Suria KLCC, Kuala Lumpur's best mall

You can’t go to KL (Kuala Lumpur) without adding in a little retail therapy to your itinerary! Residents of KL consider shopping one of their favourite things to do, in part to escape the steamy weather outside. So, do as the locals do and head to one of the many malls KL has to offer. There are so many to choose from - from the traditional that sell fake designer gear and handicrafts imported from all over South East Asia, to the glitzy high-end malls that sell the real thing, albeit at a cheaper price than their Western outlets. I’ve decided to concentrate on the Suria KLCC, which I think has the best of both worlds.



The Suria KLCC is one the most luxurious and accessible malls KL has to offer. It is situated at the base of the Petronas Towers and is opulent in design and selection. Designed over six floors, it houses hundreds of stores, restaurants, food courts, a cinema and and even has it's own art gallery. A central atrium anchors the building, and floods the mall with natural light. Luxury brands like Tiffany, Louis Vuitton and Prada dominate one level, while another show cases Malay handicrafts and arts. Western shops such as GAP, Marks and Spencer and M.A.C. are spread out across all levels.

Here are my top picks:

The best of Singapore, part 1

Boring, bland, too clean – this is how Singapore is often described. Compared to what, I ask? Sure, the streets aren’t as frenetic as say Hanoi, the nightlife isn’t as decadent as Bangkok, and you can walk down the street without touts trailing after you. But is it bland? The city-state itself is like a mini world tour; you’ve got Little Arabia, Little India, Chinatown and the colonial quarter. You can spend your days sipping kopi in one of the many coffee and teahouses, hop from one elaborately designed temple to another as you take in the city’s varying architectural styles, or visit a range of fascinating museums, including the moving Changi Museum (documenting the events and conditions in Singapore during WWII).



For kids, and big-kids alike, explore the Singapre Zoo on the Night Safari, take a break from city life and chill out in the Botanic Gardens for an afternoon, or head to the garish island of Sentosa for some theme-park fun.

Then there’s the food and shopping! Where else in the world can you pick out Malay silks and batics, heavily discounted camera and computer gear and one-off Singaporean design pieces, while taking time out to grab a laksa, egg tart and chili crab – all within a day! If you can’t tell already, I love Singapore, so I thought I’d share some of my favourite things to do in the city.

The best Thai cooking class, in Bangkok

Many people staying or traveling through Thailand often take a Thai cookery lesson. The reasons vary; some do it to bring ‘a taste of Thailand’ back home to remember their stay or to share with friends and family, others may do it as a way to get to know the culture, learn new skills or to meet like-minded traveler’s. Whatever the reason, it’s a fun, inexpensive and unique experience that’ll surely be the highlight of your time in Thailand.



The next question is, where is the best place to learn Thai cookery? A quick Google search or flip through the Lonely Planet Thailand lists the usual places like Blue Elephant, the Chiang Mai Thai Cookery School and the vast number of hotels and guest-houses offering lessons. These courses often start with a visit to the market in the morning to select the produce, then back to the establishment to cook up a few dishes, followed by a communal lunch or dinner to feast on the results. These courses are hassle-free, lots of fun and cost between 500 – 4000 baht per day.

There is, however, another cooking school that isn’t recognised in the guidebooks, but has a well-known reputation in the culinary world and expats of Thailand – the UFM Baking & Cooking School, in Bangkok. They offer intensive cooking courses that range from 1 day to 4 weeks, and are designed to teach industry professionals (chefs and restaurant entrepreneurs) as well as people who have more time (like expats) or who want to delve deeper into art of Thai cooking.

Beach getaway of Ko Samui, on the Gulf Coast

Ko Samui – tropical paradise? Maybe thirty years ago, but with the fast-paced development of the last couple of decades, the island has become more of a pleasure playground for all. As the saying goes, there’s something for everyone; upscale resorts and spas, a thriving nightlife, laid back villages and family-friendly resorts. Not to mention white sand beaches and the famous Ang Thong National Marine Park (better known as the inspiration for The Beach to Leo Dicaprio fans) just a boat ride away. So, if you’re after an easy holiday with everything you need at your fingertips (or beach chair), then Ko Samui is the perfect place to go.



With the recent devastating events taking place in Bangkok and beyond, Ko Samui is a safe retreat from the action.

Food tour of Japan, Part 1

Japanese food: California rolls, teppanyaki and tempura, right? Not even close. One of the big draw cards to traveling through Japan is the food - and not the aforementioned staples that appear in just about every Japanese restaurant outside of Japan. I’m talking about an abundant array of the freshest seafood, soups based on 300-old recipes, homemade candies and sweets carefully wrapped in layer upon layer of washi (handmade paper).



The dishes change with the seasons, and are never the same from region to region. The Japanese take the upmost pride in their cuisine, where each region specialises in cooking a particular dish or with a certain ingredient. It’s not unusual for people to travel from all over the country just to sample the best oysters (in Hiroshima). In the rural town of Obuse, kuri okowa (chestnut sweets) are the specialty. The northern city of Sapporo is famous for its jingisukan (a Mongolian-style lamb BBQ).

No matter what your budget, you can always eat well in Japan. You can feast on a kaiseki meal for a cost of up to 40,000 yen (USD 450!) in a ryokan, or slurp down a bowl of ramen for 800 yen (USD 9) at a noodle bar. Here are some of the best food finds in Japan.

Recollections of Angkor Wat, in Siem Reap

On the morning of my second day in Siem Reap I broke my foot inside Angkor Wat. I was exploring the maze of galleries and rooms inside the central complex, when I stepped into a darkened corridor, and with a pop, my foot twisted and broke between two large tiles. Long story short, I was assisted out of the temple by some extremely kind strangers and received treatment at the hospital in Siem Reap, then later on in Bangkok.

But, rather than go into a long-winded story about that experience, I wanted to reflect on my time at the temple prior to that. It was so majestic and awe inspiring, that I still treasure the small amount of time I had at Angkor Wat, and the surrounding temples. Here are some of my recollections and photos of Angkor Wat:

Staying in a ryokan, in Nikko

Traveling through Japan is exhilarating. You’ll see neon cityscapes, eclectic fashions, high-speed trains and frenzied festivals. In an instant the scene changes to mountaintop temples, zen gardens, onsens and tea ceremonies. There are so many things to do and see in this amazing country that it’s not hard to go from one site to the next without really interacting with the people, let alone immerse yourself in the culture.

If you are only in Japan for a short amount of time, staying in a ryokan is a chance to do just that. By participating in a long-held Japanese custom, it provides an opportunity to see a side of Japan that just wouldn’t be possible by staying in a nondescript hotel. For me, it was one of the highlights of my trip amongst many other memorable, surprising and bizarre moments.