Long weekends: Penang, Malaysia, perfect for a three to four day jaunt

by Jamie Rhein on

One of the great things about living in Singapore is how easy it is to travel from there to other places. When I lived there, one of the first things we would do each August at the start of the Singapore American School school year was figure out where we wanted to go on school holidays. There were several three-day weekends sprinkled throughout the year. Planning early meant getting a flight to where we wanted to go. On holidays, everyone scrambles to get out.

One place we headed to on a three nights, four day vacation was to the island of Penang on the north-western coast of Malaysia. This trip was before kids, but everything we did was kid-friendly. It was also dad-friendly. My father went along with us on this particular long weekend away.

Penang is a perfect mix of history, beaches, nature and terrific food. Not too touristy, unlike what has happened to several beach areas of Thailand, but touristy enough that the hotels know what travelers might like and you can find a variety of interesting things to do. We went here based on recommendations of a few different teacher friends of ours.

Although we did hang out on the beach a little, we’re not exactly beach people, so we spent more of our time at other Penang offerings. George Town, the state capital has historic buildings which have not lost their flavor for what life was like here in the 19th and early 20th century. There is an interesting mix of temples, museums, shop houses and hotels that can easily take up an afternoon of sightseeing. We did take a day tour with a guide that made getting around to various sites simple and easy. (When traveling with family members, almost always choose simple and easy. It’s a sanity saver.)

Another place we went was The Butterfly Farm. According the Penang Web site, this was the first butterfly farm set up in the world. I remember it as being utterly gorgeous and fascinating. The ride through the island countryside was part of the allure.

Here’s another travel hint. Stay at a modest hotel and splurge on a brunch buffet at a swankier place. We stayed at the Lone Pine Hotel in Batu Ferringhi and had brunch next door at the Shangri-La. We also took over a few of the Shangri-La’s beach chairs and no one seemed to notice.

Danish holiday tradition: A walk through the woods and a drink of gløgg

by Jamie Rhein on

Tonight we’re going to a watch a Christmas parade in Gahanna, a town close to Columbus, with friends. My son has already hauled a fake tree out of the basement, the one I had planned to take to Florida last year until we flew instead of drove. I kept telling him, “No, it’s too early to set it up,” but then thought, he’s only five once. The tree, decorated by him, all ornaments (less than a dozen) dangling from branches on one side of the tree only, is in his room.

This has me thinking about Christmas a little early. It’s not the shopping that gets me feeling warm. It’s the traditions that bring communities together. One of the best community Christmas events I ever participated in was in Denmark. When I was a student through DIS (The Danish International Student organization through Copenhagan University) I lived with a family in Allerod, Denmark, a large town about a 30-minute train ride from Copenhagan.

Allerod started it’s Christmas season off with a communal walk through the woods followed by caroling and a town square tree lighting. I had just turned 20, my brain an instant catalog for filing experiences into how this is like the U.S. and how this is not like the U.S. This experience was filed in the “not like” and a “little like” categories–the closest thing to it is perhaps a small town parade.

What struck me was how many people were involved with walking through the woods. Men, women, children of all ages–everyone was out following the path that led to a huge black kettle (there may have been two) filled with gløgg (glug) the traditional Scandinavian hot beverage made with red wine, brandy and spices. It’s yummy and warm, particularly on a wintry night. The other kettle had the non-alcoholic version. (I may have made up this second kettle. The years that have passed since then has placed this kettle in my memory.) The walk ended up back in town where people proceeded to a nursing home to carol and then on to the town square for more caroling and the tree light up.

This particular evening left me feeling cozy, warm and safe–like these winter holidays are supposed to make people feel. It was such a simple, event. Not splashy or commercial–just townspeople getting together to enjoy each others company. And, they were very welcoming and wonderful to the young American woman in their midst.

What about you? Any holiday traditions you’ve enjoyed while traveling?

Watch the trains at Folsom Funnel, but when crossing tracks, put cell phone down

by Jamie Rhein on

The Midwest is one of the best places for train watching in the U.S. according to railway shop that has a video series, Trains Across the Midwest. When I saw an article about a man in Berkely, California who was killed while waiting to cross a train track because he was distracted by talking on his cell phone, I thought about the people who show up in Berea, Ohio to watch the trains pass through town.

Thinking about these people got me thinking about other places to watch trains in the U.S. Here’s another spot where train watching is a bonified tourist attraction. The Folkston Funnel, in Folkston, Georgia is a place where up to 60 trains pass in a 24-hour day. The variety of trains that pass by make Folkson notable. Amtrak passenger trains and freight trains with a variety of goods offer the excitment. There’s even a covered train viewing platform and a train scanner where people can hear the train engineers talk as the train passes. If you have a laptop, the platform is Wi Fi accessible.

There’s also barbeque grills and picnic tables and restrooms to make a longer stay enjoyable. If you want to really make train watching a bigger event, stay at the Folkston Inn. Next time you’re heading to Florida, take a detour here. This might be as memorable as Walt Disney World.

My husband would certainly think so. He grew up in Berea and likes to walk along the train tracks there. Luckily, he does not have a cell phone. He likes them as much as he likes Disney.

Eleni’s Bakery: Oscar countdown? Almost

by Jamie Rhein on

My dad, who is visiting from the Hudson Valley region of New York, was watching either the Food Channel or the Food Network a little earlier. I heard Johnny Depp’s name mentioned and my ears perked up. There’s a bakery in New York City that put Johnny Depp’s lovely face on a sugar cookie. Not just Johnny Depp either. Anyone who is Oscar worthy might find their faces on one of Eleni’s Bakery cookies. The photo is from the Oscar contenders of 2003. Although, here’s a post from Luxist that assures this Oscar cookie venture is a yearly happening.

I became mesmerized watching how this bakery makes these cookies. Did you know there are sheets of sugar that work like paper? Amazing. In the past, these tins of Oscar cookies have flown off the shelves to the tune of 100 tins a day. Last year, I think these tins cost up to $58 per tin. It’s not cheap to be fashionable and “in.”

I think this Food Channel segment was a repeat since when I looked up Eleni’s Web site I couldn’t find any Oscar cookies, which makes sense since no one has been nominated yet. The holiday movies have just started rolling in and some of the Oscar contenders have just begun to show up at the dollar movie theaters. If you haven’t seen “3:10 to Yuma,” see it. It’s great. I also just saw “American Gangster,” but that’s not what I’m writing about now. Perhaps, though, come to think of it, we’ll see a Russel Crowe, Christian Bale or Denzel Washington cookie show up when the nominations come out.

You can head to Eleni’s for some lovely holiday themed cookies–or if animals are your thing, check out the safari offerings. The butterflies are also gorgeous. Chelsea, where the bakery is located, is a fun place to poke around if you happen to be in Manhattan.

One for the guys: Three Stooges Marathon

by Neil Woodburn on

If you happen to be in Los Angeles this weekend and are being dragged through post-Thanksgiving shopping Hell by your girlfriend or wife, you might want to consider coaxing her towards the suburb of Glendale.

There’s some shopping here that might keep her busy, but more importantly, there’s something for you: the annual Three Stooges Big Screen Event. Of course, I’m assuming you’re a guy here because Three Stooges marathon is as close to Hell for a woman as spending the day shoe shopping is for a guy.

So, see if you can work out a deal today where she continues her shopping and you disappear for a couple of hours into Stooges nirvana. This, folks, is called a relationship-saving move. And, you’ll thank me for it later.