Life is Better in Raffles Class
Posted March 29, 2007 by Ed Szajniak · Filed Under Adventures
On arrival in Vancouver we checked in at Singapore Airlines. Ros checked to see if we could avoid the layover and plane change in Seoul. The Singapore agent made the changes and we remained on the original flight all the way to Singapore.
We had not flown on Singapore before but had heard that the service was great and if the efficiency and friendliness of the gate agent was any indication we were in for a treat. Read more
Technorati Tags: Vancouver, Singapore Airlines, Seoul
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Psycho Cyclo in Ho Chi Minh City
Posted March 29, 2007 by Ed Szajniak · Filed Under Adventures
The guide books and other publications warn against taking the Cyclo pedicabs in Ho Chi Minh City, so we avoided them. Well, at least until we found ourselves trapped at the riverfront with multi-lanes of very heavy traffic between us and where we wanted to go.
Two friendly pedi cab drivers offered their services. After a quick fare negotiation we mounted the contraptions. The drivers steered us out into traffic to a chorus of scooter and auto horns. After reminding myself I did have medical coverage I relaxed and actually enjoyed the experience.
The only time I lost my composure was when we swerved slightly and a bus passed just millimeters to my left.
For about 10USD these guys will give you the grand tour of HCMC. It’s a fun way to get around the city and a great opportunity to get some wonderful pictures of life on the streets.
Need tickets to Ho Chi Minh City attractions Click here
Technorati Tags: Cyclo pedicabs, Ho Chi Minh City, HCMC
Petronas Twin Towers - Kuala Lumpur
Posted March 29, 2007 by Ed Szajniak · Filed Under Adventures
When we decided to visit Kula Lumpur or KL as it’s better known all I really knew about the city was it was home to the Petronas Twin Towers which until recently were the tallest buildings in the world.
We were on a city tour when the towers were first spotted and they certainly are a magnificent sight. We drove to the towers and had opportunity to take a few pictures before continuing on with the tour.
After the city tour we took a cab back to the towers for a closer inspection. We found the ticket office for the trip up to the Sky bridge on the 40Th and 41st floors. This is the only part of the towers opened to the public. Our tickets which are free were for 3:15pm so we had a couple of hours and decided on lunch. Read more
Technorati Tags: Kula Lumpur, Petronas Twin Towers
Home Sweet Home
Posted March 25, 2007 by Rosalind Gardner · Filed Under Adventures
We’re baaaaack!
Our return from Ho Chi Minh City included a layover in Vancouver, but after all those 5-star hotels in Malaysia and Vietnam, the prospect of just one snotty check-in clerk at the Airport Comfort Inn was so unappealing that I managed to sweet talk the ticket agent at Incheon (South Korea) into booking us on an earlier flight back to Penticton.
Ed and I therefore arrived at home safe and sound early Saturday evening after travelling for a mere 30 hours — as opposed to the originally scheduled 43 hours.
If not for the ’slumberettes’ in the Singapore Airlines Raffles Lounge in Seoul and those nice big seats in Air Canada’s executive class, I doubt I would have been able to get all my laundry done, check deposits written and (best of all) photos uploaded and titles coded in the 24 hours since our return.
But I/we did and they are now available for viewing on Flickr.
That’s to assuage our guilt for failing to post to the Roamsters blog every day while we were away despite lugging the Sony Vaio around in a wheeless carry-on for what seemed like 8 million miles.
Sorreeee…
We were just too busy being tourists — sightseeing, risking our lives to cross the streets in Saigon, walking the absolutely glorious beach in Malaysian Borneo at Kota Kinabalu’s Nexus Karambunai, eating 3, 4 and 5 delicious Asian squares a day and drinking at least twice that much.
To recuperate from all that activity we also had to go for swims up to 6 times daily, do 3.5 hour massage treatments and study the insides of our eyelids while reclining on sumptuous teak loungers from the comfort of our private cabana.
What can I say but that we had a fabulous time and we’ll try to get a few recap blog posts out in the next few weeks. 
Cheers,
Ros
Cu Chi Tunnel- Vietnam
Posted March 19, 2007 by Ed Szajniak · Filed Under Adventures
I found our visit to the Cu Chi tunnel system fascinating. It is part of a 200km network or tunnels used by the Viet Cong. The area was sprayed with Agent orange and heavily bombed by the US and several bomb craters are still evident. The displays of the traps that were set out are spine chilling.
Our guide Phuong demostrated entering one of the concealed tunnel entrances, as shown in the next picture… Read more
Technorati Tags: Cu Chi tunnel, Viet Cong
Photos Uploaded
Posted March 8, 2007 by Rosalind Gardner · Filed Under Adventures
We’re about to head off to Borneo where I won’t have an internet connection in the hotel room at the resort… so even LESS writing than we’ve been doing.
But in the meantime, I’ve uploaded some pictures to our Flickr account at http://www.flickr.com/photos/roamsters/
Enjoy!
What the Pho? Vietnamese Noodle Soup for Breakfast
Posted March 4, 2007 by Rosalind Gardner · Filed Under Food
Finally - we were in a civilized part of the world.
By my definition, that’s where people eat noodle soup for breakfast. In Vietnam, pho (noodle soup) is the main breakfast food.
For those who love pho, I’ve posted a recipe for pho and some FUN Pho t-shirts here. The t-shirts have sayings like ‘What the Pho?’ and ‘Got Pho?’
I suppose Vancouver qualifies as ‘civilized’ as well, as I had beef udon for breakfast at the airport there before we boarded Singapore 017 on Thursday morning.
Speaking of food… there was no shortage of either food or drink served on Singapore’s Raffles class. We started with champagne before departure (orange juice was offered too, but why go for OJ when you can have champers?) and another glass right after takeoff.
Dinner included a nice little chicken satay appetizer and prawn salad. Ed had the lamb, and I… well, I had a delicious bowl of noodle soup, of course.
Technorati Tags: noodle soup, pho, vietnam
Blistering on Orchard Road
Posted March 3, 2007 by Rosalind Gardner · Filed Under Adventures
OUCH! Ouch and OUCH! again!
Yesterday we walked for about 10 hours from the Pan Pacific in Singapore up to Raffles then all along Orchard and Scott roads. By result, I am suffering the consequences of first-day blisters from having stupidly worn my sandals in 30 degree temps. Aargh.
(Photos to follow. )
Oh well, Ed is happy that we got far enough to order his tailor-made linen jacket.
Anyway, thank goodness today we’re booked for a bus tour. Speaking of which, we gotta run for the bus.
OUCH!! OUCH!! OUCH!!
Cheers,
Ros
Singapore attractions Click Here
Singapore is a Fine City
Posted March 3, 2007 by Rosalind Gardner · Filed Under Adventures
Greetings from Singapore which Ed and I have been exploring for the last three days. Getting around is SO easy because just about everyone here speaks English and with a Starbucks on nearly every corner it almost feels like home.
Singaporeans joke that this is a ‘fine city’ as there are fines for everything from spitting to the death penalty for possession of .5 gram of drugs.
Apparently you’ll also get fined $150.00 for not flushing the toilet. What we’d like to know is — whose job is it to confirm and where are the cameras?
So… did I, or didn’t I?
Enroute to Malaysia and Vietnam
Posted March 1, 2007 by Rosalind Gardner · Filed Under Adventures
“All my bags are packed, I’m ready to go
I’m standin’ here outside your door
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye
But the dawn is breakin’, it’s early morn
The taxi’s waitin’, he’s blowin’ his horn…”
ED… GET UP!!! It’s time to go!!!
This day seemed a long time in coming, but we’re leaving for a 25-day tour of Malaysia and Vietnam this morning - first stop, Singapore.
Stay tuned, as we’ll be blogging along the way - provided of course that Ed can persuade me to get off the beach in Borneo.
Aaaah, Borneo. I can hardly wait.
