Malaysia – Camera & Carry On

24 Photos That Will Inspire You to Travel the World NOW

Shannon — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 21:20:49 +0000

A little eye candy to sweeten your day, these travel photos are sure to get your wanderlust wheel spinning and inspire endless adventures from Penang to Paris. Take the next 4.25 minutes to enjoy a little calorie-free indulgence. Here are 24 swoon worthy images from around this kaleidoscopic world... 1. Church of Agios Nikolaos, Cyprus 2. Brussels, Belgium 3. Somewhere, Iceland 4. Nice, France 5. Lisbon, Portugal 6. Bali, Indonesia 7. Berlin, Germany 8. San Francisco, CA, USA 9. Chiang Mai, Thailand 10. Prague, Czech Republic 11. Bern, Switzerland 12. Chicago, IL, USA 13. Donegal Co., Ireland 14. Lake Como, Italy 15. Paris, France 16. Penang, Malaysia 17. Salzburg, Austria 18. Great Wall at Badaling, China 19. Oia, Santorini, Greece 20. Seville, Spain 21. Siat, Switzerland 22. Tuscany, Italy 23. New York City, NY, USA 24. Vienna, Austria Well, are you ready to pack your bag and book a ticket? Which photo has you yearning for a trip?

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6 Unique Places I Spent the Night

Shannon — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 16:05:08 +0000

Nine times out of ten, I'll go for the offbeat place, the one that's a little different from the rest, because what's the point in being ordinary or doing ordinary things or staying in ordinary places? I'm all for creature comforts like hot water, air conditioning, and a lock on the door, but sometimes it's more about the experience than the thread count (though I do enjoy sultry, silk sheets). You feel me? Here are six places I spent the night that scored high marks for outside-the-box-ness.

Trulli: Cisternino, Italy

Driving over waves of hills in the heel of Italy's boot, tiny cones bob and dip on the horizon, signaling, "Benvenuto a Puglia!" Trulli are stone homes with signature conical roofs, crafted by masons skilled in this unique construction style native to the region. It's the architecture that piqued our interest in visiting, to examine the fading artform of trullo making, and of course, to stay in our very own. This sweetly restored trullo is a curtsy to the past, a simpler time, where all you needed to be happy was a pretty view, some delicious burrata, olive oil, bread, and a glass of wine.

Tenta Nakara: Koh Naka Yai, Thailand

Above the treetops, we spent a few nights with nothing but a mesh barrier between us and the elements. The showers were cold, the toilets were 'manual flush', and the humidity averaged 99.9%. Camping has never really interested me, but something about watching the sunrise on my private balcony, in a place where there were no outlets to charge cell phones and lantern light guided the way to dinner, called to me. Aside from the sticky air and a debilitating fear of coming face to face with a slithering creature, sleeping 30 feet in the air is one for the books. A true getaway, complete with friendly dogs that circumnavigated the island with us via kayak, I had an amazing time at this off the grid spot.

Tubotel: Langkawi, Malaysia

The tubotel rides on the curtails of pod hotels - they do exist, and they're not just in Tokyo! Barely large enough to accommodate a king sized bed with nary an inch to spare, what this drain pipe lacks in space it makes up for in personality. Geared toward backpackers and the like, which we are not, we expected the grounds to be overflowing with expertly tanned, barely-legal Aussies, but were surprised to be quite alone. To our delight, this meant the communal showering was private and we could borrow the rusty bikes for a ride into town without competition. Okay, so it wasn't perfect... but it was a tube. A TUBE! With a great view, perfect for wine cooler consumption and napping.

Fairy Tree Folly: Downings, Ireland

A fairy door? A potbelly stove? Rocking chairs? This place oozes rustic, Irish magic and it's easy to believe that the fairy statuette perched on the shelf might just come to life, and that the itsy, winged creatures truly exist. In a country that holds storytelling high on the CV, anything seems possible in this cottage up, up, up on a hilltop. I could imagine myself crafting children's books and watercolor illustrations here, sipping on a piping cup of Irish Breakfast tea and brainstorming over cream scones by the fire.

Betterview Beach Bungalow: Koh Yao Yai, Thailand

I didn't know it was possible to scoop up such luxury on a beer budget; it just seems I just had to go half way around the globe to find it. Not only does this bungalow live on - arguably - my favorite destination in the world, but it had everything I needed to feel like a queen. A plush robe, sunken tub, sumptuous bed, pool, and oh yeah! An outdoor shower. A good one. Like, really good. It was like one of those places celebrities frequent to get away from the paparazzi, and boy, did I feel like one. The amazing curry, coconut smoothies, and front-row seats to the breathtaking islands of the Andaman weren't too shabby, either.

Petite Chalet: St. Niklaus, Switzerland

Just minutes down the way from ski-haven Zermatt, lies the pint-sized chalet I couldn't get enough of. I mean, just look at it! It's everything one could want in a snowy, winter hideaway, with a cherry on top. Uncharacteristic pops of color and whimsy meant I was a bubble of happiness in that wooden house. How can you not melt into a puddle of giggles with that plush wall art? The warm and fuzzies were ever present as I watched tiny puffs of snow fall and ~~overindulged~~ savored Swiss chocolates from the cozy loft bed or pretty, pink seating.

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Warm thanks to Airbnb for providing us with these great options. If you're planning a stay, and looking for something special, use this link to get a $25 free credit (and we will too). As always, all opinions, text, and videos are my own. See our ethics page for more information.

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A Shot of Graffiti Culture in Penang

Shannon — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 15:39:25 +0000

Malaysia is bursting with color, energy and the spice of life. From the cuisine to the people, there's a whole lotta that Emeril Lagasse, "BAM!" and not a bit of this SE Asian country is holding back. As for the food market capital, Penang, local artists are hitting the urban alleyways to show off their skills in street art and prove there's more to the city than meat-on-a-stick. [See image gallery at www.cameraandcarryon.com]

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Laid Back in Langkawi

Shannon — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 14:19:06 +0000

A duty free shopper's dream, Langkawi is a family-friendly archipelago in the Andaman Sea off mainland Malaysia's west coast. After several weeks in rural parts of the Philippines, and still trying to recover from China, we were happy to be somewhere that catered to visitors. Restaurants with English menus? Yes! A fan and an air conditioner in our room? Hallelujah! While not the most picturesque location in SE Asia, this destination has its pros and it's easy to see why travelers have Langkawi on the radar. Planning a vacay? A few of tips to make the most of your getaway to the main island...

Do

Rent a scooter (or a car) - Even if you're just planning on cruising between your favorite beach hangout and wherever you hang your bathing suit to dry, a set of wheels will give you some freedom. A scooter will run apx. 35 ringgit ($10) per day, plus gasoline. Bicycles aren't much cheaper, so unless you just plan on making a few quick runs along Pentai Cenang, you're better off with a motorized vehicle. Roads in Langkawi are well-paved and coasting along the coast with the wind in your face is a great way to beat the heat.
Find your favorite beach - With no shortage of cornmeal grade sandy spots (sorry to disappoint, but this isn't the sugar-fine breed) to dig your toes in, there are a number of desirable beaches around. We stuck to the main drag of Cenang and Tengah. Pentai Cenang is often a target for visitors, lined with loads of restaurants and t-shirt shops on the roadside and sunsets along the water. Just south is Pentai Tengah, a quieter stretch with calm waters and prime napping territory, but with close proximity to Cenang's restaurants and 'bustle'.
Discover The Zon - Judging by the steady flow of patrons, this isn't a well kept secret. Basically an airport duty free shop on steroids, The Zon carried the touristy essentials (snacks, beach towels, key chain souvenirs), plus the stuff you know you can live without but find yourself struggling to resist. We came here to load up on unnecessarily large quantities of chocolate-covered nuts, adult beverages, and sunscreen.
Get off the beaten path - You don't have to go far to lose sight of visitors and mingle with the locals. We found a cafe where English wasn't spoken and decided to try out a few of the fried up goodies on display (they seemed safe enough, and were actually really tasty sweet potatoes, bananas, and corn fritters).

Stay

We split our time between two hotels which we had pre-booked. Generally, when we're going somewhere new for at least a week, we like to break up the stay to see something new. We decided on the Tropical Resort Langkawi and the Tubotel. While the latter was by far one of our most unique hotel stays, the Tropical Resort came out on top in our book. The staff was extremely hospitable, the location was great (with a private trail to Pentai Tengah), and while not luxurious by any means, the room was clean and tidy. A simple breakfast is also included with most bookings. Bonus points for the generosity of the lovely lady that checked us in after our very late arrival around 1am. Our bags were lost* and we had little more than the clothes on our back. She graciously offered us toothbrushes and toothpaste... real lifesavers! *Thankfully, our bags were recovered and delivered the next day, and we were able to trade out our jeans in favor of swimwear.

Eat

Oasis Bar & Restaurant - Super laid back and casual, this waterfront hangout is great for grabbing lunch or catching the sunset. Highlight: the Malaysian version of halo halo!
Seashells - One of the best dinners I'd had in a while. Romantic setting, delicious food, frothy iced cappuccinos, and friendly service. My mouth is watering just thinking about that scrumptious curry beef. This is a must, and at around $30 USD for an appetizer, 2 entrees, and drinks, an absolute steal.
Unnamed Restaurant (directly next to Oasis Bar & Restaurant) - For the life of me, the name evades me... but this place is, as noted above, just next to Oasis. I opted for Indian fare, but there were plenty of Western and seafood choices available, too. The main draw? An unobscured view of the horizon.
Yasmin Restaurant - We absolutely stuffed ourselves because we simply couldn't stop eating all the deliciousness. Bright and crisp fattoush salad, creamy hummus, and to-die-for baba ganoush were to start. The donut shaped falafel were super crispy and flavorful, and the chicken shawarma was pretty darn good, too. Try not to be scared off by the guy on the sidewalk; he's a little aggressive with his approach on the sidewalk. Just smile, sit down and order. You'll be glad you did.

Oh, and do try the tropical fruits! Many of the varieties native to this part of the world are not available back home and I found myself in a veritable fruit frenzy. My favorites: the prickly rambutan and giant jackfruit!

Avoid

Durian - Please, PLEASE, for the sake of your taste buds and all things good in this world... Do Not Eat Durian. Do not let the "ice cream" version entice you. It's heinous.
Kuah Town - It's busy, noisy, and quite frankly there's not much to see. We ventured here by scooter one day to try and find some extra memory cards for our camera at the large mall (which was a bust anyway) and didn't feel the need to stick around.
Pink Drink - No, that's not an official title, but it is a beverage with a true bubble gum color. Milky, over sweetened, and with heavy notes of soap (seriously, it tastes like soap), it seems better suited for punishment than refreshing the palate.

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