Jeremy's recent trip to Malaysia & Cambodia

My trip to Malaysia started with the lunchtime direct departure to Kuala Lumpur on Malaysian Airlines. I’d heard a lot about the airline's high levels of customer service and they did not disappoint with their generous economy seat pitch making the 12 hour flight feel very comfortable. We connected to a domestic Malaysian Airlines flight to the East coast hub of Kuala Terengganu.
Having previously spent time touring most of Peninsula Malaysia, I had a pretty good idea of what to expect from the East coast which is unspoilt and considered the “real” Malaysia. The influence of the various colonial powers that have passed through the country over the years has not quite made it to the East coast hence you have the feeling of a genuine Malaysian cultural experience.

Although I’d been to these parts before the focus of this trip was the islands off the coast which I had not previously seen and which had a reputation for some of the best diving and snorkelling in the world. Again I was not to be disappointed.

From Kuala Terengganu it was a short coach ride followed by a 1 hour boat ride before we arrived at the island paradise of Redang. 

We checked in and immediately headed for the beach with a dip in the sea being a great way to relax after the long flight. Redang is a small island with a handful of resorts and our home for 2 nights was The Sari Pacifica, a new small luxury boutique property. Redang is surrounded by coral with a large array of colourful tropical fish, eels and rays and great access for snorkelers directly from the beach making it a very family friendly destination. 

During our time here we had a day trip out to the much smaller Lang Tengah Island which really was like having your own private island paradise with not another boat in sight. I’ve spent time snorkelling at The Great  Barrier Reef and in The Pacific and I’d have to say the quality of the coral and the ease of access make Malaysia as good as any destination for beginners or experienced divers alike.

Our third Island destination was Sibu Island which is further south and only actually a 2 hour road transfer from Singapore followed by a 45 minute sea transfer. Again we stayed at The Sari Pacifica and spent time relaxing by the pool and swimming in the beautiful warm tropical waters. The highlight of the time on Sibu Island has to be a boat trip out to a floating fishing village situated several miles away from the island. 

These “villages” are communities on stilts which rise up out of the water. We stopped to buy dinner and I have to say the quality and freshness of the fish was superb as was the cuisine throughout the trip. Overall our time on the East coast was over all too quickly. As we embarked on our 5 hour coach journey to Kuala Lumpur I left with a feeling that this was definitely a part of the world I’d like to re-visit and the beauty of the East coast of Peninsula Malaysia was on a par with any other beach destination within South East Asia. 

Following a brief overnight in Kuala Lumpur I said good bye to the group and headed off on the early morning flight to the island of Langkawi. Langkawi is on the much more developed West coast of the peninsula and is a large island with a network of roads and tourist infrastructure in place. This island is all about “flopping and dropping” with a vast selection of resorts on offer. My home for my brief stay was the beautiful Four Seasons Resort Langkawi which is situated on the north shore of the island. 

My Upper Melaleuca room afforded astounding views of the ocean and bay opposite.  The Four Seasons brand is a byword for quality and service and this particular resort is no exception. The attention to detail, style, general ambience and the quality of the fit and finish of the resort is second to none. 

If you are looking for the perfect resort on the perfect island you will not go far wrong with The Four Seasons and Langkawi! It’s also a very family friendly and safe destination with a huge selection of activities available such as sailing, kayaking, snorkelling and trekking.

Next up was another very early morning flight but this time to a new country, Cambodia. 

The Kingdom of Cambodia is just a short flight from most of the major hubs in South East Asia making adding a side trip to this region practical and affordable especially considering the range of discounted airfares now available. My destination was Siem Reap, access point for the famous Angkor Wat Temple complex. I’d wanted to visit this region for 10 years but somehow never got round to it so was pretty excited as the flight touched down. I was met upon arrival by our local partners Buffalo Tours who thankfully had an air conditioned car waiting! On the brief journey to the centre of town we discussed our touring arrangements and agreed to head out to the temple area after lunch. 

This gave me time to check in and explore my hotel, The Victoria Angkor Resort and Spa. This beautiful 4 star property is built in the French Colonial style with Asian influences making it an unusual boutique choice. I had the Ming Suite with traditional Chinese touches such as antique wooden pillows on the bed and a fresh pot of green tea every time you return to the room. This property was a great base for Siem Reap, being centrally located with an enticing salt water pool perfect for relaxing in after a day of trekking around the temples.

The temples of Angkor Wat are everything you expect them to be and more. Mostly built around 1000 years ago there are several temple sights in different areas which vary in distance from Siem Reap. The closest are approx 20 minutes drive away with the furthest being around an hours drive. The most famous is Angkor Wat itself. 

I had 2 days in which to explore this area and using a specialist Tour Operator is really the only way to get the most out of this type of trip. Local guides have the finest local knowledge and know which temple complex will be busy at any given time. 

An  example of this my visit to Banteay Srei, known as the pink temple due to the colour of the stone and the intricate nature of the carvings. This temple, although better known, is on a smaller scale to some of the others and is generally regarded as having sculptures of a higher standard. My guide organized things so we arrived here just after sunrise. As we approached the temple complex from the road I could tell there was the infrastructure here for large coach groups with facilities such as shops and toilets etc. At this time of the day I had the temple completely to myself and wondering around this intimate temple just after sunrise is one of the most memorable and moving experiences of my whole trip. 

I think a side trip to Cambodia as part of a longer South East Asian trip is a great way to finish a holiday and one I would highly recommend.  Feel free to contact me to discuss your own plans if you are considering your own trip to this very special part of the world.

Jeremy Webster                                    

A flying visit to Sydney, Wolgan Valley & Qualia, Hamilton Island

Sales director Annette Morrissey was recently hosted by Emirates on a trip to Australia to experience business class on their latest Airbus A380 and visit their newest luxury property, Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa.

Here's her travel report:

Flying all the way to OZ in one go for a 5 day trip is a big ask for anyone but softening the blow with a guaranteed business class seat...and then topping that by telling me it was an Emirates A380 business class seat...well, I was in!

At Bridge & Wickers, a large number of our clients travel in business and first class, so it was great to finally be able to offer first hand knowledge of the Emirates A380, having flown the Qantas version back in March.

So after a very comfortable flight to Dubai and exclusive access to the First Class Lounge for a few hours (a special treat only because we had two Emirates staff with us - it's actually the same as the business class lounge but with the addition of a Timeless Spa in case you need a pedicure mid-journey!), we boarded our flight to Sydney for the long journey down under.

It was a wonderful flight - the flat bed in your own 'pod' means great comfort and privacy, and, when you combine that with some delicious food and excellent wine, you have a winning combination for a long sleep!

Arriving in to Sydney, we transferred to the Shangri-La, a fantastic 5 star property with picture postcard views of the harbour and a firm favourite with our clients. I had a Grand Harbour View room with club floor access, and it does exactly what it says on the tin - the grand harbour in all it's glory is right in front of you.

We were whisked off for lunch at the famous Icebergs overlooking Bondi Beach and got in the swing of things over a few glasses of local wine and some freshly caught local fish - delicious!

Later that afternoon, we met up with Shawn from Sea Sydney Cruises and boarded his boat for a sunset Harbour cruise - just the thing to blow away the cobwebs after a long flight. Again this is a real B&W favourite product and we get fantastic feedback from our clients - Shawn will give you the low down on  local history mixed in with celebrity property sightings as you cruise around the bays...all combined with fabulous Aussie refreshments of course!

After a very brief stay in Sydney, we headed up towards the Blue Mountains, stopping first for breakfast in Bronte at a real locals favourite called Swell.

Gorgeous coffee and fresh smoothies with a view of the beach that would mean I'd never get to work if I was a local!

Our friends at Australian Wild Escapes who operate our small group tours did the transfers and we had a fascinating drive out of the city heading up the mountains - lots of stories of local history and folklore to keep us entertained for the 90 minute drive.

We stopped for lunch at Lilianfels and had a good look round, it's an Orient Express hotel and has just the right balance of genteel history mixed with Australian charm and modern elegance. It was an incredibly sunny day, so we made the most of it by sitting outside and yet again sampling the finest local produce.

Continuing the drive, we passed by the famous Three Sisters lookout for the obligatory photo opportunity - and then it was on to Wolgan Valley (approx 3 hours in total from Sydney) - Australia's latest luxury eco lodge and Emirates first in Australasia.

Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa opened in October 2009 and Bridge & Wickers was the first ever tour operator to make a booking at the resort, and I can only repeat what our first clients to stay there said - it is magnificent!

                                                     

Costing a cool $A125 million, this 4000 acre resort features 40 free-standing suites nestled between two national parks. Suites offer private decks and pools and are very luxurious.

Activities in the area include Aboriginal interpretive tours, nature walks, AWD wildlife safaris, mountain biking and horse riding and of course the Timeless Spa, Emirates' signature spa brand.

We did a wildlife spotting drive in their brand new 'safari style' vehicle - kangaroos and wallabies in abundance but we failed to spot any of my favourites..the very cute wombat - obviously they had better things to do than please a bunch of tourists that day! That was rounded off by sundowners on a platform overlooking the valley - it was just magical with the sunlight fading and casting shadows on the escaprment as the colours changed by the minute.

Dinner that night was a 9 course gastronomic extravaganza matched with the finest wines - there's a choice of about 20 regional wines that are included with the full tariff along with all soft drinks and local beers.

Day 2 for some meant walks and horse riding, for me it meant relaxing in my suite, a little dip in my pool and a fabulous facial after lunch - well, I'd had a heavy workload up to this point, so I needed to chill out (well that's what I told Jerry and David anyway!). The spa experience, as you can probably imagine, was out of this world.

I'm already planning my next visit..............

Leaving Wolgan was only tempered by the choice of transportation - we took a very smart helicopter back to Sydney airport, swooping across the Blue Mountains Heritage Area and down to the city where we continued with the most fantastic scenic journey over the harbour bridge, past the Opera House and along the coastline to the heliport - at 45 minutes, it was both a fabulous quick transfer and a stunning sightseeing tour - definitely worth the money and highly recommended to combine with a transfer by car via the Blue Mountains on the way up.

Final stop on this whirlwind trip was Hamilton Island and more specifically their newest luxury resort qualia. (not a typo, they always use a lower case q!)

I love Hamilton Island - it's a destination that offers such a great choice of accommodation from luxury self-catering villas to 5 star hotels and a huge range of activities, it's suitable for families, couples, groups of friends and is a top seller year round for Bridge & Wickers' clients.

qualia is away from the main resort and marina and is an exclusive part of the island. It's just a beautiful setting looking out across the Whitsunday Passage and the Coral Sea. The accommodation is to die for - I was lucky enough to have a Windward Pavillion and that means you get your own private plunge pool. You also get your own golf buggy to explore the resort and the rest of the island.

As well as seeing the resort (and the Spa qualia of course!), I'd highly recommend a trip over to Dent Island to the new Hamilton Island Golf Club - even if you don't play, it's a spectacular spot for lunch. But for those of you who do play golf, it's spectacular...and the only championship island golf course in Australia.

A must do activity when you're on Hamilton Island is a trip to Whitehaven Beach - I'd been by boat before but this time was even more special - a seaplane flight with an aerial view of the surrounding Whitsunday Islands and fringing reefs before spending a couple of hours lounging on the best beach in thw world - the white sand really is like talcum powder and the water is just beautiful!

Our final night took us to the sparkling new Hamilton Island Yacht Club - a stunning piece of architecture that is definitely worth checking out - you get a great view from the water too when you go over to the golf club.

We had dinner at the signature Bommie restaurant, a true example of the finest modern Australian cuisine -

I can highly recommend the steak (possibly my best ever!), and they stock some of the best wines that Australia has to offer.

It was a perfect end to a spectacular trip and I'd like to say a big thank you to Emirates, Tourism Australia, Wolgan Valley and qualia for their impeccable hosting....we must do it again sometime!!

This trip shows how you can easily pack in a range of different experiences in to a relatively short time in Australia (not that I'm suggesting anyone goes for 5 days!!). If you've got 2 weeks and think that OZ is just too far, I'd say think again - a city, outback/wilderness and island/beach combination is definitely realistic in that time frame...just do what I did but stretch it out a bit!

Annette

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Matt's trip to the Cook Islands

Matt Lucas, one of our Senior Sales Consultants, recently returned from a visit to the Cook islands, organised by the tourist board and Air New Zealand.

Here are a few of his notes on this tropical South Seas’ paradise which, without hesitation, Matt declared to be “one the most beautiful places in the world.”

“Among the individual properties that really stood out were Crown Beach Resort on the main island of Rarotonga, where I stayed in one of the extremely comfortable Beachfront Spa Villas, the new Te Manava Luxury Villas and Spa, which is now considered the premier accommodation option on the island, and Little Polynesian, a lovely boutique resort with only 14 bungalows, most of which are spread along a beautiful stretch of beach in a protected marine park (with superb snorkelling just yards from the beach).

From Raratonga I took a short hop over to neighbouring Aitutaki, the view of Aitutaki Lagoon from the plane being a particularly spectacular. I spent several hours on and in the water, courtesy of Bishops Cruises, as well as stepping on land on Tiger and Shark Islands made famous by the reality TV show ‘Shipwrecked.’
I stayed at the award-winning Pacific Resort where the setting, the accommodation and service levels were arguably the best in the Cooks.

On my last night back on Rarotonga I tried a new island experience called Progessive Dining which involves having a 3 course meal in 3 different local’s houses, at the same time finding out a bit more about their way of life, which in my case included an impromptu sing-song with one host, the un-rarotongan sounding Dan Kelly. This was a great way to end a really enjoyable trip and I will certainly be recommending this part of the world to our clients and hope to one-day go back to once more experience the beautiful scenery and warmth of the locals.”

Matt's whirlwind trip of Melbourne and Sydney

Landing in Melbourne after 24 hrs travelling we thought the best way to avoid jet-lag and stay awake would be to stand in a glass cube as it moves outwards from the tallest tower in Australia 300 metres above the ground. This new attraction called The Edge certainly got the adrenaline pumping and the views were fantastic.

After coming back down to earth we then enjoyed an excellent meal onboard the Colonial Tram Car Restaurant. This has turned into a bit of a Melbourne icon and combines great food with a piece of Victoria’s history and is a great way to see the city.

Having spent 3 days exploring Melbourne it was time to hit the open road. We spent 3 days exploring the Mornington Peninsula and Great Ocean Road regions. The coastal scenery was inspiring and the wineries of the Mornington Peninsula very welcoming, however, the highlight had to be a convincing win over my travelling companion at The Sands Golf Course. Just outside Torquay, this Stuart Appleby designed Championship Course was pretty challenging (and if signs were to be believed fairly well populated by snakes), and as the name suggests there was quite a lot of sand!

After dropping off our hire car and a short flight to Sydney it was time to try a few of the trips we recommend here at Bridge and Wickers. The first being the ‘Cruise like a Local’ trip offered by Sea Sydney Cruises. After being collected by Shawn, our guide for what was a perfect summers day, we were handed a beer and settled down for a splendid afternoon leisurely cruising around Sydney Harbour. The trip took in the many bays of the harbour and quite a few celebrities houses were pointed out. After couple of hours we dropped anchor in a quiet bay looking back at the Opera House and had a swim before being served a wonderful lunch. A little more cruising and it was time to be dropped back at Circular Quay.

The next day we headed out of the city on a wine tour of the Hunter Valley with Australian Wild Escapes. Again, perfect weather and after a couple of hours driving and a morning tea stop we arrived in the Hunter. As well as tasting some fantastic wines we were treated to a full culinary experience with cheese, chocolate and beer tasting also included. The guide was very knowledgeable and although it is a fair drive from Sydney (the journey back was much quicker as everyone seemed to enjoy a wine inducing snooze) it was a great day out.

Our final day in Australia was the 5th day without seeing a cloud and at this stage we weren’t looking forward to being back in London in March in a few days. Luckily for us we could make the most of the fantastic weather as we had arranged to do the Sydney Harbour Bridgeclimb. After undergoing the safety procedures and donning rather attractive outfits we set out onto the bridge for some amazing views of the harbour, the city and the ocean beyond. It was a great way to end our time in Australia and there can’t be many better views in the world.

If Matt's trip has inspired you to book a trip Down Under and you want to find out more, please contact him by email mattl@bridgeandwickers.com or call his direct line 020 7483 6565