Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 1st March, 2011

Today's weather;

Samui is waking up to another nice and warm day. Current temp at 7am is 25.6C

Yesterday saw an almost near blue sky over Samui and it was hot with a max temp of 30.5C

On Koh Lanta we have a similar morning with currently no cloud to be seen around 7am and a current temp of 25.5C

Yesterday was warm and sunny on Koh Lanta although during the afternoon some clouds showed up. Max temp reached 33.1C

Camille

Restaurant Tip: Moo Grob Khun Yai

Oh yes, time for another little local restaurant treat! Forget those fancy places, they're out of my budget! All the restaurant guides I read feature the same old places, all of which will cost an arm and a leg, though I am sure plenty of people love an expensive meal with sauce "drizzled" artistically across the plate... The restaurant section on this blog does not feature too many fancy restaurants. Partly because we are not rich and partly because we feel more comfortable in a more local setting without art deco meals. And .. if you want real local food, you find this in LOCAL restaurants where LOCAL people eat. Food is quite a personal issue, so if you disagree with me, no worries, go find your own favorite place!

Moo Grob (หมูกรอบ) is a bit of a special thing... it's crispy pork belly, and if it's done well, it's crispy, crunchy, crackly, yet retains some soft meat and a little fat, (oh, if you are vegetarian, this place is not for you!) - Moo Grob can be too soft sometimes, or too fatty or too meaty.. I mean, Moo Grob lovers will have their own style, but what I am saying is, Moo Grob is an art. And Tik, the owner of Moo Grob Khun Yai is the artist. The restaurant is on the road between Central Festival mall and Phuket Town, on the left side as you head into town. Looks like this:



We've known Tik for some years. Her son was in the same class as our daughter at school, but he moved to another school where Tik's husband is a teacher. We'd not been for ages, but met Tik and her son Kane a couple of weeks ago (in Pizza Company, yeh, I know, you own a restaurant and your kid wants to go eat pizza), so we went to eat at her place the next day. The restaurant was run by her mother before her - "Khun Yai" means Grandmother. This is Tik .... she's a happy smiley person :)



The menu in this restaurant is basically 4 different options. You have Khao Moo Grob (rice with crispy pork), Khao Moo Daeng (rice with red pork), Khao Man Gai (rice with chicken) and Khao Ka Moo (rice with a kind of stewed pork leg). Or you can mix up the meats. You can get the dishes as a small portion (which is called Tama Da) or large portion (for this you ask for Pee Set). Don't be asking for fried rice or anything else. These 4 dishes are among the most popular simple meals all over Thailand. If you can't guess, my favourite is Moo Grob :) Tik makes it herself from pieces of pork belly, carefully grilled. Looks like this, hanging up at the front of the restaurant:



Then Tik slices off a section - note use of plastic gloves... my wife is quite picky with little local restaurants, they are not all this clean!



And the slice of pork is cut into smaller pieces, piled on some rice and that's it! On the table are some different sauces, a mix of sweet and spicy, which you can "drizzle" onto your pork. Big plate = 45 Baht, small plate = 35 Baht. The Moo Daeng is the same price. On this day I had one plate of each.





I am hungry now just looking at the photos! It's not just meat, you do get a small plate of greens with the meal too and a little bowl of clear soup. And you can get an ice tea or ice coffee for 10-15 Baht, or just drink water (drinking water and ice is normally free with meals at this kind of restaurant).



Don't get me wrong, Phuket has got some very (very) nice restaurants, with 5 star food and wine lists to match. And there are websites which happily let these places advertise. On this blog, you see the places where I eat, or where my family eats. And if you want the "real" Phuket... this is it! Damn, I fancy a plate of Moo Grob now!

Moo Grob Khun Yai - Location Map


View Moo Grob Khun Yai Restaurant in a larger map

Some more restaurants to get good local food:

• Laem Hin Seafood
• Tunk Ka Cafe
• Rimtang
• Pak Nam Seafood

Goodbye to February 2011

Goodbye to February 2011

Time keeps just moving on and it's already goodbye to this years February! It doesn't help hat February only has 28 days, which makes it go by even faster.

Weather wise this February on Koh Samui was very nice! Especially after the first week it was really nice almost non stop! This is line with the last three years, only 2008 had some rain towards the end of February!

Malapascua beach

This was a month of lots of travel for me. I started the month on the small but beautiful island of Malapascua in the Philippines, where I taught a very successful PADI IDC.

Also my visits to Cebu were really enjoyed by me, even though or because of they were just for a day!

Talking about travel, this February recap is coming from Koh Lanta, another beautiful island but this time in the South of Thailand, where my work, teaching PADI IDC's and diving takes me!

In-between these two destinations I spend time on Samui as well and there were some very interesting events happening, first off and the immediately a very big event was the Royally sponsored cremation ceremony of Prakru Suntinonthakhun, a very impressing event.

Shortly afterwards it was the 100th day commemoration of Grandmother in law's passing away.

Two more Food on Wheel entries were published as well and since the topic is at eating, Ageha Sushi bar in Lamai was visited, enjoyed and described.

Plenty of things happening and I'm already looking forward to March, which is just around the corner and start tomorrow!

Apologies to my fellow Thai bloggers, this was once more a month were I didn't find time to look up your blogs!

Please keep checking in and let me know your thoughts on my posts!

Best regards,

Camille

How To Get To Exportbank Plaza

I'm back! Fresh from 6-day vacation in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. Thanks to Post Option of Blogspot, I was able to schedule publishing of three posts in advance. While I was away, the three posts I've created prior to my departure were published on their respective scheduled days. So, the three posts that preceded this entry were published while I was on vacation. And now, our topic contains an answer to the question of one of our guests in DirectionsOnWeb Answers, "How to get to Export Bank?".

Exportbank Plaza, with telephone number 878-0000 connecting all departments, is formerly known as Urban Bank Plaza. It's the headquarters of Export and Industry Bank, simply known as Exportbank. Situated at the corner of Gil Puyat Avenue, formerly known as Buendia Avenue and Chino Roces Avenue, formerly known as Pasong Tamo, Exportbank Plaza can be easily reached from any locations both outside and inside Metro Manila through major roads such as EDSA, Taft Avenue, Gil Puyat and Ayala Avenue. You can commute to Exportbank Plaza either by bus or combination of LRT/MRT and bus. If you want to go to it's location by car, the route are very easy as well. Going to Exportbank Plaza by car and by commuting are both discussed in this post.

How to commute to Exportbank Plaza:

Route #1

From Cavite, Tagaytay, Imus, Bacoor, Dasmarinas and Baclaran. This is also the route and direction on how to get to Chino Roces aka Pasong Tamo from these locations. Ride a bus or jeepney bound to Baclaran. In Baclaran, along service road of Roxas Boulevard near Redemptorist Church, ride a bus with this sign: "Ayala Leveriza Cubao Monumento" or "Ayala Leveriza Fairview". Don't ride bus with "Ayala-Monumento" or "Ayala-Cubao" or "Ayala-Fairview". It's important that "Ayala-Leveriza" is written in the sign whatever the destination of the bus is.

This bus passes through at the exact location of Exportbank Plaza. Ask the conductor to drop you off at Pasong Tamo. Once there, you will see the tall building of Exportbank at the corner of Gil Puyat and Chino Roces.

Route #2

From Alabang, Pacita, Metropolis Starmall, Festival Mall, Filinvest City, Sucat, Bicutan and nearby areas. This is also the route and direction on how to get to Chino Roces or Pasong Tamo from any of these locations. Ride any bus going to north of Metro Manila such as Monumento, Novaliches, Cubao and Fairview. Get off at unloading zone in MRT Magallanes Station where Alpha Southgate Mall is also located. It's the first bus stop after the bus turns to EDSA from Osmena Highway aka SLEX or from skyway if the bus takes the Skyway.

Once you got off the bus, walk towards Southgate Mall. This is the big building which is connected to the MRT Magallanes Station. Pass the mall and head towards the road intersecting EDSA beneath the EDSA-Magallanes flyover. That road is Chino Roces aka Pasong Tamo. Along Chino Roces ride a jeepney with "PRC" sign. Pay minimum fare and ask the driver to drop you off at Gil Puyat. Once you're at the corner of Gil Puyat and Chino Roces, you will see the tall building of Exportbank Plaza opposite McDonald's.

Route #3

From Monumento, Balintawak, Roosevelt, Project 7, Project 8, Congressional, Munoz, Novaliches, Tondo, Binondo, Sta Cruz, SM Manila, Manila City Hall and nearby areas. Take LRT-1 through any nearest station such as Roosevelt, Balintawak, Monumento, R. Papa, 5th Avenue, Jose Abad Santos, Blumentritt, Doroteo Jose, Central Terminal etc. This is how to get to Exportbank from LRT-1. Ride a "Baclaran" bound train. Get off at Gil Puyat Station formerly Buendia.

Along Gil Puyat Avenue formerly Buendia near corner of Taft, ride any bus that passes through Ayala Avenue. This buses' destinations are Cubao, Monumento, Fairview, etc. Or you can ride a jeepney with this sign: "Bel-Air Guadalupe" Ask the conductor or driver to drop you off at Chino Roces or the most familiar to driver which is Pasong Tamo. You can easily see the tall building of Exportbank right at the corner of Gil Puyat and Pasong Tamo.

Route #4

From Fairview, UP-Ayala Land TechnoHub, UP-Diliman, Commonwealth, Quezon City Hall, Philcoa, Quezon City Memorial Circle and nearby areas. Ride a bus with this sign: "Ayala LRT Leveriza". This bus passes through the exact location of Exportbank. Ask the conductor to drop you off at Pasong Tamo. Once there, you can easily see the tall building of Exportbank Plaza at the opposite corner of Gil Puyat.

Route #5

From SM City North EDSA, Trinoma, Project 6, West Avenue, Timog, Quezon Avenue, Centris, Cubao, SM Megamall, EDSA Shaw, Shangri-la Plaza, EDSA Crossing, Boni, Pioneer, Pasig, Mandaluyong and nearby areas. Take the MRT-3. This is how to go to Exportbank Plaza from MRT. Go to any nearest MRT Station such as North, GMA-Kamuning, Quezon Avenue, Araneta Center, Ortigas, Shaw, Boni and Santolan. Ride a train bound to Taft. Get off at Buendia Station also known as Gil Puyat.

From Buendia Station of MRT-3, take the exit towards the corner of Gil Puyat and EDSA where you will see SM Cybertwo building. This is how to get to SM Cybertwo from MRT. Located at the groundfloor of Cybertwo is McDonald's, next to it is KFC. There's a terminal of jeepneys in front of SM Cybertwo near KFC. The jeepney sign is "Bel-Air Washington" or "LRT Leveriza Taft". Ride one of these jeepneys and get off at the corner of Chino Roces, where you will see Exportbank at the opposite corner. You can ask the driver to drop you off at Pasong Tamo.

Route #6

From Bulacan, Pampanga, Subic, Olongapo and other areas in the North. This is also the route and direction on how to go to Chino Roces formerly Pasong Tamo from these provinces. All you need to do is ride a bus or an FX that will brought you to any of the following: SM City North EDSA, Trinoma, Balintawak or Blumentritt.

If you ride an FX to Trinoma or SM North EDSA, walk towards North Station of MRT-3 and follow the direction given in Route #5.

If you ride a bus, a jeepney or an FX and you get off at Balintawak, walk towards Balintawak Station of LRT-1 and follow the directions given in Route #3. If you get off at Blumentritt then walk towards Blumentritt Station of LRT-1 and follow direction also given in Route #3.

Route #7

From Marikina, Antipolo, Sta. Lucia, Pasig-Santolan and other nearby areas including Anonas, Katipunan, Ateneo de Manila, etc. This is also the route and direction to take to get to Chino Roces Avenue also known as Pasong Tamo. Take a bus, a jeepney, a tricycle or a taxi and get to the nearest LRT-2 Station such as Santolan, Katipunan and Anonas. Ride a train going to Recto Station. Get off at Araneta Center Cubao Station. Walk towards MRT-3 Araneta Center Station via Gateway Mall and the footbridge that connects it to Farmers Plaza where MRT-3 is connected. Ride a train going to Taft Station of MRT-3 and follow the direction given in Route #5.


How to get to Exportbank Plaza by car:

Route #1

From Baclaran and Coastal Road as well as Mall of Asia or MOA and World Trade Center. From Coastal Road and Baclaran, take Roxas Boulevard and drive northward going to Manila passing through EDSA-Roxas Boulevard flyover, then turn right onto Gil Puyat Avenue. From MOA, take Seaside Boulevard, turn left on Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard and turn right onto Gil Puyat Avenue where World Trade Center is located. From World Trade Center, take Gil Puyat and drive towards Roxas Boulevard.

Stay to the middle of Gil Puyat Avenue and drive all the way to Makati, passing through the LRT-1 Gil Puyat Station. Drive all the way in Gil Puyat, crossing Bautista, Dian, Batangas and Osmena Highway aka South Super Highway, where you will pass through underneath Buendia Osmena flyover followed by PNR rail track. Next intersection with traffic lights is Chino Roces. Turn right onto Chino Roces and immediately turn right onto the driveway leading to frontage of Exportbank Plaza. By this time, you're already seeing the ramp of the parking to the left of the building. Just follow the direction to the entrance of parking. There are lots of security personnels to assist you.

Route #2

From Alabang, Filinvest City, Metropolis Starmall, Sucat, SM Bicutan and nearby areas. Take the Skyway and exit via Buendia Exit. Turn right onto Gil Puyat. Next intersection with traffic lights is C. Roces. Turn right onto Chino Roces and immediately turn right onto the driveway leading to frontage of Exportbank Plaza. By this time, you're already seeing the ramp of the parking to the left of the building. Just follow the direction to the entrance of parking. There are lots of security personnels to assist you.

Route #3

From Bulacan, Pampanga, Novaliches, and nearby areas. Drive all the way to Balintawak and take EDSA going to Makati. From Novaliches, you can take Congressional Avenue then EDSA. Drive all the way on EDSA and turn right onto Gil Puyat Avenue formerly Buendia. Drive all the way along Gil Puyat and cross intersections of Paseo de Roxas, Makati Avenue, Malugay Street and Ayala Avenue.

Next intersection with traffic lights after Ayala is your destination - Chino Roces Avenue formerly Pasong Tamo where Exportbank Plaza is located to your left opposite side of C. Roces. But there's no left turn on C. Roces. So, cross C. Roces and after you cross C. Roces change lane to the rightmost of Gil Puyat. At the corner of C. Roces after you cross is Petron, followed by Caltex. Turn right onto Caltex to pass through and then turn right onto the street that borders it to the other side. That street is Malugay. Drive on Malugay and immediately turn right onto C. Roces. On C. Roces at this time, you're looking at the tall building of Exportbank to your right and opposite Gil Puyat. Cross Gil Puyat and exactly at the corner of Gil Puyat and C. Roces is the Exportbank Plaza. Turn right onto the driveway of Exportbank. By this time, you're already seeing the ramp of the parking to the left of the building. Just follow the direction to the entrance of parking. There are lots of security personnels to assist you.

Route #4

From SM North EDSA, Trinoma, Centris, Quezon Avenue, Fairview, UP Diliman, Ayala TechoHub, Philcoa, Cubao, Ortigas, SM Megamall, Shangri-la Plaza, EDSA Shaw and areas near EDSA. This route is via EDSA. Take EDSA and drive towards Makati. Turn right onto Gil Puyat Avenue formerly Buendia. Drive all the way along Gil Puyat and cross intersections of Paseo de Roxas, Makati Avenue, Malugay Street and Ayala Avenue.

Next intersection with traffic lights after Ayala is your destination - Chino Roces Avenue formerly Pasong Tamo where Exportbank Plaza is located to your left opposite side of C. Roces. But there's no left turn on C. Roces. So, cross C. Roces and after you cross C. Roces change lane to the rightmost of Gil Puyat. At the corner of C. Roces after you cross is Petron, followed by Caltex. Turn right onto Caltex to pass through and then turn right onto the street that borders it to the other side. That street is Malugay. Drive on Malugay and immediately turn right onto C. Roces. On C. Roces at this time, you're looking at the tall building of Exportbank to your right and opposite Gil Puyat. Cross Gil Puyat and exactly at the corner of Gil Puyat and C. Roces is the Exportbank Plaza. Turn right onto the driveway of Exportbank. By this time, you're already seeing the ramp of the parking to the left of the building. Just follow the direction to the entrance of parking. There are lots of security personnels to assist you.


Location Map of Exportbank Plaza

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 28th February, 2011

Today's weather;

Samui woke up to an almost blue sky with a current temp at 7am of 24C

Yesterday saw more sunshine on Samui with a max temp of 28.8C

My current IDC candidates during their skill circuit on Koh Lanta

Koh Lanta is about to experience another beautiful, blue sky day. Current temp at 7am is 25,1C

Yesterday saw once more a warm day on Lanta with a more or less blue sky and a max temp of 32.8C

Camille

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 27th February, 2011

Today's weather;

Samui is seeing a blue sky with a few clouds in it. Current temp at 7am is 27.5C

Yesterday was a warm and partly sunny day on Samui. Max temp reached 29.8C

Long tail boats around Saladan, Koh Lanta

Koh Lanta is gearing up for another warm day with a partly clouded sky this morning which will soon break up and turn blue once the sun heats up. Current temp at 7am is 26.5C

Yesterday Koh Lanta had a blue sky pretty much all day long and it was hot! Max temp reached 34C

Camille

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 26th February, 2011

Today's weather;

Samui is nice and warm this early in the morning and a strong wind is blowing. Current temp at 7am is 27.7C

Yesterday saw another warm day on Samui with a max temp of 29.8C

My drive over to Koh Lanta was swift and uneventful if you don't count the ghost rider on the 44 from Surat Thani to Krabi!

Sunset yesterday on Koh Lanta

Koh Lanta is waking up this morning under a blue sky with a current temp at 7am is 25.5C

Yesterday, upon arriving, it was nice and partly cloudy but very warm, max temp reached 33.3C and Saladan where I'm staying is very busy.

I'm ready to start the IDC today!

Camille

Direction Bytes: Baclaran Mabini Jeepney Route

There's no particular route of jeepneys from Baclaran to Mabini or Kalaw. To get to Mabini from Baclaran, you need to ride a jeepney with any of the following signs: "Quiapo Mabini", "Monumento Mabini" and "Divisoria Mabini".

You can ride one of these jeepneys along service road of Roxas Boulevard near McDonald Roxas Boulevard Baclaran branch. This jeeneys take F.B. Harrison Street, turn right onto EDSA and make a U-Turn, turn right onto Harrison Street, cross Libertad Street now known as Arnaiz Avenue, turn right onto Gil Puyat and make a U-Turn, turn right again onto Harrison, cross intersection of Vito Cruz now known as Pablo Ocampo, and along Mabini cross intersections of Quirino Avenue, San Andres, Remedios, Pedto Gil, Padre Faura, and U.N. Avenue.

From Baclaran, these are the important places, in this order, that can be found along this route up to Mabini corner T.M. Kalaw:

Copacabana Apartelle and Music 21 - located next to each other along EDSA near corner Harrison Street to the left, Sogo Hotel - to the right of Harrison before EDSA.

From EDSA to Libertad now known as Arnaiz, along F.B. Harrison Street:

EDSA Entertainment Complex - located at the corner of EDSA and Harrison to the left, Auto Mall - located to the right corner of Harrison and EDSA. From corner of EDSA and F.B. Harrison Street, you will pass by Queensland Motel, Philippine School for the Deaf, PLDT and Pasay City Hall in that order to your right; and to your left is Gideon Academy followed by U.S. Embassy Seafront Company. Next to it is the Pasay City Sport Complex and Cuneta Astrodome.

From Libertad also known as Arnaiz up to corner of Mabini and Kalaw, along Harrison Street and Mabini Street:

Miss Universal Night Club, Harrison Lodge, Harrison Mansion Condominium, Our Lady of Sorrow Church, OWWA or Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Harrison House of Wine, Chinese Temple, Longwood Gardens Hotel, Central Bank of the Philippines, CCP Complex, HP Village Square, Harrison Plaza, ShopWise, Malate Police Station-9, Ospital ng Maynila, Sogo Hotel Malate, Echelon Towers, Malate Church, Rajah Sulayman Park, Remedios Circle, Riviera Mansion, Las Palmas Hotel, Hyatt Hotel, Robinson's Place Manila, Citystate Tower, G-Point Bar, City Garden Suites, Mabini Mansion, U.S. Embassy, Rizal Park or Luneta, National Library and Manila Ocean Park.

To avoid delays, always ask driver's assistance and ask him to drop you off at your destination.

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 25th February, 2011

Today's weather;

Samui is enjoying a mixed sky, plenty of blue spots with some clouds in it. Current temp at 7am is 27.3C

Later this morning I'm off to Koh Lanta where I start teaching an IDC tomorrow.

Fishing boats in Bang Rak bay, waiting it out for heavy waves in the Gulf

Yesterday saw a warm and partly sunny day on Samui with a max temp of 28.7C

Camille

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 24th February, 2011

Today's weather;

Samui has a fairly clouded sky with just a few blue spots currently. I would expect it to clear up more during the day though. Current temp at 7am is 27.5C

My son at his first Tae Kwon Do practice earlier this week, very proudly showing off his new suit

Yesterday saw a warm day over Samui, not that overly sunny but enough to keep the beach goers happy. Max temp reached 29C

Yesterday saw also a PADI Member Forum on Koh Samui at the Kandaburi Resort in Chaweng.

Camille

Direction Bytes: LRT-2 To Quiapo

You can go to Quiapo via LRT-2 train if you live in Marikina, Pasig, Antipolo, Project 4, Cubao, Gateway Mall, Araneta Center, San Juan, Santa Mesa, SM Centerpoint, Kalentong , Mandaluyong, Sampaloc and nearby vicinities. Today, I'm going to discuss how to get to Quiapo as well as Quiapo Church from LRT-2.

From your location, ride a jeep, a bus, a taxi or tricycle to the nearest LRT-2 station. Here are the stations of LRT-2 from Pasig: Santolan, Katipunan, Araneta Center Cubao, Betty Go Belmonte, Gilmore, J. Ruiz, V. Mapa, Pureza, Legarda and Recto. Depending on your location, get to one of these stations, the nearest one to you.

Get a ticket up to Recto Station and get off right there. After you get off at Recto Station, get out of the station via Exit near Isetann Mall, it's the colored orange big mall that you see to the left of the elevated track of the train and can be seen even when the train is approaching Recto Station.

Once in the ground, you will notice a road between Isetann and LRT-2 Recto Station building. This road is perpendicularly intersecting Recto Avenue. This is Evangelista Street. Get into this street and walk onwards until you cross an intersection called Raon Street also known as Gonzalo Puyat. You're now in Quiapo. Continuously walk and after crossing another street, Paterno Street, up ahead you will see statues of Santo Ninos and Saints being sold. Next to these sidewalk stores is the Quiapo Church. This route is the most practical way to get to Quiapo from LRT-2 even if it takes approximately .5 km to walk from LRT-2 Station up to Quiapo Church.

If you don't want to walk, you can ride a jeepney that passes by Recto from Divisoria with "Quiapo" sign but it will take you a long wait because there are only a few of them that plies this route.

Austin Hills Golf Resort before Christmas 2010, Johor Bahru

We visited the Austin Hills Golf Resort (N1 33.689 E103 45.949) before the Christmas of 2010. The Resort was decorated with full of lighting and the Christmas atmosphere was pretty good!

The Christmas trees at the entrance of the Resort

We were having drinks at the restaurant area, and I like the lighting very much!

The Christmas Decoration at Austin Hills Golf Resort

My brother in-law and his family were putting a night at the Resort, and he took a Suite room for his family. Let me share some photos of the room...

Once you enter the Suite room, you will see the Living Hall (with TV) separated from the bedroom, beside the living hall there was a small dining area.

The Living Hall of the Suite Room of Austin Hills Golf Resort

The bedroom come with a King size bed and the bathroom was on the right...

The bathroom was spacious! You can see from the photos below...

The bathroom for the Suite Room

On our right, there was the shower and toilet area...and the Jacuzzi pool was located on the left...

The shower and toilet area

The Jacuzzi pool on the left...

The 29" TV was not working during our visit...

Well, the room was spacious enough for the kids to run around...they were really enjoyed their fun over here! All of us had a nice and fruitful night at the Austin Hills Golf Resort, Johor Bahru.

Austin Hills Golf Resort

Lot PTD 58061, Jalan Mutiara Emas 8,

Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru.

Tel: +607 3524300   Fax: +607 3538500

Website : http://www.austinhillsgolf.com/

Location map of Austin Hill Golf Resort at Johor Bahru

View Larger Map

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 23rd February, 2011

Today's weather;

Samui is seeing a bit of a mixed bag this morning, some clouds mixed with blue spots. Current temp at 7am is 28.3C

Yesterday saw a nice and warm day on Samui except that shortly after noon there was a short but heavy shower. Max temp reached 29.4C

Camille

A walk up Monkey Hill

On late Sunday afternoon after a hot day, and a couple of hours working in the garden, I decided that my original plan to drive to Cape Phromthep and hike down the path to the very end of Phuket was not going to happen due to an onset of laziness. Still can't believe I have never done that after 11 years here! So we took a vague drive into Phuket Town with the idea of a little walk somewhere and maybe an early dinner at Dairy Hut (a restaurant near the Bangkok-Phuket International Hospital which normally has live music at the weekend).

We actually thought of heading for a drive around Sirey Island, but it was getting late, and Sirey is on the far east side of town... we instead headed to the north side of town and the hill which most people call Monkey Hill, although it's really called Khao To Sae. We'd not been here for a while.. could have been a couple of years actually. There is a narrow road right to the top where you find many TV aerials. The monkeys are also nearer the top, where we have been before - this photo taken in 2007:



This time we drove as far as the shrine - a very interesting little place which I'd like to know more about. The shrine is called Chao Por To Sae.. I need to ask my wife to research a little with some Thai Google searches. The shrine features tigers and monkeys. It's built into the hillside surrounded by tropical foliage.



Tigers roam outside guarding the shrine. Inside at the very back of the wall are 3 figures which are called To Sae Kao, To Sae Daeng and To Sae Dam. (Kao = White; Daeng = Red; Dam = Black). Although it appears to be a Buddhist or Chinese shrine, the figures all have the Islamic crescent and star on the wall behind them. Interesting place. A girl came to say prayers while we were there.



Meanwhile my son was more interested in posing with the many tiger images outside the shrine. The whole shrine is full of tigers, this one being the scariest:



We had no plan to walk to the very top of the hill, that would be foolhardy! We just walked up until we found a view. A little exercise before dinner. Many local people come here to walk, ride bikes or run. The road is quite steep, so even a gentle walk is enough to burn a few calories. These guys were being more energetic, and with all their huffing and puffing still managed a smile :)



Some way below the "monkey line" we stopped where a gap in the trees allowed views to the east and south. A good place to stop and pose for photos. A number of other people had the same idea. One man was taking photos of his dog. One tree covered hillside looked almost autumnal...



And the same photo with some messing around on Photoshop:



Good for the kids to get some exercise too. Kids these days are easily distracted by their Nintendo games or watching movies or (God forbid!) reading books... we try to keep our kids active physically and mentally. Not too much.. keep it enjoyable. Now follows one of my favourite photos ever. Our kids. You want to know about my life in Phuket - this is it.



And another favourite. Earlier the same day, my daughter and I had been having a long discussion argument about the value of reading books. Not cartoon books, but real books with words. I think that this day was important in my daughter's life. In the last few days since this walk she has read Alice in Wonderland which starts rather wonderfully with Alice stating that she does not like books without pictures. I called my daughter "Alice" for a couple of days. Anyway, here she is with her mum, enjoying each others company, walking back down Monkey Hill.



I remember when we last came, a restaurant was being built just below the shrine, not so far up the hill but still quite a good viewpoint. The restaurant is now open, it's called "Green Forest" and we will go back sometime - just stopped for a drink this time. The menu was full of local food - a lot of salads and seafood. Looks good.





The view above looking to the southeast across Phuket Town from the restaurant. You can see the Royal Phuket City Hotel and the Thavorn Grand Plaza Hotel and behind that is Khao Khad hill and view point. Although I live here, sometimes the time is limited for exploring (yeh, I have a job working 6 days a week). Nice to revisit a place and find that there might be a good meal waiting in the future! We do try to get out and explore on days off but some days we have work to do around the house, feel lazy and just head somewhere local. Phuket has enough little places of interest that we can keep going back and there's always something new to see.

Monkey Hill - Location Map


View Monkey Hill in Phuket Town in a larger map

Food on Wheels; Deep fried bananas on Cebu in the Philippines

Food on Wheels; Deep fried bananas on Cebu in the Philippines

Food on Wheels goes international and has it's first contribution outside of Thailand! During my recent trip to the Philippines, I visited Cebu island, Cebu City and the small island of Malapascua, just north of Cebu.

The deep fried banana vendor at the Sto. Thomas de Villanueva Parish (Danao City Church)

On the way from Malapascua to back to Cebu city we passed the Sto. Thomas de Villanueva Parish (Danao City Church) and that's where I spotted this fried banana vendor. During the travel I had seen more food on wheels qualifying vendors but couldn't get any good pictures from the moving van.

The deep frying process

I'm very glad to have caught this on my camera so I can go international with this series! There's more out there and more to come! My archives are still in good shape and everyday can bring new material!

To my fellow bloggers, if anyone of you is still following my blog and output since I don't have the time lately to follow and check in to your blogs, if you feel that you want to contribute to the Food on Wheels series with a guest post, please contact me and I will have you write a blog post as a guest writer on this blog with at least one link to your blog.

Camille

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 22nd February, 2011

Today's weather;

This morning I woke up on Koh Tao after having visited two PADI meetings yesterday, a Course Director update and a Member Forum. The turtle island has some cloud formations hovering above it but blue spots are creeping in. Current temp at 7am is 27.7C

Later this morning I will take the ferry back to Samui.

Having breakfast in Zest, looking down the main road in Mae Haad towards the pier

Yesterday saw another warm day on both Samui and Koh Tao with plenty of sunshine. Max temp reached 28.8C

Camille

Direction Bytes: How To Get To Pasong Tamo Aka Chino Roces From Ayala Avenue

There are two options in going to Pasong Tamo which is now known as Chino Roces Avenue from Ayala Avenue.

If you're going to Pasong Tamo corner Buendia now known as Gil Puyat or any establishments and buildings near it, then you must ride a bus with "LRT Leveriza" sign or jeepney with "Washington" sign at the loading zone along Ayala Avenue near Ayala Tower One and Ayala Triangle Garden or any loading zone along Ayala Avenue. Get off at Gil Puyat corner Chino Roces formerly Pasong Tamo and walk to your destination or ride another jeepney that passes through Chino Roces. Important places in this vicinity are: Comfoods Building, Pryce Center, Avida Towers, Export and Industry Bank, King's Court, JAKA Center, Dela Rosa Square, Marvin Plaza and Saint Illian's Inn among others.

Now, if you're going to any of these places: Columns Legaspi, Sunvar Plaza, The Beacon Arnaiz Tower, MCS, Little Tokyo, Herald Suites, The Gallery, Eurotel Makati, Waltermart Makati, Don Bosco Technical Institute, Splash Mountain, Asian Massage, Wilcon Builders, Citi Motors, Laureno di Trevi, Makati Executive Suites, PDIC, The Beacon International School, Wyeth Philippines, Philippine School of Interior Design, Living & Style, Coca Cola Sales Office, Kodak Philippines Limited, Molave Building, Alegra Building, Mantrade, Auto Zone, Roche Incorporated, Levi's Philippines, Glaxo Smith Kline, Singer and Alphaland Southgate Mall among others; you need to take a different route.

Ride a jeepney with "Mantrade Pasong Tamo" sign at the loading station along Ayala Avenue opposite Ayala Triangle and near McDonald's. This jeepney turns right from Paseo de Roxas onto Ayala Avenue, picks up passengers at the loading zone, then turns right again onto Makati Avenue on its way to Pasong Tamo or Chino Roces Avenue.

Ageha Sushi Bar in Lamai

Ageha Sushi Bar in Lamai

Since a month or so there's a new player on the Japanese food market on Samui and it's Ageha sushi in Lamai. They're located just before Tesco Lotus if coming from the direction of Chaweng, at the other side (right hand side) of the road, just opposite one of my fave eateries in Lamai, the Kao Man Gai place.

The front and entrance to Ageha Sushi bar

The restaurant even got recommend by a Japanese friend who never liked a Japanese restaurant on Samui before this place opened!

Seating arrangements in the back of the restaurant, Japanese style

Besides the seating options as pictured, the front part of the restaurant has more traditional tables in Western style which may be more accommodating if you're not Japanese or Asian.

The counter where the sushi and sashimi is made and rolled

The restaurant specializes in sushi and sashimi, so don't go there if you want any other Japanese food, they don't have it and don't offer it! Even a salad, which is on the menu is not a reason to visit! However, on the other hand, if you like fresh sushi made out of local fish, this is the place to be. All local fish is fresh and very tasteful! Tuna and salmon are imported and more expensive!

Sushi rolling and sashimi slicing in progress

The nice thing about the restaurant is that their prices are very good and you get excellent value for excellent food in return. Various sushi and sashimi sets are on the menu and single sushi and sashimi orders are possible.

Interestingly enough the chef of Yamato was there as well, he was on crutches as a result of a motorbike accident over a month ago but he told me that he closed his Yamato restaurant and is moving back to Japan. It was very sad to hear this, since I always liked Yamato and always thought this to be a very good Japanese restaurant as well.

Sashimi dish

I enjoyed the food a lot and also the cup of sake, that comes in a big wooden cup! The Asahi beer was cold and I'm looking forward visiting again! Hope you enjoy your visit as well.

Camille

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 21st February, 2011

Today's weather;

Samui is covered under a grayish cloud layer and it looks like it's not going to be that sunny and hot today! Current temp at 7am is 27.8C

Interesting deity at Wat Plai Laem, this deity warrants it's own post!

Yesterday saw plenty of sunshine once more and it was hot on Samui. Max temp reached 29.7C

In a few moments I'll be off to Koh Tao for a PADI Course Director update, coming back to Samui tomorrow.

Camille

100 days after passing away of Grand Mother in law

100 days after passing away of Grand Mother in law

That is today and this morning the whole family gathered at Wat Plai Laem to commemorate this event and this is also the moment when part of her ashes are being put to rest in a wall surrounding the Bot in the the Temple.

Pictures of Grandmother in law and her husband whom I never met

The whole family from my wife's father and mother's side came out to pray, commemorate and celebrate the passing away 100 days ago. Everybody is praying in this picture during the Monks chants.

The Monks and tons of food waiting for them

By 6.30am we were at the temple and we brought copious amounts of food, but so did all other family members, curries, fish, meat, fruit and sweets and much more were brought into the Temple to offer to the Monks and since we were the family who this was organised for, we had to wait for the Monks to finish their food before we could start eating.

After the food, part of Grandmother in law's ash was taken in an urn to a wall surrounding the main building on the temple grounds, the Bot, and she was put to rest inside the family space.

The whole family followed by holding on to a white rope that was wrapped around the urn.

One of the monks putting the ash in the small family space near the Bot. Rest in peace Grandmother, she was a good person!

Camille

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 20th February, 2011

Today's weather'

The sky is blue, the sun is out and Samui is getting ready for a hot day! Current temp at 7am is 25.7C

Monks enjoying their breakfast at Wat Plai Laem with a cat trying to get some goodies

Today has a late update because it's exactly 100 days ago that my wife's Grand Mum passed away, in Thailand a moment to celebrate and commemorate. An update of this will be shortly on the blog.

Yesterday saw a sunny and warm day over Samui. Max temp reached 29.7C

Camille