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.

TGV Cinemas End 2014 With 5 New Locations Nationwide‏

OMG OMG OMG! 

It is finally happening! TGV Cinemas has finally graced my area with their presence with the opening of their outlet in the new (old) Jaya Shopping Mall in Section 14. It is reportedly scheduled to open by Christmas which means I would have an official neighborhood cinema just 10 minutes from my house before the end of the year. 

Yay! No more driving to crowded major shopping malls to catch a movie. 

Jaya is but one of five TGV Cinemas that will be opening up before the year end. The first to open will be in Bukit Mertajam and Miri as their first foray to East Malaysia on Dec 18 and followed by Kulaijaya, Seri Manjung and Jaya by Christmas. 

Nanny's Pavilion, KLIA 2

KLIA 2 has become a food mall of sorts with so many things to do and eat in comparison to its predecessor, LCCT. I no longer dread going to the airport early for check-in, instead now I planned to be there early simply to allow me time to explore the newly built shopping mall airport.

And explored I did before I flew off to Bangkok earlier this month until I found myself standing in front of a quint spacious eatery that screams traveler and hipsters in every sense. Nanny's Pavilion looked nothing like a nanny's child daycare nor does it look like a pavilion. Instead it looked very much like a traveler's lounge. Literally.