Prawn spa

The little critters bit off dead skin cells. Stings a bit at first, once the swarm arrive, it became pleasant.

The Legend Water Chalet Port Dickson

Our new favourite place in Port Dickson - after Avillion. Excellent facilities with good buffet spread. The highlight would be the private pool in the villa and the outdoor showers ;0) . Even the rain did not dampen the spirit of the kids. Highly recommended.

Keropok Lekor BTB

The tastiest in Kuala Terengganu. Long queue, risky parking but worth it.

Bukit Merah Laketown Resort

The place is not bad. Would I go again ? NO.

After all the investment setting up the place, they forgot the strategy for having repeat customers. Everything has to be paid for. Most are not cheap considering what you get in value for your RM. The worst bit for me was the fact that we stayed on premises, yet there were no offers or concessions of any kind for the attractions. At the very least include the cost as a package so customers like me won't feel cheated. Staying on premises means that you are there to enjoy the park, so why is it that I have to pay similar to walk in customers ?

My advice is to stay in Taiping instead. Its not that far and most likely (we do), mealtime calls for a trip to Taiping. There are food courts and restaurants on premises, but it costs more and the food is not great either, be it the taste or the portion.

Fuel...

Not really a scientific evaluation but it does point to the fact that larger capacity cars have longer range than smaller cars with same amount of fuel in the tank. Full tank, 101.o km done and it can go another 680 km at an average of 110 - 140 km/h. Of course, if I were to step on it then it really guzzles it up.

Look...

NT

Malacca River Cruise

It will take 45 minutes to complete the cruise. First timers might enjoy the novelty. Others should do it at night and enjoy the lights.

Pulau Kapas - Keeping it clean

There seems to be a good system of maintaining the waste from the island. Garbage boats (as opposed to garbage truck - duhhh) come and takes it all away. If only the visitors (some) were more conscious as there were food wrappings left indiscriminately on the beach. Idiots.

Creatures of Pulau Kapas

Crystal clear waters around the island harbors plenty interesting creatures but none as amazing as this two headed Siamese mermaid[men ?].

Vung Tau, Viet Nam

A resort town about one half hours away by hydrofoil or two and a half by road from Ho Chi Minh City. It was rather quiet when we were there because its off season. Rooms are quite expensive [so the locals told me - about USD70/80 for a 3 star hotel] but foot reflexology is cheap at only USD7 for 70 minutes which includes hands, shoulder and head massage.

There is only one Halal restaurant in town near the Rex Hotel. Quite good. Main attraction here is the arts and crafts specifically model ships of all shape, size and vintage. The price has increased though as one that cost USD20 years ago is now USD200 [according to a friend].

Open spaces

Road pictures taken at speed - only the first road picture was taken from behind tinted windscreen.

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

About 1 hour 45 minutes after departing from KLIA we landed in Ho Chi Minh City airport. A much shorter flight than from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu. From the airport to the city center took about 40 minutes for an amazingly short distance. Reason, traffic which consists of bikes and more bikes criss-crossing in a discipline that I have never experienced before. Discipline, because throughout the chaos there were no accidents. Cost USD8 for 5 adults and a mountain of luggage in an MPV.

Hotel room can be had for as low as USD12 per night. Nice clean and comfortable. Within walking distance to all the interesting places in town. Shoppers will go nuts. Malaysia seems to have quite an influence as some signage used in the shops were in Malay. Art and crafts are abundant. Replicas and original works abound. Bargaining is a must though. Always ask for the price before committing to any purchase. One of our colleague was charged USD10 for 3 coconuts which he graciously accepted as he stepped out of the market tired and parched. When its time to pay, the bomb was dropped, its too late as the coconuts were already consumed.

Halal food is quite easy to find. Mainly Muslim Indian in town and a Champa Malay inside the compound of the city mosque. Find the mosque and you will find the halal food.

Personally, the best thing is that, even as a wayward tourist wandering the city, I feel safe. Safe in a sense that even though the street peddlers are persuasive and will follow you around, you will not be harmed and that the eyes of the authority is looking out for tourists like you. Contrast this against the feeling of wandering around Petaling Street or the back lanes of Chow Kit at night.

Its a very nice city. However, I will not go with known shoppers (wife, aunties etc.) as I am certain they will go bonkers on all the cheap and varied wares on offer at the complexes, shops, markets, night markets, road stalls and peddlers of all sorts ...