Selamat Datang or "Welcome" in Bahasa (the language of Indonesia). My Filipino readers will quickly notice its similarity to the Tagalog word, Salamat (thank you). This is just the beginning of the shared traits we've found between the Bali and the Philippines.
Every time I hear someone speaking Bahasa, I do a double-take because it has the same tone, inflections and some words as Tagalog, only its not. This intrigues me to figure out just how many words Tagalog and Bahasa have in common. Here's what I've observed so far:
- Shoes: Sapatu (Bahasa) and Sapato (Tagalog)
- Five: Lima (Bahasa and Tagalog)
- Pork: Babi (Bahasa) and Baboy (Tagalog)
- Child: Anak (Bahasa and Tagalog)
... the list goes on and on. The similarities between the Philippines also extend to the towns themselves which have the same feel, same level of cleanliness, and I swear all the Indonesians look just like relatives Jeng or I have. We've visited Kuta, Seminyak, Ubud and some of the small towns in between. They are all lined with little shops and the traffic is bumper-to-bumper with crazy motorbikes weaving through all the cars.
So how does this stack up with Thailand and Singapore? I don't plan to go through the same extensive rating system as my previous blog, but I will comment on the food and scenery. Foodwise, we have yet to be thoroughly impressed with one exception: Ibu Oka's Babi Guling. If you saw Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations Indonesia episode, you'll know about this place. We had the suckling roasted pig there today and it definitely was in the top 3 of our favorite meals on the honeymoon. I wanted to order another plate of just pig skin, but they ran out.
Another notable feature of Bali has been the scenery. A Hindu state in a Muslim country, Bali is unique. There are Hindu statues, temples and shrines dispersed among artisan shops selling amazing wood carvings, stone statues, furniture and other artisan goods. There are also cool rice terraces and monkey forests. (We have a great collection of monkey pictures we look forward to sharing.) And of course, the beaches where the waves are big and the sand is fine. All in all, not a bad place to end this memorable 3-week trip.
This concludes our honeymoon. Tomorrow night we hop on a red-eye to Tokyo for an 8-hour layover before crossing the Pacific to home. Unfortunately it won't be First Class Cathay Pacific so I guess Business Class American Airlines will have to do.
. . . read more.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
Thailand vs. Singapore: The Great Debate
Our Southeast Asia adventures have taken us to two countries so far -- Thailand and Singapore -- and we can't help but compare the two and ask ourselves, "Which one do we prefer?" Jeng and I have different opinions on the matter but this is my blog so this is how I think they stack up:
Food
- Thailand: Complex curries, super spicy sauces and deliciously fresh fruit and seafood are staples of Thai cuisine. Combine that with the countless food vendors lining every street and corner makes Thai cuisine and tough competitor. But the danger of getting sick lurks around every corner since water in Thailand is not potable and my sensitive Western stomach fears the sanitary conditions of these tempting street stalls. Nevertheless, Thai food is unique, tasty and our U.S. versions are pale in comparison to the real thing. Score: 4/5
- Singapore: A hybrid of tastes from a mixture of sources -- Malaysia, China, Indonesia and India -- makes it difficult to say what exactly qualifies as native 'Singaporean' cuisine. One common answer is Chili or Black Pepper Crab. We quickly learned that the crabs themselves are Sri Lankan but the sauce is indeed unique to Singapore. Regardless of its official origin, this crab has spicy kick, crazy large claws and a delicious flavor we wish we could take home. We also wish we could export the hawker stalls that hide in many strip malls and popular areas. Sanitary (with A and B graded stalls), ecofriendly (reusable utensils) and ridiculously cheap ($1 drinks, $3 meals), the hawker stalls are the best deal in town, without a doubt. Score: 4/5
Outcome: Tie. But Thailand would win if street food was regulated and clean or my stomach wasn't afraid to handle it.
Culture & People
- Thailand: "Sawadee Ka/Krup!" greeted us (along with a polite bow) at every entrance of every hotel, store and restaurant. It's easy to feel welcome in Thailand where the people are friendly and helpful (and look just like Aunties and Uncles from the Philippines). Although the language barrier causes a divide and taxi drivers sometimes have questionable motives, most Thai people we met were helpful in giving us directions, food suggestions and assistance with Jeng's ailing foot. And culturally, the detailed architecture and unique traditions (e.g. shrines on every property) in many temples were impressive. Score: 5/5
- Singapore: Just like with its food, the Singaporean culture is a mixture of its people which come from all over the world. While most of the major signs and ads are in English, we also commonly find Malay, Mandarin and another language whose characters we have yet to identify. Walking the streets expands the list even further as we hear every language imaginable, including English in a variety of accents. Culture is just as hard to identify since common tourist destinations consist of shopping malls and Sentosa Island. (While we haven't been to Sentosa, it sounds like a mix of amusement parks and entertainment venues.) So while the language barrier doesn't exist, neither does a unique sense of identity. Score: 2/5
Winner: Thailand. But Singapore definitely gets credit for its diversity.
Shopping
- Thailand: ~30 baht = US$1 which makes everything cheap, cheap, cheap (with the exception of our hotel of course). It's hard to deny massages that cost a fraction of the price in the US. (And when combined with promotions like buy 1 get one free... well, we ended up with 3 hour spa sessions.) It's also hard to ignore the 6-story malls lined with stores that were equally inexpensive. (I got 3 pairs of shoes for less than US$10 each!) And then there are the street stalls too. Basically, any Westerner would be happy to come to Thailand where the dollar stretches far. Score: 5/5
- Singapore: There is one hobby everyone around the world enjoys -- shopping. Singapore literally feels like one shopping mall after another, with varying price levels, styles and size. Being the bargain hunter that I am, I have found far fewer deals than I'd hoped. I'm still surprised that clothes of Forever 21 quality are priced upwards of US$30. If I was judging on the volume of shopping options, Singapore would win this round but since I would need to be a little more wealthy to afford the goods here... Score: 4/5
Winner: Thailand (barely). If the exchange rate sways in favor of the US dollar, things could quickly change.
Other Stuff
- Thailand: We found Bangkok to be very similar to Manila -- traffic galore. But unlike Manila, Bangkok has a reliable, easy-to-use public transportation system (called BTS) and appeared much cleaner (not as many beggars or trash lining the streets). Jeng liked the 'grit' of Bangkok but being the sanitary-freak that I am, I could do without 'grit' in favor of food hygiene standards. Score: 3/5
- Singapore: The clean reputation of this city-state is reflected on every garbage can. (They say: Singapore - Litter Free.) There is hardly any litter to be found and even the rivers and waterways that often carry trash remnants have very little garbage. The government regulates hawker stands (and therefore any 'street food') and even car purchases/road flow to regulate traffic and ease congestion. (Basically you have to buy a government permit to buy a new car and you have to pay 'tolls' to go on busy streets during rush hour.) This country is clean, advanced and livable. While Jeng likes the 'grit' of Bangkok, I can see myself moving to Singapore. Score: 5/5
Winner: Singapore.
Final Score
Thailand: 17/20
Singapore: 15/20
While my totally subjective and completely arbitrary scoring system puts Thailand ahead of Singapore, in reality there is no clear winner. It all boils down to tastes and preferences. They are both awesome countries and we would be happy to spend more time in either location. Now, how will Indonesia stack up? We leave for Bali tomorrow night and will let you know where it stands soon.
. . . read more.
Food
- Thailand: Complex curries, super spicy sauces and deliciously fresh fruit and seafood are staples of Thai cuisine. Combine that with the countless food vendors lining every street and corner makes Thai cuisine and tough competitor. But the danger of getting sick lurks around every corner since water in Thailand is not potable and my sensitive Western stomach fears the sanitary conditions of these tempting street stalls. Nevertheless, Thai food is unique, tasty and our U.S. versions are pale in comparison to the real thing. Score: 4/5
- Singapore: A hybrid of tastes from a mixture of sources -- Malaysia, China, Indonesia and India -- makes it difficult to say what exactly qualifies as native 'Singaporean' cuisine. One common answer is Chili or Black Pepper Crab. We quickly learned that the crabs themselves are Sri Lankan but the sauce is indeed unique to Singapore. Regardless of its official origin, this crab has spicy kick, crazy large claws and a delicious flavor we wish we could take home. We also wish we could export the hawker stalls that hide in many strip malls and popular areas. Sanitary (with A and B graded stalls), ecofriendly (reusable utensils) and ridiculously cheap ($1 drinks, $3 meals), the hawker stalls are the best deal in town, without a doubt. Score: 4/5
Outcome: Tie. But Thailand would win if street food was regulated and clean or my stomach wasn't afraid to handle it.
Culture & People
- Thailand: "Sawadee Ka/Krup!" greeted us (along with a polite bow) at every entrance of every hotel, store and restaurant. It's easy to feel welcome in Thailand where the people are friendly and helpful (and look just like Aunties and Uncles from the Philippines). Although the language barrier causes a divide and taxi drivers sometimes have questionable motives, most Thai people we met were helpful in giving us directions, food suggestions and assistance with Jeng's ailing foot. And culturally, the detailed architecture and unique traditions (e.g. shrines on every property) in many temples were impressive. Score: 5/5
- Singapore: Just like with its food, the Singaporean culture is a mixture of its people which come from all over the world. While most of the major signs and ads are in English, we also commonly find Malay, Mandarin and another language whose characters we have yet to identify. Walking the streets expands the list even further as we hear every language imaginable, including English in a variety of accents. Culture is just as hard to identify since common tourist destinations consist of shopping malls and Sentosa Island. (While we haven't been to Sentosa, it sounds like a mix of amusement parks and entertainment venues.) So while the language barrier doesn't exist, neither does a unique sense of identity. Score: 2/5
Winner: Thailand. But Singapore definitely gets credit for its diversity.
Shopping
- Thailand: ~30 baht = US$1 which makes everything cheap, cheap, cheap (with the exception of our hotel of course). It's hard to deny massages that cost a fraction of the price in the US. (And when combined with promotions like buy 1 get one free... well, we ended up with 3 hour spa sessions.) It's also hard to ignore the 6-story malls lined with stores that were equally inexpensive. (I got 3 pairs of shoes for less than US$10 each!) And then there are the street stalls too. Basically, any Westerner would be happy to come to Thailand where the dollar stretches far. Score: 5/5
- Singapore: There is one hobby everyone around the world enjoys -- shopping. Singapore literally feels like one shopping mall after another, with varying price levels, styles and size. Being the bargain hunter that I am, I have found far fewer deals than I'd hoped. I'm still surprised that clothes of Forever 21 quality are priced upwards of US$30. If I was judging on the volume of shopping options, Singapore would win this round but since I would need to be a little more wealthy to afford the goods here... Score: 4/5
Winner: Thailand (barely). If the exchange rate sways in favor of the US dollar, things could quickly change.
Other Stuff
- Thailand: We found Bangkok to be very similar to Manila -- traffic galore. But unlike Manila, Bangkok has a reliable, easy-to-use public transportation system (called BTS) and appeared much cleaner (not as many beggars or trash lining the streets). Jeng liked the 'grit' of Bangkok but being the sanitary-freak that I am, I could do without 'grit' in favor of food hygiene standards. Score: 3/5
- Singapore: The clean reputation of this city-state is reflected on every garbage can. (They say: Singapore - Litter Free.) There is hardly any litter to be found and even the rivers and waterways that often carry trash remnants have very little garbage. The government regulates hawker stands (and therefore any 'street food') and even car purchases/road flow to regulate traffic and ease congestion. (Basically you have to buy a government permit to buy a new car and you have to pay 'tolls' to go on busy streets during rush hour.) This country is clean, advanced and livable. While Jeng likes the 'grit' of Bangkok, I can see myself moving to Singapore. Score: 5/5
Winner: Singapore.
Final Score
Thailand: 17/20
Singapore: 15/20
While my totally subjective and completely arbitrary scoring system puts Thailand ahead of Singapore, in reality there is no clear winner. It all boils down to tastes and preferences. They are both awesome countries and we would be happy to spend more time in either location. Now, how will Indonesia stack up? We leave for Bali tomorrow night and will let you know where it stands soon.
. . . read more.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
The Amazing Race
How do you get to Vietnam? If you're me and Eileen, you don't.
For those of you familiar with our honeymoon itinerary, you know that our original plan was to visit Hanoi. Here's what happened instead.
Bangkok, Thursday, July 22 3:00pm
Flight departure to Hanoi: 5:50pm
"You pay 600 baht to airport," says the taxi driver shortly after we leave our hotel and head for the airport. An argument begins.
"No, 360 baht is standard; it's what we paid to get here," Eileen and I say in our own ways. The back and forth continues as we demand he take us back for a different taxi and he begins to make a three-point turn and holds up the traffic behind us. Eventually we come to the agreement that we'll pay 450 baht and our day's adventure is just getting started.
3:20pm
The notorious Bangkok traffic lives up to its reputation. Lanes originally intended for the opposite direction are being used by cars and trucks -- including our own -- to inch closer to the highway. To pass the time Eileen pulls out the Southeast Asia guidebook we have been referencing throughout our trip and begins to read up on our next destination.
"Do we have a visa for Vietnam?" she asks after reading the section titled "Planning Your Trip to Vietnam: Entry Requirements." It becomes clear we should've read this section earlier.
Bangkok Airport, 4:15pm
In dramatic and ominous fashion, a torrential downpour begins as we reach the airport. The lady behind the Thai Airways counter is helpful and begins to process our check-in until I ask, "Is it possible to purchase a visa to Vietnam here or there?"
She suggests that we call the U.S. embassy and let's us know that they open at 8:30am the next morning. Eileen and I discuss our options as we scramble to find an Internet connection so that we can call the embassy using Skype on my iPhone and also see if we can get a visa online, as the ticketing agent said might be possible.
5:00pm
After walking from one end of the airport to the other and from the fourth floor to the first floor, we finally find a way to get online. But the connection sucks so without a reliable Internet connection, I call the embassy using my credit card and a pay phone on the first floor.
The duty officer let's us know we can't get one on the same day and that the U.S. embassy in Bangkok would be closed the rest of the week because of a holiday. He also gives us the URL where we might have better luck online. Eileen proceeds with the online application and -- lucky us -- we can request for it to be expedited within the next 12 hours for an additional fee. We pay the fee and as we wait for the email confirmation, we go to the customer service area for Thai Airways on the fourth floor to see about rescheduling our flight for the following night.
5:30pm
We explain the situation to the customer service lady but she has her hands tied; since this was booked with my Continental Airlines points I have to contact them instead. Unfortunately, the phone she has can't make calls to the U.S. so we have to go back down to the first floor and use the pay phone again.
6:00pm
We get our email confirmation for the visa:
Awesome. We were scheduled to leave Vietnam on the 27th.
6:15pm
"Thank you for calling Continental Airlines. Your approximate wait time is 10 minutes."
6:30pm
"Thank you for calling Continental, this is Rachel, how can I assist you today?"
I explain our situation.
"Oh, you're in Bangkok? Let me connect you to our international line."
6:32pm
"Thank you for calling Continental Airlines. Your approximate wait time is 20 minutes."
6:45pm
The wait music abruptly goes silent. I come close to beating the pay phone with one of my crutches after it apparently hangs up for me.
We eventually purchase a calling card to the U.S. and use it at a different phone. After talking with Sandy at Continental she is able to get us on a 9:40am flight the next morning, Friday July 23rd.
8:30pm
We spend the last of our baht and eat our last meal in Thailand at the airport. We also decide that we will spend our last night there and set up a "bed" on one of the benches.
Friday, July 23 6:00am
We call our families to let them know the deal. We also finally check in to our flight and head for the comfort of an airport lounge.
Singapore, 1:05pm
With aching backs and deprived of sleep, we finally arrive at our new destination. After Hanoi we were supposed to stopover in Singapore on our way to Bali so the easiest thing for us and Continental was to move the flight and extend the stopover. I booked a stay at the Marriott in Singapore using hotel points and here we are.
It may actually be a serendipitous change in itinerary. At this time there is the Singapore Food Festival which we have already attended and may go to again. The weather has been good and it seems our location is prime for shopping. We also happen to have friends who live or who have lived here who have provided great suggestions on what to do and where to eat. It may not have been an original destination but Singapore has been a good detour on our own little amazing race.
TL;DR - Without a visa, our travel to Vietnam was cancelled. Instead we spent the night in Bangkok airport and are now in Singapore.
. . . read more.
For those of you familiar with our honeymoon itinerary, you know that our original plan was to visit Hanoi. Here's what happened instead.
Bangkok, Thursday, July 22 3:00pm
Flight departure to Hanoi: 5:50pm
"You pay 600 baht to airport," says the taxi driver shortly after we leave our hotel and head for the airport. An argument begins.
"No, 360 baht is standard; it's what we paid to get here," Eileen and I say in our own ways. The back and forth continues as we demand he take us back for a different taxi and he begins to make a three-point turn and holds up the traffic behind us. Eventually we come to the agreement that we'll pay 450 baht and our day's adventure is just getting started.
3:20pm
The notorious Bangkok traffic lives up to its reputation. Lanes originally intended for the opposite direction are being used by cars and trucks -- including our own -- to inch closer to the highway. To pass the time Eileen pulls out the Southeast Asia guidebook we have been referencing throughout our trip and begins to read up on our next destination.
"Do we have a visa for Vietnam?" she asks after reading the section titled "Planning Your Trip to Vietnam: Entry Requirements." It becomes clear we should've read this section earlier.
Bangkok Airport, 4:15pm
In dramatic and ominous fashion, a torrential downpour begins as we reach the airport. The lady behind the Thai Airways counter is helpful and begins to process our check-in until I ask, "Is it possible to purchase a visa to Vietnam here or there?"
She suggests that we call the U.S. embassy and let's us know that they open at 8:30am the next morning. Eileen and I discuss our options as we scramble to find an Internet connection so that we can call the embassy using Skype on my iPhone and also see if we can get a visa online, as the ticketing agent said might be possible.
5:00pm
After walking from one end of the airport to the other and from the fourth floor to the first floor, we finally find a way to get online. But the connection sucks so without a reliable Internet connection, I call the embassy using my credit card and a pay phone on the first floor.
The duty officer let's us know we can't get one on the same day and that the U.S. embassy in Bangkok would be closed the rest of the week because of a holiday. He also gives us the URL where we might have better luck online. Eileen proceeds with the online application and -- lucky us -- we can request for it to be expedited within the next 12 hours for an additional fee. We pay the fee and as we wait for the email confirmation, we go to the customer service area for Thai Airways on the fourth floor to see about rescheduling our flight for the following night.
5:30pm
We explain the situation to the customer service lady but she has her hands tied; since this was booked with my Continental Airlines points I have to contact them instead. Unfortunately, the phone she has can't make calls to the U.S. so we have to go back down to the first floor and use the pay phone again.
6:00pm
We get our email confirmation for the visa:
...This email aims to confirm that we have received your visa application! We will send you the Visa Approval Letter after ... 1 working day (urgent service) ... Please be kindly informed that our Office will be temporally (sic) closed for the Company Vacation from July 22nd, 2010 to July 25th, 2010. We will get back to work on July 26th, 2010. All Vietnam visa requests ... during this time will be processed and completed later on July 26th, 2010.
Awesome. We were scheduled to leave Vietnam on the 27th.
6:15pm
"Thank you for calling Continental Airlines. Your approximate wait time is 10 minutes.
6:30pm
"Thank you for calling Continental, this is Rachel, how can I assist you today?"
I explain our situation.
"Oh, you're in Bangkok? Let me connect you to our international line."
6:32pm
"Thank you for calling Continental Airlines. Your approximate wait time is 20 minutes.
6:45pm
The wait music abruptly goes silent. I come close to beating the pay phone with one of my crutches after it apparently hangs up for me.
We eventually purchase a calling card to the U.S. and use it at a different phone. After talking with Sandy at Continental she is able to get us on a 9:40am flight the next morning, Friday July 23rd.
8:30pm
We spend the last of our baht and eat our last meal in Thailand at the airport. We also decide that we will spend our last night there and set up a "bed" on one of the benches.
Friday, July 23 6:00am
We call our families to let them know the deal. We also finally check in to our flight and head for the comfort of an airport lounge.
Singapore, 1:05pm
With aching backs and deprived of sleep, we finally arrive at our new destination. After Hanoi we were supposed to stopover in Singapore on our way to Bali so the easiest thing for us and Continental was to move the flight and extend the stopover. I booked a stay at the Marriott in Singapore using hotel points and here we are.
It may actually be a serendipitous change in itinerary. At this time there is the Singapore Food Festival which we have already attended and may go to again. The weather has been good and it seems our location is prime for shopping. We also happen to have friends who live or who have lived here who have provided great suggestions on what to do and where to eat. It may not have been an original destination but Singapore has been a good detour on our own little amazing race.
TL;DR - Without a visa, our travel to Vietnam was cancelled. Instead we spent the night in Bangkok airport and are now in Singapore.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Countries in Which Jeng Has Visited a Hospital: 3
- United States
- Philippines
- Thailand
Firstly, no one should be alarmed. Everything is fine. The scan of my x-ray isn't the greatest but it makes for a fun souvenir. It basically shows that nothing is broken, which is a really good thing. Otherwise I'd likely be sharing this story back in California. However, instead of a broken bone, I have a pretty good sprain and a swollen foot that can't fit in my shoe.
On Sunday night we were beginning to pack up and conclude our wonderful stay at Phulay Bay in Krabi, Thailand (about 2 hours from Phuket). Earlier we had taken a boat tour of the Phi Phi islands and had a productive day. There are steps in our bathroom and the marble floors were wet. After much analysis, I deduced the following equation:
marble + water = slip and slide
As I was coming down I planted my right foot on the lower step. I placed my left foot on the next step and started shifting my weight to it when it slipped and all of my weight was transferred back to the big toe and ball of my right foot. It was painful.
The next couple of minutes were spent figuring out what to do. Luckily the staff was most helpful and there was a nurse on duty. We iced it and waited an hour before deciding to head to the hospital about 45 minutes away to get x-rays done to make sure nothing was broken.
And here I am four days later blogging from our hotel in Bangkok. After international consultations with Doctor J, I have various exercises and recommendations for the rest of our trip. We would've told you earlier but didn't want to get people too worried. The swelling is down and I have more flexibility in my foot; I'm able to move around a little more. We've still been able to explore the city, albeit very slowly.
Everyone at the hotels and restaurants have been so helpful. Besides the actual injury itself and slowing down Eileen's shopping frenzy, I'd say the worst (maybe grossest) thing is walking around the streets of Bangkok with only one shoe on. You should see the multiple colors my foot was at the end of last night.
So there you have it. More blogs will come. Tonight we are off to Hanoi and looking forward to the second half of the honeymoon.
. . . read more.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Pleasure Costs a Pretty Penny
We've done enough bragging about the extravagant luxuries of our accommodations. Not all things are perfect as we are slowly finding. How could paradise be imperfect, you ask? Well, all good things come with a cost and here is what we've found:
Add-on Costs > "Free of Charge" Services: The facade that this was a "free" trip has quickly faded as we burn through our budget daily. With this fancy resort comes Western-style costs. We budgeted for a cheaper version of Thailand and are quickly realizing our mistake. Last night it cost us 1700 Baht (~US$56) for a round trip taxi ride into Ao Nang, the nearest town worth visiting. Once there, we realized what real Thailand prices should be. Taxi to/from Phuket Airport should be 2500 baht (~US$83). Our hotel charged us 7900 baht (~US$263). In Ao Nang, we had dinner at this seafood restaurant on the beach for a measly 600 baht (~US$20). Our dinners at the resort have been costing us about 3000 baht (~US$100). Our 2+ hour spa treatment yesterday cost us 8000 baht (~US$266) when 1 hour massages in Ao Nang cost a mere 250 baht (~US$9).
Now we know the catch of Phulay Bay. Once you're here, its difficult to leave and the Ritz Carlton sure makes a profit on that. So despite the 'free' accommodations, we are paying a pretty penny to stay here. Thankfully this should be the only destination where our money drains so quickly. At least we hope so.
Bugs in One Size Only... Extra Large: I've come to the conclusion that while I enjoy tropical locations, I could never live in one. The reason simply being the size and volume of critters that enjoy residing in these areas. I have never seen ants the size of spiders or flying insects that can be considered small birds. Thankfully I have only suffered one bug bite (so far) and have successfully avoided having them feast on my skin. This is due to my next point...
Bug Spray and Furniture Varnish Do Not Get Along: Before we exit our Villa, Jeng and I lather ourselves in two things -- 1) sunscreen and 2) bug spray. The first time I sprayed myself with the bug spray, my eyes watered from the fumes. We quickly learned to spray ourselves in the shower to avoid getting excess spray all over the room. Today at breakfast, I noticed that my arms were sticking to the wood on my chair. As I type this, my legs are doing the same. The bug spray leaves a sticky residue on the wood varnish and I'm half expecting the varnish to transfer to my skin. The toxicity of my bug-fighting efforts worries me. It's a good thing we are only here 3 weeks, otherwise I can only imagine what chemical poisoning I might accumulate.
Thai Language Lessons Aren't Easy: We successfully learned two important phrases -- 1) Sawadee Ka (or Sawadee Krup for Jeng) which is the standard greeting and 2) Kup Kum Ka (or Kup Kum Krup for Jeng) which is Thank You. (I'm totally butchering the spelling, but you get the idea.) I am now trying to learn how to say "No Spicy" in Thai because seriously, everything has got major chili action. Yesterday, Jeng ate red curry that made him sweat more than the hottest day so far. (And on a side note, I got a cut on my finger from a renegade crab claw I was eating at the same meal.)
All in all, the pros still definitely outweigh the cons on this trip but we wanted to let our readers know that its not all rainbows and unicorns in paradise.
. . . read more.
Add-on Costs > "Free of Charge" Services: The facade that this was a "free" trip has quickly faded as we burn through our budget daily. With this fancy resort comes Western-style costs. We budgeted for a cheaper version of Thailand and are quickly realizing our mistake. Last night it cost us 1700 Baht (~US$56) for a round trip taxi ride into Ao Nang, the nearest town worth visiting. Once there, we realized what real Thailand prices should be. Taxi to/from Phuket Airport should be 2500 baht (~US$83). Our hotel charged us 7900 baht (~US$263). In Ao Nang, we had dinner at this seafood restaurant on the beach for a measly 600 baht (~US$20). Our dinners at the resort have been costing us about 3000 baht (~US$100). Our 2+ hour spa treatment yesterday cost us 8000 baht (~US$266) when 1 hour massages in Ao Nang cost a mere 250 baht (~US$9).
Now we know the catch of Phulay Bay. Once you're here, its difficult to leave and the Ritz Carlton sure makes a profit on that. So despite the 'free' accommodations, we are paying a pretty penny to stay here. Thankfully this should be the only destination where our money drains so quickly. At least we hope so.
Bugs in One Size Only... Extra Large: I've come to the conclusion that while I enjoy tropical locations, I could never live in one. The reason simply being the size and volume of critters that enjoy residing in these areas. I have never seen ants the size of spiders or flying insects that can be considered small birds. Thankfully I have only suffered one bug bite (so far) and have successfully avoided having them feast on my skin. This is due to my next point...
Bug Spray and Furniture Varnish Do Not Get Along: Before we exit our Villa, Jeng and I lather ourselves in two things -- 1) sunscreen and 2) bug spray. The first time I sprayed myself with the bug spray, my eyes watered from the fumes. We quickly learned to spray ourselves in the shower to avoid getting excess spray all over the room. Today at breakfast, I noticed that my arms were sticking to the wood on my chair. As I type this, my legs are doing the same. The bug spray leaves a sticky residue on the wood varnish and I'm half expecting the varnish to transfer to my skin. The toxicity of my bug-fighting efforts worries me. It's a good thing we are only here 3 weeks, otherwise I can only imagine what chemical poisoning I might accumulate.
Thai Language Lessons Aren't Easy: We successfully learned two important phrases -- 1) Sawadee Ka (or Sawadee Krup for Jeng) which is the standard greeting and 2) Kup Kum Ka (or Kup Kum Krup for Jeng) which is Thank You. (I'm totally butchering the spelling, but you get the idea.) I am now trying to learn how to say "No Spicy" in Thai because seriously, everything has got major chili action. Yesterday, Jeng ate red curry that made him sweat more than the hottest day so far. (And on a side note, I got a cut on my finger from a renegade crab claw I was eating at the same meal.)
All in all, the pros still definitely outweigh the cons on this trip but we wanted to let our readers know that its not all rainbows and unicorns in paradise.
. . . read more.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
The Honeymooners Arrive in Style
We know we're supposed to be enjoying quality time with one another instead of indulging in our usual tech-obsessed ways, but we can't help ourselves. Life is incomplete without the world wide web and the ability to share our honeymoon experiences in real-time with our friends and family. So here's a quick run down of our honeymoonventures to date:
Cathay Pacific First Class is a-ma-zing. All I ever wanted for the 12+ hour trans-Pacific flight was the ability to lay down flat. Done... And then some. I also had over 100 movies, dozens of games and 100s of TV shows to watch. I had gourmet dining at my fingertips, which Nelda and Casey (our flight attendants) would serve at my request. Jeng and I could share our meals together since our suite had seating for TWO. That's right... it was like a dining room in the air. For the visual representation of this suite, see Jeng's iPhone video on Facebook.
The amazingness continued to other parts of the flight. We got free toiletries (and not the cheap stuff) and a beautiful set of cozy PJs. The AIRPLANE bathroom was spacious with real towels, full size dermologica toiletries for you to freshen up with, and a really cool sink with a digital on and off switch. And prior to boarding, we also had full access to a private lounge with a full bar and private boarding entrance so we wouldn't have to deal with the riff-raff of the folks in economy (haha).
So that was just the plane ride from SFO to Hong Kong. Once we landed in Hong Kong, we took a shuttle to our hotel in the city. Exhausted by jetlag, we passed out and cancelled our Joel Robuchon reservations. We woke up early the next day to catch our flight to Phuket, Thailand.
We landed in Phuket and hopped in our private car for the 2.5 hour drive to Krabi where we're staying at the Phulay Bay Ritz Carlton Resort. More amazingness here as we were greeted by 5 staff and our personal butler (named Day) in a breathtaking entrance. (See another one of Jeng's iPhone videos on Facebook.) After a refreshing fresh lemongrass beverage, we were driven by golf cart to our private Ocean Villa and given a tour of our insane suite. (Jeng's working on that iPhone video too.)
This morning we enjoyed a breakfast buffet with the freshest of island ingredients. (Lychees, edible betel nut leaves and other foods grow on the property!) I was most impressed by the fresh honeycomb, pandan and lemongrass juice. If only I could expand my stomach!
We find it difficult to choose between being lazy at this indulgent resort and exploring nearby sights but we will venture out of this oasis to Railay Beach later today. While the meals, drinks and taxes aren't free, the flight and hotel stay has been courtesy of Jeng's hundreds of thousands of frequent flyer miles. Maybe him travelling so much isn't so bad after all...
. . . read more.
Cathay Pacific First Class is a-ma-zing. All I ever wanted for the 12+ hour trans-Pacific flight was the ability to lay down flat. Done... And then some. I also had over 100 movies, dozens of games and 100s of TV shows to watch. I had gourmet dining at my fingertips, which Nelda and Casey (our flight attendants) would serve at my request. Jeng and I could share our meals together since our suite had seating for TWO. That's right... it was like a dining room in the air. For the visual representation of this suite, see Jeng's iPhone video on Facebook.
The amazingness continued to other parts of the flight. We got free toiletries (and not the cheap stuff) and a beautiful set of cozy PJs. The AIRPLANE bathroom was spacious with real towels, full size dermologica toiletries for you to freshen up with, and a really cool sink with a digital on and off switch. And prior to boarding, we also had full access to a private lounge with a full bar and private boarding entrance so we wouldn't have to deal with the riff-raff of the folks in economy (haha).
So that was just the plane ride from SFO to Hong Kong. Once we landed in Hong Kong, we took a shuttle to our hotel in the city. Exhausted by jetlag, we passed out and cancelled our Joel Robuchon reservations. We woke up early the next day to catch our flight to Phuket, Thailand.
We landed in Phuket and hopped in our private car for the 2.5 hour drive to Krabi where we're staying at the Phulay Bay Ritz Carlton Resort. More amazingness here as we were greeted by 5 staff and our personal butler (named Day) in a breathtaking entrance. (See another one of Jeng's iPhone videos on Facebook.) After a refreshing fresh lemongrass beverage, we were driven by golf cart to our private Ocean Villa and given a tour of our insane suite. (Jeng's working on that iPhone video too.)
This morning we enjoyed a breakfast buffet with the freshest of island ingredients. (Lychees, edible betel nut leaves and other foods grow on the property!) I was most impressed by the fresh honeycomb, pandan and lemongrass juice. If only I could expand my stomach!
We find it difficult to choose between being lazy at this indulgent resort and exploring nearby sights but we will venture out of this oasis to Railay Beach later today. While the meals, drinks and taxes aren't free, the flight and hotel stay has been courtesy of Jeng's hundreds of thousands of frequent flyer miles. Maybe him travelling so much isn't so bad after all...
. . . read more.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Just Hitched
I like to think that I lead my life without regrets; if I had the opportunities for do-overs I would not want to take them. Of course this is an idealistic wish and I do often make regretable mistakes but in the long-term view of things, I think I'm doing alright. But when it comes to last week, I'm slightly torn. Just like Eileen, I'd want to do the wedding all over again. But this time, I'd do it as a spectator.
I know it sounds all mushy but I really do feel like our wedding day was the best day of my life. I think I speak for Eileen when I say that I don't think we've ever felt so loved and it bums me out that there wasn't more time in the day to enjoy everyone's company. Everyone's generosity -- both time and money -- is so humbling that I think I fail every time I try to express my true appreciation for everyone. So again, thanks everyone for making it such a memorable day/weekend for us.
As with many blogs before this, I'm going to cut this one shorter than I originally planned. But I will end with this and it's because I do regret not getting Eileen a real card as part of my wedding gift to her. (Spoiler alert -- as my brother mentioned in his great toast, my macho-ness does occasionally take a back seat when Eileen is around. This is one of those times.) Prior to the wedding, people asked me how I knew Eileen was the one I wanted to marry. I don't really know why I love her so but she is the woman I can't imagine living my life without. We had a weird courtship and took longer than it probably should have and if you asked me, "Would you do it over again?" I'd respond, "I guess." But in reality, if it took a thousand times or a thousand lifetimes, I would. But I think I'd give up on the 1001st try. That's just absurd.
. . . read more.
I know it sounds all mushy but I really do feel like our wedding day was the best day of my life. I think I speak for Eileen when I say that I don't think we've ever felt so loved and it bums me out that there wasn't more time in the day to enjoy everyone's company. Everyone's generosity -- both time and money -- is so humbling that I think I fail every time I try to express my true appreciation for everyone. So again, thanks everyone for making it such a memorable day/weekend for us.
As with many blogs before this, I'm going to cut this one shorter than I originally planned. But I will end with this and it's because I do regret not getting Eileen a real card as part of my wedding gift to her. (Spoiler alert -- as my brother mentioned in his great toast, my macho-ness does occasionally take a back seat when Eileen is around. This is one of those times.) Prior to the wedding, people asked me how I knew Eileen was the one I wanted to marry. I don't really know why I love her so but she is the woman I can't imagine living my life without. We had a weird courtship and took longer than it probably should have and if you asked me, "Would you do it over again?" I'd respond, "I guess." But in reality, if it took a thousand times or a thousand lifetimes, I would. But I think I'd give up on the 1001st try. That's just absurd.
. . . read more.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Wedded Bliss & the Best Week Ever
We're married!
... And we already have some photos to prove it.
It's crazy and for both of us, has yet to sink in. We had both wanted to write a blog before the big day but with all the last minute details and early family arrivals, the blog upkeep quickly fell to the bottom of the list. Although it's been a whirlwind week with very little sleep and lots of friend and family fun time, its one I will never forget and I can speak for both Jeng and I when I say how very thankful we are for all our family and friends.
Tomorrow we're off to our long-awaited honeymoon. While laptops are being left at home, the iPad is not. So I hope to write some brief blogs on the road to document our Southeast Asian adventures. Stay tuned for more post-wedding blogs because Wedding Absurdity has only just begun. . . . read more.
It's crazy and for both of us, has yet to sink in. We had both wanted to write a blog before the big day but with all the last minute details and early family arrivals, the blog upkeep quickly fell to the bottom of the list. Although it's been a whirlwind week with very little sleep and lots of friend and family fun time, its one I will never forget and I can speak for both Jeng and I when I say how very thankful we are for all our family and friends.
Tomorrow we're off to our long-awaited honeymoon. While laptops are being left at home, the iPad is not. So I hope to write some brief blogs on the road to document our Southeast Asian adventures. Stay tuned for more post-wedding blogs because Wedding Absurdity has only just begun. . . . read more.
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