Dinner at Nerovivo KL

I was lucky to be invited to a dinner at Nerovivo, a fine dining Italian restaurant on Jalan Ceylon KL. I had pre-ordered the main course and dessert from the menu provided, and was waiting with great anticipation for the evening !

The restaurant is located in a converted old house. Jalan Ceylon is just around the corner from Cangkat Bukit Bintang which is the hottest place for pubs and restaurants in KL at the moment.

The antipasto arrived, and it was quite a sight !



Filled to the brim with goodies, this was supposed to be shared by 5 persons. There was deep-fried calamari, fresh oysters, smoked salmon, yabbies-which is becoming quite common in KL, baked scallops and deep-fried asparagus fingers. Everything was delicious.

Next came the Mushroom Soup with Truffle Oil. I had expected something special after the fantastic antipasto, but this is just standard mushroom soup.



For main course I had ordered Spaghetti with Boston Lobster. It was a bit disappointing - the lobster was probably frozen, so it wasn't sweet and tasty as it should be. The sauce was also not that flavourful, overall a bit bland.



For dessert I ordered the Panacotta with Chocolate Sauce. I should have gone with the Tiramisu. The Panacotta did not have much taste - kind of boring.




So overall, 1 out of 4. The antipasto was definitely the highlight. I would still go back to try the other items on the menu. The restaurant had a warm and cosy vibe which was friendly and not uptight like some other fine dining establishments can be.

Aseana Cafe at Suria KLCC

Aseana Cafe is located on the ground floor of Suria KLCC, at the entrance near Mandarin Oriental Hotel. It is an Asian themed cafe serving quick kopitiam food.

I ordered the Nasi Lemak which was recommended by the waitress. It looked quite good and came topped with papadams.



This is what it looks like after you remove the papadams. There is sambal ikan bilis, curry chicken, beef rendang, curry fish and fresh vegies.

The curry sauce which came with the serving was quite good, but everything else was quite ordinary. The beef rendang was dry and tough.



A view of the Cafe.

Strudels at KL Sentral

Kerala Tourism: The Culture and The Curry

Kerala is a gateway to paradise. The state offers an enthralling experience with its captivating landscapes, mind blowing backwaters, majestic hills, wildlife parks and sanctuaries, tea plantations, and last but not the least, its stunning sun-kissed beaches. With the hordes of tourists and travelers visiting Kerala for spending holidays, Kerala tourism is rising at great strides. Apart from an excellent getaway to nature, Kerala tourism is also redefined as Kerala Health Tourism, Kerala Backwater Tourism, Kerala Culture Tourism, Kerala Beach Tourism, and many more.

Kerala takes pride in being one of the oldest civilizations on the face of the earth. Historians suggest that Kerala culture is a blend of numerous civilizations, varied customs, practices and beliefs as a result of interaction of Indian as well as overseas cultures. A variety of performing arts such as Koodiyattom, a type of drama or theater and UNESCO-listed human heritage art; Kathakali, a dance drama that depicts ancient epics; Kerala natanam, a popular offshoot of Kathakali; Koothu, a light-hearted comedy performance similar to modern-day stand-up comedy; Mihiniyattam, the dance of the enchantress which is a choreographed performance by women accompanied by music and vocalizations, and many more art performances are unique to Kerala.

The Kerala culture is reflected in its festivals, pilgrimages, literature, music, traditional performances, customs, practices and cuisine. Variety and uniqueness of Kerala's culture may be experienced by being a part of its annual ten-day festival known as Onam. During Onam, a host of colorful sports, cultural programs and rituals are organized. Celebrated at the end of August or beginning of September, the festival is a complete reflection of the rich culture that Kerala boasts of.

The Kerala food is unusual which offers some of the most sumptuous tastes on earth. Keralites are gourmets with a difference. The cuisine is usually hot, spicy, aromatic and flavored. Use of coconut is an integral part of the cuisine. It is used either chopped or grated to garnish the dishes. Coconut milk or paste is used to thicken gravies and its oil is used for cooking. Rice is the staple diet. A typical lunch or dinner may consist of rice, seasonal vegetables cooked in coconut oil with different spices for flavor, dal, seafood curry and a sweet dish as dessert. Seafood is taken almost with every meal. Fish like sardines, tuna, rays, and crabs, mussels and oysters are taken with unique preparations. Apart from meals, different snacks such as banana chips, murku, shakaruperi and many types of halwa are consumed any time during the day.

Sorce:http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/62158

Goa Hotels: Staying at the Beach Capital of India

Goa, a romantic confluence of cultures offers finest accommodation matching with international standards. Goa people are lovely and hospitable. With their warm, broad smiles and affectionate hospitality, you will be swept off your feet with the intimate atmosphere at Goa hotels. With many hotels residing next to the beaches, the guest have additional privileges to enjoy such as overlooking the sparkling sea from the balconies and enjoying the refreshing ambience of the lush green locales. Some hotels have their own private walkways leading to beach. Strolling in the evening with your beloved through these walkways may be an ultimate experience you will relish with fond remembrance.

Luxurious accommodation with state-of-the-art amenities. Swimming pools, spas and Ayurveda are available with most of the hotels. Sightseeing tours, adventure sports, water sports and musical nights are some of the features that these hotels often offer. What's more, they come in a range of budget, which suit to every pocket and preference. No matter what hotel or resort you choose, the unforgettable stay with warmest hospitality is assured.

kuta beach in bali islands

kuta beach in bali islands



Kuta is a town in southern Bali, Indonesia. A former fishing village, it was one of the first towns on Bali to see substantial tourist development, and as a beach resort remains one of Indonesia's major tourist destinations. It is known internationally for its long sandy beach, varied accommodation, many restaurants and bars, and substantial Australian population. It is located near Bali's Ngurah Rai Airport.

Sanur Beach Bali islands

Sanur Beach Bali Islands





















Sanur beach has long been popular recreation site for people from Denpasar and elsewhere. The palm lined beach curves from the Bali Beach Hotel toward the south, facing the Indian Ocean towards the east. The main attraction of Sanur beach is the beaches with their very white sand and the beauty of constantly calm water. Due to the protection of the lagoon, this beach is one of the safest on the island, and thus perfect for families. Offshore reefs protect the beach and make it popular for windsurfing; boating and other related watersports.
Sanur is also the place where the few remaining of Brahman Kuasa villages found. Some of the charming ritual procession such as Balis only all-female keris dance is held in this area.The Prasasti Blanjong, an emblazoned pillar here dated AD 913, is Balis earliest behind the times relic and is now kept in a temple in Blanjong village, southern part of Sanur.

Getting There

Sanur beach is easily reachable from Denpasar, about a five to ten minute drive. You can get to Sanur from the airport by Taxi. Tickets available at the airport taxi co-op counter outside customs, near "left luggage".
Where to StayThe choice of accommodations in Sanur ranges from the superior service and extensive facilities of the larger luxury establishment. Make your choice based on location rather than the number of stars. Sanur can be divided into several sub-areas:The Grand Bali Beach Hotel area. West and south of the hotel, at the point where the black and the white sand beaches meet. This northern section of Sanur is popular with local crowds. Sindhu is east of JI. Bypass Ngurah Rai, and south of JI. Segara Ayu. Extending south to the first stretch of JI. Danau Tamblingan. This area is classier, with good hotels on the beach, night and art markets, and good restaurants.Batujimbar, further south, has few hotels, but is the location of expatriate and Indonesian jet set society mansions. Exclusive beaches are reached via small lanes.Semawang stretches south from the Bali Hyatt Hotel to the Sanur Beach Hotel and beyond. It houses both the priciest hotels and restaurants, as well as the red light district

Waianapanapa

Waianapanapa,
(Black Sand Beach) - Maui - Hawaii




Honokalani Black Sand Beach is located in the Wainapanapa State Park. This large beach is set among lava cliffs and the sand is actually small, smooth, lava pebbles. A small sea arch, sea caves, and seaside lava tubes are located in the beach area. King's Highway, an ancient Hawaiian footpath, leads from the beach area along the coastline for 3 miles to the town of Hana.

Tropical Beach & Sea near Durness

Tropical Beach & Sea near Durness,Scotland

Trunk Bay Beach

Trunk Bay Beach,St. John - U.S. Virgin Islands


Trunk Bay should be a required visit for anyone wishing to snorkel in the USVI. Every inch of the coral on the famous underwater trail is long dead, having been mauled into oblivion by the day in, day out thrashing of the fins of novice snorkelers. If you want to see what a reef looks like after it's been ravaged by thousands of careless tourists, by all means go to Trunk Bay. That said, the beach itself is undenialbly gorgeous, though many others on St. John are also beautiful and have a fraction of the crowds.

Tobago Cays

Tobago Cays,Windward Islands



The Tobago Cays were purchased by the St Vincent and Grenadines Government in 1999; having previously been in private ownership from the 16th Century. The Cays are now a wildlife reserve and a unique natural resource.

The Tobago Cays consist of the islets of Petit Bateau (the largest), Petit Rameau, Baradal, Jamesby and Petit Tabac.

Tagbulo Island Taytay

Tagbulo Island Taytay,The Philippines

St. Jean Beach

St. Jean Beach,St. Barthelemy - Caribbean

Smuggler's Cove Tortola

Smuggler's Cove Tortola,British Virgin Islands

Playa de San Miguel

Playa de San Miguel,Ibiza - Balearic Islands

Plage Larvotto

Plage Larvotto,Monaco

Phi Phi Island

Phi Phi Island,Thailand

Nassau

Nassau,Bahamas

Manly Beach

Manly Beach,Sydney - Australia

Lanikai Beach

Lanikai Beach,Kailua - Hawaii

La Meridien Resort Bora Bora

La Meridien Resort Bora Bora,Tahiti French Polynesia

Diani Beach

Diani Beach,Kenya

La Dique - Anse Source D'Argent

La Dique - Anse Source D'Argent
Seychelles

Clifton Beach

Clifton Beach
Tasmania

Bora Bora Pearl Beach One

Bora Bora Pearl Beach One
Polynesia

Church Bay Beach

Church Bay Beach
Southampton - Bermuda

Burj Al Arab

Burj Al Arab
Dubai - United Arab Emirates

Blue Lagoon

Blue Lagoon - Oldeniz Beach
Fethiye - Turkey

Blue Lagoon

Blue Lagoon Beach
Mauritius

Blue Bay Beach

Blue Bay Beach,Kiwengwa - Zanzibar

Beach Bottom Bay

Beach Bottom Bay,Barbados

Beach Resorts in The Maldives

Beach Resorts in The Maldives

PULAU NETHERLAND

NETHERLAND ISLANDS

Thompson Corner Tabuan Jaya Laksa

You can't get away from laksa in Kuching. Every coffeeshop you go you are guaranteed to get a laksa stall. But not all laksa is created equal. This stall in my oponion is among the top 3 in Kuching. It is located in the Thompson Corner Coffeeshop in Tabuan Jaya.



Order the laksa special and you get a generous serving with the usual prawns, shredded chicken and sliced egg omelette. Unusual for Kuching, you also get a generous amount of fresh clams. The gravy is standard Kuching style, but with a pronouced taste of coriander. 

Fu Yu Cafe Sekama Noodles

Another day, another coffeeshop. This time it's another one popular for it's noodle stall. This is the Fu Yu Coffeeshop in Sekama.

The best way to oder the noodle here is the Mee Kosong - Plain Noodles, with a seafood soup. The Kolon Mee here is one of the crunchiest in town. The taste is clean and dominated by the fried shallots. There is also a special ingredient of crushed deep fried fish mawl which gives it another layer of flavour.
 
 
The sea food soup is really nice. The main ingredients are fresh prawns and fish. They use very good quality fish here. I don't know what it is but it tastes really good and not fishy. The soup is light and tasty, no doubt with the help of quite a bit of MSG !




One of the things you can  have here as a side order is the deep fried fish fritters. I think it is mainly shark meat, it doesn't have a lot of taste, but the batter is very crunchy. Dipped into sweet chili sauce, it is quite nice !

Visit Ranthambore for a 'wild' holiday

Ranthambore is known for it's tiger sightings and for the ones who are looking for an audience with the king of the jungle, the Ranthambore National Park is a great weekend getaway, about 140 km from Jaipur.

Ranthambore is well connected both by rail and road and for those wanting a jungle holiday, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, Ranthambore is the place to be.

The Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan is probably one of the only sanctuaries in the country where one can sight a tiger up close.

''Yes I saw a tiger. First we saw it walking along the road and then by a tree watching the deer as they were coming close,'' said one of the visitor to Ranthambore.

''I gather about 35 tigers here and we were just lucky, it was so close to the lorry that I am glad it had it's breakfast,'' said another visitor.

Safaris at the break of dawn, and a drive through the jungle at dusk are among few exciting Ranthanbore offers.

Between an open gypsy and canters, people vacationing in a large group can pick up their mode of travel.

Most of the routes for tourists run alongside the tigers favourite water holing, making it a great place to sight the big cats.

In the past two years, there has been a baby boom in Ranthambore. They have had 13 new cubs and a visit to this place can get a glimpse of the king of the jungle.

And to take back memories of these majestic animals, Ranthambore also offers a variety of tiger mementos.

The Ranthambore tiger sketches, mostly done in charcoal, are quite famous. T-shirts and souvenirs all add to make an interesting collection of tigeria.

There are hotels to suit everyone's budget in Ranthambore, from luxury five star hotels to those which are light on the pocket but heritage properties can also add a touch of history and romance to the jungle adventure.

The best time to visit Ranthambore is during winter but it is open for guests now too, except between July and September, the three months when it's shut during the monsoons.

source:http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080050080&ch=5/17/2008%207:35:00%20AM

Cruise To Canada Travel

Cruise To Canada Travel

On East Canadian cruises discover the charm of the New England region, the excitement of Halifax, the classic architecture of French Quebec, the rugged natural beauty of Nova Scotia and the sights of Saint John.Autumn is generally held to be the best season in which to take Eastern Canadian cruises as it is at this time of year that colours are at their most vibrant.

Those on an Eastern Canadian cruise will be able to enjoy dazzling sunsets on the shoreline in the evening and during the day watch the changing scarlet and russet foliage.

In autumn, temperatures can vary between three degrees Celsius and sixteen degrees Celsius and despite being northerly and on the coast, Eastern Canada's climate is comparable to that of northern Europe.

While enjoying an Eastern Canadian cruise take a trip to the grand and yet charming port of Halifax, in Nova Scotia, which is full of quaint fishing villages and beautiful lighthouses. Visit Peggy's Cove, a working fishing village popular with artists and photographers. Peggy's Point Lighthouse is a classic red and white structure.

In French Quebec, head to Vieux-Québec - a city full of cobbled streets and old fashioned buildings and fortifications. Notre-Dame-des-Victoires, an old stone church is home to many works of art, having been rebuilt following fires twice.