Best Trips of 2011 -- A Retrospect

I am dedicating this post to my friends who are planning their getaways next year (special mention to Deng and Nard). May I remind you that this is free of charge but it wouldn't hurt if you'd include me in your list. *wink*

January ✈ 
Manitoba, Canada

Stopover
It was a Looong Flight
The Town at Night
Routine
Breakfast All Day
A Trip to the Superstore
Polo Park
Cherry Love
Around the Town
Buffet Square
Winter Wonderland
Home Bound

May ✈ 
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Transit in Kuala Lumpur
Taste of Asia
Decanter Restaurant
Marrybrown
Foodtrip in KL
Hotel Sentral Pudu

May ✈ 
Siem Reap, Cambodia

Off to the Kingdom of Wonders
Hello Cambodia.. Finally!
Tara Angkor Hotel
Before Visiting the Temples
Temple Chronicles: Banteay Srei
Restaurant with No Name at East Mebon
Temple Chronicles: East Mebon
Temple Chronicles: Ta Som
Temple Chronicles: Neak Pean
Temple Chronicles: Preah Khan
Scenes at the Old Market
Koulen Restaurant, SR
Temple Chronicles: Angkor Wat
Temple Chronicles: Baphuon & Terrace of the Elephants
Temple Chronicles: Phnom Bakheng
Temple Chronicles: Ta Keo
Streets of Siem Reap
Temple Chronicles: Angkor Thom
Ta Prom Restaurant, SR
Temple Chronicles: Ta Prohm aka Tomb Raider Temple
Khmer Kitchen Restaurant, SR
Night Market at Siem Reap

June ✈ 
Singapore

Changi Airport, SG
Robertson Quay Hotel, SG
Mondo Mio, SG
Eye Candy at Universal Studios, SG
Universal Studios, SG
Bugis Street, SG
Weekend at Singapore-lah!

August ✈
El Nido, Philippines

Enchanting El Nido
El Nido Beach Hotel
Squido's Restaurant
Seaslug's Bar and Restaurant
A Day in Paradise Known as El Nido

September ✈
Davao, Philippines

Davao City -- A Rundown
Pearl Farm Marina
Pearl Farm Resort -- Day One
Pearl Farm Resort -- Day Two
Maranao Restaurant at Pearl Farm Resort
Karlo's Gourmet and Coffee
Eden Nature Park and Resort
Eden Nature Park Buffet
Marina Tuna Seafood Market Restaurant

September ✈
Baguio, Philippines

The Manor at Camp John Hay Baguio
The Manor Baguio -- The Sweet (Suite) Room
Philippine Military Academy
Sizzling Plate Baguio
Cafe by the Ruins
Le Chef at The Manor Baguio
Little John's at CJH
Tam-awan Village

December ✈
Macau and Hongkong

Manila ✈ Hong Kong ✈ Manila
Macau in One Day
Hotel Benito, HK
Sky 100, HK
Tim Ho Wan, HK -- The World's Cheapest Michelin-Starred Restaurant
Lamma Island, HK
Maxim's Food, HK
Places I Love in Hongkong

I wonder where my feet will take me in 2012. Hanoi? Another Hongkong trip perhaps? South Korea?

But my mind says, Europe! *wink*

Hotel Sentral Pudu, KL

Hotel hunting on a budget can either be a hit or a miss. For MYR150.00 per night, I wasn't really expecting a nice hotel room, just a decent place to stay for the night.

Hotel Sentral Pudu is a three-star hotel (barely new) which features 192 guestrooms and suites. Its convenient location makes it a great place to stay for business and leisure travelers.

All the rooms are equipped with Wifi, LCD flat screen TV with cable, telephone, bathroom, hair dryer, in-room safe, coffee & tea making facilities and mini bar.

The room was small but very clean.

Overlooking the Jalan Pudu area

Bathroom

We woke up at 10am the following day to make it to the free breakfast buffet at Limelight Restaurant on the 3rd floor of Hotel Sentral.

Juice and cereals

Bread and desserts

My breakfast plate

Round 2!

It is definitely a hit!

~o~o~o~

Hotel Sentral Pudu
No. 310 Jalan Pudu (off Jalan Bukit Bintang) 55100
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel.: (603) 2615-9000
Website: http://www.hotelsentral.com.my/

Food Trip in KL

After three days in Cambodia, we went back to Malaysia to spend a night before heading back home.

Dubbed as the fastest way to go to KL Sentral from the airport, we decided to try out KLIA Ekspress, a premium non-stop high-speed train service that connects Kuala Lumpur International Airport and the city center for MYR15.00 only.  While the bus ride takes about an hour to get to Sentral, KLIA Ekspress only takes 28 minutes to get there (though you have to take a bus to go the train station which is 10 minutes more).

Cruising at 160km/hr max

Comfort and reliability is what you paid for.

After checking in at Hotel Sentral Pudu, we walked back to Berjaya Times Square to grab lunch. We thought about the last time we where here and remembered the food court which serves vegetarian dishes. So we asked the concierge for its current location and was instructed to go one floor down.

It was already renovated but occupied a much smaller venue. We went inside, deposited around MYR50.00 for a debit card (which is refundable if unused) and feast our eyes with the different Asian dishes right before us.

DB had the vegetarian meal

Vegetarian hotdog

I had Tom Yum which was too spicy, I forgot to tell the cook to be gentle with my taste buds.

With no particular plan in mind, DB and I bought train tickets to Bukit Bintang where most of the malls and shops are located. We strolled in Lot 10 and Sungei Wang Plaza for about 30 minutes then DB got tired and so we looked for a place to sit down. We passed by Esquire Kitchen and I saw these yummy looking pastries.

How can I resist this? I can't make up my mind which one to order so I just got both. I really have low EQ when it comes to food. *sigh*

Chicken Puff and Siu Bao (Minced Pork)

DB had this sticky rice balls with ginger syrup. Not my type, I only
like ginger in my main course but not in desserts.

I wish we can do this more often.

~o~o~o~

Taste of Asia Food Court

LG-23, Lower Ground Floor

Berjaya Times Square

1 Jalan Imbi, 55100

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Esquire Kitchen

Sungei Wang Plaza

Jalan Sultan Ismail 50250

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Marrybrown, KL

While most people drink coffee in the morning to keep them awake, I on the other hand, needs orange juice to perk up my day.

We arrived two hours before our flight, just enough time to check in and have breakfast before heading to the boarding gate. Proudly Malaysian owned and managed, Marrybrown is a fast food chain which has over 250 outlets all over the world with menu that ranges from burgers and fries to Nasi Lemak and other Halal food.

DB had the breakfast combo which has baked beans, toasted bread, egg and sausage while I had two-piece chicken.

I was too sleepy I barely ate.

~o~o~o~

Marrybrown

Low Cost Carrier Terminal

Kuala Lumpur International Airport

64000 Sepang, Selangor

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia