Visiting Georgetown : Penang

April 9, 2025 / brisbanefrannie / 4 Comments

I first came to Penang with my sister, her husband at the time who worked in KL and Clare my beautiful niece. She was about 1 at the time. She’s now 46!

So it was ages ago.

Needless to say Georgetown has changed. It’s big and spread out to an area called Gurney where there are big apartment blocks. Huge glossy shopping plazas and no one swimming in the oceans. There are signs for stinging jellyfish.

We walked straight to the Upside Down Museum just as the storm hit.

Perfect timing for this quirky museum. You step into rooms that are perfectly staged with everything upside down. Each room has an attendant who positions you and then takes photos on your own camera.

We spent an hour there. It cost about 100ringgit. about $30

Money well spent. When we came out with big smiles on our faces the storm had passed and we started wandering the surrounding street toward the jetty area.

Some cool street art in the Beach Rd area.

We stopped for a delicious gelato and found the Armenian area. Known for its great little shops and interested side streets. I bought a little umbrella and another fan.

We slowly wound our way towards Chew Jetty.

Past the Fire station.

We walked out along one jetty area. Such an interesting place to live. It was quiet and clean with water lapping against the pylons.

Caught a local napping.

Then onto Chew Jetty. People live and run little businesses from their front terrace. You just want to support them all. The jetty is open all day to visitors who wander up and Fien past true little terrace houses. So kind of them to share their lives with us tourists.

Crossing back into the myriad of streets we walked and walked. Pete got hungry and stopped for a few samosas at a stall in little India.

Onto the Red Garden food court. I must say our 5 year old is a trooper. We walked 11,000 steps this afternoon and he didn’t complain. He just chatters away asking questions about what he’s seeing.

Huge array of food stalls. Our little seafood monster had grilled prawn, octopus and crab. I forgot to mention he demolished a stingray last night!

Lazy Days by the Pool in Penang

April 9, 2025April 26, 2025 / brisbanefrannie / Leave a comment

Oh the deck chair is inviting: dips in the pool, reading my book, napping. All sounds delicious. Except we have an active 5 year old so in between trying for do those things you do at a resort, I am sliding down slippery slides, swimming with Ollie, playing pool ( billards) , playing eye spy and answering multiple questions.

I wouldn’t change it. Except maybe to have Leo and Alby here to play with Ollie.

We had pizza and salad by the pool.

Exploring along the coasts we found the next door resort had a chess board.

The afternoon was repeating the morning until back to the room for a rest while it was raining.

The rain stopped and it felt fresh outside so we left the hotel in search of the food markets.

Walking the streets here takes me back to all visits to Asian resort areas. Footpaths up and down. Cycles slipping along, street stall vendors smiling and encouraging us to buy. But we were on a food mission and we found it. A big area with food stalls all around the outside. Plastic chairs and metal tables , tvs on with sport playing. Groups and families all sitting eating their selected dishes.

From fresh grilled fish, all other types of seafood, to noodle dishes, nasi goreng, char kway teow. Lots of choice. And inexpensive. Dishes were around 10 Malaysian ringgit up to 40ringgit for a filled fish with lime hunger sauce. Just delicious. Australian dollars that’s around 4$ up to $15 for a whole fish.

Ollie had bbq prawns, I had the fish and stir fried veg and Pete had won-ton noodles.

We walked back via the market stalls and I got a bag for beach things. Ollie who is sports mad got an Argentina soccer outfit. He wants to be like Messi!

A lovely easy night.

Penang. Old World Malaysia.

April 7, 2025 / brisbanefrannie / Leave a comment

Arriving in Penang is a huge contrast to Singapore Our Air Asia out of Terminal 4 at Changi was great.

The terminal is amazing. Modern, state of the art and all ran on time.

I had the best coffee experience at a beautiful coffee house.

Choosing from the extensive coffee list was difficult. So many varieties. The white gloved man described the blends and i selected. It doesn’t come with milk but a small pot of cream. See the picture. As well as the coffee in a beautiful cup nestled in a tray there was a crystallised sugar stick to stir the coffee. – and …..you get a mini pastry of the day.

It was all delicious-especially after the coffee machine at Legoland. all for $8 Singapore.

There was a giant slide to get to a lower level in the airport where a huge red playground waited for the young at heart to have a play.

There was a ‘fake’ street of painted houses and speciality shops.

The best was the woman’s toilets. Heated, self cleaning seats. Art works huge mirrors , bright and clean and inviting. Amazing!

Arriving in Penang was a let down. An old airport and the longest customs queue. We took an hour to clear customs. Into a taxi to the hotel took another hour.

We were ready for a swim. things were looking up.

Lots of families. Mostly covered from head to toe in black. The beautiful friendly Muslim women look so hot until they get into the water in the fully covered black swim wear. Again I felt underdressed.

There are 5 pools and several slides which Ollie has been up and down hundreds of times.

The lawn area where Peter and I relaxed as Ollie went in the slides.

Our rooms are connecting which is perfect. Refreshed from the swim we went in search of food. Ollie wanted grilled prawns so we headed to the night food markets and found great food. So cheap. Prawns, a beautiful fish with ginger sauce for me. A noodle dish for Pete. A beer each. We didn’t spend more than $50 and it was great.

The next few days we’ll be relaxing and eating. Follow us…….

Awesome Legoland

April 5, 2025April 6, 2025 / brisbanefrannie / 3 Comments

If you are looking for a full on child experience that even adults can enjoy then it’s Legoland

I wasn’t sure what to expect but it is extraordinary.

We left our Singapore Hotel at 8 for a quick taxi ride to the bus centre for the Lego express to Legoland.

It was $13 and the coach was so comfortable and wasn’t crowded Singapore is a delight to drive through. It’s green with great roads and not as much traffic as you’d expect from this huge city. The reason being there is a tax on having a car permit. It costs about $130,000 before you even buy a car And cars are super expensive here. Most people simply can’t afford it. So the money made out of taxes is used for public transport. And the trains, buses and taxis are all super efficient and clean.

Arriving at the border to Malaysia you leave the bus to go through immigration then take your bags through customs. It was quick and efficient. I heard it can be busy on the weekends. Back in the bus we are in Johor where Legoland is located in 15 mins. All up about an hour.

Seeing the Legoland Hotel resort is like a dream. It’s big and colourful and you know it will be fun.

Ollie was in a state of excitement!

We went to the hotel and as it was 11am our room wasn’t ready. We had our bag of swim gear ready and stored our other bags.

It was off to the Waterpark. Once again it’s big. Lots of different rides of various levels of difficulty. But basically all for kids. Not so much big teenagers. So parents and kids having fun.

We were among the few foreigners there and I. My swimmers and rash vest felt underdressed. Most were Muslim so were head to toe in black.

The river raft was a big hit. You float on a river and can build onto your raft with the floating Lego. Then the slides. Ollie eased into it on the small slides before Pete talked him and me into climbing up the staircase to the big red slide.

You sit in a round ring and hold on as you wind your way down the hill.

Pete was approached by the lifeguard who wanted to examine his prosthetic Lego. They were concerned it was sharp and could damage the tubular life rafts. He good humoured them and persuaded them it was all fine!

After awhile thunder started and it was funny watching the attendants talking into the walkie talkies deciding what yo do. It took some time but they eventually closed the rides.

The lunchtime queues started. Ollie had a Legoland meal ; nuggets, potatoes in the shape of smiling faces, a drink and a paddle pop.

We headed back to the hotel for donut decorating! This hotel is all abut the kids. From the minute you arrive there are Lego play areas. The lifts are decorated and music pumps out dance music.

Our room on the 6th adventure floor is great.

Family room perfection. The big double bed has the big windows. It’s separated from the kids bunk area by sliding doors. The carpet has treasure maps , the bathroom two height sinks perfect for little people. Lego spiders, animals and a big box of Lego are scattered around. Ollie loved the treasure maps. He had to fill out the clues to get the combination for the kids treasure chest. Inside a container of lego.

Donut was decorated. Then it was a dance party in the big foyer which has a Lego castle and Lego pit where lots of dads were rediscovering their inner love of Lego!

Ollie danced up a storm but not as much as the adult staff who love this joining in atmosphere. Pete says when he went to uni in KL the local boys there loved all this dance fun and loved nothing better than parties not with alcohol but games and dancing.

Pete said the hotel was a bit like being on a big ship devoted to kids. Lots of activities. The parks outside and the hotel activities insides. Some people come for the day from Singapore but it’s fun to stay.

Dinner was an adventure as well. We went for the buffet. Beautifully presented, Ollie got his money’s worth. He had fresh prawns, muscles and scallops along with satay sticks. He was free! Pete and I were restrained. But enjoyed the variety. I don’t normally enjoy buffets in these hotels. Takes me back to taking the boys to Las Vegas and staying at the Circus Circus hotel which was good but didn’t quite extend to this Lego overload. It had the ‘world’s biggest buffet ‘ and it gave me food poisoning. I’ve avoided them ever since. But I’m fine this morning. So all is ok.

A Long but Happy Day in Singapore

April 4, 2025April 4, 2025 / brisbanefrannie / 5 Comments

I’m sitting writing this post at Singapore Zoo. It 9.35 and Pete and Ollie are having one more walk around the night time trails and I’m admitting defeat and having a beer under a fan.

After a long day yesterday and the night hawker markets we were up and out at 8.30 after Pete and Ollie had had a swim in the big pool. This 5 year has stamina ! Takes after me I like to think.

We had breakfast at Maxwell food markets. Ollie wanted eggs and they come half runny boiled eggs that you open into a saucer and dip toast into.

I prayed the eggs were fresh as he polished them off and drank his fresh orange juice.

Following a walk around Chinatown we got the train to the Gardens by the Bay. These gardens are spectacular. It was hot walking along the river to get to the gardens but once there it was an oasis. Cool inside with multi levels you start at the top and walk down gradually.

There’s a magnificent water fall, crystal gardens, a forest room. All beautifully presented and not crowded. I bought our tickets through Klook, an online discounted ticket agency.

It worked beautifully. I bought a combined ticket for the Gardens, the flower hall and the night safari at the zoo. We’re going there tonight.

Ollie loved the gardens and Pete and I are so impressed with how everything works.

We moved onto the Flowers of the World and they had a Japanese gardens exhibition. Perfect as I’m going to Japan later in the year.

The cherry blossoms exhibition was like being in Japan.

Back out side the heat was picking up. We stopped for a beer and gelato before heading into the Science Museum. the building itself is worth visiting. Shaped like a lotus flower you enter via a bridge over the most beautiful lotus flowers.

The lotus by night. From the taxi after the zoo.

There were a few paying exhibitions including the Iris Van Herpen fashion exhibition I saw last year in Brisbane.

We opted for the kids activities which kept Ollie occupied for quite awhile.

Hunger was getting to us now so Ollie and I headed back on the blue downtown train line to the food markets where we polished off dumplings for lunch. Pete was keen to have his bone broth soup so went a bit further to another hawker market specialising in that dish. $10 he said and he couldn’t eat it all.

We met up back at the hotel for a swim in the very large hotel pool. What a treat. Into the room for a rest before our nighttime booking at the Zoo.

It rained heavily – typical tropical downpour. A bit a rumbly thunder. it was great to look at lying on bed by the huge window.

It was still rainy when we left so caught a taxi. It took nearly an hour to get there by 7pm and cost $45 Singapore. It’s well organised and I stood in the line for the night train while Pete bought some satay chicken for Ollie. He’s also hungry a lot of the time. The line took about 20 mins. Perfect timing.

We got the front three seats and had a perfect view. It was amazing. We saw animals standing quite close to where the train crept along the narrow road in the ‘jungle’

It was hard to get a good photo but we saw lions, cheetah , rhino, elephants, bison, bears, deer, the list goes on.

From the train we went to the Creatures of the Night show and saw, and owl fly in, hairy pigs, hyenas, cheetah. All visited the stage on cue to eat something planted for them then quietly leave.

The show finished around 9 and Pete and Ollie de used to walk the night loop setting once again the animals we’d seen from the train.

I sat having a beer waiting. One tired little boy and his tired dad arrived back so we made our way out to the taxi and after 5 minutes in the car Ollie fell asleep.

Singapore is quite beautiful by night.

I wasn’t far behind!

Singapore for 3 Generations

April 3, 2025April 3, 2025 / brisbanefrannie / 1 Comment

When Pete our son suggested we might like to go to Singapore, Legoland and Penang for a short holiday with him and his 5 year old son Ollie. Then bring Ollie home while he went into a wedding in the Philippines, I really want sure what to think.

Would it be too much? would I get Covid? would we all agree on a plan each day?

I decided it was a great chance to spend some time with 43 yr old Pete recently facing a broken relationship and his gorgeous 5 year old.

Over Christmas we booked. It was real. We talked hotels, adventures and food. Pete has always loved Asia and its food. He’s lived in Malaysia attending uni and Cambodia as a teacher. He’s adventurous and a foodie – in Asia.

We went to the airport at 8 for an 11am flight. why are airports – Brisbane in particular so expensive. The food is overpriced, general goods ridiculously overpriced. I only noticed this time as we weren’t in a lounge!

The 8 hour day flight was great. We had a row of 3 and Ollie is a great little traveller. We watched a movie or two and poor Ollie only had cheese and crackers. We forgot to order a child’s meal. But he was so happy just to be travelling he didn’t care!

We landed at 5.15 Singapore time. Two hours later than in Brisbane.

We got our bags and left for the train to get us to the city, passing a robot cleaning. Ollie loved it.

The train was quick and easy and we got to our hotel the Mercure Icon in Chinatown easily. Great little rooms side by side with a great view and a 4 min walk to the night hawker markets.

We had a beer as it was very humid after some rain earlier in the day. Then satays. Chicken & prawns. Then dumplings. Then ice cream. We walked home tired but happy.

King Island

March 26, 2025 / brisbanefrannie / 1 Comment

Departing Launceston was a master class in packing. We were told we had a limit and some , particularly the golfers had clubs to check in.

After lots of laughs and weighing we made it into a small 16 seat plane.

A brief touch down in Wynyard to collect another 2 passengers then onto King Island.

Collecting the 3 cars takes a small committee of drivers. Not me !

Three couples are staying at Green Ponds Guesthouse with our pocket rocket Host Sonia

The remaining 3 couples are in 2 apartments just up the road.

We stopped for lunch at Legs. A coffee cafe in the day and a wine bar at night. We all walked in and the owner paled somewhat and said service would be slow. And it was but the coffee and the pizzas were great.

Across the road we could select between the IGA and Foodworks for our supplies. Fruit, wine and bread. Sonia has such a well stocked house for us to choose from. It’s so generous.

Our super host showed us the 8 big crays she would be using for our cray salad dinner. My goodness they amazing.

She got all the meat out for us and we had a mighty salad to go with it and Helen’s super dressing.

Beautiful Tasmanian wines and ice cream for dessert was the perfect alfresco dinner.

The air got cool so inside to the prelit fire for chat then early to bed. The beds were cosy, the quilts were a perfect weight, a window opened so sleep came easily.

It’s easy to sleep in. It’s dark until at least 7.30!

So we enjoyed breakfast whilst the golfers had left at 7 to drive north to Cape Wickham golf course.

The non golfers head to the Calcified Forest on the southern tip of the island. On the way we stopped at the site of the shipwreck Cataraqui. It was very sad to read about the 400 people who died there in 1845. Many of them children.

Onto the forest which I hadn’t read much about. Fascinating, they look a bit moon like.

Seal rocks was next. Absolutely gorgeous views. The coastline is treacherous.

Back into Currie the biggest town on the island. After a sandwich a few of the girls went exploring. We wanted to visit the Art Gallery and Museum. No luck. Both were closed even though they were advertised s as open. On small islands there is usually a reason they close. I’m sure our hostess Sonia will know.

We walked the trail around to the Boathouse- a restaurant with no food.

What a place. Colourful, fun, eccentric it’s a must. You can bring your own supplies and sit at one of the many painted tables. Done by local artist Caroline ( she came to the island for a week, 20 years ago and hasn’t left! ) the room is filled with of seafaring memorabilia. I don’t know how to describe it. Like being in Greece !

A small rest for all before heading off to Grassey on the opposite side of the coast. To Wild Harvest. It’s a small restaurant owned jointly by Lucinda and her business partner Ian Johnson. They own 2 restaurants here. Different styles on opposite coastlines.

Ian giving us a between course food description

This one does a degustation. 5 courses. Before each course Ian – the most relaxed chef ever, comes out and explain to the diners what is coming next. there were 22 in the rustic room which Ian built himself.

Ian also runs a tour company for the island. People get off the plane. Onto his bus to the restaurant for dinner and stay the night at the hotel’ perfect!

We drove home avoiding kangaroos and fell into bed.

Tasmania in a nutshell

March 24, 2025 / brisbanefrannie / 4 Comments

Who doesn’t love Tasmania? it’s the most beautiful place with food and wines to add to the experience.

I joined our group of 12, two days late after attending my ArtsNational conference in Sydney. I had a bit of catching up to do. They were well relaxed when I arrived.

The first night we had dinner at Stillwater right on the Tamar River. Fabulous food in a cellar surrounded by the wonderful wines to compliment the food.

Jill and I walked the next morning. Just around the streets of Launceston – to orientate myself. It’s a lovely old city with many heritage buildings and parks. Some even with monkeys on display!

We headed off for lunch at Ghost Rock winery.

Kathy twisted our arm for a stop at the Christmas Creek berry farm. What a spot. The cafe overlooks the gardens and huge berry patch. Every type of berry inspired food was on the menu. We shared a crepe filled with berries and Steve had a berry affogato! A taste sensation.

A quick stop in Deloraine for a little walk to look at eccentric BnB and the street art.

Then the winery. A superb lunch. Local lamb roasted. Delicious Pinot Noir and some managed Persian Love cake for dessert.

A small walk and quiet night was needed to wind down after the long lunch.

The next morning we went walking. Down to the Tamar and across to the university. Housed in repurposed buildings the university looks relaxed and is also used for Parkrun. Lots of runners were arriving for their run

Tassie House. Timber is used extensively

Back through the markets with all the local produce on display.

The golfers had left early for their game at the very well know Barnbougle Golf Club. We were meeting for lunch after at the beautiful restaurant.

But first a coffee stop at Bridport. A pretty place by the sea. Swimmers contemplated a swim. But sense won out and e walked around the town before grading for the golf club 10 mins away.

Sensational bouillabaisse for lunch.

The golfer reported an excellent round. Great first 9 the. A very windy second 9. Quite a few lost balls!

Back to Launceston is Brady’s lookout.

Another quiet evening at the Central apartments.

Tropical Rain

November 28, 2024November 28, 2024 / brisbanefrannie / 2 Comments

There is a distinct sound to tropical rain. It absolutely pelts down and the trees surrounding the house make dripping and drooping sounds.

Another swim in the rain followed by a simple breakfast. Life here is uncomplicated and quiet. If only we weren’t so worried about Jo.

We walked through the pelting rain to one of only two restaurants which are only open on odd days and odd hours. Today it’s open. We got big cups of coffee ( $16) and sat alone until a group of 4 came in with a local woman and sat near us.

Turns out they are journalists covering this area for a tourism promotion! Not a great time to be here. They shared their sweet pandan rolls with us and Paula our housekeeper arrived to chat and take them back to the house for more photos.

We went onto the Cocos Malay Museum. It’s small and the sign outside advises that if it’s locked ( it wasn’t ) to go to the shire office nearby and get the key.

We got in and spent some time absorbing what life would have been like. The Clunies-Ross family ran a huge copra business here. They employed many Malay people who stayed and became Australian citizens when they voted to stay with Australia.

We felt the museum would benefit from a retired person like Steve to add explanations to their displays. Perhaps he should offer to return and fiend time doing that.

We had ordered some curry puffs and spring rolls at the restaurant and went back to collect them. I got talking to the young man who took our money. ( 16 pieces for $54). Thomas from NZ met Ammanah when he moved to Perth. She was studying. They fell in love and I imagine it would have been hard for her Muslim family to accept Thomas. He decided to move to Cocos with her , convert to Islam and marry. He’s now employed by the local Council to run their waste management program.

They were just lovely to chat to and ask about life on Home Island. It’s very different to life on West Island. Home island is where the Cocos Malays live. Some travel back and forth for work.

Back at the house we shared our food with Wolf and Marion our Putin admirer.

Once again the afternoon was spent reading and playing a banangram. It was pouring. no wifi.

The other two couples usually eat and go to bed very early. So I prepared a cheese plate to share and we sat with Greg, Bruce and Atsuko for awhile. This is a dry island though guests at the house can bring some alcohol with them. You can’t buy it here. We’ve had a very small gin each evening. That’s it!

Our evenings are spent reading. And Steve seems to be able to sleep from 8.30 till 7. Amazing.

We’re hoping for news about our flight tomorrow evening at 6pm. It’s not looking promising. Jo and Martyn still have no idea of their medivac retrieval. Imagine if it were life threatening.

Walking in Home Island : Part 2

November 26, 2024November 27, 2024 / brisbanefrannie / 6 Comments

We continue along the water front in sunshine.

Past the Museum and onto the gravel road leading to the beaches.

It was deserted and quiet. We waded out and out trying to get to water deep enough to swim. 🏊🏻‍♀️ very difficult!

Steve swam off and around to the next bay. I followed at a leisurely pace. It was gorgeous swimming. Not much yo look at. I didn’t spy any turtles or even any fish.

We dried off and walked to the top of the island. We were only a short spit away from Direction Island. This is the place everyone says is stunning. Because of the rain we haven’t made it over. We funny fancy going there for 5 hours sitting on a wet beach no matter how beautiful the water. But our host here Paula, said the bay here is just as beautiful.

We came to the island’s cemetery. I have seen a Muslim cemetery so was surprised to see there were two crosses in each small grave plot one tied with a head scarf. And over the graves a small umbrella to shade.

We walked back through the little township and stopped at the supermarket. Several families were shopping. It was much better stocked than the supermarket cooperative on West Island.

The rain was starting again but did we care? We were already wet!

Back to Oceanic House for lunch and a chat with Wolf & Marion. Their English is better than our German – though Steve’s was trying hard.. They were telling us all the things their Government are doing wrong. Sound familiar!!!!

Too many refugees have made it impossible. Turning off gas, coal and nuclear, thinking the sun & wind would provide enough electricity has lead to huge power shortages and high costs. Wolf was getting very passionate. He loves Australia and advises we do things more thoughtfully. We can only hope.

Our bedroom is large and comfortable and we spent some time reading and listening to the rain before dinner. Tonight fish curry. Just 1 serve. It was hot, it was spicy.

Wolf & Marion had something with sauerkraut and Bruce and Natsuko had noodles.

After dinner we sat in the lounge and chatted to Paula and Greg. Such a well travelled interesting couple.

Do look up her website. PaulaCornell.com

Off to bed with the rain pelting down. I haven’t eeen such continuous rain for a long time.

We won’t be leaving Tuesday according to Greg who was a pilot in the British airforce. Visibility will be against them when landing. This is also why the medivac plane can’t get here to pick up Jo.

We just have to wait. We might get lucky. Heavens knows we need a little luck on this holiday.

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