Trip to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

Day 1
~Flew to Kota Kinabalu
~Rented a car
~Stayed at Promenade Apartments










Day 2
~Drove to Kota Kinabalu Park
~Checked-in at J Residence
~Hike and drove around KK Park










Day 3
~Woke up early to view Mount Kinabalu from KK Park
~Drove to Cattle Farm near Kundasang town
~Drove back to KK town
~Checked-in at Gaya Centre Hotel (town area)










Day 4
~Hop on a speed boat at Jesselton point to Manukan Island (15 minutes ride)
~Snorkeled at the island
~Back to KL

Getaway at Adeline’s Villa, Gopeng

It’s the children’s school break. Gina booked a night’s stay at Adeline’s Villa in Gopeng on June the 8th 2011 with intentions to move to Ipoh the next day. The journey took about 1 hour 30 minutes with narrow and winding roads when approaching.



The villa is built in a kampong area amongst trees and streams. In fact the hut that we stayed is built over a tiny stream. There is a tree just outside the hut with star fruits ready to be plucked and eat.

We checked in at about 1pm and had our lunch next to the registration area. The booking includes 3 meals i.e lunch, dinner and breakfast the next day. We had to take a short drive to where all the huts were located.

Upon reaching our hut, we unloaded our bags and wondered around the vicinity. Reminds me of my younger days in Tanjung Bungah, Penang where I frequented staying over at my friend’s kampong style house.

At 2:30pm, the guide came over to escort us for our white water rafting experience. He made us fill in and signed some papers. We hop on his van and headed to the top of the river.

We put on our jackets and he gave us a safety briefing. We were feeling rather nervous as it’s our first time. We didn’t know what to expect and wondered if it’s safe.

Our first exercise on the river was to be drifted through a moderately strong current simulating an event if anyone was to be thrown out of the raft during the actual journey. The water was extremely cold and I took in some water during this exercise which shook me a bit but it was nothing compared to what I was about to experience.

We then went on our first rapid. The drop was just a warm up. Gina and I were seated in front, the kids at the center and the guide at the back. They assured us that the kids will be safe at the middle.

The second rapid which was more challenging than the first. Made it! I wondered how many drops were there in all as we were told it was going to be a two and a half hours journey. Many drops I reckon.

It was time for the third. The guide prompted us that this was going to be a 5 foot drop which made me nervous. The drop came and then I heard Noel crying. We turned around and Noel was holding his mouth with blood gushing out. It seems an object hit his teeth during the drop.

We rushed him to the nearest dentist and the expert claim that his permanent front tooth was broken and needs to be extracted. We weren’t convinced thus decided it was best to take him to consult our dentist in KL the next day. We were glad of this decision. You will know why later.

It hurts me to see Noel in pain and I was worried of the social and psychological repercussions of a missing front tooth at this age. And the possibility of him having to wear false teeth or to deal with other dental procedures like crowning or root canal just made me sad.

The holiday mood was no longer there. All I could think was to take him for a proper examination the next day to diagnose his condition and to snuff out my assumptions.

We call it an early night. He slept well the whole night through but woke up with a swell. I could not get any sleep as the vision of him bleeding and crying kept replaying on my mind.

We naturally called off our plans to Ipoh and drove back to KL after breakfast. Noel said he was no longer in pain but I was skeptical. Have to get a scan to be sure.

We finally arrived back home and took him to our regular dentist in SS2. I was pleasantly surprised that after the x-ray, his tooth was still in one piece. What a relief! But he has to be careful not to get a knock at the same spot again. I’m keeping my fingers cross.

Thank God!

Holiday @ Sutera Beach Resort Terengganu

It’s been a long time I made a video on my trip. This is a trip I made with my family from the 14th February 2011 till the 16th. This time around was to Sutera Beach Resort, Kuala Terengganu.



This is a non peak period so we had the whole resort to ourselves. The non peak seasons are from November till February. You can get good rates at this time as it’s the monsoon season.

It was truly peaceful and relaxing for us. I love sitting by the balcony just staring into the ocean, reflecting, hearing the sounds of the waves & winds and absorbing the magnificent view. We spend our days there walking by the seaside, swimming at the pool, playing ping pong, reading and eating.























It is so refreshing and wonderful to be able to face nature. I can’t help thinking about what people living in the city have to face everyday; the stress, the competition, their computers, the traffic, unhealthy diets and the perpetual fear of losing their income thus unable to feed themselves and their family or is it the fear of not being able to maintain a certain lifestyle?

Is there a way out? Is it all worth it? Are you fulfilling your purpose as a human being?

My Wife, The Best Mum...

This article was featured in Parenthood Magazine July 2010 issue. Click on the image to read.

Vacation at Redang

It’s the children’s school holidays again and Gina planned for this trip to Pulau Redang. We drove from KL to Kuala Terengganu on the 15th March 2010. It was a long drive, lost count of the amount of hours but we basically allocate one day for the journey.



We stayed at Sea View Hotel that night and left for Merang Jetty the next morning. The trip from Kuala Terengganu to Merang took about 45 minutes. We had to take a speed boat from the jetty to Redang. It was a pleasant 30 minutes ride and we ended up at Redangkalong resort where Gina had pre-booked.























This resort was situated at an isolated part of the island. It was the only resort there. As we took the 3 days 2 nights package, the resort arrange snorkeling trips and meals for us. Meals include breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner. I would say we were well taken cared of. Our chalet along the beach was cozy and clean.

The highlights of our vacation were the snorkeling trips. The resort arranged one destination on the first day and another two the following day. On our first, we were taken to a spot and got off the boat to explore the sea. We brought bread along to attract the fishes.























The snorkeling spot on the second day was much better whereby the boat drop us at the beach. The place was called Marine Park. The water was very clear and fishes were visually abundant even near the beach. I had the privilege to see a huge Moray eel swimming at the sea bed that soon disappeared among the beautiful corals. Gina got to see the head of a giant Garoupa peeping through an underwater cave.

The weather on the east coast is pretty erratic nowadays. The monsoon season use to be from October till January but folks at the island claim that they experience bad weather even in months after January. Our rides between Redangkalong to the snorkeling spots were quite bumpy leaving us in a state of constant daze. I reluctantly tried taking some sea sick pill but that didn’t help either.























On the second day, we skipped the evening snorkeling trip and took a walk by the beach that lead to a path cutting through the forest ending up on the other side of the island where a string of resorts were situated. Just to name a few from Laguna, Redang Beach and many others located next to each other along that stretch of the beach. For those who prefer to be around plenty of other tourist, you should book anyone of the resorts along this stretch. There’s lots of entertainment there including live bands.

But Redangkalong is perfect for a “getaway”. The ride back to Merang jetty was unfortunately horrendous. The sea was extremely rough and we barely made it through. We were so glad to have reached the jetty and just sprawled on the wooden seats to recuperate and gather composure before heading back to KL.

Our fun trip to Bukit Merah Laketown Resort

Kids wanted so much to go back to Bukit Merah Laketown Resort which we have gone more than 3 years back. We finally relented as i managed to find a cheap accomodation at Suria Apartment. It was clean and very nice actually.. They had really BIG pools and the apartment were like hotel style.

We took a cruise to the other side of the island to see the Orang Utans habitat.. there they're trying to nurture and help preserve the orang utans from diminishing.. and they can all respond to their named that were given. Amazingly, these orang utans have birth certs too.. :)) u have to check them out, the baby orang utans sleep in baby courts, and wear pampers, they are bottlefed and even have soft toys! We do not totally agree with humans toiling with nature and making them into an entertainment centre but then again, if they don't, will orang utans be another animal that will be extinct from this world, we never know.

The kids and us really had so much fun in the water park as we played most of the craziest and scariest slides ever.. they had one slide that was U shaped... and all of us wanted to chicken out at the top.. but were literally pushed down.... before we changed our mind.. he he.. there was one balloon ball full of water.. and the kids taught us how to jump and jump and slide down... gosh, we actually forgot ourselves and played like kids.. perhaps us adults take things and work so seriously that we forgot our main essense of life i.e. to play! Being with the children, taught us that.. just being there... and play from morning to night...

We went fishing too... but sob sob... not even a fish caught! so upsetting when the girls beside us kept catching so many fishes! hard luck. There is also bike riding for rent, and we cycled by the lake.. which was pretty refreshing.. at night, you can cruise again to the other side for the night feeding to the animals.. The animal show was nice too.. My favourite was the chair lift ride.. It brings you across the water park and your legs are dangling in the air.. so watch out if you are wearing sandals / slippers... it may just land on someone's head.. :))

The food here are not so nice though.. unless in the hotel itself. Don't bother trying outside.. we thought we could save on the money... but we had to wait so bloody long for the food and never mind, the 101 flies all around you. We were also cut throat by one restaurant that was supposedly a home stay.. we thought it looked good but were tricked! We felt so cheated... next time, be careful if you do go there.. Make sure you call for one person menu.. then you won't go wrong.. ~ Gina

~ Trip made on 21st - 23rd December 2009 ~

Short trip to Awana Genting Highlands

It is nothing different about this place as it is our usual hangout place.. kids love to swim in the hot water swimming pool whilst their parents drown themselves in the jacuzzi... mmmmmnnn hot and lovely.. in the beautiful cool weather.

Recommend to go to Gohtong Jaya for food, Zhe yuan Restaurant, has extremely tasty food at a reasonable price. Other places can be cut throat or food is yucky. The cable car ride is also lovely and a must for first timers as the scenic and fresh cool air is so crisp and nice.

If you have kids, then do go to Gohtong Jaya club house which is opposite the strawberry farm, and downstairs they have games like table tennis, and other board games, and machine games at a much much cheaper rate than the top of Genting Entertainment centre.

We are sick of the amusement park, plus it is very costly too, if often enough. We will go to the old cable car point in the mornings, which is a 5 minute drive from Awana Genting to have nice nasi lemak, or Roti Canai... yummy.. Guarantee you will love the food here than all the food that is sold up in Genting.. I have yet to taste anything better .... we have almost tried everything.. so when we're up... it will just be FAST FOOD... you will not go wrong.. ~ Gina

~ Trip made on 20th November 2009 ~

Hot springs in Malaysia?

Did you know there’s hot springs in Malaysia? Just got to know that recently and thought I’d go check it out. It’s situated at Sungai Klah, Perak about an hours drive from Kuala Lumpur. Seems to me that some early explorer discovered this place and Felda built a resort around it. The hot spring contains sulfur that’s able to extricate toxins from your body thus people go there to soak themselves in it.











There’s an area of the hot spring where the temperature is at boiling point. People go there to soak (if you can stand the heat) and even boil eggs to eat. There’s algae that forms beneath the surface. It’s pure due to the sulphur content and ladies (and even men) rub them on their skin for smoother complexion. Gina tried it on her hands and legs and attest to that claim! To all entrepreneurs and inventors out there, this is an idea worth looking into, a potential skin product?











A great place to go for a quick get-away from the hustle and bustle. We went on a weekday, so it was very peaceful and serene. They get a lot of visitors during weekends. Definitely worth checking out!

By the way, this trip is also in conjunction with our 12th year anniversary in holy matrimony : )