Glamorous South Korea

A Korean experience

When I think of Korea, Jewel in the Palace (Dae Jang Gem) comes to mind. A 2003 South Korean television series, it revolves around an orphaned kitchen cook who later became the king’s first female physician.

Some of my favourite movies included City Hunter, Pinocchio, My Love from the Star, On the Way to the Airport and Romantic Doctor, Teacher Kim and recently Whisper. Now I am hooked on Korean movies!

Besides K-drama, South Korea is well-known for its K-pop, cosmetic surgery, LG television, Hyundai cars and Samsung phones. When Mr Goh of Letian Society, an elderly seniors’ club in Klang, invited my husband and I, to join members on a tour of South Korea, we gladly joined them, eager to know more about this country.

So early April, 25 of us, together with tour leader, Nick Ng, were at the airport for a morning flight at 10.30 am. 

Our group of 25 at the airport

We arrived in Jeju Island, the romance island of the country, in the evening. Our Mandarin-speaking South Korea tour guide, Elsa, welcomed us with fried chicken and coke (we preferred coke to beer). "Chicken and Beer", a Korean favourite, called “chi-maek”, was made famous by the female lead in the Korean movie, My love from the Star. 

Chicken and coke

After the long and tiring journey, the finger-licking night-cap was an appetising introduction to our Korean holiday.

JEJU ISLAND  

As we travelled around Jeju Island, the unique bus stops, the beautiful homes and the lovely beaches reminded me of the Korean movie, On the way to the Airport, which was filmed on the island. Our hectic itinerary on the island included visits to Teddy Bear Museum, Glass Castle, Seongeup Folk Village, Seopiji Koji and The Painters Show (Hero).

Teddy Bear Museum

This museum is dedicated to teddy bears. There were hundreds and hundreds of models of teddy bears of all shapes and sizes, dressed in a variety of costumes. Most children like teddy bears, especially to hug and snuggle up with. They will enjoy this museum more than us, mostly senior citizens. Besides bears, there were models of other animals like giraffes, bears, deer, leopards, camels, extinct elephants etc - it was like a mini-zoo but sadly not of live animals.

Entrance of Teddy Bear Museum

Teddy bears band

A bear with romantic captions

A family of father, mother, brother and sister bears

Life-size bears dressed up in period costumes

Glass Castle



I was totally engrossed with this place - a glass art theme park featuring 250 models all made entirely of glass. There were so many pretty, delicate, gorgeous, cute and magnificent items, all masterfully and creatively made - I could stay there the whole day gazing at the ingenious works of art. There were also some glass art masterpieces by internationally famous artists from Italy, Czech Republic and Japan etc.

There were some glass models of characters/objects taken out of Children's stories. We felt young again as we took memorable shots with Cinderella's pumpkin carriage and Prince Charming and Cinderella.

Entrance: An introduction to exhibition of glassware from all over the world

The artist of the exhibition

A unique glass archway

Atlas with the world on his head    Photo: Goh

A rainbow-coloured glass guitar

An array of colourful glass pumpkins         Photo: Goh

A pumpkin glass carriage                             Photo: Goh

Cinderella and Prince Charming glass figures

Seongeup Folk Village

In this village, we were greeted by a pretty guide who told us she was aged 60, but looking at her fair porcelain-like face, she looked 10 years younger. She had a quaint way of speaking, and we were mesmerised by her sing-song like account of the history and culture of the  earlier settlements of Jeju island. Later in a room filled with marketable products, she spoke on the benefits of honey and horse-oil cream. She was so convincing that many of us bought the health products there. 


After the talk, we walked around the huts (with urns used for making fermented bean), fruit orchards (filled with orange trees) and then tried our best to take a good picture of the black pig. 

The guide said, “the Jeju Black pig, found only in Jeju Island, has a unique taste different from other pig breeds.”  That day, we had pork (from the black pig) for lunch and we found the flavour simply delicious.

A local guide explaining the history of the stone statue

Orange trees with very sweet juicy fruits

Large urns for fermenting black beans

Fermented black beans

A black-hair black-skin pig

Seongsan Ilchulbong (Sunrise Peak)

This Peak is an archetypal tuff cone, formed by hydrovolcanic eruptions upon a shallow seabed. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The crater is about 600m in diameter and 90m high. The sunrise from the crater is said to be strikingly beautiful but alas, we went there only in the day time.

Seongsan Ilchulbong, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Hikers walking up the trail to Seongsan Ilchulbong

Unique rock formations

Seopiji Koji

This place is located at the end of the eastern shore of Jeju Island. It was the site for many Korean dramas. We walked down to view interesting geographical formations and haenyeo (Jeju women divers) with their seafood catches. Usually we hear of fishermen venturing out to catch fish but here, the haenyeo were women who braved the strong waves to bring back their catch. Bravo to Jeju women divers!

Beautiful rock formations                    Photo: Goh  

Outstanding natural landscape   Photo: Goh

Brave Jeju women divers bringing back their catch    Photo: Goh

Jeju women divers showing tourists their catch   Photo: Goh

Jeju women divers displaying and selling their catch. Bravo!

Seafood - catch of the day

Sea cucumber, octopus and abalone

 
Golden Sea of Canola flowers and cherry blossoms

Travelling along the roads, rows and rows of rape flowers (canola), and cherry blossoms greeted us. Seeing our gasps of excitement on the “golden sea”of canola, Elsa stopped the bus and allowed us to capture some memorable shots. We were really happy that we chose to visit Korea in the spring time.

Excitement and joy as members try to capture a memorable shot      Photo: Goh

Captivating Cherry Blossoms and Canola flowers

The Painters

We attended a 3-in-1 show (a play, an art show and a musical), titled The Painters (Hero). The innovative non-verbal performance of painting accompanied by creative visual effects and a humorous combination of mime, dance and comedy, had us tapping our feet and clapping our hands in full enjoyment. 

The actors in the Painters show were University students. It was a great tourist attraction. This will be a good example for University students in Malaysia to emulate.  

Painters hard at work

The talented painters with their polished pieces

After the Jeju Island tour, we took a flight to the capital, Seoul, to explore other fascinating features of South Korea.  

SEOUL - Everland Theme Park

We had a whole day in Everland, Korea’s largest Theme Park, but even 2 days will not be enough because there were so many sections to visit. While most members went to the Safari Park to see animals, my husband and I opted to go to the garden section to look at flowers.

It happened to be the Tulip Festival – marking the onset of Spring from March to April. Tulips here, tulips there, tulips everywhere! I was overjoyed -  millions of tulips of 100 different varieties were all around me. I have seen enormous fields of tulips in Keukenhof, Holland, but to see such attractive blooms in this part of the world was simply divine.  

Appreciating this wondrous spectacle were local young adults who were having the time of their lives with their partners. Many sites were set up especially for romantic couples to take photos – we took the opportunity to join in!

The Theme Park was also flooded with playful school children, all having a great time with adrenaline-pumping rides, high-tech shows and fun things to do. 

At the entrance of Everland, with our fingers showing Korean "love" sign

An eye-catching floral tree near the entrance

A photo with romantic captions

Tulips galore - maroon and blue

White tulips

Pink-yellow tulips

Close up of purple-red-white tulip

A group of friendly school children 

SEOUL – Nami Island

We took a ferry to this tiny half-moon-shaped island. This was another romantic place characteristic of the Korean people. 

Beautiful tree-lined roads and artistic and innovative objects were dotted everywhere. Famous for filming Winter Sonata, it is a cultural centre for creative ideas of local artists. This was also the location of the Korean movie My love from the Star.

Considered an “independent culture state”, Nami Island has also colourful rides with vendors selling a multitude of snacks and a lot of green space to play on. Our photo enthusiasts were spoilt for choice with so many extraordinary spots.

We met many Malaysians during our leisurely walk there. It is a favourite place of my country. On our way out, there were many statues with "thank you" captions in various languages. One was "Terima Kasih", meaning thank you in Malaysian language.

At the entrance of Nami Island with tour leader Nick (light blue jacket) sitting right in front

Most iconic statue     Photo: Goh

A popular statue to take photo with

Creative innovative objects

Tree-lined roads

Romantic statues

Our men-women in a creative pose

Fun activity for tourists: Pushing a heavy log to hit a bell

Statue with "thank you" caption in Malaysian language

SEOUL – Seorak National Park


Rows and rows of cherry blossoms greeted us as our bus ascended Mt Seorak. Mt Seorak or Seoraksan is the highest mountain in the Taebaek mountain range. Its name comes from the word "Seol" meaning snow and "ak" meaning big mountain, because the snow does not melt for a long time, giving the rocks a permanent white sheen. 

 In 1973, Seoraksan National Park was designated as a park preservation area and in Auguts 1982, as a Biosphere Preservation District by UNESCO. This Park has high mountains, waterfalls, rivers, treks, a fortress, Buddhist temples and Buddha statues. It is accessible by road or cable car. 

We fell in love with the natural landscape, especially with the abundant cherry blossoms. Many local people come to this Park too, to relax in the peaceful ambience.
 

Rows and rows of cherry blossoms   Photo: Goh

Entrance to Seorak National Park

Natural awe-inspiring landscape

Icon of Mt Seorak National Park

Appealing red pine trees

Ecstasy and joy with cherry blossoms: with Nick (tour leader) at the back and Elsa (tour guide) on far right

Sinheungsa Temple with Mr and Mrs Goh (left)

SEOUL – Daepohang Market

 

Daepohang Port has many raw fish restaurants, dried fish shops and live fish markets (eel, flatfish, flounder etc). 



As we strolled along the shops, we were attracted by the appetising snacks and  the abundance and variety of unusual sea creatures. I was very impressed by the cleanliness of the place - no flies or insects hovered around the raw or dried seafood.

Appetising snacks

Great choices of fried seafood

Unusual sea creatures

SEOUL – Blue House (Cheong Wa Dae)

The Blue House is the executive office and official residence of the South Korean head of state, the President of the Republic of Korea. It is so named because of the 150,000 handmade ceramic blue coloured roof tiles. We saw the Blue House from a distance only.

The Blue House

SEOUL- Gyeongbok Palace or Gyeongbokgung Palace

This was the primary palace of Joseon Dynasty (1393 - 1910). It was built in 1395 by King Taejo. Gyeongbok means "Enjoy the big happiness". 

We were in this enchanting place for a few hours, touring the various buildings, which were built in harmony with the environment surrounding them. We learnt of the how the King lived and how he ruled the country during ancient times. 

Elsa, our tour guide, explained how in winter, heat was generated to warm the Palace grounds from the bottom during ancient times. This was interesting because I noticed that in the hotels we resided in, the heat also came from the floor panels - an advanced technology adapted from  ancient times.

Elsa related that in ancient times, the Koreans did not have their own language. In 1443, King Sejong the Great, during the Joseon Dynasty, created the Korean alphabet, known as Hangul. Now the Korean alphabet is the official script of the country.

The Gyeongbok Palace- side view

The Gyeongbok Palace- front view      Photo: Goh

Other buildings around the Palace

Gyeonghoeru Pavilion surrounded by a lake

Traditional Performance at Floral Wall at Jagyeongjeon Hall

Interior of Palace

SEOUL- Cultural Experience



To really understand the culture of Korea, Elsa arranged for us two cultural experiences - wearing the handbok and making kimchi.

Hanbok wearing: Hanbok (South Korea) is the traditional Korean national costume. It is characterised by vibrant colours and simple lines without pockets. It is now worn only on special occasions like weddings, or during national holidays. 

Trying out the hanbok was a unique experience for me. The costume exudes feminine grace and charm, and I felt like I was a woman of yore.

A "Korean" couple

"Korean" ladies

 Kimchi-making: Simple kimchi is made with cut cabbage, daikon radish, scallions, seasoned paste of red pepper, garlic, ginger, sugar, fish sauce, salted shrimp or kelp powder.


Donning pretty aprons and plastic gloves, the ladies participated in this activity with glee. Imagine, learning an iconic dish on holiday! 

However, it was just a simple operation of applying a ready-made sauce on to a cabbage, leaf by leaf, and tying the cabbage compactly with a thin cabbage strand. Even then, it was an exhilarating experience - one that we would cherish and remember for a long time.

Ingredients for kimchi

Members concentrating on making the perfect kimchi

Members all ready, with apron and inspiration

SEOUL – Buchon Hanok Village

This village with "traditional Korean architecture in modern Seoul" is home to hundreds of traditional houses, called hanok , that date back to the Joseon Dynasty. Today, many of these hanoks operate as cultural centres, guesthouses, restaurants and tea houses, giving tourists an opportunity to experience Korean culture.

Many tourists were at the village with us and some came in traditional hanbok costumes. There were many Korean school children too. I found the most outstanding features were the archaic roof tiles and brick-wood walls of the buildings.

Side view of hanok

Front view of hanok        Photo:Goh

Interesting architecture of hanoks       Photo: Goh

Big crowds traversing the narrow roads between the hanoks

With other tourists in traditional hanbok costumes   

Inside a hanok  - with Korean school children

SEOUL – N Seoul Tower and Love Lock Wall

This Tower, officially the YTN Seoul Tower, or Namsan Tower, is a communication and observation tower located on Namsam Mountain in central Seoul. At 236m, it is the second highest point in Seoul.

It was Korea's first general radio wave tower from 1969, delivering TV and radio broadcasting in the metropolitan area. Opened to the public in 1980, it is a renowned symbol of Seoul. 

We took a lift to the top and spent leisurely time enjoying the cold air outside at the love lock wall and tower. Then we went to the cosy warm environment inside where there were many shops selling food and souvenirs. We walked a circle around the Tower and were awed by the different parts of Seoul city as viewed from that staggering height. 

As I walked around the Tower, I recalled that it was the place where the romantic couple dated in the Korean movie My Love from the Star.

                              

Night view of N Seoul Tower

At entrance of N Seoul Tower

The very cold environment at the Love-lock wall

 

Relaxing on top of N Seoul Tower

Happy members at the top of the Tower in the cosy environment inside

The bright lights of the city - looking down from the Tower

SEOUL – Graffiti Tunnel

This short tunnel is decorated with paintings which looked like modern art to me. It is popular with musicians and actors who film their musical videos or shows here.

Painting on the wall.    Photo: Goh

Painting on the wall          Photo: Goh

SEOUL – Shopping 

Seaweed Factory: Korea is well-known for its cultivated processed seaweed. Seaweed has high levels of Vitamins A, B12 and C, as well as minerals like calcium, iodine, folate and magnesium,

We were allowed to taste as much as we liked of the dried, roasted and flavoured seaweed sheets in the factory. Many of us bought a lot of the seaweed sheets for family and friends.  
               

Different flavours of seaweed sheets

Seaweed tasting

Myeongdong Shopping Street:
 
We were thrilled to shop on this street, at the Lotte Department Store and other shops selling Korean cosmetics, clothes, jewellery and more. The stalls along the streets reminded me of the pasar malam in Malaysia. I noticed that the vendors were young and enterprising and the stalls orderly and clean. We bought and tasted some of the food – yummy!

Dongdaemun shopping complex: This is a large commercial district with many shopping malls. We did our last minute shopping there on the last day.

KOREAN CUISINE: 

Korean cuisine consists mainly of steamed white rice, vegetables and meat. Traditional meals were often accompanied with many side dishes. We had steamboat or hotpot often and usually kimchi was served. We also had Asian or Western cuisine, buffet-style for breakfast and lunch once.

We found Korean food healthy, non-oily, not too salty and simply delicious.   We were lucky to sample many different varieties of Korean cuisine throughout our holiday.

Members enjoying barbecued meat and seafood hotpot
Photo: Goh

Barbecued meat with big bean sprouts and straw mushrooms

Hotpot of a variety of seafood and vegetables

After the hotpot food is consumed, steamed rice
 is cooked with other vegetables in it

Members enjoying chicken-ginseng soup

Whole chicken ginseng soup

 

Black skinned nutritious pork in thick soup with added vegetables

Cabbage cooked with meat right in front of us

Seaweed soup

Fresh lettuce

Side dishes are often served

An array of side dishes

Hotpot of vegetables and seafood

Breakfast of porridge, pau and side dishes

Meat and mushrooms cooked on hot plate with side dishes

Chicken stew with potatoes and other vegetables

                            ....................................................................................................

All members of our group had a great 7-day holiday. We got along well with each other and I made new friends. 

The trip opened my eyes to South Korea’s amazing scenery, as well as the interesting history and culture of the people. Visiting the country in Spring was the ideal time – I  was elated to see, feel and touch tulips, cherry blossoms and canola flowers. The visit gave me an insight to the romantic, creative, disciplined, industrious and patriotic  nature of the Korean people.

 Back home, whenever I watch Korean movies, I can relate to the actors and the places on the screen, making me appreciate the movies better.

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Black start to vacation

Black hair dye strewn carelessly over my clothes

            A hair-raising experience dampened my last trip abroad.  I had packed two packets of a black henna hair dye in my large suitcase.  As my holiday with my family was for the duration of a month and a half, packing the dye was an act of vanity.

            Upon arrival at our destination, my husband, son and I were dismayed to discover that all the locks of our luggage had been tampered with. 

My husband and I had luggage with zippers.  There was a clean cut on the metal zip heads that were locked with a small padlock. My son’s brand new suitcase had its combination lock crudely severed. This was a clear case of deliberate damage with intention to steal.

            Upon unpacking, my son did not find anything missing except his high spirits.  My husband lost three valuable watches that were gift items.  I had the worst surprise.  One of the hair dye packets was slit opened and the contents strewn carelessly and willfully all over my clothes and belongings.

           “Don’t touch anything, let me take some pictures first,” my quick-witted son called out as he grabbed his camera and took some photographs, before leaving me alone with my woes.

The locks of three luggages tampered with 

       
          Trying not to cry, I carefully removed the powdery-laden clothes, one by one.  My hands were shaky as I dusted the black powder on to an old newspaper. My hair stood on end.  I felt cold not from the weather outside but from the anguish within. Most of my clothes especially the light coloured ones had a close encounter with the irksome powder.  What a hair-raising experience!

            The next two days were spent cleaning up the mess. Thus began my ritual of scrubbing and washing stubborn stains in a foreign country instead of enjoying the sights

and sounds of a new environment.  It was a difficult and unsuccessful task!

             “Good dyes were meant to stay and not easily get washed away.” This rhyme kept running through my mind and I finally gave up the tedious efforts.  Let my white blouses and pants be with their new designs of black, yellow or green spots at strategic places!

          

            Do you have any sentiments with your clothes? does looking at them give you a nostalgic feeling of some happy occasion? I do.  Each piece reminded me of a special event - like graduations, weddings, holidays, birthday parties, shopping and so on.  As I washed, dried and folded my tainted clothes, it was like taking a trip down memory lane although this was a melancholic and depressing journey! 

.           Over the past 20 years, I have travelled to many countries far and near. This was the first time something unpleasant like this has happened. I felt angry and frustrated about the whole incident. Someone had been through my belongings!  Even though it was just a suitcase, it was an invasion of privacy. Whoever did it had a nerve!

Questions kept running through my mind. How can travellers enjoy their flight if they are unsure of the safety of their luggage? Where is the guarantee that their bags will be safe from the time it leaves their hands until they see it again in another airport?

Fellow travellers, take heed when you embark on your next trip overseas, whether it is for business or pleasure. Let me share a few pointers on how to beat thieves who do not only damage bags and steal things, but spoil holidays.

 Invest in a good durable suitcase with a reliable lock. Write your name, address and telephone number clearly on a label and fasten it securely to the suitcase. Attach an extra colourful ribbon or other personal identification tag for easy recognition when retrieving your bag at the baggage claim.

            Do not pack valuables in your big luggage; carry them with you in your hand luggage. Remember not to pack dyes, coloured liquids or curry spices together with your clothes or it could turn messy like mine did.  Ideally they should be packed separately in a box.

            Buy a travel insurance that covers theft and loss of baggage. We were compensated with a nominal sum of money from the insurance company after that ordeal.

            Many travellers have encountered cases where their luggage were sent off on a different flight and arrived later than they did or never arrived at all. One traveller had his bag travelling round the world and returned back safely to him three months later!

             So, as a safety measure, bring an extra pair of clothing, pyjamas and undergarments in your hand luggage.   Shopping for under garments in a foreign country at short notice is not an enjoyable experience, I must say.

            To prevent theft, do not leave your hand luggage unattended; bring it along with you where ever you go, even to the toilet cubicle if you are travelling alone. 

            Lastly, never help to carry anything for anyone who approaches you in the airport, however pathetic or desperate he or she may seem.  This will prevent you from being

wrongly accused of carrying whatever is in the bag, like drugs or illegal substances.

            My harrowing “hair” incident has taught me to be more careful in the future

but it will not deter me from my love of travelling. I look forward to the invention of

an electronic lock that will trigger an alarm to scare the living daylights off such

light-fingered lock-pickers.

    

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This article was published in the Star (Malaysian newspaper) on September 11, 2000. It is edited and photos are added here.

 

Seniors: Go see the World

                        

See the world - Universal Studios, Singapore

Travel to foreign countries far and near

Taste different exotic dishes without fear

Marvel at the world’s great wonders

Appreciate people and their diverse culture

Travel to countries far away -  Skagway, Alaska

Travel to countries far away -  Arizona, USA

Travel to countries that are near - Borobudur, Indonesia

Travel to countries that are near - Bali, Indonesia

Appreciate local culture - Urumqi, Xinjiang, China

Appreciate local culture - Kuching, Malaysia

Appreciate local culture - Manila, Philippines

Are you a senior? Age should not douse the sense of adventure during your golden years.

Pack up your bags, book the plane tickets and fly off to exotic destinations for exciting vacations.

Retirement at last!  The children are grown-up and working. With time and money at hand, heed the rhyme above and go travelling.

Jetlag disorientates my routine.  I cannot sleep on strange beds.  I have flying phobia. Cold is bad for my bones.  Fears like these run through the senior citizen’s mind. 

Let me share some travelling tips with you.  Problems will exist wherever you are.  If you are prepared and plan wisely, such fears will melt away.

Health

First get the green light from your family doctor.  Take a month’s supply of medication.  If you need to swallow pills daily, continue with your routine. 

Have some pills for airsickness, headache, diarrhoea and some medicated oil.  You may find yourself not needing these especially when you are having a whale of a time.                                                                    

Travel Agency

Use only reliable travel agencies. Good rates abound during travel fairs and big discounts are offered during off-peak seasons. 

Plan your itinerary in such a way that your last stop will enable you to spend time with family or friends who live abroad.  They will welcome you with open arms.

Travel documents

Is your passport valid?  Don’t wait until you are at the airport to check the expiry date.

Remember that your passport needs to be valid for at least six months before you can travel overseas.

Make sure you have proper documents before flying off to countries, example visas for certain countries.

Seasons

Choose summer time, late spring or early autumn if you don’t like the cold.  Once you are satisfied with the place, price and package, book your ticket and don’t turn back.

Summer in  Antelope Canyon, Arizona, USA

Spring in Canberra, Australia

Autumn in Gent, Belgium

Companion

Your choice of a companion is crucial – he can make or mar your whole holiday.  Go with your spouse, relative or friend who has similar likes and dislikes. 

Travel with spouse -  Stadpark, Vienna, Austria 

Travel with family - San Francisco, USA

Travel with ex-classmates - Hokitika, New Zealand

Travel with friends of similar interests - Quanzhou, Fujian, China

You don’t want to miss savouring smoked salmon or genuine Italian pizza while your companion insists on hunting for fish head curry or Chinese food on a free day.

Plan your packing together so that you don’t duplicate items that can be shared.

Insurance

 Buy a medical and travel insurance from a reputable company.  Read the fine print carefully to ensure that you are covered for emergencies, medical treatment and loss of luggage. Be informed on any in eventualities that may occur, like if you cannot travel, what is the penalty or deadline for cancellation and is there any refund.  

Carry the insurance card with you and leave the policy and a copy of your itinerary with your next of kin.

On the plane

Check in early for good seats and minimum stress. For some airlines, you can check in online. Front seats have good legroom while aisle seats offer easy mobility.

For long hauls, exercise in your seat and walk up and down the aisle. Drink to your heart’s content, but only fruit juices and water. Bring a small empty water bottle and get the cabin crew to fill it up for you – better than the small cups they offer you which can spill liquid easily.

Keep awake if your arrival is at night; listen to your own favourite music on your MP3 player or bring a good book to read. Sleep throughout the journey if you arrive during the day. Have your own ‘security pillow’ if it adds to your comfort. Wear comfortable clothes and bring a sweater/shawl/blanket as the air-conditioning can be quite cold.

The above helps some people to minimise jetlag, caused by immobility, dehydration and time difference.

Apparel

Travel light.  Just make sure you pack some pants and shirts, warm garments for the cold weather and cotton for the tropics. Recycle undergarments and stockings. 

Warm garments for the cold weather - Gent, Belgium

Cotton clothes for the tropics - Singapore

Invest in good thermal wear – they are useful when the weather suddenly turns cold, even during summer.

Good support shoes and bedroom slippers will keep your feet comfortable throughout the tour - many hotels provide bedroom slippers though. Don’t forget your dancing shoes if you like to ‘cha-cha’ in exotic night clubs, or dance traditional dancing with the locals.

Dance with the locals - Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Luggage

Bags with wheels are kind to back muscles. Do not lift when you can push or pull otherwise get help. Get lightweight bags with four wheels so that they are easy to wheel and  manoeuvre.

Get a lightweight luggage with 4 wheels

Good locks will deter pilfering.  Try the new “secure wrap” service at KLIA where luggage is wrapped in a transparent material for a fee.  This gives you a worry-free journey as any tampering can be detected easily.

Pack a spare set of clothes in your hand luggage, just in case your check-in luggage gets lost.  Keep valuables in your hand luggage, and never in your check-in luggage. For hand luggage, get a 4-wheeled bag (easy to wheel) or a backpack (hands are free for grasping or holding on to a support).

Get a durable backpack

 Food

Inform the airlines early if you require any special diet or if you are a vegetarian – but do not expect your favourite asam laksa to be served!

Fill a thermos flask with a hot drink and pack some snacks in case of delays.

Watch what you take into a country.  The United States prohibits fresh fruits and any form of meat, so finish your dried meat tit-bits before arrival.  Australia is also quite fussy about the type of food you can bring in.

Check with friends or the Internet, on what can or cannot be brought in to a country to prevent problems at the immigration counters.

Be adventurous.  Sample local cuisine, then come back and share the flavourful experience with others.

 

Whole barbecued lamb - Urumqi, Xinjiang, China

Baklava - Tashkent, Uzbekistan

A yummy dessert in Manila, Philippines

 

Clams in Danang, Vietnam

Abalone in Guangzhou, China

The tour

Read up on the places you will be visiting. This prepares you on what to expect and what to look out for, like iconic places, local food and the culture of the people.

Iconic place - Lombard Street, the most crooked street in the world -
San Francisco, California, USA

Iconic place - Opera House - Sydney, Australia

Iconic place -Angkor Wat -Siem Reap, Cambodia

Iconic place - Hero's  Square, Budapest, Hungary

Iconic place, Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Australia

Carry your hotel card – its name and telephone number - with you wherever you go in case you get lost.  If you are, hop into a taxi and show the driver the hotel card.  It’s best not to try the local public transport to get back to the hotel, especially in countries where you cannot read or speak the language and you do not know the bus or train routes.  

Keep your passport and money next to your skin.  You can keep them in little passport bags or inside a zipped inner vest.  When keeping your passport and wallet in your pocket, be careful that you do not get pick-pocketed. However, most hotels have safes in the room for passports. 

A cloth passport bag for passport and money

An inner vest with zipped pocket in front

Be cashless and cautious; use credit card or traveller’s cheques.  Don’t waste time converting to ringgit (Malaysian currency) every time you want to buy something – it’s a sure way to spoil your holiday.

Forget about shopping, shopping and shopping.   Visit more than shopping malls.  Take lots of pictures. Photos are irreplaceable memory refreshers.

Make sure your camera is loaded with film and fresh batteries. If you use the camera on your mobile phone, make sure it has enough storage space, and remember to bring your phone charger.

With so much fun, you will not miss your family.  But if you do, call or email home.  Just remember to register with Yahoo or Gmail before you depart. In these modern times, you can install What’s App or WeChat in your smart phone, which will connect you with family and friends back home. Make sure the place you stay in has free wifi.

Ignore small irritations and bring along your sense of humour. Be optimistic and adapt as you go along. Talk and make friends with the local people. Marvel at the sights before you.

Marvel at beautiful flowers in Cockington Green Gardens, Canberra, Australia

Marvel at the different varieties of Chrysanthemums - Singapore

Marvel at the largest flower in the world, Rafflesia - Sabah, Malaysia

Marvel at Crater Lake, Oregon, USA

Have a great holiday!

           

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This article was published in the Star (Malaysian Newspaper) on February 26 2001.

It is edited and photos are added.