Sandra Scott Travels

Using our points on United Mileage Plus for tickets on Singapore Air, John and I flew from Singapore to Seoul for $44. And, using our points from the InterContinental Priority Program we stayed seven nights free at Seoul’s Seongbuk Holiday Inn. This was our first trip to Korea.

Bali is just one of many islands in Indonesia but it is the most famous. The name “Bali” conjures up images of gentle seas, swaying palms, sunny skies, and days of relaxation. And, so it is. Tourism continues to grow in Bali, so they are expanding the airport and constructing new highways to eliminate traffic congestion.

We have been to Singapore several times and each time I am amazed by something new and unique that has opened since our last visit. We stayed at the newly opened Parkroyal Hotel on Pickering with sky gardens at various levels. Typical of Singapore the area next to the street is lined with trees and the street-length lobby has a meandering stream creating a green environment unique for a city hotel plus it is located across from a small park.

The first time I ran across people doing a long-stay at a resort was in Penang, Malaysia at the Parkroyal Hotel. The guests were Europeans, mainly from England, who were staying 2-5 months. I was impressed and thought it was a unique situation. But I have found out since that it is a common practice for Europeans from many countries to winter in SE Asia at resorts for a month or more.

I am always amazed at how easy it is to navigate the world. We arrived in Thailand from Myanmar and stayed at the Amari Don Maung Airport Hotel for the night. We could walk to from the airport via a overhead walkway. In the morning, after a great breakfast, our driver from Sawadee-Travel picked us up for the three-hour drive south of Bangkok to Hua Hin.

I had read and heard about the new Myanmar capital of Nay Pyi Taw where construction started in 2002 but had been told that it was in a restricted zone so tourists were not permitted to visit. That has changed. The city of Nay Pyi Taw is ablaze with lights in the evening with beautiful roundabouts centered with huge flower sculptures and colorful twinkle lights.

We have been to Myanmar six times. We have visited the top tourist destinations including Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay, Kalaw, Lake Inle, and Mrauk U. In Yangon we marveled at the 325-foot high, 2,600-year-old golden Shwedagon Pagoda. We often stay at Traders Hotel in a room that has a view of the pagoda that is magically highlighted at night.

Along the coast between Galle and Colombo there are many interesting places to visit. In and around Meetiyagoda there are several moonstone mines. John and I visited the one belonging to Baruwallage Gems. Most of the mining is done by hand. Workers dig in deep pits using candles for light.

In the area around Nuwara Eliya (Little England) the rolling hills are blanketed with tea trees. The humidity, cool temperatures, and rainfall in the country’s central highlands provide a climate that favors the production of high quality tea plus flowers and vegetables.