Typically, having an agenda for a holiday trip is good. And when it is a self-planned trip, it is all the more important. Our overall agenda is rather ambitious as it covers seven to ten places per day. However, we have not been able to follow through with our plan since our arrival. Hahahaha.
After the delayed departure from KLIA, our Day Two agenda was in disarray. We had to adjust accordingly, and Day Three was affected too. So, are we upset? Funnily, no.
It has been very chill and at our own pace. Day Two was an impromptu plan, discovering Kyoto Station itself and the surrounding area from our hotel. And what was supposed to be Day Two became the agenda for Day Three. Being flexible was best.
So for Day Three, we spent the whole day at Arashiyama strolling along with no urgency despite covering only three points of interest: the Bamboo Forest, Tenryuji Temple, and Togetsukyo Bridge.
Honestly, the shops lining the streets were more interesting, and I had a great time browsing in them. The two Snoopy shops had me excited like a kid in a candy store! Hahaha. It was a good day of sights, eats, purchases, and experiences. Overall, the crowd was not too huge, the Matcha drinks and ice cream were heavenly, the sights were impressive, and the walking pace was manageable. But the weather was a mix of conditions. When it became too hot, I used my umbrella for protection.
Our Matcha being preparedDrinks and food of the dayThe dinner spread
Day Three ended with 9.97km covered, a cold draft beer, and a hearty meal to wrap it up. Let’s see how we adjust our plans for Day Four.
We often use this colorful Hokkien dialect phrase – luak kaw gong, when describing eating something spicy beyond one’s tolerance. It directly translates to ‘spicy until stupid’ because the spiciness hits you to the core, and you go numb and see stars.
Over the weekend, I flew to Bangkok with my two girls for an impromptu trip, and it was a much-welcomed escape! M1 had planned the trip for a fan meet-and-greet event with some Thai TV stars, and both M2 and I decided to tag along for fun.
Hello Bangkok (again)!
And fun it was! It was leisurely-paced without a packed schedule like our trip here last year. Food is always an adventure, especially Thai food! On this trip, we tried various choices, from 7-Eleven quick-to-go meals to food hall and street food, and the gastronomic discoveries were delightful, albeit spicy. Shopping was the other thing on the agenda.
Dinner on Friday night was at Zaozen Artisan Noodles in Siam Paragon Food Hall. The Pork Bone Broth soup was an unexpected killer. Laden with bird eye chili and more chili, the first careful slurp of the steaming hot soup packed quite a punch. The Pad Thai and Lao Salad with Grilled Pork Neck were equally flavorful and bearable. But the fiery soup was nothing compared to dinner on the second night.
Top left: Pad Kra Pao at the airport; Top right: Zaizen, bottom right: leftover chili from the Pork Bone broth; Bottom left: Killer noodles
When M1 went to her event on Saturday evening, it was just M2 and me to explore. We decided on Thai Boat Noodles for dinner after a foot massage and exploring Siam Square, and this was where the earlier mentioned phrase applied. I was punched in the mouth with the spicy level, and we had asked for the medium level, thinking it should be safe. The bowl of noodles was not a lot, probably two mouths full, but the chili. Hot damn!
Typically, my tolerance is quite good, but this time I was numb. My lips felt swollen, and I could not go on. There were no tears, but I was floored and saw stars! Indeed, I was struck by the spicy until stupid. It’s funny to point out that M1 saw human stars live on stage while I saw stars in my vision from my dining experience! Hahahaha.
It took some time before I recovered. I had to suck on ice cubes constantly after that to douse the fire! Who would have thought a petite bowl of noodles could be so devastating?
The last time I was in this predicament was also in Bangkok with hubby ages ago, and it was a Som Tam dish. One must remember that when in Thailand, a medium spicy level may not be what you think is safe despite having an above-average tolerance.
A safer choice: burgers from Shake Shack. The Pandan Sticky Rice shake was too much though. Burp…
So, for the next meal at the airport, I requested for my Pad Kra Pao to be less spicy, yet the oomph was still there. I shudder to think what normal would taste like. I did not relish being numb and seeing stars again before flying.
The short getaway ended too soon. The three days of lovely, cool weather with low humidity were perfect for walking outdoors without breaking out in sweat and feeling sticky. Although it is now January, Christmas decorations are still up inside the malls and along their perimeters outside. They are a delightful sight to see.
Bangkok will always be a favorite destination for food flavors, shopping choices, creative decorations, and, of course, pristine golf courses. I look forward to another trip to this vibrant city again!
It is always wonderful to be back home after a holiday. Japan was enjoyable, but home is where the heart is. On the last day at the airport, while waiting for the check-in counters to open, I overheard a tour group leader telling her entourage they would need three days to recover from the trip.
Three days?! Wow. If this is true for an hour’s time difference, no wonder I take longer to get over my jet lag when I return home from countries with time zones that are more than an hour. However, I don’t recall needing such length to recover when I returned from Bangkok, Hanoi, or Jakarta this year. Hmm. Recovering from golf trips and non-golf trips could be different.
We departed from Narita International Airport on Friday at 10.30 pm with good memories and touched down at KLIA the next day at 5.00 am. Whether I liked it or not, the next few days were a blur, and I felt like a sloth. So yes, I did take three days to recover. Dang! The lady was correct.
Homeward bound!
How fast the holiday went by! Japan was fascinating, fun, and enjoyable. We lucked out with substantial savings for our flight tickets and a good travel deal when we signed up for the Omakase package to Japan, where we didn’t have to follow a fixed itinerary but customized to our preferences.
We had a comfortable MPV and a driver to drive us around to see what we wanted to see, stop to buy things if something caught our eye, and eat whatever we fancied. There were places we spent longer than intended, but our driver patiently waited for us. Such is the beauty of customizing a travel package.
The weather was excellent, contributing to our enjoyment for the first few days. Rain was predicted only for the last two days, but it never happened. Eventually, it did rain when we were already on the aircraft, ready for departure!
Now that the family holiday and recovery are over, it is back to routine, and I’m happy to be home until my next trip!
I have to say Japan is fascinating and fun! Our adventure did not start well, but I’m not complaining.
We woke up at 4.00 am because our ride to the airport was coming at 5.00 am to have us arrive four hours before departure to avoid unnecessary hiccups. The queue to check in was not too long because we arrived early. So that’s good.
After checking in, we decided to have a McD breakfast. However, the ordering kiosk was down. We had to walk further down the terminal to its other outlet. It wasn’t the best tummy filler, but something light was better than nothing.
The wait was typical, likewise the routine. I got padded down the front and had to remove my Blundstone to send it through the X-ray machine. The rest of the family did not encounter this. Maybe it’s boots versus sneakers that was the reason.
Boarding was routine also, but upon strapping down, an announcement stated that we had to wait for half an hour before being cleared for take-off due to heavy traffic. Promptly after half an hour, MH70 sped down the runway of KLIA, and we were Japan-bound! Yay.
I had fish with potatoes for my on-board meal
We arrived on schedule at Narita International Airport. The airport is huge! It took us forever to walk upon disembarkation to get to the immigration counters. The queue was very long, but everything was so efficient and fast, it’s impressive.
Pokémons welcomed us at Narita!
Our checked-in luggage was out without having to wait, and we waited for our transport to pick us up to send us to our hotel. Our adventure has finally begun!
I love my Blundstone boots, and this is my second pair. Like the first pair, this pair had a change of sole. Hydrolysis occurred on the soles, disintegrating them to smithereens as the boots were left unused for a long time.
Despite this change, the current pair of boots are still comfortable. I would wear them daily if I had the chance. However, the weather at home is not suitable for such footwear. So, I only wear my Blundstone when I am off for a holiday at a cold climate destination; hence the motto “Have boots will travel.”
Where are we off to this time? Tokyo, Japan! Whee. Tokyo reminds me of my college days, dinosaur years back when I had to layover at Narita International Airport for my flight for a few hours before continuing the journey. But technically, I cannot say I have visited Tokyo because I never left the airport to see the city. Back then, there were no Blundstones as well. No Blundstones, no travel. Hahaha.
I look forward to experiencing the city during this holiday. There will be a lot of walking, but I’m not worried because I have my comfortable Blundstone boots! We fly tomorrow morning. Happy travels to us!
Last Thursday, hubby and I flew to Jakarta with 58 other golfers from our club for an Interclub golf game hosted by Jakarta Golf Club. It was fun returning to Jakarta again for golf, having been there only last year in August. However, the experience this time from the beginning was not so fun.
It started with a retimed flight from 1.00 pm to 1.40 pm. We did not reschedule our transport pick-up time since it was only a forty-minute delay. However, when we were on our way to KLIA2, messages in the group chat alerted us that the flight had been retimed again to a 5.00 pm departure! Oh no.
Thankfully, a friend who arrived early managed to negotiate for eight of us to take the earlier flight. Phew, all worked out well, and before we knew it, we arrived safely in Jakarta. And this was when the logistics became a nightmare.
One group was flying in at a different time on Batik Air, the same terminal, but another group on Malaysia Airlines arrived later and at a different terminal. The final group on AirAsia (the flight we were supposed to be on) arrived at the latest, but we did not have to wait for them.
The long wait we had to endure was not the end when everyone from the Batik Air and Malaysia Airlines flights came on board, save the last batch, but the bus ride to Karawang for our first two games was another long journey before arriving for a late dinner and check-in.
Spicy, spicy dinner
There are plus sides, however. We had a police outrider to ensure we didn’t get caught in traffic, dinner at Cabe Ijio was spicy but delicious, and the hot shower made up for all the missteps. What a start to golfing in Jakarta!
The last time we traveled was in November 2022 for M2’s graduation. Immediately after that trip, I went to Bali with my high school friends for an all-girls getaway. And no more trips abroad for several months until the travel bug bites.
This morning, hubby and I flew off to Jakarta for golf, our first time here, as it has always been Bangkok, Thailand, as the preferred destination. Exciting is the word for this escapade with a group of golfing friends.
The last time I came to Jakarta, I was just a little kiddo. So yeah, it was dinosaur years ago. And I cannot recall anything about that trip. It’s okay, for I’ll have a new adventure this time.
It has been a long day, and I look forward to the coming games.
Sometimes when we return from a hectic vacation, we need to go off on another one to recover from the trip. And I did just that!
We reached home almost midnight after touching down in KLIA. The eight-hour layover in Doha was too long. And when we got home, everyone was so tired. But I wasn’t jet lagged, or I couldn’t feel it, even though I did not sleep much for the last 20 hours of traveling.
I was like an Energizer bunny, unpacking and clearing stuff away. But on Saturday, I flew off again with my girlfriends to Bali for a break to recuperate from the UK/Ireland trip.
Although Saturday was a big day for Malaysia, being Election Day, I did my part and then left. So this break is a break from writing and sharing and will return to routine after a week.
It was gloomy when we arrived in Dublin. Our RyanAir flight was delayed a bit due to the weather. But no further delay in clearing immigration and getting the bags. Our prearranged transport was right there waiting for us.
The chatty, friendly driver kept us entertained with his Irish hospitality during the ride. Before we knew it, we were at the doorsteps of our hotel!
This city center hotel is much more comfortable than the one in London. More spacious and thoughtful in terms of essentials like USB ports and plug points at each bedside!
Thoughtful touch at each bedside
After settling down, we went out in search for food and ended up at a pub. I am not a Guinness drinker, so I opted for an Irish lager. I have never had a beer that had such a big beerhead. My Rockshore lager was divine! Our pub grub was very satisfying. Lots of potatoes, which should not be a surprise as Ireland is the land of potatoes!
It was drizzling but windy, with gusts up to 34km/hour! Our driver had advised us earlier not to bring out the umbrella because I would end up fighting for the umbrella’s life. It was certainly good advice to follow.
Both hubby and I also changed our berets to beanies because the berets will fly off in the wind! So different from London. With rainy, windy, and chilly conditions ahead, our plans may change to suit the weather. We shall see.
After months of planning, we will be traveling soon! I have mixed feelings about the journey because of the traveling hours but not so much of the destination. Despite the relaxation of Covid precautions for travel in most countries, I’m not sure I want to be on a plane without a mask. We shall see. After all, it is for our safety and to start the holiday on a healthy note.
So it’s time to pack and get the mindset ready for the impending trip! Stay tuned to follow our adventures.
Angieneering 
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