All posts by meanderingfamily

We're taking the scenic route. We're a family. We love spending time together. We like slow food and slow travel. We enjoy learning about and exploring other cultures and destinations. We balance our thirst for adventure with a strong appreciation for the luxury of being homebodies. Through research, smart planning and budgeting we find ways to do some pretty cool stuff. Together we are meandering along the circuitous path of life and discovering its many joys along the way.
All of Our Travels, Thailand

We Need To Talk About The Elephants!

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The British Berliner visited the Baan Chang Elephant Park, a place we very much enjoyed, and were kind enough to mention our experience in their post. Be sure to read about their adventures in Chiang Mai.

thebritishberliner's avatarThe British Berliner

A beautiful elephant. Photo@ WWFT A beautiful old elephant. Photo@ WWFT

Last week, I told how you about the delightful time that we had at our cookery school and that in fact, Chiang Mai was everything that we had dreamed of, and more.

Another reason why we wanted to go to “The Rose of the North” was also because of the fertile Ping River Valley. The Valley is a patchwork of paddy fields surrounded by rolling hills, forested mountains, jungles and rivers. The ideal terrain for adventure travel, trekking, river rafting, four-wheel drive safaris, visiting Thailand’s hill tribe people, and of course, riding the elephants.

Traditional Elephant Tatoo Design from Urban VicArt Traditional Elephant Tatoo Design from Urban VicArt

Yes, the elephants.

I know what you’re thinking. Riding elephants has become a controversial issue. Indeed, human contact with wild animals is anything but simple. A highly respected blogger: Turner Barr from Around the World in 80 Jobs spent some time as…

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All of Our Travels, Malaysia

Langkawi: Island Paradise

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When most people think of a tropical beach vacation in Southeast Asia, they generally think Thailand. More specifically, they think Phuket or its neighbor Krabi. To be sure, they are both drop-dead gorgeous, but they are also incredibly popular… and crowded. In fact, over 5.3 million tourists flock to Phuket each year. If you are looking to people-watch, party, or shop, then Phuket is a great choice. If you’re dreaming of a peaceful island getaway, then you may want to choose another destination. Why not consider Langkawi, Malaysia? Continue reading Langkawi: Island Paradise →

All of Our Travels, Malaysia

Chinese Temples in Penang

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There are many beautiful Chinese temples in Penang. They tend to be a mix of both Taoist and Buddhist religions. As such it is not surprising to see images of Taoist deities alongside the Bodhisattvas of Mahayana Buddhism, all within the same temple. Many temples were erected and are maintained by Chinese family clans that immigrated to Penang.

They are beautiful to look at and we love to slip in for a quick visit as we are passing by. Here are a few that we enjoyed. Continue reading Chinese Temples in Penang →

All of Our Travels, Malaysia

Islamic Calligraphy in Penang

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We arrived in Penang, Malaysia just in time for the George Town Heritage Celebration, which is geared toward honoring the unique multicultural charms of this heritage rich city. This years event was themed “Living Legacies”. A number of events, open houses, displays, and markets were set up to showcase traditional cuisine and crafts that have been lovingly practiced and passed down through generations.

Malaysia being a Muslim country and us not having much familiarity with that rich tradition, we decided to attend an open house at the Lebuh Acheh Interpretation Center to view a gallery and a demonstration devoted to Islamic Calligraphy. Continue reading Islamic Calligraphy in Penang →

All of Our Travels, Malaysia

Malaysian Batik in Penang

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Batik is a textile art and craft with ancient origins. Designs are created on cloth by first applying wax and then fabric dyes. There is some debate about the exact origins of batik, but it can be traced back at least 1,500 years to Egypt and the Middle East. Samples have also been found in Turkey, India, China, Japan and West Africa from past centuries. Some of the most well-known batik traditions are to be found in Malaysia and Indonesia.

Malaysians are very proud of their batik heritage and it is considered a national symbol. It’s also one of the most popular souvenirs for travelers visiting Malaysia.

During our 3 month stay in George Town, Penang we took a batik class and visited the Batik Painting Museum Penang. Continue reading Malaysian Batik in Penang →

All of Our Travels, Malaysia

Ipoh’s Cave Temples

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Ipoh is the capital city of the state of Perak in Malaysia and the country’s third largest city. We spent 2 weeks at the M Boutique Hotel in Ipoh where we could easily explore the city’s heritage trail, many British Colonial era buildings, and its famous food.

For us, the city’s true beauty lies in its natural surroundings. Just 5kms from the city you’ll find picturesque limestone mountains dotted with dramatic cave temples. We visited some of the most popular: Sam Poh Tong Temple, Ling Sen Tong Temple and Perak Tong Temple.

Each temple offered something unique and we enjoyed them all, but if I had to pick, I’d probably choose Sam Poh Tong Temple for its beautiful garden.IpohSamPohTongGarden_17 Continue reading Ipoh’s Cave Temples →

All of Our Travels, Travel Products

Travel iPhoneography

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When we were planning to set off on our year-long travel adventure, we knew that we were going to take a lot of photos. We debated whether or not to purchase a “real” digital camera or simply rely on our iPhones. With our limited luggage space and tight budget to consider, we decided to stick with the iPhones and purchase a few accessories to maximize their usability. We are four months into our trip and we have no regrets.

1. The iPhone Wrist Strap
wrist-strap-b942.0000001353979679There is something incredibly comforting about using a camera with a wrist strap or a neck strap. In the past, I’ve often been taking photos with my iPhone and been paranoid that I’d drop it or set it down and lose it. Then, I came across this iPhone Wrist Strap on Photojojo.com. It’s given me the confidence to whip out my iPhone to take photos while ziplining, riding an elephant, careening down the road in a Tuk-Tuk, and lots of other situations where I would have felt is was too big of a risk that I’d drop it. Honestly, I use it whenever I am holding my iPhone, not just for photos. Continue reading Travel iPhoneography →

All of Our Travels, Malaysia

Kapitan Keling Mosque

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Each morning, just before dawn, I hear the day’s first Adhan calling George Town’s Muslims to prayer. It’s coming from the nearby Kapitan Keling Mosque, the oldest in Penang. As I’m waking, the lyrical and hauntingly beautiful sound reminds me  that I’m in Malaysia, where Islam is the official religion. Not being Muslim or from a place where the call to prayer is commonly heard, it seems equally exotic and comforting. It’s easy to be enchanted by it. Continue reading Kapitan Keling Mosque →

All of Our Travels, Malaysia

Graffiti In Progress

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Some call Graffiti vandalism others call it avant-guard or street art. Whatever your personal opinion, it’s hard to deny that this art form can be provocative, entertaining, and beautiful if seen with an open mind.

GraffitiInProgress_2 Continue reading Graffiti In Progress →

All of Our Travels, Malaysia

Sketching George Town

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“I sometimes think there is nothing so delightful as drawing.” – Vincent van Gogh

The ability to draw is a powerful gift. It’s a means of communicating, daydreaming, developing and clarifying ideas, inventing, sharpening your observation skills, expressing your creativity, even meditating. Most children love to draw, but as we become adults, many of us find ourselves wondering when and why we quit. Perhaps not surprisingly, our son loves to draw. Also, not surprisingly, we think he’s pretty talented for his age. It’s a goal of ours to help nurture his interest, whenever and wherever possible.

Sketching-George-Town-II_PosterAs we travel from place-to-place, we enjoy finding fun art-related activities. In the process of researching our trip to Penang, Malaysia, we discovered that there was an Urban Sketchers Penang group and that they were organizing an event that would take place during our visit. The more that we read about the Sketching George Town II event, the more excited we got. The 3-day event would include workshops, talks, sketchwalks, and social activities. Over 170 avid sketchers from at least 10 countries in the region were registered to take part. This was PERFECT! Continue reading Sketching George Town →