Euro Travel & More

Yes.. this is Time Square .. as famous as the one in New York.. but not in New York or anywheres in USA. This is at Causeway Bay in Hong Kong Island. Major shopping center in it .. and offices as well.  Hong Kong Time Square is similar to the one in New York in a lot of ways.. it’s in the business district.. and of course you can expect the rent to be at its highest.  A walk around Time Square in Hong Kong on a Sunday .. actually reminds me of the CBD area back in Singapore when i had to work one Sunday. It was a ghost town.

Photo credits:  Only exclusively travel

Having dinner here with someone you love very much is very possible you know.  While many may think that it must be expensive, I think that it is worth every penny you pay.  Your personal butler and about 3 service staff just for one room, you and yours never have to wait for anything you need while here. Luxury Holidays may not be for everyone but when it comes to a honeymoon or a very special occasion then I think this island and the folks at the Le Saint Geran Mauritius can make your dreams come true.

AlthoughI liked the Le Saint Geran Maritius a lot, I feel that it is more for the business crowd and older guests.  The Le Touessrok Mauritius is more my kind of style and if you are like me you would fall in love with this place over and over again.  Truth be told I didn’t want to leave.  Did I also mention that we stayed in the Ocean Suite?  It was huge, extremely comfy and had a very, very awesome bath and shower with 2 plasma TVs and DVD players and even a Playstation (that was in 2005).

I finally got the tan I had wanted for years and the beaches were really nice, they had loungers everywhere and you got served with bottled water, lots of fresh fruits on sticks, and sorbet.  And since we don’t drink we didn’t worry too much about the wine selection even though they had a good wine list and champagne by the glass.  If you never played golf before that’s ok, just go for the cart ride, it’s an excellent way to spend the mornings; with quiet talks and whisper sweet nothings.  I cannot say how happy you will be, regardless if you want rejuvenation, a reminder of how love once felt or to celebrate an anniversary, this is the perfect place to be. As dreamy as it can get, Mauritius Island.

This large glass and metal pyramid is the Louvre Pyramid .. the entrance to the museum.  There are a few more small ones in the courtyard as well and there is an urban legend to the Pyramid too.. i heard.  The 666 panes was the talking point of many .. when we visited it, associated with “Satan” because of it’s 666 number.. it was definitely a thrill to be here.  Most tourist would choose only to visit the Eiffel Tower.. but we are definitely blessed to have co-workers.. who were so willing to show us the real stuff in Paris.

This picture of sunset at the Pyramid is a magnificient isn’t it..?  I loved it.. and wished i had another camera for it .. to take a better picture.  But of course, the museum is the biggest part of our trip, it was such a huge museum.. we didn’t managed to finish touring it at all. It was a crowded little place.

This is the inside of the Louvre and this visit to the Louvre Museum which was the first time actually makes me feel how charming Paris can be especially for someone who loves photography.. and who can appreciate paintings that are masterpieces of the world.  Paris definitely has a lot to offer and having lived in Florence for 3 months.. i wished i had gotten a chance to do so in Paris too.  But I know I would have gotten lost here.. with all the tourists that I saw during 7 days in Paris.  And I kid you not.. there were TOURISTS everywhere.

Park Hyatt, Toronto was one of the first hotels that I’ve stayed in while visiting Toronto for both business and pleasure. It is a wonderful hotel albeit abit expensive. For those not on business.. at $200 per nite per room.. it can be a wee bit costly. I usually stay for a few days.. i think 5. But Park Hyatt is conveniently located downtown, so it is walking distance to alot of places.. and shopping centers, the Royal Ontario Museum, CN Tower, Skydome, Hockey hall of fame and the famous theater district.. just as long as you do not go during the winter.

The rooms are between 300-400 sq ft and are furnished for the businessmen and women. I had a king size bed. The bathroom are very nice.. with shower/tub combination. And the room i was in was decorated in warm forest green.  Highly commendable were their concierge and reception services. Very accommodating.. and really helpful.. and they do try to make your stay as comfy as possible.. without intruding.

They didn’t have this bridge .. when I visited Macau, but Macau has definitely changed alot. They didn’t have the airport either then .. or was it no flight..?? but we took a ferry across .. and it was choppy. Macau is very much like mini – Las Vegas. Every hotel that you stay in .. has a casino, be it small one or a big one, there is one. I was in Macau for 3 days, so i really didn’t get to see alot of Macau. Almost everyone speaks in Cantonese but the people there are most Portuguese descendant. Alot of historical building.. and it does remind me alot of Madrid and the night time Macau .. is glitzy..!

One thing for sure is you have to be very carefully with buying “jewelry” like Jade because even me being an Asian.. was cheated into buying a fake “jade”. Other than this bad incident, I’ll have to say .. that it was quite pleasant to be in Macau. I was in Macau in April, so it was quite hot..but muggy.

Of course we have to visit the St Paul’s Cathedral, that was destroyed by fire and this was what was left on it. Remember the famous “Shanghai Beach” ..??? yes.. this was where it was filmed, where Chou Yun Fatt rolled down the 100 steps of the cathedral.

There were loads of Portuguese restaurants.. but nothing beats those “tai pai tong” street vendors with tables and stools.. for the best wanton noodles.. and some duck. The Hotel we stayed in was grand.. and the rooms were huge. And very much like Vegas .. it was cheap too. Lisboa hotel is in the casino strip .. and with 12 restaurants in the hotel itself, one do not need to really go out of the hotel for anything. But that would be another story to tell. For those who are planning to go to Macau, why not try the newly opened Venetian Macao, opened in 2007. I wasn’t there.. but I had friends in the press and the hotel industry who were invited for the soft opening and gala dinner. The Venetian Macao is an expensive and ambitious project spearheaded by the Las Vegas Sands Corporation.

Hong Kong’s ladies’ street is a must visit.. when you are visiting Hong Kong. It’s legendary. It’s an opened air market.. where you can find the cheapest and the largest collection of clothes, toys, handbags, electronics .. and just about anything you want you can find it here. One of the busiest place in Hong Kong. Nicknamed as Ladies’ market, it is officially called Tung Choi street. Watch out for fakes and pirated stuff.. and always bargain.. although store owners.. may not like it at all. .. and may cursed at you in Cantonese.

Operates from noon to about midnite, conveniently located near Mok Kok MTR. As a tourist, one must not missed this famous street. Buying soverniers.. and eating street food is a must try. Have fun…!

Cuba is one of the most popular destination in Canada. I’ve not met anyone in this town who haven’t been to Cuba. Hell..! the man’s uncle and his wife goes there on a yearly basis. The all inclusive is what makes this place an ideal for family and couples. Sipping mojittos all day long seems to be the thing that everyone does in Cuba. So if you don’t see some of your friends in Canada.. or USA.. you prolly can find them in Cuba.

This was in Havana

Cuban Houses definitely nothing like the resort we stayed in.. an an eye opener for me. I didn’t think houses in Cuba was so much like Asia in their 70s. The folks in Cuba were very nice. You see alot of tourist around in Cuba.. and young children to flock towards any tourist they see to get them to buy their wares. The best time to go to Cuba has to be in February when the hurricane season would be over..and the Canadian weather would be really back by now. A very light wind jacket is all you need to bring .. but knowing that you have to come back to the cold.. in a week’s time.. sure doesn’t mean that you can leave your winter clothes behind.

We stayed in the hotel mostly..and on the beach for fishing and scuba diving. Afterall, food and drinks is free from the hotel.. and you can even order room service.. when you are sitting on the beach of the hotel. It is a good thing that we don’t go explore the city that much for you will see lots of children trying to pawn their wares to you. Do not hand out money to beggars or kids on the streets. It is illegal for them to beg for money.. and even if you think you are helping the needy.. you might be just responsible for sending them to jail.

Egypt treasures fascinates just about anyone and everyone. Exploring Egypt was one of the best thing I did in my life. The weather was hot and humid.. and the bumpy ride on the camel’s back was tough.. but it was fascinating and exciting for me to see the pyramids and Sphinx that I had only read about when i was in school. There were so much to see of the ancient Egypt, this was only the beginning.

Seeing the pyramids at night.. and all the lights bouncing in the skies and onto the pyramids again while we were dining certainly was a outta the world experience.

Besides the three giants of Gizeh, more than 70 pyramids can be counted along the Nile.

Camels are the main transportation in the desert. With 72,000,000 inhabitants, Egypt represents one quarter of the population of the Arab world. The city of Cairo itself counts about 16,000,000 people.

This is the museum commonly known as the Egyptian Museum where extensive collection of ancient Egyptian antiquities in the world are housed. This is in Cairo of course. The museum’s Royal Mummy Room, containing 27 royal mummies from pharaonic times, was closed down on the orders of President Anwar Sadat in 1981. It was reopened, with a slightly curtailed display of New Kingdom kings and queens, in 1985.

Spending 4 yrs in Glasgow University was a great time in my life.  Because of my family situation, I wasn’t able to fly home every summer but only meant i was able to go places with my host family.  I didn’t stay in the hostel like most people because my mum won’t allowed it.  And one of the best thing about studying in Glasgow was the horse riding sessions i had with my host family during the summer.  I learned everything from taking care of the horses to feeding them and the english saddles they had on.  Glasgow is a place .. . i am forever grateful for.. because from Glasgow .. i traveled around the world.

I’ve been asked many a times by friends if they can bring their kids along with them when they go on their Vegas vacations and my answer is an absolutely YES!  Vegas is not only about casinos.. it has evolved into a very kids and family friendly vacation spot.  Hotels are affordable and whether your kid is into thrill rides or shopping for the gals, you can do it all here.  Don’t give Vegas a miss because it’s a misconception ..that Vegas is all about rolling dices and prostitutes.