1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #483 - Arakur Hotel and Patagonia lamb, Ushuaia

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #483

- Arakur Hotel and Patagonia lamb, Ushuaia

(As part of the expedition package to Antarctica, we were put up for a night in this Arakur Hotel, right up the mountainside, just 10min outside of Ushuaia town. The views from here were beautiful, showing the tail-end of the mighty snow-covered Andes mountains and the night lights of the harbour. It was still bright after midnight. But this did not stop us from dropping off to sleep, especially after our fill of the mouth-watering Patagonia lamb - the same Casimiro Bigua restaurant as the one in El Calafate, some 2 years ago. Patagonia lamb - objective #1 met. We were really looking forward to Day#1 of this expedition the next day -28Nov)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #482 - Ushuaia, Argentina

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #482

- Ushuaia, Argentina

(It is called The-End-of-World : that's Ushuaia, at the very southernmost tip of Argentina, in the Tierra del Fuego region - the Land of Fire. After the longest 42hrs of butt-numbing travel we have ever embarked on to get here, via Dubai and Buenos Aires, we arrived at this small picturesque harbour. It is home to almost all the expedition ships going to Antarctica during this peak season, which is already into its 3rd week. Flights to both Buenos Aires and here were full, which really surprised us. It was a comfortable 6C weather here - we expected it to be cooler. But excited to finally arrived for our longest expedition yet..to Antarctica!)

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #481 - HKGC Fanling, Hong Kong Golf Club

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #481

- HKGC Fanling, Hong Kong Golf Club

(We took the taxi from our Mongkok hotel to Fanling, some 50minutes away and we got to our 1st golf game in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Golf Club is an impressive 3x18holes club, with shades of the British influence still displayed at the lobby. We were set up for a rather late10.20am tee-off, but this Eden course was well worth waiting for. Greens were faster than SICC, and the fairways were lush. At the end of the game, we were really looking forward to our 2nd game here at the Old course. Both were top-class. Did you see that unique Par3-hole where I had to chip right in front of a tombstone? In fact, there were a good number of holes being 'watched' by these residents, including one where the green was right on top of it - talk about a must-make putt..)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #480 - Tai Cheong Bakery, Hong Kong

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #480

- Tai Cheong Bakery, Hong Kong

(Hong Kong's egg tarts are legendary - so much so that they have popped up in Singapore recently with much fanfare. We took to the streets to find another famous name, Tai Cheong Bakery, which locals swear is as good as the other big name, Honolulu egg tarts. It took a while to dig it out, but sure enough, when we found this original store in the city, just a 15min walk off the Central MTR station, their egg tarts did not disappoint. We grabbed a dozen to bring home. Our 3-indulgences in HK are now a must : these egg tarts, those still crazy-good Jenny cookies and of course, that delicious roast goose. They are almost worth flying there for, once a year)

 

 

 

 

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #479 - Angkor Golf Resort, Siem Reap

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #479

- Angkor Golf Resort, Siem Reap

(The golf club that bears such as big a name as Angkor had better live up to its reputation - and the Angkor Golf Resort sure did. With immaculate fairways and well-kept greens, this golf club oozes class - from the moment we arrived with caddies lining up for a morning greeting, to their impressive changing room and the course layout, with a wildlife sanctuary built-in. One of the highlights for us was to hop onto the tuk-tuk for our limo-style transport to the club - all for U$5. In the cool of the 6am morning, that was a real treat. Angkor charged U$130 for a game - well worth it. Faldo's name just moved up a notch on my books)