Los Angeles Passion - Day 3

Although our flight time was pushed back by forty-five minutes, we reached our destination, Los Angeles, just ten minutes after our scheduled arrival time. As we had already cleared US customs and immigration in Honolulu International Airport, we managed to exit in record timing. The bags also were placed on the conveyor belt in good time..

Los Angeles Airport shuttles We proceeded to the hotel shuttle service area and waited almost half an hour for the shuttle bus to Crowne Plaza International Airport hotel. By the time we reached the hotel at 0700 hrs, the receptionist was kind enough to check us in at that time of the morning.

Checking in at Los Angeles Airport Hotel - Crowne Plaza International

It was a relief to be able to soak in the bathtub, wash up and catch a short nap before catching the shuttle bus back to the LAX Airport. Our friends, Lionel and Lisa, were coming in via UA with an estimated time of arrival at 1111 hr.

Tempted to just jump into bed

We reached the LAX UA terminal 7 as advised by the shuttle driver but discovered that it should be Terminal 6 for international arrivals.

When we finally saw them exiting from the restricted area, they did not see us. Although we followed behind them closely all the way to the hotel shuttle area and they turned to look back a few times, they did not realize that we were behind them. When they were at the Honolulu International Airport shuttle area waiting for the bus, we were standing just next to them. It took a while before it registered to them that they knew this couple who were standing beside them. We had a great laugh about this!

Catching up with them on the happenings over the past few days, we waited for some time before the shuttle bus to Los Angeles Airport Hotel Crowne Plaza arrived. It was a great and pleasant surprise to see our Sex, Passion and Enlightenment facilitator, Steven Garrett, and his wife, Sonora, on the airport shuttle bus as well.

We had a wonderful time connecting once again with Steven who we met more than a year ago when we attended the Awakening Enlightenment Meditation retreat in Denver Colorado. That was a most wonderful experience for us and what got us started on this journey.

Los Angeles Airport Hotel

After the shuttle bus dropped us off at our accommodation, Crowne Plaza International, we spent some time with Steven and Sonora before we headed to our room where Lionel and Lisa started unpacking.

Lobby - Crowne Plaza International Airport Hotel

Another section of the lobby

Next we decided to have the buffet lunch at The Brasserie where a buffet comprising Pasta, Soup, Salad and dessert cost USD18. With the 50% lunch discount voucher that we were issued upon checking in, we enjoyed the great food. It was real value for money with our 50% discount voucher.

The Brasserie

Lunch at The Brasserie

Yummy bread rolls

Dessert counter

When lunch was over, we headed back to our room to allow Lionel and Lisa to freshen up before booking the Ocean Express bus at the reception counter at USD5 per person. This bus service is a loop service that stops at Downtown Manhattan Beach, Manhattan Village Shopping Centre as well as Plaza El Seguindo. These are all shopping areas where we could explore.

We enjoyed the beautiful 17⁰C / 63⁰F weather as we got into the open to take a short walk to the bus stop just around the corner. The Ocean Express bus arrived slightly behind schedule and it was a fifteen minutes ride to Manhattan Beach.

Taking a walk to the bus stop

Ocean Express Trolley service

Manhattan Beach

Downtown Manhattan Beach

By the beach

A beautiful beach with super soft white sand coupled with awesome breeze, it was heavenly just to stay and walk along the beach. Moving along the area, we spotted quite a few varieties of cactus, huge and with flowers too.

For pictures of the various lovely plants that we saw, visit Los Angeles Plants.

Exploring the shops around Manhattan Beach



Lovely cake decoration

Taking a slow stroll along the shops in Manhattan Beach, we then boarded the next Ocean Express Trolley which runs every half hourly and alighted at the next stop, Manhattan Village Shopping Centre.

Ocean Express Trolley

Manhattan Village Shopping Centre

At Manhattan Village

Godiva Chocolates

Here we had some fun time shopping and enjoying the lovely and unique items. It was not until a few hours later when our stomachs started rumbling and we realized it was time for dinner.

Manhattan Village at night

LA Foods, a restaurant with the concept of foods that you simply must try whilst in Los Angeles, caught our fancy.

LA Foods

We ended up devouring their roast rack of lamb, calamari as well as the chocolate molten cake with vanilla ice cream.

Soup

Roast rack of lamb

Calamari

Chocolate molten cake

Mmmmmmm….. the dinner was delicious! With the wonderful company that we had, it was indeed a memorable time for us.

We managed to catch the 2140 hrs bus back to the Crowne Plaza hotel.

Having fun!

Upon entering our hotel room, we realized that there was a must smell as the carpet earlier had been slightly damp. We reported this to the Reception and managed to get a room change.

We finally got settled in and retired for the night by 0030 hrs. It had been a great day in Los Angeles and we could not wait for the Sex, Passion and Enlightenment workshop that starts tomorrow. mmmmmmmm..........................

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Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Weekend Trip 15 - 16 May 2010

This holiday in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, we were not only looking forward to some great Malaysian food and Malaysia shopping, but visiting and catching up with some of our friends in Malaysia. At the same time, we intend to speak to our friends and let them know about the Awakening Enlightenment Meditation Retreat coming up in November 2010. This weekend travel Kuala Lumpur Malaysia was going to be fully packed an of course, we could not leave without our most trusted Garmin global positioning system without which we would be totally lost.

Making an early start, we left home at 0600 hrs and reached our friends’, Lionel & Lisa, house half an hour later to pick them up. This time round, we have company on our Kuala Lumpur holiday. Of all days, it just so happened that they had forgotten to set their alarm and jumped out of bed when we called them.

Being slightly delayed, we left at 0700 hrs. Before heading to Tuas checkpoint, we had to stop at the petrol station to top up our tank to the minimum ¾ tank that is required for all Singapore registered vehicles departing Singapore. Failure to do so constitutes an offence.Thereafter, we headed to Tuas checkpoint where it was a smooth drive through customs and immigration on both ends of Tuas checkpoint.

Breakfast in Kulai, Malaysia

Our first stop during this Kuala Lumpur holiday travel was Kulai, a city in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Here, we brought our friends to our usual breakfast joint. It was a great start to our holiday vacation with delicious Malaysian food. Our total order of three roti canai telur (Indian flatbread with egg), two roti canai bawang (Indian flatbread with onions), 1 roti canai kosong (plain Indian flatbread), 1 mee siam (spicy fried rice vermicelli), 2 iced milo and 2 coffee/tea cost us RM15.30 (USD4.77).

Mee siam

Roti canai kosong

Roti canai telur

Roti canai bawang

The weather was wonderful on this Saturday morning. It was neither too hot nor humid.

Moving off from Kulai at 0845 hrs, we started on our drive to the capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. We reached our destination Kuala Lumpur at 1230 hrs and headed straight to Sri Petaling AA Pharmacy to get some shopping done. Next we drove to meet our Malaysian friends, Yim and Joanne, at Subang Jaya and tailed their car to Kong Sai restaurant nearby, a popular eatery known for its home-style cooking, where we had lunch.

The special tea pot at Kong Sai Restaurant

Kong Sai's famed steamed chicken with their special dipping sauce

Simple dish of bean sprouts

Pig's stomach soup that is spiced heavily with pepper

Another of their specialty, bean curd stuffed with minced meat

Braised pork dish

Fresh steamed prawns

Steamed fish in chilli sauce, one of our favourites... Super tender soft, sweet and juicy flesh makes you yearn for more

Our group

Having fun!

Great company

Famous for its chicken rice, our friends did the ordering of the food. The steamed fish in chilli sauce was cooked incredibly well that the flesh was so soft, juicy and tender and it was the top choice. Another huge hit was the pig’s stomach soup had a full body flavour and enough of kick with the pepper. The fat and juicy steamed prawns were another great favourite. We also had the sambal kangkong (water spinach in chilli paste), steamed chicken, stuffed tofu balls stuffed with crab and meat as well as the dark sauce pork.

The Chinese Malaysian food made an incredibly delicious lunch and our stomachs were well satisfied. You can find Restoran Kong Sai at 39 Jalan 20/16, Taman Paramount, 46300 PJ. Tel:- 019-384 2922 / 012 298 4038

Take note that they are closed every Sunday and open for dinner only on Saturdays.

Siesta time after satisfying lunch

Next we went to Bake With Yen, one of Malaysia’s largest suppliers in baking and confectionery ingredients, in Chow Kit area to do some shopping for baking items. Off Jalan Raja Laut, Bake with Yen is located at 29 & 33, Lorong Haji Taib Satu,
50350 Kuala Lumpur. If you are a baker, be it home or commercial, do visit Bake with Yen. My friend Lisa went ‘gaga’ over there. She had no intention of buying anything but walked away with quite a few purchases and found a new shopping haunt.

A few hundred metres away from Bake with Yen is Quality City Centre hotel , a Kuala Lumpur budget hotel. Being a four star hotel, we managed to get a rate of USD63, i.e. 2 double beds for the four of us, without breakfast but which was great value if you are just looking for a Kuala Lumpur budget hotel to spend the night. We were upgraded to the Club floor as the hotel was full but this came without any perks. The room was bright and comfortable and the hotel is ideally located in the heart of business and shopping districts of Kuala Lumpur as well as within walking distance to the Light Rail Transit.

Quality City Centre Hotel guestroom

Lobby

After freshening up, we made our way to Mid Valley Megamall where NorthPoint Residence was via our Garmin global positioning system.

Along the way, Lionel caught another quick nap

Our friends Ken and Chris and their ten-month old son Sho-Ken were waiting for us with home cooked Japanese curry. We were slightly delayed in meeting them as the Mid-Valley Shopping Centre car park was crowded and we had problems getting a car park lot. We finally met them and arrived at their place at 2000 hrs.Fortunately Sho-Ken was still awake and we managed to have some time playing with him before he retired for the night.

Playing with Sho-Ken

Little Sho-Ken playing peek-a-boo

& having some fun

Making ourselves at home

Plain and simple, yet Oishii (delicious in Japanese), we enjoyed the salad, Japanese curry and chicken cutlet. Our friends also served us molten chocolate lava cake with vanilla ice cream.Oooooh la la..... That was simply irresistible.

Home cooked Japanese dinner

Japanese curry

Molten chocolate lava cake

Catching up after ten months, we had tons to talk about especially on child rearing and training a child from young. At the same time, they were interested in knowing more about the Awakening Enlightenment Meditation Retreat. Having no idea of how fast time was whizzing by, it was 0100 hrs when we realized the time. Leaving them to catch their much-needed sleep, we made our way back to our Kuala Lumpur budget hotel in twenty minutes.

Chris & Ken (Sho-Ken's lovely parents)

We tried to see if we could collect our welcome drinks at that time of the night and fortunately for us, they acceded to our request. It was indeed a fully packed first Kuala Lumpur holiday with our friends as we made our way to travel Kuala Lumpur Malaysia. We were also glad that the Kuala Lumpur budget hotel that we had booked was nice and cozy. Not forgetting our most trusted Garmin global positioning system for which we have to be truly grateful for, we have been truly blessed and yearn to share this blessing with others in the form of the Awakening Enlightenment Meditation Retreat.

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