.

Footnote: All pictures used in this travelogue are copyrighted to Jensen Chua Photography and Jetabout Holidays and all rights reserved. The opinion expressed is factual, objective and that of the author.

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The resort

U Inchantree Kanchanaburi is part of U hotels, which offer luxury accommodation infuses local heritage and design accents with modern amenities, services and facilities. At this resort, the ambience is one of understated luxury that quickly soothes the minute you arrived. And you get to choose from 4 types of soap ingredients – jasmine, bamboo, lemongrass or orchid, during check in or during online booking.

Resort lobby

The lobby is rustic, chic and quickly puts one at ease. There’s also some complimentary Inchantree fruits for tasting at the reception, just for the experience.

At night, the lovely lighting ensures the cosy and peaceful ambience remain. Walking around feels safe as it is well lit and security guards takes care of the compound.

The superior rooms wing at night

The 2-storey rooms looks out on to a courtyard and features an ancient ‘Inchantree’ from which the resort derives its name. The overall design of the resort is a rustic river lodge style surrounded by landscaped gardens.

Peppers, the resort diner

The restaurant envelopes diners in a relaxed atmosphere. The signature-dining venue of the hotel, Peppers, offers breakfast daily and then transforms to a lunch and dinner venue serving Thai food and Western specialties.  The River Kwai Bridge can be seen from the diner. The air-conditioned indoor section is tastefully designed with a modern yet rustic feel. 

Resort new wing – Deluxe room

The deluxe room in the new wing is much more spacious than the superior rooms in the old wing and just as well furnished. Being a boutique development, the resort boast a “unique services and luxurious facilities including breakfast “whenever wherever” no matter what time you start your day, we serve you anywhere whether in your room or at the restaurant”.

A typical day scene at the resort. Serene and calm with staff going about keeping the resort neat and clean.

Resort swimming pool

The compact infinity-edged plunge pool is adjacent to the River Kwai and perfect for a dip in the hot summer afternoon.

The Terrace Bar

The resort bar lounge with terrace is suspended over the river with the picturesque backdrop of the River Kwai and River Kwai Bridge. Perfect setting to while away the time watching the sun go down. 

Most lovely view of the River Kwai Bridge from U Inchantree Resort, with the Erawan national park mountain range in the background.

My most fave part of staying at this resort is the fabulous view in the morning as you enjoy your breakfast. You will appreciate the peaceful environment and observe herons or egrets looking for their own breakfast at the river bank across the river. It’s certainly a highlight of any vacation in Kanchanaburi.

Conclusion

Kanchanaburi is definitely one of the most underrated destinations in Thailand. This lovely laid-back town have so much adventures and off-the-beaten-path attractions to offer to it’s visitors that it’s a waste to miss all that gems. A good stay at Kanchanaburi would be an average of three to four days to better enjoy this quaint town. Do check out some of the activities in my recent blog. Thank you for coming along this pixels adventure.  

Footnote : All pictures used in this travelogue are copyrighted to Jensen Chua Photography and Holiday Tours and Travel (Singapore) and all rights reserved. Stay at this resort is not sponsored.

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The following are 5 ways to save money for those on free and easy arrangements but still enjoy a fabulous vacay. You just need to plan well ahead and pick up some of the insider secrets on how optimise your hard earned money while vacationing in this beautiful city.

#1- Get an Opal Card

Transportation cost is one the chief money sappers as you move around the city. The public transport network might not be as extensive as say, Singapore, but is still a great option. Inner city transport works well, especially outside peak times and while the ticketing system can be confusing, just grab yourself an Opal card and ride away on all buses, ferries and inner circle trains till your heart’s content if you are here for more than a few days .  Save as much as 50% when you use this all important card.

For those who prefer to travel by taxi, then the Uber or a few other private car transportation apps would save a bundle too. Details here.

#2 – Stay away from convenience stores and inner-city takeaways.

Feel obliged to get souvenirs for your friends from the trip Down Under ? Then save loads when you purchase snacks or souvenirs from Paddy’s Market , as it’s generally cheaper than souvenir shops elsewhere in the city. The savings can really add up when you intend buy more. For instance, a 1kg pack of nougat cost AUD$26 at the supermarket in Paddy’s Market. A same packing at the airport will set you back almost AUD$40! So a trip to Paddy’s is one the best tips ever for great savings.

3) Make full use of free Sydney guides or vendors websites

Make sure you pick up the free guide booklets at the airport and your hotel lobby, especially the ones targeted at backpackers. These feature lots of discounted entry tickets, some as much as 30% off.  A quick online check of a whale watching cruise vendor website shows ‘mid-week 50%’ deal. Plan ahead, make use of technology and make full use of offers available in the competitive tourism market.

4) Avoid super peak travel / hotel season

The annual super peak period is from late December to early January. During the lower season,  you can look forward to good deals (e.g Stay 4 Pay 3) usually between April to September (Great for travellers who love the COLD weather).

Unless you have free accommodation, visiting Sydney at these times is expensive. Hotels, particularly in the city centre up their prices and impose limited stay rules, even coastal caravan parks charge more than city hotels. If you do want to be here in during the holidays plan as far ahead as you can.  New Year’s Eve accommodation begins to fill up in August!

5) Some of Sydney best attractions are free

A gorgeous view of the Harbour Bridge at dusk, all for free. A slow stroll, people watching, cuppa in hand, are all it takes to welcome a lovely evening out. But best of all, to learn Sydney from a local, try a free walking tour.

Explore Bondi Beach using your Opal Card (Bus or Train) One of the most scenic walks in Australia! Details @ http://www.bonditocoogeewalk.com/

Chill out at Watson’s Bay , away from the tourist crowd. No entry fee, just need your time to enjoy the great sunset view.  Or visit the Museum of Contemporary Art (Free guided Tour) – Free admission details or The Rocks weekends market and visit the Rocks Discovery Museum – details here.

So there you have it, 5 basic tips for saving a bundle when sight-seeing in the lovely city without breaking the bank. One last bonus tip, do check out the Jetabout Holidays, the award-winning Australia travel specialist for the best deals to Australia. Do check out my recent blog on some activities to do should you have just 72 hours in Sydney.

Footnote : All pictures used in this travelogue are copyrighted to Jensen Chua Photography and Holiday Tours and Travel (Singapore) and all rights reserved.

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Must Do #1 – Visit the Sydney Opera House

No trip to Sydney is complete without a visit to the iconic Sydney Opera House. Missing it would be like visiting Paris without seeing Eiffel Tower. A fusion of ancient with modernist influences , the immense beauty of the Sydney Opera House has made it one of the most recognizable icons of 2oth century architecture -” a building that, to quote US architect Frank Gehry, “changed the image of an entire country”. (Sydney Opera House website)

The Opera House viewed from ferry cruise at Sydney Harbour. Day or night, the sight is always splendid. Do get an Opal card to maximise on transport expenses. To travel on the ferries and all other public transport in Sydney you need an Opal card. Opal card allows you to travel on all public transport in Sydney for $15 per day for an adult, $7.50 for a child. They are available from most newsagents, convenience stores and the Transport Information shop opposite jetty 5 at Circular Quay.

The opera house’s roof is constructed of 1,056,000 glazed white granite tiles imported from Sweden. Despite their self-cleaning nature, they still require scheduled maintenance and replacement. Its interior is composed of pink granite mined from Tarana, NSW and white birch and brush box plywood supplied from northern NSW.

Go on a guided Opera House tour. Get to see the inner workings and experience back stage activities on the walk.  Very informative and a great way to see the grand dame of Australian art scene from another angle. Price of tour – from S$39.07/pax (as at time of writing) . Duration – 30min (approximately).

The inner facade of the Opera House. The Opera House is being continually refreshed to keep up with time amid changing demands. For instance, the acoustics in the theatres are in the midst of being upgraded to enhance auditory experience.  Even for those not keen to walk the grounds, the Opera House numerous cafes and restaurants are simply superb.

Must Do #2 – Get up close to the Harbour Bridge

Situated just across the Sydney Opera House, is another iconic landmark, the Harbour Bridge. This mammoth structure , nicknamed “The Coat Hanger” because of its arch-based design is a steel through arch bridge across Sydney Harbour between the Sydney central business district (CBD) and the North Shore and is an important link carrying human or vehicular traffic. A good walk up the bridge will let you enjoy amazing panoramic view of the harbour, the Opera House and and city skyline.

The Harbour Bridge silhouetted against dusk lovely hues. In moment like this, you just wished time could stand still.

A walk up the bridge to the lookout point will be a great cardio exercise. But do factor in sufficient time (at least 1.30-2 hours) and it is not recommended for those with mobility issues. The entry to the bridge is free unless you opt do the Bridge Climb, which offers gorgeous panoramic view of the Sydney Harbour.  This bridge walk should be planned with a visit to The Rocks, which is just stone throw away, for great eateries and weekend market.

The Harbour Bridge as viewed during our ferry shuttle across the harbour. There is many ways to shoot the photogenic bridge, limited only by time, effort and creativity.

The bridge when captured in the late afternoon sun. In early winter, the sun sets earlier so do factor in changes in daylight hours. This was taken at 3.00pm but the sun is already low.

Must Do #3 – Take off on a Seaplane aerial cruise

For the treat of a lifetime, a scenic aerial cruise over the Sydney Harbour on a seaplane is an absolute way to bump up the excitement factor. Located in Rosebay, this is Sydney’s first purpose built seaplane terminal. It is a chic and slick harbour side destination and luxurious lounge, featuring a waterside oyster and cocktail bar, discreet VIP space and a flying boat museum paying homage to a historical site in Australian aviation.

The Sydney Seaplane terminal which houses the classy Empire Lounge, carries a good menu of top quality local produces for diners’ enjoyment. This is where you get to chill out with breathtaking harbour views and observing the incoming and departing seaplanes . For those not on the aerial cruise, it’s still a great place to enjoy aviation action.

A Cessna Caravan seaplane taxiing off on a aerial cruise. You can rarely get to observe such activities elsewhere in the world.  A must-do activity indeed.

Terminal staff busy ensuring smooth operations at the flight jetty. The company flies two aircraft models with Cessna Caravan Amphibian  and the de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver. Both chosen for their reliability and safe track records.

Our flight boarding pass. Great sense of adventure as you wait in the lovely lounge for your flight to be announced over the intercom.

Our flight captain bringing us up in the blue yonder. The flight is about 15min and takes in the highlights of Sydney Harbour with Bondi Beach along the way.  For those with motion sickness, heavy meals prior the flight is highly discouraged.

Amazing view of Sydney Harbour available only with this seaplane cruise. There’s helicopter cruise too, but that is another story.

Must Do #4 – Get up close with Humpback Whales

Nature lovers will be pleased to know that spotting the gentle giants like Humpback whales is just about a 1.5 hours cruise out of Sydney Harbour. There are a number of different migration and whale seasons. The humpback whale migration passing Sydney occurs between April and December each year. The season is split into two distinct sections depending on the direction of travel of the majority of whales at that time.

The distance of the whales from the coast is believed to be influenced by the movements of the ocean currents, primarily the East Australian Current. The East Australian Current is a strong southerly current that the humpback whales make use of during their southern migration. On the Northern migration the Humpback whales will often use the Inshore Northern current, which is a north flowing counter current to the EAC. The main purpose of the annual humpback migration is to breed. (Wikipedia)

One of the exciting moments of whale watching – seeing part of the mammal as it breached the water surface. A keen sense of response and camera with quick auto-focus capability are a must to capture such shots.

A Humpback calf getting excited at sea. Such moments are purely subject to luck and you may not get to observe such action shot all the time. On some occasion, you may even see the whale head popping out of the water, if lady luck is on your side.

A flipper shot of a Humpback calf. Adult Humpbacks have much bigger and longer pectoral fins.

A Humpback whale blowing waterspout, which are used by the boat captain during the cruise searching phase to guide them to the whales. The sound from the whales discharging the water can also be heard. There are many cruises providing whale watch trips and we had a pleasant trip with Ozwhalewatching.

Must Do #5 – Chill out at Bondi Beach

Bondi Beach needs no introduction as it is one of Australia’s and the world’s most famous beaches. This beach is perfect for surfers and also a great place to people-watch (if that’s one of your favourite pastime). “Bondi” or “Boondi” is an Aboriginal word meaning water breaking over rocks or noise of water breaking over rocks. But whatever the meaning, this place ROCKS ! 

The beach is about a kilometre long and is passionately patrolled by lifesavers. Every beach has it’s unique character and Bondi Beach is not different – the lifeguards trainees with varied coloured vest and swim caps, powdery sand, roaring surfs and an energetic vibe, you will remember this beautiful beach for a long time to come.

Lifeguard volunteers exercising on Bondi Beach on a weekend. Saving life is both a technical and physical endeavour and the volunteers work hard at this.

Professional lifeguards with clearly marked vest on duty. Apart from scanning the water surface for surfers, they also look out for sharks too.

The Bondi Beach is both a surfers heaven and a potential hazard. A rip is a kind of current that pulls swimmers a long way away out pretty quickly and swimmers may find themselves in shark territory or worse.  This is why you must swim between the flags – the RED and YELLOW flags. Observe the flags on the beach is a must before enjoying the waves.

Seagulls and beach goers exist in peaceful harmony alongside each other at the beach. The birds are simply feets away from you and comfortable with human presence.

Beach goers out in droves on the beach. You can easily spot the locals and tourists. Certainly a beach with an energetic vibe.

Must Do #6 –  Enjoy Vivid Sydney

Vivid Sydney is an annual 23 days festival of light, music and ideas. The colourful event features many of the world’s most important creative industry forums, mesmerizing public exhibition of outdoor lighting sculptures and installations and cutting-edge contemporary music. The city is transformed into a wonderland of ‘light art’ sculptures, eye-catching light artworks and grand-scale projections for all to enjoy – for free ! It’s good to plan your travel calendar to coincide with this mega event for an awesome experience. For 2017, the event is held from 26 May to 17 June.

The Opera House decked out with ethereal lighting displays and “morphed” to something else.  The light-up commences at 6.00pm with the Opera House taking the lead.

The light design projected on the roof of the Opera House changed the landscape of the area, “transporting” you to another place.

Lighted art installation on the wall of the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA). Did someone said art transform life ? Certainly so during this festival.

The Harbour Bridge takes on a different feel all together . The harbour becomes even more vibrant with many ferry companies providing Vivid Sydney cruises.

The lighting displays shot from the Opera House steps, giving a refreshing angle not available at other time of the year.

A section of the light installation at The Royal Botany Garden. The crowd of visitors can be overwhelming. For photographers, a weekday shoot might be a better choice as it’s less crowded.

Lights and firework displays at Darling Harbour. The entire city gets even livelier and makes Sydney that much more vibrant and exciting place to visit.

In conclusion

Regardless of whether you’re exploring the city centre and its metropolitan areas, each area have gained their own unique character and vibes. There seems to be a “must see” location around every corner or a “must do” activity the whole year calendar  !  The six activities I listed are just scratching the surface what Sydney has to offer. The best solution is to plan a longer visit in future based on your interest. You might like to check out my previous Sydney self-drive travelogue for some travel tips.  Thanks for hopping along on this quick trip.

Footnote : All pictures used in this travelogue are copyrighted to Jensen Chua Photography and Holiday Tours and Travel (Singapore) and all rights reserved.

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Reason #01 – Great location

Located at the heart of Bangkok’s upscale Emquartier & Emporium Shopping area and in the heart of fashionable Thonglor district of Bangkok, this hotel is well placed for business or pleasure.

The hotel facade. Located along Soi 39, Sukhumvit, the hotel is in a serene area, unaffected by traffic noise.

The splendid hotel lobby, classy and soothes the minute you stepped into the building. The centerpiece of the decor is a Bht 15 million (S$608,000) huge custom-made wall poster.

The hotel complimentary London Cab shuttle to Emquartier, a high-end mall about a 10min walk away. The Phrom Phong BTS is also located at this area.

Luxurious transport that anyone will appreciate. Other than this, the hotel also operates a luxurious MPV shuttle if needed.

Reason #02- Hip cafe to dine and be seen in

The hotel cafe – Bangkok Trading Post Bistro and Deli , is touted by food reviewers to be one of the hippest cafes to dine and be seen in at Phrom Phong. Playing around with retro tiles and old-school explorers’ gears like compasses, telescopes and field chairs, amid high ceilings, wood and marble, the decor is inspired from the colonial old straits trading days.  Other than baked items and sandwiches from the deli counter, guests can also find local and international comfort dishes. Do check out their superb purple sweet potato cake.

Farmers’ style omelette lovingly prepared at the cafe.

Thai congee, one of the most popular comfort food. Easy on the stomach, especially after a long flight.

Good connoisseur coffee and specialty beverages await diners at the cafe.  You can enjoy a wide range of artisan breads, jams, patisserie with cakes, pastries,l pizzas and local delicacies from the regions. Casual dining from breakfast at sunrise to late supper with friends. Dine in, take-away or even delivery to guests suites.

Museli for you ? eating healthily is entirely possible at the cafe with health conscious menu.

Boutique artisanal jams to buy home or as gifts. Just remember to packed into luggage and not hand carry on flight.

Reason #03 – Lovely room and sleep quality

Lovely cosy ambience and layout assures a wonderful sleep quality. 5 stars quality assured.

Guests looking for spaciousness and great room amenities will be pleased.

Gorgeous washroom facilities. And the WC have seat warmer, on top of built-in auto sanitation mode.

Feel right at home in the suites. More details can be refer here for the rest of the hotel accommodation.

Reason #04 – Gorgeous infinity swimming pool

Inviting infinity-edged swimming pool for a cosy dip and view of the city. Best experienced at dusk.

Imagine this, a huge jacuzzi pool to pamper guests. Feels like a king indeed.

Reason #05 – Great amenities

The hotel gym – modern gears in a cosy setting. Muay Thai sessions available too, at the other part of the gym.

Beautiful manicured garden with city view for chilling out with a difference.

For the golfers , a putting green to warm up the senses and keep the mind in focus.

Quirky design at the hotel pool level to titillate the guests. Fluttering heartbeats installation, indeed.

Conclusion

The immense competition in the Bangkok hospitality scene necessitate newer hotels to innovate and carve out it’s niche market. Although recently opened, the 137 Pillars Hotels group is by no means a new player, having opened their first hotel in 2011, the 137 Pillars House in Chiang Mai with another coming up in Phuket (Kata Beach, in 2019).

With the great stay experience and service that I enjoyed at this hotel and all the positives in the right place, I have reason to believe that this hotel will do exceptionally well ,as evidenced by the healthy occupancy rate.  Will I stay here again in my future Bangkok trip ? -100% Yes ! Will I recommend it to anyone visiting Bangkok -100% Yes, too ! Please do check Jetabout Holidays for the best deals available for this hotel.

Footnote : All pictures used in this travelogue are copyrighted to Jensen Chua Photography and Holiday Tours and Travel (Singapore) and all rights reserved.

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So does this resort lives up to it’s acclaimed brand name ? I certainly think so as memories of moments at this lovely resort still linger vividly after the trip. While it may not have the chic factor of some other newer higher-end resorts, this resort charms in her own unique ways.

The resort

Located on the island of Machchafushi, Alif Dhaal Atoll, this 112 villas and suites resort opened in late 2009 and is one of 3 Centara properties in Maldives. The resort was voted Maldives’ most family-friendly resort two years in succession and has a wealth of activities and superb facilities that makes this resort an ideal hideaway for couples , honeymooners, or families. Of key interest to vacationers would be the resort’s “ultimate All-Inclusive’ package” that provides for everything you could desire, from diving to dining, spa to excursions, and everything in between including champagne breakfasts and sunset cruises.

Getting there

Centara Grand Island Resort and Spa Maldives is 97.4km from Malé Velana International Airport. It can be accessed via a 25min direct sea plane transfer (during daylight) or a 20min domestic  flight to Maamigili airport followed by a 15min speedboat transfer (evening hours). .

The opportunity to view the amazing Maldivian scenery is one of the perks of seaplane transfer. The ride in the cramped cabin may not be that comfortable but it makes up for it by saving up on precious vacation time.

Touch down at the resort. The landing on the sea was smooth thanks to the pilots’ skill and good weather.

Disembarking and waiting for the resort dhoni (Maldivian traditional boat) for transfer to the jetty.

Resort staff standing by to welcome arriving guests. Arriving or departing guests will feel the warmth of the staff at the resort jetty. Memories of a wonderful vacation forever sealed by the heart-warming gesture and Maldivian hospitality.

Accommodation

Our accommodation, the Beach Suite. Spacious at 935 sg.ft with relaxing living room, a king bed on the mezzanine level and an spacious bathroom with an outdoor shower. Comes with complimentary wireless internet access, flat-screen TVs with international channels and in-room movies, DVD player, IDD telephone line, air-conditioning, ceiling fan, free minibar items, tea and coffee making facilities, in-room safe and a hairdryer.

Pathway to the Deluxe Water Villa.  Set on the northern side of the island, these spacious (925 sg.ft) come with soothing décor of white with splashes of colour, rattan and hardwood furnishings. Its terrace faces the endless horizon and guests can swim or go snorkeling in the lagoon.

Bath amenities of the Sunset Ocean Pool Villa. Functionality and aesthetics are both woven into the gorgeous room throughout.

The Sunset Ocean Pool Villa (1183 sg.ft.) comes with a 129 sg.ft  plunge pool looking across the ocean. Guests can snorkel only a few steps down from the terrace. These villas on the western end of the island boast sublime sunset views and feature a terrace for lounging and basking in the sun, a sea-gazing bedroom.

The Ocean Water Villa are newly refurbished villas set on the western end of the island. Each villa has a spacious terrace for lounging and basking in the sun, a sea-gazing bedroom and steps that lead directly into the lagoon.  Spacious 1,183 sg.ft of living area, including an outdoor terrace where chefs can prepare a private dinner, roomy bedroom with high ceilings and dominated by soothing whites, rattan and hardwood furnishings.

Guest can simply lounge on the netting on the terrace edge and plan their next dream vacation to Maldives.

Gastronomic adventure at the resort

Guests who took up the resort Ultimate All-Inclusive package will find their stay enhanced and absolutely carefree. All meals are included. Sumptuous champagne breakfasts are available through mid-morning at Reef Restaurant, lunches and dinners are to be enjoyed at the Azurri Mare Italian Restaurant, the Suan Bua Thai restaurant or Reef Restaurant, and selected beverages are served from 10am until midnight . Guest can even savour daily afternoon teas and sundowner parties!

The teppan yaki at the Reef restaurant is available to guests on the all-inclusive package, but seating at this meal is subject to advance reservation.

Superb seafood feast at the Azzuri Mare, a 55-seats Italian and seafood restaurant. The fresh catch of the day prepared Italian style, along with Italian signature dishes and flavour-filled pastas and pizza, with its beautiful views across the lagoon. The restaurant provides plenty of visual action with its open kitchen, and the a la carte menu and set menus feature vegetarian options.  Couples and families alike will love this diner for its gorgeous ambience.

You can trust the chef’s culinary skill at the resort, and the seafood can’t get any fresher. Trust me.

Panfried sea bass for you ? with a Rosè wine to go along ?

What you can do

There is so many things that guests can choose from land to sea-based activities, from fast to slow paced or simply doing nothing. That’s the beauty of vacation at the Maldives, even lounging at the swimming pool and taking in the amazing scenery makes it all worthwhile. But to maximize on the resort offerings, its highly advisable to observe the events timing so that you do not “miss the boat”.

One of the highlights of the resort would be the fish feeding session daily between 6.00-6.20pm near the resort house reef. Huge stingrays, sharks, moral eels, etc, all appear out of no where. Not quite a uncontrolled feeding frenzy but definitely an eye-opening experience for those who only seen such lovely marine creatures on television.

The huge stingrays all displayed very enthusiast feeding behaviour, thrashing out of the water at times to secure the food.

The resort house reef is one the places that even non-avid snorkelers will spend a great deal of time. The healthy house reefs have various structures built-in to provide a safe breeding ground for fishes. And this shows through the abundance of marine life at the site.

It can get somewhat crowded at the reef sometimes. But that’s a happy problem.

The resort spa, Cenvaree, has professional masseurs that are well trained by the resort headquarter. I vouch that I had my best Swedish and Shiatsu massage ever right here.

Guests can simply slow down and luxuriate among the many chill out spots throughout the resort. Do something or do nothing, that’s the way to go.

For avid stargazers, the unpolluted night skies of the Maldives Atolls presents plenty opportunities to spot the Milky Way and constellation. Or perhaps practise star trails photography?

A final word

A visit to Maldives is never complete without experiencing the wonders of the underwater world. The land scenery view was breathtaking but do trade in your sunglasses for a snorkel mask and take a peek into the world beneath. This is where the real magic of the Maldives is. And this resort with its house reef teeming with vibrant marine life, certainly perked up the overall trip experience. Sure, we did not not manage to spot the “big guy” during the Whale Shark snorkeling session but it’s still a pleasurable stay at this cosy and homely resort. If I do visit the Maldives again, i will make sure to make a date with my underwater friends at the house reef.

Thank you for joining me for the pixels journey. I hope you enjoyed reading my blog and find it useful. Should you feel like packing your bags now and visit Centara Grand  Maldives, you will be pleased to know that there is a special promotion by Jetabout Holidays for this resort.

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All pictures used in the article are all rights reserved and copyrighted to Jensen Chua Photography and Jetabout Holidays.

The post The All Inclusive Resort in Maldives: Centara Grand Island Resort and Spa appeared first on Jensen Chua Photography.

Having last visited the Maldives some 15 years back, I was truly excited when the opportunity to go on a site inspection to a few resorts with Jetabout Holidays came in March.  The first resort on the trip was Lux* South Ari Atoll. It may just be a couple of days at this fabulous resort but I can assure anyone looking for a luxurious Maldivian vacation that they will be very delighted if they chose this resort.

The resort

Formerly known as the Lux* Maldives, (they have a new property opening in the North Ari Atoll in late 2017) this resort is located on the picture-perfect island of Dhidhoofinolhu. Relaunched after a complete refurbishment in September 2016, guests have the choice of 193 private villas dotted at the water’s edge along 4 km of powder fine beaches and perched on stilts above a crystal clear lagoon. You may refer to the resort fact sheet here for other details.

Enjoy the immersive resort video and be bitten by the wanderlust bug.

With 4km of sandy beaches around the atoll, this resort is large compared to other resorts. You can stroll around the lovely island but you also have the option to ride on electric buggies that ply the resort like a ‘public transport’ system. You can wait at any pick up point with no more than 15min for the next buggy or simply hop on a buggy along the way if its route agrees with you. We did not rent the bicycles (for a nominal fee of USD5) as we felt well served by the buggy. You might be pleased to know that all drivers of buggy undergo training to receive certification before being permitted to operate the vehicle. All in the name of safety in paradise.

The resort is superbly maintained by about 600 courteous and helpful staff, who goes about their task around the island adhering to the island eco-friendly stance. I believe the staff in the picture below is “housekeeping on wheels”.  Low carbon footprint activities are etched into the DNA of the island.

Getting there

Lux* South Ari Atoll is 104km from Malé Velana International Airport. It can be accessed via a 25min direct seaplane transfer (during daylight) or a 20min domestic flight to Maamigili airport followed by a 10min speedboat transfer (evening hours).

Arriving guests will immediately feel the warm welcome of the resort when they disembarked the seaplane. The fatigue of a long journey is replaced by a sense of excitement as the staff lined up at the resort jetty to receive the guests. For arrival after dark hours, a staff will also be stationed to receive the guests. Either way, you are in good hands.

A seaplane taxiing to the resort jetty pontoon. Maldives is essentially served by one aerial transfer company after the merger of two firms. The time of the transfer depends on how the links are organized by the company. Waiting time before departure could be as short as half an hour or sometimes even up to two hours. This waiting time could be extended in case of inclement weather or delays along various pickup points along the flight routes. The seaplane flies only during daylight. But travel via the seaplane is still a favourable option as it provides passengers with a bird’s eyes view of the beautiful atolls in the clear blue sea. Passengers also get to rest in the company comfortable lounge while waiting for their transfer.

Cold towels are offered to guests upon arrival at the resort. And the staff will handle your luggage and have it whisked away to your villa directly. Check-in is smooth and seamless to ease the start of a great vacation.

The crystal clear water are so inviting that you feel like jumping in right away. That’s the magic of the Maldives. And this surreal feeling of being in a tropical paradise is what accompanies the visitor throughout the trip, enhanced by the resort offerings and ambience along the way.

Accommodation

Magnificent sleep quality at the spacious Beach Villa (1021 sg.ft) which offers beautiful sea view and just steps away to the beach and lagoon. The king-sized bed are supremely comfy and the room layout is very well thought out. There is also a LED TV which I did not use a single bit throughout the stay as the scenery are just too lovely to pass up. WiFi is free and accessible throughout the resort.

The washing area is very thoughtfully designed and superb especially for a family with 2 kids. Double sinks reduce waiting time, especially during the morning.

Generously sized bath tub. Perfect for couples or a family with 2 young children.

View of the sea from the Beach Villa patio, with 2 sun deck loungers and a parasol to each villa. It’s moment like this you feel like calling in-room service for breakfast and enjoy the bliss.

A sweet start to the new day with macaroons, chocolates and tea before heading out for breakfast. You wished time stands still.

Among the rooms we were shown during the inspection was the resort Romantic Pool Water Villa. With 1183 sg.ft of breezy space looking out into the blue yonder. If this isn’t romantic, I don’t know what is.

With all that creature comforts at the Romantic Pool Villa patio, you wished you had booked a longer stay. By sunset, the scene gets even more romantic.

At the Water Villa, the 1054 sg.ft of space felt even larger, with an unblocked view of the ocean. There is no pool in this type of room. But you get to enjoy the “world’s biggest pool” just steps away down the staircase. It can’t get better than this.

You could just lounge here for a big part of the morning, afternoon or night. At nightfall, you can also stargaze here and check out the various constellation.

Some facilities at the resort

Noticed I stated above as ‘some’ facilities at the resort. As our inspection spanned just a couple of days, I was hard pressed to thoroughly turn the resort inside-out. But from what I have seen, is enough to enamour me to go slow and appreciate it better. Like the picturesque 130 seats restaurant call East Market (see below), where we had breakfast. This diner offers guests a culinary tour of South East Asia and may I add, the chefs were just perfect.

And of course, what is a resort without great spa facilities? The resort spa – Lux* Me WellBeing.  There are 15 exclusive spa villas including 4 water treatment villas, which you see in the picture below. Common relaxation area with sauna and steam bath, plunge pools, spa products boutique, showers and changing rooms with separate sauna and steam bath for ladies and gentlemen. There is even a unisex hair salon.

Garden view spa treatment room.  Great when you need to take a short break from looking too much at the blue ocean.

At the East Bar (50s seats, built over water),  perfect place that will quench any thirst from the Maldivian sun.

Directly opposite the East Bar, the Lagoon Bar with colourful bean bags on the beach let guests chill out in total relaxation. The entire resort is relaxing, it’s only which area is more relaxing.

An epicurean adventure

For all lover of good food out there, Lux* 7 eateries will definitely satisfy your food cravings. The resort offers several options from pizzas and bar snacks to all-day dining to romantic candlelit dinners on the beach. The choices of cuisine were also diverse including International, Asian and Mediterranean. Guests who took up all-inclusive food and beverage package are entitled to their pick of all of the restaurants except for the Japanese restaurant and in-villa dining. We did not get to experience all the 7 eateries during the inspection due to time schedule but from those that we had tried, the epicurean adventure at this resort is guaranteed to thrill, excite and satiate.

East Market– offering a culinary tour of South East Asia

Umami – Tastes of modern Japanese dining. We did not dine at this restaurant but I am sure it’s definitely up there with the best.

Allegria restaurant offering Italian cuisine.  There’s even an Italian manager just to oversee the dining

At Cafe Lux* right at the resort lobby, enjoy a wide range of signature coffee prepared by a barista with in-house roasted coffee beans. I like what the resort described – “excellent coffee is a must, not a luxury; that’s why you’ll find a Café LUX* at the heart of LUX* South Ari Atoll”. Talk about commitment to caffeine lovers!

Beach Rouge – Beach Club and Restaurant offering contemporary cuisines in a chic and hip ambience.

Even the delicious food at the Beach Rogue makes for a photogenic food photo. Thanks, chef, for doing a great job!

Unique features

“Design and Atomsphere” said the Lux* South Ari Atoll press release. ” LUX* South Ari Atoll remains faithful to its promise of staying away from the sea of sameness, banishing thoughtless patterns hence creating something extraordinary.” And may I add, the resort certainly achieved their goals. Like this quirky and fun unisex washroom located at the Beach Rouge restaurant. Since when did you really had a fun time in a washroom?

This is a washroom? I thought I was in an art boutique.

Slick and chic are what comes to mind.

Located near the Umami Japanese restaurant, this themed unisex washroom was another amazing “out of the box” creation. Like what the Japanese always exclaim “Sugoi !”

Did someone need help up there? Hello?

Feeling homesick? need to phone home? Yes, guests are entitled to a 30min complimentary international phone call daily from this London phone booth replica. I have this notion coming to this lovely paradise is to get away from it all. We would rather be trying to avoid any phone calls. But when the need arises, you know you can use the phone. A really wonderful touch here.

In paradise but still had book addict withdrawal syndrome? no worries, there is a beautiful library with loft to fulfil that intellectual hunger pangs.

What you can do

Whale Shark watching is one of the highlights at the Maldives and this resort is fortunate to be located in the prime spot to observe these gentle giants. Their “snorkel with Whale Shark” excursions are conducted by the resort’s Marine Biology Center and offers participants a unique money back guarantee – “if you don’t see one, you don’t pay”. (Every Saturday, weather permitting) . We didn’t get to see the mammoth shark as they seemed to be somewhere on vacation. So we had a snorkelling session at the house reef just 10min away from the resort. Beside this, there also many other activities that you can do.

The skies were somewhat cloudy during the outing so it affected the underwater picture quality. The corals at the house reef are predominantly of the hard species. Marine life was abundant but overall, we would have enjoyed the snorkelling better had the weather improved. But that’s nature, we take what’s given.

A parrotfish being ‘serviced’ by a cleaner wrasse at the reef. It is interesting to be able to observe scenes of a NatGeo documentary right before your very eyes.

While the day thrilled us with so many things to do, the night skies presented another activity which we are unable to do in our hometown well-lit urban landscape, that is, star gazing. We had a lovely time doing astrophotography and shooting star trails right outside our villa.

A final word

On hindsight, vacation are hard-earned event and deserves proper planning. There are many resorts in the Maldives , each with its unique features. With the rates of most luxury resort going at a premium, visitors should all the more do their homework. Lux* South Ari Atoll is modern, trendy and hits the spot, from the decor, to the styling and to the little touches. Everything was done with the guests in the mind.  The service we received at Lux* was excellent. From the time we were received at the jetty to the time we departed, we felt that we were in good hands. All of the staff were always helpful, smiling and courteous. This superlative service level makes it even more memorable for a long time to come.

Thank you for coming along for the pixels journey. I hope you enjoyed reading my blog and find it useful. Should you feel like packing your bags now and visit Lux* South Ari Atoll, you will be pleased to know that there is a special promotion by Jetabout Holidays for this resort (offer ends April 2017).

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All pictures used in the article are all rights reserved and copyrighted to Jensen Chua Photography and Jetabout Holidays.

The post Lux* South Ari Atoll, Maldives – Luxury redefined appeared first on Jensen Chua Photography.

I like to think of Club Med as a “cruise vacation”on land, with the all-inclusive whole-day dining and drinks (cocktails, beer, etc) that will bring a smile even to those who don’t really engage in their wide range of sports and wellness activities.  And of course, not forgetting the cosmopolitan Gentil Organisateur (G.O.) crew who are central to the Club Med experience. “The G.O is the ambassador of the Club Med spirit and upholds the company’s values. In addition to their professionalism and know-how is added a way of being, which brings them close to customers and produces moments of happiness, kindness, conviviality, friendliness and humour.” (Club Med website)

Getting to Club Med Bintan

Accessibility to this idyllic resort situated at Lagoi Bay, on Bintan Island couldn’t be easier. A quick 45min ferry from the Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal (TMFT) plus a 15 minutes land transfer from the Bandar Bintan Telani (BBT) ferry terminal whisk you from urban Singapore to relaxing holiday of sun, sand and sea. There are five daily ferry departure on weekdays and seven on weekends and public holidays. More details can be referred here.

The resort

The Lagoi Beach at Club Med Bintan is a private beach, accessible only by the resort guests. The sand is fine and powdery soft and I am glad I did not experience any sandflies. The beach is breezy and chilling out at the sheltered sun decks is one the most enjoyable activities with low-carbon footprint, if I may add.

Just you, the sun , sand and sea. There is no worries about being accosted by beach hawkers peddling their wares as in other public beaches elsewhere. But the waves at Lagoi can be choppy and strong during the year end monsoons. So swimming, snorkeling, stand up paddle and kayaking are suspended but safer activities like hobie-cat sailing can be arranged.

The accommodation

The resort have various types of rooms. But the cosy sea-facing deluxe rooms, like the one above, should please all her occupants. Wall-mounted LCD TV, plush bed , balcony, day bed and writing table makes the stay enjoyable. WiFi speed can be rather slow at some area but it’s a crime to nitpick. It’s a vacation!  The complimentary drinks in the mini-bar made me smile but ironically, I did not need ransack the mini-bar content as my thirst have been quenched by beverages and cocktails around the resort, all included in the package .

The bathroom does not come with bath tub (only the two suites in resort has it) but have nice shower faucet with good water pressure and double sinks. The WC is separated from the bathroom for better functionality. Overall, the washroom is well laid out, equipped and will satisfy most users.

Dining at the resort

At the newly renovated Waterfall Restaurant (international buffet), pastel white and green colour scheme soothes the diners while ample seats and tables meant no need to queue at meal time. Refurbishment as this spacious dining hall was just completed days before. that the soft-furnishings were not even installed yet. But it did not affect the dining experience though. Beer lovers will be pleased to know they can help themselves to beer and other drinks at the beverages counter, with compliments of course. Only when you pine for champagne and other more expensive wines do you pay extra.

The “buffet” dishes counters at the restaurant are arranged in individual kiosks. The chef in charge of that dish will be most delighted to prepare and plate his or her culinary creation to you. The portion are in fine-dining portion, inducing you up to explore and experience more dishes from other ethnic dish station from Korean, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Italian, etc. I like that Club Med coined it as “healthy eating”. But still I end up getting totally full as the dishes are just so beautifully done.

Home-made Japanese tofu with spicy dressing for you ? Vegans are well-taken care of at Club Med. As are meat-eaters.

My favourite Indian dish Roti with fish curry at breakfast. Everyone has their comfort food. This one is mine.

Another of my breakfast comfort food, Chinese porridge. Warms up the stomach for a great start to the day. One helping is never quite enough.

Fine-dining restaurant , The Terrasse, serves a la carte lunch and dinner on reservation only. Guests are asked during breakfast session if they would like to dine at this romantic diner close to the beach under the stars. The dinner main course are chosen at time of reservation so diners need just show up at meal time and be treated to a meal cooked ala minute in cozy ambience. Just need to specify your preference for steak doneness or the entrees options.

Service staff goes around with mini portable lamp attached to menu for guests to better read and choose their entrees in the dim setting. Salad and fruits bar are also set up although the set meal itself is already sufficient.

After a nice dinner, guests can choose attend G.O organised parties or chilled out at one of watering holes around the resort. We checked out the Matahri beachside bar for cocktails and certainly relished the cosy sea side ambience.  It helped that all drinks- cocktails, mocktails or whatever is available are complimentary too.

Post dinner cocktails anyone ? How about a Brandy Alexander or Grasshopper ? on the house, of course.

Some of the resort recreation areas

The recently renovated swimming pool with light emerald blue tiles, making the pool looked bigger than the previous dark blue tiles.

Family and friends enjoying the pool. Shortly after I shot this picture, the pool water aerobics session commenced. Pool area is usually the hub of activities in most resorts. But at Club Med, there are many hub of activities which goes around the resort, catering to both kids and adults, who the club calls G.Ms (Gentils Membres).

One wonder why the pool is not crowded even with such lovely weather. But with so many activities spread out across the resort, everyone is having fun all over and not confined to the pool. The lifeguard at the pool is certainly in relaxed mode.

Club Med evening entertainment centre. In the evening, the talented side of the Gentil Organisateurs are displayed right here as they go about entertaining guests with fun activities after dinner. Everyone is invited !

Outdoor sports activities

The unmistakable logo and symbol of fun. Everyone who loves travel will recognise the Trident .

The resort sea sports staff getting ready the hobie-cats for sailing lessons. Each ride around the Lagoi Bay takes about 15-20minutes. Get ready for a wet and fun session.

Harnessing nature’s gift. Sailing in the windy bay is a low-carbon footprint activity very much in sync with the club eco-friendly stance.

Feel the wind in your hair as you sail around Lagoi Bay. Each Hobie Cat can accommodate about 4 sailors plus 1 crew comfortably.

Safety is paramount at the beach. The resort stationed lifeguards and gears to ensure beach users are in good hands.

Children having fun and learning confidence at the “Flying Trapeze School”. The GOs are specially trained in each of the activity they are in charge of. There’s even a drinking water dispenser right at the activity shelter to ensure everyone need not go far to stay hydrated.

Always a popular activity, archery at the shooting range attract constant stream of guests. Guests are not limited on how long they can play robin hood. But activity times are separated between children and adults, so do check out the events schedule at resort lobby level one near the 24 hour Santai Bar.

Learning to stay focused and patience are two virtues of archery. And it’s good to start young.

Enjoy and feel achievement. That’s what makes archery such a sweet sports. Pardon the pun.

Spa experience at the resort (by Asmara Lifestyle)

Wellness treatment at the resort. This is one the activities that is not included in the all-inclusive vacation package at Club Med. The spa operation is outsourced to Asmara Lifestyle.

Holistic wellness products for purchase at the spa boutique.

The treatment rooms nestled among the bay floral and fauna. Totally peaceful and in a tranquil setting.

The spa treatment room. The awesome view alone makes the wellness session a memorable occasion.

Nature at the resort

Local “resident” butterfly at the resort compound. Photographers who loves shooting nature pictures will enjoy the opportunities the resort present.

One of several squirrels by the archery shooting range. Watching the wildlife at the resort is another great bonus. Complimentary and no extra charge, of course.

A sweet farewell by the Gentil Organisateur (G.O)

Every arrival and departure to the resort is a heart warming experience. The GOs lined the resort lobby and driveway, even with bottled water, so that every guest is fully taken care of. From the minute you stepped into the resort, till you leave. That’s the Club Med style.

Till the next time. We will miss the Club Med experience and be back for more .

For those keen to experience the Club Med all-inclusive vacation, please do check Jetabout Holidays for special promotional packages here with up 50% saving and no membership fee requirement (terms and conditions apply).

All pictures used in this blog is copyrighted to Jensen Chua Photography and all rights reserved.

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My choice of Holiday Inn Resort was a great decision (having stayed there the last time too, during a golfing trip). Great comfy room, service, food and location. But the island hopping trip to Phi Phi Island, Maya and Khai Island was regretfully a bad pick of activities. Though scenic, it was swamped by mass hordes of visitors, smoking everywhere and sub-par service from service provider. White water rafting trip was great though (but no pics to show as camera was not allowed on the raft).  Not much pics on this trip as the lighting was not great too. Thanks for coming along for the pixels journey.

Our accommodation for the vacation

Our deluxe room at The Holiday Inn Patong. Nice and cosy and most important..loads of power points to charge our tons of gadgets. The WiFi speed is reasonably speedy with little lag when watching video on our smartphone. But one very important tip…never accept the room right at the floor lift lobby ! We liked the easy accessibility but come nightfall, every so often, rude and inconsiderate guests returning from pub outing at 2.00-3.00am would raise a noisy ruckus at the lift lobby as they stomp their way back to their room. We were awaken on several occasion during our five nights stay. So, be warned, Patong is a party town, reject rooms near lift lobby at any hotel if you are a light sleeper.

My favourite way of making my breakfast at hotel stay more fun – customizing my own ‘Subway’ sandwich with food around the buffet line. This resort has one of the best breakfast spread I encountered at any resorts I have stayed.  And the service from both service staff and the chef were amazing. During one of the mornings, I noticed one of the regular dishes – fried Thai sausage for the Chinese porridge, was not available.  I casually mentioned to the senior chef making his rounds, that it was my daughter’s favourite item. Within 5min, he personally hustle up a small serving of the sausage, piping hot and send it to our table ! That’s what I call Thai hospitality !

“Wildlife” at the resort ..my fave pic of the trip.  It was definitely no easy capturing this picture the scorching sun. After 20 odd frames over 15 minutes session,  almost got dehydrated.

Frog patiently waiting for bees at the Holiday Inn Resort waterlilies pond. That’s what I called opportunistic predatory instinct. The frog knew the bees like the waterlily sweet nectar and station itself for an easy snack. Both I noticed the bees were not silly either. None came near the flower during the 15-20 minutes when I was waiting to photograph the frog’s endeavor.

View from our room. Not great…but no complaint either. Hotel at opposite side of the road is the Swisshotel Patong. This hotel also houses the famed Hooters restaurant right at it’s premise.  And just short stroll down down, is the famed Hard Rock Cafe. Loads of diners, both local and international franchisers, massage parlours (both decent and not so decent) and many other amenities are all found within walking distance. 

For want of a better word, I like to call this “office with a view”. Such is a beach vendor way of life on the beach. The weather is good, they get to eat. When it turns bad, it’s a tough day.  The weather gods are their paymaster.

Parasailing, one of the “must-do” activities on the beach (at least for those who have it experienced it before). About 1000bht a pop, with short 7-10 minutes short jaunt up and down Patong Bay, you are back to mother earth.  Prices are all standardized among the sea sports vendors at the beach, so there is no need to hunt for the most reasonable one.  Observe which vendors are friendliest and give good service, then have fun.

Typical beach scene at Patong. I always love the beach parasols for the shade and for the picture framing opportunities with it. Each sand bed (rest ‘bed’ created from beach sand with a cushion resting on top of it) goes for 200bht per usage till you decide to leave. Not too expensive really. You could lied there whole day and soak in the sun and balmy air.

Artwork on display. There are many tattoo shops all around Patong catering to those who want to ink their body. Patong is like a mecca for body tattoo – more than a dozen tattoo studios dot the town alone. Prices generally starts from 1000bht for a simple design.

Beach vendor hawking bangles and accessories.  You need not go to the shop, the shop comes to you at Patong beach. Sunglasses, drinks, ice cream vendors make their rounds at the beach.

The sea activities vendors vehicle , with the corrosive seawater, it’s understandably rusty in some spots.

Dusk comes to Patong.  Tourists taking a relax stroll by the beach, while locals rushing about to end a day’s work at the beach.

Outer islands hopping

Tourists at Koh Phi Phi. Loads of tourists (including myself). Boat loads of them on the island made all the more famous by Leonardo Dicaprio’s movie The Beach (2000).

Lovely sight at The Island…venue where Leonardo Dicaprio film “The Beach” was filmed. I had just 2-3 min window to shoot this scene , before loads of other tourists elbow their way on this viewing deck.

Curious tourists surrounding resident macaques at Monkey Island. Despite being told not to feed the wild monkeys, most turned a deaf ear. I even see monkeys holding Coke can and drinking from it.  That does not augur well for the wildlife on the island.

Water activities vendors waiting for business at Koh Khai (Egg Island), a little island tucked away in Phang Nga Bay. It’s only about 30 minutes away from the east coast of Phuket but ask anyone on the island if they’ve been there and you will probably draw a blank stare.  There’s really not much on this tiny island except several eateries serving light food and drinks. One special characteristic of Koh Khai is that it has schools of tropical fish and they aren’t afraid of humans. As a result a lot of people are feeding them bread, swimming through them with people taking photos of them.

The friendly fish swarmed around beach goers, expecting to be fed. That’s where our loaf of bread bought at Patong town convenience store were for.  We have stopped ‘hijacking’ bread from resort breakfast  for quite some time.

One of the most popular activities, renting a beach mat (50bht) and just laze around.  The tides come in fast and soon, our beach mat had to be moved from near the shore to under the sun deck.  It’s a small island, you feel the Earth rotation fast.

Sea sports activity at Koh Khai. I did not experienced aggressive touting by the vendors. So it did not add to the already “fatigue” day from island hopping. Do note that toilet facilities on island cost 20bht per entry to the badly maintained restroom as this is not gazetted a national park , where there are no charges using it.

Patong Town

Patong town still sleeping at 630am. The town generally starts waking up from 7.30am onward, with most retail shops opening from 9am. Some massage shops opened early with even the masseur asking if i wanted a massage at 8am. This is the only time you will like walking the narrow pavements as it’s usually lined with taxis at the curb and their drivers smoking while waiting for customers. This prevalence of smokers was what affected my fond memories of this beach town.

A local whizzing by early in the morning. On way to work probably.

Motorbike taxis are common at the town to answer to short distance commute. Motorbike taxis are available almost anywhere. Fares start at 20 baht, although be prepared to haggle. The official drivers wear red or green vests with a white number on the back. This is not a recommended way of getting around, but they can be handy for short trips when you are in a hurry.

Tuk Tuks in Phuket are not the iconic three-wheelers  you are familiar with in Bangkok . It’s modified ‘mini trucks’, usually painted bright red or yellow. A good number of them also have powerful sound systems and disco lights set up in the passenger compartment. These are the most usual form of public transport on the island, with dozens of them parked up waiting for customers at street side, outside all of the major attractions and resorts. Regretfully, tuk tuks have also developed a reputation for being among the most expensive means of getting around Phuket, with even a short cross-town trip costing as much as 100 baht. Setting the price works in the same way as with private taxis and limousines – state your destination and haggle the price before you get on. Make sure you’re clear on whether the price is per person or for your whole group.

A drink vendor chauffering his dog on way to work.  Such scene makes the traffic photography more interesting.

Located downtown, diagonally opposite Bangla Road, the Jungceylon Shopping Complex has totally changed the shopping landscape in Patong. There are two main anchor stores in the complex are Robinson – a gleaming well-lit upper end department store, and Big C supermarket. The 200-plus other stores and restaurants in this shopping heaven selling brand-name clothes, spectacles, sunglasses, cosmetics and perfumes, shoes,  computer games, tons of mobile phones and accessories, electrical goods but it is also a great entertainment haven with a five-room SF Cinema and a 16-lane bowling alley, superb for rainy days or to relieve from the scorching hot sun. There is also a fabulous food court named Food Bazaar at the basement of the mall selling delicious food at reasonable price.  For those looking for decent massage services, there several great massage parlours, like Montra Massage, are  located at the basement.

Bangla Road is like a “vampire” street, it really comes to life once the sun sets. The road is sealed off to vehicle traffic and becomes a 400 metre cacophony of neon lights, loud music, cheap beer and sexy girls. Heavily packed most nights of the year, it is quite an interesting and lively place to walk around as bars and clubs compete with each other for customers. If you’re looking for a fun night out in Phuket, Bangla Road should be your number one choice.

Fun at Bangla, but do be aware of scams in the area. When the good time rolls…the guard gets let down.  Good to enjoy but don’t get taken for a ride.

You simply can’t miss Tiger Disco: the imposing complex covers some 5,000sqm on three floors. The building is fitted out with stone-like cement décor with large concrete tigers overlooking the street from the second floor. The place offers at least three types of entertainment: girl hunting (or being hunted by girls, according to one’s character and taste), pool, and partying to live music (from Phuket.com)

Footnote : All pictures used in this travelogue are copyrighted to Jensen Chua Photography and all rights reserved. 

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In Part 2 of my Taiwan blog, we had a look at some famous Taichung eateries – Lai Lai Soya Bean Milk, Chun Sui Tang and Ding Wang. The amazing Miyaharu (Gong Yang Yan Ke) – a delightful local specialty and snack heaven,  Mushroom Garden and Lavender Cottage at Sinshe county. The gorgeous Sun Moon Lake, Rainbow Village, Qing Jing Highlands and the fabulous mountain scenery of Taroko National Park.  This final blog marked our descend from the peaks of Mt.Hehuan to the coastal city of  Hualien, then up north to the seaport town of Keelung and end destination at Taipei, which is our final leg of our ten days trip.

My family portrait, shot by my driver-guide, Ah Hui at Chi Shing Tan.  A very popular beach at Hualien.

 Sunrise at Hehuanshan

In the previous blog, we got to experience the sunset at Hehuanshan. Now, we get to enjoy the awesome sunrise. This activity required waking up at 3.00am, checking out of our ming su (homestay) at 4.00am and enduring a 2 hours drive to the photography vantage point.  It took absolute determination and enthusiasm as we had to ignore fatigue from the previous day activities, leaving the warm cosy bed and brave the -5’C morning freeze. But our reward was the stars filled skies and the mesmerizing colours of dawn, which was just beyond description.

Here comes the sun, bringing some slight relief from the sub-zero temperature. In the right of the picture, you can see Songshue,  the highest situated ming su in the entire national park. It has a long waiting list if you intend to book a stay there.

Taroko Gorge

 The spectacular Taroko Gorge is a huge national park that spans Taichung, Nantou and Hualien and a big portion of those the rocks are actually marble, which Taiwanese call “Da li shi”! So you realise why many of Taiwan parks have marbled benches, walkways, buildings, etc. Talk about a gift from nature! And every time there is an earthquake, part of Taroko gets a “free restructuring” as new rocks are pushed up the earth surface.

Taroko National Park famed “Toad Prince” Pavillion. Can you spot the toad prince?

 The immense scale of the Taroko Gorge humbles all that visited her.

With all of her natural beauty, Taroko is not without risks at times. This was the site of a major landslide in May 2013 that paralysed land travel from east to west. At the time of our visit, on-going debris and clearance work using explosive were still in progress.

Chi Shing Tan beach (Hualien) 

This is one of the most awesome beaches in Taiwan, translated literally, it means “Seven Stars Bay”. There is no sand to get in between your footwear but an entire bay of pebbles. Hualien is a picturesque laid-back seaside town on the east of Taiwan. However, to visit Hualien, it is highly recommended that it be part of a round trip en route from Taichung and not an end destination by itself. That is because very few drivers/guide will bear the 4 hours drive (1 way) from Taichung to Hualien just for a day trip. Taiwanese have this joke about Hualien – “Hao-Shan, Hao Sui Hao Wu Liao” – “Nice mountains, nice Beaches but very boring”. The only setback of Hualien is its “awkward” distance from Taichung and Taipei.

 The wide expanse and awesome blueness of the Pacific Ocean. You will want to stay here longer than usual.

 The simple pleasures of life at the beach with our guide, Ah Hui. Trying to form the highest pebbles stack.

Preparing to launch our own fireworks at a beach in Hualien… yes, our very own fireworks. No license is needed. Generally, fireworks are sold openly in the street market and can be released in parks and open area. Just be mindful of safety to people in the vicinity.

Just 20 seconds of fireworks with 20 types of flare patterns. The cost is NT250 (S$9.90) per pack of 20 launches. We launched 2 rounds of fireworks with some sparklers given with compliments from the shop owner.  It was pure “liberation” that evening. No permit, no paperwork, no authorisation needed.

Street food moment at Hualien City

Handmade dumplings, steamed buns, soya bean milk are some of the specialities of this 2 stalls. Looks the same but the one on the left is the most famous in Hualien. Each bamboo basket of 10 steamed dumplings (sui jiao) is just NT30 (S$1.26)

A basket of 10 pork buns (xiao long bao) just NT50 (S$2.15) Our group of 5 spent just about S$10 for a delicious full dinner. You can’t miss this stalls located at the main street junction where the night market is located.

Hualien is a great place for beef dish eateries. I have forgotten the name of this eatery but seriously speaking, you can’t really go wrong. Just look for signboards that looked old and established , you know are in the right place. You will love the food at Hualien.  Honest, simple and affordable.

Zi Qiang Night Market

A BBQ foodstall in ZhiQiang Night Market. This stall proclaims itself as the No.1 BBQ food stall in Hualien. It’s not an empty boast.

The famous morbidly named “Coffin Bread”…a thick slice of bread is deep fried/toasted and can be ordered with various options of stuffing in the bread’s hollowed centre. We had black peppered pork.

The Taiwan version of what we called “popiah”. Not bad, but the Singapore version can hold its own place in the popiah race if there is one.

Taiwan’s most BBQ sweet corn snack company – Ling Ji. Farm fresh sweet corns are charcoal grilled with its skin till cooked, then the de-skinned sweet corn is further barbequed, with your preferred choice of sauces.

Our ming su (homestay) in Hualien. It was like a 3500sg ft 5 bedrooms intermediate terrace house. We did not meet the owner, who stayed elsewhere. Upon arrival, my guide called the owner on his mobile phone, retrieved the password and punched in the code at the auto gate. The owner will drop by to do housekeeping the next day when we leave for the daily activities. The house comes fully furnished like our stay-in house -TV, WiFi, washer/dryer, fridge, water dispenser, etc. Upon checking out, we just leave the payment on the table. The owner even left 2 bags of famous local snacks on the door as gifts. Such is personalized Taiwanese mingsu service.  The charges are based on per head, which in our case was a reasonable NT500 (S$21.25)per pax/night. The ming su nearer to the beach charges more.

A last look at Hualien as we travel up north via the Ching Shui Cliff coastal highway. In the picture above, you can observe camouflaged military aircraft bunkers in the background, just beside ChiShingTan beach. Military buffs can spot warplanes taking off and landing on certain timing.

Ching Sui Cliff (Su Hua Highway)

A picturesque drive on the Su Hua highway as we make our way to the seaport of Keelung.

 The whitish portion of the sea comes from run-off in the streams or groundwater that traverse the marble quarries that dominate the inland.

Keelung City

Keelung, officially known as Keelung City, is a major port city situated in the north-eastern part of Taiwan. A different adventure awaits all who visits her.

Hobbyist fishermen along the port of Keelung. It’s leisurely pace of life that city dwellers would like.

Dorado fishes spotted for sale at the Keelung fish market. In some parts of the world, it’s called ‘Mahe Mahe’.

Many fishball vendors shops dot the Keelung fish market fringe. One of the most popular is that of Ah Rong Fishballs. The fishballs are made from Dorado fish (see the signboard how the fish looked like), handmade, cooked on the spot and served piping hot.

Certainly a tasty and healthy snack, just NT30 (S$1.26) for a bowl of 5. Slightly firm, chewy and served in a hot clear MSG-free broth.

Taiwan famous ice cream roll dessert with shaved peanut brittles. According to my guide, this lady was Taiwan no.1 “La Mei” (hot beautiful girl) during her younger days many decades ago, pioneering this type of ice cream dessert.

What? Cilantro herbs added to ice cream? Yes, it’s this that adds the unique flavour to the ice cream, served wrapped with rice paper. Taiwan is certainly a food adventure too!

Chilling out at the Keelung beach. When a family plays together, they stay together.

Suao Cold Spring (Yilan County)

The Su’ao cold springs have a temperature of less than 22°C and the water from these springs are clear, colourless with no smell. This rare type of cold springs are only found at a few places around the world, like Italy and Japan and it is suitable for bathing and consumption. You can see a layer of “fizzles” on our feet as we placed it in the water. The spa is somewhat run down and quiet during our visit (we were the only visitors). It is most popular in the hot summer season when the whole spa is swarmed with visitors escaping the heat.

A typical mobile roadside BBQ stall. The place of business is fixed, legally registered and the owner pay taxes.

Fruits stalls in Taiwan are typically brightly lit, attracting customers like bees to a flower.

Ping Xi Branch  Rail Line (Shi Fen)

Ping Xi Railway with it Wishing (Sky) Lanterns guarantees its position in visitors’ heart as a fun and memorable venue. Just choose from one of the many shops selling the lanterns (NT200/S$8.50) for all types of wishes – 4 coloured sides lanterns or NT150/S$6.40, for the 1 coloured lantern). Write in all your wishes, lit the lantern and send it to the skies. The further and higher the lanterns go, the better the chances your dreams will come true.

Better school results, health, happiness, more holidays, more iPad time, Strike Toto, Strike 4D, buy a condo, get COE, etc. You can tell who are the Singaporeans are by the wishes written on the lanterns. But ours are just simple wishes, for great health, happiness.

A single lady wishing for the stars and everything great in life. All written on the lantern.

Airborne! The lanterns are lit up with joss papers soaked in kerosene and stuck into the receptacle within the lantern. If the lanterns did not get airborne properly for some reason, the shop owner will replace it with another one till your lantern ascends the skies at no extra charge.

 You can also pen your wishes on bamboo stems and hang it on the line parallel to the side of the railway.

A 15 min walk from the railway bring you to the scenic Shi Fen Waterfall.  Entry charges applies.

Houtong Cat Village

Houtong, a small town in New Taipei City that has become famous for its large feline population in recent years. The town encircled by hills was once a Taiwan major coal mine and now houses a museum to showcase its mining heritage.  But visitors come mainly to photograph the 120 or so cats, who laze around “their village” and get all the treats (some even pick and chose treats!). In the pic above, a couple of cats were squaring each other in an “alpha male or hierarchy rite” purring and staring into each other’s eyes.

 

During cold wintry spells or nights, the village cats will gather together on the “Cats” bridge. Since it was fairly cool and sunny when we visited, we spotted only 1 at the bridge.

Cat lovers will appreciate this visit to the village. Remember – the cat biscuits are not as well received by the cats. So buy the canned food instead, if you want more cats to come to you.

Golden Waterfall (Jiu Fen)

 

Jinguashi is located in the Rueifang Township of Taipei County, the area became famous for its gold mines. Situated between the mountains and the coastline, the local scenery is exceptionally beautiful, plus the abundance of historical relics from the mining day. At the right moment during sunset, this waterfall will be bathed in the golden hue of dusk, hence its name.

Evening came to the beautiful town of Jiu Fen, where the quaint old alleys along the hill, with many tea houses and eateries that will excite any visitor. Indeed, my guide commented that all visitors to Taiwan seemed to converge on Jiu Fen at some point to their itinerary.

Shuinandong Smelter, located above Liandong Bay on the Coastal Highway, was the ore sorting and smelting plant for the Taiwan Metals Mining Corp. It is built into the hillside and old miners and local people usually call it “13 stories.” Built in 1933, the Shuinandong Smelter (13 stories) is a landmark bearing the passing of a bygone era of gold-rush. Looks quite spooky really.

Lao Jie (Old Street), Jiu Fen

Dusk comes to Jiu Fen. From this path at the highest point of the Old Street, is where we began an adventure in the quaint old street. Those with old folks or who have weak knees would do well to commence their walk from here, strolling down the street.

 Jiu Fen, is one of the most interesting places to visit in northern Taiwan. Its old streets are filled with exotic eateries, tea houses, local produce, etc. But be forewarned, since all tourists to Taiwan converged on Jiu Fen, as part of their itineraries. So you may experience claustrophobia and definitely frustration.

Visiting during early weekday evenings would be a wiser option and even better during wintry months from Nov-Jan. The hot summer months are best avoided, at all cost. This is the venue that inspired the winning 2003 Academy Award animated movie – “Spirited Away“, written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki.  Take a rest, have tea and snack at one of the quaint eateries.

Custom-made clogs for my daughter, ready in just 5-7 minutes.

Delicious red-wine fermented meat pudding in a chewy dough. I love it!

Cute figurines and memorabilia to buy home.

Peanut vendor at Jiu Fen – one of the tastiest peanuts I tasted ever! Bought a few bags. But was told by my wife it’s available in Singapore Chinatown (but only during Chinese New Year).

Addiction Aquatic Development

This amazing eatery warrants special mention and is definitely worth a visit when in Taipei. Located at the Taipei Fish Market on Minzu East Road near Songshan Airport, a portion of the traditional fish market was revamped by Mitsui Food and Beverage Enterprise Group and transformed into one of Taipei’s most memorable places to eat.  Many of the older traditional market stalls are still around, and they are a great sightseeing spot before heading on to the chic Addiction Aquatic Development to enjoy the freshest sashimi and sushi.

The freshest abalones at very reasonable prices. During off-peak hours, diners get to enjoy great discounts!

My family and guide, Ah Hui, tucking in the fresh Salmon and Abalone Sashimi. You can choose to dine on your purchase at the standing counters upon paying and checking out (cheaper, self-serve) or feast within the eatery (also on a standing pedestal, with service).

For non-seafood lovers, you can feast on roasted meat dishes in al fresco setting or steamboat within the aircon enclosed dining section. Certainly an unbelievable set-up. There’s also a wine section, interior decor, supermart, etc. You will be “addicted” to this place.

As a parting shot with our guide, Ah Hui brought us to this “secret” location near Songshan Airport, where we could observe landing commercial airliners, just 30m directly above us… truly an awesome finale to our guided trip.

Yehliu GeoPark

For all who have not visited Taiwan, I am sure will not be stranger to the following picture of the Queen’s Head, a naturally formed rock structure. An awesome venue to visit, especially when you are in Taipei city.

 

All hail the Queen! But alas!The rock has developed a crack at the base. And time is ticking as in a matter of time, it will collapse, if the Taiwanese voted in favour not to meddle with nature, in a national referendum.

Long queue just to take a picture with the Queen’s Head, expect at least 30 minutes!

Tamsui (New Taipei City)

The Lovers’ Bridge at Tamsui. A nice peaceful venue for all other than lovers, of course. Accessible by an MRT ride, bus or via a ferry to the vicinity.

Tamsui Old Street (Lao Jie). Another night market to fire up a night of binging and shopping. Plenty of opportunities for you to part with your NTs.

Shihlin Night Market. Many reviews decried this night market as touristy and more expensive compared to most night markets . It was indeed so (other night basic snack is NT30 per order, but it is NT35-40 here) , but just watch out when you in this venue.  And stay away from the fruits stalls. Other than that, it’s still a fun venue.

Ladies delight venue….bags, bags, bags.

BBQ stinky tofu, awesome not to be missed snack. So tuck in if you go there.

Traditional fare is also available, like this steamed meat pudding.

Ai Yu Iced Jelly. A refreshing dessert to cool down your throat after all that street side binging with deep-fried, roasted, fried food.

Taipei 101

 The new landmark of Taiwan. It cost NT500 (S$21.25) to visit the observation deck. A great time to go would be at late afternoon so that you take in the day and evening view. 2 for the price of 1.

The trick to take in the whole building is shooting at least 4 streets away.

Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall

A landmark not to be missed for its scale and historical significance. Entry is free.

The hourly change of guards is not really an adrenaline rushed event but its interesting all the same.

View from atop the CKS Memorial Hall. An awesome view of scale and grandeur.

Scoot Airline, our aerial taxi to Taiwan…great price and flight schedule. 

So there you have it, the final part of my Taiwan travel blog!  I hope that readers had a great time getting reference points for future Taiwan trips if you have not been there. After my 10 days in Taiwan, my guide estimated that we have perhaps covered only about 5% of Taiwan attractions. That means we have to return for more of this fabulous beautiful island.

Thank you for coming along with me for the pixel journey. Do share your Taiwan vacation too, if you enjoyed your Taiwan adventure. 

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