Family getaway in Central Vietnam

Our first trip out as a family, Daddy, Mummy & Chloe, it was a splendid long weekend. Besides chilling out at the beautifully located and designed InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsular resort, we managed to have a couple of adventures venturing out to Hoi An and Hue as well. With the exception of a few minor incidents, I thought Baby, Mummy and I had a good time bonding. Happy Days! Now time to think of how to put that Ambassador membership to better use... 

 Beautiful Da Nang InterContinental Resort

Hoi An old town buildings

 Hoi An riverside scene by day

 Hoi An riverside scene by night

 Part of the Imperial City at Hue

 Picturesque Central Vietnam countryside

Mountains and waterscapes abound

Adventure at Hawai'i, the Big Island

Our second club experience, Big Island really is BIG on activities. Having relaxing massages in an Oceanside Hale at the Fairmont, brilliant driving and hiking at the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, horse-riding in Waipio Valley, catching the sunset and stargazing at Mauna Kea, and more! - there really is a lot for anyone to look forward to, especially the adventure seekers... gotta work towards next year's now, there's this sunrise at Haleakala that I still need to check off my list!

 Akaka Falls

Sunset at Mauna Kea Summit

 Waipio Valley Lookout

Scenery in the Valley itself

Kilauea Iki Hike

Where the lava 'ate' the road

 Halema'uma'u Crater by Day

  Halema'uma'u Crater by Night

Oceanside Hales at the Fairmont Orchid

Our l'il princess' first trip out

Short family trip out to Phuket island - Not much exploring given it's Chloe's first overseas vacation, just chillin' at the Renaissance and an occasional saunter along the peaceful Mai Khao Beach. It's just me and the three most precious women in my life- Mummy, Wifey and Baby... Baby, daddy's gonna show you the world for as long as you still want me to...

Beautiful Mai Khao Beach

Same peaceful spot at dusk

Showing baby how beautiful the world is

Valley Isle Maui

Our first Club experience: Maui - Dramatic coastlines, beaches aplenty, hidden waterfalls and green valleys, not too bad for a company paid trip at all! Highlights include 3 nights at the Ritz Kapalua, the 'Road to Hana' drive, the Pipiwai Trail and the dophin/whale watching cruise. (Saw my first whale) Only missed out the Haleakala Sunrise experience; if we're ever back, this will be on our must-do list. Time to work harder for the next club...

DT Fleming Beach at the Ritz 

Upper Waikani falls - a.k.a. 'Three Bears' 

Iao Needle at Misty Iao Valley

 View of Maui from whale/dophin-watching Cruise to Lanaii

Pa'iloa black sand baeach at Wai'anapanapa State Park

Chilling at the Ritz Carlton Kapalua

Paradise on Earth

Lily Beach resort. Location: Huvahendhoo Island, South Ari Atoll, Maldives.

Best beach resort I've ever stayed in. Expensive? Yes very, but was it worthwhile? Every penny of it! Sumptuous food, beautiful villas, excellent house reef right at your doorstep, I would recommend every couple to try it at least once in their lives. Can't get any more romantic than this. I'm still missing the experience a week after we came back -This one will be hard to beat.

Waking up to a perfect morning

Coral Reef right at your doorstep

Splendid Water Villas

Dusk at Huvahendhoo

Another view of the water villas

Beautiful coral atolls seen from the seaplane

Bali Long Week-end

Not much exploring done during our trip in Bali. The day dive at Nusa Penida was rewarding, having seen my first Manta (several huge ones in fact) and Mola-Mola, but otherwise. it's a rest and relax holiday -Good food, spa & shopping- don't really have many interesting pictures to share, the only exception being the wonderful view out of our room at Tegal Sari.

Padi Field View from Tegal Sari

Weekend Getaway at Cameron Highlands

Thank you Groupon for the wonderful stay at the Cameron Highlands Resort! The 8-9 hours drive from Singapore each way was really tiring, but chilling out in all that Highland atmosphere- Cool weather, relaxing high tea, the beautiful colonial style room, divine complimentary massage session and the beautiful scenery of the tea plantations- make it all worthwhile. An eventful, out of the ordinary weekend, to say the least. Go Groupon, get us more deals - Pangkor Laut resort next?

Palas Tea Plantation

Fun in the Sun at Boracay

A weekend of Sun, Sand & Sea! White Beach really is a spectacular beach, with clear, shallow waters and powdery, white sand - truly befitting of its "one of the top 10 beaches in the world" status. Don't expect privacy though, especially during sunset, when the hordes of party goers start pouring in. Nevertheless, it was a great getaway for us, paraw sailing with the Red Pirates, Horse riding to the other side of the island, luxurious pampering at Tirta spa, and last but not least, rustic living(no air-con/hot water) at the BalingHai Resort. Nestled among trees on a hill overlooking the sea, staying at the resort was quite an experience. Our spacious huts had spectacular sea views, (Rock House & Bat House) we could enjoy our breakfast at a leisurely pace at our private verandas, and we slept to the sounds of nature. (can be scary at times though) I'm looking forward to my next beach holiday already!

A man and his beach

Waking up to beautiful views at our 'Rock House'

BalingHai Resort: Rock House

Road Trip on the Emerald Isle

Never thought I'd have a chance to do a road trip with my buds again after marriage, but well, what do you know? We did it! - a glorious week driving around the very very green and oft-times rainy Ireland. Dramatic coastlines, (some of the most spectacular cliffs I've ever seen) ancient/medievil ruins scattered all around the isle, and endless fields in varying shades of green, it really is a beautiful place, when it's not raining of course. Well, they say the grass is always greener on the 'other' side; now I know where that 'other' is...

Itinerary:
Day 1: Bru na Boinne (Newgrange), The Burren (Poulnabrone dolmen), Doolin
Day 2: Cliffs of Moher, Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, Dingle Peninsular Drive
Day 3: Killarney (Muckross Estate), Ring of Kerry, Skellig Ring, Gap of Dunloe, Cork
Day 4: Blarney Castle, Rock of Cashel, Glendalough & the Wicklow mountains
Day 5: N. Ireland day tour: Belfast, Antrim, Giant's causeway, Dunluce castle, Derry
Day 6: Dublin city walk: Trinity College, Guinness Storehouse

Spectacular cliffs along Dingle Peninsular

Ladies' view on the Ring of Kerry

View from Staigue Fort

One of many fine beaches along the Skellig Ring

Same beach, different view (with fort ruins)

Green fields everywhere we go

Gorgeous coastal scenery again

Faint rainbow sighted on the Gap of Dunloe

Well preserved ruins on the Rock of Cashel

Monastic city of Glendalough

Birdies nesting high atop the cliffs

N. Ireland's star attraction - Giant's Causeway

Close-up look at the basalt columns

Amazing how they can form such shapes...

Dunluce castle ruins perched on a cliff

Revisiting old sights during the transit in London