Switzerland - Lucerne

Lucerne, the gateway to central Switzerland. Unquestionably one of Europe's most charming cities, Lucerne also has the added virtue of stunning lakeside and mountain sceneries on its doorstep.

Chapel Bridge

Complete with gable paintings, the covered, medieval Chapel Bridge forms the centrepiece of Lucerne’s townscape and is considered to be one of the oldest, covered wooden bridges in Europe. The Bridge is made with wood and was built in 14th century as a protection for the city. Unfortunately the bridge burned down on 18th August 1993. Within a few months it was rebuilt. The tower used as oubliette is still in original condition.

Jesuit Church

The Jesuit church dating from the 17th century is regarded as Switzerland’s first sacral Baroque building and the twin towers of the Hofkirche form an integral part of the townscape.

Lake Lucerne

Lake Lucerne, the scenic beauty of the lake can be discovered on the many different cruises offered by paddlewheel steamers and motor vessels.

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We took the steamboat from Lucerne to Vitznau and then the cogwheel train up to "Rigi-Kulm" for the marvelous panoramic view. From there, we took  the cable car to Weggis and back to Lucerne by boat. It was a good half day tour. The view is worth every single cent. It's very difficult to describe the beautiful scenaries with words. Have to see it to appreciate it's beauty :)

We end our visit to Lucerne with a traditional Swiss dinner at Stadtkeller. We arrived early and thus we missed the traditional Swiss folklore dancing but we ate cheese fondue (they serve them all year long) and air dried beef for dinner.

Belgium - Ghent

From Paris, we flew to Brussels, then to Ghent for work. Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. In a unique way, the beautiful Ghent has managed to preserve its medieval power while keeping up with the times.

Ghent has a string of superb Gothic buildings and a bevy of delightful, intimate streetscapes, where antique brick houses are woven around a skein of narrow canals.

The hotel (Harmony Hotel) where we stayed is situated in the heart of Ghent,  in a neighbourhood called 't Patershol, the oldest neighbourhood of Ghent. It has the perfect view of the canal. There are boat rides to see Ghent which I'm sure is a relaxing way to take in Ghent's beauty. Unfortunately, I did not have the time to do so :(

Castle of the Counts

Not far from the Graslei arises the Castle of the Counts, once the medieval fortress of the Count of Flanders.

Castle of the Count was built by Count Philip of Alsace at the point when he found himself at war with Picardy in northern France. It was built based on the ideas of the castles he had seen of his fellow crusaders.

St. Bavo's Cathedral

St. Bavo’s Cathedral houses an impressive number of art treasures: the baroque high altar in white, black and red flamed marble, the rococo pulpit in oak, gilded wood and marble, a major work by Rubens, the ‘Calvary Triptych’, attributed to Joos van Wassenhove, alias Justus van Gent, tombs of the Ghent bishops, and much more. However, one work stands out head and shoulders above the rest: the world-famous Adoration of the Mystic Lamb painted by Hubert and Jan van Eyck around 1432.

Saint Nicholas' Chruch, The Belfry
 & St. Bavo's Cathedral

The Belfry is the proudest symbol of the city’s independence. In a euphoric Brabant Gothic style, this monument glorifies the industry to which the city owes so much. At the corner of the Cloth Hall is an old jailer’s lodge.

The Belfry is the middle of the famous three-tower row, together with the Saint Bavo’s Cathedral and the Saint Nicholas’ Church.

The visit to Ghent is for work and did not really have the time to do the tourist thingy. Only had the opportunity to see these attractions from the outside, late in the evening. Am really glad, the visit was in summer when it's still very bright past 9pm. I'm sure I'll have the opportunity to visit Ghent again and have more time to be a "tourist" :)

France - Paris

Work took me (my first trip) to Paris, France. Should I say unfortunately or fortunately, not much work was done in Paris and ended with some time for sightseeing.

Paris, the cosmopolitan capital of France has the reputation of being the most beautiful and romantic of all cities. Dubbed the City of Light (la Ville Lumière) and Capital of Fashion, it is home to the world's finest and most luxurious fashion designers and cosmetics.

My trip to City of Light, started at Saint Denis which is 10km north of centre Paris. Could not get any reasonably priced hotel downtown as there was an air show and music event during our visit.

St-Denis Basilica

Saint Denis is home to The Basilica of Saint Denis, notable for its Gothic architecture and the burial site of the French monarchs, making it comparable to Westminster Abbey in London. The Gothic structure that stands today, begun in 1136 by Abbot Suger and was not completed until the end of the 13th century. The church is an architectural landmark, part of which is considered to be the first major structure built in the Gothic style.

Continuing my exploration on Avenue Des Champs Eylsees...first stop, Arc De Triomphe (Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile), one of the most famous monuments in Paris.

Arc De Triomphe

Arc De Triomphe honours those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and the Napoleonic Wars. Inscribed on its inner and outer surfaces are the names of all the French victories and generals.  Beneath its vault lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers from World War I.

From the Avenue Des Champs Eylsees,  we took the hop-on-hop-off sightseeing tour of Paris with Les Cars Rouges, costing 26 euros. The round tour lasted about 2 hours 15 minutes but we took longer as we took the stop at the famous Eiffel Tower. Our tour started at Arc De Triomphe to:

Grand Palais

The Grand Palais des Champs-Elysées is commonly known as the Grand Palais (Great Palace). It is a large historic site, exhibition hall and museum complex which includes the Palais d'Antin, home to the Palais de la Découverte science museum, and the Galeries nationales, with its art collections managed by the Réunion des musées Nationaux.

The Trocadero

Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower (nickname La dame de fer, the iron lady) is a
puddle iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars. Built in 1889, it has become both a global icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world. It is the tallest building in Paris  and the most-visited paid monument in the world.

Stop at The Trocadero for the ultimate view of the Eiffel Tower.

Musee de L'armee

Musée de L'armee was originally built as a hospital and home for disabled soldiers by Louis XIV. It now houses the Tomb of Napoleon and the museum of the Army of France. The museum's collections cover the time period from antiquity until the 20th century.

Musée d'Orsay

Musée d'Orsay situated on the Left Bank of the Seine River in Paris' 7th arrondissement, is a fabulous turn-of-the-century building. It is formerly a railroad station which was converted into a spacious venue dedicated to art.

The Musée du Louvre, the Louvre Museum or simply the Louvre is one of the world's largest museums, the most visited art museum in the world and a historic monument. Did not managed to get a good picture of Musée du Louvre :(

Notre Dame Cathedral

Notre Dame de Paris (also known as Notre Dame Cathedral), is a Gothic Catholic cathedral. It is widely considered one of the finest examples of French Gothic archiyrcture in France and Europe. Begun in 1163 and mostly completed by 1250, Notre Dame is an important example of French Gothic architecture, sculpture and stained glass. It is also an active Catholic church, a place of pilgrimage, and the focal point for Catholicism in France.

Paris, France

Luxor, Egypt

Had the chance to see the twin obelisk of Luxor Temple.

This trip is just an overview of Paris. Will make another trip to be a real tourist :) Did have a great time in Paris and did some shopping too. No, did not buy any LV bag as there are too many people carrying LV these days...bought a Furla instead "wink wink".

Malaysia - Langkawi, Kedah

Been to Langkawi a number of times on holiday as well as for meetings. This time round I stayed at Andaman Resort. Most of my time was spent in the hotel as this trip is a working trip but it is no less enjoyable.

The Andaman is located in an ancient rainforest cradled between Malaysia's Mat Chincang Mountains and the beaches of the Andaman Sea. 

Set in a pristine rainforest, believed to be at least 50 million years old, The Andaman is blessed with an abundance of plant-life and wildlife. One of the activities that I did during my stay was an early morning nature walk led by a self-taught naturalist and outdoor buff, Irshad Morbarak. Irshad never fails to delight hotel guests at The Andaman with his animated and intriguing stories and facts on the natural history of Langkawi and the wildlife that call this tropical paradise, home.

The nature walk was very pleasant as we were taken thru the trial under the canopy of the lush tropical forest with Irshad explaining the use of the each of the natural herbs by the Malays, Chinese and Indians.

All walks are complimentary and depart from the main lobby. The morning walk begins at 8am, and the evening walk begins at 7pm. Each adventure is approximately 1½ hours. I enjoyed the nature walk. Don't miss it if you ever go to The Andaman!


The Andaman is built to ensure minimal impact to the ancient space and to live in harmony with the rainforest. The lush foliage around the hotel is home to some of the most fascinating animals including the great hornbill, the dusky leaf monkey, the rare colugo (flying lemur of South East Asia), macaques, lizards and geckos, a wide variety of birds and over 300 species of butterflies.

Dusky Leaf Monkey

I did not see all the fascinating animals except for squirrels and dusky leaf monkey jumping from tree to tree or playing on the car roof.


Inside, The Andaman also pays respect to rich culture and tradition of the area.

The Balai Nobat replica in the lobby is a tribute to the traditional structure built for the royalty of the Malaysian state of Kedah, home to the island of Langkawi. Balai Nobat is used to house the traditional instruments of The Royal Orchestra, as well as the platform from which the orchestra performs during official ceremonies. The original Balai Nobat was built during the reign of Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin Mukarram Shah, who reigned from 1854 to 1879.

Even though I did not get to go round Langkawi, I enjoyed every minute of my stay at The Andaman.

Indonesia - Ubud Bali

My first trip to Bali is for work. This is not the first time when work is also fun! We were in Bali for an inaugural leadership meeting from May 17-20 at Maya Ubud Resort and Spa; a heaven of tranquility set amidst the verdant hills of Ubud, Bali.

Every morning at 7.30am, we gather at the lush green garden to participate in yoga exercises with the resort’s yoga master. The short exercise was so refreshing and I was immediately transported back to my “kampong” where I grew up, at peace with nature, with the sound of birds and insects in the background. Other recreational and cultural activities offered includes tennis, swimming, golf putting green, nature treks and cycling in the beautiful surrounding country side.

The resort has an infinity swimming pool, overlooking the lush tropical forest and Petanu River. The poolside was so serene, a great spot for my colleague, Leong to take his “power nap” after lunch! You can also relax and be pampered in the riverside spa, watch traditional cultural performances (on certain night) or perhaps take painting lessons in the nearby village, all of which, I do not have the time to do because of tight meeting schedule! I had to remind myself that I'm here for work 

I fell in love with the décor in the hotel. Even the toilet in our meeting room! I took pictures of it and the garden outside our meeting room as I would love to recreate the same look and feel for my home. Planning to renovate your house? Yes! You have come to right place - Bali is definately the place for home improvement inspirations, unique furnitures and home decors.

My sister reminded me to try dirty duck and pork ribs while in Bali. My first night’s dinner was at Bebek Tepi Sawah Restaurant (the name Tepi Sawah is Balinese words, which means side of the rice field) to have my first Bebek Bengil (fried crispy duck). For starter, I was served satay in a unique charcoal grill. The satay taste like the ones back home except for the sauce which is less sweet.

On the second night, our group went to the famous Dirty Duck Diner, an outdoor garden restaurant, featuring lotus ponds, large elephant leaf plants, statues and a beautiful rice field view from all around. It was first opened in 1990 and has since been serving delicious foods and providing good services in a friendly, comfortable and relaxed atmosphere. Check on dirty duck but no pork ribs as we have Muslims in our group 

Ever wonder how the name “Dirty Duck Diner” came about? Here's the story…when the owners were building the restaurant, they have thought long and hard about the name for the restaurant. They wanted a Balinese name that translated well into English. Many good suggestions came from friends, but none seemed just right. One tropical monsoon morning, when the restaurant was very close to being finished, a flock of ducks from the rice field across the road ran quacking and squawking into the restaurant and across the floor and tables. They left muddy webbed footprints all over the place. They were the restaurant’s first guests - those dirty ducks, thus the name Dirty Duck Diner!

Want to know who had dined in Dirty Duck Diner? Do the names like Mike Jagger, Sting, Chow Yun Fatt, Mrs. Megawati Sukarno Putri and Mr. Bambang Yudhoyonon ring a bell? Yes! They had dined in the restaurant.

UK - Windsor & Eton

Can you believe my first trip to London was a business trip? I spent most of the week-long visit cloistered in the meeting room. Finally, on the last day, my friend, Misha offered to show me around. I had less than 4 hours before checking in for my flight back to Kuala Lumpur and since we were staying at the Renaissance Heathrow, the nearest place was Windsor.

By the time we reached Windsor, it was too late for the last admission (4.00pm) into Windsor Castle. We ended up seeing the castle from the outside. This gives me an excuse to go back in the future!

We then proceeded to a walking tour around Windsor town, Eton and Windsor Riverfront. We made photo stops at "The Long Walk", The Guildhall where Prince Charles and Camilla got married, Crooked House of Windsor (also known as the Market Cross House) and Windsor Royal Station before crossing over to Eton.

I was told that if you don't visit the Crooked House of Windsor, you have not truly experienced Windsor. The original Crooked House of Windsor, a quintessential English Tea Room, was built in 1592, the time when Queen Elizabeth was still on the throne and William Shakespeare was writing his plays. The building that survives now is what was rebuilt soon after. It acquired its famous tilt after being restructured in 1718 with unseasoned green oak. I was told that there is a secret passage to Windsor Castle, now blocked, from its basement. This is reputed to have been used both for the illicit meeting between King Charles and his mistress, Nell Gywn and for taking provisions to the castle kitchens. Crooked House of Windsor is situated right next to the Guildhall and could be easily missed.

Windsor is blessed with a delightful riverfront, the River Thames. Behind the riverfront is a large traditional park called The Alexander Gardens where you will find the graceful giant Royal Windsor Wheel which will be in operation until November 1, 2009. Along the riverfront, there are lots of swans, ducks and geese waiting to be fed. I could sit here all day long, reading a book, sipping hot English tea and be mesmerized by the beautiful scenery.

Across the bank, you'll see Eton, where you will find England's most eminent public school, Eton College. Eton College was the oldest (founded in 1440 by King Henry VI) and the most expensive school in the country. Its historic buildings are an integral part of England's national heritage. Eton has educated 18 former British Prime Ministers including the Duke of Wellington, Walpole, Pitt the Elder, MacMillan and Douglas-Home. Visits to the college must be guided and pre-booking is essential. No food and drinks are allowed within the grounds. No photography is allowed at the College Chapel and the Museum of Eton Life.

Before we head back to Heathrow airport, we stopped for a drink at Browns Restaurant and Bar. It has fantastic view across river Thames and is a great place for people-watching. Not being able to get inside of Windsor Castle, was a blessing in disguise. I enjoyed the walk and the breathtaking views which I could have missed since I've got so little time to spend in Windsor! I did get to visit London again two weeks later, in August. This time for a 3 weeks vacation.