26 Sep - 28 Sep | Music Sensation | Salzburg, Austria

Salzburg is affectionately known as the City of Mozart - Austria’s beloved musicians’ birth place. There is no shortage of Mozart in this city – one will find him from gardens, to universities to chocolate souvenir pieces. Salzburg’s reign as a world music capital has only been strengthened by the powers of Hollywood. If you know the Sound of Music then you have probably seen Salzburg! As a city with a population of merely 210,000 residents, it has certainly done well to promote itself and become one of the top tourist destinations in the world with more than 5 million visitors per year!

Mozart Chocolates

Universitat Mozarteum

25 Sep - 26 Sep | Snow Capped Mountains | Innsbruck, Austria

The train journey from Munich to Innsbruck was as beauitful and pictureque as the European brochures promote them to be! As it was only day 2 Europe, I went a little snap crazy and took a bit too many blury pictures of the Germany/Austria countryside. Rail travel in Europe must be one of the best ways to see the region(s). It is comfortable, speedy, convenient plus you can get great window views.

One of the better photos from the blurry picture series I have on the cameras

Group photo for the suitcases and bags!

The last time I came to Innsbruck waas 20 years ago, and of course being a kid at the time on a Hong Kong organised tour, I don't remember much. (Lack of Cantonese listening skills at the time being the main factor) So it was as if I came here for the first time! The most striking feature of Innsbruck was seeing the beauty of the Austrian Alps! The snow capped mountains, where clouds decide how it may reveal the beauty of the mountains to you on a daily basis. Thankfully a booking with the Hilton Innsbruck hotel ensured we had a view of this incredible sight from sunrise to sunset. We spent the afternoon meandering the small Tyrolean city centre, visiting the Golden Leaf museum (blitzing it is probably a better word), walking around the gardens, and breathing fresh air, drinking tasty water and eating some nice fresh apples! The simple Austrian country life.

24 Sep - 25 Sep | Bavarian Central | Munich, Germany

My first new destination of 2010 - Munich! Needless to say, I was ecstatic about pinning this new destination down on my 'where i've been to' map! And buzzing with excitement about exploring a new city! Perhaps it's because I walk past the Lowenbrau restaurant on a daily basis, or because one of my most memorable birthdays of recent years was at the Bavarian Beer Cafe, or just the fact that, I've heard great things about Munich (probably just that). The July issue of Monocle magazine also ranked Munich as the No 1 Best Place to Live in 2010, so naturally that added to my curiosity. Munich, the mysterious city...I was about to find out!

After what seemed like a flight never-ending flight, Mum and I finally arrived at Munich approx 6am in the morning to reunite with my Dad. It was the start of the 3/4 family trip, my brother got left out of this leg. And if memory serves me correctly, the last time only the 3 of us traveled together was when I was about 2 years old, ever since then it's been all sorts of family combinations.

Actually the first thing I was excited about was eating German bread. Yes, bread. After months of obsessing with the German bakery near my office, I was excited to be eating German bread in Germany!!! Ahh, genuine German bread, so tasty and fresh :) After a huge breakfast at the Kempinski Airport Hotel (an excellent 5 star hotel right at the airport, too bad I was only there for 3 hours to enjoy the bed and breakfast), we left the airport and went into town for some exploration.

Genuine German Bread!!

At the Kempinski Airport Hotel

19 Sep - 21 Sep | Journey to Sitiawan | Sitiawan, Malaysia

A trip to Malaysia is never ever complete unless we stop by to my mum's home town - Sitiawan. This time round it was a fun family trip down with my mum, brother, aunty and 2 cousins. After a 3 hour bumpy ride down to Sitiawan (thanking Lei Lei & Xien for driving us down), we managed to catch my uncle for a short 5 minutes!! Last time I saw him was 6 years and after saying Hello he disappeared to go to work when he had 2 sisters,1 nephew, 1 niece, 1 son and 1 daughter visiting. I guess we weren't so lucky with timing, but it was still good to catch him for that brief moment.

Driving down to country-side Malaysia

Typical scene - quite a contrast to the hustle and bustle of KL



Welcome to Sitiawan!


Like all my Sitiawan visits, it consists of mainly eating and relaxing in this little kampung. Small town life is bliss. My favourite food is the RM0.60 Roti Canai + malaysian milk tea. It's great to start a day by indulging in this way :) (Not the healthiest, but my visits are always too short to consider health!) Next favourite is devouring the seriously good, fresh seafood and excellent Foo Chow (hok-chew/fuzhou) dishes 福州菜.  As one can tell from the next few pics, we ate a lot!

Noodles 乾拌麵! A daily order! 

 

Roti Canai + others

Foochow cuisine is known for its soupy-ness!



A soup I can only have in Sitiawan

Awesome crabs!

 

Most of our dinners were spent eating at an outdoor coconut planatation restaurant

This time round we stayed at my grand aunt's place; which I have to say was one of my most comfortable Sitiawan stay in a long time! It was also lovely to be in a chatty household with the aunties and uncles. My grand aunt, age 91 this year, is still a busy woman making patch quilts! Amazing.

I only caught up her on camera as she was about to pack up the sewing machine

I love how she uses an antique sewing machine!

We also did some shopping too - but of a completely different kind. See us hard at work at my mum's uncles old shop in search of some buttons. My mum had all of us working hard!

Working hard - like a sweatshop!

After button sorting, we went next door to shop a bit more.
I love the old-school display style of this shop.

I just thought it was fascinating how toys are hung up!

And one of the best parts of the visit, was seeing my 5 year old cousin for the first time! Very cheeky boy.  He looks exactly like my uncle too.

Sitiawan will never really be a town a non-Malaysians will visit, but it certainly has its character and charm. I hope my next visit to Sitiawan/KL/Malaysia will not be another 6 years. Quick, someone organise a wedding again soon! I need to book time in for another visit!

Streetview

Until next time Malaysia & all the coconut trees!