Bangkok 2014 - Khrua Nai Baan restaurant, 94 Soi Langsuan Rd

Khrua Nai Baan restaurant along Langsuan road was my father's favourite dining spot when he was based in Bangkok and I guess that love rubbed off on his daughters as we could not resist visiting Khrua Nai Baan on our recent Dec 2014 trip.

True to its translated name (Home-cooked) Khrua Nai Baan serves up home-cooked Thai dishes with a Chinese flair, giving most of its dishes a familiar flavour with the added Thai kick. The restaurant is located in a house-turned-restaurant and its many rooms upstairs offers privacy for diners. You can also opt to eat on the balcony overlooking the parking area.  

Bangkok 2014 - True Love Husky Cafe

Cat cafes are a dime a dozen in many Asian countries but a dog cafe that specializes in the well-being of huskies are hard to come by. Fortunately Bangkok has one such a husky cafe called True Love cafe, founded and managed by former husky breeders, Neverland Siberians.

True Love cafe was the main reason why I visited Bangkok this time round. There are two or three slots a day at the cafe (except Monday) and reservations are highly recommended. I made my reservations a month prior to the visit via email with cafe owner Choty.

Travel 2014: 5 Countries in a Year

Yes, it's that post. That last post of the year, the post that recaps the year. That post. 

 

Because, truth be told, 2014 has been a good year for me - wanderlust-wise. With everything that has been going on at posting time, it may seem insensitive but it has made me grateful that I got to travel safely and got to experience what I did in five different but distinctively beautiful countries.

Not as many as some people who have jetted to seven countries in a span of 12 months (I am looking at you, mom!) but still a feat for me who is used to traveling once or twice a year.

Comic Fiesta 2014: My Highlights

Comic Fiesta 2014 has come and gone as it always had in the past many years. The past two days on the last weekend of December, of 2014 came to a close with its usual flourish of cosplayers, bands, anime designers, artists and of course, the fans. 

Thousands of them. 

Bangkok 2014 - Som Tam Nua, Siam Square Soi 5

The famous Som Tam Nua restaurant in Siam Square Soi 5 was the first place we hit upon reaching Bangkok. After checking in at Lub D, we headed to Siam Square by foot since it was just across the main intersection and is accessible via the elevated walkway. 

Even though it was only about 5pm when we came across Som Tam Nua in Soi 5, there were several groups of people inside, munching happily on the colourful variety of Thai dishes on their tables. The clientele was a mix of local and foreign visitors, indicating Som Tam Nua's popularity which is further contributed to by the restaurant winning CNNGo.com's Best Eats 2010 awards. I've heard that at peak hour, a queue forms outside the restaurant hence our decision to have a early dinner.

Gold Coast 2014: 6D5N Itinerary

So to share with what is possible and recommended to do in Gold Coast, here is my itinerary for a 6D5N Gold Coast trip and the accompanying posts.

Day 1: Arrival 
10am - Breakfast at  Piccolo
11am - Check in to Grande Florida Resort Apartment
1pm - Harbour Town for lunch and shopping
5pm - Cruising through Surfers Paradise
Free and easy at apartment

[Guest Post] Bohol, Philippines 2014: Things to Do in Bohol

Elie's back and this is her last post about Bohol. Not her last post on this blog I hope. If you have any questions about Bohol, Philipines, feel free to drop it in the comments below or hop on over to her blog at Shneep's Corner for more of her exciting adventures.

~.~.~.~.~

It’s me again! I hope you guys haven’t gotten bored of me because I haven’t finished up on my adventures in Bohol so let’s cut the chase and get onto pace. (Yes, I worked hard on that!) We often question of the things to do regardless the country we’re in and I always believe that there isn’t a better way to know than to read what others have to say which is why I have compiled the top 6 things you should do when you’re in Bohol!

STEP INTO THE PAST

You’ll be amazed how much of Bohol is still kept the way it is from thousands of years ago what with structures such as churches, houses and other build ups still standing strong today. While some buildings have unfortunately been ruined from the earthquake that hit Bohol in October 2013, the locals; or the Boholanos as they address themselves; are making great effort in bringing it back to perfection.

Ordering from FoodPanda: A Beginner's Guide

We, Malaysians take our three daily meals very seriously. And yet, come meal time, most of us find it difficult (especially for those working) to drag our lazy bums to the car, turn on the engine, abandon your perfect parking spot, brave the infamous Malaysian traffic, pick a place to eat, find a parking spot at said eatery, find a place to sit in said eatery, pick what to eat, order, wait for your food to arrive, eat, pay, leave, brave the infamous Malaysian traffic (yet again), find a parking place (because your previous spot was taken up by someone else) and return to work. 

Wow, I got exhausted just typing that out.

Okay, that's basically the dilemma I find myself wrestling with at work everyday. In the end, I usually end up tapauing the same food from my Malay food auntie in my office block. On very rare occasions, I'd prepare my own lunch at home. Emphasize on very rare.

I could do delivery order but let's face it. The usual options would be fast food and pizza which aren't exactly meal one would want to eat everyday.

Of course, all of these was before I came across Foodpanda thanks to a campaign by the Butterfly Project Malaysia (FB here)

Holy crap, I will officially never have to leave my office for lunch anymore! Much excitement!

Eat Me Dessert Club, Telawi Bangsar

I love my desserts. Those who know me will tell you that I would move heaven and earth for desserts. And if there is one dessert that I absolutely and truly love, it would be creme brulee. Creme brulee and Project C's Teh Tarik cheesecake are probably the only two desserts I would willingly toss aside all diet plans for. 

And it just so happened that a new dessert parlor has opened up in the ever busy food hub of the Bangsar Telawi and it offers, perhaps, one of the best creme brulees I have ever tasted. But before I drive into depth how lovely the desserts are, let me introduce this magical dessert place. It's called Eat Me Dessert Club (wah, sounds so exclusive...) and it's right next to and affiliated to the famous Killer Gourmet Burger (KGB) in Bangsar.

Bangkok 2014 - Lub D hostel, Siam Square

On my previous trips to Bangkok, I have had the privilege of having a working parent located there and that meant free accommodation at fancy serviced apartment and for a brief time period, a driver to drive us around the city. 

Fast forward three years later, said parent has returned back to Malaysia and I have not visited Bangkok since. Well, until recently, when I had an insatiable urge to revisit the city. And also to visit a  husky cafe there *insert excited scream*

Anyway, without a luxury apartment waiting for me, it fell to me to find a place to stay in Bangkok. Fortunately my trip to Japan has turned my preference towards hostels as a means of a budget accommodation and after asking around amongst friends and family, I opted for Lub D, Siam Square (www.lubd.com) for my 5D4N trip to Bangkok in December 2014.