Author archive
3 September 2009
We had a stressful departure as Kim had bought a Navman GPS for driving around the UK … after loading the UK/Europe maps it stopped working. Fortunately we live closed to the Navman warehouse and they opened up after hours so he could swap the unit out. It is funny that once things like that […]
19 August 2009
With a friend from Hong Kong coming for dinner, I had to learn some new dishes. Ayam Tempera and Sayu Lodeh it is for tonight. Posted by Alex Chan on Tuesday, August 18, 2009
26 July 2009
Above: Great Barrier Reef flying from Cairns. Flying on standby can be nerve-wrecking, especially when flights are busy and don’t run every day. We returned the rental car at Cairns airport. We were pleased to have boarding passes issued to us for the 1130 flight, not minding that we were stuck at the tail of […]
25 July 2009
Above: Our accommodation at Paradise Palms. This turned out to be a lazy day. We didn’t feel obliged to be sucked into any of the other tourist traps around Cairns. The warm weather was enough reason for coming over! As it turned out, it rained … but the temperature was still nice. Throughout our stay, […]
24 July 2009
Today we went for a long drive to explore some of the recommended sights out of Cairns. We stopped briefly at some of the suburban beaches. They are nice but not great. The sand wasn’t golden and the sea wasn’t quite blue or green; but somehow the pictures look better than the reality. Having said […]
23 July 2009
Our Air New Zealand hotel purchase came with an optional NZD$1 add-on (normally worth AUD$180) for an excursion to the Great Barrier Reef, specifically Moore Reef. Naturally we took up this offer. Our Sunlover catamaran departed Cairns at 1000 bound for Moore Reef. The 90 minute journey proved bumpy and I felt a bit sick but […]
23 July 2009
Our Air New Zealand hotel purchase came with an optional NZD$1 add-on (normally worth AUD$180) for an excursion to the Great Barrier Reef, specifically Moore Reef. Naturally we took up this offer. Our Sunlover Cruises catamaran departed Cairns at 1000 bound for Moore Reef. The 90 minute journey proved bumpy and I felt a bit sick […]
22 July 2009
Upon arrival we headed to our accommodation at Paradise Palms Resort, in our small Hyundai vehicle from Avis. After some rest, we hit town and went into Cairns. Our impressions were really positive! We couldn’t figure out why we’ve been given the thumbs down by most of our friends who always recommend Port Douglas instead. […]
22 July 2009
I was meant to be jobless by now. So I booked a winter escape to Cairns and the Barrier Reef. But as it turned out, I got extended in my contract rather unexpectedly. So I get to keep a job and go on a short holiday. Having my cake and eating it too 🙂 Is […]
21 June 2009
Remember when the satay man would come round on his bicycle with a charcoal stove on the back? Or the ice-cream man… Posted by Alex Chan on Sunday, June 21, 2009