Welcome to Travel and Beyond where the art of exploration intertwines with the allure of history, gastronomy, and culture.
Easter is about love. Easter is about life. Easter is also about chocolates. I have fond memories of my dad returning from a flight with cream filled chocolate Easter eggs. When I was little and growing up in Malaysia, it was hard to come across Easter eggs. With my dad flying to London each week, I was fortunate to have a good supply of deliciousness! This weekend...
As my aircraft descended onto the vast plains of Yogyakarta on the island of Java, Indonesia, the first thing that struck me was the majestic sight of the Prambanan Temple standing tall, proud and somewhat mystical surrounded by lush green paddy fields and plantations. Located 19 kilometres or a 15 minute drive from the city, Prambanan is a complex of Hindu temples...
The one thing we love about Canberra is it’s festivals. Enlighten 2016 and the Night Noodle Markets always get us into a frenzy. Held from 4 to 12 March, Enlighten 2016 is a stunning festival with culture and creativity illuminating the capital. When architectural projections and an array of food is combined, you know that one night around the Parliamentary...
Summer in the capital. What is it like? Apart from art and history exhibits, food and wine expos and open-air cinemas, Canberra’s summer is never complete without the National Multicultural Festival 2016! I had written about it last year and even included some vital tips. This year, there are a few more additions to that list: Make use of the additional Action...
A mere 51 minutes away from Canberra city, at the edge of Gibraltar Creek Pine Forest, sits Gibraltar Falls. A beautiful spot for a picnic we thought, so we packed the car with goodies, our favourite picnic mat and set off. We even made a quick stop at Lambrigg Lookout which offers a panoramic view of the plains below. Back on the road and a few minutes later, the...
Cherries. Small, soft round stone fruit that is typically bright or dark red. That’s good enough a definition for Joseph and I to make a road trip down to Young, known as the Cherry Capital of Australia! Markets, pick-your-own cherry orchards and car shows were on our itinerary as we headed to the countryside on a Saturday morning. The sun was shining in all...
You must have already read how spellbound Joseph and I were when we first visited Pialligo Estate. It may come as no surprise if we tell you, it was yet another mesmeric experience when we visited the Garden Pavilions recently. We completely forgot that we were in Canberra, it felt as if we were in the beautiful country side where fields of lavender grow. There are...
Laminated pastries and award-winning macarons, need I say more? Well, when it is made with such perfection, you just have to talk about it. Dream Cuisine Patisserie, a pastry paradise in other words, is run by Owen Saddler and Marilyn Chalkley, a mother and son team. We were lucky enough to be hosted by them, all thanks to Elias Hallaj of CBRfoodie. So, on a slightly...
If I were to be asked, where my favorite place to eat is in Canberra? It isn’t hard for me to choose. It would be Miss Van’s Street Food! Why? Because, I grew up in a multi-cultural country where food was an integral part of social/cultural integration; Vietnamese, Thai and Chinese cuisine were available at every corner you turned and Miss Van’s...
Mount Pleasant at an elevation of 663 metres, is another lovely Canberra lookout! Yesterday, Joseph and I took a drive up and spent some time reading the informative boards there on the significance of the location. The Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery National Memorial which is situated here, is dedicated to the memory of gunners, of all ranks, who gave their...