Rebecca Currie 3/30/20 Rebecca Currie 3/30/20

10 Awesome things to do in Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur. A few people had said to me it’s a boring transit hub, not worth stopping etc so imagine my surprise when I asked my pilot friend Steve where his favourite places were (this dude has been EVERYWHERE) and he said one of his favourite places was KL. After basing himself here for a bit when working with AirAsia and explaining a bit I knew it was for me. It sounded just like Bangkok…..not in the fact the two are the same, they aren’t at all but in that a couple of days here just isn’t enough to appreciate those intense, incredible layers of culture, food, sights and smells. It is so much more than a good flight hub and city of skyscrapers and to think so is definately an injustice.

It was our second trip to Malaysia, we’d (far too) briefly visited Penang earlier in the month and I was so excited to return. We had a wonderful 4 days and I left with a growing list of things I needed to see and do not only upon return to KL but on return to Malaysia. I feel whilst there are some things that obviously aren’t possible when you travel with kids the huge advantage is you travel slower, enjoy almost “living” in a place and has helped me connect with where we are going. You almost have to get stuck in and live within a community as you are the same as locals with kids, you need nappies/kid food/parks, people approach you more, you tend to mingle with “traditional” tourists and backpackers a bit less as your people are the ones where your kids can share a bag of crisps in the park and talk to you about what parenting is like in the West. It’s not always perfect but for me it’s helped me so much to slow down and appreciate a place. Anyway I digress. Kids or no kids, here is 10 awesome things to do in Kuala Lumpur.

1.Food

Number one….hmmm we all know what you are here for and what I’m here for right? Food. It couldn’t be anything else. Malaysia is one of the places in the world to eat……In my humble opinion (but I am an experienced eater). Why? Well because it has it all. An amazing melting pot, the amazing Chinese food, Curries of Little India, incredible afternoon tea all because there is a melting pot of different settlers, whatever it is I am here for it!
Some standout eats for me are:
Lot 10 Hutong (in lot 10 mall) which was described as a food court Inspired by the foodie streets of Hong Kong. This effort by the Lot 10 shopping mall doesn’t just have various types of Malaysian hawker food under one roof, but also boasts a strict selection process. According to the ‘gourmet heritage village’s official website, a track record that dates back at least 40 years and a brand identity that is instantly recognisable is the minimum criteria for any stall. I would definitely eat Kim Liam Kee Signature Hokkien Mee noodles but it’s super cheap and you can try lots of dishes.

Anything at Little India…..the Indian food in Malaysia is incredible and again, so cheap! You can get so many varieties, Hoppers and Masala Dosa are my absolute favourite and for an amazing eating experience try Vishal, you sit and will be eating with your hands straight off a banana leaf and sharing with strangers. To be fair just wander around brick fields and you will find something wonderful.
Afternoon tea….where else to drink tea than the place that combines China, India and Britain? Surely these are the three countries with tea at the core of their culture? Most places offer quite a smart and therefore sometimes pricey affair but you can download the Eatigo app and put KL as your location for some good offers on hotel dining/afternoon tea.
Cafe culture. As with any big Asia city there is an abundance of your cool coffee shops. Best brunches are found here and I imagine it’s a really cool place to do remote work, we really like Lucy in the Sky cafe.
Finally, throwing a few drinks in there….the nightlife is really cool in Bukit Bintang so if you are able, I would definitely check that out. There is a real buzz, we mainly stayed in and got takeouts with Netflix in the evenings but walking around the bars is just really cool.

2. Petronas towers

Love or hate touristy hotspots? I’m less of a fan these days but when it comes to anything high up I’m a bit of a sucker for it…..it’s not cheap and Ben wasn’t convinced but I loved it. It’s the tallest twin towers in the world and if viewpoints are your thing I would give it a go. Adult entry is RM80 (£15 at time of writing) and kids over 3 are RM33 (Around £6). To be honest I spent ages just looking at the amazing campaign from Visit Malaysia and pretty much planned a 3 week trip (which we will now be doing). It’s really cool for the kids too which plenty of space to run around and they only let so many people up at once to stop overcrowding. If you aren’t on a Super tight budget and enjoy viewpoints I would recommend, if you are on a budget/don’t like touristy things you could skip it.

3. Check out the religious sites..

As I will keep banging on about there are so many different cultures in Kuala Lumpur but it’s so cool to check out the different temples, mosques and churches. Most are free, just remember to dress respectfully.

4. Wander Merdeka Square

So basically it’s a huge open square, where Malaysian independence was declared in 1957. It houses one of the world's tallest flagpole and without sounding to basic is like wandering a historic film set. The square is cool but the real gems are the cultural melting pot of heritage buildings that surround it. There is the magnificent Sultan Abdul Samad building and St Mary’s Anglican Cathedral, both designed by AC Norman. To me this area just sums up Malaysia and it’s beautiful buildings, interesting heritage (Boo to colonial Britain 👎🏼) but also how religions can sit together peacefully.

Beautiful buildings around Merdeka Square

5. KLCC Park

The best Park! Again more useful if you have kids, but such a lovely stroll if you have some time spare. There’s a couple of awesome parks (mostly metal so go early before it gets too hot) an awesome mini water park, no rides obviously but it’s huge and loads to do so amazing for cooling off and a brilliant water feature, loads of grass so lovely for a picnic. It’s right next to the Petronas towers and the beautiful mall that accompanies it….this mall is definately a more “designer-y” mall just FYI more brands and less local but nice to cool off and you can grab your picnic from M&S 😉.

6. Swim in a rooftop pool

I know you could do this anywhere but the value in KL is incredible. I would 100% reccomend an Airbnb here because the quality and value is so good and you get the best pools with the best views. I really love the Robertson building and we are staying here when we return, it has two pools, you can walk to the malls easily, there’s a nice cafe/coffee shop down stairs and you get decent food delivery options. What’s not to love? Expect to pay from £34-£60 per night depending on what you need (we’ve paid £42 for a two bed flat-last time £25 for a one bed) but yeah just pop in the Robertson on Airbnb and you will get a couple of options. Sunset and Sunrise swims are super lovely!

Infinity pool at the Robertson-great view of the commuter train

7. Visit the malls

Ok yes, I know what you are thinking…..but malls are a really big part of culture in Asia it seems. Families gather at food courts to eat, one mall had an amazing mini theme park inside, we ate some of the best food we had in malls, I got a piercing in a mall in KL which was cool and it’s great for browsing stuff you can’t get back home (HELLO Korean beauty). After 3 months away from home I was joyful to find an M&S with Percy pigs and chocolate shortbread….Ah the little things. It’s also great to cool off with the small ones and there are an abundance of soft play areas.

8,9,10……The things we missed. Cooking, Batu caves and forest walkway.

These last 3 are things we actually didn’t manage to fit in from our original bucket list. I have included them as they will be first on our list when we return late this year (all being well with travel restrictions) and are well known top things so I feel it’s right to include.
8. cooking class/food tour….I tend to do a DIY food tour wherever I go as food is always highest on my agenda but the locals will always know best. This time we will definitely do a cooking class, before we wanted just to relax and see a few bits but we have booked a whole week this time so with the boys being older and able to join in we will definitely do some cooking. I think it’s the best way to connect with locals and learn about their culture. There are some amazing looking courses on Airbnb and trip advisor, I just book with whoever has great reviews.
9.Batu Caves…..I feel like everyone will have seen this “insta worthy” spot. The famous rainbow steps leading to the giant limestone caves looks incredible. The reason we missed it on our last trip is because it was incredibly hot and we had one day left so decided to take it easy with the kids. When we return our plan is to go really early and get there around 7.30 as it gets super crowded and now they are older they should be able to climb the steps! The easiest option is to get to Batu Caves by train. The price for a one way train ticket to Batu Caves is only 2.6 MYR. The trains leave from KL Sentral every half an hour and the ride takes about 26 minutes. It’s free to get in the caves but you need to remember they are a religious site and so you need to dress appropriately. Everyone I know has said not to take food because the monkeys are rude and will steal…..
10. Hanging Bridge of Forest Eco Park. Again something I really wanted to do and ran out of time. Also known as Bukit Nanas forest reserve, this park is the only remaining stretch of tropical rainforest within the city limits of KL and has an awesome canopy walk 200m above the reserve. I believe it costs 40MYR to enter (around £7.50) and we will definately take the boys on our return.

So there you have it, hopefully this has made you want to visit Kuala Lumpur. It’s really easy to get around and cheap! I can definately recommend the food panda app to get food delivered and also grab for all your taxi needs. Have you been to Kuala Lumpur? Anything you would add?

Rebecca Currie 7/5/19 Rebecca Currie 7/5/19

What to do around Bangkok

A guide on what to do and see near Bangkok. Khao Yai, Kanchanaburi, Floating market. Bangkok daytrips.

Fancy Bangkok but don’t know where to start? Want to take the kids but finding it overwhelming to go to a huge city in Asia? This is your guide…..It is definately more a first-timers guide, its not too in depth but will give you an overview on each place.

Ok so I will start with the Jewel in the crown, my favourite place in the whole world, the steamy, sweaty, busy, enchanting, incredibly tasty, swallow you up and spit-you-back-out sprawling metropolis that is Bangkok. I know you are thinking; Ok Bex we get it you like BK chill your beans………But I feel everyone has a purpose in life and one of mine is to make as many people as I can fall in love with this glorious beast. I digress. So what can I do there I hear you say? Isn’t it just a handy stopover hub? Nope. Most people who spend 2-3 days here can’t really fall in love and some hate it as it is an assult on, well, your everything. I feel you need a week at least but I acknowledge schedules don’t always allow. In short if you love; shopping, night markets, food, cheap massages, rooftop cocktails, rooftop swimming, Sunday boozy brunches, hidden green spaces, temples and buddhist culture, awesome chinatowns and accessable day trips this one is for you. If you have kids there are a lot of opportunities to escape the heat, the malls are incredible (Kidzania anyone?) and the temples offer a slice of thai culture without having to do it intensely all day. The hotels are amazing value in Bangkok and I have so much to write here so will follow this up with a separate Bangkok post.

There are also loads of accessible day trips from Bangkok (or even better as 3 day trips!) and flight wise the possibilities are endless!

Ayutthaya-the old capital, the home of many amazing temples and the most incredible spun sugar pancakes……google these bad boys-I’ve never seen them anywhere else. You may have seen Wat Mahathat which is somewhat a thai poster girl, essentially a buddha head carved into a banyan tree. A great day out to see real thai life and learn about temples. You can take a local train or hire a private taxi, if you get the train you would need to get a grab/taxi around. It does get very hot as a lot of the temples aren’t in much shade so I would avoid hot season or go early in the day. It’s also cool to go and eat by the river, theres some amazing food places.

Kanchanaburi-History buffs assemble…..Hop on the local train (tickets about £2) and head to the bridge over the river Kwai. Anyone familar with the death railway will know its tragic history. but theres also so much more to Kanchanaburi than that. There is tonnes of nature, so if you like hiking, rafting, natural outdoor spas (search Erawan waterfall for the most stunning, etheral springs). They also have some really lovely local villages. You can grab some amazing hostels for next to nothing, if you are travelling with kids they have private rooms (I paid £12 for a private in a gorgeous floating hostel last time). I would say you’d get more out of it if the kids are a little older as the river is pretty special so its best to stay on it and if your toddlers are crazy like mine they may try and vacate via the water….

Damnoen Sadauk floating market-Definately one of the touristy places near bangkok and some say it has evolved to be purely for tourists now. I’m not usually into that sort of thing but I would actually say this is definately one for the thai bucketlist. The train market is nearby which is also pretty insane. I think for this one its a good idea to hire a local guide that will drive you as you would get more out of the experience if you have a local eye. (I visited with a thai friend so I had a great time) On memory it is about an hour away from Bangkok, maybe a little longer-the other option is you can hire a driver and just do the two stops alone. Kid friendly rating? I took my 4 month old and just lay him on the bottom of the boat :) I think its great for babes in arms and I would take my 3 and a half year old so I think not for wriggly toddlers but small babies and 3+ if they are reasonable with not jumping off low boats you are grand.

Khao Yai National Park-One of my favourite places in thailand. One of the only places left you can see wild elephants (It’s definately not a given though-we didn’t manage last time). This area is the green heart of Thailand or that’s how I think of it (I believe a lot of the fruit and veg is grown here). There are vineyards, cute dairy farms, breathtaking views, amazing hikes, Golf resorts, very reasonable spa hotels this area for me is so underrated. To get from Bangkok you have a few options, private driver, local train, bus. You find some Songthaew (truck taxis) when you are there or you can arrange private transfers or if you are confident enough I would hire a car or a bike.

Beautiful views in Kao Yai National Park

Beaches near Bangkok………. Hua Hin-Once a sleepy fishing village this is a perfect weekender (or any 2 nights haha) from Bangkok. Again lots to see and way more than a beach this is where the Thai royals holiday so must be good!

Pattaya-Pattaya is an easy drive from Bangkok (just under 2 hours) and you can hire a driver for a really good price, our last trip cost about £60 each way but for a large people carrier taxi. The beach is ok, the hotels are really good and its family focussed. It’s definately busier and touristy with quite a big expat community.

Koh Samet-Koh Samet is one of the closest (decent sized) islands to Bangkok. You can take a cab from BK and then hop on the small ferry for a couple of quid. It’s not overly developed so don’t expect 5* digs but if you want to see rustic island life and beach bungalows for chilling out its fab!

There are obviously loads more than just this but these are a few you could try.

Beyond Bangkok There are so many super easy and cheap flights from Bangkok. I won’t cover Thai beaches in this post as I will pop a separate one up on that but I feel the easiest, cheapest and quickest getaways are; Siem Reap (Cambodia-Angkor Wat) which is around 1 hour and usually you can grab tickets for around £30, Hanoi (Northern Vietnam) which is around 1 hour 50 mins and you should be able to get flights for about £40 and Chiang Mai (Northern Thailand) which is 1 hour and you should be able to get a ticket for £15-£20. All of these are perfect for a couple of days which with your week in Bangkok, your Bangkok trips and then a couple of these flights takes you up to about 3 weeks……I always say Asia needs time. I will post a comprehensive Bangkok guide but it seems overwhelming right now as theres so much I could talk about so thought this quick post is a good starter.

Anymore Bangkok lovers out there?

Rebecca Currie 4/30/19 Rebecca Currie 4/30/19

Planning a trip to Asia…where to start

Want to go to Asia but don’t know where to start? Here you will find an overview of routes, flights and some of the best cities/areas to start you off in Asia

Here you will find my top tips on how to plan your first trip to my favourite continent. Its by no means comprehensive but it’s a starting point and a little guide on what to look at.

I’m going to assume it’s your first time in Asia and start with a few different places you could choose and what you get. I’m no expert at all but again you can get an idea of a few places. A lot of people ask me where to start so I thought this would be a fitting first post on Asia.

I am going to assume you have at least 2 weeks. You can absolutely have shorter and longer is always preferable but my ideal is just over two weeks assuming you are taking normal leave. In this time you could see 2-3 places and not feel the flight too badly. I always go for a flight that stops as 1. It’s cheaper and 2. It breaks things up for the kids and I. Again you can of course fly direct this is just my preference. Our favourite airline is Emirates as they are so amazing for kids….I’ve had good flights with Oman Air, Ethiad and Qatar airways too and they are always reasonable.

So budget…. If you fly with these airlines you can expect to pay between £350 and I’d say £480 per person, if you have an infant you will normally pay around £80 until they are 2 but obviously on your lap which can be hard going as they get older and kids you can expect to spend 80-90% so I just budget full price. Most of these airlines you can get a free stopover in the cities you change at, so Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Muscat when you book directly with the airline.

I would allow £50-£150 PP for internal flights assuming you want to see 2-3 places in your trip. Use Skyscanner for internal flights but I’d strongly reccomend using AirAsia, they are cheap, reliable and pretty safe. In Asia you can get the grab taxi app which is similar to Uber, hire scooters and use public transport as it usually safe, cheap and efficient (I’m talking more trains boats and metros rather than busses as these tend to be slow, hot and crowded).

Accomadation is completely scalable depending on what you want so I won’t go into that just now but you can get some amazing digs for very small prices.

I would say as a very rough guide you can get 2 weeks for around £650-£850 per person. You can get by on very little in Asia and actually to jump from 2 to say 4 weeks will only cost you a little less.

Beaches like this are worth a long flight….

Next…….where to go? I’ve popped an overview below so you can get a feel for different places.

Thailand. I’m starting with my favourite country everrrr! I love Thailand as a starting point as everyone is so friendly, it’s safe, amazing for kids, the food is amazing and there’s everything. Go if you love: Amazing beaches, ethical wildlife experiences, mountains, rice paddies, culture, history, shopping, Temples, sports…..basically everything. It’s also slightly more western and developed which normally I hate but Asia is a massive culture shock if it’s your first time and this is a gentle introduction. Don’t go if: I don’t know on this one, maybe if you want something completely different?

Cambodia Cambodia is a country I struggle with quite a bit. I’ve been a couple of times now and still not sure how I feel. The Cambodian people have had it rough….like so rough and whilst I think it’s important we learn about the history I find I’m the sort of person that once I’ve heard somebody’s story I can’t stop thinking of them. I’m also not a massive fan of the food but there’s some really awesome places to eat in Siem Reap. Go if: you are a temple lover and/or history buff, love artisan crafts and somewhere a little raw (you have to see Angkor Wat it’s an easy trip from Bangkok and you can do a couple of days). Don’t go if: you are sensitive or interested mainly in food…as I said there are some lovely restaurants but there are more foodie destinations.

The incredible Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodian

Vietnam I would put Vietnam between Thailand and Cambodia. It’s slightly less developed than Thailand but more so than Cambodia. It is so diverse, hectic and the roads are insane. Go if: you like eclectic cities, beautiful scenery, mountains, fusion style food, amazing coffee and cafe culture this is for you. I feel like it’s a Euro/Asia mix which is no surprise given the French and American occupations. Don’t go if: you can’t cope with crazy driving, hectic cities and if you want perfect beaches. (There are nice beaches but not like other points in Asia)

Hong Kong. Perfect for: city dwellers, shoppers, foodies, Disney fans, anyone wanting to learn about Chinese culture but needing the security of an English speaking population, there’s also some amazing scenery, afternoon tea, glitzy hotels, dim sum, beautiful hills/mountains and green spaces. Don’t go if: you can’t cope with city chaos. It is very densely populated so can feel hectic, there are a lot of cockroaches (which I had no idea about) and in certain areas it felt a bit seedy at night for me. Also if you are on a strict budget, the food and transport is cheap but accommodation is much pricier that SE Asia. I think you need to be a fan of big cities for this one.

Japan. Consistently tipped as one of the best countries to visit Japan is an amazing country. Also known for being really expensive, you can totally do it on a budget (there’s a Tokyo post coming your way) but it’s obviously a lot more pricey than SE Asia. It’s often thought to be very futuristic but actually the balance of modern and old fashioned is incredible. Go if: you love technology, Pop culture, amazing food, beautiful forests, tea culture, bright lights, robots, outdoor spaces, beautiful design and efficiency. Don’t go if: you are on a tight budget, get chlostraphobic (the indoor spaces are tiny) and if you want beaches…there’s beautiful Okinawa and the south but again you get more bang for less buck in SE Asia again.

Malaysia….where do I start. One of my favourite places in the whole world. There’s something for everyone, less touristy than a lot of countries mentioned but everywhere is English speaking and super easy to navigate. It’s so underrated and vast so I will mention a couple of places. Go if you want any of the following: Langkawi-beautiful beaches and resorts Penang-for incredible food, street art and coffee Kuala Lumpur- great views, Batu caves, free stuff with kids, amazing Chinese food, cheap city living. Sandakan (Borneo) for wildlife experiences Malacca-for culture, heritage and amazing buildings Ipoh-infamous for coffee, culture and incredible food (top of my list for my next visit) Cameron highlands-for beautiful mountains and tea plantations.

That’s by no means a comprehensive list but some of the amazing treasures in Malaysia. I have never been somewhere so diverse, within 5 minutes you can see a mosque, church, Hindu and Buddhist temple. The food is Indian, Chinese and Malay with a bit of Portuguese and even British, all the signs are in English and the architecture is a mix between British and then Asian. It is unbelievably interesting and really cheap. You could do a 2-3 week tour of here alone or an individual trip combined with another country.

The famous street art In Georgetown Penang

Indonesia Again, so large and vast. I will start with the inevitable Bali……I have a love hate with Bali, it is beautiful. The first Place in Asia I visited, I got engaged there, the people are wonderful but also it’s getting super commercial and the money doesn’t feed back into the community that much. Go if: you love diving (also see the Gillis and Lombok), Love arts and crafts-it’s incredible, love yoga, cheap massages, healthy (slightly hipster) food, shopping, nature, extreme sports, partying, lovely people and party towns. Don’t go if: you like somewhere quiet or somewhere not touristy/off the beaten path. (They call bali Ibiza for Aussies).

Sumatra-the home of the orangutans. Need I say more? Go if: you are an animal lover, a nature lover, want to trek and see beautiful scenery. Don’t go if: you have small children, want expensive/posh resorts (expect basic lodgings) want foodie or beach destinations.

There’s also Java (volcano central), Komodo (the island of dragons, chaotic Jakarta, the stunning diving of West Papua and so many other amazing places.

Burma (Myanmar) It’s seen a lot of turbulence recently, I know a lot of folk have been put off by that but I really think it’s important to support the people out there in such times. Go if: you want to see the dreamy temples you find on the old gram. Obviously there’s way more to it than that but it’s a perfect weekend trip from somewhere familiar like Bangkok. Don’t go if: you want city, beach or animal experiences.

Singapore A classic on any traditional backpackers route. I feel like Singapore is a Dubai meets Kuala Lumpur. It’s got that British feel (because it was colonised by the British) with the Chinese and Indian influences of KL but the glitz and glamour of Dubai. I did love it at the time even though the humidity is unreal and the gardens are just incredible but I feel there are places offering better value. If you have the chance to stop off go! I wouldn’t do a special trip. Go If: you want to see an incredible botanical garden, want a melting pop of culture, western style theme parks and zoos, glitzy hotels-Marina Bay Sands is THE best place I’ve ever stayed, beautiful shopping, great Indian food, family friendly experiences and very cheap tiger balm. Don’t go if: you are on a budget….it ain’t cheap, you don’t want traditional touristy things, are a nature/beach lover.

Ok so that’s a start……There’s also; South Korea, Taiwan, China, Laos, the Philippines, Nepal, India and Sri Lanka. I’ve started with the countries I think are the easies/have a lot to offer but obviously some of these may be on your list.