Euro Travel & More

So it’s that time of the year again – where everyone is rushing to go on vacation or getting out of the cold weather into the warm.  Some of you might be going home for Christmas as well or visiting good friends in another continent.  But before you leave home with your kids especially if you are traveling with your kids – make sure you check if there is a nearby doctor or hospital and if you are staying in a hotel if there is an in-house doctor.  That’s what I do everytime I go on vacation with my kid – I remember how flustered I was when my kid had a temperature for days – and the nearest hospital was like an hour away.  Luckily the hospital was well – equipped with medical computer cart and all the medical equipments needed for x-ray and needles else I would be really devastated.   So before you go on your Christmas vacation, check if you can find medical help nearby where you are staying before leaving and take the number and address down – you never know what might come up during your vacation.

A friend who was heading up to Paris asked me where he should go eat – a must eat – in Paris and I recommended an outdoor cafe in Paris called the Au Petit Sud Quest – located at the  Avenue de la Bourdonnais.  If you can’t find your way there – check with your hotel concierge.   The prices range from $50 – $90 per person but it will be one of the best meal you’ve eaten anywhere.

What so special about this little outdoor cafe?  first you can sit indoors if you wished but I always choose to eat outside because of the beautiful scenery and all walks of people come by here.  The service is awesome and they have a very well stocked cellar in the cafe.  I loved the way they are so personable – while everyone says that in Paris – the french just don’t want to speak in other languages – but the owner of the cafe is very nice.  I speak very little french – but they were very kind to us. The best part was that they took time to explain to us about the dish and how it was cooked.  This place is about wine, duck and foie gras  and because I loved mushroom so much – they made a nice crepe with mushroom for me.  For dessert we had the creme brulee – what else!  so if you are headed out to Paris – check out this little cafe/restaurant.

Many years ago before I migrated to Canada – I used to do a lot of traveling for work – little did I know that when the spouse came to visit me in Asia – he too was not really having a vacation – he was traveling to find distributors and suppliers for his business.  Looking for gadgets, bearings , games and any electronic suppliers in Asia wasn’t easy at all, but we did walked the factory streets and went to the more remote factory distributors looking for them – not with a lot of success though.  I wasn’t prepared for all the walking that’s for sure – I was in heels, but if we were to travel for work now – it would be different altogether – for I would be wearing the best flats I can find.   So if we ever go on vacation with the spouse, you can be sure his interest is only to find distributors and suppliers for his work and not for pleasure.

We like resort as soon as we arrived, we were given a warm welcome by the front desk and shown to our rooms promptly.   Only minutes from the airport – this resort was managed by the Hilton group from what we’ve heard.  We had a whole strange of the Ocean view for watching the sunset and sunrise – additionally – there were restaurants, grill and a bar for those who wants to stay in the resort and relax.  About 10 minutes towards Kapaa, you can find beaches you can swim in – so don’t be disappointed that you don’t find one in the resort itself.

We loved the pool and since we didn’t have any kids with us – we were able to sun tan as long as we want.

Beautiful palm trees and lots of greens.

Waterfall by the pool.

Hot tubs and gym were available here – and they weren’t even crowded.

We took morning laps here before breakfast.

The rooms were nice and clean and unlike some resorts in Hawaii – this one is carpeted – I don’t like the ceramic flooring.  A free shuttle service is offered by the resort to the surrounding shopping center – and if you want to drive around the island you can – it’s pretty easy to get around. Parking was a wee bit expensive for a resort – but oh well, it’s better to have our own car since we like to venture out and check out the island.  Live music in the bar for you to end the evening and retire to bed.

A yoga retreat once a year is the best gift anyone can gift to their spouse/partner or even girlfriend and boyfriend.  The Horizon Ocean View Hotel and Yoga Center is heavenly.  The owners are very friendly and they really took care of us when we were there.  Food was great and it really revitalized us completely – I remembered telling myself that we will be back – the day we checked out.

This was our cabin during our vacation – we noticed a lot of couples and some honeymooners.

This is the tea cafe – we’ve enjoyed many daylights here.

Yoga room at the Horizon.

And our own personal pool that we dipped in a couple of times a day. The resort was huge and we were fed well – in different places every evening after our surfing classes, massages and yoga classes.  We also had horse riding sessions if we chose to and surfing was another sport we tried while we were there.  The meals were provided by the resort – you just use the meal vouchers.  This place is absolutely beautiful and definitely cheap – so cheap that I want to book my next trip even before I left.  Check out their website for more info.

So you are thinking of bringing your kids for a vacation this Christmas – but of course – you need a hotel that is kid friendly and have certain amenities for kids as well.  But you also don’t want to pay top dollars for just accommodation alone for you want to leave some spending money so that you and your kids can buy some souvenirs home right?   I can understand it completely – but do you want to just choose a hotel with a pool and pool safety fence or do you want also restaurants for them to eat in – as well as an amusement park nearby for convenience reason?  What about the rooms?  do you want a hotel to provide those free roll-in bed or a sofa bed?  yes you have to take all these into consideration.

The Westin Chosun is one of my favorite hotel when I am in Asia – not only is it reasonable in prices – it is kid’s friendly as well as very near a shopping market.

The Myeong dong market is like a cluster of shopping center together – they have loads of high end shops here – and you can shop till you drop.  I loved the street food on the Myeong Dong Market – and everything is just so cheap there.

The interior of the Westin Chosun is pretty luxurious as you can view from this picture – very much like a Japanese hotel but much bigger rooms.  The pool is an olympic size pool and you can see children playing at the children’s pool and although they do not have safety fences like the B & B’s in the West – you also will be in awe of the Olympic size pool that most western hotels do not have but definitely kid’s friendly.

My in-laws will travel to as far as USA for the bluegrass festival in their motorhome – and now that they are both retired – it’s a great opportunity for them to travel as much as they want.  With a good motorhome insurance they can go just about anywhere in the world – without worrying about anything.   I told the spouse that when our kid is grown up – we should be like his parents and travel around in a motorhome – it’s a great way to travel – but i don’t want a huge motorhome   – a medium size one is great for us and with all the comfort of home and not having to stay in crappy hotels – i loved it.  I think my in-laws like their motorhome when they travel is because they can travel the way they like and freely.

Some of the best food in Hong Kong are found on the street – someone told me before I first visited Hong Kong – that you can forgo any kind of food in Hong Kong – but you have to taste all the street food in Hong Kong.  Not only are they cheap they are darn good.  Don’t be mislead that street food in Hong Kong isn’t clean – in fact – they are just as clean – or more than the high class restaurants that you go to in Hong Kong.   I loved the curry fishballs on skewer  and the octopus on skewer – and not forgetting the siew mai on skewer and sweet chilli sauce as well.

Made of flour and eggs – this is a local delicacy – for all Hong Kongers – it’s like an afternoon snack for them.

Fried Hor Fun may not be exactly street food – but you can find them in small chinese cafe in Hong Kong – they are definitely a must try – loved their dry hor fun.  Try the ones with sambal -  it’s in a pretty high class restaurant in Hong Kong – taste different but only if you like it hot.

Polo bun is a must when you are in Hong Kong – yummy to the max.

And my favorite red bean ice dessert – also another must eat and drink.

Luna Park Sydney brings out the child in me every time I visit.  I remember watching out for new rides or new features and then planning to go there during my off days.   Luna Park is located at 1 Olympic Dr. Milsons Point, how do one get there?   It’s actually pretty easy to get there – we went from by ferry – but if you have the unlimited bus pass – that would be easy too.  It’s very near Sydney Harbor.   Like most amusement parks – you have to pay for the entrance fee and the rides – we always go for the all rides – for about $39 Aud  – I think – it may have changed now – I haven’t been back for ages.  But even an old fogie like myself loved the rides – so I don’t think the kids would have any trouble enjoying them too.

We always spend the entire day in Luna Park – and my favorite is the spin ride – not suitable for the faint hearted.  And like all amusement parks – food in the restaurants – are pretty expensive – so are the drinks.  But I didn’t mind spending the money – after all, we are there for the fun right?  But for a family of 4 – it can get really costly.

It’s absolutely beautiful at night – and any child would love to be at Luna Park.

Another all time favorite of mine is the bumper car rides – you should hear us squeal – the kids are frightened by us – hahah!  We didn’t go on the ferris wheel as we’ve been there up teem times but you get a great view of Sydney Harbor when you are up there – so check it out yourself and don’t forget the cotton candy at Luna Park Australia.

We were on a R & R mood when we stayed a few days in  Lagunas de Montebello.  Beautiful ! but darn cold to swim in it – so we didn’t – what a waste right?   I’ve always loved Mexico – and Lagunas de Montebello is one place that I want to visit again soon since the weather is going crazy here in Canada – and snow is expected soon and it’s only October.