Mauna Kea Beach Hotel is Better than Ever!

Mauna Kea is an architectural masterpiece perfectly suited to it's idyllic setting. The staff is fantastic (Except for the beach staff which is much better over at Hapuna - the guy who runs that is terrific.The beach staff at MK is sloven, with attitude).

Mantra is a great restaurant. The only places worth going off campus for dinner are Bamboo and Merriman's. Otherwise, eat at MK. Do not go to the chain restaurants there, like Ruth's Chris. The steak is much better at Mantra, not greasy feed-lot stuff.

The Hapuna restaurants seemed dead compared to Mauna Kea's. The breakfast at Mauna Kea is fantastic. The hostess, Alma, is worth the price of admission.

The Mauna Kea staff is just fantastic, even the "loss prevention" guy who is on guard to prevent wayward palm fronds from stabbing guests or coconuts from clunking heads.

This was a place where one wore black tie to dinner at 8 in the 1960s. I saw tattoos and sequins at breakfast one morning. I wish they would enforce a dress code that matched the elegance of the place. 

The tennis courts and golf course are fantastic.This is the place to go to on the Big Island.

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Awesome Hat Yai

While not the most obvious Thai destination on the international traveler's itinerary, Hat Yai does have its fair share of attractions for those passing through. This southern border city is the third largest metropolis in Thailand after Bangkok and Chiang Mai, and is visited mainly by Malaysian holiday-makers and people there on business (this is also a major transport and import/export city).

The shops, restaurants and hotels in Hat Yai reflect its position as a business hub.  Hat Yai has quite a few malls and an internationally appealing cross-section of British-style pubs, traditional Thai open-air restaurants, Halal food stalls, and Chinese and Malay-style restaurants and coffee shops. These are hardly the things to spend much attention on, however, so if you're in the city for any length of time, there are some properly  touristy things to get up to.

Namtok Ton Nga Chang

Hat Yai has a generous monsoon season and the Songkhla province boasts lush evergreen rainforests and impressive waterfalls. Namtok Ton Nga Chang is a seven-tiered waterfall that draws picnickers, bush-walkers and photographers. The waterfall features a split on the third level into two streams that resemble elephant tusks.  Visitors can hike up the falls, go mountain climbing, take a dip in the pools and just generally enjoy clean air and greenery.

Night Market

For travelers wanting some 'Duty Free' products, the night market is a treasure trove of affordable goods – clothes, knock-off bags, DVDs, shoes and a vast vast array of food. For less than a thousand baht you can buy several new outfits including underwear and shoes, a few bags and still have enough left over for an assortment of Thai and Malay sweets. Guests should engage in some haggling, especially when buying bulk. On the actual border of Thailand and Malaysia is the bustling Pedang Besar – around an hour-long drive from Hat Yai – a town that offers an ever greater array of goods for even cheaper prices.

Songkhla Lake

This is the largest natural lake/lagoon in southern Thailand and incorporates mangrove swamps, Irrawaddy dolphin families and a 75km spit that divides the lake from the Gulf of Thailand. Visitors can boat on the lake, or check out one of the nearby temples – Wat Hat Yai Nai for instance, with the third-largest reclining Buddha in the world, or the pretty Wat Khong Khaleab. Tinsalanond Bridge is also somewhat of an attraction – the longest Thai bridge, it leads to Koh Yo (Yo Island), a small island largely unvisited by western tourists.

Hat Yai Municipal Park

Just outside the city center is Hat Yai Municipal Park, a popular hang-out with locals for its pretty garden beds, ponds and Brahman shrine. The view from the top of the hill here is worth the hour-long trek to the top and there are a bunch of photo opportunities both from the peak and around the park of various Hindy deities and Buddha statues, plus a generously proportioned smiling Budai (frequently referred to as 'Fat Buddha').  

Songkhla Zoo

A family-friendly diversion is Songkhla Zoo, which houses all the usual – elephants, tigers and Asiatic bears, plus civets, exotic birds, gorillas, chimps, seals and hippos. Animal shows and feeding times should be heeded for maximum entertainment value. www.songkhlazoo.com

Samila Beach and Koh Meaow Koh Ngoo

A short drive from Hat Yai is the picturesque Samila Beach, a long stretch of coastline along the Gulf of Thailand. Along the shorefront are a few popular photo opportunities: a statue of a mermaid and a one of a cat and mouse – the subject of local legend and the namesakes of Koh Maew Koh Noo (cat and mouse islands, just offshore).   You can take a boat to the islands or just enjoy the view and a paddle in the Gulf. 

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Hawaii Island Retreat at Ahu Pohaku Ho`omaluhia - Paradise!

At the end of our vacation last week, we traveled towards the airport. While I looked at the sea to memorialize the experience at the Retreat, suddenly, a whale jumped out of the waters of Kohala and plunged back creating a spectacular splash--an unforgettable parting gift of the island. We had been here for a whole week over Christmas and we highly recommend this intimate Retreat. I refrain from calling it a hotel because to do so is to defame it as a corporate entity, which it is not. We found the Retreat after reviewing many hotels on the Island of Hawaii. We rejected hotels in Hilo because of rain and rejected hotels in Kona because its similarity to suburbs of Las Vegas. 

The Retreat crowns the northern most portion of the Kohala Wilds on a cliff, which plunges into the sea while its crag remnants create a dramatic finish. The surf strikes these crags at night creates a soothing sound lulling us easily to sleep. The Retreat on the outside seems to have been designed by a committee as it looks more like a large home that is weathering from the elements. Inside, however, the room is very large in the vernacular of Hawaii's plantation style with tropical hardwood floor, large area rug, large brass bed painted white with white linen, a day bed, a round table with fresh flowers under which are two wood chairs with leather seats, a large closet, and a tropical fan. Multiple windows are dressed with sheer curtains and black-out curtains in a tropical flower motif. The bathroom is in a modern mainland vernacular with stone work, separate shower and generous tub facing a large window. One night when the moon was nearly full, it illuminated the Retreat in a silvery light. We were able to see through a light forest of pine shielding the Retreat from the gust of evening wind coming from the sea. 

The Retreat is on 50 acres inclusive of the mentioned cliff and an adjacent valley that pours into the sea. Finding the valley was a delight especially on a sunny day because it is hidden among tall grasses and fallen trees revealing as if it were an elvish sanctuary. The locals are protective of this place and if you ask them how to get to it, they would direct you somewhere else.

This retreat is not for you if you dislike crickets, butterflies, tropical birds (they come in one if it is a wild turkey, two if they have chartreuse plumage, come in three if they are greyish with white "W" marking on their back, and a random grouping if each of them comes with a reddish head and a black cowlick), praying mantis, spiders, mongoose, goats, chicken, livestock, green geckos, and so on. 

The food prepared at meals is taken from the land on which the Retreat is located. The flavor of each morsel of food is deep. But in a way, this is not surprising because the soil from which the food is grown is the rich lava spilled from deep inside mother earth on this youngest of all the Hawaiian islands (700,000 years old). Dinner was prepared by a Moroccan chef and all of it was delicious although he occasionally over-salted the vegetables. As we do not eat grains, the chef deftly adjust his preparation after noting at the first dinner that we did not eat any bread or pasta. (Although the chef comically triangulated this mystery by suggesting rice, quinoa, and other grains to come to the correct conclusion that we abstain from grains.) This careful attention to the diet of guests is personal and wonderful as we would not have received such care and attention at a corporate hotel.

We returned to the mainland and I visited our dry-cleaner and they noticed that the clothing has a fragrance to them. I told them it is the flagrance of a Lang Lang tree and a night Jasmine from a courtyard of a Retreat on the Island of Hawaii.

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Great Langkawi Jewel of Kedah in Malaysia

If you feel suspicious of resorts with fancy nicknames, join the club. But Langkawi – an Andaman Sea archipelago some 30 kilometres off mainland Malaysia – just about lives up to its billing as the “jewel” of the state of Kedah.

Sheltered by peninsular Malaysia's mountainous backbone, the archipelago escapes the north eastern winter monsoon and enjoys sunny skies in winter when the eastern provinces are flooded. Featuring pristine jungle, natural white sand beaches and craggy peaks, it is a recognised “geopark” blessed with a wealth of wildlife. The lineup runs the gamut from otters to a quirky bird called the “racket-tailed drongo”.

Getting there is easy: you can fly or get a ferry from Kuala Kedah, Kuala Perlis, Penang or Satun in Thailand. The main destination is the largest island, Pulau Langkawi – a roughly Singapore-size duty-free haven that serves as the stage for all the attractions and action below.

Langkawi top five attractions:

1. Eagle Square

The most striking sight in Langkawi, this square is landscaped with scenic ponds, bridges and covered terraces. Its signature eagle – a nod to the possible avian origin of the name Langkawi – looks especially striking when lit up at night.

2.  Pantai Cenang

The main virgin white beach, Pantai Cenang is lapped by warm gentle waves. Tourists flock to the area, which is teeming with web cafes and guesthouses like the popular and friendly Rainbow Lodge (rainbowlangkawi.com). Across Pantai Cenang in typically eclectic Malaysian style, the food runs the spectrum, from shrimp on the barbie to bratwurst and seafood platters.

3. Three top-tier tours

Langkawi has three outstandingly good value tours: Irshad's (junglewalla.com) rainforest tour, run from the Datai hotel; the Stardust mangrove safari (langkawi-sailing.com); and an "air-trekking" canopy tour (langkawi.travel/lca.htm).

 4. Tuaran Crocodile Farm (Crocodile Adventureland)

Crocodile Adventureland may be in doubtful taste owing to the fact it breeds crocodiles for skin and meat – still, it's great for kids. The living dinosaur theme park contains over a thousand crocs and alligators, with the obligatory crocodile shows and a few other animal species, like deer, monitor lizards and snakes. Adult RM15, Child RM10, plus camera fees. Jalan Datai, Mk. Ayer Hangat 07000 (On the way to Teluk Datai), +60 49592559. Daily, 9am to 6pm. Show Time: daily at 11.15am & 2.45pm. Hourly feedings. http://tuarancrocodilefarm.com/

 5. Laman Padi Rice Garden, (northern end of Pantai Cenang, opposite Casa Del Mar Hotel)

The prospect of rice fields might appear tedious, but on a cool day Laman Padi Rice Garden, which consists of landscaped rice fields, is eerily beautiful. A museum in English documents the machinations involved in growing rice.

 +60 955 4312. 10am-6pm.  Free.

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Great Condo Near Kahaluu Beach

We stayed a few days here (1-203) and were in awe. The double wide lanai with sweeping ocean views was breathtaking. We ate meals here, toasted sunsets, and read books at 5 a.m. It seemed a shame to sleep through the view!

Additionally, the unit is so beautifully decorated and COMFORTABLE. Every amenity has been provided from kitchen tools/appliances to games and gear to shampoo and ketchup! The snorkeling equipment was plentiful and in great condition, as well as boogie boards, tennis racquets, volleyball, etc.

We were very, very pleased with the location and comfort of this beautiful unit. Will stay again if in the area, for sure.

Saw a HUGE tiger shark while walking at the mouth of the marina at 8 a.m. Beautiful beach easily accessed from parking at the marina and walking north to Kaloko national park just south of the airport. Also enjoyed Ray's for dinner and manta ray viewing (reserve a rail-front table for best views) also can be well-viewed by walking up to public balcony in the evening at the Sheraton.

Nicest place we have ever stayed (and we have stayed in MANY) for views and space and beauty.

Room Tip: I-203 is 5 star. I'm sure that there are many beautiful units but we stayed in this one.

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Amazing Snake Temple in Penang

Food, food, food – that is the standard take on the Malaysian island of Penang. Food and a serving of history.

But Penang has at least one other extraordinary angle: a landmark on the fringes of town called Snake Temple, which – you guessed it – is riddled with snakes.

Blue zoo

As if its main reptilian name were not cool enough, in a nod to Penang's sunny skies, Snake Temple is also called Temple of the Azure Cloud. That is what you call style. Can there be anywhere else in the world that has two such classy names?

Either way, you will find the temple south of Penang's capital, Georgetown, on the way to the airport. The temple was built by a grateful patient in honor of the Chinese-born Buddhist priest and healer Chor Soo Kong.

Smooth move

According to legend, Chor Soo Kong was so virtuous that he even looked after the snakes of the jungle. On the temple's 1850 completion, in an event worthy of a Gary Larson cartoon, some local pit vipers seized their chance. They moved into his temple.

Now, the resident de-venomed but fully fanged vipers linger – out of respect to the long-dead monk, it is said. Or they might just prefer living amid the grandeur of one of the world's oldest temples – a true des-res – to being stuck in the jungle. Or they might be hooked on the incense fumes wafting around.

Holy and harmless

Whatever the truth, fans of the snakes' human mentor come from as far away as Singapore and Taiwan to pray on his birthday, the sixth day of the first lunar month. The worshippers reportedly see the vipers as “holy and harmless”. During the day, the vipers languish, apparently paralysed from inhaling the incense smoke. At night, it seems, they slither around, nibbling offerings. Officially, no human has ever been bitten.

Solo style

Still, with their yellow eyes and diamond heads, the vipers look lethal. So mind how you go. If you stray into the temple's ante-room where photographers lurk, for a price you can pose with a python draped round your neck.  But the unleashed vipers coiled around the altar are the temple's heart and soul, or its DNA.Thanks to them, it may well be unique, one of its kind in the world. The snakes you see at temples elsewhere are made of staid old stone instead of scaly sinuous flesh.

Snake temple

Sungai Kluang, near Bayan Lepas Airport, Bayan Lepas, 11900.
Tel: 04-2620202. Yellow Bus 68, 69 from Komtar; mini-bus: 32 from Komtar.

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Awesome The Giant Turtle of Hoan Liem Lake in Hanoi

Some observers dispute its existence. Like Scotland's suspiciously camera-shy Loch Ness Monster, the turtle of Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi's heart is elusive: a fleeting creature intertwined with myth and speculation.

Still, almost certainly, some turtle occupies the picturesque, willow-fringed lake that serves as the city's cultural hub.  A smattering of photographs supports the notion.

War relic

History too bolsters the case that the turtle is more than a myth or mirage. At the height of the Vietnam War, the Ha Noi Food Company reportedly hauled a 200-kilo turtle from the lake. Now, you can see the stuffed remains of the monster on display at Hoan Kiem's Ngoc Son Temple.

Glimpse

If you loop the lake – a lovely stroll – you might see a living turtle peeking above the surface. Or you might even spot a turtle basking on the central island: doubtless a striking sight because the creature is reportedly huge – one metre and a half long by over a metre wide.

Close up in snapshots, the turtle looks pockmarked and blotchy – past its best as might be expected, given its apparent immense age. Up to six centuries old, the turtle is linked with an ancient legend.

Royal roots

The legend revolves around Le Loi, the first king of a united Viet people. During a cruise on the then 'Luc Thuy', or 'Green Lake', Le Loi met a 'holy turtle'.

The turtle told the 15th-century king to return a sacred sword that had helped him overcome Ming Chinese aggressors. Unsheathing the sword, Le Loi duly tossed it to the turtle before renaming the lake 'Hoan Kiem', which means 'Returned Sword Lake'.

The sword story may have some grounding in fact. According to one theory, the turtle that apparently occupies the lake today could be a grown-up hatchling supposedly released by Le Loi into Hoan Kiem some 600 years ago: a mind-boggling thought, but the Hoan Kiem turtle saga holds still more drama.

Alone at last

The turtle, it is said, could be one of the last members of a critically endangered species called the “Shanghai soft-shell turtle”. When the Hoan Kiem turtle draws breath for the last time, that moment may spell the end of the species.

Still, Hoan Kiem looks set to remain Hanoi's heart. If you visit the Vietnamese capital, you may find that you are automatically drawn to the lake's bewitching surroundings.

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