Nico's Vacation - Day 6

18/12/2009 - Another super early morning as we depart from Phnom Penh to Siam Reap. The bus journey took 6 hours but with 3 scenic stops. First stop is a place with a couple of hawker stalls selling edible tarantulas, crickets etc. They look really gross. I think the only thing that puts me off is the flies that parties over them. The guide said the crickets are the tastiest...hmm...never in a million years will I dare to try them out! There were also other random stuff like mangoes, dried seafood produce etc. Some local children were trying hard to get tourists (like myself) to buy the tarantulas and bananas. They will pester you to death I swear!

Second stop was just a normal toilet stop at a resort like restaurant. Took the opportunity to sleep on some hammocks there for a while before continuing the journey. 3rd was the Kompong Kdey Ancient bridge which used to be the connecting bridge between Phnom Penh and Siam Reap. It is too old now for vehicles to cross and therefore not used excessively nowadays.

We reached Siam Reap around 1pm and went for lunch straight away. It's another chinese meal but with herbal crocodile soup - tasted like normal pork ribs herbal soup but a bit more stronger taste. Proceeded to Les Artisan Angkor - a local handicraft centre and then to Tonle Sap Lake for a one hour cruise around the floating village. It is quite amazing to see how those people live on the lake. Some houses are really very small but have to fit a lot of people! There are even floating school and church. The guide told us that 3 years back, there was no cruise for tourists. Visitors have to walk on mud to get to the center to the floating village - we went on the right timing! We got off the boat on one of the tourists stop in the village, lingered for a while before heading back to the main pier.

By the time we finished our cruise, it's almost 4ish. Next in the itinerary is to view sunset of Angkor Wat from Phnom Bakeng. The trek up the hill was about 15 minutes. Once up there the bigger challenge was to climb to the top of Phnom Bakeng. The steps were really very steep. That said, by the time I reach the foot of the temple, there were already a big crowd on top of the temple. As I squeezed my way through the crowds, I managed to take a couple of shots of the almost setting sun - satisfied!

Dinner was at Green Suki Soup Steamboat. And checked in Monoreach hotel after that...

Nico's Vacation - Day 5

17/12/2009 - Morning call was pretty early, but I woke up earlier than that since there were 3 of us in a room. Went down for breakfast quite early too so that we can try out the buffet in our own sweet time. Breakfast for me that morning was soup rice noodle, toast, coffee and fruits. Other than that, the breakfast buffet also has fried mee, fried rice, some random oriental stir fry dishes, omelette, porridge etc. I particularly like the soup rice noodle.

Started the city sightseeing tour at 8 and first stop was the Independence Monument and then to the Tonle Sap river side before proceeding to the Royal Palace. Unfortunately, the prime minister of Vietnam were visiting that day and therefore we can't go in to the Royal Palace itself, just the exterior gardens and Silver Pagoda. One of the interesting sights in there was the Cannon Ball tree and there are a couple of buddhas under the tree and they called it the Buddha tree. Apparently the flowers bloom in the morning and withers in the afternoon. Next stop was Wat Phnom - a temple on a 27m high hill. There are quite a few people praying in there and inside the temple the guide asked us to wash our hands with the 'holy' water which was supposed to bring good luck...hmm.

Lunch was at TonleBassac restaurant - international buffet -with most of the food of the type Vietnamese and Thai. We then spent about an hour at the Russian Market (Psar Tuol Tom Pong). It is an indoor market but it's quite stuffy and narrow. Most of the vendors sells souvenirs, handicrafts, jewelery, wood carvings etc. There are also some food stalls selling baguettes(french bread), fried and soup noodles etc. After a full one hour of free sauna, we proceeded to the Tuol Sleng Museum (Genocide Museum). The building itself used to be a school which was turned into a prison, a centre of detention and tourture. The exhibits are mostly about the barbarism of the Khmer Rouge leaders and stories of the victims.

Next stop was the Casino! It's actually owned by a Malaysian but not Genting. We got a 4USD voucher bet each courtesy of the tour company. The guide taught us a way to win 2USD each by playing banker-player. It is really a sure win method. But with 4USD voucher, we need to top up 10USD each and bet 6USD on Banker, 4USD + 4USD free voucher on Player. So if the Banker wins, we get 12 back which makes us profit of 2. If the player wins, we get 8 back which make us a net profit of 2 (8 - 6 which we lost by betting on banker). Such a tourism gimmick! Drinks are free as long as you are gambling. Managed to try out the Angkor Beer there which was pretty ok.

The last sightseeing stop of the day was Central Market - an open air market selling stuff that are pretty much the same as the Russian Market. Didn't manage to buy anything since we didn't feel the need to get souvenirs so early in the trip. Dinner was at a Vietnamese-Chinese restaurant called 'Yee Bo'.

Nico's Vacation - Day 4

16/12/2009 - It's another travelling day. Bro drove us to KLIA LCCT (Low Cost Carrier Terminal...hmm what a name!) which is serving the budget airlines and had brunch at Old Town before meeting the tour leader and checking in. There were 19 in the group, aged from 9 to 72!

Boarded the 15:15 AirAsia flight to Phnom Penh and touched down approximately 4ish Cambodian time. The flight was pretty ok. I can say AirAsia has higher standards stewardesses tan MAS! The tour booked us in for a chicken rice meal (so-so only) and reserved seats and so we didn't have to be kiasu and queue early to get seats together.

We met up with the local tour guide and straight to dinner from the aiport. Dinner was in a Malaysian Chinese restaurant - the boss is actually Malaysian and according to the 'si tau po' - boss' wife, she actually preferred to stay in Cambodia because she felt safer there - hmm I'm not quite sure about that though. After dinner, the guide brought us to a local fruit market and introduced to us one of the seasonal local fruit - milk fruit - it's round and sized of a small coconut, just that it has smooth skin and apparently it comes in green and brown colours with white coloured flesh.

Checked in Diamond Hotel where we stayed for 2 nights in Phnom Penh.

Nico's Vacation - Day 3

15/12/2009 - Today is a 'gastronomically' interesting day. Woke up around half 8 and went to our local wet market to pick up some breakfast - it's apam balik for me - a type of peanut pancake. Spent the rest of the morning helping mum shift things around the house - free labour

-_-.

Lunch was at Chynna, Hilton. Had read a couple of reviews of it from food blogs and was determined to try it out. The dim sum menu is quite extensive. They have different variety 'categories' I'd say - the normal steamed ones, savoury fried ones, sweet desserts, well being (healthy and vege options), specials, different kinds of rice rolls (cheung fun), congee and another section with funky fusion dim sums named 'Taste Bud Journey'. We ordered 'cha siu bo lo pau', char siu bau, siu mai (the normal stuff) and a couple other special ones - grilled unagi rice roll, sambal petai samosa, spring onion pancakes with chicken floss, spinach and goji berry congee, prawn and mango roll and tom yum bean curd roll. Comparing Chynna to Ritz, I think Ritz is better in terms of the normal dim sums, but will definitely go back Chynna to try out other interesting stuff.

Mall crawled again after lunch - Pavilion this time - just to get myself a better pair of sandals for Cambodia - weather forecast has it that it's going to rain :( the next few days in Phnom Pehn. Had a tiramisu gelato from Gelato Fruity before starting shopping. Was quite amazed by the variety of shops and stalls that have opened since my last visit. Managed to get a pair of Sketchers sandals for 15% discount. Bro got himself a golf glove. And then we spent about more than half an hour choosing trinkets from one of the stalls there. Bought myself four individual sided earrings - meant to be mixed and match - RM12 each - right you might think it is cheap - but I don't think so. Maybe it just that I felt that some random trinkets like that shouldn't have costs so much in Malaysia! Thing's changed - they are not cheap in KL these days!

Had dinner at Fong Lye (Taiwanese Restaurant) at Midvalley. Was meant to try this place out twice when I was back home last year and didn't manage to make it. This time, I have more dinner slots to fit this in :). Food is good - in fact I think we ordered a little too much - not sure how many more gym hours I need to fit in after this holiday >< ! Anyway...not caring too much now, I shall continue my gourmet journey for the rest of the two weeks...stay tuned!

Nico's Vacation - Day 2

13/12/2009 - Woke up uber early @ 4 am to catch the 7:30 am Alitalia flight to Kuala Lumpur, transitting in Rome. I took the taxi - well there wasn't any public transport that can get me to Heathrow Terminal 4 at the wee hours of 5 in the morning. Apparently MAS is also flying out from T4 now with the closing down of T2, I guess they are shifting things a bit. There are a lil more shops in T4 compared to the last time I was there - Berlin Dec 2008 I think.

At the check in, I was told that I was to get my Rome - KL leg boarding pass when I am in Rome Airport. I was a bit concerned then already considering the fact that I only have one hour and 20 minutes to do. It is a bit weird for this kind of joint airlines flights. Normally, you are issued both boarding passes if you are transitting, right? Well at least this is the first time I had to do this, so I was like ... err .. OK.

Grabbed a Starbucks Eggnog Latte for breakfast. Is it just me or Starbucks... that nowadays, I don't think I can stand their flavored coffees anymore...they are simply too sweet without any coffee taste. Oh well, should have ordered a tall instead of grande.

Flight from London to Rome was about 2 hours plus. Flight was only half full. I'm not sure how bad is was for Alitalia to get such notorious reputation before this, but my flight was considered OK.

Touching down Rome airport, I hurried to find my way to the gates. Wasn't sure where to get my boarding pass but passed by a transfer desk with MAS sign on the screen - but it wasn't the right place -_-. The lady told me to get it from the gates...right...to the gates then. By the time I get there, 40 minutes to scheduled depart time - not too bad, not really panicking either since I don't think they dare to leave without me when I am already at the gates. Another 'queue' confusion - which queue to get my boarding pass! Argh! There were a lot of people trying to make sense of the few queues there too. I wonder why they have to do it this way - just too confusing! Anyway, I managed to board the plane...phew.

Food was quite good this time. Wonder if it is because I'm flying from Rome instead. Lunch consists of smoked salmon salad, chicken biryani, cheese and bread and a slice of apple pie ... yummy. Breakfast was nasi lemak, croissant with jam, a muffin, yogurt and fruits.

Touched down KL after 10 hours, 20 minutes ahead of schedule...

My first day in KL was basically, went to the same restaurant for lunch and dinner to meet relatives and a brief stroll in Mid Valley to shop for a threadmill for dad...that's about it. Am still trying to get over my jet lag and pack for Cambodia...

What's in for Dec

It is really very cold this early in Dec in London. I didn't remember it being that cold same time last year. Maybe it is just me denying the fact that it is already winter! Caught a lil cold earlier this month because of that...well I think it started from the sore throat I had after eating some deep fried tofu. I know, shouldn't have deep fried them! Was supposed to go to company's Christmas party as well on the 3rd, but didn't quite make it. My excuse(s)?...well since I was about to go on holiday in approximately one and a half weeks then, was quite bus at work. By the time I got home from work that night, I was already running a bit late and I was just not feeling right..the cold, the sniffles, the freezing temperature outside etc etc. I called it a miss. Anyway, luckily I'm all fine now in time for my holidays.

Took the Friday off, just to cleared some of my holidays. In fact, I have one and a half days left...and might just burn it. Holly came down to London to visit that day for the weekend. Just went for Jap lunch, shopped a bit in Ox Circ and then watched Law Abiding Citizen - was the only decent film on that time (not many good movies out yet). It was an OK movie - wouldn't bore you too much but not a WOW film either.

Met up with JL, YF and gang for Pearl Liang dim sum. It was quite good. Food bloggers did do a the restaurant good justice. I particularly like the Scallop Peashoots Dumpling and Sponge Cake. I'd say I prefer dim sum here than any other places I normally go to - Imperial China, Phoenix Palace, Royal China and Princess Gardens. We ordered so much food and the bill came to merely 17 quid - pretty good deal. It started raining after lunch and so decided to hang around Westfield before heading to YF's house Xmas party. Loads of people as usual, coming up to Xmas.

It was BSS Team's Xmas Dinner on Monday at Isarn, Islington. We had the 25 quid party menu which comes with a selection of 4 different starters in a bento box for 2 to share, a few dishes - green curry monk fish, chicken cashew, garlic prawns, roast pork, bok choi (not really thai isn't it) and rice to share among 4. Dessert was chocolate mousse - this is so much bigger proportionally compared to the mains! Although dessert was very chocolaty and satisfying, it was quite a bit too big I'd say.

Was in town on Saturday to spend the first day of my 3 weeks holidays do some last minute shopping. There ain't much to buy - just some bits and pieces - like Laduree macaroons for mum dad bro and sis in law :). Oxford Circus two weeks before Christmas is a nightmare. I'd never seen so much people! The economy must have got so much better I swear based on the sheer number of people spending on the high streets.

Got home in time to catch X factor and then pack...

Nov Update

My bad...I just realised I have not been blogging for the whole of November. Anyway, just briefly recapping what happened in November...

It was a little more eventful month than I'd expected. Although most of the days were "On-call" days, I think I did a pretty good job in squeezing in bits and pieces of "social life". Apart from the usual movie nights and/or weekends, went to JJ's birthday party cum Halloween dress up party on the 31st Oct at Passage Cafe. I wasn't that inspired to dress as anything in particular but saw a flapper dress from FCUK with factory outlet price plus a 20% off that day. With that, I decided to dress up as a 20's girl. Also went to Camden Market the w/e before to check out trinkets and accessories.

The following Monday, we managed to make a dinner booking at Bocca di Lupo. I'd say the food is good but I don't see the WOW factor in it to be so popular and hard to get a booking in. I had to make the booking about a week in advanced. The lady that greeted us wasn't that nice either. We ordered quite a lot of food, and I'd say the dessert is the best part of the meal! (as usual, pics in my picasa gallery :)).

And then 2 weeks ago was Anita's birthday thingy - Went go-karting in the afternoon and had dinner at Erebuni (Russian stuff). The go-kart track was so much easier than the one up in Letchworth. We had a full 2 and a half hours between us. But some other stranger teams were so aggressive. Although the whole of us 3 teams weren't even on the top 5, it was good fun. The not fun bit would be that my hands and back ached the day after that and lasted for at least 2 days.