The Cube

I'll come clean - I can't swim, and unfortunately Hamilton Island is not very forgiving for non swimmers. There are heaps of activities for swimmers, ranging from scuba diving to snorkelling and heaps of water activities. There were very limited reef related activities for non swimmers.

Coupling with the weather and my disability in swimming (I'll have to fix that) - there just isn't much we could do in relation to the reef. That being said, if the weather is good, there are some options available, like fish feeding safari and reef viewer glass bottom boat tour.

I can't comment much though, cos we did none of the above due to weather factor.

Even though the weather wasn't too kind, we did try to do what we could. Easily fit in was a walk at Catseye Beach.



Also, I've decided that the best seat at the beach were these beach bench, strategically placed under a tree, sheltered from the scorching sun, yet perfect for some reading and staring out at the sea. You may have guessed, I am not a sun baking person. :P


Best seats in the house


I didn't lie, there was sun

From the very informative website of Hamilton Island, there are also tracks of where you can have a (or more) walks. We didn't go the walks but did however check out One Tree Hill (not the TV show).



It was said that HI provides sunset drinks service at One Tree Hill daily but it was not oopen when we were there. Not sure if it was cancelled due to the drizzle or we have missed the time.



We didn't linger long, just took the next bus going to the Marina Village Front Street that came back. I think it would be a nice place to catch sunset though :)

Despite we took a free shuttle from One Tree Hill to the Marina Village, it was actually a short stroll from Reef View Hotel. Most of the time we just walked, except when it rained very heavily. There wasn't a lot of shops available, mostly restaurants or eateries.




I had a mango smoothie, yummy and my friend said the coffee was good too. This shop closed at 4pm though.



The blue umbrella at bottom right of the photo was umbrella on loan from the hotel. There were 2 of those umbrellas found in the cupboard in the bathroom in our room. So, you'll see people carrying those blue umbrellas all around the island :P

Further down, you'll find the HI Yacht Club. They have free movies on scheduled 3 times a day. It was printed as part of activities on a wet day. Think big screen with a overhead projector.



Anyway, my HI trip feels more like a staycation at a resort. My verdict, it is a beautiful relaxing place, but I personally think the price tag is a little too high, even more so for non swimmers.


Side note: Feels like bringing my camera out for a walk

Hamilton Island is one of the Whitsunday Islands, located in Queensland, Australia. It is where you would travel to if you are considering of seeing the Great Barrier Reef.

According to Wikipedia, Hamilton Island (HI) is the largest inhabited island of the Whitsunday Islands. Despite that, it gives me the feeling that it is actually rather small. It is almost exclusively for tourism. Despite it's size, there is an operating airport, HTI. Qantas, Virgin and Jetstar all service flights from Sydney to Hamilton Island.

Due to its location, it is said best time to visit would be from April to June. After weighing of time factor, and not expecting the daily rain factor, my friend and I had bit the bullet and made our travel in March. Despite it being late March, not only it rained, it poured like no tomorrow. Of the 4 days we were there, as luck would have it, it did not rain on day 4 when we were to fly out. LOL.

I would say Hamilton Island is very touristy, but that would be expected considering it is one big resort, and I suspect probably monopoly by one organisation. Hence, accommodations were expensive, as well as food. However maybe due to cost, or probably of the rainy season, I don't feel it being overcrowded.

On top of that, buggy transportation probably does help too. There are very, very few cars - from memory, it was only the free island shuttle, the airport transfer and a lorry or so. Otherwise, people commute with a buggy. If you stay in the very high end resort - Qualia, the room comes with a buggy, assuming they have included the cost.

There are of course buggy for rent. These little 4 wheels thingy don't come cheap - as of current, 1 hour $45.00, 2 hours $55.00, 3 hours $60.00 and 24 hours $85.00. Of course, the cheapest option would be taking the free shuttle bus. There are 3 different routes, serviced by green, orange and purple shuttle respectively.



We opted for the cheapest option we could find - Palm Bungalows but were lucky to have an upgrade to a room in the Reef View Hotel, overlooking the waters.



Our room was very spacious, with 2 queen beds, even the bathroom came with 2 sinks.



Standing on the balcony, it has a great view of Catseye Beach


... I took some pictures, till a fat bird came around, I was kind of worry the bird would fly straight in to the room :P


Our room booking came with buffet breakfast included. We had our breakkie at Reef View Hotel's in-house restaurant - Pool Terrace. So called as it was next to a swimming pool, I suppose.



I didn't take any pictures on breakkie though. Here's the picture of my first meal at Pool Terrace, while waiting for our room to be ready. I was starving by then, and rain got heavier, so we didn't walk further to have our lunch.


Club sandwich served with chips

Oh, and I just have to put this in...


How often do you see an air-con unit being installed in the lift itself... ?


Side note: Enjoying long weekend at home ^_^

Brighton-Le Sands is a suburb in southern Sydney. I have never been there till work decided to hold a one and half days internal conference there. The instruction given to us on basis of cost saving was to travel to Kogarah station and meet up with the rest to cab share to Novotel Brighton-Le Sands.


View from 14th Floor

I was allocated to 14th floor, to a fairly big room complete with lounge area and balcony; however majority of the time were spent in the conference room anyway.



There was some drinks and nimbles before dinner but I skipped that and tried to get a nap though ended up watching some TV :P Dinner was at a Brazillian restaurant in Bay Street (imagine a lot of meat). The waiters came around offering grilled meat on big, long skewers.


Bay Street in the morning

Anyway, the only free time I had poking walking around was in the morning. Yes, I actually set the alarm to wake up earlier to have a little walk on a Saturday morning before the start of the second half the conference.

Novotel was right across the Brighton Beach, so I had a little walk before stuffing myself with breakkie :) A couple of pictures on a morning walk in Brighton Le-Sands.








Side note: Better start on those homework...

I have been back in Sydney for at two months, so this was overdue for at least 60 days.

The old Pudu jail (or Pudu Prison), or what is left, the wall had been broken down despite it could be very much considered a heritage despite one could argue for the wrong reason.



Under the monorail track, near Hang Tuah station.



The twin towers which most try to have a piece of the view from their home, so one could view those fireworks without leaving the comfort of home.



And this... long overdue, Happy 2012 :)




Side note: Will have to try the ramen again another time. Sux

BT means Bilis Telur (anchovies egg)


So simple, yet so delicious... this little parcel here beats a lot of those so-called gourmet nasi lemak.

I'm craving for a couple of these no nonsense cheap nasi lemak.


Side note: Brighton Beach

~ looking out to the sea, Pantai Cenang

Langkawi seems to be more famous than Alor Setar despite Alor Setar being the state capital. In fact, some of my colleagues here actually had their honeymoon in Langkawi! Grin. I grew up in Alor Setar and Langkawi is just a 1 hour ferry ride away... I have only been to Langkawi twice. In fact the first time was after I have left Kedah. Funny how things turn out huh.


~ On the way to the ferry, Kuala Kedah

A famous folklore associated with Langkawi was on Mahsuri. Mahsuri was a beautiful young woman lived in Langkawi long time ago. She was accused of adultery by the village chief's wife who was jealous of her beauty. Mahsuri pleaded for her innocence but nobody believed her. She was executed by stabbing. It was said that when she was stabbed, white blood flowed from her wound signifying her innocence. Before she passed on, she cursed Langkawi to have seven generations of bad luck. Apparently Langkawi did suffer for seven generations of misfortune but flourished thereafter. Now Mahsuri's Tomb (Makam Mahsuri) is one of the attraction in Langkawi.

Anyway, this trip was a little different. We did not stay by the beach, instead overlooking the golden green paddy fields.


~ View from Sunset Valley, Langkawi

All credit to my friend, she was the one scouting out possible accommations, and finally made booking for this one - Sunset Valley.

Beautiful place but I find the service a little lacking. Also although I appreciate that they are trying to maintain and keeping the place at its best, but I can't help feeling a lot of rules or restriction were being set. Or maybe it was just the way it was presented to us.


~ Still around Sunset Valley

In our group, there were 7 adults and 2 kids - 1 and 1/2 years old and 5 months old. 5 adults and 1 kiddo stayed for 2 nights while the other for an extra night. Booking were made for the 2 room Forest House and the other on Farmer's House. It was a pretty comfortable and unique stay, though I stood out like a sore thumb, being the odd number. They have set up an extra bed in one of the rooms in Forest House but it was so crowded and I was like an extra limb hanging out. Um.. something like that.

We didn't do a lot this trip, the beach, some good dinners and lazing around :P
Though the Langkawi Sky Bridge did interest me...


~ just outside of Sunset Valley

Don't think people associate rubber trees with Langkawi but hey, it's still in Kedah. It's kind of nostalgic as I remember stretches and stretches of rubber plantations (not forgetting the smell of it) when travelling on the road from Alor Setar towards south, via the old road (not highway). The North South Highway gives view of flat plains of paddy fields. Also, postage for local mails was 20 cents and the most frequently seen stamps for 20 cents was rubber tree. :)


Side note: My first 20 minutes run today... didn't think I would survive...LOL

This is not a popular destination if you are a tourist travelling to Malaysia. I suspect even if one make time for Penang, the much popular neighbour, they might just forgo this rice bowl state. In fact, I think most of the people who gets here are to get to Kuala Kedah for the ferry to Langkawi. But, this is the place where I spent all my school years, till I left for uni.. where Thursday nights were my favourite night because weekends in Kedah are Friday and Saturday. Sunday is a working day.

Ok... a little about Alor Setar. Between 2004 and 2008, it was known as Alor Star when granted status as "city" (bandar), I can't exactly remember the reason though, in fact I didn't quite remember the year (I got that from Wiki page) though yes, I remember having to change how I spelt Alor Setar. Strange thing.

Alor Setar is the state capital of Kedah, a northern state in West Malaysia, just south of Perlis. Kedah is also called the Rice Bowl of Malaysia because of paddy agriculture and rice production. Also of interest (I suppose) that the first and 4th Prime Minister of Malaysia was born in Kedah :)

The picture above - that is Masjid Zahir (Zahir Mosque), located in the heart of Alor Setar, along the street, stood the Balai Seni Negeri (State Art Gallery), Balai Nobat (Hall of Drums), Balai Besar (Grand Audience Hall) and Muzium Di Raja (Royal Kedah Museum). It was a good walk, looking at those buildings. The added bonus was I used to stay a stone throw's away :P

That, unfortunately is the only picture I have on Masjid Zahir from the last trip, from a moving car. I probably won't be able to tempt anybody to visit Alor Setar but hey, I'm bias :P

The building on the left - That's Balai Nobat (Hall of Drums).

That's Telekom Tower, a baby compared to the Petronas Twin Tower :P

A walk straight on leads to the Balai Seni Negeri (State Art Gallery) and the other buildings.

And a trip home isn't complete without a good bowl of asam laksa. Of course I ate much more food in Alor Setar, just didn't take any picture cos I was busy stuffing myself silly :P
Food in Alor Setar are great! All of us (my friends and I) gained a few kg from just the 2 days home. :P


Side note: Time for dinner!