1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #665 - Crazy Grinch Xmas

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #665


- Crazy Grinch Christmas, Capitol Theatre

This is our 3rd time out during this Xmas period to catch Crazy Xmas, and it didn't disappoint - this time at the spanking new Capitol Theatre, beautifully restored. The regular cast was present but as usual, Sebastian Tan and Kumar stole the show. But this year, it was not as funny as previous years. But that Hazrul guy from Vocaluptuous can sing!

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #664 - Kedai Belacan, Es Teler and Karthik Sari cakes

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #664

- Kedai Belacan, Es Teler and Karthik Sari cakes, Bandung

Bandung's food scene is as good as people say it is, and inexpensive too. We had a terrific meal at Kedai Belacan Restaurant, with their gurame terbang at the top of our order list. And for dessert, the Es Teler Avocado/Durian has just become our best dessert, ever..that is really saying something, given all the awesome dessert choices in all the Southeast Asia countries here. We cannot go home without buying our share of the famous kueh lapis from Karthik Sari - wonderfully tasty.

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #663 - Dago Heritage, Bandung Giri Golf Resorts, Bandung

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #663

- Dago Heritage, Bandung Giri Golf Clubs, Bandung

Here in Bandung for the first time to play in Dago Heritage and Bandung Giri Golf Resorts, with expectations of cool weather like Cameron Highlands. Well, the temp was cooler than Spore, but at 24-26C in the mornings, it was warmer than Cameron. But the views here made up for the weather - mountain backdrop and delightful flora in every hole, esp at Dago. We plan to return.

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #662 - Qinghai Lake, Qinghai

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #662

- Qinghai Lake, Qinghai

The Qinghai Lake is the biggest lake in China, and once here, you can see the vastness of this blue lake. With the high snow-capped mountains behind, it looks stunning.

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #661 - Dan Ta'er Ancient Town, Xining, Qinghai

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #661

- Dan Ta'er Ancient Town, Xining, Qinghai

The Dan Ta-er Ancient Town, outside of Xining, gave us a glimpse of a Confusian town from the ancient times.

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #660 - Grand Mosque, Xining, Qinghai

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #660

- Grand Mosque, Xining, Qinghai

The Grand Mosque here in Xining - with a Muslim population here at 20% - is rather disorienting  - inside, the prayers are done in front of a Buddhist-like temple structure. We have never seen such a surrounding before.

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #659 - Tibet-Qinghai Railway, Tibet

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #659

- Tibet-Qinghai Railway, Tibet

The highest train in the world - this Tibet-Qinghai railway passes through heights of 5070m, which was regarded as an impossible feat not so long ago. But the train ride itself is quite an experience - with a 6-bedder cabin squeezing all 6 inside like sardines - last pix. Luckily, we paid extra for the 4-bedder, making the 20hr ride to Xining more comfy for us.

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #658 - Norbulingka Palace, Lhasa

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #658


- Norbulingka Palace, Lhasa, Tibet

The Norbulingka Palace is the summer residence of the Dalai Lama's built in 1755. The vast grounds here is filled with plentiful flora, making it a favourite for bridal photoshoots.

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #657 - Tibetan Mastiff, Lhasa

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #657

- Tibetan Mastiff dogs, Lhasa, Tibet

The Tibetan Mastiffs have to be one of the biggest dogs in the world, if not the biggest. It is definitely the most expensive - one sold for over U$1m recently - crazy! At over 100kg, this one beside me is really half-dog, half-lion!

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #656 - Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, Shigatse, Tibet

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #656

-  Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, Shigatse, Tibet

The Tashi Lhunpo Monastery is the seat of the Panche Lama, the Beijing-approved leader of the Tibetan Buddhists here. But compared to the Potala Palace, it seems so modest.

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #655 - Karola Glacier, Tibet

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #655

-  Karola Glacier, Tibet

A glacier at 5020m and just 50m away that one can walk to from the roadside, serious? Yes, this Karola Glacier here between Lhasa and Shigatse is stunning - so high but so easy to get to. Unreal..

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #654 - Yamdrok Lake, Lhasa

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #654

-  Yamdrok Lake , Lhasa

The deep blue Yamdrok Lake here is so high (4441m) and so big (70km long) it feels like one is up in the heavens, when looking down at it. It is also one of the 3 sacred lakes here in Tibet, with many Tibetans coming up here to pray around this spiritual lake.

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #653 - Princess Wencheng show, Lhasa

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #653

-  Princess Wencheng show , Lhasa

The 'live' show of "Princess Wencheng" here in Lhasa exceeded our expectations, with a massive stage that included a huge Potala Palace as a backdrop. With over 800 actors, it is quite a spectacle - done in open air, with the real Tibetan mountains as part of its staging.

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #652 - Potala Palace, Lhasa, Tibet

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #652

- Potala Palace, Lhasa, Tibet

The Potala Palace, the former home of the Dalai Lama, in all its splendour high up at over 3600m - so regal, so majestic! Surely, this must be the most revered Buddhist structure in the world. At night, it glows like a rare jewel..so privileged to be able to hike up the 430steps to get to the top of this Palace in the rarefied air here.

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #651 - Jokhang Temple, Lhasa, Tibet

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #651

- Jokhang Temple, Lhasa, Tibet

This holiest of temples here in Lhasa, the Jokhang Temple, has a huge crowd of Buddhist faithfuls praying prostrate over 1000 times throughout the day, wirh their feet tied together. At night, the whole area lights up to usher in Lhasa's famous night market..very impressive.