News From the Place Where You Find a Fast 5!

 

1.   The New Palace, Old Palace, King's Palace, National Palace or The Istana Negara.  No matter how you put it, it's the royal residence for Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the current ruling royalty of Malaysia.  The Palace is in Kuala Lumpur.  Good to note on this one that it is included in a lot of tours you can take, and is one of the more dramatic sights in the city.  The thing to remember about this site is that you can't enter the palace.  There is; however, a royal museum on the grounds that you can visit for the equivalent of around $2.

https://www.viator.com/Kuala-Lumpur-attractions/Royal-Kings-Palace-Istana-Negara/d335-a12977

https://www.istananegara.gov.my/#

http://abckualalumpur.com/info_guide/kl_istananegara.html

https://www.malaysia-traveller.com/national-palace.html

https://visitkualalumpur.com/what-to-do/attractions/kings-palace-istana-negara/

2.     It's called Grab!  If you happen to be in most parts of Asia; Grab is your Uber or Lyft.  They also cover most things that Grub Hub or Door Dash do as well.  As a matter of fact, you can ship things through them too.  It's not a place to visit, but if you're out and about and you need anything done for you and you didn't rent a car; Grab is the app you need to get and they'll do just about anything for you.  Available on most phones that operate in Asian countries.

https://www.grab.com/sg/

https://www.grab.com/ph/transport/

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.grabtaxi.passenger&hl=en_US&gl=US&pli=1

https://www.yelp.com/biz/grab-taxi-makati

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/grab-taxi-ride-food-delivery/id647268330

3.   Cafe del Mar, Cartagena, Columbia.  I know, you hear all kinds of crazy stuff about Columbia, and this was the city that Joan Wilder was trying to get to in "Romancing the Stone."   However, Cartagena is a very popular tourist location these days, and there's a lot to see.  But while you're there, don't miss the chance to see a sunset from Cafe del Mar.  It's a rooftop venue with an amazing view over the ocean of the sunset in the evenings.  It comes with great food and drink.  It's a must include for you vacation.

https://cartagenacolombiarentals.com/2018/10/sunsets-cafe-del-mar/

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g297476-d1222318-Reviews-Cafe_Del_Mar_Cartagena-Cartagena_Cartagena_District_Bolivar_Department.html

https://www.cafedelmarcartagena.com.co/

https://www.therooftopguide.com/rooftop-bars-in-cartagena/cafe-del-mar.html

https://colombia.travel/en/cartagena-de-indias

4.    Go kayaking in St. Lucia.   I did this last winter, and it was a great time.  Marigot Bay is one of the most beautiful spots on the island, and they are all about water.  There are no roads around the bay, only to and from.  For $20 you can paddle right out into the Caribbean if you like, or you can take a more quiet tour as I did around the enormous scenic bay.  If you like a real adventure, for around $100 you can take a tour that goes out into the sea and up one of the rivers nearby.  Total adventure or quiet voyage; it's up to you.  You can also follow it up with some great food and drink from Doolittle's Restaurant right next to the beach where you rent the kayaks.

https://www.marigotbeachclub.com/kayaking-tours/

https://marigotbayyachthaven.com/

https://wanderlusters.com/marigot-bay-offers-adventurous-travellers-more/

https://www.hyattinclusivecollection.com/en/resorts-hotels/zoetry/st-lucia/marigot-bay-st-lucia/

https://www.expedia.com/Marigot-Bay-Marigot-Bay.d6067595.Vacation-Attraction

5.    The Klementium and the National Library of the Czech Republic.  I can tell you that Prague is one of the most amazing cities in the world to visit.  There's no end to the ancient beauty all around you.  You'll visit the castle, the Charles Street Bridge, the astronomical clock and old town, St. Wenceslas Square, and on and on.  The Klementium is one of the more overlooked complexes in the city with a number of beautiful buildings, including the National Library.  It's one of the most beautiful libraries in Europe, known for it's Baroque style.  It's also one of the largest and you can visit it while in town for less than a buck.

https://www.praguego.com/attractions/clementinum/

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g274707-d2358452-Reviews-Klementinum-Prague_Bohemia.html

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/czech-republic/prague/stare-mesto/attractions/klementinum/a/poi-sig/401315/1323269

https://www.en.nkp.cz/

https://www.prague.eu/en

So, there you have it.  I finally got around to posting this fast 5.  I hope to be more consistent in the future with these, but in the mean time; I hope this has provided you with some great ideas for inclusion into your next great trip.  I covered a lot of different areas and different continents, so have fun and enjoy!