Travel in Review 2017
Here is our travel in review for 2017.
After spending two summers of house renovation, we finally got to sit back and enjoy the house, organising dinner parties and summer BBQs with friends. We had several trips in the pipeline, but little did we know the biggest adventure awaits us with the big news that we were expecting in early 2018!
Granada, Spain
My old university roommate loves jamón ibérico de bellota so much that she organised a pilgrimage to Caceres in the Extremadura region, the heart of Spain’s jamón country. She asked if we would join her and her husband for a weekend in Granada. Sure, why not?! Any excuse to meet up with old friends in new places. After all, we love Andalucia having visited with my kid sister in 2012 on the classic tour of Southern Spain.
If you know my university roommate, you would know that her trips are centred around food, food, and more food. And this trip was no exception. She would diligently scour the internet through food forums for the best restaurants at all price points. They were sure to hit up all the touristy sights before our arrival so could just hang out together over tapas and cava. For us, this trip wasn’t about sightseeing as it was about spending time with some of our dear friends from California.
Bellies filled up with jamón ibérico, we flew back to London with our jeans a bit more snug but memories to last a lifetime.
Vietnam: Hoi An, Halong Bay, Hanoi, and Sa Pa
Good morning, Vietnam! We scored an amazing deal on Cathay Pacific for the Easter holidays. As with all trips to Asia, we stopped off in Hong Kong to see my sister before jetting off to another destination. This time, Vietnam beacons for 12 days exploring Hoi An, Halong Bay, Hanoi, and Sa Pa.
Hoi An: Riverside Town
We met up with a couple friend who had moved from London to Hong Kong in the UNESCO riverside town of Hoi An, just a short drive south of Da Nang. As this was Kenz and I’s only “beachy” part of the trip, we opted to stay on An Bang Beach in a Tonkin-style bungalow not too far from the main town.
By day, we were lounging on the beach enjoying the fresh breeze and local seaside eateries. Being in Southeast Asia, we made the mistake of doing some sightseeing during the day, as the hot sun and humidity made for an unpleasant and sweaty walk. When the sun started to set, we ventured into Hoi An to soak up the dreamy atmosphere of old architecture and brightly coloured lanterns hung around this charming town.
Together with our friends who were adventurous eaters themselves sampled local culinary delights. We tried local eateries such Bánh Mì Phượng for the best Vietnamese baguette sandwich made famous by no other than celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain and banh xeo and bun thit nuong at a back alleyway open-air eatery called Bale Well. My friends and I also had a few dinner reservations with a memorable meal at the delightful Morning Glory restaurant located in a beautiful colonial building. The riverfront area opposite of the Japanese Covered Bridge is lined with bars after bars, perfect for a nightcap and some people watching.
Halong Bay: Stunning Beauty
Pictures do not do Halong Bay any justice. With its calm emerald water and towering limestone karst, it is probably one of the most jaw-dropping and enchanting places we have ever visited. We boarded the luxury Signature Halong Cruise for a 3 day / 2 night trip which included sea kayaking, cave excursion and visiting a fishing village. The weather was amazing – blue skies and gentle breeze, perfect for lounging on the sundeck with a cold Saigon beer whilst gazing at the lush surroundings. It was a very relaxed trip and we loved every minute of it.
Hanoi: Street Food Tour
Hanoi was a gateway hub for our excursions to Halong Bay and later to Sa Pa in the northern mountainous region. We managed a few half days of sightseeing and of course more eating. The four of us did our own self-guided Hanoi Street Food tour eating our way around town from beef phở, bún chả (my favourite!), Bánh cuốn, and cha ca all washed down with either Vietnamese iced coffee or a few cold Hanoi beer.
In the evenings, a popular place to hang out is “Beer Corner” at the junction Ta Hien and Luong Ngoc Quyen streets in the Hanoi Old Quarter. Hundreds of people spill on the street sitting on the ubiquitous and colourful plastic stools with pints of cold beer and salty snacks if you are feeling adventurous. Otherwise, there are more hip bars and coffeehouses around Hoan Kiem Lake.
Our friends flew back to Hong Kong and we had an extra full day in Hanoi to ourselves before taking an overnight train to Sa Pa. We visited a few of Hanoi’s tourist attractions including Hỏa Lò Prison, Ho Chi Minh Museum, and Temple of Literature for some lessons in history about the Vietnam War before heading to the train station.
Sa Pa: Trekking in Hill Country
On arrival at Sa Pa, it was wet and foggy. Having rained for the previous few days meant that the hiking trails were muddy. Certainly, we weren’t going to see much in terms of its natural beauty. Kenz and I made the most of our time in Sa Pa, wandering around town which was small and a bit on the touristy side. After a quick shower and lunch, it was time to visit the nearby Cat Cat Village for a glimpse of the daily life of the H’mong culture. It is easy to spend a few hours following the paved paths and steps leading you through the village via little riverbanks and hanging bridges.
The next day we went on the “Terrace View Trek” with the travel social enterprise company Sapa O’Chau. This was an easy 15km trek through the Muong Hoa Valley stopping through Y Linh Ho, Lao Chai, and Ta Van villages. The stunning vistas of rice terraces and mountains made for a beautiful scenic trek. On our final day in Sa Pa, a spa day awaits us before heading back to Hanoi in time for one last bun cha.
Our time in Vietnam came to an end. It was a fabulous trip with awesome friends and one we will fondly remember.
Berchtesgaden, Germany
We took the summer easy with no major travel plans as I was just getting through the first trimester of pregnancy. Luckily it wasn’t too bad, other than feeling utterly exhausted all the time.
Back in January, we got an invitation to a friend’s 40th birthday bash in the picturesque town of Berchtesgaden, home of Hilter’s famous Eagle’s Nest. The Bavarian-themed weekend extravaganza took place at Hofbrauhaus in mid-September. Then there was an optional excursion to Konigessee Lake on Sunday before the designated “party” bus drove us back to Munich airport.
About 100 people arrived at the party venue all dressed in Bavarian lederhosen and dirndl and guests mingled over cocktail hour and live entertainment. The traditional three-course dinner was in the main hall with each guest assigned to a table named after favourite cities. Dessert was a three-tier cake with sparklers from the famous Cafe Sacher in Salzburg.
It was a fabulous 40th birthday bash that felt more like a wedding with its meticulous details: name cards, speeches, live music and an MC. Well, it turns out that this was actually a wedding celebration in disguise. Our friend and his new husband tied the knot earlier in April with a small town hall ceremony in London but kept the news quiet. They pulled off an amazing weekend filled with love and laughter!
Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi, and Penang
The last trip before starting on our new journey that is called parenthood was to Malaysia for our babymoon. My kid sister joined us for this trip. Seeing that I couldn’t take advantage of the alcoholic beverages in the BA Lounge, I let my kid sister join Kenz in the lounge for a champagne breakfast. She was a happy camper.
Kuala Lumpur
As with all capital cities in Southeast Asia, Kuala Lumpur was busy, modern and filled with large shopping malls. Being a Muslim country, it was more conservative than neighbouring Thailand and Vietnam. Wasting no time during our short time in Kuala Lumpur, we hit the ground running visiting the Petronas Towers, Suria KLCC, KLCC Park, and Chinatown. We also visited the nearby Batu Caves, a Hindu temple, located just outside of Kuala Lumpur and sampled local Malaysian food at Alor Street Market. Our time in Kuala Lumpur was short but sweet, just enough time to see the best of Malaysia’s bustling capital city.
Langkawi
Langkawi, the beautiful tropical island on the Andaman Sea just south of Thailand, is a popular honeymoon destination. I can see why. Idyllic, stunning, relaxing. We had one thing in mind in Langkawi: rest and relaxation. Being a larger island, we stayed in two different hotels on opposite parts of the island.
The Danna Hotel is a gorgeous property located on the west coast near the famous Langkawi Sky Bridge. Blending old colonial style with contemporary touches, the Danna Hotel is classy and sophisticated best for a romantic getaway than a family resort. A beautiful infinity pool overlooks the private beach where we would watch the sunset over cocktails (or mocktails for me).
Leaving behind the sun loungers for a morning, we visited the nearby Sky Bridge Park for some spectacular views of the rainforest and hiked to the Seven Well Waterfall. If you can pull yourself away from the wonderful Danna Hotel, Sky Bridge Park is not to miss. I also recommend having a meal and beachside drinks in Cenang if you are looking for a lively atmosphere.
We then stayed at the Westin Langkawi in Kuah for the ease of catching our ferry to Penang on the southern stretch of Langkawi. The Westin was very modern with splashes of its bright signature colours. There were no less than four swimming pools to pick from as well as numerous outdoor lounge areas overlooking the ocean. It had a fun and cool vibe with a young hip clientele. Needless to say we perfected the art of rest and relaxation on the beautiful island of Langkawi.
Penang
Our last leg took us to Penang where we stayed at the Hard Rock Hotel in Batu Ferringhi instead of in George Town. The Hard Rock Hotel was the ultimate family resort with kiddie pools, water slides, and a massive free-form pool. Classic rock music was always playing and there were numerous activities throughout the day. In the evenings, the Hard Rock restaurant was open for more late-night live music.
We took a taxi to George Town to wander around the narrow lanes, following the mural trial of some 50 murals and sculptures adorning the walls of old 19th-century buildings. We sampled the melting pot of cultures through food by visiting a few popular hole-in-the-wall joints for spicy laksa and steamed buns. Being in Southeast Asia, the heat is unforgiving by noon so we retreated back to the Hard Rock Hotel where we happily stayed put until it was time to head back to Hong Kong.
Thank you “Malaysia, Truly Asia” for a memorable and relaxing babymoon.
And that is our travel in review for 2017. The remaining of the year was all about “nesting,” preparing for our sweet arrival in February 2018, enjoying the last few months as a couple, and feeling grateful for an easy pregnancy.
