The Calming Chills of Cameron Highlands - 2008

After going abroad for 3 times in a row for vacations, I chose to spend my holiday domestically this time. After having a lot of discussions with my sisters, and put all matters into consideration, we made up our decision. Cameron Highlands it is!

We booked a 6-room penthouse at Dahlia Apartment in Brinchang to fit my huge family members (my eldest sister, her hubby and her three kids, my youngest sister, her hubby and her daughter, my parents, my maid and my sister’s mom-in law). A lot uhh? Yeah... so that 6-room penthouse was actually a great choice. It could may well be considered as a ‘Trip of a Lifetime’ because this was probably the only, only time that we could get all of us together, holidaying.


The penthouse was equipped with kitchenette so we did our own cooking for most of the meal time. It was hilarious that one morning when my scramble eggs went way too salty that no one could eat them. But there was nothing to worry about because the dining table was always full to the brim during meal time and it has more than enough food for everyone :-).


The spacious penthouse enabled us to eract an in-house tent for the kids to play with. Thanks to my brother in-law who brought the tent along for the trip. The kids had a whale of time 'camping' in it. :-)

Our journey commenced from KL, and we took the Tapah exit to climb up the hill. The road was narrow and winding. When we stopped by at the waterfall area, Lata Iskandar, it was already half way to the top. The breezing fresh air and clear water from the waterfall was so invigorating. After a few snaps of photos, we continued our journey.



As we reached Ringlet, we came across an exclusive Lake House, a beautiful building with a colonial facade, strategically located on a hill.

We went to the Boh Tea and Bharat Tea Plantation as we arrived. It was so scenically green, as though you are actually seeing them on postcards. We had the chance to sip a cup of hot tea near the plantation, all freshly brewed. We also bought few packets of teas in different flavours to bring back home.



The strawberry farm was pleasant too. We wanted to go and pluck our own strawberries but the staff in charge for pluck-your-own-berries was not there. After a quick stroll and photo snapping, we decided to just buy the packed strawberries and the fresh strawberry jam, that we later had them with scones. It was really, really scrumptious. I guess the cold chilly weather in Cameron Highlands easily made one’s appetite grow bigger!



We went to the Butterfly Garden the next morning and kids had their whale of a time chasing this beautiful insect. There were lots of them and they were flying everywhere. The prominent one was the Rajah Brooke, which was about the size of your palm or bigger, in black and green color. I was not into insects that much. I just made a quick walk and went to the gift shop, looking for souvenirs. As usual, I bought some fridge magnets and a t-shirt for my son.




Can you spot the baby-sized Rajah Brooke behind us? Luckily they were small ones. I was actually too scared to go near the big ones! So, this small one will do for me :-). Oh, there were other insects and tortoises too at the Butterfly Garden. :-)


Talking about shopping, there’s nothing much to buy up here but Kea Farm is the best place if you ever need to shop for fresh veggies and fruits.


Various types of fresh flowers and ever-lastings were sold at a reasonably cheap price. But I didn’t buy them, afraid that they won’t last that long due to the difference in weather back home.


Shopping at Brinchang’s Night Market was really a great experience too. Night at Cameron Highlands can be really cold, so we had to put on sweaters and proper shoes with our socks on. And in cold weather, even the crispy Apam Balik tasted so yummy! We had a lot of eating there and yet when we went back to our rooms, we could still manage to munch some cookies and sandwiches :-).

One thing for sure, I never tasted fried sweet potatoes so deliciously until the one I had in Cameron Highlands. My hubby had to make a turn-back to purchase more of these sweet potatoes which is dipped in batter and simply deep-fried. The taste, voila! The scones with strawberry jam in Tanah Rata was our late supper menu for almost every night. You can have them in any restaurants, even in Mamak Shops. I wasn’t too sure how many kilos I gained throughout my 4D/3N stay in Cameron Highlands… but for sure we had a real good time and great makan-makan! :-)


Traditionally, a trip to Cameron Highlands would not be complete without a visit to "Ye Olde Smoke House". A cool trip to a cool place...

Bargaining at Bandung, Indonesia - 2007

Unlike my Jakarta and Bangkok’s family holiday, Bandung was a trip I had with my best buddies. It was great to be with them but I must tell you the truth that I missed my family so very much throughout my stay in Bandung. I texted home almost every hour and called them at night.

We had our room in Samudra Hotel, a small Bed and Breakfast Inn along Cihampelas Road. Our first visit in Bandung was the Tangkuban Perahu, a volcano crater which is still active, it seemed. As we reached the place after an hour and half of a zig-zagging road ride, we were delighted to actually view the crater so closely that it is worth the journey!




It was chilly that morning so we had to put our sweater on. The pungent smell of sulphur was so strong that it took us some time to get ourselves accustomed to. There were many street-sellers approaching us the minute we stepped our foot out of the car. Yup, I bought a few things from them at a very good bargained price. My best purchase so far from Tangkuban Perahu was a couple of horns resting on a small stand with Quranic verses engraved on it.

The Sari Ater Hot Spring was our next stop after the crater. I had quite a spin on my head, thanks to the winding road and the sulphur smell at Tangkuban Perahu, but the stop at the Hot Springs really made my day! We had a great time dipping our tired feet into the warm water. The green surroundings and the pleasing sound of waterfalls around us really blew my headaches away.




We went around shopping the next day since there were a lot of branded outlets there in Bandung. The Rumah Mode, Mode Plus, Heritage, and other factory outlets located just next to each other almost became our second-home! At night, we strolled along the Cihampelas Road and did our shopping again at the Cihampelas Walk. It was oh-so cheap that I can’t resist myself but to shop!




Pasar Baru was another shopping heaven in Bandung! The textiles were dirt-cheap! We had a few unbranded handbags and shoes from there too. And to make our trip in Bandung town more memorable, we tried the public transport they called Angkutan Kota. It was a mini-van that can be loaded up to 10 persons or so. But with 4 of us and our unbeatable amount of shopping bags, only 5 persons can be loaded at one time! And the ticket fee, Rp5.000 for four of us per way! Unbelievable!!


Besides shopping, there are other things that got me hooked on Bandung. Food!! Nasi Timbel, Bakso and Brownies! We had our Nasi Timbel at Dapur Sangkuriang for lunch. It was a set of plain rice accompanied with Vegetable Sourish Soup, Fried Salty Fish, Fried Toufu, Fried Tempe (fermented soya beans) and Sambal Belacan. It was kind of OK for me and I believe it could may well be an acquired taste to some.



I bought some Brownies Amanda to bring back home - a home made specialty. I’m not so much of a brownies’ fan but their steamed brownies and cookies were really out of this world! I heard Bakso Malang at Chihampelas Walk was delicious too but I did not get the chance to try it.

For dinner, I would suggest you to try heading to The Peak. It was quite far up on the hill, but once you reached there you would love the place to bits. Please mind that it is always chilly in Bandung especially at night. And eating al-fresco right on top of the hill in a posh restaurant would be really romantic for couples. There were live band performances at night and you are free to make your song requests, or even make a request to sing your favourite number accompanied by the band.


The restaurant was lovely especially if you opt for outdoor seats under the moonlight and shiny stars but it was too cold that night that we had to move in to dine. It serves fusion food, but it was not just about the food. It was the ambience and the company I had which were second to none!


My special thanks to my Bandung friends, Citra and Anin for their hospitality and warmth, and for being really helpful throughout my stay there. I’ll be back in Bandung one fine day, and that time it will be with my beloved husband and my little boy!

The Beautiful Bangkok, Thailand – 2007

We did not have any bad experience with Airasia during the last trip, so I decided to grab the opportunity to fly with them again this time around. And Airasia made it possible for us and our overflowing needs to travel with its RM0 promo... :-)


Again, with the whole lot of my family members i.e. my mom & dad plus my baby sister and her hubby joining us together this time, I never realized that I had all categories of travelers in my list. My son, aged 3, falls under the ‘Child’ category, my mom & dad falls under ‘Senior Citizen’, while my younger sister, in her 7 months pregnancy, falls under ‘Priority’ category.

We were allowed to board the plane first because obviously the preggy mom, my son and my old folks should be given the so-called priviledge during any flights. At that time, “Priority Lanes” were never a practice for Airasia flights. However, thanks to the friendliness and concern of the Airasia staff, we managed to board the plane earlier than the rest of the passengers.

If there’s one thing you should know (or already knew), we Malaysians are so ‘Kiasu’, just like the Singaporeans. So you can only imagine how our so-called ‘friendly’ Malaysians will rush to board the plane and start to book the seats not only for them but for their fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters and the rest of the clans. You wouldn’t want to know...

OK now, Thailand is well-acclaimed as the Land of Smiles. Throughout our stay we were greeted with smiles by the soft-speaking Thais, be it the people by the roadside, the hotel staff or the shop promoters. The hotel, The Eastin in New Petchaburi Road, was a nice hotel smacked right in the middle of the city centre.


We took the tour to Damern Saduak Floating Market and The Grand Palace on the first day. On our way to the floating market, which was quite a distance from our hotel, we stopped by at a few places plainly to see how salt was produced on land and we then dropped by to one of their local coconut factory.

The salt-making process was particularly incredible because there was no sea in sight but yet there were tonnes of salt being produced.



And at the coconut factory, we had the chance to quench our
thirsts with their ever-popular coconut drink. It was so cooling and refreshing.


As we arrived at Damern Saduak, we chartered a boat and rode off to the market area. We had to go through a small canal before reaching the main market.


It was truly remarkable to see how marketing (literally translated) was actually done from boat to boat. All sorts of things were sold on this narrow boat, handled by one person, normally a woman. I was amazed by the whole experience, it was something you can never get to see elsewhere, definitely not in Malaysia.


Next, the Grand Palace. There are no words to describe the beautiful architecture and intricate details of the luscious Grand Palace. It was simply, simply breathtaking. If there is a must-see sight in Bangkok, than this would be it.






Menam Chao-Phraya, is another attraction in Bangkok that one should not miss. Wat Arun, a temple by the river was one of my favourites.


We took a ride on a boat and we were explained about the history of the river, the many Wats (Temples) along the river, the Royal Barge and the stories of the many famous buildings in the city by the friendly and well-versed tour guide. And I also learned that Bangkok’s old name was very, very long indeed. It was something like “Krung Thep Makhanakhon...blah...blah”, obviously I can’t get it in full. It’s too complicated. Let’s google for it later… :-)

Holidaying without shopping is sinful. It’s my own theory, so don’t bother to follow. Mah Bun Krong (MBK) shopping complex offered an array of middle-to-high range of handbags, clothing, household items, crafts and souvenirs and many food outlets too. We went to Suan Lum Night Market to find some souvenirs to bring back home but Chatuchak Weekend Market was the best offer to quench our shopping thirst!



Hundreds of stalls selling mainly everything from clothing to bags to souvenirs to household items to pets and food, all in one huge area. And one word to best describe it was “Cheap-Cheap”!!

Oh, one important stop for shopping (for me & hubby) was The Hard Rock Café Bangkok, to get ourselves some T-shirts. It seemed that this was the only expensive item we bought for ourselves in Bangkok! The rests were all at a bargained price... :-)


And of course we also stumbled upon the best ever Tomyam in Bangkok. It was a Halal Restaurant by the Darul Aman Mosque area. The chef had personally “cooked up a storm” for us when he learned that we were Malaysians.

One more thing, don’t be afraid to jump onto their Tuk-Tuk transport, a small 3-wheeler bike that will bring you from one point to another without having to worry how bad Bangkok jam is! Just hold your breath and you’ll make it! ... :-)

A Joyful Journey to Jakarta, Indonesia – 2006

I have heard about Jakarta, be it good or bad, since god knows when. So, it was only right that for my first ever venture out of the country with my own family, we had to choose Jakarta. (In actual fact, Tashkent, Uzbekistan was my first venture out of the country, but I was not married then).

This time, I have my own immediate family with me, and that’s a whole lot of new experience for me. It was also my very first time flying and experiencing Airasia, and I was thrilled to bits.


Bringing quite an entourage to the neighboring country for the first time (my dearest hubby, my cheeky son, my beloved mom & dad, my best friend, her sister and her mother), I have to really ensure that the journey is smooth and enjoyable.


We flew to Jakarta on an Airasia Flight on 28th March 2006 - 3 days before my hubby's Birthday. And we arrived at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Jakarta right on schedule. As soon as we came out of the Arrival Hall, the Hotel driver, Dicky, was already waiting for us with a placard on his hand written 'BAPAK ARIS'. My hubby felt old all of a sudden...

We checked ourselves in at the Sparks Hotel – a small but chic boutique hotel in Mangga Dua district. It was just perfect for all of us to have our daily rest and a decent sleep at night.




So, where do we begin? I have been told much earlier that there is one spot in Jakarta that is a MUST for all tourists to visit. Hence, on the very first day we went to view the distinctively unique national monument called MONAS or Monument Nasional from near. MONAS is a symbol of Indonesia’s fight for independence. It is topped by a 14.5 ton bronze flame, which is plated in 35 kg of gold. It was so stunning that you just felt like wanting to snap pictures over and over again.


We then made our way to Ancol’s Sea World and Taman Mini Indonesia. It was an experience of a lifetime for my little boy who was only 2 back then to get to see the sea creatures so closely and pat some of them. The Taman Mini Indonesia was also truly amazing as we could see all of Indonesia's 27 provinces’ type of houses spreading across 120 hectares of land, all in different styles and incredible architectures.




Shopping in Jakarta was also part of our itinerary but for a medium-range shopper like me, I would rather spend my money to see places than to shop till I drop there! First, we went to Planet Hollywood to get some mementos to bring back home.

World Trade Centre (WTC) shopping complex was a good place for a bargainer like me. There you can find lots and lots of pirated designer handbags (from grade A to no grade at all) and the many types of Taiwanese-look dresses and shoes. I bought some for myself, rose-brooch for my officemates and too many Indonesia’s ever-popular layered cake for souvenirs. But for me, the must-buy item was definitely the fridge magnets. The collections are all on my fridge right now, if you must know...:-)

We went to Tanah Abang, a big wholesale market in Jakarta just before we depart back to Malaysia. Again, it was a clothing haven, very cheap but the problem was that you have to purchase it in bulk (3 pieces of the same design, at least! I couldn’t imagine myself wearing the same blouse in 3 different colors, so I had to pass that idea). My mom had a few beautifully designed ‘Telekungs’ (a prayer attire for Muslim women), with intricate Indonesian embroidery to bring back home for souvenirs.

And not to forget, the taste of Nasi Padang, Sumay Ikan and Bakso that was cooked to perfection can be found just a few steps away from the hotel we reside. Heaven, isn’t it?

Introducing Aidee...

Hi, I'm Aidee.

I would like to share some stories about what I love to do most and enjoy it to bits. It’s travelling. Yes, I love travelling, and can consider myself as a travel junkie but don’t be alarmed (specially dedicated to my dearest hubby)... my condition is still quite manageable so far... :-)

Yes, I'm addicted to traveling, but having a work-come-first hubby and a boy aged 6 this year, I think I have to control my addiction as time may not be on my side for travelling that much. Not that I will stop from doing it at all, but since my son is going to primary school very soon, I need to properly schedule my so-called ‘family vacation’ to a proper time i.e. most feasibly during school holidays.

So here, let me share some of my memorable journeys I had in these few years.

Going Places... (by Aris)

Face it... we've both travelled overseas before.

I have been to Australia, Singapore and Thailand many years ago, either on my own or with my family members. And Aidee has been to Uzbekistan when she was younger, at the time when her Dad was still working in Tashkent. But those were the days. When we were younger... and obviously, we can't turn back time, can we?

So, after marriage, we both made a promise to each other, to set aside some money to travel at least once a year overseas. We were newly weds then. Money, after much has been spent for our Wedding Receptions, was a variable that kept on diminishing day by day. But, eventhough I was never a thrifty person before, marriage has made me a different, if not a better person. I began to learn the meaning of "Savings"...

With significant amount of "Savings", we could actually go places. And so, we began to tackle the notion of "Exploring the South East Asia Region".

The good thing was we both had the same thing in mind - and that was JAKARTA. And so begun our journey down south to the largest archipelago in the world, the Republic of Indonesia.

Indeed, one small step to some, but one giant leap to the both of us...