Antoinette Hotel Wimbledon

Looking for a great value hotel that offers large family rooms.

The Antoinette Hotel Wimbledon is a hotel for families run by a family, offering a level of personal service to travellers with children not always available from large chains. Central London and all it’s family attractions is just a 10 minute journey by train.

Benefits in booking family accommodation with Antoinette Hotel Wimbledon:-

• lowest internet rate guarantee with advance purchase rates
• no booking fees
• reservations team based at hotel to take bookings direct on 0870 011 8944 or to deal with any questions
• staff have excellent knowledge of local area and attractions suitable for children
• Full English/Continental Breakfast for children under the age of 12 is free when quoting ‘Little Nomads’

Situated on the outskirts of London, journey time by train is 10 minutes. Visiting London need not be expensive, many museums are free including the Natural History, Science and Victoria and Albert, and there are also the beautiful Royal Parks.

The Antoinette Hotel Wimbledon has 50 rooms with air conditioning, plasma television, hospitality tray, hairdryer, desk, free wi-fi access, and well appointed bathroom. Other facilities include the Lambourne Bar & Grill, and late food menu. There is also a roof garden, and large free secure car park.

Local attractions include Chessington World of Adventures, and less than an hour away are Legoland and Thorpe Park. Also close by are Hampton Court Palace, Kew Gardens, and for children who enjoy sport the tours at Twickenham Rugby Stadium, and Wimbledon Tennis Museum.

Wimbledon itself has a very modern shopping centre, theatre, children’s theatre, and cinema.

Address: Antoinette Hotel Wimbledon – The Broadway, Wimbledon, London. SW19 1SD

Bookings:  To make a booking please call our reservations team on 0044 208 546 1044 or e-mail us at reservations@antoinettehotels.com or visit our web site www.antoinettehotels.com

Antoinette Hotel Kingston

Looking for a great value hotel that offers large family rooms.

The Antoinette Hotel Kingston is a hotel for families run by a family, offering a level of personal service to travellers with children not always available from large chains.  Situated in a quiet residential area with landscaped gardens, Central London and all it’s family attractions is just a 15 minute journey by train.

Benefits in booking family accommodation with Antoinette Hotel Kingston

• lowest internet rate guarantee with advance purchase rates
• no booking fees
• reservations team based at hotel to take bookings direct on 0870 011 8944 or to deal with any questions
• staff have excellent knowledge of local area and attractions suitable for children
• Full English/Continental Breakfast for children under the age of 12 is free when quoting ‘Little Nomads’

Situated 12 miles SW of London, journey time by train is 15 minutes.  Visiting London need not be expensive, many museums are free including the Natural History, Science and Victoria and Albert, and there are also the beautiful Royal Parks.

The Antoinette Hotel Kingston has 100 rooms with television, hospitality tray, hairdryer, desk, free wi-fi access, and well appointed bathroom.  Other facilities include the Hampton Restaurant offering a children’s menu, Cafe Lounge, Bar, and late food menu.  There are also landscaped gardens and large free secure car park.

Local attractions include Chessington World of Adventures, and less than an hour away are Legoland and Thorpe Park.  Also close by are Hampton Court Palace, Kew Gardens, and for children who enjoy sport the tours at Twickenham Rugby Stadium, and Wimbledon Tennis Museum.

Kingston itself has a very modern shopping centre, theatre, cinema, bowling arcade, leisure centre, and riverside walks.

Booking Details – To make a booking please call our reservations team on 0044 208 546 1044 or e-mail us at reservations@antoinettehotels.com or visit our web site www.antoinettehotels.com

Location: – Antoinette Hotel Kingston – Beaufort Road, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey.  KT1 2TQ

Summer Finn Fun for Families

Finland thrives in the summer as the days get light and long. The extra energy of the juniors of the family can be channelled to the summer activities that Finland has plenty. Several theme parks and zoos open their doors and staged across the country there’s over hundred festivals of song, dance and theatre that will keep the whole family entertained. In a land of thousands of lakes and a beautiful seacoast with plenty of islands, a summer cruise on a boat is a must.

FESTIVALS FOR KIDS

Seurasaari Midsummer Bonfires, 19 June–20 June 2009
A traditional Finnish Midsummer celebration for the whole family, with all of the familiar elements such as handcraft demonstrations, folk
dance and music. The evening concludes with bonfires and Midsummer dances.

For more information www.seurasaarisaatio.fi

Pori Jazz Kids Festival – Back to the roots, 11–15 July 2009
The 5th Annual Pori Jazz Kids Festival kicks off the Pori International Jazz Festival in the picturesque Finnish west coast city of Pori. The
5-day-long kids festival offers over 90 different types of musical workshops, concerts and performances on three different stages. Access
to all concerts and workshops is free. This year’s theme is “Back to the Roots” with blues, jazz, gospel and harmonica.

For more information: www.porijazz.fi

Helsinki Festival for children, 13–30 August 2009
Helsinki Festival’s aim has been to make art accessible for all and this year children are on the top of their list. Kids program features four
Finnish theatre premieres and several international theatre group visits among other things. The junior audiences will love Semianyki,
Teatr Licedei, the outrageously funny theatrical spectacle that plays a tribute to the art of clowning. At the Suvilahti big top, kids and
adults alike will be whisked away on a whirlwind tour of Vietnam in the company of a water puppetry troupe.

For more information www.helsinkifestival.fi/en/lapset

THEME PARKS

Linnanmäki is a cheerful, happy place!
The 60-year old Linnanmäki amusement park is a classic Helsinki destination. A summer day with over 40 rides of different sizes and speeds, thrilling games and surprising novelties will be a day to remember. Admission to the amusement park area is free all summer. The summer season in Linnanmäki is 24 April – 13 September 2009.

Adjacent to the amusement park, Sea Life aquarium is an exciting place to dive into the magical world of underwater life. There are more than 50 tanks in which you can see sharks, piranhas, seahorses and hundreds of other fascinating sea creatures up close.

For more information www.linnanmaki.fi and www.sealife.fi

Särkänniemi – Spin, speed or splash?
If amusement is measured by the number and variety of attractions in a place, the Särkänniemi Adventure Park is the funniest place in Finland. The big smiles of over 700,000 guests each year just go to prove this. Besides the 35 rides, the park features an aquarium, a dolphinarium, a planetarium, a children’s zoo, an art museum and an observation tower. Särkänniemi is located in less than two kilometers from the centre of Tampere, by the beautiful lake Näsijärvi.

For more information www.sarkanniemi.fi

Moominworld – Say hello to Moomintroll and Little My!
The Southwest coast of Finland is home to a family that wakes up from hibernation every spring. The Moomins are fairytale characters originally created by writer Tove Jansson in the 1950’s. Today their blue house stands on an island of magical beauty in front of the old town in Naantali and surrounded by the archipelago. The Moominworld is located in Naantali, at a distance of about 16 km from Turku and about 180 km from Helsinki. It is open from June to August.

For more information www.muumimaailma.fi

ZOOS

Helsinki Zoo – The whole world on one island
At the Helsinki Zoo in Korkeasaari, you travel from tundra to rainforest and from foreign mountain peaks to domestic wetlands. The 150 animal species and almost 1000 plant species truly show the diversity of nature. The exciting visit to the zoo starts already as you step on the boat that takes you to the island. The Helsinki Zoo is open throughout the year.

For more information www.korkeasaari.fi

Ranua Wildlife Park – The northern nature experience
Ranua Wildlife park is one of Finland’s northernmost family attractions situated just south of the Arctic Circle. It offers visitors the chance to see Nordic and Arctic animals in their most natural environment throughout the year. You’ll see Palle-Jooseppi and Doris, two of the Park’s brown bears, as well as snowy owls, wolves, arctic foxes and polar bears. The park offers an excellent line-up of summer activities for children, including horse-riding and helping to feed the animals.

For more information www.ranuawildlife.fi

CRUISES AND SEA EXCURSIONS

Turku archipelago by s/s Ukkopekka
On the historical Ukkopekka day cruise you will be treated to magnificent scenery of the Turku archipelago and a tasty lunch buffet of maritime treats. Alternatively step on board for an evening supper cruise that culminates in dancing on the quays on the bare island of Loistokari.

For more information www.herrankukkaro.fi

Helsinki by sea
Explore the shores of Helsinki and its archipelago of over 300 islands on a day cruise. With an optional lunch the route offers you sights of Suomenlinna sea fortress, Finnish summer villas, the fantastic Degerö Canal, Korkeasaari Zoo, and assorted ice breakers and harbours.

For more information www.sunlines.fi, www.royallines.fi, www.ihalines.fi

Cruise on Saimaa Canal and archipelago on m/s El Faro
Experience the Finnish Lakeland Saimaa Canal or breathtaking scenery of Saimaa archipelago on the beautiful boat m/s El Faro. On board you can find a sundeck, a panorama bar, fully-licensed restaurant, guided route and music.

For more information www.gosaimaa.fi

For more information on Finland visit www.visitfinland.com

Lanzarote, the family island

Take the family away to Discover Lanzarote – The Fire Island

“Will there be anything for the kids to do?” That´s the main concern of most parents when it comes to booking a family holiday. As unoccupied children can put a dampener on a sunny day quicker than an unexpected downpour.

Fortunately, both clouds and boredom are unlikely to arise on the small Canary Island of Lanzarote. As this little speck of Spain is located just off the coast of West Africa – creating a child friendly clement climate, often likened to an Eternal spring, all year round. As well as boasting no end of activities to keep even the choosiest of kids entertained.

Getting There

Lanzarote is hugely popular with sun starved tourists from Northern Europe. With a just about bearable (depending of course on your offspring’s age and disposition) four hour flight time from the UK.

The island is well established as a family holiday destination and tourism first took off here in the 1970´s. So everybody is well accustomed to the sight of dad wrestling the buggy and luggage off the carousel.

Being a friendly Spanish island you might even get some help – and failing that your children will certainly get a smile. As even the most sullen and disinterested looking airport official seems to come magically to life at the sight of a family passport.

Best Places To Stay

There are three main tourist resorts on the island.

• The biggest and most popular, Puerto del Carmen, is located just ten minutes drive from the airport. Making it the best choice for those who like to keep transfer times to a minimum.
• Puerto del Carmen also boasts one of the islands few blue flag beaches, a seemingly endless number of child friendly restaurants (and patient waiters), a good selection of some of the best apartments and villas in Lanzarote and plenty of family orientated attractions.

Things To Do

Such as the surprisingly rather good Rancho Texas Wild West Park. Which despite its slightly corny theme is home to a fantastic array of wild animals – such as white tigers, cougars, sea lions and bison. As well as cuddlier options for the younger members of the party. Shows and demonstrations are held throughout the day and kids can also enjoy a host of other activities such as the petting zoo in Lilliput Land or prospecting for nuggets in the Gold Mine.

Puerto del Carmen is just ten minutes away from the upmarket marina of Puerto Calero. Which offers a couple of excellent family days out – in the form of Lanzarote´s very own Yellow Submarine and the Catlanza Catamaran. Both of which operate family only sailings.

The Yellow Submarine usually makes more of a splash with younger children. Who can enjoy watching marine wildlife such as rays and sharks through both giant viewing portals and interior TV screens.

The Catamaran is ideal for teenagers – as they are able to get involved with the friendly crew, who are happy to show them how to steer the craft and raise the sails. Before stopping for snorkelling and a spot of lunch (all included in the price) just off the breathtaking beaches at Papagayo.

Children of all ages are usually awed by Lanzarote´s number one tourist attraction too. And little surprise – as the Timanfaya Volcano Park really is out of this world. Very much resembling the surface of the moon.

During the 1730´s the island was subjected to a massive series of volcanic eruptions. Which lasted for six years and carpeted around a quarter of Lanzarote in lava. Today, the Volcano Park is the islands top attraction – featuring mile upon mile of twisted lava shapes and spent volcanic cones. Indeed the terrain is so other worldly here that NASA apparently used pictures of Timanfaya to brief Apollo 13 astronauts before their lunar mission.

Touring the Volcano Park can be hungry work – and a visit to The Devils Diner is an absolute must. Here, huge grills of chicken are cooked over the open heat of a volcano. Whilst park guides demonstrate the intensity of the energy trapped below the earth’s surface with a number of fascinating demonstrations.

Getting Around

Lanzarote boasts a surprisingly large number of tourist attractions for such a small island. Measuring just 58km by 38km this makes it easy to explore too.

Car hire and petrol are very reasonably priced (basic models from around €17 per day) and the roads are pretty quiet. So it’s a doddle to get out and about.

As well as natural beauty spots such as the Valley of 1000 Palms – where locals once planted a palm tree for every new born girl and two for a boy – the island also boasts a series of unique tourist centres created by a hugely inventive local artist called Cesar Manrique. Who injected a childlike sense of fun into many of his creations – such as the Mirador del Rio. Which he transformed from a naval gun battery into a lookout point that grants stunning views of the neighbouring island of La Graciosa. Thought to be the real life location for the Robert Louis Stevenson children’s classic Treasure Island.

Best Times To Visit

If you have the freedom to pick and choose then the autumn or winter months are the best. As the Trade Winds that blow across the island have died down and the summer crowds have dissipated.

View more in depth Lanzarote tourist information  at www.lanzaroteguidebook.com – where you can also download a free 96 page Guidebook to the island.

Wild Borneo

Sabah, formerly British North Borneo, is an eco-tourism paradise. The wildlife here is truly unique – you’ll find nothing quite like it anywhere else in the world. And it’s here in abundance. Read more

Giveaway, Journey Jotting Maps

In a world that has become full of electronic chips, ram and batteries. Isn’t nice to know you can still travel and use a traditional method to record your memories with ink on paper.

The problem with most maps and gps units they are great for telling you where to go, but they don’t do a very good job of recording what you did once you got there. Journey Jottings have come up with a neat and very whimsical way to record the highlights of your trip.

Journey Jottings provides travelers the opportunity to record their travels on an innovative pictorial map which one can jot one’s trails, the maps are encompassed by a bordered which is illustrated with iconic vignettes for jotting highlights about the trip.

Key Benefits

• No Batteries Required just pencils an pens
• No PHD required to operate a journey jotting map
• Simple method to jot down key highlights of your family trip
• Effective way to cover your tracks and jot your path.
• Kids will find it fun and entertaining
• Great for sharing and stories with others about your vacation

Once you have completed your travels you have very neat little map which really highlights the events of your travels, perfect for jogging the fading memory, or to show to family and friends on your return from you adventures vacation with the kids.

Giveaway Prize

With thanks to journeyjottings.com we have a two Journey Jottings maps to giveaway to a family who will be visiting Australia in the next 6 months, and to an Australian family who is about to take the kids on an adventure around Australia.

1. To have a change of winning one of these maps simply sign up to our newsletter and provide your location
2. Leave a comment below to  which Australian destinations you are planning to visit.

We will pick two lucky winners at the end of the month May 2009.

Dolphins, Crocs and Camels at Port Stephens

The central coast of New South Wales has loads to offer as a family friendly destination. It may not have the theme parks but its got activities galore, a wealth of natural beauty and animals, animals, animals…

The drive north
Living in Sydney like I do makes the Central Coast an easy destination to get to by car, but it’s just as easy to fly to from other states. The drive north from Sydney is relatively short and there is a lot to see on the way.
We break our journey with a visit to the Australian Reptile Park. The Reptile Park has lots to offer kids for entertainment. There are shows all day long including Elvis, the big croc who has replaced Eric, who died in storms in 2007. It’s a hands-on experience, with volunteers pulled from the crowd to hold pythons and lizards.

Shoal Bay
Arriving in Shoal Bay is something that always takes me by surprise. After the tedious drive from Sydney, I’m instantly refreshed as we turn the corner and the view of the bay comes into view. It always looks beautiful. And there are always dolphins – added bonus. We find our apartment and the kids run around like crazy fighting over which room to sleep in, and Holly (age 14) quickly grabs and hordes all the toiletries.

The afternoon is spent in the pool until all fingers resemble prunes, and we then grab fish and chips for dinner.

Activities for the kids and relaxation for me
Breakfast followed by swimming and then the activities start. The Occies Kids Club here is fantastic – the kids can’t wait to go. Plaster painting followed by lunch then camel riding on the sand dunes. The photo’s they come back with look amazing – they could be in the Sahara desert. The camels are well behaved and don’t smell too bad apparently.
And me? Aqua Spa. A luxurious massage and facial which occupies me for about three hours. Bliss. This really is the perfect holiday.

Flipper and friends
After a morning swim there’s a host of activities to choose from. A dolphin cruise seems to be the most popular choice. There’s a host of cruise companies to choose from and the water on the bay is calm as pond water and sparkling, so there’s hopefully little chance of seasickness.

The cruise companies promote a 95% of spotting dolphins (or they’ll give you another cruise for free) – there’s so many of them living in the bay. And sure enough before long they join us. The other attraction this boat has is a slide at the back, so you can slide straight into the bay.

Who’s poos’ that?
On offer for the kids in the afternoon is one of the Tomaree National Parks Discovery Walks and Talks – Who’s Poos’ That. A walk through the neighbouring bushland with National Parks rangers teaching them about the local wildlife. They come back full of stories but thankfully no poo.

In the morning we reluctantly move on as I try to explain to the kids we can come back another day, but that’s not quite good enough for six year old Mary: “next time we HAVE TO STAY LONGER”.

Getting There
The drive north from Sydney is approx. 2.5 hours long up the M1. Visitors from interstate can fly to Newcastle. It’s an hour’s drive to Shoal Bay from the airport.

Where to Stay
Shoal Bay Resort & Spa
Be sure to ask about Occies Kids Club for kids aged three to 12 years.
Phone: 1800 181810 or visit www.shoalbayresort.com for the full range of offers.

Activities
Tomaree National Parks Discovery Walks and Talks
School holiday guided walks for kids including “Who’s Poos’ That”, “Pirates at Tomaree”, Spooky Experiences” and “Biodiversity for Kids”.
Bookings essential: 02 4984 8200

Dolphin and Whale watching cruises
Moonshadow Cruises
Ph: 02 4984 9388
www.moonshadow.com.au
Tamboi Queen Cruises
Ph: 02 4981 2959
E: cruises@tamboiqueencruises.com
www.tamboiqueencruises.com

Camel Riding
Oakfield Ranch
Birubi Point Carpark
End of James Patterson Drive, Anna Bay NSW
Ph: 0429 664 172
www.oakfieldranch.com

Attractions:
Toboggan Hill Park
Salamander Way, Nelson Bay NSW 2315
Ph: 02 4984 1022
E: toboggan@nelsonbay.com
www.tobogganhillpark.com

Australian Reptile Park
Pacific Highway, Somersby NSW 2250
Ph: 02 4340 1022
E: enquiries@retilepark.com.au
www.reptilepark.com.au

A very Gold Coast weekend

The concept: A driving trip from Sydney to the Gold Coast with three kids, fitting in as many theme parks as humanly possible in a long weekend. Sounds like the weekend away from hell? Not if you plan your trip well and choose the right accommodation both there and on the way.

Well my planning was thorough, having researched new attractions at the Gold Coast theme parks, calculating how long it would take to drive there, where to have rest stops and the best time to drive in order to avoid traffic. I didn’t factor in the weather however…

Our plan is to drive to Coffs Harbour on Day 1 and stay the night at the beautiful Aanuka Bay Resort. I ignore news stories of storms lashing the Gold Coast, confident the weather will clear up. We’re fairly close to Port Macquarie when the heavens open. And we’re talking monsoonal rain. So heavy I can barely see with wipers at top speed. So the last leg of our trip to Coffs is the slowest.

Driver reviver

We always break our journey north at some of the driver reviver rest stops. We’re regulars at the Newcastle and Port Macquarie – run by volunteers and sponsored by Bushells, they offer tea, coffee, cordial, biscuits and a toilet for grateful drivers. Each holiday season up to 220 Bushells Driver Reviver sites open across Australia and they’re supported by volunteers from a range of regional community groups.

The Breakfree Aanuka Bay Resort makes for a great place to stop when we finally reach it. I’m starting to wish we could just stay here and forget the next driving stint. Two beautiful pools, one with a waterslide – very important feature for anyone under 12, tennis courts, day spa (mmm) and a large kid-friendly restaurant. The cabins are spacious and include kitchen and laundry facilities.

Our first day on the Gold Coast, having driven through a few more hours of driving rain, is spent at Seaworld. The sea still looks angry and brown after days of stormy weather but the sun’s out in full force when we arrive.

First stop – the dugong exhibit, a very kid-friendly and educational exhibit with interactive features teaching kids about the marine environment and threats to the dugong population. Shark Bay is also impressive with touch pools on the surface for littlies and great underwater viewing of all sorts of tropical fish, sharks and rays. Older kids can snorkel and there’s also a dive experience with the big sharks.

We then experience the Seaworld Eye for the first time, which offers fabulous views of the Spit (and air-conditioning). As my kids fall into two different age groups, when it comes to the rides, it’s time to split up. The older kids race for the Pirate Ship and the Corkscrew while seven-year-old Mary and I head for Sesame St Beach.

Very Gold Coast

Our accommodation choice in Surfers Paradise is totally Gold Coast – high-rise (22^nd floor) at the Vibe Hotel. The kids are especially excited that the neon Vibe sign is above our balcony. The view is spectacular – if a little scary to my heightened sense of vertigo. The apartment is spacious and beautifully fitted out, with kitchen and laundry facilities and an odd little raised mini-room with the apparent sole purpose being for guests to enjoy the view.

Day Two is spent at the “Worlds” – Dreamworld and Whitewater World. We arrive early and the older kids run straight for the ‘Big 6’ rides while Mary and I head for Nick Central.

Having re-grouped as a family we head for a stroll around the Australian Wildlife Experience before heading over to Wiggles World for lunch and a few tamer rides. A Wildlife highlight was the bilby burrow, with two baby bilbies in view – very cute.

The Yummy Yummy Café has sensible healthy food for kids including fruit salad and vegemite sandwiches.

Top Tip
If you’re an NRMA member you can gain entry to the park at 9am – an hour earlier than everyone else. This allows you to go on the more popular ‘Big 6’ rides without queuing for 45 minutes.

Our afternoon is spent cooling down in Whitewater World, which has a great selection of waterslides and rides – plenty of choice for kids of all ages. From Wiggles Splash and Play for toddlers, through to the Green Room. The highlight for me was Nickelodeon’s Pipeline Plunge – an engineering work of art with pipes, buckets, slides and pumps all topped by a giant bucket that fills and tips continually.

Day Three in the Gold Coast, our last day, and we head for Movieworld. The big rides are tackled first to avoid the queues ­– Batwing Spaceshot, Superman Escape and Lethal Weapon (all highly recommended). The Shrek 4D adventure comes next followed by a visit to Kids WB Fun Zone. It’s a scorcher of a day so we’re all very happy to get wet on the Wild West Falls before calling it quits for the day and heading again for the Coffs Coast.

Our journey home is broken again with a night at Aanuka Bay Resort – this time with sunshine.

Where to Stay

Coffs Harbour
BreakFree Aanuka Bay Resort
Firman Drive, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450
Ph: 1300 300 633
www.aanuka.com.au
www.breakfree.com.au

Gold Coast
Vibe Hotel
42 Ferny Avenue, Surfers Paradise, QLD 4217
Phone: +61 7 5539 0444
Fax: +61 7 5592 3757
Email: vhsp@vibehotels.com.au
www.vibehotels.com.au

Attractions
Seaworld
Seaworld Drive, Main Beach, QLD 4217
Ph: 07 5588 2205
www.seaworld.myfun.com.au 

Movieworld
Pacific Hwy, Oxenford QLD 4210
Ph: 07 5573 8485
www.movieworld.myfun.com.au
Wet ‘n’ Wild Water World
Pacific Hwy, Oxenford QLD 4210
Ph: 07 5573 2255

Dreamworld and White Water World
Dreamworld Parkway, Coomera QLD 4209
Ph: 1800 073 300
www.dreamworld.com.au

Bus Services
Con-x-ion: 07 5556 9888
Gold Coast Tourist Shuttle: 1300 655 655
Surfside Buslines – Trans Info: 131 230

Kuala Lumpur in a hurry

Our cab pulls into the Sunway complex at around 10pm after a long flight and we feel a bit like we’ve arrived in Vegas.

A million rainbow coloured lights strung along, around and over the driveway lead us to a very grand entrance, replete with golden prancing deer, elephants and other Asian wildlife in a very elaborate fountain. Themed restaurants line the drive on our left while the enormous shopping mall and hotel complex rises on our right. But this isn’t even half of it.

From our beautiful apartment we can see – way, way below – the man-made lake and theme park that Holly, my daughter, is looking forward to. After enjoying the view and devouring a late night snack (banana split) we rest up for a jam-packed day ahead.

7am Breakfast at the Atrium Cafe. The choice is baffling but as I’m on holiday in Malaysia, I opt for curry, dahl and roti. Holly has fruit salad.

8am Our guide for the day, Freddie, picks us up promptly and regails us with tales of the history and culture of KL, which he intends to show us geographically.

9am Our tour starts with the Tien Hou Temple, a colourful Buddhist temple decorated with intricate designs and surrounded by statues. In front are statues of each animal of the Chinese horoscope, and out back amongst a manicured herb garden are ponds full to the brim with turtles. We get distracted a while in the very reasonably priced souvenir shop.

10am Next stop, the National Mosque, a massive, modern, angular construction which never-the-less embodies traditional Islamic art and ornamentation. The blue roof is rather like a partly folded umbrella, and the grand hall inside can fit up to 500 people. It’s a very peaceful place and I feel hushed walking round it.

11am A short trip from here is the old post office – easily one of the most recognisable buildings in this city and situated at the heart of KL. Behind it, our guide shows us the joining of the two rivers that form the city’s birthplace, when in 1857 a huddle of tin miners crowded around the mosquito-ridden banks of the Gombak and Klang rivers. Kuala Lumpur takes its name from these origins, meaning literally; “muddy confluence”.

12noon From the banks of the Klang it’s a short stroll to Chinatown and the busy markets found there, where our guide politely leaves us for a couple of hours to have fun haggling and spending all our cash. T-shirts, jewelry, shoes, DVDs, bags, watches, clothes, flowers, and more bags. Holly’s in heaven. As she goes around planning how to part with her cash I try and teach her the art of haggling.

1pm Lunch is satay chicken from a hawker stall in the markets which we munch on while flicking through DVDs.

2pm After we’ve bought as much as we can carry we take a trip to Petronas Towers, 88 storeys and 452 metres tall. Top tip: Tickets to visit the Skybridge are free, but a limited number are handed out on a first come, first serve basis so it is recommended you arrive early. The ticket counter opens at 830am.

3pm The rest of my afternoon is spent luxuriously at Mandara Spa in the grounds of the Sunway Resort. An all-over coconut body scrub (especially good for inflight dehydrated and sunburnt skin) followed by a 90 minute Balinese style massage. Holly relaxes on the man-made beach by the man-made wave pool with vampire novels.

6pm For dinner we stroll across the road from the resort to a little maze of streets lined with cheap eateries. Dinner of vegetarian curry at a formica table overlooking a river of scooters costs about $2. Delicious.

8pm Our day ends back to our apartment for some in-house movies, DVDs and chocolates.

Day 2

9am After a lazy breakfast (curry and dahl again) we slip slop slap and head for Sunway Lagoon Theme Park. We digest our breakfast while sunbathing on the beach and after a quick swim head for the rides.

This place is huge. To our right are the thrill rides and water park, and to our left, extreme sports rides including a flying fox that traverses the length of the park and a suspension bridge that takes us a good half hour to cross. Behind all this is the lake which you have a choice of paddle boats and kayaks, quad bikes with which to traverse impressive 4-wheel drive tracks and a zoo.

We start with the extreme sports and make our way over the rope bridge to the thrill rides and water park. We then explore the beautifully landscaped zoo.

2pm After a quick lunch of beef rendang in the food hall of Sunway Pyramid Shopping Mall we devote our afternoon to shopping. There are over 500 specialty outlets here including all major brands as well as a 48-lane bowling centre, indoor archery, ice-skating rink and 10-screen Cineplex.

Our favourite corner of the mall is Asia Avenue. Jam-packed with outlets full of funky fashion, gadgets, collectibles, handicrafts and noodles. I could spend all day just here.

6pm After an early dinner at another formica table across the road, we check out sadly and head for the airport. We packed a lot into our two day stopover but it has left us wanting more. We’ll come again.

Fast Facts

Getting there: Malaysia Airlines
www.malaysiaairlines.com

Where to stay: Sunway Resort Hotel & Spa
www.sunwayhotels.com
enquirysrhs@sunwayhotels.com
(+603) 7492 8000
Persiaran Lagoon, Bandar Sunway,
46150 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

Florida whats on offer

More than a million people visit Florida each year find out what is the big attraction about Florida.

Next Page »