TravelStream™ news feed for member ppattani on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/ppattani en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Thu, 15 Jan 2009 14:14:53 -0500 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ppattani/1/1231700820/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ppattani/1/1231700820/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ppattani/1/1231700820/tpod.html Thu, 15 Jan 2009 14:14:53 -0500 Pattani Family Sabbatical Trip - visiting Malaysia, Thailand, Australia and Sri Lanka

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Portland, Oregon, United States

Our trip back to Portland was uneventful but long and tiring. It took us more than 30 hours of elapsed time. We came back to gray and rainy Portland but we were very happy to be back!

This ends our blogs and we sincerely hope you enjoyed the entries. Would appreciate comments in the guest book or any blog entries.

Kalyani, Paresh, Kiran and Varun
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Colombo, Sri Lanka

We reached Colombo, Sri Lanka on early morning of Dec 29th. Our sole aim was to spend time with the family, relax and enjoy the beach and we achieved that. Weather was great - sunny, temps in 80s, and beach was walking distance away. Kalyani, Kiran, Varun and I enjoyed our walks on the beach in the morning and seeing sunrise and sunset. Of course, Grandma pampered Kiran and Varun by feeding them delicious Sri Lankan food. Kiran had a great time bonding with her cousin Kohila.
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Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Brisbane is the last stop in Australia and gateway for us to Sri Lanka. We spent just one day there and visited Australia Zoo. Australia Zoo was developed by Steve Irwin, famous Crocodile Hunter of many TV shows. As you may be aware that Steve Irwin died in 2006 of Sting Ray bite. His daughter Bindi is a star of few TV shows now. Hope you enjoy pictures from Australia Zoo.
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Cairns, Queensland, Australia

We spent Christmas in Cairns. Christmas Day was nice, sunny and warm and we drove into Rainforest in a rented car. Spectacular views in the rainforest with quite a different flora and fauna. I must say that Kalyani and I were surprised that Varun, Kiran brought Christmas gifts for us and put it under a pretend Christmas tree (a plant in our hotel room). BTW, it was quite an experience riding on the wrong (left) side of the road. Varun, Kiran and Kalyani were trained to scream at me to keep left and we managed without untoward incident in Melbourne. Varun mostly drove in Cairns because car was stick shift and he has recent experience. I am starting to make some keep left in Portland but I will get over it soon :).

Highlight of the trip to Cairns was, of course, cruise to Great Barrier Reef. Did snorkeling and Varun, Kiran also tried scuba diving. It is awesome sight just below the ocean and we saw all kinds of fishes big and small (no sharks!) and corals/fishes were awesome colors. We saw a sting ray which unfortunately killed Steve Irwin (Crocodile Hunter). Once in a lifetime must do item... We wore Lycra suits to avoid jelly fish bites and water was nice and warm. No pictures to share of underwater beauty but it is all embedded in our memories.
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Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

We arrived in Sydney on Saturday Dec 20th and departed on Tuesday Dec 23rd. We stayed with Rosie Ch'ng and Belinda Chapman. They were very gracious hosts and took us around to many places. Rosie took us also to Canberra during this trip and we saw War Memorial and Parliament.

Sydney is very interesting and beautiful city. We took various ferry rides and toured Sydney city center which included their beautiful Aquarium. We also visited Blue Mountain with Belinda and saw three sisters (like Oregon) there. Also went and saw Sydney Olympic Park at night.

Clearly highlight of our visit to Sydney was the great Sydney Bridge Climb. It has 1337 stairs, 1.5 football fields above the water, and a breath taking view of Sydney, surrounding suburbs and all the way to mountains. Of course, we could not take pictures while we were climbing but they took some pictures for us but not in digital format so cannot share. Fancy equipment to climb including radios and harnesses for safety. We climbed at night and it was beautiful - weather was good except it was windy and views were breathtaking and climb was exciting and you felt you are at the top of the world when you are up there! Highly recommended on your next visit to Sydney.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ppattani/1/1229780700/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ppattani/1/1229780700/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ppattani/1/1229780700/tpod.html Thu, 25 Dec 2008 17:05:29 -0500 Pattani Family Sabbatical Trip - visiting Malaysia, Thailand, Australia and Sri Lanka

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Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

We arrived in Melbourne, Australia on Dec 15 and stayed till Dec 20th. We stayed with Rasanayagam and Pirie family. This includes Kalyani's cousin and Puvi and his wife Saku. Also includes Tanuja, Lance and Jeshua. Jeshua is a two year old and he is very intelligent and cute. He got along very well with Kiran.

During this part of the trip we were joined by Kiran and Varun. They wouldn't miss a trip to Australia paid by parents, would they? Kiran joined us at Hong Kong on our way to Australia while Varun joined us directly in Melbourne on Dec 18th.

We also met old colleague from NEC days - Phil Tannenbaum. He is now acting CIO of Bureau of Meteorology. If you problems with weather prediction in Australia you know whom to blame :)

We visited Melbourne city center (note I did not say downtown - I am learning) several times, went to Queen Victoria market, visited a nice Animal Sanctuary and saw kangaroos, wallaby, koala bears etc. Highlight of the Melbourne trip was clearly visiting Philip Island and watching the amazing tiny Penguin parade. They would precisely at sundown come ashore and start parading (waddling) in hundreds to their little dugouts where they have their young ones. You can watch them up close but you cannot take pictures or be noisy so as not to disturb them. It was very chilly and windy and we had to sit in front of ocean to wait for them but well worth the effort. I would highly recommend this to anybody going to Melbourne.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ppattani/1/1229117880/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ppattani/1/1229117880/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ppattani/1/1229117880/tpod.html Thu, 25 Dec 2008 16:43:59 -0500 Pattani Family Sabbatical Trip - visiting Malaysia, Thailand, Australia and Sri Lanka

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Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia

From Chiang Mai we flew back to Kuala Lumpur. We were able to meet with Irene and Edward & family and Moy and Jill & family this time around in KL. Pictures from this part of trip which includes Twin Towers are included in the previous Malayasian entry.

We will be off to Melbourne, Australia on Sunday,Dec 14th.
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Chiang Mai, Thailand

From Bangkok we flew to Chiang Mai on Air Asia. Air Asia is a no frills airlines started in Malaysia by Tony Fernandes (an Indian). It now has great connections with Malaysia (e.g. Langkawi), Thailand, Indonesia. Air Asia now even flies to Melbourne and Trichi in India. It is known for delays though!

Chiang Mai is a beautiful place. Lots of nature and mountains. Great palaces and temples as well. We also went to Chiang Rai which is close to Burmese border and Golden Triangle. Golden Triangle is named such because of drug trafficking and three countries coming together - Thailand, Burma and Laos. Please enjoy pictures below.
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Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia

Arrived in Malaysia after a long trip. Soo Soon picked us up and we stayed with him. Immediately we went to beautiful Blue Mosque. Next day went to beautiful island of Langkawi. Great beaches and great hotel - Langkawi Lagoon. Would recommend this hotel - they have beautiful rooms right on the ocean. On Langkawi we went island hopping to several nearby islands, went to underground sea life facility and took a cable ride to highest point on the island. Kalyani decided to try reflexology on top of the mountain on the island! Coming back to KL we went to Seremban and stayed with Soo Guan and Choy Ha's place. We went to ancient, UNESCO designated heritage city of Melaka (aka Malacca). Some photos are uploaded.

Adding some more pictures from time we arrived back to KL from Malaysia. We met Irene and Edward, Moy and Jill during this period.
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Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok is a fun city! First day we went on a half day tour. Saw some great temples (Wat Arun) and rode on Chaophaya river. Pratulam street shopping is amazing and it was near the hotel we stayed but Chatuchak weekend market we went on Sunday takes the cake - fake watches, pet dogs, exotic food, books, furnishing, t-shirts, jeans etc. are available at dirt cheap prices. Quality is uncertain but it is fun to haggle and get a bargain...

On Sunday night we went to Ladyboy Show and did not know what to expect. I must say that these Ladyboys look pretty...

On Monday we went to Ayutthaya, world heritage city and ancient capital of Thailand. Healthy dose of temples, palace and ruins. Amazing place about 1 hour drive away - definitely worth going...

Pictures tell more than words - will leave rest to pictures.
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