TravelStream™ news feed for member edamame on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/edamame en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Sat, 09 May 2009 00:52:32 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/edamame/3/1240090380/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/edamame/3/1240090380/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/edamame/3/1240090380/tpod.html Sat, 09 May 2009 00:52:32 -0400 Family vacation to Jamaica

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Montego Bay, Jamaica

A week-long vacation at the Iberostar Rose Hall Beach Resort in Montego Bay Jamaica.  Enjoy the pics!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/edamame/2/1213595880/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/edamame/2/1213595880/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/edamame/2/1213595880/tpod.html Wed, 18 Jun 2008 02:10:11 -0400 Paris and Greece

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Athens, Attica, Greece

Can't believe our trip is over!  But going back to Athens we knew there was still a lot that we hadn't seen.  Arriving in the morning, we dropped off our bags at our hotel in Athens before heading straight to the bus terminal for a 3-hour bus ride northwest into central Greece to see Delphi.   It was an important religious site that ancient Greeks considered the centre of the world - Zeus released two eagles at opposite ends of the world and they met at Delphi.  The sacred Sanctuary of Apollo was built here, where the most powerful Oracle in ancient Greece was consulted before all major decisions (think the movie '300').  The oracle would inhale noxious gases and enter a trance and during that time it was believed Apollo himself would speak through the oracle in riddles.  It was then up to the priests to decifer and interpret the answers. We've seen a lot of Greek and Roman ruins on this trip and previous trips, but none that had a sports stadium!  It was further up the mountain and away from the rest of the Sanctuary (which didn't make sense because wouldn't the athletes tire out by the time they got to the top?) but it was cool to see.  The Delphic Games, the predecessor of the Olympic Games, were held there every four years. The history behind Delphi is really interesting, but what made it stand out apart from other ruins and made it a great experience for us was its amazing location on the slopes of Mount Parnassus.  There's a stunning view of the valley below filled with olive and cypress trees and with the Gulf of Corinth in the distance.     Returning to Athens, we saved the best for last - the Acropolis and the Parthenon!  The Acropolis ('high city') is considered the most important ancient site in the western world.  The Parthenon, which sits on the highest part of the Acropolis, is a temple worshipping Athena and one of the world's most recognized monuments.  Right in the centre of Athens, the Acropolis looms over the city and can be seen almost anywhere in the city, even at night when lights illumiate it.  The Parthenon, as is much of the Acropolis, is in a rebuilding phase.  Some structures are literally a pile of rubble - like a puzzle, they select pieces that go together, and any pieces that do go together but have some bits missing they will create a piece out of new material!  It would be cool to come back here in 20 years and see the changes.On our last night in Athens we hung out in the popular area at the foot of the Acropolis that's filled with busy cafes and lots of people strolling.   It was a nice way to end the trip and to think about all the things we've seen and experienced.Some thoughts and comments:- every few blocks in Athens it seems there is an excavation of some sort.  But I guess because this is Greece and people expect to see ruins, they always have to be excavating one thing or another or rebuilding something so people have something new and exciting to see.  - the ruins of the Acropolis and Delphi on mainland Greece were impressive, Delos island near Mykonos was ok, but Knossos on Crete was highly over-rated - as modern as Greece is, their sewage system is ancient and needs a complete overhaul.  Apparently, their sewage pipes are so small that they can't handle toilet paper so you have to put all toilet paper in the garbage...gross!  - everyday in Greece is clear and sunny...there was no rain during our stay!- beaches were beautiful and we Wish we had more time on the islands, especially Santorini- Greece is a really laid back place and they sure know how to live life - they stay up into the night watching football (aka soccer) or drinking at the cafes, eat rich meals of grilled meats and fresh fish, drink cheap wine and beer, and spend hours in the middle of the day sitting at cafes people-watching while enjoying a frappe or ouzo.  We couldn't help but wonder if they don't have to go to work or school!  We're not sure how anything actually gets done in Greece, but it sure seems like a nice way to set your priorities! - some of our best times were just spent relaxing in cafes with a drink in hand and soaking up the atmosphere and surroundings 
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/edamame/2/1213219500/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/edamame/2/1213219500/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/edamame/2/1213219500/tpod.html Sat, 14 Jun 2008 18:27:48 -0400 Paris and Greece

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Santorini, Cyclades, Greece

   The second stop on our island hop brought us to Santorini.  The islands that make up Santorini are part of a caldera with an active volcano located at the centre.  Cruising into Santorini, it almost appears as if the rim of the caldera is lined with snow - the towns are lined along the rim with white buildings perched precariously on the high cliffs.     We stayed in the main city of Fira. We had heard of the beauty of Santorini, but it was even more stunning than we had imagined.  We enjoyed just spending a couple of hours sipping ouzo or frappes (iced instant coffee) in one of the many restaurants on the edge of the cliff and admiring the dramatic views.  The atmosphere in Santorini is very relaxed compared to lively and trendy Mykonos.  We were surprised to find out that by 11pm most shops are closed and restaurants are almost empty, and that there are only a few bars in Fira.      We rented an ATV to explore the island.  We stopped off at two beaches that are not your typical beach - a black sand beach and a red beach.  The black sand beach has very fine volcanic sand that blows EVERYWHERE which was really annoying - we wanted to go back to the pebble beach of Mykonos.  But the red beach (because of the reddish sand and cliffs behind it) was really cool and interesting.  We also drove to the town of Oia at the northern end of the island that is really popular for its beautiful sunset views.  It's so well known that it seems all tourists congregate there in the evening to watch the sun drop in the ocean.  We bought beers and found a great spot to watch the sunset.  The sunset was nice, but probably not as memorable to us than the crowd it attracted.  You know it's a really touristy thing when after the sun sets people start clapping and cheering.     Volcanoes have played a major part of Santorini's history, so we we went on an island cruise to hike the Nea Kameni volcano and swim in the hot springs.  The volcano was pretty cool - it produced the biggest eruption on earth that wiped out an ancient civilization in Crete with tsunami waves more than 200 metres high!  The hot springs are at the island next to the volcano, and we swam into a small inlet where the water is warmed by the volcano.  The last stop was to chill out at the laid back island of Thirassia where we had seafood, drank Ouzo, and went for a swim.  It was a fantastic way to spend the spend the day.     Santorini was awesome!  We were really impressed by the unique landscape and spectacular views.  From what we've seen so far, Greece really is as beautiful as what you see in pictures. 
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/edamame/2/1213393500/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/edamame/2/1213393500/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/edamame/2/1213393500/tpod.html Sat, 14 Jun 2008 17:46:03 -0400 Paris and Greece

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Chania, Crete, Greece

The last island on our trip is Crete, the largest Greek island and furthest island south.  Crete is mostly known for several ancient civilizations that flourished there, each adding to the charm of the now modern cities.  We arrived in the capital city of Heraklion which was surprisingly like Athens (no donkeys here!).  People are really stylish in Heraklion and there are ultra chic cafes and restaurants which impressed us because there is nothing comparable to that in Toronto.  But then again, Crete's forward thinking isn't anything new - they are said to have had the oldest road in Europe in the anicent town of Knossos and the first flush toilet around 1900BC in the Palace of Knossos.   We took a day trip just outside of Heraklion to see the Knossos Palace Where Kings Minos lived and was home to the mythical Minotaur (half bull/half man) that was kept in a labyrinth.  It was once home to the rulers of the greatest civilization before much of their cities were destroyed at the height of their power by the Santorini volcanic eruption and subsequent tsunami.  The Palace was discovered and excavated over 100 years ago.  Many  portions have been reconstructed to give visitors an idea of what the palace once looked like.  On the one hand, it's nice to actually see buildings and rooms with copies of some of the frescos rather than just piles of rubble.  On the other hand, it seems artificial as much of the reconstruction is done using cement and then painted to give the appearance of the original materials of wood or stone.  Unfortunately, the reconstructed parts are quite obvious and really stand out, so for us it took away from our appreciation of the palace rather than added to it.  After Heraklion, we took a bus across to the western part of the island to see the smaller and quainter city of Chania.  Chania once used to be a venetian port and still retains much of its charming venetian character.  All the action is centred around the harbour that is filled with shops, restaurants, and many tall colourful townhouses now converted into hotels all vying for a view of the harbour.  We were lucky to find a room in one of these hotels - the former townhouse is 500 years old and has a rooftop patio overlooking the harbour.  The only annoying thing about the town is all the restaurant touts getting in your face when you walk by to persaude you to eat at their restaurant.  Since Chania was the last stop before going back to Athens, all we wanted to do was chill out.  We walked along the waterfront and on the seawall to get to the lighthouse and spent the rest of the time lounging at cafes (that seems to be Greece's national pastime!) and enjoying the picturesque town.  It was here in Chania that we decided we finally had to try a mixed seafood grill, and we ended up with a huge platter that included 2 big swordfish steaks. Afterwards, we tried the locally produced raki which is a very strong 40%-alcolhol digestif (after-dinner drink).  Not as nice as ouzo, but an interesting way to end a meal by doing shots of it!       We now have a 9-hour overnight ferry ride back to Athens and we're not expecting to get any sleep!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/edamame/2/1212957180/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/edamame/2/1212957180/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/edamame/2/1212957180/tpod.html Wed, 11 Jun 2008 05:38:22 -0400 Paris and Greece

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Mykonos, Cyclades, Greece

    After a six hour ferry from Athens we arrived on the island of Mykonos where we were really looking forward to some r&r.  The island is reknowned as a glitzy beach and nightlife destination for all types of people including backpackers, cruise shippers, and Greek tourists.  We stayed right in the heart of the action at the Paradise Beach Resort.  The beach here is a little different than what we were accustomed to - rather than fine white sand, the beach was small smooth pebbles.  The only worry here was the time - just to make sure we turned over every 1/2 hour when laying out in the sun!  The beach attracts a lot of Greek trendy types which included perfectly tanned "fabulous" men in tight and tiny boy shorts/speedos.  There was some free entertainment too - at the beach club were a few male go-go dancers dressed as women (even with pearls and heels).  But something we wished we hadn't seen was fully naked old men and women frolicking on the beach!  After a day at the beach, we would head into town to spend the evening and have dinner.  It was everything we imagined the Greek islands to be - a maze of narrow cobblestone alleys lined with white washed buildings decorated with brightly coloured shutters, cafes and bars along the waterfront with sunset views (serving local beer for 7Euros - about $12!!), and all sorts of shops and boutiques selling everything from little trinkets to Rolex watches, with little churches in the midst of all the glitz and glamour.   After a couple of days of fun in the sun and sand, we made a daytrip to the nearby island of Delos, one of the most sacred of the ancient Greek Sites dating back to 800BC.  Delos is considered the mythical birthplace of Apollo and Artemis and today serves as one of the most important archeological sites in Greece.  This was our first lesson in Greek history which is complex and fascinating at the same time.   We spent the day wandering among the ruins.  Although the size of the city was large, the condition of the ruins weren't preserved too well - we've seen more impressive ruins in the ancient cities of Ephesus (Turkey) and Volubilis (Morocco). We're a bit disappointed to leave Mykonos because of its amazing atmosphere but we're also excited to move onto Santorini for its beautiful landscape and views.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/edamame/2/1212533820/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/edamame/2/1212533820/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/edamame/2/1212533820/tpod.html Wed, 04 Jun 2008 18:59:41 -0400 Paris and Greece

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Paris, Île-de-France, France

Having never been to Paris together, we couldn't pass up the opportunity to experience this romantic city on a short stop on the way to Greece.  Some of the highlights of this visit included the usual sights such as the Eiffel tower, Louvre and other museums, but some of the most memorable moments were just the low key things such as strolling among the Tuliere Gardens, sipping wine with a cheese platter at a cafe on the banks of the Seine, and enjoying a dinner on the Champs-Elysee with the Arc-de-Triomphe serving as a backdrop.After four days of visiting Paris we are ready for Greece to begin the sun and sand portion of our vacation.  While we have had some amazing times checking out all the famous art pieces from world-renowned museums (we went to 5 in all and that's hardly scratching the surface), we are a little culturally overloaded!  Hope you enjoy some of the pics from our visit!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/edamame/travels-2006/1141700520/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/edamame/travels-2006/1141700520/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/edamame/travels-2006/1141700520/tpod.html Tue, 19 Dec 2006 03:35:16 -0500 Two peas in a pod take to the road to see the world.

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Capetown, South Africa

We spent the first week of our trip in the beautiful city of Capetown, South Africa. Capetown is such a cosmopolitan city that it was easy for us to forget we are in Africa. There is so much to see and do, and we were lucky to have seen most of the interesting sights including: the infamous Table Mountain that is a looming and ever-present backdrop to the city, the beautiful beaches, and the Two Oceans Aquarium where the highlight is a massive tank with several large sharks, stingrays, and other fish. We also took in some culture and history with visits to the local neighborhoods, including the Muslim Bo-Kaap area with the brightly painted houses, and a tour of the notorious Robben Island prison where Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners were jailed. The Robben Island tour was particularly interesting because all of the guides are ex-prisoners and give real life accounts of what the prison was really like.Heading out of Capetown, we visited the winery regions (Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, and Paarl), the penguin colony where hundreds of African Penguins (formerly known as Jackass Penguins for the braying noise they make) just roam about on the beach, as well as the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve which is the most south western point of Africa.Our highlights:- Clifton Beach on the Atlantic Ocean: the scenery is stunning here...beautiful white sand and blue water (it's very cold though!), big yachts just off the shore, mountains in the background with houses dotting the slopes. It seemed as if we were in the Mediterranean, not Africa!- Mont Rochelle winery in Franschhoek: this was the prettiest winery we have ever been to! It overlooks the vineyards and the valley where the town is, and you can see the mountains on the other side. The day was clear and sunny, and we had a picnic and wine tastings on their front lawn. It was a great way to spend a beautiful day. We had a great time in Capetown, a truly fantastic city that everyone should visit, but we are ready to see the REAL Africa!-- Amy
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/edamame/travels-2006/1165440180/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/edamame/travels-2006/1165440180/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/edamame/travels-2006/1165440180/tpod.html Wed, 06 Dec 2006 16:37:40 -0500 Two peas in a pod take to the road to see the world.

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Just wanted to let everyone know that we're home now. After a 13.5-hour flight from Kuala Lumpur to London, an 11-hour stopover in London (just enough time to see the National Gallery, walk along the Thames River again, and a grab a pint of ale and some fish and chips), followed by an 8-hour flight to Toronto, we are finally home. People ask us how it feels to be home - it does suck to be faced with reality again, but it also feels really good to be around familiar faces, places, and a way of life. We're still adjusting though, because some things feel weird - for example, walking around a store without a salesperson following 2 steps behind, and salespeople who accept it when we say "I'm just looking" or "Thanks, but I'll think about it". I thought that once we got home we would spend a day doing nothing but sleep and lounge in front of the tv, but we haven't done that yet. We've barely slept because we've been suffering from major jetlag, and we haven't had the time to watch tv because we've been trying to get our lives organized (one of the first things on our list - get a cellphone).The last 9 months have been a truly amazing and eye-opening experience that's given us so many wonderful memories. I'm not going to say that we 'found ourselves' because of it, but it did give us a different perspective on who we are, where we come from, and of life in general. Even though we've traveled to 23 countries, it's a big world out there, and we've only scratched the surface of it. People always ask us which place we liked most, so here is a list of what we liked, didn't like, etc.:Top 5 places we've been to:- Namibia's sand dunes- Ngorogoro Crater, Tanzania- Temple of Abu Simbel, Egypt- Everest Base Camp, Tibet- Taj Mahal, IndiaTop 5 coolest experiences:- Jungle walk in the Okavango Delta, Botswana- Game viewing in the Ngorogoro Crater- Exploring a water-filled cave on a rubber tube in Laos- Being blessed by the Panchen Lama in Tibet- Being surrounded by rats in the Karni Mata Temple, aka 'Rat Temple', in IndiaTop 5 scariest moments:- Sneaking up on a herd of buffalo in the Okavango Delta only to end up too close and almost being charged- Being threatened with "trouble" by our unofficial tour guide in Fez, Morocco who kept insisting on more money than we were willing to give- Taking a wrong way in Essaouira, Morocco and ending up in a very sketchy part of town- Crossing a scary suspension bridge in Vietnam- Running out of gas on the top of a mountain in Nepal Top 5 overrated places/things:- Morocco (ALL of it)- Camel riding in Morocco, Jordan, Egypt, India...anywhere!- The lost city of Petra in Jordan - beautiful, but not as magical as we had imagined- Going inside the Pyramids - it's hot, stuffy, and there's nothing to see- Angkor Wat Temple - it's still a must-see though, just don't go with any expectations- Phi Phi Island (post-Tsunami) - (relatively) expensive, much of it still rebuilding, and the beaches are not as nice as Phuket'sThings we are thankful for: - flush toilets- toilet paper in public toilets so we don't have to carry a roll everywhere we go- taking a shower without needing to wear flip flops- taking a shower in an enclosed tub/stall - in many countries we traveled to, the shower is in the open in the bathroom. It's hard to explain, but imagine having a shower head mounted in the middle of your bathroom (with water spraying onto the sink, toilet, toilet paper, and everything else) and the water flowing into the drain in the corner of the room.- taxi drivers who use the meter- buying stuff without needing to haggle- not worrying about whether or not the sheets you're sleeping on are clean- brushing my teeth with tap water- no flying cockroaches! - being given serviettes at restaurants - being ignored by salespeople in a store - more than one season - with the exception of Tibet, most of the places we went to were hot with varying degrees of humidity. The hottest country was Egypt, the most humid was Singapore. Call us Canadian, but we need some sub-zero temps to cool off after all the heat. - most of all, we're thankful for the cultural diversity of Canada. In most countries around the world, you are surrounded by people of one race, but in Canada, no one thinks twice about being surrounded by people of all different backgrounds. Nobody questions your nationality or ethnicity...and NOBODY questions why a non-white person speaks English so well! It's just one of the great things about Canada.If there's anything that we've learned from this trip, it's that we should appreciate what we have because so many people in the world (especially children) are happy with much less. You don't realize how fortunate you are until you've seen the other side of the world. Thanks to everyone who followed our blog over the last 9 months!!-- Ed and Amy
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/edamame/travels-2006/1153450800/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/edamame/travels-2006/1153450800/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/edamame/travels-2006/1153450800/tpod.html Wed, 06 Dec 2006 06:30:58 -0500 Two peas in a pod take to the road to see the world.

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Golden Triangle, Thailand

test
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/edamame/travels-2006/1164670560/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/edamame/travels-2006/1164670560/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/edamame/travels-2006/1164670560/tpod.html Sat, 02 Dec 2006 08:54:50 -0500 Two peas in a pod take to the road to see the world.

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia

<img src="http://images.travelpod.com/users/edamame/travels-2006.1164670560.phuk-06.jpg" width="200">We enjoyed Thailand so much on our first visit in July that we decided to squeeze in another trip to Thailand before going home. We had already been to the islands on the Gulf coast, so this time we were going to see the west coast. Ed was really looking forward to diving the Similan Islands in the Andaman Sea, which is the best dive spot in Thailand and supposedly one of the top 5 in the world. I was just looking forward to the beach! Although we had been to a couple of beaches in the last few months, we hadn't actually relaxed on the beach since our first trip to Thailand 4 months ago. Some R&amp;R was much needed, especially after more than 8 months of running around and hectic schedules - backpacking is NOT a vacation! We spent a few days in Phuket before heading out on a 3-day, 2-night live-aboard trip in the Similan Islands. The water was clear and the snorkeling was great, but the diving was better. Ed did 11 dives in 3 days, and one of the highlights was seeing a brown spotted Leopard Shark that wasn't the typical looking shark - it was beautiful and graceful and not at all scary. The snorkelers got to hang out on the main island where the King of Thailand has a cottage. The beach was insanely gorgeous and perfect - the water was so blue and the sand so white and soft, my feet seemed to melt in it! <img src="http://images.travelpod.com/users/edamame/travels-2006.1164670560.phuk-01.jpg" width="400">Besides the Similan Islands, the other reason why we decided to make a second trip to Thailand was to see Phi Phi Island which is supposed to be very beautiful. Unfortunately, I would have to say I was a little disappointed with the island overall. Because of the tsunami, everyone is trying to rebuild and make up for lost profit, which means everything is overpriced. Phi Phi Island may have been a budget destination before the tsunami, but it isn't anymore. All the hotels/guesthouses have been rebuilt really nicely, so they are charging a lot more. We paid the most here for 'budget' accommodation than anywhere else in Thailand - all the air-conditioned rooms were going for at least 1200 Baht (almost $40) and fan rooms for 1000 Baht. On such a small island we didn't have any choice, so we stayed in a nice hotel with a view of the bay, but next year the view from that hotel will be blocked by another hotel. There is an unbelievable amount of construction going on. Phi Phi Island is almost unaffordable for backpackers on a really tight budget. Oh, how we wished we could go back to $7 rooms (and $1 noodle soups) in Vietnam!We decided that there wasn't much to do or see on Phi Phi, and the beaches weren't as amazing as we expected, so after a few days we moved on to the beach town of Ao Nang, Krabi on the mainland. We came to realize that Thailand's west coast is more upmarket than the Gulf islands. We really missed the low-key, laid-back atmosphere of Koh Tao and Koh Phangan. It turned out that in Ao Nang it was actually a good thing to look/sound like Singaporeans. We went to exchange some Hong Kong dollars into Thai Baht and ended up getting back a lot more than we expected. After we left, we realized that it wasn't a mistake on our part - we looked at the exchange rates and figured out that they used the exchange rate for the Singaporean Dollar rather than the Hong Kong Dollar, giving us a profit of $100! I never thought it would pay off to be mistaken for a Singaporean! Well, we took our profit and upgraded to an air-conditioned room and Ed booked a rock-climbing trip. Ed hadn't been climbing in 15 years so he was a bit rusty, but he was able to keep up with the others in his group. The funny thing was that all the people in his group were Canadians (oddly enough, of all the Canadians we've met during our travels, we haven't met one from Toronto - the largest city in Canada!). <img src="http://images.travelpod.com/users/edamame/travels-2006.1164670560.phuk-15.jpg" width="400">At this point in our long journey, we were glad to be going home soon. We were just so tired of living out of a backpack, and of every few days gathering up all our stuff and cramming it into the bag and trying desperately to zip it up. What made things easier though is the simplicity of traveling around Thailand. They've thought of everything and anything that a tourist would need or want. After Thailand, we had to make our way to Malaysia for a brief visit before flying out of Kuala Lumpur for home. We had everything planned out in terms of transportation, but when we arrived in Thailand we found that there were pre-arranged transfers to Langkawi Island, Malaysia. Who would've thought that they would have a transfer outside the country? Just brilliant!As our last beach destination, we booked a resort stay at the ultra luxurious Westin Perdana Resort and Spa on Langkawi Island, off Malaysia's west coast. We used reward miles to book the vacation so we didn't feel guilty at all about the expense. Lucky for us, when we arrived we were told that because of some construction that was going on, all guests would receive a free daily buffet breakfast and dinner. Normally, we're not into buffets because the food isn't great, but that was not the case this time. The food was fantastic. They had everything that you could want, and more. Ed came up with the ingenious idea of splitting dinner into 2 sittings - we'd have an early dinner and then go back a couple of hours later for dessert! Ed's favourite was the chocolate fountain. I don't have a sweet tooth, but this time I had more than my fair share of desserts....which I paid for afterwards as I put on some weight! Our room was awesome too...it had a 42" plasma tv with dvd player, and a kicka*s view of the pool and ocean too. We spent 5 glorious days there, and we loved it so much that we only left the resort once. We spent the rest of the time lounging by the beautiful pool, watching movies, and stuffing our faces. We were so sad to leave. <img src="http://images.travelpod.com/users/edamame/travels-2006.1164670560.phuk-21.jpg" width="260"> <img src="http://images.travelpod.com/users/edamame/travels-2006.1164670560.phuk-17.jpg" width="260">In Malaysia, we also visited the culturally rich Penang and the quaint, historically rich town of Melacca. Our friend Lisa, who moved to Kuala Lumpur several years ago, took us to the tea plantation area of Cameron Highlands for a couple of days. Back in Kuala Lumpur, the time had come to end our amazing journey through Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. We celebrated with a 'tower' of beer! <img src="http://images.travelpod.com/users/edamame/travels-2006.1164670560.phuk-31.jpg" width="400">
]]>