• Darin Hancock
  • Robert Maccarthy
  • Jackie Maccarthy
  • Darin Hancock
  • Robert Maccarthy
  • Jackie Maccarthy
  • Amber Hancock

Singapore Cambodia Philippines

Uma aventura indeterminada pela Darin, Robert, Jackie & Amber Leia mais
  • Inicio da viagem
    4 de fevereiro de 2018

    Just a planning session

    3 de fevereiro de 2018, Canadá ⋅ 🌙 -24 °C

    A planning session at Darin and Amber's with the first attempt at Cambodian and Singaporean cooking. Singapore Noodles, Singapore Curry, Mango Salad and coconut cake. Delicious!! It was also on this night that Robert had the brilliant idea of making a short side trip to Malacca, er, Kuala Lumpur, on our way to Cambodia.Leia mais

  • This is the last post before we depart

    22 de março de 2018, Canadá ⋅ ☁️ -6 °C

    Last night was the last planning session before we take off for our long anticipated trip to the other side of the world. The girls are getting really good with learning the popular Khmer phrases, and we also discovered a new workout routine. I think we’re nearly prepared for our journey. My brother has also enticed us with some papaya growing in his yard that should be ripe just around the time we arrive. Very excited.Leia mais

  • Pudong International Airport

    4 de abril de 2018, China ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    After much planning and anticipation of riding the bullet train into the city of Shanghai and checking out the skyline of some of the world's tallest structures, customs refused us leaving the airport temporarily. So, its Tiger beer in the airport, and giving our butts a break before the final leg to Singapore.
    Plus 12 and smoggy in Shanghai today. And we all need a face wash and possibly to brush our teeth!! See you in Singapore!!
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  • We're here!

    5 de abril de 2018, Cingapura ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    After a long exhausting flight from Vancouver to Shanghai and then refusal to let us go downtown Shanghai to check out the skyline, we slept most of the way on the Shanghai to Singapore leg. My brother was there at the airport to bring us to their new place in Serangoon Garden. Two of the nephews were awake to greet us and soon after ward the littlest of them all finally made his way downstairs.
    We went for an early breakfast at the Serangoon Market and Hawker centre. Egg tarts, peanut pancakes, dumpling soup, sardine buns and some amazing coffee was the perfect way to start the day.
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  • A day in Little India

    7 de abril de 2018, Cingapura ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    The sights and smells of Little India are like no other. There is so much to see and so much food to try. We had a recommendation from a local of a place just around the corner from where we met him, with the claim of the best biryani in the city. It didn’t disappoint, with omelette style eggs, whole chicken eggs and scoops of vegetables that, in spite of being fantastic, we aren’t totally sure what they were. An extremely interesting walk through a Hindu temple, that we wish someone could explain to us. The ornateness of the building is unreal. It was the day before the Tamil New Year, and preparations were taking place on some of the streets.Leia mais

  • A quick side trip to Chinatown

    7 de abril de 2018, Cingapura ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    The crew needed a cold drink, and we weren’t having much luck in Little India. So we took the MRT a couple stations to Chinatown, and found a great little hawker centre in People’s Park where we could have a cold beer, Snow, it was called which we thought was kinda funny. We also shared a spinach and red bean bun, egg pancake and a spicy potato wrap of some sort.
    And the girls decided that because we had done so much walking in the last couple days they needed a foot massage. And that added enough spring to their step that we were able to take the long way back to the house.
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  • For a Walk in the Jungle

    8 de abril de 2018, Cingapura ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    We went with the whole group for a morning hike through the jungle, and on a tree top trek. Had to protect ourselves from some local wildlife, and patiently awaited the wild boars to show themselves. It was super hot and humid, and amazing. And we saw no snakes!
    Then a quick lunch and some relaxing time during a heavy downpour to thankfully cool things off for a little while before heading out again for supper.
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  • And the Jungle Walk was so cool

    8 de abril de 2018, Cingapura ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    That I am adding some more photos. And some shots of the papaya that Andy promised we could eat when we got here.

  • Stamford American Early Learing Village

    8 de abril de 2018, Cingapura ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    Andy took Robert and I to the new school they built specifically for small people (3yr - 7yr), the early learning village, which was absolutely astounding the things they have done for the development of the youngest members of their school. And, on the walk home we saw a black cobra, slithering across the field, which, we came to find out later was called “snake field”.Leia mais

  • Gardens by the Bay

    9 de abril de 2018, Cingapura ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    One of Singapore’s premier attractions, on the southeast coast of the island in the shadow of the famous Marina Bays Sands hotel sits Gardens by the Bay. Artificial trees, sixteen stories tall covered in greenery winding its way to the top. It’s a stunning sight to see in the day, and unreal at night to lay beneath them and enjoy the light show that goes nightly, for free.
    For an added treat take the elevator to the top of the super tree, have a drink or two, wait for the lights of the city to come on, meet some people from around the world and generally take it all in. This isn’t one to miss.
    The lights of the skyline are absolutely amazing, as are the lights of the unknown number of freighters out in the Singapore harbour queued for unloading or loading. It’s a crowd pleaser to be sure.
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  • Selfie Stick

    9 de abril de 2018, Cingapura ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    Amber and Jackie had to have a selfie stick for the trip. We stopped at the Mustafa Centre at the north end of Little India one day when we were down there. Amber’s never ever did work unfortunately, in spite of the effort of a few. Jackies didn’t work either. Or so she thought. And a day later someone discovered the on switch, and like magic it worked.
    And now that goddam thing goes everywhere with us.
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  • Singapore to Malaysia, on foot?

    9 de abril de 2018, Malásia ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C

    After considerable deliberation, investigation and discussion we decided that we would take the jungle line (electric and diesel train) from Johor Bahru, Malaysia to Kuala Lumpur. Johor Bahru is across the river into Malaysia from Singapore. Our online investigation into the finer detail of this leg was confusing at best. So we took a chance and booked the train tickets and figured we would “wing it” once we got out of the country.
    A S$25 cab ride to the Woodlands checkpoint (border crossing) and there we were, on foot, 830am, backpacks loaded, and already 29 degrees.
    Customs was a breeze at that hour on a Monday morning. With some help from local law enforcement we had directions to JB Sentral (our departure point). “It’s just across the river”. Great, we’ll walk. It was only when we got to the other side that the girls fitbit’s told us we walked 4km. I don’t think any of us are sure that what we did by walking across the border on foot, in the sweltering heat with roaring traffic literally inches from you was the best decision we have made as a group. But its early in the trip. And anyway it was fun.
    We had no hold ups at immigration on the Malaysia side and off we went to catch our train.
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  • Jungle Line to Kuala Lumpur

    9 de abril de 2018, Malásia ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    From the big and bright departure lounge at JB Sentral we boarded train 40 for Kuala Lumpur. A little late, due to a small misunderstanding at the ticket taker but we made it. The cars are clean, cool, and comfortable. And there was almost no one on the train which allowed us to move around our car to get a excellent view of the surroundings as we whizzed past. The Malaysian countryside here is beautiful, so lush and green it’s difficult to comprehend. And there’s lots of palm plantations. Something that this part of Southeast Asia is famous for but for the wrong reasons. They have been clearing the jungle here and in places like Indonesia to plant palm trees to supply what must be an insatiable demand for palm oil.
    It’s a fairly quick four hour trip to Gemas, where we transfer to another train to KL. Sit back and enjoy the view, and don’t bother eating the meal prepared for you, for $6 Malaysian Ringgit... still not sure what that was.
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  • Extended stay in Gemas

    10 de abril de 2018, Malásia ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    If you read the earlier post about the great experience we were having getting on the train in JB Sentral, the Malaysian countryside, etc, you may have got the impression that the trip was going really well. And it was, until ten minutes out of Gemas, two hours from KL. Apparently its hot here in Malaysia. And the diesel engine that was towing us along the rickety tracks to KL gets hot too. So hot in fact that it overheated and stopped dead “in its tracks” one stop before our destination. Literally, in the jungle, near the highway, 33 degrees.
    So we sat there, wondering what could possibly be going on, because they don’t tell you. Three and half hours later, two buses show up over on the road. We’re getting a bus to KL, direct. But we will miss the fast train, which was part of the mission on this trip. Stymied again with fast trains. Thanks to the nice people on the train and bus we were able to let the people know where we were staying about the delay.
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  • Night Market in KL

    10 de abril de 2018, Malásia ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Once we finally arrived in KL Sentral, getting to where we were staying was easy, and close. We ditched our stuff, cleaned up and went down the street to the night market and had some Thai food, and Tiger beer and went for a walk to see some of the night life. This is a busy place with something for everyone. By midnight our four km walk earlier that morning was starting to take its toll and it was time to head to the apartment for the night.Leia mais

  • Batu Caves

    10 de abril de 2018, Malásia ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    An absolute gem in the city of KL. Founded it the mid 1800’s by some Chinese farmers and then developed by the Malay government. An amazing limestone formation in a huge outcrop in the north of the city. Statues and temples and other worship type features, the largest in fact, outside of Thailand. And there’s monkeys, like every other place in Asia, but these ones are gutsy. If you want to see the caves and other stunning attractions you need to walk up 272 steps to the top, actually there is more after that. But on the “lower 272” the monkeys see you coming. And they will take your stuff. We saw them reaching into backpacks pulling out whatever they could get their grimy little “paws” on. Earbuds, pack of Kleenex, water bottle, anything, they don’t care. So be on your guard.Leia mais

  • The Dark Caves

    11 de abril de 2018, Malásia ⋅ ⛅ 34 °C

    After the hard work of climbing the steps at Batu, and carrying the sand, and then the empty buckets down, and fighting off the monkeys, Robert and Darin headed into the dark cave to look at the cave wildlife. Amber and Jackie decided it wasn’t for them, something about the venomous trap door spider and cave racer snakes turned them off. It was a 45 minute trip through the limestone caves that had been excavated of its guano by Chinese farmers in the early 1900’s. an absolutely stunning sight if you’re into that stuff, which, it turns out Robert and I are. The stalagmites and stalactites in these caves have been around since the dinosaurs, that’s pretty amazing. We saw the elusive millipede scurrying about, tons of other spiders, scorpions and several cockroaches. By several, I mean 100’s, or maybe thousands...they were everywhere in some places.Leia mais

  • Cant get enough of the street meat

    11 de abril de 2018, Malásia ⋅ ⛅ 34 °C

    We found ourselves back downtown in the Jalan Alor Food market yesterday afternoon, after our trip to the caves. Some coldish Tiger beer and it was time for Darin to get his first foot massage. Which I can report was decent, though I have nothing to compare it to. The rest of the crew thought the experience was mediocre at best; what do i know?Leia mais

  • Frog anyone?

    11 de abril de 2018, Malásia ⋅ ⛅ 34 °C

    To get to the apartment where we were staying in KL we had to walk through the night market. Had to. The girls really wanted to try frog and chicken lollipops, so Robert and I obliged them and we sat down at a table and filled our faces with dim sum and more street food.
    Ribbet, ribbet.
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