A Year of Living Awesomely

In which we take our last big trip. SE Asia and Europe Les mer

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A Year of Living Awesomely
Return Trip to the Botanic Gardens
22. mars 2024, Malaysia ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C
We returned to the Botanic Gardens this morning so I could film. We arrived much earlier than on my previous visit which allowed us to have at least a little time before the heat hit.

Firstly breakfast at the Waterfall Cafe, chicken & rice, and roti with egg and tea, all up $4.50.

The gardens at this time are full of people, no doubt taking advantage of the small window of daylight that is cooler to do some morning exercise. The monkeys were pretty active as well. By the time we’d finished an hour later we were drenched.Les mer
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Hawker Centre Hokkien Mee
23. mars 2024, Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 35 °C
A routine day. We returned to the hawker centre across from the temple for breakfast and this time had the hokkien mee which was really delicious. We have sitting near this stall each time we’ve visited and watched the preparation and serving so it was about time we tried it.

We ventured out in the heat of the late afternoon for some beers at the nearby bar.Les mer
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Last Day in Penang
24. mars 2024, Malaysia ⋅ ☁️ 35 °C
Our last day in Penang was spent preparing for a big travel day ahead. Resting, laundry, packing and one last nice dinner in the air conditioned noodle place that is remarkably cheap.
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Back to Kuala Lumpur
25. mars 2024, Malaysia ⋅ ☁️ 34 °C
Our day begins with a bus to the ferry terminal in Georgetown. Our train to KL from Butterworth departs at 12:45 and until we are on it I’m a little anxious. The bus takes about half an hour. We miss the 11:00 ferry, the next one is 11:30.

We have just enough time when we reach Butterworth to grab a quick lunch then make the ten minute walk to the station, only to discover the train is delayed by about 10 minutes which means a train full of waiting passengers crammed into and overflowing from a waiting room until we are permitted onto the platform.

The journey is around four hours and very smooth and comfortable. We arrive in Kuala Lumpur by 5:00 and attempt to find our way to our accommodation. Google maps doesn’t make it easy, it’s drizzling but we get there eventually.

The apartment is beautiful! Our view is straight out onto Little India although we haven’t realised this yet. We head out for dinner and literally stumble from our building straight into Brickfields.Les mer
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A Year of Living Awesomely
Batu Caves
26. mars 2024, Malaysia ⋅ ☁️ 35 °C
We ummed and ahhed about whether to go to Batu Caves. We have been there before but it was a long time ago and to be honest, apart from the huge staircase I have little memory of it. But it is very different now. From the striking rainbow paint job the staircase has undergone to the addition of the imposing golden statue of Lord Murugan, also known as Skanda, the Hindu god of war, the changes are certainly not subtle.

We were also under the impression that getting there might be an ordeal but it turned out to be very easy with a direct train from KL Sentral straight there.

In the end we decided that some of the other sites I had earmarked could be dropped in favour of a return visit.

We have arrived early and beaten the heat and the crowds, so head for breakfast first. Richard has volunteered to do the climb and I am happy to take photos and video from below.Les mer
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Central market and river of life
27. mars 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
We were off early to explore the central markets and the mosque at the confluence of the two rivers. Investigated which bus to catch, had the money ready and…no money on KL buses. Only bus cards used. 🙁. A taxi driver saw our plight and took us down the road to the markets for 15 RM. $5. AUD. Strolled down to the river as markets opened at 10am. Nice walk along the river. Stopped for juices. Had a flagon of watermelon juice. $5. Took a while to drink but nice. Markets opened and its air cond. Thank you!Les mer
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Vietnam - Hoi An
28. mars 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C
Our last day in Malaysia. Will miss my Roti Teleur (egg) and Tea Tarik. Decided to catch the bus to the airport. Walked to KL Central and off we went. Takes about an hour, and far cheaper than the train. Saved about $50. Drama with one of our bags. Overweight so had to check it in. Always arrive early at airports as queues were awful. A 2 and half hour flight and welcome to Vietnam! Got a Grab to Hoi An. A 1 hours drive south of Da Nang. Checked in. Nice hotel between the river and the beach. Banh My with a free bottle of beer on the beach. 🏖️Les mer
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First Day Hoi An
29. mars 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C
When we checked in last night we realised that breakfast was included 🙂. And what a breakfast! Choices of western and Vietnamese food, pastries, fruit etc etc. Lynne organised lunch with a fellow virtual guide Hoi. Had the best spring rolls I’ve ever tasted. And Duck as a main. Headed back to the hotel. Went to the beach. Nice and clean. Water temperature refreshing. Couldn’t really swim in Malaysia. (West coast). Water quality cloudy, litter and plastic everywhere. This is a real problem in Malaysia. People just chuck things on the ground.Les mer
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Hoi An Old Town
30. mars 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C
Took the free Shuttle Bus to the Old Town. Plenty of shops, stalls and street markets. Grabbed a coffee, then just wandered around. Found an old building packed full of tailors and fabric. Lynne ordered a shirt and got one of her shirts repaired.Les mer
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Lazy day
31. mars 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C
Took it easy today. Swim at the beach and the pool. A couple of beers across the road. Beers here in Vietnam really cheap. $1.50 for 330ml.
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Back into town
1. april 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C
Headed back into the Old Town to pick up Lynne’s shirts. All up cost $50. I also needed new shoes. Ended up going for hand made suede and leather uppers. Measured up and made arrangements for pick up that evening. Got back in to town 6.30pm. Put on shoes and off we went down to the river. Nice atmosphere with lots going on.Les mer
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My Son Sanctuary
2. april 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C
Organised a tour to My Son. About an hours drive. A number of temples from the 3rd to 13th century. Discovered by the French about a hundred years ago. All built in brick with no mortar. Used tree resin instead. The area was comprehensively bombed by the Americans during the Vietnam war.Les mer
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Da Nang
3. april 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C
Morning trip with Huy to Da Nang. Going to see his dentist and barber 💈. First dentist for check and clean. I also wanted to see what the cost of an implant would be. Well. The check and clean cost was $18. 😁. The 2 x implants will be $4,000. and can be done within the week. Seeing that in Australia the cost would be $11,000. it’s not a bad deal. On to the barber. Haircut $3.00. 🙂. Back home over the Dragon Bridge. Later Dinner at a local on the riverLes mer
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Quiet day
4. april 2024, Vietnam ⋅ 🌬 29 °C
Not much today. Up early for sunrise. Went for local iced coffee. Locals morning routine. Later gym, beach and street dinner
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Quiet day 2
5. april 2024, Vietnam ⋅ 🌬 28 °C
Pretty much the same. Watched the gardener climb the coconut trees.
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Local market
6. april 2024, Vietnam ⋅ 🌬 30 °C
Just up the road is the daily local market. Fruit, vegetables, meat, seafood, spices. Friendly people who always say hello. Dinner and beers on the beach tonight.
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Implants- Da Nang
7. april 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C
Well. All ready for the Dentist to install 2 x implants. Until…the surgeon (who flew in from Saigon) wasn’t happy with the bone density. So instead of one week turnaround it was going to be 2 months. As we are travelling and not sure of dates etc. decided not to proceed. They were really nice and gave me a full refund. 🙂. Got our driver to pick us up. We were hungry so he took us to his family’s restaurant. Tried local Hoi An dishes. Very nice.Les mer
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Frogs
8. april 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C
Nice to see frogs around the hotel property. We’ve had them in the room and bathroom. Heading over to breakfast there are several tiny frogs, no bigger than your fingernail.
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Massage
9. april 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C
So. We finally buckled and went for a massage. There are several right near our hotel, and promised everyone we would visit. 😬. It was a great massage. 1 hour for each of us for $30. total.
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T shirt
10. april 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
Low key day today. Bought a T Shirt on the way to coffee.A homage to Vietnam telecommunications.
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Night Tour- Old Town
11. april 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C
Lynne did her livestream night tour in the Old Town. It is quite spectacular with the lanterns in the town and on the boats. Before we started a young Vietnamese couple approached us and asked if they could practice speaking English with us. Now, a few days ago we met a fellow Aussie traveller who told us she was approached but she thought they were selling something so she said no. Later she was told that they actually wanted to just talk in English. Based on this we got talking. Lynne started her tour and left me to keep chatting. Well, guess what, they were selling Timeshare. Unfortunate. 🙁. Ended the night with a Street stall banana pancake. Very nice. $2.45.Les mer
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Paddy trip
12. april 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C
Up early for our morning bike ride. Plenty of little paths through residential and rice paddies. Stopped at a coffee shop in the middle of one field. In the evening we caught up with Huy in a restaurant looking over the Old Town. Magical.Les mer
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Day off
13. april 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C
Not much today. Took it easy. Read. Watched TV etc. Added a couple videos from yesterdays coffee shop excursion
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Coffee, Food and Buffalo
13. april 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C
Off on the bikes early to another rice paddy coffee shop. This one was a little further and worth it. Passed rice drying on tarpaulins on the paths to this hidden gem. And the price. $2.50 for 2 x iced coffees. 🙂. Lunch a Banh My and chips. Dinners an excellent Pho and Duck Curry. Have noticed most of the restaurants are residences with food out the front. Family kitchen prepares meals fresh and tasty.Les mer
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Massage and Pedi
15. april 2024, Vietnam ⋅ 🌬 31 °C
Our last massage and pedi in Hoi An. Foot baths consisted of lemongrass and sliced Pomelo. Coffee afterwards and a nice dinner later in the evening. A really nice fish meal at one of our locals.
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