Train Travel In UK

Kuala Lumpur, sometimes referred to as the ‘Garden City of Lights,’ is the largest as well as the capital city of Malaysia. As the capital city, Kuala Lumpur is the youngest in the Southeast Asia, and economic wise, it is perhaps the most successful after Singapore.
KL, as it is fondly known, is situated between the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea, in the south eastern part of Asia. During the past 150 years, Kuala Lumpur has been evolved into a modern, bustling city, with more than two million people.
Although a vibrant, gleaming city, Kuala Lumpur still retains its colonial charm which now cannot be found in most of the Asian boom cities such as Singapore. Further, Kuala Lumpur brings together the country’s past and present as well as many of its constituent cultures. Indeed, the city is regarded as Malaysia’s microcosm, since it provides the travelers a glimpse of the whole country. Above all, due to its strategic location and close proximity to Bangkok and Singapore, Kuala Lumpur is considered the perfect gateway into Malaysia.
Attractions in Kuala Lumpur range from avant-garde architectural highlights to tourist spots of historical significance. Kuala Lumpur boasts of an architecture that is an eclectic mix of traditional and modernity.
In other words, the city is especially noted for its intriguing blend of architecture, ranging from stunning colonial buildings to towering modern. Some of the fine examples for this are Sultan Abdul Samad building (designed by the British architect), Dayabumi Complex – a 35 storied building that is a mixture of Moorish-Byzantine architecture, the Dataran Meredeka, and Istana Nagara – the official residence of the king. Also, noteworthy is such architectural landmarks as the old Kuala Lumpur Railway Station, boasting of Morish-inspired architecture.
A visit to Kuala Lumpur would be incomplete without taking a tour to attractions such as Merdeka Square, the site where Malaysian flag was hoisted for the first time in 1957; Masjid Jamek, the oldest mosque in the city which is much favored for its intricate North Indian Islamic architecture; Masjid Negara, featuring multifold umbrella that represents the five pillars of Islam as well as the thirteen states of Malaysia.
Petronas Twin Towers, the tallest building in the world which accommodate in it an array of chic shopping malls and an art gallery; Taman Tasik Perdana (Lake Gardens), whose attractions are the Kuala Lumpur Butterfly Farm, Kuala Lumpur Orchid Garden, Bird Park, and the National Planetarium; Chinatown, where you can find a variety of food stalls and night markets, apart from the Chan See Shu Yuen Temple and Sri Mahamariamman Temple; and Central Market, one of the best places in the city to shop antique items such as handicrafts, scarves, and porcelain figures.
Kuala Lumpur’s attractions also cover monuments like the Parliament House, the National Science Center, and the National Monument. Also, worth visiting are the city’s interesting museums such as the Royal Malaysian Armed Force Museum, Museum of Asian Arts, Maybank Numismatic Museum, Royal Malaysian Air Force Museum, and MISC Museum.
Aside these attractions, Kuala Lumpur has to its credit a countless number of zoos, libraries, night clubs, casinos, temples and churches, amusement and fun parks, and recreational parks and botanical gardens. Above all, the city hosts a range of festivals, which among many others, are Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday, Chinese New Year, Thaipousam, Flora Festival, and Shopping festival, which lasts for a week.
From small as well as medium budget hotels to top-notch luxury hotels, Kuala Lumpur has accommodation facilities to suit every pocket. Since many of these hotels have their own websites and online facilities, this enables the visitors to reserve a hotel room within the comforts of their house. Besides, some of the world-class hotels provide packages, which are inclusive of accommodation, dining facilities, transportation within the city, and sightseeing facilities. Additionally, for connoisseur of gourmet tastes, Kuala Lumpur has an endless range of restaurants and bars, all of which serve you a multitude of delicacies from across the world.
Kuala Lumpur is well linked by air, rail, and water. With more than 40 international airlines providing services to the new, sophisticated KLIA International Airport in Sepang, travelers not at all have trouble in getting into Kuala Lumpur. When comes to rail, KTMB is the prime train service. By sea, Port Klang serves as the main port, which is located 41 km from Kuala Lumpur.
With stunning architecture, world-class landmarks, friendly service and eclectic culture, and well-connected transportation, there is no wonder why Kuala Lumpur is considered the perfect gateway into Malaysia.

Hersonissos

Crete

May 2008

 Dear David,

 Yes I know, you didn’t get anything about the video clip of the fireworks, well I was getting a bit ahead of myself and of course Easter being so late, we hadn’t actually had it when I sent your letter! This month as I managed to get a few photographs I’ve put a link on the page so that you can watch them, even if it is a month late. Taking pictures of fireworks is always difficult as just when you think you have the best and stop filming, the next bit is even more spectacular!

 Over the last month there have been a couple of trips to ‘the City’ (as we call it) to help someone else spend their money, which is always the best way of going shopping. Ostensibly the trips were to buy furniture, but naturally we had to go for a coffee or two and so there was a chance to take a few new pictures, particularly around Lion Square.

 Now I like Heraklion, it is a compact city and has many fine buildings in various states of repair and restoration, and it is still possible to walk around the virtually intact city walls, passing over the various gates and, of course, visiting the grave of Nikos Kazantzakis on the way round. Most visitors go there just to visit the Archaeological Museum, missing out the interesting Museum of Crete on the coast road, and the fine churches of St. Minas and St Titos, and a good chance to sit and people watch from a street cafe!

 Platia Eleftheria, or Freedom Square, always seems to be a focal point for tourists, possible because it is near the museum, and there are number of large cafes down one side, personally I avoid them because unless you manage to get in the front row you can’t see anyone passing by, so I head for the network of small pedestrian streets between the museum and Lion Square where there a large number of cafes in varying styles and also some very nice ‘boutique’ shops, along with a couple of ‘naff’ souvenir shops. Even better around this area you will not get ‘komakied’ into a place against your will and the prices are often a slightly better, for instance on a recent visit a frappe, a Greek coffee and a beer served with a bowl of mixed nuts, some crisps and some very nice chocky cookies came out at €6 and that included the essential glass of iced water with the coffees. And what can be more fun than sitting on the street watching the people passing by and wondering where they are all going! While you are around this area a wander around the shops can be quite intriguing as there are still a number of ‘specialist’ shops, for example there are shops that only sell ladies tights and men’s socks, or how about a shop that only sells rope, string, and chains? There are also a couple of good haberdashers where you can buy zips by the centimetre and every conceivable type of button you could ever want.

 If you choose a cafe behind St. Minas church on the edge of the square, you can often get to watch an impromptu 5-a-side football match, and if you are going to have a look at St. Titos church then in one corner of the ‘front yard’ you will find ‘Pagopeiion’ which serves some excellent ‘Mediterranean’ salads and other dishes, they also have regular jazz sessions here late at night. A wander around the small back streets yields some interesting erections, and I am always surprised by the lack of noise considering that one is in the middle of a vibrant living city not yet ruined by over-pedestrianisation!

 A walk around Lion Square is essential and note the plate glass paving slabs, a result of discoveries made during the recent renovations. Thankfully they have taken away the awful wrought iron railings around the fountain, of course, in the UK they would be putting these in to stop anyone falling into it!

 From the square down to the Port is 25th August Street where you will find all the shipping line offices and travel agents, ideal for booking your day trip to Santorini or ferries and flights to lots of other destinations. There is also a fine example of Greek pedestrianisation schemes, as 25th August Street is closed to traffic along its length, but halfway down there is a street which crosses it which carries traffic, often resulting in traffic/pedestrian jams, this is also a favourite street for union demonstrations when they are on strike (or about to be, as they plan these things in advance here).

 Now it is May, tourists are beginning to arrive ‘in bulk’, and at last everywhere seems to be open so as I promised I will try to explain the difference between kafenions, ouzeries, meze houses, and restaurants although the lines can be a bit blurred at times.

 As the names suggest kafenions and ouzeries are where you get served coffee and ouzo, they are often only small places with fluorescent lighting and formica tables where you will find older Greeks, usually men, reading the paper and playing cards or backgammon, or just righting the wrongs of the world. Usually the best Greek coffee is served in these places as they make it properly using a real ‘Briki’, a small brass ‘saucepan’ with a tin plate lining, over a low heat, and do not let it actually boil which is a complete no-no, so that it comes out with a nice froth on the top. Around here they say the thicker the froth the more luck you will have! Many of the modern cafes do not use the ‘Camping Gaz’ stove, but the milk boiler/frother on the espresso machine, which is fine as long they don’t ‘overcook’ it, which they usually do! One of the best places around here for Greek coffee is a shop called ‘Art of Tea’ in Koutouloufari, where they have one of the proper ‘hot sand’ hotplates that brews the coffee gently and slowly. As it happens they also have a wide range of herbal teas and culinary herbs for sale as well as those tall brass pepper mills and other brass items for sale.

 In most of these places you will also often get a small plate of nibbles ranging from a few bits of tomato or cucumber through to pieces of feta cheese and olives, these will be refilled regularly if you stay a while, you can also get some ‘interesting’ wines and raki in these places!

 A meze house is where you get mezes! This is the traditional Greek eating out method where you order a number of small plates and share them between you. I mentioned one of these ‘Ta Filarakia’ in the March letter. The surroundings are quite often intimate, in as much that on busy nights someone on the next table will have their plate on the corner of yours, due to lack of space on their own table (a good sign that they have over-ordered), the tables will be wood or formica, and if there are tables cloths there will be a paper or plastic one over the top so you don’t muck it up. The napkins will be paper (and please do not call them serviettes, those are what ladies use once a month). The menu will usually be a pad where you mark of the number of each dish you want and it’s often in Greek only! The wine will come in anodised aluminium jugs, rather like those water jugs we used to get in the ‘dinner room’ at school, or an earthenware jug, and it may be slightly cloudy. You will also find things like cuttlefish cooked in its own ink and ‘volvi’ on the menu, and the raki should be free at the end and served with whatever fruit is in season.

 Meze houses are one of the cheapest places to eat, but sorry to say that many tourists find them a little daunting even though there will usually be someone to help them with the menu, and so miss out on a great deal of Greek food! Experiment is the word that needs to be used.

 A restaurant or estiatorio is up market, until I get there when it becomes a meze house with linen table cloths. No only joking really, but perhaps not. Restaurants have a proper menu, usually printed (although by law the prices must be changeable so they are usually written in by hand on a shiny bit so they can be changed, or in pencil), and are just that little bit smarter.  One problem you can get with places like this is too much food, as you begin by ordering a variety of mezes as starters but then when you order the meat it comes out plated with side salad, rice, potatoes and so on when all you wanted was 4 lamb chops to share between you! If you know that they serve up the meat as a ‘main course’ then order just a Greek salad as a starter. One slightly annoying thing that can happen here also is the appearance of a basket of bread which you haven’t asked for but which you get charged extra for, this is a bit like a ‘hidden’ cover charge. I don’t know for certain but I have been told that ‘cover charges’ are actually illegal here.

 With the season getting under way, we have the usual number of visitors who are coming to look for houses or businesses to buy. I always find this quite amusing as most of them seem to have done little research and many have never run a business before, I am thinking that maybe I should add some more articles to my blog with some helpful suggestions. What do you think?

 The new Easyjet flights (well not new really as they used to be GB Airways) are proving popular with independent travellers, although some visitors have complained that they are paying a fortune in excess baggage charges, but on the other hand they are arriving with only a ‘purse’ as hand luggage when they could have had a bag weighing 5+ kg on board with them, I gently try to explain this but I am sure that many of them completely miss the point! And of course Aegean Airlines are now running daily scheduled flights from Heathrow Airport to Athens with connecting flights to Crete, which at least saves collecting your bags at Athens as they can be checked straight through!

 As baggage allowances are gradually being reduced on all airlines it is worth considering a rethink on what you actually pack in the suitcase too! For instance I have seen visitors unpack around 3 litres of liquid (which equates to around 3kg weight) from their suitcases, made up of shampoos, conditioners, shower gels, skin creams, sun tan oils, etc. I sometimes think that we don’t have such things here and that we all walk around smelling awful! I don’t really think their hair is going to fall out, or their skin suddenly age by ten years in a week just because they haven’t brought their favourite shampoo or moisturiser! Too much sun while they are here will do that for them.

 What would they have done when soap was pink ‘Lifebuoy’ carbolic or ‘Wrights’ coal tar? But of course when that was all we had then we didn’t have allergies, and even better we were really clean and bacteria free!

 I didn’t see the article you mention about prices throughout Europe and Greece being the most expensive, I did hear about it though. As with all price comparisons you have to compare like for like and quite often this is impossible especially with food products. With an average per capita income of €800 per month in Greece it can’t be that expensive or we wouldn’t be able to afford to eat! I don’t know whether it would have a positive or negative effect if I was to do a price survey on basic items and put it on the website but I will stick my neck out and do a restaurant survey for you and put the results on the website, this only seems reasonable as most visitors end up eating out even if they do start off ‘self catering’!

 That’s your lot for this month…….Except for a link to some pictures http://www.villaralfa.com/easter.html

Yours as ever,

To really see Australia, try and make time to see the east coast and the west coast.

From the cosmopolitan lifestyle of Sydney to the laid back surf culture of the Gold Coast and the natural beauty of Perth in Western Australia, each state offers its own unique glimpse of this huge island continent.

Sydney: the city for all seasons

From famous Bondi Beach to the tranquil Blue Mountains, to glittering Sydney Harbour and the thriving city centre, Sydney has it all.

Transport: getting there and getting around:

You can fly direct to Sydney from major international airports. There are 40 airlines servicing Sydney airport including all the major carriers such as Qantas, Virgin and British Airways.

Sydney has a well established rail and bus system which can take you all over the city and out to regional areas and interstate. The road system is modern and easy to navigate and car hire is available at reasonable rates.

Climate: Sydney weather and seasonal variations

Sydney enjoys mild weather all year round. Australian seasons are the opposite of those in the northern hemisphere. It’s the perfect escape from a cold northern hemisphere winter!

Spring is from September to November. Summer is from December to February. Autumn is from March to May. Winter is from June to August. , so it can provide a great escape from a cold winter!

Accommodation: from cheap stays to luxury resorts

Booking accommodation is easy with a huge range available. Check on the internet for the range, location and cost of hotels in Sydney.

Events: there’s always something on in Sydney

• Variety Club Annual Road Bash starts from Garden Island on August 5 2007 on its way to the Northern Territory

• Priscilla the Queen of the Desert – the iconic Australian Musical is on at the Lyric Theatre Star City Darling Harbour

• Sydney Opera House has started its Winter Season – for details of what is on visit www.sydneyoperahouse.com

• For the family, El Caballo Blanco is on at the Horseworld Stadium on Saturday and Sunday nights – it is a show with amazingly trained choreographed horses

Gold coast: surf, sand, fun and excitement

If you’re looking for a relaxing getaway with the family or an action-packed adventure with friends, a trip to Australia’s Gold Coast is a must.

It is just 80kms south of the major city of Brisbane which has an international airport with flights from around the world daily. You can also fly direct from other Australian cities on the domestic routes to the Gold Coast airport. Taxis, car hire, trains and buses are readily available.

From the miles of sparking beaches and nearby tropical rainforests to the famous high rise city skyline and the incredible choice of major theme parks – Dreamworld, Movieworld, Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo, Sea World, Wet ‘n’ Wild and more – the Gold Coast is Australia’s playground.

Not forgetting the world famous Gold Coast Indy 300, where for 4 days and 4 nights in October the streets around Southport are transformed into a high speed car racing track.

Gold Coast hotels and accommodation are available in a huge array of styles and budgets to suit everyone and the weather is sunny almost 300 days a year with temperature highs above 20°C all year round. See you there!

Perth: Australia at its best

A major city buzzing with attractions surrounded by incredible beaches and outback wilderness, Perth truly is the best of both worlds. It’s on the far western side of Australia and is well worth the trip.

Perth’s International airport is the gateway to the vast West Coast of Australia, encompassing one third of the entire continent. Shuttle buses, hire cars and taxis operate regularly between Perth and Fremantle town centres and the airports. Tour buses are also available to guide you around all the popular sites and attractions. You can choose from a wide range of Perth hotels and accommodation options to match your budget.

Explore the secluded surf beaches running for miles up and down the west coast, relax at over 60 wineries in the Margaret River region just a few hours away, or escape on to the water and spot the Monkey Mia dolphins, go whale watching, snorkel over Ningaloo reef or visit the incredible Pinnacles.

Summer temperatures average between 29°C and 32°C during the day, perfect for a dip or surf, and winter temperatures average 18°C during the day, ideal for a long lunch with the sun on your back.

If you’re looking to experience Australia, the east coast is home to three of Australia’s major city centres and always full of fun things to see and do.

Whether you’re in a large group or a family, looking for budget travel or luxury resort accommodation, there’s options to delight everyone.

Sydney: the city for all seasons

From famous Bondi Beach to the tranquil Blue Mountains, to glittering Sydney Harbour and the thriving city centre, Sydney has it all.

Transport: getting there and getting around:

You can fly direct to Sydney from major international airports. There are 40 airlines servicing Sydney airport including all the major carriers such as Qantas, Virgin and British Airways.

Sydney has a well established rail and bus system which can take you all over the city and out to regional areas and interstate. The road system is modern and easy to navigate and car hire is available at reasonable rates.

Climate: Sydney weather and seasonal variations

Sydney enjoys mild weather all year round. Australian seasons are the opposite of those in the northern hemisphere. It’s the perfect escape from a cold northern hemisphere winter!

Spring is from September to November. Summer is from December to February. Autumn is from March to May. Winter is from June to August. , so it can provide a great escape from a cold winter!

Accommodation: from cheap stays to luxury resorts

Booking accommodation is easy with a huge range available. Check on the internet for the range, location and cost of Sydney Hotels.

Events: there’s always something on in Sydney

• Variety Club Annual Road Bash starts from Garden Island on August 5 2007 on its way to the Northern Territory

• Priscilla the Queen of the Desert – the iconic Australian Musical is on at the Lyric Theatre Star City Darling Harbour

• Sydney Opera House has started its Winter Season – for details of what is on visit www.sydneyoperahouse.com

• For the family, El Caballo Blanco is on at the Horseworld Stadium on Saturday and Sunday nights – it is a show with amazingly trained choreographed horses

•

Melbourne: shopping, restaurants and entertainment

Melbourne is known as the cultural centre of Australia. It is renowned for its beautiful restaurants, bars, shopping, art galleries, sport, live entertainment, the Melbourne Grand Prix and of course the world famous Melbourne Cup horse racing event – ‘the race that stops a nation’.

You can fly direct to Melbourne’s international airport from major international airports. Bus, taxi and rental cars are all readily available from the airport and the road network is simple to navigate. Melbourne’s trams – the only remaining tram network in Australia – are one of its major attractions and a unique and easy way to get around town.

Accommodation is plentiful with hundreds of Melbourne Hotels catering for all tastes and every budget. Be sure to stop by the Travellers Information Desk located in the International Arrivals terminal to pick up all the information you need to have a great holiday.

Set on the Yarra River, Melbourne is a wonderful place to explore. There are distinct enclaves to tour around whatever your interests are. If you want to go further afield, the Victorian Alps are only a few hours away by car and offer good skiing in winter.

Brisbane: beautiful one day, perfect the next

If you’re looking for superb sub-tropical weather, friendly relaxed people and some of the world’s most beautiful beaches, Brisbane is the place to be any time of the year. It offers long hot summers and wonderfully mild winters.

Brisbane’s international and domestic airports are easily accessible by train, taxi and car and shuttle buses also depart regularly. Situated on the Brisbane River, the city boasts a well resourced ferry system to let you tour the city sites in ease.

Brisbane hotels are available to suit any budget, and accommodation is also plentiful in surrounding areas. The pristine coastline and beaches both north and south of Brisbane are popular holiday destinations with many attractions and islands to explore.

Last but not least, from Brisbane you can visit many of Australia’s biggest theme parks including Dreamworld, Movieworld, Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo, Sea World, Wet ‘n’ Wild and more. Shuttle buses are a quick and easy way to get there.