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Toscana Valley Country Club

30 Aug

It was a restless night; the bed was comfy but the pillows were not. Not my pillow type I guess. Every hour I woke up, in the end I gave up sleeping and got ready for breakfast.

Breakfast was good. My typical style, it was enough to fuel me for our impending game. By eight sharp, our driver came and we were on our way.

The drive to Toscana was like going through Europe. We pass places with names like Lucerne, Kensington, some chateau and even some winery towards Toscana.

The golf club setup is very European. Peppered with houses on its hilly terrain, it looked challenging. Great course, it was pleasant and with the strong wind and cloudy skies, the outing was indeed enjoyable.

   
   

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Not Typically Thai

29 Aug

Our first night in Khao Yai and where did we go for dinner? Khao Yai Cowboy Steak House! Hahahaha…

We picked all three choices from the recommended list. Although not the most authentic in Thai flavors save for the fish and Singha, dinner was actually good.

The accompanying chili was explosive. A little dip in it with the pork knuckle was enough to put the mouth on fire!

Glen Campbell was belting out the ‘Rhinestone Cowboy’ over the speakers then Dolly and Kenny came on before the band members came on stage to prepare for their live performance. Hard to believe we are in Khao Yai.

We are calling in the night early. Tomorrow, let the golf begin!

   
   
  
  

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Yes, Thailand Again

29 Aug

I didn’t want to bore with the usual humdrums of the trip. Yes, we are in Thailand again but not in Bangkok city itself but at Khao Yai. I thought for a change, it would be nice to be away at a different destination that offered the same things we enjoy but a different surrounding.

This is my second time in Khao Yai, a first for hubby. The last I came here, I was with a big group of golfers and thoroughly enjoyed the several golf courses. I decided hubby should enjoy the area as well, hence the choice.

Unlike Bangkok, Khao Yai is less crowded but with equally excellent golf courses. My last two days at work was rather busy to the point I was semi-stressed while hubby is always stressed. So the timing of this trip is good for the soul and for us to destress.

There was a half hour delay in departure resulting in us arriving an hour late. But we cleared immigration and got our bags rather fast. The two plus hour journey from the airport to the hotel was rather smooth. Although the day started early, I am not that tired, I just can’t wait to tee off!

The hotel, Botanica Khao Yai is a five star resort. Lovely, intimate and totally indulgent, our room comes with a private plunge pool. A bit different from our usual golf trips, well, once in a while, we should reward ourselves. I live by the philosophy ‘work hard, play harder’.

We go for an early dinner tonight.

   
 

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Where are We Going?

29 Aug

We left the house early this morning to avoid any delays as this is a long weekend. Who knows? The roads may be clogged and the airport check-in line may be miles long. Well, none of these happened; we got to the airport in 45 minutes and the feared long line was non existent. Phew!

It comes as no surprise that we will be heading to our favorite country again for our Alphabet Trip. Since we arrived early, we are enjoying the privileges of the Premium Lounge before our flight at 12.20pm.

The fun begins!

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Our Alphabet Trip

28 Aug

Our wedding anniversary is coming up soon. During the significant milestones, we make it a point to go off somewhere to celebrate and rekindle the romance. Sounds corny I know but necessary for the soul and that’s how it works. Away from our daily routine, away from the mundane and away from the stress.

I call this our ‘Alphabet Trip’. 

A to admire, B to buy, C is ‘see’, D to drink, E to eat, F* to… well, you get the idea.

There was one year hubby got the anniversary year mixed up. Thinking it was the 15th year milestone, he planned our trip to Italy covering Rome, Florence and Venice. We visited museums, admired beautiful architecture, ate and drank a lot and basically, did the whole alphabet routine.

The following year, when it was the actual 15th anniversary and realizing the mix up, we decided to do another trip and basically covered the alphabets again. It was from this trip to Sydney that I bought my Blundstone boots.

The years that followed were ‘insignificant’ years, so we didn’t do anything special or planned anything grand. This year, the 20th wedding anniversary is coming up!

OMG. Where did time go? 20th milestone. No wonder there has been an increase in white hair count, M1 has gone off to university, M2 turned 14 but going on 18 and perspectives on life has changed. But these are good accomplishments save for the white hair count, that can’t be good.

We will be making a trip and decided to extend the alphabet to include ‘G’. For golf. It should be an awesome time.

Here’s to many more milestones together. Happy anniversary to us!

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Whale of a Time

2 Jun

M1 went whale watching several weeks back! How exciting. When she first saw this weekend activity listed and told us about it, I insisted that she must go. It is a very good experience.

I must say whale watching is on my bucket list of things to see/do. And actually, I have gone whale watching before only that the whale didn’t look like a whale and I didn’t have a whale of a time, pun intended.

It was donkey years back and I was in New Zealand, traveling with a girlfriend from my high school days. For this trip, we did only the South Island and one of the highlights was to Kaikoura. It was touted as THE destination for whale watching. We both decided to go for this experience.

I remember the quaint coastal town was typical of many coastal towns, full of tourist attractions, restaurants and souvenir shops. We had lunch at a seafood restaurant and I had something light while my friend had clam chowder.

After lunch and a stroll along the shops, it was time to head out to see the whales. So exciting! But when we got there, we were told that the waters were too choppy and it was not safe to go out on the boat, furthermore we may not spot any whales. Instead we were given the option to fly in the tiny Fokker 9-seater plane. At an additional cost! Did we have a choice at that point? To come so far and this? 

So we climbed into the plane. The pilot was friendly. I remember he climbed up to 150 feet above sea level and doing big circles in the air, trying to spot a giant below. The minute he spotted one, he did an abrupt sharp turn and tried to dip slightly lower so that we could all have a decent view of the whale. But he said we should not go any lower as the engine sound will scare it off and it would go under, rendering his efforts unfruitful then.

It was rather nauseating. Every time, he maneuvered the plane in dizzying little circles, my tummy churned. When I finally did see the whale, it looked more like a four-inch squid than an actual whale! 

I was disappointed and semi-nauseous. My friend was disappointed and totally nauseous. With the whale watching experience ending like this, I decided not to strike it off my bucket list yet until I can see the real thing, closer perhaps and at a less nauseating pace.

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Where Shall We Go?

25 May

The mid-term school holidays are coming up and this will be the first time, if we decide to go somewhere, it is just the three of us.

The last time the family traveled together, prior to M1’s leaving for university, was to Bangkok, Thailand. It is weird to plan now. Where shall we go?

Bangkok? Again? We were just there. Bali? Nah… Been there. Hong Kong? Too hot. London? Certainly not. Singapore? Hmm…

For every destination that comes to mind, M2 would have a comment and we feel incomplete without M1 around. Maybe we should just stay put and enjoy the comforts of home.

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One Track Mind

11 May

It was a quirky conversation after dinner. The night before we left for Tawau, Sabah, M2 sounded envious that we were going away again.

Out of the blue, she declared, “Let’s go to Your-rope!”

“Your-rope?” I raised my eyebrow, “you mean Europe.” I was emphasizing the “you” instead of “your” in the pronunciation.

“No, Your-rope,” she reiterated.

I was intrigued, “Why? Don’t you want to go to USA instead to visit your sister?”

“I’ve never been to Your-rope.” Ahh. I’ve been enlightened.

“I know,” I replied her. But before I could go on, she blurted out, “London! But you’ve been there.”

I nodded.

“Paris! Hmm… You’ve been there too. Rome? Been there! See? I am replying for you to me! You’ve been to all these places and I have not,” she said.

“Well, you’ve been to the good places starting with the letter ‘S’,” I pointed out to her, “Singapore, San Francisco and Sydney but Sydney doesn’t quite count cos I was four months pregnant with you.”

Silence.

“Let’s go to Your-rope!”

“When you are older, ok?”

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Stalled 

7 May

Going away was good and bad. Good because of the company, golf and food. Bad because wifi connection was quite a hassle, therefore communicating with both M1 and M2 was sparse, what more playing my virtual games online. We had to log in daily and each time only one device was allowed. Phone or iPad? Hassle indeed.

The week before the trip to Tawau, I made much progress for my virtual games but was stalled at Level 908 for Candy Crush and at Level 737 for Farm Heroes. And for Candy Crush Soda, issues cropped up while in Tawau.

I made it to Level 345 on the iPad but not on my iPhone. As wifi was such a hassle, I couldn’t move on and my devices were not in sync. When I finally managed to solve this, taking turns to log in my devices, I was appalled to find that the app was not updated! Either way, I was stuck and it was most frustrating.

Now that I am back, I am at my games with a vengeance. Candy Crush is now at Level 914, Candy Crush Soda at Level 351 but Farm Heroes is still at Level 737. Bummer.

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Where Did You Go Again?

5 May

Last night we got home by 11.00pm and M2 was not asleep. So it was good to have a little catch up with her.

“Where did you go again, Mommy?” she said.

“Tawau, Sabah.” I replied her.

“Oh.” Then a longer one, “Oooohh…” as it dawned on her.

In her world of her own to be on the internet without constant supervision and my telling her wifi is sparse, it looks like she has been oblivious to where we have been the last four days!

“I thought you went to Bangkok again!” she sheepishly admitted.

“Haha… Did you wanted the Rolls Royce again?” I pulled her leg.

“Err, no. I found a new car and thought of asking you to get it instead!”

She never cease to amaze me.

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