Over the weekend, Kate and I took a day trip to Johor Bahru City Square and enjoyed “Singaporean Activities” (i.e. eating, shopping and watching movies) at a cheaper price…
What to do at Johor City Square
1. 100 Doraemon Secret Gadgets Expo
100 Doraemon Secret Gadgets Expo at Johor City Square
The 100 Doraemon Secret Gadgets Expo is currently on at Johor Bahru City Square from 30 August 2014 to 4 January 2015. Entry tickets costs RM25 for adults and RM15 for children.
Although Kate and I did not visit the exhibition, we managed to “sneak” a few shots just for you! 😉
Doraemon Expo at Johor Bahru City Square
“Sneak” at the Doraemon Exhibition at Johor City Square
Kate’s favourite Doraemon pose
Inside the Doraemon Expo at Johor Bahru City Square
2. Shopping at Johor Bahru City Square
Shopping at Johor Bahru City Square
With more than 200 retailers at JB City Square, Singaporeans can take advantage of the 2.5RM to 1SGD exchange and enjoy the host of shopping options available!
This time, Tom bought a pair of spectacles. To be precise, it was a pair of Braun Buffel frames with transitions signature lenses. The total cost came up to 750RM or about 300SGD. Is the price ok? Let us know in the comments section below!
Spectacles from Eyesmate Johor Bahru City Square
3. Dining options at Johor Bahru City Square
As most of the restaurants maintain numerical values for their prices, Singaporeans will be spoilt for choice when it comes to dining options at City Square JB. We were contemplating between Japanese, Western or Korean cuisine. Eventually, we decided on Bornga Korean Restaurant due to the additional discounts that it was giving!
Entrance to Bornga Korean Restaurant at JB City Square
Recommended dishes at 15% discount!
We decided on the Chadol Duenjang Jigae (traditional Korean soybean paste stew with beef) @ 20.40RM as well as the Kimchi Jigae (spicy stew with kimchi, pork and various vegetables) @ 17RM…
Every order comes with 5 side dishes and dessert
Chadol Duenjang Jigae with rice – YUMMY!
Kimchi Jigae from Bornga Korean Restaurant City Square Johor Bahru
4. Movies at discounted prices
Kate and I also caught November Man (starring Pierce Brosnan – which was surprisingly AWESOME!) at 15RM, approximately 6SGD. But if you watch movies from Monday to Thursday (before 1pm), it costs only 7RM! Just remember that Friday is considered “weekend”!
How we got from Singapore to Johor City Square
We first took the MRT to Kranji station and took bus 170. Bus 170 actually takes you all the way to the checkpoint, crossing the causeway and alighting you at the checkpoint in Johor. All in all, you would have to tap your ezlink 4 times per way for bus 170 (boarding 170, alighting at Singapore’s checkpoint, reboarding at Singapore’s checkpoint and alighting at the Malaysia checkpoint).
The total trip 1 way costs $2.30 (inclusive of our MRT ride).
After alighting at the Malaysia Johor checkpoint, you can walk about 5 minutes to Johor Bahru City Square. The best part is that this entire walk is sheltered! 😉
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Johor Bahru City Square
We hope you have enjoyed our review of Johor Bahru City Square! City Square JB is definitely a great place for Singaporeans to shop, dine and catch a movie! Tell us more about your day trip from Singapore to Johor in our comments section below!
During our recent visit to Ipoh Malaysia, we visited the Lost World Hot Springs and Spa – located next to the Lost World of Tambun theme park!
Lost World of Tambun Ipoh – Entrance to Theme ParkLost World Hot Springs Ipoh and Spa is actually beside the theme park with its own entranceEntrance to Lost World Hot Springs and Spa Ipoh
Lost World Hot Springs and Spa opens from 6pm to 11pm daily (after the theme park closes) and costs 20RM. Alternatively, you can pay for the Lost World of Tambun theme park entry at 45RM and stay from 11am to 6pm for the theme park. Using the same ticket, you can take a walk over to Lost World Hot Springs and Spa. 45RM for both attractions 🙂
What to do at Lost World of Tambun Hot Springs and Spa
Map of Lost World Hot Springs and Spa Ipoh
According to the Map, the attractions are as follows
1. Entrance
Ticketing counter to Lost World Hot Springs and Spa IpohSpa packages available at the ticketing booth – you must purchase packages here before you head to Crystal SpaDragon at the Entrance of Lost World Hot Springs and Spa Ipoh
2. Saphira’s Bistro / 3. Infinity Pool / 4. Lost World Steam Cave / 5. The Geyser of Tambun
Lost World Hot Springs and Spa
If you take a look at the picture above, to the left, you’ll see Saphira’s Bistro (notice the Milo dispenser). Right in the middle, you’ll see the Geyser of Tambun and entrance to the Lost World Steam Cave. Of course right in the fore ground, it is the entrance to the Infinity Pool!
Minerals Benefit – Why you should visit Lost World Hot Springs and Spa Ipoh
6. Top of the World Pool
Entrance to Top of the World Pool at Lost World Hot Springs and Spa IpohTop of the World Pool @ 43 degrees celsius – Ouch!
7. Foot Spa
Foot Spa Lost World Hot Springs and Spa IpohBenefits of Foot Spa
8. Crystal Pool
Crystal Pool right opposite Crystal Spa at Lost World Hot Springs and Spa Ipoh
9. Crystal Spa
Entrance to Crystal Spa Lost World Hot Springs and Spa Ipoh
For 180RM, we had 60 minutes of Aromatherapy Massage as well as 60 minutes of Hot Springs Aromatic Facial. Pure bliss!
10. Saphira’s Lair
Saphira’s Lair at 37degrees – Nice place to Chill out at night (Lost World Hot Springs and Spa Ipoh)Saphira’s Baby Pool – Allow the rushing waters to “massage” your shoulders!
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All in all, we thoroughly enjoyed the Lost World Hot Springs and Spa. For us, the entrance to the Hot Springs and massage at Crystal Spa was sufficient. By the way, if you purchase any spa package, entrance would be free. Something that we only realised later 🙁
Also, for an easy access to the hot springs, you may also choose to stay at the Lost World Hotel, next to the Lost World Hot Springs and Spa.
Do tell us your experience at Lost World Hot Springs and Spa or if you have visited Lost World of Tambun, do tell us about it as well!
Kluang is a district located in the state of Johor in Malaysia and there are in fact several things to do and attractions in Kluang which we were introduced to by Tourism Malaysia during a recent familiarisation trip.
It wasn’t initially like that though. In fact, our first thought when we saw the email invite was…
“Kluang? Hm…let me just check that again. Maybe they just mispelt ‘Klang’?”
Well, the difference is just a letter “u” which can be easily, accidentally added in right? But the truth is, after the trip, we actually kind of enjoyed ourselves and this is a low-down of all the places of interest in Kluang, Johor, Malaysia!
Kluang RailCoffee
Inside Kluang RailCoffee
Kluang RailCoffee is a traditional coffee joint located at Kluang railway station. Opened since 1938 by the Lim family (now operated by the 3rd generation and at the exact same location no less), this local’s favourite is famous for its coffee, toast and nasi lemak!
Iced Coffee , Kopi with Peanut Butter and traditional Kaya Butter Toast at Kluang RailCoffeeKluang RailCoffee’s famous nasi lemak served at the tables – no frills just plain old nasi with awesome sambal
After tasting the toast and coffee, we totally understood why the locals enjoyed it here. We went for both the iced version as well as the traditional kopi. Even with the ice, the taste did not diminish and still presented itself with that traditional taste. The toast on the other hand was lightly crusted on the outside and fluffy on the inside with thick slices of the butter. Sinful but oh so yummy with the kaya. Plus, the prices are really REALLY decent. Just check out the prices…
Menu of Kluang RailCoffee
With that kind of price coupled with good old fashioned coffee and toast, it’s no wonder that Kluang RailCoffee’s pulling in the crowd daily…
Kluang RailCoffee – A favourite breakfast joint for locals!
Kluang Coffee Powder Factory – Kopi Cap Televisyen
Tucked away at no. 76, Jalan Besar, Kluang, Johor, 86000 is Kluang’s most famous factory – Kluang Coffee Powder Factory which produces the famous Kopi Cap Televisyen (aka Television Brand Coffee).
Kluang Coffee Powder Factory – Kopi Cap Televisyen aka Television Brand Coffee
Legend has it that the Sultan of Johor is one of its biggest fans and has been drinking this coffee for the last 20 years! Opened since 1966 by Mr Goh Tong Tor, the factory is now operated by the next generation of the Goh family and the factory actually supplies 90% of Kluang’s coffee.
Guided tour of Kluang Coffee Powder Factory
Coffee Making Process of Kluang Coffee Powder Factory
The whole process starts here with these 3 types of coffee beans
Television Brand Coffee made from Arabica Liberica and Robus coffee beans
Of course, the proportion is secret.
Next, we learnt something new here (yes, we’re quite suaku about the coffee making process). We actually learnt that the coffee beans are roasted in 2 manner. Traditional roasting is done with sugar and margarine added to enhance the aroma. While white coffee is roasted just by itself. Bet you did not know that did ya?
Cooling process after roasting
After roasting, the beans are placed on a cooling plate where the staff would stir and separate them while bringing down its temperature (see video). After which, the beans go into a machine that separates them back into individual beans. Thereafter, they go into the grinder to form the coffee powder that you and I know.
Roasted and separated coffee beans being poured into the grinder from the topCoffee powder being packed into tins
And the end product…voila!
Kopi Cap Televisyen – Kluang’s Famous Television Brand Coffee Powder
Kluang’s Television Coffee Taste Test
Well, enough of all the technicalities of producing coffee. Let’s go try out the coffee itself!
Setting where we got to test the Television Brand Coffee
While we were sitting down, a really awkward situation took place. We asked a staff how long he had worked in a factory. Seemed like a harmless question right?
NO!!!
After reading the many newspaper cuttings on the walls of the factory, we realised that we actually posed the question to the boss of the factory!! Now we realise why the answer was an awkward and delayed “erm…20 years…” But not to justify ourselves, the boss has really slimmed down quite a bit! Through our conversations, we also realise that the family holds dear to the fact that coffee should be enjoyed with just hot water and sugar. No condensed milk (or any other milk for that matter) because the milk actually diminishes the taste of the coffee.
So how does the coffee really taste?
The taste test of Kluang’s Television Brand Coffee
Well, we have to say that the version concocted for us was a tad bit sweet. Nonetheless, the coffee was REALLY aromatic. That special concoction/proportion thingy going on with the beans really paid off handsomely with an unique yet traditional taste. This is notwithstanding the fact that we love our coffee with milk. The taste test actually changed our perception of 2-in-1 coffee (yeah, we normally go for 3-in-1’s)
UK Farm Agro Resort Kluang
UK Farm Agro Resort is Malaysia’s largest goat and sheep farm with 100 acres of grazing land and 15 acres of land for passion fruit…
Entrance of UK Farm Kluang MalaysiaMap of UK Farm Agro Resort
The tour of UK farm got off to a great start and by that we mean…A GREAT MEAL!!!
H.E. High Commissioner of Malaysia Dato Husni Zai Yaacob looking on at the roasted lamb
Tourism Malaysia actually placed alot of emphasis on this tour. Not only was this lamb of 1200++ RM laid out for us, the High Commissioner of Malaysia Dato Husni Zai Yaacob was also a Guest-of-Honour, lending weight to the entire familiarisation trip!
Slicing of the roasted lamb at UK FarmDividing the roasted lambExcellent lunch of bee hoon, curry vegetable, omelette and roasted lamb at UK Agro Resort FarmFood Menu at UK Farm Agro Resort
The highlight is of course the lamb. Marinated with a special secret sauce, the meat was tender, smoky while being sweet and crusted on the outside. The lamb was also really tender. No gamey taste as well. Just good roasted tender lamb. Yum.
Did we mention that the lamb was really tender?
Activities at UK Farm Agro Resort Kluang Malaysia
Activities available at UK Farm
For 270++ per person, you will be able to stay a night at the farm and enjoy the various activities that UK farm offers…
Feedstock Processing Factory
Mr Goh Un Keng (Mr UK himself) briefing us at the feedstock processing factory aka sheep canteen
We were briefed by the boss of UK farm, Mr Goh himself (yes, UK comes from his initials) starting at the feedstock processing factory. Mr Goh is really into green farming and natural cycles. At his farm, he uses the peels of his passion fruits mixed with the soya bean kernels (which he imports from Yeo’s Singapore) as feed for the sheep. In this way, there’s no wastage and surprisingly the goat pen itself doesn’t smell that bad. PLUS, to complete the cycle, droppings from the sheep and goats are used as fertilisers for the passion fruits and coconuts that the farm produces. Organic stuff. No pesticides involved. All natural!
The other thing that Mr Goh told us was how he managed to attract swallows into his farm successfully thus eliminating the problem of flies naturally. These swallows “swallow” up to 600 flies a day! Probing further on how he does it, he just cites that its “trade secret” and that its also a big problem in Australia…
Goat Pen
Across the sheep’s canteen is the goat pen. As mentioned earlier, and much to our amazement as well, it doesn’t smell. According to Mr Goh, its due to the natural processes and food that is fed to the sheep and goats. Stark difference from the farms we’ve visited in Australia – smells quite a bit there…
Milk feeding of the goats in the goat penCarrying cute baby goats!
At the goat pen, you get an opportunity to feed the goats. Greedy bunch but really cute! Some are more greedy than others though. So we try to feed them as equally as we possibly can. But it can be a challenge to pull the bottle out of one goat to feed the next – no concept of sharing there…
You’ll also be able to get photo opportunities with the baby goats. These cute little creatures are cuddly and some even slept in the arms of some of the members in our media group!
Goat Milk Processing Centre
At the next stop, we were shown how milk is extracted at the goat milk processing centre.
Milking the goats at UK Agro Resort Farm
We were told that the mother goats had to be milked TWICE A DAY! This is because if they do not do so, the glands would swell up and cause the goats to fall sick. In addition, the timing of the mating is properly done so that they produce milk for 6 months, mate and continue producing milk after getting pregnant! That’s alot of milk for Mr Goh…$Ka Ching$!
Mr Goh is also really proud of the technique used here. In fact, he is one of only 6 sheep farms in the world to have received the HACCP certification. Which is why each and every step done and demonstrated to us is in accordance with the procedures.
Milking goat in accordance with HACCP certification at UK Farm Agro Resort
The ingenuity of Mr Goh extends not only to the achievements at the farm but also to the products sold here…
Products sold includes goats milk, ice cream, skin lotion and shampoo
After the milk tasting (which was somehow a little gamey for us), we adjourned to see another idea that Mr Goh devised…
Innovative manner of feeding the young goats
According to Mr Goh, it would be really inefficient to feed each one of them individually. Hence the milk that was milked? It gets transferred to this container that allows the young goats to be fed quickly and efficiently!
UK Farm Resort Stay
Next, we moved on to visit the resort stay at UK farm. Lucky for us, room 106 was not occupied and we were able to visit the room…
Beds inside the resort at UK FarmFridge, TV, Wifi and boiling facilitiesWith attached bathroom
The resort is actually equipped to meet the needs of modern travellers. Wi-fi even. Really wonder how Mr Goh pulled cables all the way to the farm just to provide wi-fi for the visitors. All within just a short span of 3 years!
Tropical Arcade
Tropical Arcade at UK Agro Resort FarmRelaxed setting inside Tropical Arcade
Tropical Arcade is an area with visitors can relax, buy some souvenirs and fruits while enjoying them fresh. It was here where we enjoyed our organic coconut…
Freshly cut organic coconut from UK farm
The other members of the media also took the opportunity to grab an interview with Mr Goh here…
Interviewing Mr Goh – Owner of UK Farm Kluang MalaysiaMr Goh Un Keng – The man himself
We also had a short conversation with Mr Goh and we realised that all the ideas (organic/green farming, getting rid of flies via swallows, efficiency at the farm and even the lovely setting at Tropical Arcade) were from Mr Goh himself! He told us that he stopped schooling since primary 5 and all he could do was to put in hard work. Hard work he did and today UK farm is one of the best known farms in the country (and of course in the world of sheep farming).
On a side note, he did joke about students learning about “green techniques” in school when in actual fact, he’s doing green farming “practical” every single day!
Sheep Challenge
Sheep Challenge UK Farm Agro Resort
Sheep challenge is a major attraction at UK Farm whereby 3 to 5 participants would enter the pen and attempt to catch a sheep within a time of 3 minutes. If you are able to do so, you’ll receive the legendary UK medal…
Catch a sheep, get an UK medal
The key is to work together as a team. Approach the sheep slowly in a ring-like manner and trap them into a corner. But if you’re not able to do so, you’ll probably end up like what we did – running around aimlessly in the pen…
Trying our best to catch a sheep
Though we failed to catch a sheep, we really did have fun! Almost caught them a couple of times. They run real fast these sheeps. Nonetheless, there were high fives all round as we concluded the game.
Kluang local delicacies
As we rounded up our familiarisation trip of Kluang, we headed to Ayer Hitam – a town known for its pottery and crafts. This time, we tasted some local delicacies – Putu Bambu and Cendol
Making of Putu Bambu at Ayer Hitam Kluang
Close up of Putu BambuCendol – A great way to cool down on a hot sunny afternoon
Putu Bambu is a rice-based dessert steamed in small little bamboos. They are then extracted (as shown in the video) and covered with generous topping of grated coconut. Delicious while eaten warm. No wonder there’s a queue at this particular stall in Ayer Hitam. The cendol was also a great dessert – shaved ice with gula melaka (brown sugar) and rich ingredients such as jelly noodles and red bean.
How we got to Kluang Johor Malaysia
Tourism Malaysia collaborated with KTM to bring us this familiarisation trip and this time round, we took the rail to Kluang!
Woodlands Train Checkpoint
To take the train to Kluang, you will have to go by the Woodlands Train Checkpoint. To reach here, there are essentially 2 ways. The first way is to take the MRT to Marsiling Station and take bus 856 or Kranji MRT Station and take bus 170/178. As we were running late that morning, we took the 2nd way – Taxi! There is a taxi stand right beside Woodlands Train Checkpoint.
The thing we love about taking the train is that it was CLEAR at the immigration on a Saturday morning! Within minutes, we cleared both the Singapore and Malaysian customs and boarded the train!
We were hosted on the “event carriage” of the train (costs about 3000RM per trip) which features a large space for catering or performances, attached toilets (notice the plural) as well as the latest karaoke system that features more than 3000 songs! The screen’s pretty much like K Box (easy to search songs in Mandarin,English,Malay or foreign languages), that’s how modern the system is…
Enjoying a moment of Karaoke Singing onboard KTM train to Kluang
If you’re going for luxury, there’s also a VIP carriage for more privacy and comfort…
VIP carriage onboard KTM train with queen-sized bedSame room with attached basinAnother VIP room with two single bedsCorridor of VIP carriage with private function room at the end
To our surprise, the High Commissioner of Malaysia, Dato’ Husni Zai Yaacob also joined us for the event! This lent great emphasis to this media familiarisation trip and we were thoroughly honoured to have the High Commissioner being part of the event! KTM’s General Manager also took time off for an opening speech where he emphasised on the concept of Railway Tourism. Something which we think will really take off once the High Speed Rails come online.
Photo taking session with the High Commissioner of MalaysiaIntroductory speech by High Commissioner showing his emphasis on tourism in Malaysia
The price of travelling to Kluang costs $15 one way (when you purchase your tickets in Singapore) and 15RM one way when you purchase your tickets in Kluang.
Transportation in and around Kluang
Taxis are readily available in Kluang and there are also private cars for hire (you will need to feature your negotiation skills). If you’re heading to UK Farm Agro Resort, they do charter a bus which costs 20RM per person (round trip), taking you from Kluang Railway Station and back.
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We hope that this post has helped you to understand more about the attractions and things to do in Kluang Malaysia. Looking back, we’d definitely take a trip back to UK Farm which is cleaner, nearer and cheaper than its Australian counterparts. Enroute, you may also want to stop for a durian feast. Sounds like a great weekend trip already!
When you think of Batu Pahat in Malaysia, the caves may come to mind first. Today, we’ll cover the things to do and attractions in the town of Batu Pahat!
Things to do and attractions in Batu Pahat
1. Where to stay in Batu Pahat?
The Katerina Hotel Batu Pahat
We checked in at the 4-stars Katerina Hotel and we were treated to a comfortable stay which offered a good base from which we visited the attractions in Batu Pahat. Read more about our stay at the Katerina Hotel here.
King Size Bed Katerina Hotel Batu PahatKaterina Hotel Batu Pahat TVView from Batu Pahat Katerina Hotel
2. What to eat at Batu Pahat?
Chop See Kee Wanton Noodles
Chop See Kee wanton noodles (affectionately known by the locals at Ah See Wanton Mee) is a local favourite. Located at 2 Jalan Jenang, Chop See Kee wanton noodles has served generations of food lovers since the 1940s. Its fame has travelled far and wide and many in Malaysia while passing through Batu Pahat, would stop by for a bowl of nostalgia. Singaporeans included.
Chop See Kee Wanton NoodlesCrowd at Chop See Kee Wanton NoodlesAh See Wanton Mee Batu Pahat
Ship Village Seafood Restaurant
Located No 68 Kg Segenting, Jalan Minyak Beku 83000 Batu Pahat, Ship Village Seafood Restaurant serves up the freshest seafood at affordable prices. Not only is its structure unique (shaped like a ship), it also overlooks the sea, allowing patrons to enjoy splendid views paired with excellent food!
Ship Village Seafood Restaurant Batu PahatShip Structure Ship Village Batu PahatSalted Egg Yolk Crab Ship Village Batu PahatCereal Prawns Ship Village Seafood Restaurant Batu Pahat
Glutton Square
Located at Jalan Peng Kai, Jalan Soga, Glutton Square is THE PLACE to go for the best of local hawker food in Batu Pahat.
Glutton Square Batu PahatBBQ Wings Batu Pahat Glutton SquareOyster Omelette Glutton Square Batu Pahat
3. What to do at Batu Pahat?
Wet World Batu Pahat
Though Wet World is actually quite an old attraction now, it still provides a nice spot for visitors to relax, kids to play in and just enjoy a day out. Do be careful of the floor of the pools, they are anti-slip in nature but may cause scratches (which Kate and I kenna) if you’re not careful. Also, we were there on a Sunday and there was a massive gathering of people fishing at the ponds outside Wet World. So do expect a jam if you’re travelling on these dates.
Wet World Batu Pahat Village ResortWet World Batu Pahat Village Resort Entrance FeeWet World Batu Pahat Village Resort WW ResortWet World Batu Pahat Village Resort Wave PoolWet World Batu Pahat Village Resort SlidesWet World Batu Pahat Village Resort Lazy River
Batu Pahat Mall
For all your shopping needs, look no further than Batu Pahat Mall. It is the largest mall in Batu Pahat and has outlets ranging from food, fashion to daily necessities. If there’s something you want to buy, Batu Pahat Mall would be your best bet in Batu Pahat.
Batu Pahat Mall
Explore Batu Pahat!
Lastly, take time to explore the hidden gems of Batu Pahat. For instance, while searching for Ship Village Seafood Restaurant, we also visited the seaside where we enjoyed views of the sea. While searching for Chop See Kee Wanton Noodles, we chanced upon a mom-and-pop shop, much like the mama shops commonly seen in Singapore in the 80s and 90s…
Seaside View at Batu PahatOld world charms at Batu Pahat
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Kate and I visited Batu Pahat over the weekend and we decided to check out the 4 stars Hotel Katerina. Oh, its formal name is actually The Katerina Hotel…
The Katerina Hotel Batu Pahat
Inside the Room of The Katerina Hotel Batu Pahat
Corridor to our room at the Katerina Hotel
Walking down the corridor to our room at Hotel Katerina, we were pleasantly surprised by the clean and spacious room. The room was equipped with a bath tub and had a splendid view overlooking the town of Batu Pahat!
King Size Bed Katerina Hotel Batu PahatKaterina Hotel Batu Pahat TVBathroom with Bath Tub Katerina Hotel Batu PahatToiletries at the Katerina HotelView from Batu Pahat Katerina Hotel
Facilities at The Katerina Hotel Batu Pahat
As a 4-stars hotel, the Katerina does have its bases covered in terms of gym, swimming pool and restaurants. The lobby is spacious and inviting as well…
Lobby of the Katerina Hotel Batu PahatReception at the Katerina Hotel – It was here we heard the “One Malaysia” SongGym at the Hotel KaterinaSwimming pool at the Katerina Hotel Batu PahatAnother view of the swimming pool at the Katerina Hotel
Breakfast at The Katerina Hotel Batu Pahat
Breakfast was served at the 2nd level of the hotel at normal breakfast timings. The variety of food was adequate but do not expect too much here. Nasi Lemak was not too bad though.
Breakfast area on level 2 of the hotelAnother view of the breakfast buffet spreadBreakfast Buffet at the Katerina Hotel Batu PahatKate had the porridgeTom attacked the nasi lemak ferociously!
How to get to the Katerina Hotel Batu Pahat
Map of the Katerina Hotel Batu Pahat
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The Katerina Hotel was indeed a comfortable stay for us and it provided a great base for us to explore the rest of the attractions in Batu Pahat! Enjoy!
Legoland Malaysia has another major attraction – Lego Technic! Here you will be able to find the famous Project X ride as well as other attractions such as the Lego Academy as well as the Aquazone Wave Racers & Technic Twister!
Attractions at Lego Technic Legoland Malaysia
Lego Technic is one of the educational zones for the kids (in addition to the rides of course). Here you will be able to find the Lego Academy as well as the Lego MINDSTORMS.
Lego Academy @ Legoland Malaysia
At the entrance of Lego Academy, you will be able to find this huge lego-built Albert Einstein! Of course, it is here that kids will be guided to build their own lego models. At Lego MINDSTORMS, lego robots can be built as well.
Rides at Lego Technic Legoland Malaysia
For the thrill seekers, there are several rides such as the Technic Twister, Aquazone Wave Racers as well as the famous Project X! Technic Twister is basically a “futuristic-looking” version of the teacup rides we used to go on when we were young? Remember those teacups going round and round and spinning on its own axis? Yup, thats the one! The only difference now is that you can control a wheel determine how you want your ride to be…
Aquazone Wave Racers Legoland Malaysia
Aquazone Wave Racers is like a merry-go-round on water. Using the theory of centrifugal forces, you can control how far you are from the centre by controlling the steering wheel. By our feeling (not sure if its scientifically proven) it seems that if you extend fully (away from the centre), the ride seems to be faster. Nearer to the centre, slower. Also for this ride, you may get wet because of the water splash around the ride. Passer by may just activate the “mines” that explodes beneath the water or use the water guns to spray at you! The wait for the ride was quite long as it can only accommodate 6 riders at a go…
Lego Technic’s main attraction : Project X
Project X , Lego Technic, Legoland
Project X is one of the main attractions not only at Lego Technic but also Legoland itself. It has a huge drop from a height of 18m which is quite exciting (definitely not for the faint of heart). After it descends, it ascends to a lower height and twists from left to right while you enjoy a great view of Legoland.
At first we thought that the ride looked like a kids ride, but dont under-estimate it!
Legoland Malaysia has a main attraction called Miniland! It shows intricately crafted lego sculptures of world renowned landmarks, all by piecing Lego bricks (that you and I know of) together!
World Famous Attractions at Miniland Legoland Malaysia!
At Legoland Malaysia Miniland, you will be able to find world famous attractions made into a exquisite work of art where visitors can enjoy and take photos with! Here are some of these amazing works of art…
Kuala Lumpur with Petronas TowersMiniland @ Legoland Malaysia Singapore River & Fullerton Hotel @ MinilandForbidden City China @ Miniland
Besides these world renowned attractions, there are also themed displays such as the pirates and medieval castles!
Pirates & Castles at Miniland Legoland Malaysia
Interactive displays at Legoland Malaysia Miniland
At the Miniland exhibition, you will also notice some ships moving and even trains moving in and out of train stations. These trains may even move from landmarks to landmarks! In addition, there may also be some interactive buttons for visitors to press. We recall pressing one of the buttons and “workers” on the tarmac began to lift a car and make a grunting sound! Another button at the Singapore section, changed the direction of the water that comes out of the Merlion, directing the water at where the button was!
Picture opportunities abound here and you will be amazed at how these little pieces of Lego can actually come together to form these realistic structures! The designers must have placed alot of time and effort to bring all these world attractions together!
We shall now leave you with a video of Legoland Malaysia Miniland! Enjoy!
You have just finished a post from our series from Legoland Malaysia. Find out more about Legoland Malaysia in the following posts!
Legoland Malaysia has many cute characters made of Lego! It is such a wonder to see these characters as they’re entirely made out of Lego Bricks! These characters are scattered throughout the theme park and most of them form great picture moments. Some like the Steven Spielberg character is hidden at the top of the 4D animation theatre so do watch out for it as well! Enjoy!
Cute Characters at Legoland Malaysia
Guy peering at the waters at Legoland MalaysiaLady feeding pigeons at Legoland MalaysiaTourist with bags of goodies coming out of The Big Shop at Legoland Malaysia
The Tourist is a really cute character just outside The Big Shop. The Big Shop is actually the souvenir/gift shop of Legoland Malaysia and you can find all sorts of Lego products ranging from Star Wars, Medieval Kingdoms to traditional Lego bricks. There are also shirts, magnets and other forms of souvenir as well. The Tourist is really cute because it shows him happy and satisfied as he leaves the Big Shop!
Giant Octopus with its victims at Legoland MalaysiaLego Academy @ Legoland MalaysiaDirector calling for water to be splashed at Legoland MalaysiaCan you spot Steven Spielberg?
If you observe closely, the director sitting on the director’s seat is actually Steven Spielberg, characterised by his beard! Haha!
Camel in front of Lost Kingdom Adventure Legoland Malaysia
Photo Moments with Legoland Malaysia Characters
Arent these creations made out of Lego amazing? As you enjoy the rides, shows and games at Legoland, do take time to take some pictures with these gorgeous creations! Although we did not get to catch Lego Buddy, we did see the dragon from Lego Kingdoms!
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Legoland Malaysia has a zone called Lego Kingdoms which is a spin off from its lego series. The main attraction at Lego Kingdoms Legoland Malaysia is the Dragon! The Dragon is of course the highest rollercoaster in all of Legoland!
Lego Kingdoms at Legoland Malaysia
Lego Kingdoms has several interesting attractions such as the Dragon’s Apprentice (smaller version of the Dragon albeit has its exciting moments on the ride), Royal Joust (kid’s ride on a mechanical horse), Merlin’s Challenge (high speed carousel), Castle Games (shooting/throwing games $/play), The Forestmen’s Hideout (a medieval playground) as well as the DRAGON!
Entrance to The Dragon Roller Coaster Ride The Dragon Roller Coaster Ride at Legoland Malaysia
After conquering the Dragon, you can also take some time to take photos with the castle as well as the medieval surroundings. Kids will also enjoy their time on the Royal Joust. The waiting time may be a little long…
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Legoland Malaysia’s Lego City is yet another zone which kids will have lots of fun here at Legoland! Here kids can learn to drive, captain a boat and even put out “fires” at the Rescue Academy!
Legoland Malaysia Driving School
Driving School Legoland MalaysiaDriving School @ Legoland Malaysia
At the driving school, kids are divided into the Junior Driving School (Ages 3 to 5) as well as the Driving School (Ages 6 to 13). Here kids can not only learn to drive, learn the traffic rules but also get their very own Legoland license! Sorry, adults are not allowed on the vehicles!
Legoland Malaysia Boating School
At the boating school, kids can learn to control a boat on water, adults can also join in if they wish to.
Legoland Malaysia Boating School
If you steer well, the lanes demarcated should be easy to navigate through. Otherwise, it may become “bumper cars” on water!
Legoland Malaysia Rescue Academy
At the rescue academy, teams can race against each other to put out “fires” at the other end of the academy. Teams must first pump the mechanical device on their rescue vehicles. When they reach their destination, they will alight and pump the water towards a building on “fire”. Once the Lego Fireman appears, return to the rescue vehicle and head back to base. The first team to return wins!
Legoland Malaysia Rescue Academy
Other Attractions at Lego City Legoland Malaysia
You can also hop on the Legoland Express, which is a train ride all around Legoland. Kids can also visit the Shipyard which is an outdoor playground.
Legoland ExpressThe Shipyard Legoland Malaysia
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Sunway Lagoon actually has 5 parks in itself. All these while, we thought that it’s just another water themed park. We were wrong.
Sunway Lagoon consists of the Amusement Park, Water Park, Extreme Park, Wildlife Park (Zoo) and even a horror-themed Scream Park! We shall now take you through our trip to Sunway Lagoon!
Entrance of Sunway Lagoon
Entrance of Sunway Lagoon
Sunway Lagoon is opened daily from 10am to 6pm. They’re closed on Tuesdays, perhaps for maintenance on the lowest traffic day of the week? We were there on a weekday and surprisingly there was ALOT of people at the queue line at 10am!
Long Queues @ Sunway Lagoon
Long Queues @ Sunway Lagoon
The rates of Sunway Lagoon for adults is 100RM for all 5 parks OR 80RM for 3 parks (does not include scream and extreme parks). There are usually some ongoing discounts with certain credit cards. Malaysians get 25% off as well.
Rates at Sunway Lagoon Malaysia
Rates at Sunway Lagoon Malaysia
Attractions at Sunway Lagoon
Amusement Park
Map of Sunway Lagoon – Location of Amusement Park
Map of Sunway Lagoon – Location of Amusement Park
We headed first to the Amusement park and we conquered several rides including the Lost City and a water slide.
Lost City of Gold Sunway Lagoon
Lost City of Gold
Roller Coaster Ride at Sunway Lagoon
Roller Coaster Ride
We must say that the rides here are not really that exciting. For real extreme roller coaster rides, you can visit Universal Studios Singapore OR Busch Gardens. That is what we call a real roller coaster ride! There are also rides at wild wild west section for the kids to enjoy.
One ride that caught our eyes was the Viking. This one’s quite scary. Usually, you’d think that the Viking would just go back and forth right? WRONG! This Viking goes 360 degrees! One whole loop! 😮 You may even “hear” the screams from the following pictures!
Viking approaching the top almost inverting!
Viking approaching the top almost inverting!
Viking reaches the top and goes over to the other side!
Viking reaches the top and goes over to the other side!
Wildlife Park
Map of Sunway Lagoon – Location of Wildlife Park
Map of Sunway Lagoon – Location of Wildlife Park
Next we headed to the Wildlife Park. It’s actually quite a cool place with close encounters with the birds, huge crocodiles that look like that can leap out of the sanctuary and touch interaction with rabbits.
Can you spot the Owl sleeping
Can you spot the Owl sleeping?
An eagle at the spot where it ought to be
An eagle at the spot where it ought to be
As we walked past the birds sanctuary, we noticed that the birds were at the position that they’re supposed to be! No chains could be seen. We were speculating whether the birds have been clipped at its wings. Else we really cant understand how every bird was in its place as we walked past. Maybe we were lucky?
Huge Crocodiles @ Wildlife Park Sunway Lagoon
Huge Crocodiles @ Wildlife Park Sunway Lagoon
Rabbits that you could pat at the touch section of the Wildlife Park
Rabbits that you could pat at the touch section of the Wildlife Park
Scream Park
Map of Sunway Lagoon – Location of Scream Park
Map of Sunway Lagoon – Location of Scream Park
Entrance to Scream Park
Entrance to Scream Park
The Scream Park at Sunway Lagoon was scary. Not as scary as the Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Singapore. Still, it was scary enough for people to drop out at the entrance of the park. What happened was after all the safety brief, a man just rushed out from behind the doors! Some girls cried and some (even guys) left. As with all horror-themed parks, no touching is allowed. That is to say that visitors are not allowed to touch the scare actors and the scare actors are not allowed to touch the visitors.
At the start of the park, visitors are led to view a video clip. The video sets the background of the theme park. It’s about a couple who ventured into Sunway Lagoon when it’s closed (never a good sign). Somehow some pontianaks started to appear and scare them. Thinking that they’ve found a good hiding place in a run-down shack entrance (wassup man? just run out of the park already!), they went inside. And that’s where the guy who saws people up stores his corpses! And thats where the visitors are going.
Inside the park, there are scare actors, scary art and dungeon like settings. After the initial scares, you’ll get used to it. But beware of the final scare towards the end…
Extreme Park
Map of Sunway Lagoon – Location of Extreme Park
Map of Sunway Lagoon – Location of Extreme Park
Next we headed to the Extreme Park to try out some of the activities there. Do note that not all of the activities are free. We tried out the air gun (10 pellets), ATV (All Terrain Vehicle) as well as Archery (5 arrows). The rest of the activities such as bungy jumping, flying fox, paint ball and go-kart needs a little bit of top up.
We thoroughly enjoyed the ATV. Though it was a short ride, the slopes were quite steep. This made climbing and descending these slopes a little bit challenging. Some of the instructors had to get out of their own ATV and ride on the ATVs of those who were stuck.
Water Park
Map of Sunway Lagoon – Location of Water Park
Map of Sunway Lagoon – Location of Water Park
Last but not least, we arrived at the most desired destination of Sunway Lagoon – The Water Park!
Entrance to the Water Park @ Sunway Lagoon
Entrance to the Water Park @ Sunway Lagoon
The coolest part of the Water Park was the slides. Some slides required a map and some floats. And all of them were exciting! Just that you may have to wait about 10 minutes (sometimes) for your turn on the ride due to the large crowds. There could be a longer waiting time during the weekends.
If you are not the kind that enjoy extreme rides, you can always chill out at the wave pool as well. There are also water playgrounds for kids to enjoy.
Recommended Hotels near Sunway Lagoon Water Park
There are essentially 3 recommended hotels if you want to have easy access to Sunway Lagoon Water Park. They are…
The Villas Sunway Resort Kuala LumpurSunway Resort Hotel and SpaSunway Pyramid Hotel Kuala Lumpur
Last Words
Sunway Lagoon in Malaysia is definitely a visit well worth it. There are tonnes of entertainment for the young and old alike. Do check out ongoing promotions to get the best deal at Sunway Lagoon!
If you are planning to visit Kuala Lumpur KL and not sure what to eat there, here’s a low down of the things to eat in KL!
Famous Chilli Pan Mee in KL
Chilli Pan Mee at Restoran Kin Kin
Chilli Pan Mee at Restoran Kin Kin
Chilli Pan Mee or dry chilli noodles has been a creation that originated in KL. Here in Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman (just a short walk from Chow Kit station), you can try the famous chilli pan mee from both Restoran Kin Kin or Restoran Super Kitchen.
Roti Babi Anyone?
Roti Babi at Yut Kee Kopitiam KL
Roti Babi at Yut Kee Kopitiam KL
Roti Babi is synonymous with Yut Kee Kopitiam – one of the oldest surviving kopitiam in KL. While you’re here, why not try the hainanese pork chop and a cuppa as well?
Lot 10 Hutong
Lot 10 Hu Tong – Best Street Foods in Malaysia
If you are a fan of Malaysian Street Food, look no further than Lot 10’s Hu Tong! Here you will be able to savour some of the best street foods that Malaysia has to offer! Famous delights such as Penang Char Kway Teow and KL Fried Hokkien Mee will definitely delight your palate!
Recently, 2 taiwanese dessert stalls opened at the restaurant level of the Pavilion! Not only can you enjoy people watching over the atrium, you will also be able to savour some healthy and delectable dessert to cool you down from the heat of the day!
View of the Atrium from Taiwanese Dessert Place
View of the Atrium from Taiwanese Dessert Place
Bean curd, taro, red bean with shaved milk ice!
Bean curd, taro, red bean with shaved milk ice!
The Taiwanese are geniuses at food! This bowl of bean curd, taro, red bean with shaved milk ice really left us craving for more!
We hope that you’ve enjoyed this list of what and where to eat in KL. Do add on to this list through our comments page below!
If you are a street food foodie and you’re too lazy to go all over Malaysia to look for the best street food, then look no further than Hu Tong @ Lot 10 Shopping Centre!
Hu Tong @ Lot 10
Interior of Hutong @ Lot 10 shopping Centre
Famous Street Foods @ Hu Tong Lot 10 KL
At Hutong Lot 10, you’ll be able to try out all the best street food all over Malaysia! Here you can try out best street foods specialties such as
Another restaurant that you must visit when you are in KL is Yut Kee Kopitiam! It serves home-made food with its own innovation and has been doing so since 1928!
Yut Kee Hainanese Kopitiam in KL
Interior of Yut Kee Kopitiam
Located in Dang Wangi Kuala Lumpur, Yut Kee is one of the oldest surviving Kopitiam in KL. Today, it not only serves up one of the meanest kopi in town, it also specialises in what has come to be a trademark of Yut Kee – The Roti Babi!
Roti Babi @ Yut Kee Kopitiam KL
The Roti Babi is a well-known dish in Kuala Lumpur. It is an innovation of Yut Kee that serves marinated pork encapsulated in bread and then deep fried. Yum! (Everything deep fried is yummy right? :p) Another well known dish here is the Hainanese Pork Chop.
Hainanese Pork Chop from Yut Kee Kopitiam KL
The pork chop is tender and well marinated. The generous gravy (and condiments) is similar to that of the western “brown sauce”. The only minus point is that the sauce somewhat reduced the crispy factor of the pork chop.
Well, if you have the opportunity, why not pop by Dang Wangi and give the Roti Babi and Hainanese Pork Chop a try, the next time you’re in KL!
Legoland Malaysia has a zone called Imagination which is another interesting zone for the kids. Here you have 4D movies @ Lego Studios, Kid Power Towers, Duplo Playtown, Duplo Express as well as the Legoland Observation Tower.
Things to do and Attractions at Imagination Legoland Malaysia
Legoland Malaysia Studios
4D movies come to live at the Legoland Studios. For those who do not know what 4D movies are, they are actually 3D movies + special effects in the real world such as wind, rain drops, foam or “feelers” beneath your feet!
Can you spot Steven Spielberg? 4D movies @ Legoland Malaysia
Build & Test Legoland Malaysia
At Build & Test, kids can construct their own lego models and try out if they can really work!
Build & Test with Observation Tower at Legoland Malaysia
Kids Power Towers Legoland Malaysia
At Kids Power Towers, kids are expected to use the pulley system fitted and pull themselves up the tower. They can do it as many times as they wish within a limited time frame. Adults can accompany kids (2 to a ride) but adults must ride alone without kids.
Kids Power Towers at Legoland Malaysia
Legoland Malaysia Observation Tower
Rise up to a height of 50 metres and enjoy a paranomic view of the entire legoland at the Observation Tower!
Legoland Malaysia’s Observation Tower
See the entire Legoland from the Observation Tower!
At Imagination, the younger ones can also explore Duplo Playtown or ride on the Duplo Express! Everyone’s looked after at Legoland Malaysia!
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Legoland Malaysia has one of the coolest rides at Land of Adventure – Dino Island! In addition, kids can take part in laser shooting at Lost Kingdom Adventure or have a mini drop at Beatle Bounce.
Lost Kingdom Adventure
Camel in front of Lost Kingdom Adventure Legoland Malaysia
At Lost Kingdom Adventure, players sit in a carriage (max capacity of 4) and enters into a maze of treasures & adventure! Players will each have a laser gun and you are expected to aim and shoot at green or red jewels. Try to out shoot and out score each other in this adventure! We had a high score of 37500!
Dino Island
One of the more exciting rides in Legoland, Dino Island brings you on a boat ride seeing dinosaurs made out of Legos. You will then ascend up an “abandoned volcano” only to escape from it down a steep drop! You will get wet for this ride, so be prepared!
Dino Island @ Legoland Malaysia
Beatle Bounce
If you had been to the Giant Drop in Australia, this is the kids version of it. A mini drop. Kids will be taken up to a small height and dropped in small degrees. The process is repeated. The ride is mainly for kids, accompanying adult can only sit in the middle seat. For balancing purposes?
Beatle Bounce Legoland Malaysia
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Legoland Malaysia is the latest attraction in Johor! We had an opportunity to visit so let’s find out what’s on offer at Legoland Malaysia right here!
How to get to Legoland Malaysia
Legoland Johor Malaysia is located near Medini and is just a 10 minutes drive from the Tuas Second Link, 20 minutes from Senai Airport and 30 minutes from Johor Bahru.
To get to Legoland from Singapore, after passing the Tuas Second Link, continue along the second link expressway and look for EXIT 312. Note that for this exit, there are 2 sub exits, go to the one that states Nusajaya / LEGOLAND. “LEGOLAND” will be prominently displayed in brown, you cant miss it!
Follow the signs to “LEGOLAND” and you will pass by Mall of Medini. PARK HERE!!
Mall of Medini – Park Here for Legoland!
The reason why we suggest to park here is because it is a shorter drive (you’ll still need to drive 200m to Legoland’s car park) and since both parking locations requires you to have a short walk from the carpark to Legoland, why not pass through a mall?
Passing through Mall of Medini…To Legoland Malaysia!
Things to do and Attractions in Legoland Malaysia
There are so many things to do and attractions in Legoland! There are 7 themed areas with over 40 interactive rides, shows and play areas for the kids! Legoland is a kids friendly place. We would say that more than 50% of the attractions are meant and constructed with kids in mind. The themed areas include
1. The Beginning
2. Lego Technic
3. Lego Kingdoms
4. Imagination
5. Land of Adventures
6. Lego City
7. Miniland
Before we proceed, let’s first take a look at the map…
Map of Legoland Malaysia
Map of Legoland Malaysia
Aerial View of Legoland Johor
The Beginning
The Beginning is the first area that you will go to once you enter into Legoland. After contending with the long queues to enter Legoland (we came on a week day and yet there’s such a long queue!)…
Long Queues outside Legoland Malaysia
Here, you will find guest services counter, mini market, the Brick Shop, the Cafe as well as the Big Shop! Cute characters made entirely out of Lego bricks can be found here and throughout Legoland as well!
The Big Shop @ Legoland Malaysia
If you stay near to Legoland or even in the western part of Singapore PLUS you have kids, we will recommend that you head right on to the guest services for the upgrade of your day ticket to the annual pass. This is because the price of the annual pass is about 3x the price of admission. This means that if you intend to visit more than 3 times a year, the annual pass is definitely worth it!
Miniland
If you head straight after passing The Beginning, you will enter into Miniland!
Miniland @ Legoland Malaysia
Miniland is an entire exhibition of world landmarks made entirely out of Lego Bricks! Here, you will be able to see land marks such as the Great Wall of China, the Petronas Towers as well as the Singapore Flyer! See the intricacy and details placed into constructing these structures and enjoy many photo moments here!
Miniland will include the landmarks from the following locations and themes…
KLIA, Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, Singapore, India, Myanmar, China, Laos, Brunei, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Port Tanjung Pelepas and Pirates!
Lego Technic
Lego Technic boasts of several exciting rides and attractions such as Technic Twister, AQUAZONE Wave Racers, Water Splash, LEGO MINDSTORMS, LEGO Academy as well as Project X!
Project X , Lego Technic, Legoland
Project X is one of the main attractions at Lego Technic and Legoland. It is a 4 seater roller coaster that has a huge drop at one point, making it one of the most exciting rides in Legoland!
A recommendation to Legoland : We noticed that some of the carriages did not leave with all 4 seats filled. Perhaps the staff can plan for subsequent rides and check if there are single or 2 riders that can fill the seats. This will ensure that more riders can enjoy the rides in a shorter amount of time.
Lego City
Lego City is a theme of having the different modes of transportation that we have today. This zone offers the Lego City Airport, Lego City Stage, Boating School, Remote Control Boat, The Shipyard, Junior Driving School, Driving School, Legoland Express as well as the Lego Rescue Academy.
Driving School @ Legoland Malaysia
Another main attraction at Malaysia’s Legoland is the driving school. Do note that the driving school is divided into Junior (Ages 3 to 6) as well as Drivers (Ages 7 to 13). (Adults, we’re sorry, no rides for you here!) But kids can complete the lessons and ciruits here and have their very own Legoland Driver’s License!
Land of Adventure
Land of Adventure has some fun attractions as well. The attractions here include Lost Kingdom Adventure, Beatle Bounce, Dino Island as well as Pharoah’s Revenge! The main attraction here has got to be Dino Island where you will be brought up into the “ruins” and try to escape out of it through the giant water splash! Be warned that you will be wet for this ride!
Dino Island @ Legoland Malaysia
Imagination
At Imagination, you will enjoy the Kid Power Towers, Build & Test, Observation Tower, Musical Fountain, DUPLO Playtown, DUPLO Express as well as the Lego Studios!
Can you spot Steven Spielberg?
At Lego Studios, you will be able to enjoy 4D movies and they are shown in succession. They are Racers, Spellbreaker as well as Clutch Powers. We managed to watch Spellbreaker (Characters dont speak in this movie) as well as Clutch Powers. Each movie lasts about 15 minutes. A quick way to finish all the movies is to re-queue once you’re done with a movie and you can complete all 3 movies within the hour. Well, that is provided you do not mind the seatings. But be assured that all the seats will be able to enjoy all the effects even if you’re sitting at the front row.
For those who do not know what is a 4D movie, it is actually 3D graphics with additional effects such as water drizzles, wind, foam, crippy crawly feelers beneath you that will actually feel according the movie that you’re watching.
4D movies @ Legoland Malaysia
A recommendation to Legoland : We recommend that the screens at the waiting area show a countdown timer so that those waiting would roughly know how long more they will have to wait before the next show. Also, it would be good to show what movie is up next on the screens. We did not actually know what movie it was unless we asked OR waited till just before we enter the theatre.
Waiting area for 4D Movie
Lego Kingdoms
Lego Kingdoms boasts of the following attractions that include the Forestman’s hideout, Dragon’s Apprentice, The Dragon, King’s Market, Castle Stage, Royal Joust, Merlin’s Challenge as well as Castle Games. The main attraction here is of course the Dragon rollercoaster ride. It is the highest rollercoaster ride in Legoland Malaysia and you will be able to enjoy great views of Legoland at the top of the ride!
Lego Kingdoms at Legoland Malaysia
Legoland Malaysia Ticket Prices & Opening Hours
Opening Hours
Legoland Malaysia is open from 10am to 6pm daily. The hours are extended on weekends, public holidays as well as school holidays. The extended hours are from 10am to 8pm during these periods.
Ticket Prices
We advise our readers to purchase tickets online as there are some discounts when you do so. Also as mentioned earlier, if you are planning to revisit Legoland, do approach guest services to upgrade your day tickets to the annual pass. Ticket prices for Legoland Malaysia are
Annual Pass for Adults is RM275 and Children/Seniors at RM210
Hotels near to Legoland Malaysia
There are several excellent hotels such as Pulai Springs, KSL Resort, Thistle Johor Bahru as well as Tune Hotels. Legoland Hotel will be completed in 2014!
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Conclusion
There’s a full suite of entertainment for the whole family at Legoland. Exciting rides, entertaining shows, fun rides for the kids as well as many play areas. Kids will definitely be spoilt for choice at this Lego themepark. For a well deserved break and a full day of entertaining fun for the kids, look no further than Legoland Malaysia!
Lotus Desaru Beach Resort was our choice of stay when Kate and I wanted to enjoy a staycation in Malaysia. We stumbled upon Lotus Desaru Beach Resort while doing our research and the price was really affordable at only $77 per night (inclusive of taxes) for a one room suite!
From Singapore, there is now a quicker way to travel to Desaru via the Senai Desaru Expressway!
Senai Desaru Expressway
The drive time from Singapore to Desaru has been greatly reduced with the completion of the Senai Desaru Expressway. No longer do you need to make a trip north to Kota Tinggi then south back to Desaru. With the Senai Desaru Expressway, the drive time is cut to about 45 minutes (this excludes the waiting time at the causeway jam!)
The price of the toll from Singapore to Desaru via the Senai Desaru Expressway costs RM8.20!
Price of toll from Singapore to Desaru via the Senai Desaru Expressway
After about a 45 minutes drive, we finally reached Lotus Desaru Beach Resort, Desaru Malaysia!
Lotus Desaru Resort Malaysia
Lotus Desaru Beach Resort Desaru Malaysia
Lotus Desaru Beach Resort is designed to resemble that of medieval towers. On top of each tower, there is a flag that seems to be flying (but is actually fixed at that position)
Map of Lotus Desaru Beach Resort
This map shows the various facilities and layout of the entire resort.
Facilities of Lotus Desaru Beach Resort
There are many facilities at Lotus Desaru Beach Resort. This is a quick run down of the facilities here…
Lotus Desaru GymSwimming pool at the Clubhouse Lotus Desaru
There are actually 3 main swimming areas. It includes the above swimming pool at the clubhouse (right in front of the gym), a smaller swimming pool that resides with a block of towers and of course the main attraction here, the WATER PARK!
Swimming pool at the Clubhouse Lotus Desaru
The water park at Lotus Desaru Beach Resort is really nothing much to shout about. However, if you enjoy water slides, there is a really long water slide (the main and only attraction of the water park) that serves this water park.
Entrance to the water slide at water park Lotus Desaru Hotel
The entry to the water park is of course complimentary with stays at the hotel. You will need to wear a wrist band when you use any of the 3 pool facilities though. You can remove the wrist band after each usage. Once removed, bring back the wrist band to the receptionist at the clubhouse and they will replace it for you.
One word of caution though. DO NOT USE THE FLOAT AT THE SLIDE!! Although it was relatively cheap (RM7), Kate and I fell over and landed on our heads TWICE at the slides! We thus concluded it was too dangerous to go on the slide with floats. On the other hand, it was really fun just sliding down the slides! Even the super man style (belly down with hands forwards) was shiok!
Rear view of the clubhouse Lotus DesaruATV (All Terrain Vehicle) Track at Lotus DesaruLotus Suria Ayurveda Spa at Lotus Desaru Resort
Kate enjoyed a Ayurvedic spa (something like a full body oil massage) at RM115++ while I enjoyed the face spa for RM50++ The masseuse who did my spa had more than 10 years of experience from India and he was so professional at the facial massage, relaxing the various facial muscles with strong, firm and skillful strokes. In addition, there was also a facial of various cleansing, moisturising and revitalising creams/oils that left my face bouncy and refreshed! It was really well worth it. Kate thoroughly enjoyed her body massage as well!
Teratai Restaurant at Lotus Desaru Beach ResortHigh Tea Buffet at Teratai Restaurant
The Teratai restaurant at Lotus Desaru Beach Resort is where breakfast is served daily. On our first day, there was also a buffet lunch at only RM25++! We ate…
Buffet spread at Teratai RestaurantCurry and Rice at Teratai RestaurantAssam Laksa at Teratai Restaurant Lotus Desaru Beach ResortDessert at Teratai Restaurant Lotus Desaru
As this was a staycation (really just to chill and relax -> Chillax), we had all our meals at the hotel. Dinner was at the cafe/pub near the beach…
Beach Bar Lotus Desaru Beach ResortCalamari of Beach Bar Lotus DesaruPizza and 2 drinks for RM30 @ Beach Bar Lotus Desaru Beach Resort
We also had pizza which was a deal that came with 2 drinks. It was quite chill to dine beside the ocean front and listen to the waves (and of course the songs that kept repeating itself – only like 7 songs on the CD!)…
One Bedroom Suite at Lotus Desaru Beach Resort
Although the room was relatively cheap, we must say that it was quite decent and different from what we had experienced previously. It was a loft unit with the bed and toilet (with bathtub) on the second floor.
Entrance to the one bedroom suite at Lotus Desaru Beach ResortTV and Oven in one bedroom suiteTV and Oven in one bedroom suiteBed on the second level in one bedroom suite Lotus Desaru HotelToilet on the second level in one bedroom suiteBathtub on the second level in one bedroom suiteAlternate view of the one bedroom suite
For dinner on the last night, we had a club sandwich and indian set meal. It was the first time that we ordered room service and it was still relatively affordable for room service standards…
Menu of In room diningClub sandwich @ RM19, room serviceIndian set meal @ RM21, room service at Lotus Desaru Beach Resort
We also witnessed MAN CITY TAKING THE BPL CHAMPIONSHIP with 2 last minute goals (think it was 91st and 93rd minutes)! It was exhilarating just to watch the match! Although Man U also won their last game, the 2 last minute goals reversed a defeat into a victory and Man City clinched the title for the 2011/2012 BPL league, wrestling it away from Man U! History made and we witnessed it!
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All in all, it was a really great staycation here in Desaru Malaysia. In fact, we thought that this stay was much better than Pulai Springs nearby. Well, our opinion is very much price driven in this case. We hope you’ll enjoy your next stay at Desaru Malaysia and do check out our other post about the things to do in Desaru Malaysia as well! Lotus Desaru Beach Resort is indeed an excellent place for staycation!
What would a visit to Desaru be like without a visit to the Desaru Fruit Farm?
Not only will you be able to savour all the different kinds of food available at the Desaru Fruit Farm, the tour guides will also tell you the benefits of all the different kinds of fruit and the quantity that you should take to achieve the benefits.
To top things off, there’s even a sumptuous meal thrown in (inclusive of crabs and crayfish)!
Things to do and attractions in Desaru – Desaru Fruit Farm
*Please note that the food served depends on the package that you go for. Kate and I had two meals at the fruit farm and we enjoyed western for our other meal there.
A visit to the Desaru Fruit Farm is not only educational but satisfying for the palettes! Great place to visit with the kids as well!
Firefly River Cruise Tour
Another must visit attraction at Desaru is the Firefly River Cruise Tour!
If you have not tried this river cruise, this Singapore Travel Blog recommends that you experience this magical journey down the river since it is just an hour away. Once you check in to your Desaru Hotel, make sure to check out times so that you can coordinate your evening. This cruise is very popular among nomads traveling from countries like the Philippines and other parts of Malaysia since it gives a different perspective of Desaru. It will expose you to your other senses under the darkness of the night.You become more aware of your surroundings and the sounds of the night as well as the waves of the river (and of course the motor of the boat).
As you approach the fireflies, the boat stops its engines to get you up close. If you’re daring enough, you can even place them in the palm for a photo shot! Unfortunately, our cameras are not up to the mark for night shots… (*hint hint* to potential sponsors!)
Beach Activities at Desaru
One of the main attractions of Desaru is of course its coastline formed with the South China Sea. The pristine beaches offers picturesque views of sunrise…
Sunrise at DesaruJet skis at Sand and Sandals Desaru
The clear blue waters also plays host to an array of water activities such as kayaking, banana boat rides and even parasailing!
There are actually 2 ways to get there from Singapore.
Ferry
The ferry from Singapore to Desaru takes about 45 minutes and you can hop onto the ferry at the Changi Ferry Terminal.
Via the Senai Desaru Expressway
The drive time from Singapore to Desaru has been greatly reduced with the completion of the Senai Desaru Expressway. No longer do you need to make a trip north to Kota Tinggi then south back to Desaru. With the Senai Desaru Expressway, the drive time is cut to about 45 minutes (this excludes the waiting time at the causeway jam!)
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Things to do and attractions in Desaru - Desaru Fruit Farm
There are so many things to do and attractions in Melaka! Let’s find out what are the things you can do right here in Melaka!
Just for our readers, this is a quick summary of the Melaka attractions in this world heritage city…
1. Traditional Trishaw Rides
Trishaw Rides at Stadhuys / Christ Church Melaka
One of the best ways to cover Melaka has got to be the trishaw rides. You can hope on one of these brightly decorated trishaws at Stadhuys and your trishaw guide will bring you to the tourist attractions in Melaka!
2. Authentic Peranakan Food
Restoran Ole Sayang Malacca Peranakan Restaurant
One of the most authentic and well known peranakan restaurants in Melaka, Ole Sayang serves up some of the best nonya foods at affordable prices. Dont forget to take away some of its famous keropok while you’re there!
3. Historical Museums
Melaka Sultanate Palace MuseumMelaka Maritime Museum
One of the most famous ruins in Melaka, the A Famosa Fort is a must visit attraction!
5. St. Paul’s Church
Interior of St. Paul’s Church Malacca
A short walk up the hill from A Famosa is the St. Paul’s Church. From here, you can visit this Melaka Attraction and have a splendid view of the city as well!
6. Jonker Street
Jonker Street Melaka
To savour some of the best local delicacies, why not head to Jonker Street? Here, you will be able to savour one of the best chicken rice in Melaka and also try out some street foods in the evening. Quaint shops along the street will get your attention as well!
7. Stadhuys aka Red Square
Stadhuys Melaka
Another must visit attraction here in Melaka has got to be the Stadhuys. Here you can also see one of the oldest church – Christ Church Melaka and also hop on to one of the well-decorated trishaws for a ride about town!
8. Leisurely Stroll along the Melaka River
Graffiti art on houses along Melaka River
To make your Melaka trip more memorable, why not hope on the cruise down the Melaka river? A walk along the river is also strongly recommended!
The cost of a river cruise along the Melaka River actually costs only 10RM!
However, on this day, Kate and I decided that “Hey, it’s a bright and sunny day, why not just take a leisurely stroll down the Melaka river?”
And that’s what we did…
We started our leisurely stroll along the Melaka River and we stumbled upon this sign…
Dutch bricks in Melaka
Turns out that these thin bricks were from the dutch colonial times. These bricks have a stark contrast to the fatter and broader bricks that we see today.
Further down, we came across the Church of St. Francis Xavier that was built in 1849…
Church of St. Francis Xavier Melaka
as well as the huge sign that states Melaka as a World Heritage City…
Melaka – World Heritage City
Along the river, you can also see the Melaka trees…
Melaka Trees along the Melaka River
Legend has it that the exiled Prince Parameswara was standing under the Melaka Tree when he observed a mouse deer attacking his hunting dogs. Inspired by the fighting spirit of the mouse deer, he asked for the name of the tree of which he was standing under. And the name of Melaka was born…
Moving on, we noticed that there are nicely drawn graffiti art on the houses along the river…
Graffiti art on houses along Melaka RiverAnother view of the Melaka RiverMore graffiti art along the Melaka River
We were pleasantly surprised by the extent of the art and these areas present picturesque spots for tourists along the river.
After (more than) a while, we decided to head inwards towards to city to find a place to rest our feet. We came across the Baker’s Oven and Cafe…
Menu at Baker’s Oven and Cafe
This quaint little cafe is operated by a lovely couple. The wife who is a British does some mean baking and we decided to give the scones a try…
Scones at Baker’s Oven and Cafe
The scone had a crumbly (not too sweet) texture to it and the flavour was brought up and complemented with the jam and cream. The cream was freshly whipped on the spot so there was no hint of extra fatty taste or sweetness to it. Excellent pairing.
We rounded the “meal” with a couple of juices to cool ourselves down on this bright and sunny day…
Apple and Orange Juice at Baker’s Over and Cafe
The leisurely stroll along the Melaka river was indeed rewarding and enjoyable. Take time to take in the sights and even allow yourself to wander through the alleys. You may stumble into hidden “gems” and neighbourhoods that are well worth a visit!
To get a fix of trishaw rides in Melaka, look no further than Stadhuys, otherwise known as the red square in Melaka.
Trishaw Rides at Stadhuys
The Stadhuys is the homeground of the Trishaw riders in Melaka. Here, you can find signs that depict the price of the trishaw rides – typically charged 40RM per hour. The rates of the trishaw rides do differ during the holiday season…
Kate and I were there during the holiday season (new year’s eve) and thought that the prices of trishaw rides as depicted on the signs still held true. However, upon querying, the rates were somewhat cheaper (at 30RM) but the rides were much shorter (at 20 minutes).
Not only that, if you are lucky, the trishaw rider can give you simple explanations about these attractions. Even if they do not, you still get to enjoy a leisurely ride across town…
Trishaw Ride Melaka
The other main attraction about the trishaws in Melaka is that the trishaw riders take pride in their rides so much so that they put in extra effort to decorate them. Looking at the different brightly coloured decorations of the trishaws is a joy in itself! Not only that, some rides come with the latest sound systems, sub-woofer and all to entertain tourists and onlookers!
Therefore, if you have travelled especially to Melaka, take a ride on the traditional trishaw and enjoy the sights and sounds that this simple mode of transport can bring.
Many people have talked to us about how bad traffic jams in Melaka can really be. Usually, the single road traffic as well as the peak hours/weekends are mentioned in the same breath.
But how bad is the traffic jam in Melaka really?
This video, taken from our room @ Hotel Equatorial Melaka can testify to the ridiculous traffic in Melaka…
Traffic Jam in Melaka
Bad Traffic Jams in Melaka
It is not a myth! Horrendous traffic jams in Melaka is true!!
The road leading from left to right is actually going into a carpark beside the Dataran Pahlawan shopping mall. However, from the crawling speeds of the cars, you can even feel the frustrations of those drivers.
Well, it’s hard to blame tourists and foodies alike for visiting Melaka. There are so many attractions here in Melaka and the local food is yummylicious.
So when you are visiting Malacca the next time round, remember to factor in the bad traffic jams!
If you are looking for authentic Peranakan restaurant in Malacca, look no further than Restoran Ole Sayang.
According to locals (2 ladies that sat opposite us), Restoran Ole Sayang is one of the most reputable Peranakan restaurant in Malacca and many locals will point you to this restaurant at the mention of Peranakan food…
Restoran Ole Sayang Malacca Peranakan Restaurant
We were quickly shown to our seats at a big round table and shared the table with 2 other ladies.
Inside Restoran Ole Sayang Melaka
The waitress then came over and told us what was the menu of the day (The restaurant usually cooks according to the ingredients that they acquired for the day). So how good is the Peranakan food here?
Chap Chye – A must try Peranakan dish (9.80RM) at Restoran Ole Sayang Melaka
Chap Chye as the name suggests is a “mixed vegetable” dish. Usually the dish comes flavoured by cabbages, black fungus and vermicelli as the main stay. The chap chye at Ole Sayang was quite unique in that it does not resemble the usual peranakan chap chye and has an acquired taste, slightly to the sourly side. That’s not to say it’s not nice, a unique taste that’s worth the try.
Otah @ Ole Sayang (10.50RM)
The Otah was not one of our favourites, mainly because we have a pre-determined idea of how a great Otah would be like; Moist on the outside, firm and full of ingredients on the inside.
The Otah at Ole Sayang was a little bit dry on the outside and the inside was not as “full” in terms of ingredients as we had imagined. The only plus point was the chilli mix was quite nice and partnered the fragrant rice well.
Ayam Rendang @ Restoran Ole Sayang Melaka (10.80RM)
One of the other Peranakan dish that you would usually try to determine the “skill” of the Peranakan restaurant would be the Ayam Rendang.
At Ole Sayang, the spiciness was just right and the rendang mixture together with the tender chicken was ma ma mia!
Chendol @ Ole Sayang Melaka (2.50RM)
The chendol makes a nice round up to a traditional peranakan meal.
Overall, the restaurant serves up authentic peranakan food at a fraction of a restaurant price. Worthy of its reputation.
Before we left, we noticed many other patrons leaving with bags of keropok. Intrigued with thoughts of “how good can a keropok be?!”, we bought 2 bags at 10RM each.
Keropok from Restoran Ole Sayang Melaka
No regrets there! The keropok turned out to be one of the best we’ve tasted. PLUS it stays crispy even after staying in the fridge for a few days, no signs of lao hong (non-crispiness after exposure to air) at all!
Free Flow of Fragrant Rice at Restoran Ole Sayang Malacca
How to get there
If you notice the huge korean restaurant opposite the Dataran Pahlawan Megamall, walk along the road adjacent to the restaurant. You should be able to identify the restaurant with its pinkish colour (see picture) after about a 5 minutes walk.
The reason why the Melaka Sultanate Palace Museum is a must visit museum in Melaka is because of the wealth of information it holds!
If you are interested in history of Melaka, it’s there.
If you are interested in stories and legends, it’s there!
If you are interested in jurisdictions in Melaka, it’s there!!
If you are interested in artifacts and costumes worn, it’s there!!!
Basically, all the things you want to know about how Melaka came to be, it’s all there. So, to provide a good background to the rest of your trip in Melaka, the Melaka Sultanate Palace Museum is a must visit museum if you have to make a choice to visit 1 or 2 museums only.
Not to mention, the price of entry is ONLY 2RM!!!
How the “court” at that time would look like (Melaka Sultanate Palace Museum)Descriptions of the above scene at Melaka Sultanate Palace Museum
One of the more interesting displays (at least to Kate and I) were the legends and heroes of Melaka. They tell of stories of jealousy, loyalty and deceit. Plus, life sized sculptures do bring the stories to life…
Stories and Legends in Melaka depicted (Melaka Sultanate Palace Museum)View of Melaka Sultanate Palace Museum from the garden
Besides the excellent photo taking opportunities of the palace itself plus a nice stroll around the garden which you can enjoy, you can also marvel at the architectural brilliance of how the palace can be built without any nails at all! An architectural feat of their time…
One of the most prominent structure along the Melaka River is this…
Melaka Maritime Museum
This structure shaped like that of an olden day vessel is actually the maritime museum in Melaka!
From atop of the hill at St. Paul’s Church, you can actually see this structure. Intrigued by what we saw, Kate and I ventured towards that general direction (from where we saw the ship) and visited the maritime museum.
There are plenty of photo opportunities around the maritime museum, we were amazed at the sheer size of the ship and how well maintained it was.
Another view of the Maritime Museum Melaka
The entrance fee to the Melaka maritime museum is actually quite cheap at 3RM. We would definitely recommend going in and have a visit because of the wealth of knowledge that the museum offers. Of course it is also a cheap price to get out of the sun if it is a sunny day…
Price of entry into Melaka Maritime Museum
At the ticketing counter, you would be given a plastic bag. Dont be surprised. It is actually used to keep your shoes as the museum itself requires you to remove your shoes before entering into its premise. After crossing the gangway, on the main area, shoes are fine. However, entering into the air-conditioned area, shoes have to be removed…
Gangway to the Melaka Maritime MuseumHistory of the Melaka Maritime Museum
Entering into the museum, you would find the exhibits quite interesting. It depicts how the port of Melaka at that time came to be and how it was a place where traders came to find trading opportunities. The history was also well recorded of how the Dutch,Portuguese and English came to power here…
Traders from over the world with their goods (Melaka Maritime Museum)Model of an olden day ship (Melaka Maritime Museum)Ships from various countries (Melaka Maritime Museum)Lower deck of the Melaka Maritime Museum
Overall, the Melaka Maritime Museum is a must visit attraction in Malacca and is definitely worth a trip. This is not only because of the excellent photo opportunities with the ship itself but also the wealth of information that the museum offers about maritime powers and history.
If you are a history junkie, the Melaka Maritime Museum is the place for you!
According to another one of our extensive research (2mins on Wikipedia), it is one of the oldest surviving European structure in Asia. Once a fortress built by the Portuguese, the gate is the only remaining structure now.
Around the A Famosa aka Porta De Santiago
This video shows the A Famosa up close and if you listen closely, you can also hear a tune resembling “My Heart Will Go On”.
No…you are not hearing things. It’s simply because there’s a violin player playing within the gates.
At the end of this video, you can also see a flight of red stairs that leads up the hill. This will bring you to St. Paul’s Church.
You can read more of our whining when you read that post…
Please dont make the same mistake that we made when we visited St. Paul’s Church in Malacca…
The mistake was this…
According to google map, St. Paul’s Church is actually just a short walk from Dataran Pahlawan Melaka Megamall, just across the road right?
WRONG! There is actually a climb up the hill from A Famosa (aka Porta De Santiago). It’s a climb with many steps at that!
So now we all know google maps dont include depth/height for its maps…
But back to our story.
St. Paul’s Church Melaka was built in 1521 and refurbished in 1566.
Interior of St. Paul’s Church Malacca
Video Tour inside St. Paul’s Church
Today, it is a much visited tourist attraction in Malacca and is part of the Malacca Museum Complex which includes A Famosa (aka Porta de Santiago) as well as the Stadhuys.
Front View of St. Paul’s Church Melaka
Another interesting story about the St. Paul’s Church is that it was actually a temporary burial site for Francis Xavier, a pioneering catholic missionary who was active in southeast asia during those times.
According to legend, he died out at sea but before he died, he told the sailors that he wanted to be buried in Goa India. So before his body was shifted to Goa, St. Paul’s Church was the temporary burial site for about 9 months.
To commemorate Francis Xavier, a statue of him was erected and it stands just outside of St. Paul’s Church overlooking the sea…
Francis Xavier’s Statue at St. Paul’s Church Melaka
Views from St. Paul’s Church
View of the Menara Taming Sari from St. Paul’s Church“Treacherous” Climb down from St. Paul’s Church
So if you ever visit St. Paul’s Church. Dont be mistaken that it is actually “just beside” A Formosa. Well…actually it is but after climbing those stairs!
You’ve been warned…
How to St Paul’s Church Melaka
If you take a look at the map above again. The walk is pretty straight forward if you stay at the Hotel Equatorial Melaka.
Across the street from Hotel Equatorial is the Dataran Pahlawan Shopping Mall. If you follow it all the way through (either on the inside to avoid the sun in the day or on the outside to have some fresh air) you will arrive at the food court.
Take a walk out of the food court and up the stairs. You will then arrive at the A Famosa.
Walk through the gate and up those stairs and tada, you arrive at St. Paul’s Church Melaka!
There are so many things to do at Jonker Street! Let’s find out what are the things to do right here in Jonker Street Malacca! If you have read our last few posts, there are actually many things to do here at Jonker Street (aka Jonker Walk)…
Jonker Street Melaka
Well, in this post, we are going highlight our top 3 things to do at Jonker Street!
Malacca is of course famous for its chicken rice balls. There are so many of them in Malacca, so which one do you go for?
Fret not! 2bearbear.com has tasted the top 2 rated malacca chicken rice ball stalls to give you the lowdown on Hoe Kee and Chung Wah.
Once you have tasted them, why not leave a comment below to tell us all what you think about it?
2. Try out baba/nonya dishes and desserts at Jonker 88.
Interior of Jonker 88 @ Jonker Street
Malacca is all about food isnt it? Yet another foodie thing to do on this street is to makan at Jonker 88. If you’re the type who just want to try the street kinda nonya/baba food, you’ll find them right here.
The desserts are also hot sellers here. From afar, if you see a queue, it’s quite likely that the queue’s at Jonker 88.
3. Enjoy the night market!
Jonker Street Melaka
When night descends upon Jonker Street, stalls come out to play! At about 6pm, hawker stalls and stalls selling all sorts of things are seen along Jonker Street.
From afar you should be able to hear the “kok kok” candy man who is separating malted sugar (with peanuts) using his tools, effecting the familiar “kok kok” sound.
Then there are stalls selling mee sua (a type of vermicelli) which Malacca is famous for. We’ve bought some and they’re really good and dont “disintegrate” like most other brands.
You can also choose to just chillax at Geographer cafe – a pub that also serves up local delights. The drinks are rather expensive but a small pint wont do much harm right?
Geographer Cafe Jonker Street MelakaInterior of Geographer Cafe Jonker Street Melaka
Of course there are street foods that you should savour as well. On this occasion, we saved our tummy for Fried Oyster aka Orh Lua!
We’ve even asked permission from Aunty to take a video on how to make fried oysters!
How to make fried oysters
You can see that we actually strafe left to avoid the smoke coming from the fried oysters. The wind was blowing in our direction!
But still, the whole process was captured and here is the final product…
One of the must visit stalls at Jonker Street has got to be Jonker 88!
Interior of Jonker 88 @ Jonker Street
Jonker 88 features many local nonya food as well as yummy desserts!
Menu for Nonya Baba Delights @ Jonker 88 , Jonker StreetJonker 88 Dessert Menu
Having determined the winner of the battle of the Malacca Chicken Rice Ball, Kate and I were now too full to go on to the mains. Hence, we went straight for the dessert corner and ordered the famous durian chendol as well as the sago gula melaka…
Durian Chendol @ Jonker 88Sago Gula Melaka @ Jonker 88
Although we were very full, we slurped every bit of the 2 desserts! The gula melaka (not suitable for diabetics, confirmed plus chop plus double confirm) was sweet (fei hua) but had a nice cooked sugary taste to it.
Also, we regretted not filming the shifu when she put on the gula melaka…it was with such skill! One scoop one kill in one fast paced motion!
How to get there
Jonker 88 is located in the middle of Jonker street. One key indicator is the long queue in front of it, especially on the dessert side.
But we must say that the sago gula melaka and durian chendol were worth the wait!
Have you tried the nonya/baba food that Kate and I didnt have the space to stomach? If so, share with us in the comments section!
Related posts
This post is part of our 3D2N travels in Malacca. Below, you can find other relevant posts covered during this trip!
One of the most prominent attractions in Melaka has got the be the Stadhuys (sometimes spelt as Stadthuys). In Dutch, it basically means the city hall or town hall and used to be the administrative centre during the dutch colonial times.
Stadhuys Melaka
The Stadhuys (also known as Dutch Square) is home to the oldest Protestant Church in Malaysia – Christ Church Melaka
Trishaw Rides at Stadhuys / Christ Church Melaka
Not only so, it is home to the Museum of History and Ethnography right at the edge of the square where the trishaws gather. Speaking of trishaws, Kate and I took a ride on one of the trishaws right here at Stadhuys! Here’s a video of the beautifully decorated trishaws…
Trishaws at Stadhuys
The Stadhuys is arguably one of the oldest architecture from the dutch colonial times. That is why there are so many tourists here! But beware (you tourists-to-be)! As far as possible, try not to buy your souvenirs from the rows of shops there. We bought a sleeping mask (one of those you wear on the plane to sleep) for 5MYR (Ringgit) but we realised that the same mask could be bought for 3MYR at Jonker street!
Not much in terms of SGD you may say…but it is still a 40% difference! :O
The Stadhuys is really quite a small square but there are nice photo spots. These include photos with the fountain, Christ Church Melaka as well as the beautifully decorated trishaws!
Fountain at Stadhuys Melaka
Of course a far more high tech and better fountain show at be found at the Bellagio Fountains.But we digress…
To end of this post, enjoy this 360 degrees view of the Stadhuys (Red Square) done by Kate, our in-house photographer and videographer!
Yup…we all know who to look for if we feel “blair-witched”!
How to get there
Stadhuys is located Laksamana Road and if you follow our well drawn map of Melaka…
It is right beside Jonker Street and a short walk from the St. Paul’s Church
Related posts
This post is part of our 3D2N travels in Malacca. Below, you can find other relevant posts covered during this trip!
Of these, Holiday Inn Melaka has the newest and best features of these hotels because it is the latest collection in the Melaka 5 stars hotel arena.
However, its location puts it behind Renaissance Melaka and Hotel Equatorial Melaka. (This is when you consider attractions to be centralised near Stadhuys and Christ Church).
So this leaves us with Renaissance Melaka as well as Hotel Equatorial to vie for the best 5 star hotel in Melaka.
We can see that Hotel Equatorial is a short walking distance from St. Francis Church and thus Stadhuys. Also, according to our 2 min google, it was found that Renaissance Melaka is almost the same walking distance to the north.
Hence, both Hotel Equatorial Melaka and Renaissance Melaka are neck in neck at this point. The 2 factors that should determine your choice are thus
1. Style/Class/Newer. If you’re looking for a hotel with more class, style and is newer, Renaissance Melaka would be your choice.
2. Price. However, if you are looking at the cheapest of the 5 stars like us, the winner is clear, Hotel Equatorial Melaka! Plus, while we were there, there was a 88RM F&B credit for each night of stay!
Hotel Equatorial Melaka
Here’s a look at our room and the view it offers at Hotel Equatorial
Bed of Hotel Equatorial MelakaTV Console Hotel Equatorial MelakaWardrobe Hotel Equatorial Melaka Bathroom Hotel Equatorial Melaka
Not only that, we were kindly given the option to choose our room. The receptionist gave us a card to one of the rooms to see if we were satisfied with the room before allocating it to us!
Here are the views from our room
Round about in front of Hotel Equatorial MelakaView of Melaka Menara Taming Sari from Hotel Equatorial Melaka
The hotel also had a relatively big swimming pool that interconnects the various pools…
View of the swimming pool @ Hotel Equatorial MelakaView of the adult pool @ Hotel Equatorial MelakaView of the pool as you walk out of the lift lobby
Another reason why Hotel Equatorial Melaka trumps Renaissance Hotel is because it is RIGHT BESIDE the Dataran Pahlawan Shopping Mall! There’s lots of shopping, makan and even a cinema!
Dataran Pahlawan Shopping Mall beside Hotel Equatorial Melaka
So here’s a recap why Hotel Equatorial Melaka is the best 5 stars hotel in Melaka (compared to Renaissance Hotel and Holiday Inn Melaka)
1. Location. Near to all Melaka Tourism Attractions!
2. Price. Cheapest of the three 5 stars Hotel
3. Shopping. RIGHT Beside Dataran Pahlawan Shopping Mall
4. Nice Swimming Pool
5. Excellent Views!
All in all, we were thoroughly satisfied with our stay and we’ll leave you with a panoramic view from the balcony of the hotel!
View from the Balcony of Hotel Equatorial
Key of our room at Hotel Equatorial MelakaBad Traffic Jams in Melaka
Related posts
This post is part of our 3D2N travels in Malacca. Below, you can find other relevant posts covered during this trip!
Whenever you visit Malacca, a visit to Jonker street is a must.
Why?
There is the night market, little shops with souvenirs and unique items on the side of the streets, street food and delicacies.
Jonker Street Melaka
But one thing remains a mystery to most visitors to Jonker Street…
Which chicken rice ball stall is better? Chung Wah chicken rice ball at the start of Jonker street or the nicer looking Hoe Kee chicken rice ball in the middle of the street?
2bearbear.com has taken upon ourselves (and our tummies) to once and for all, clear this mystery for all our readers.
Let’s have some applause please…(*clap clap clap*)
Right…but first we must warn our readers as well.
DO NOT EAT AT A FORMOSA CHICKEN RICE! NO!!!!!!!! (echoes disappearing into the abyss…)
Ok…we shall leave it at that.
Moving on. We first visited Chung Wah Chicken Rice
Chung Wah Chicken Rice Ball @ Start of Jonker Street
Chung Wah Chicken Rice @ Start of Jonker Street
Please recognise this picture. Although it says “Kedai Kopi Chung Wah”, but it really is a coffee shop that sells only one thing, CHICKEN RICE! and drinks of course.
Plus, the chicken rice at Chung Wah usually sells out at about 3-4pm. Be there earlier to avoid disappointment. For us, we were there at about 3:30pm.
We were lucky.
Minutes after we sat down, the metal gates were closed (with the rest of the diners still inside of course, not that they’re gonna kidnap us or something)
The next thing we realised was that the aunty immediately asked us if we wanted half a chicken and 1 set of rice balls each. HALF A CHICKEN FOR 2 PERSONS?! Being the first time there, we nodded.
This means that either:
1. Most people who went to Chung Wah were REALLY hungry. OR
2. After sizing Tom up, aunty decided that it has got to be half a chicken for us.
The portion of the half chicken was what we expected it to be. However, if the 2 of you are feeling really peckish, half a chicken is just right. Aunty was right after all.
Taste Test
The chicken at Chung Wah has a fragrance of sesame oil to it and when you try to decipher the sauce…you’ll realise one voice in your head going
“Hey, I know this taste!” while the other voice in your head goes
“No, you dont!” This goes back and forth, forcing you to dip the sauce on your spoon to try it over and over again.
The thing is, the sauce is unique. It has some excellent proportion of spices, sesame oil and soya sauce to it that makes it special.
Next comes the chicken.
Tender and firm at the right places. Kinda oxymoron right? The texture of the chicken was good. Keeps you coming back for more.
So what about the rice?
The thing that we did not get quite used to about chicken rice ball is that, IT’S COLD!
Eating chicken rice cold…that’s something really different. Guess they need to cool it or allow it to cool before the ball takes shape.
However, we did not really like the rice ball, simply because it lacked the fragrance that chicken rice ought to have. The saving grace was that, pairing with the chicken was a great combination…
The half chicken at Chung Wah (with 10 balls) costs RM19.70.
As for deco, it really was like a coffee shop but the old kind? Allows you to feel the ambience somewhat like that of the 70s.
Next, we headed off to Hoe Kee Chicken Rice (not immediately, but almost, because of our keen interest to solve the chicken rice ball mystery at Jonker street once and for all!!)
Hoe Kee Chicken Rice Ball @ Middle of Jonker Street
Outside of Hoe Kee Chicken Rice @ Middle of Jonker StreetInterior of the entrance to Hoe Kee Chicken RiceCourtyard of Hoe Kee Chicken Rice
The first impression of Hoe Kee was more of
“Wow, classy chinese interior design!”
This is definitely a great place to bring your friends to for a nice meal of local food. A great place to entertain and meet up with your guests as well.
“How about the food?” You might ask.
Quarter Chicken at Hoe Kee Chicken RiceCondiments with Herbal Tea and Soya BeanHoe Kee Chicken Rice Balls
Taste Test
The chicken at Hoe Kee was normal. Really nothing much to shout about here. Dont guess us wrong, it was a decent plate of chicken. Meat was fresh but taste was not as memorable and lasting as that of Chung Wah.
However, the rice did trump Chung Wah’s in that there was the chicken rice fragrance that one craved. The coldness was still there but the taste was much better.
The quarter chicken at Hoe Kee (with 5 balls, Soya Bean and Herbal Tea) costs RM14.20
Verdict
Now, to put the mystery of the Jonker Street Chicken Rice Ball Battle behind us…
2bearbear.com declares the winner of the “Battle of the Malacca Jonker Street Chicken Rice Ball” to be…(*Drumrolls*)
Chung Wah Chicken Rice Ball!
Well, the chicken basically won the war for Chung Wah. Although they lost in the chicken rice ball department, the unique sauce was more than able to make up for this loss.
And did we mention that the chilli packed a punch at Chung Wah’s?
Nonetheless, in terms of ambience, Hoe Kee won hands down and if a gathering with friends and family is your focus, Hoe Kee is the place to go.
For great taste, you cant go wrong with Chung Wah.
We hope that with this post, we can finally put this age-old mystery of “which Jonker Street Chicken Rice Ball is better” to rest!
P.S. We also realised that traditional chicken rice beats rice balls hands down. It’s just unique and fashionable but you just cant beat that old fashioned plate of chicken rice hot off the cooker.
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Following the huge success of the premium outlets franchise, Malaysia opens its own premium outlet in Johor.
Named Johor Premium Outlets or JPO in short, the outlet mall boasts of 80 designer and premium brands at factory outlet prices. Discounts can range from 25% to 65% everyday.
Getting there
Johor Premium Outlets is just a short drive 1 hour drive from Singapore. From the north south highway, take an exit at Exit 253 and follow brown coloured signs that says “Johor Premium Outlets”. It’s quite hard to miss.
After all the hype that Johor Premium Outlets (JPO Malaysia) has garnered in Singapore, Kate and I decided to drop by JPO to take a look. As we have been to the largest premium outlet, Woodbury Common Premium Outlet it provides us with a basis for comparison.
Entrance to Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
Entrance to Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
At first glance, the look and feel of Johor Premium Outlets (JPO Malaysia) resembles that of Woodbury Common Premium Outlet. As we entered the entrance of Johor Premium Outlets JPO, we did something that would put all shoppers to shame…
Food court of Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
Food court of Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
We visited the food court first!
Court of Johor Premium Outlets JPO Malaysia
Claypot Chicken Rice at Food Court of Johor Premium Outlets JPO Malaysia
After having our fill of the Claypot Chicken Rice (can give this one a miss) and taking a photo of the food court for our readers…
Internal view of Food court at Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
Internal view of Food court at Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
We headed to the information office to get the most important thing, the map of Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia!
Map of Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
Map of Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
With the map, we can ensure that we cover every square inch of the JPO! After taking a look at the map, we realise that it is actually quite a small outlet mall. There are basically 2 rows of shops for 2 levels and that’s pretty much about it.
In order to discover the best discounts here at Johor Premium Outlets, Kate and I made sure we visited almost every single shop at JPO for our readers! Unfortunately, the sales are not half as good as Woodbury Premium Outlets. Eventhough there were long queues at Johor Premium Outlets such as this one at Coach,
Long Queue outside Coach Outlet at Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
Long Queue outside Coach Outlet at Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
There werent really many buyers…
Not many people carrying shopping bags from Johor Premium Outlets stores
Not many people carrying shopping bags from Johor Premium Outlets stores
The truth is, once you have been to Woodbury Premium Outlet, you’ll realise that all other discounts are not really that fantastic. However, the bright spot here is that compared to retail prices, Johor Premium Outlets JPO does offer substantial discounts. Which is why we bought a pair of shoes eventually.
After a long day at “work”, trawling through the sales at Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Kate and I rewarded ourselves at Taang Shifu (translated as Master of Soups)
Taang Shifu @ Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
Taang Shifu @ Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
In order to get a 10% discount at Taang Shifu, remember to flash your Maybank credit card at the information store to get the VIP discount booklet (more like “pamphlet”). The 10% discount is only for ala carte items. We had the abalone mee sua as well as the double boiled pear dessert…
Abalone Mee Sua @ Taang Shifu, Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
Abalone Mee Sua @ Taang Shifu, Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
Double Boiled Pear Dessert @ Taang Shifu, Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
Double Boiled Pear Dessert @ Taang Shifu, Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
After discount, the 2 items only cost about $25RM which was quite cheap considering it was a chinese restaurant. Plus, they tasted good as well!
After covering the second level, we decided to treat ourselves to crepes
Crispy Crepes @ Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
Crispy Crepes @ Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
There was a super long queue at crispy crepes, primarily because of its cheap price at $5.20RM for sweet crepes AND $6.30RM for savoury crepes.
Making of crispy crepes at Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
Making of crispy crepes at Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
We decided to go for the chicken floss as well as the chocolate banana…
Chicken Floss Crispy Crepe @ Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
Chicken Floss Crispy Crepe @ Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
Chocolate Banana Crispy Crepe @ Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
Chocolate Banana Crispy Crepe @ Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
The crepes were super duper crispy! You can feel it and hear it as you land each bite on your crepes. No wonder the queue was so loooooong…
We have also captured a video of the entrance of Johor Premium Outlets, Malaysia just for our readers…
Entrance of Johor Premium Outlets JPO, Malaysia
Verdict
After all the hype about the Malaysia Premium Outlets, Johor Premium Outlets JPO, we must say truthfully that we do agree with most comments online that the sales and discounts are really not that fantastic.
Having said that, we do think that the Johor Premium Outlets JPO can be a good place to spend the weekend to shop and source for great deals. Kids can be “deposited” at the play ground and fed with yummy crispy crepes while parents shop for what they want.
If you have something that you would like to buy in the city, why not hold that thought and give Johor Premium Outlets JPO a go instead? You can be assured that it is at least 25% cheaper than retail prices. 🙂
So yup, our conclusion is that Johor Premium Outlets JPO is still worth a visit afterall!
There are so many things to do and attractions at Kota Kinabalu! Let’s find out what are the things to do right here in Kota Kinabalu! We thoroughly enjoyed the weekend stay there! Attractions range from Island hopping, getting close to nature or even really really good shopping!
Kate and I managed to accumulate enough Krisflyer points in exchange for 2 tickets to Kota Kinabalu. Quite worth it to join the programme. For this particular trip, we flew on Silkair…
After a 2hrs 20 mins flight, we arrived at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport which looked quite new. From the airport, we took a taxi to Novotel. The taxi was $50RM and it is a fixed price. You will have to purchase a ticket from a shop within the terminal. The good thing is that it is a standard price and you save all the haggling that may be needed for “rogue” taxis.
Again, Kate was the one who arranged the entire trip. It is important to anchor a good location of your hotel so that will be the base where all your activities start. Kate found a relatively good deal on Klook where we stayed at the Novotel @ 1 Borneo Kota Kinabalu for only $70SGD per night.
The good thing about staying at the Novotel is that
1. 4 Star Hotel. It is smelly smelly (hokkien for at least) a 4-star hotel at an attractive rate, offering full hotel service and even a swimming pool for you to chillax under the sun.
2. Close to attractions. It is located away from the city but in the middle of the route to Mount Kinabalu, something that must NOT be missed when you visit Kota Kinabalu. Hence, it is a good location as a base for the attractions, yet still within a 20 mins travel time from the city.
3. Shopping. Located beside One Borneo (nowadays there are alot of One something something sprouting after the One Malaysia concept was introduced), it is currently the largest shopping mall/centre in East Malaysia. Though in a couple of years, it will be overtaken by One Sulaman (yet another One)
4. Free Shuttle Service. This is one of the most important aspect to why Kate chose this location. With the free shuttle service to the city, we could get to and fro for free. The only catch is that you will have to register early for your bus ticket. Priority is also given to guests of hotels in and around One Borneo shopping mall.
Novotel
The hotel itself also exceeded our expectation.
External view of Novotel Kota Kinabalu
The room was spacious and even had a transparent glass that allowed guests to enjoy a bath and watch TV at the same time. For couples, this would be pretty romantic as well.
The King Size Bed Novotel Kota KinabaluTV Console and Fridge Novotel Kota KinabaluBathroom Novotel Kota KinabaluBathtub Novotel Kota KinabaluBusiness Desk Novotel Kota Kinabalu
The swimming pool was also very welcoming, with views of the Crocker Range. Crocker Range is essentially a series of hills. Though they may look tall, locals still regard them as hills.
Kids Pool Novotel Kota KinabaluSwimming pool with water feature that can do shoulder massages at Novotel Kota KinabaluView of Crocker Range from the Pool Kota Kinabalu Novotel
The next most important thing after checking out the room is to check out the bus timings!
Free shuttle bus timings from Novotel Kota Kinabalu
The area to wait for the shuttle bus is at the other end of the One Borneo shopping mall. You can ask for directions at the information counter. It is important to note that this timing is merely a gauge and should be confirmed with the personnel issuing the tickets as timings varies over weekends and weekdays.
Night Market
Known as Pasar Malam (Market Night) in malay, the night market offers locals an avenue to shop for their daily necessities and also to solve their hunger pangs as there are many stalls offering fried noodles, rice, simple malay hawker fare.
Night Market Kota Kinabalu
Our initial plan on the first night was to catch the sunset at the city. However, we were slightly late as there was a traffic jam on the way (remember to buffer time if you are catching the sunset). The sunset timing is more like 6pm than 7pm in Singapore. So bear that in mind.
We also enjoyed some chicken murtabak (indian fried dough with meat , or for those of you who knows prata, it is like prata with meat $2RM) and a refreshing chilled coconut ($4RM)…
Special Murtabak and Coconut from Kota Kinabalu Night Market
Back at the place where we dropped off (Warisan Square, opposite Waterfront) we caught the 9pm bus back to the hotel…
Breakfast @ Novotel
Daily buffet breakfast is included at Novotel. The spread is more or less the same each day. However, they do cater to different tastes so most palates would be satisfied here.
Morning View of Crocker Range from Novotel Kota KinabaluThe buffet spread at Novotel Kota Kinabalu Breakfast
The spread includes noodles or rice, sausages, eggs, grilled tomatoes, baked beans, vegetables, nasi lemak and curry chicken. There are also pastries and breads with various spreads to choose from. Waffles, pancakes, cereals,porridge were available as well.
Appetisers at Kota Kinabalu Novotel Breakfast Buffet
At the appetisers corner, there were various juices such as guava, orange and apple juice to choose from. Milk and soya bean milk were available as well. Fruits and appetisers such as pasta salad, salami, smoked salmon were available on different days.
Overview of the breakfast restaurant at Novotel Kota Kinabalu
It is strongly recommended for visitors (2 or less) to take the tours. Each person costs $180-200 RM that includes, lunch, guided tour, return trip, mount kinabalu park, pekan nabalu (small village/town where you can get the best view of the mountain),poring hot springs,tree top walk,dr fish spa and nature trekking.
The package is a day tour that starts from 8am to 6pm (depending on traffic). Really well worth it we must say. It is also important to follow an experienced agency and in our case, we chose Exotic Borneo. They arranged our time to cover Kinabalu first knowing the local weather that it may drizzle or pour in the afternoon. True enough, it did!
Our first stop was Pekan Nabalu, a small town that has really sweet pineapples, souvenirs and of course, stunning views of the majestic Mount Kinabalu.
View of Mount KinabaluClose up view of Mount Kinabalu
Do not miss out on the pineapples. They cost $2RM a packet and is really as sweet as it gets, we thought perhaps they might have been dipped in sugar syrup! But of course not, it tasted naturally sweet. Enjoy!
The next stop we headed to was a private garden from the locals where we saw the largest flower in the world, the Rafflesia!
The largest flower in the World – The Rafflesia
The thing about the Rafflesia is that it occurs naturally. Even when scientists wanted to cultivate them, they were unable to. It is a parasitic plant that feeds off the vine like a tumour. It also blooms only 4 to 6 weeks a year and you really have to be at the correct time to see them.
When the flower is in bloom, banners would be placed outside these private gardens and costs $30RM per visit. For this particular garden, we travelled about 5 minutes, crossing a small river before we got there.
“Treacherous” Journey to see the RafflesiaBlooming process of the Rafflesia explainedThe Rafflesia in bloom and its bud Kota KinabaluThe Rafflesia disintegrates after its bloom
Because of its rarity in bloom, the locals will protect the area around the Rafflesia to prevent wild animals from feeding on them. According to our guide, Andy, the flowers occurred naturally in abundance in the past. However, locals did not understand their uniqueness and importance in research. When the flowers were in the bud stage, they would kick them about like a soccer ball!
The flower also gives off a pungent smell, much like rotten meat. But this time we did not smell it, could be due to the wind direction. Still, if the flower is in bloom, do drop by a take a look. Helps in preservation by contributing to the locals, and also gives you an experience to enjoy the largest flower in bloom!
Poring Hot Springs
Next, we headed to Poring hot springs, of course, naturally occurring, where Kate enjoyed her book while dipping in the waters of the hot spring.
Tom on the other hand was given a tour by Andy on route to the Tree Top Walk.
Map of Poring Hot Springs Kota KinabaluOld bridge that linked to Poring hot springs in Kota KinabaluNew bridge (Concrete and not swaying) to Poring Hot Springs in Kota KinabaluPoring Hot Springs Kota Kinabalu where Kate dipped her feet and enjoyed a book
Kate complained about missing stoppers at the hot springs. So she had to “prey” on other visitors and as they left, Kate would “take over” their territory…
At the same time, Tom followed Andy on a little trek towards the tree top walk. It is quite steep at the beginning so make sure you anticipate this if you are going for the tree top walk.
Along the way, we saw these interesting parts of nature…
Can you see the spiderwebs galore?Ferns on top of a tree looking like an umbrella in Kota Kinabalu Forest
Huge Bamboos in Kota Kinabalu Forest
Possibly the World’s largest Ants!
Furry Caterpillars emerging from beneath the leaves
First Bridge at Tree Top Walk at Kota Kinabalu
We must first state upfront that the tree top walk is not for the faint of heart. Bridges are interconnected from TREE to TREE. The bridges also sway from side to side and for tall dudes like Tom, there’s a real possibility of falling over the side. What Tom did was to bend his knees while walking such that the netting would still be at the shoulder level.
Of course, at each stop of the tree walk, you would be greeted with amazing views such as this…
View from Tree Top Walk Kota Kinabalu“Winnie the Pooh Tree” in Kota Kinabalu
Andy told us that bees build their hives on top such trees because bears are not able to climb the trunk of these trees. The smooth surface do not provide the grip for the bears, thus giving safety to the bees. If you observe closely, it is like the tree in Winnie the Pooh!
Looking down from the tree top walk at Kota Kinabalu
To give our visitors a feel of the tree top walk, here it is…
“Death Defying” Tree Top Walk!
We ventured back to Poring Hot Springs to pick Kate and left for Kipungit Waterfall. The waterfall was about 400m high and had Dr Fish as its inhabitants! Free foot spa!! Yay!
Kipungit Waterfall Kota KinabaluDr Fish feeding off dead skin on Tom’s feet at Kota Kinabalu Kitpungit Waterfalls
From there, we took a half hour ride to Fair Garden Restaurant for lunch. The food was very good and portions were great for 2 people. Best of all, it was included in the package!
Fried Rice with Soup at Fair Garden Restaurant Kota KinabaluCrispy Chicken at Fair Garden Restaurant Kota KinabaluSweet and Sour Fish at Fair Garden Restaurant Kota Kinabalu
The food was definitely Chinese restaurant standard and there were also vegetables, fruits and Chinese Tea as well.
We then headed to the Botanical Gardens where we did the forest trail, the shortest one was Silau Silau Trail (to Bukit Tupai) that took us about 40 minutes. Kate and I enjoy such trails but according to Andy, most tourists dont take these trails.
Along the way, we saw what could possibly be the world’s smallest fern!
Possibly, the world’s smallest fern found at Kota Kinabalu
Andy then led us to this roadside stall that sells black pig (RM5), it was delicious especially with the home made sauce concocted by the owners…
Black Pig BBQ at Kota KinabaluThe BBQed Black Pig with Sauce at Kota Kinabalu- Yummy!
Thanks to Andy from Exotic Borneo, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves!
At night, Kate and I caught Johnny English 2 for only RM9 each!
On Sundays, there is a large market being put up by the locals in the city. Known as the Gaya Market, it offers locals and tourists alike, an avenue to shop!
Gaya Sunday Market Kota Kinabalu
We took a video for our visitors to have a feel of the market itself. There was also a musician playing on the gong which we thought was interesting…
A walk through Gaya Market
Musician on Traditional Gong at Gaya Market
Nearby, we were told that Signal Hill offered a marvelous view of Kota Kinabalu City. The starting point was at the Atkinson Clock on the top right of this picture…
Gaya Market to Atkinson Clock Kota Kinabalu
After 15 minutes, we arrived at the Atkinson Clock…
The Atkinson Clock Kota KinabaluDirection to Signal Hill Observatory Kota Kinabalu
Following the road for another 5 minutes or so, we were greeted by this view…
View of Gaya Island from Signal Hill Observatory Kota KinabaluView of City from Signal Hill Observatory Kota Kinabalu
Breathtaking View from Signal Hill Observatory
After all that walking, Kate decided to reward herself with a foot reflexology at Suria Mall. It was only RM48 for 1 hour of foot reflexology and foot bath.
We then had lunch at the famous Kuo Man restaurant of the Suria foodcourt. The beef noodles was yummy. Noodles were Q (springy) and the beef was flavourful. The view of the islands from the food court was excellent as well…
Kuo Man Restaurant Kota KinabaluBeef Noodles from Kota KinabaluView of Gaya Island with boardwalk Kota Kinabalu
Planning for the next day of island visits, we headed to the Jesselton Point
Jesselton Point Kota KinabaluView from Jesselton Jetty Kota KinabaluTicketing booths for ferries at Jesselton Point
From there, we decided to go for only Manukan Island. Gaya Island being the largest is the most touristy. So it was out for us. It was then down to Mamutik, Manukan or Sapi. Manukan and Sapi was recommended for snorkelling. So Mamutik was out. Of the 2, we chose Manukan because Sapi had deeper waters (not good from the safety point of view). So by the process of elimination, we decided to go for Manukan!
An island ferry costs RM20 per pax and costs an additional RM10 for each additional island. You would also have to pay a conservation tax of RM7.20. At the island, there is also an entrance fee of RM10 for foreigners and RM3 for locals.
In the evening, we headed back to One Borneo shopping mall for more shopping! The deals were great especially because Parkson was celebrating its anniversary and giving out crazy deals!
Parkson Department Store Kota Kinabalu
We bought shoes, pants, shirts, dresses among other things that were 70% off! In the shopping mall, there is a Giant Hypermarket as well as many other small shops for you to explore!
Giant Hypermarket Kota KinabaluCentral Atrium Kota KinabaluSouth Atrium Kota Kinabalu
Island Visit – Manukan
It was pouring in the morning and we thought that our day of island visit was over. However, the “storm” cleared and we did enjoy a sunny day at Manukan!
Got our tickets from Beach Bums to visit Manukan Island
When we bought the tickets from beach bums, lifejacket (RM5) and snorkelling sets (RM20) were also available for rent.
The ride out was a bumpy one and Kate kept holding on to Tom’s arms leaving finger marks when we arrived at Manukan!
Boat Ride to Manukan Island
Bumpy Boat Ride from Kota Kinabalu (Jesselton) to Manukan Island
Map of Manukan Island Kota Kinabalu
The island was beautiful and by the time we dipped into the water, the sun came out! The waters were clear and we were able to see the fishes and enjoy sand playing at the beach…
Jetty of Manukan Island Kota KinabaluThe Beach at Manukan Island Kota KinabaluClear Waters at Manukan Island Kota Kinabalu2bearbear.com Sand Castle at Manukan Island
On the ride back, we were also able to see Mount Kinabalu from a distance!
Mount Kinabalu on route back from ManukanClose Up View of Mount Kinabalu
After we got back, we decided to catch the sunset again this evening. We still had about an hour to spare so Kate decided to go for the classy Rafflesia Spa @ Warisan Square (RM55 + 6% tax) while Tom waited at Shamrock Pub (Irish).
Sunset from Shamrock Pub (Waterfront)Beautiful Skies as seen from Shamrock Pub Kota Kinabalu Waterfront
Beautiful Sunset – See how the colours of the skies change
Dinner was at the Irish pub as well and we enjoyed the Homemade Beef Burger and Irish Stew (RM30 each).
Homemade Beef Burger Shamrock Irish Pub Kota KinabaluIrish Stew with Sides Shamrock Irish Pub Kota Kinabalu
The next day was a chill out at the pool for us. All in all, it was a thoroughly enjoyable trip to Kota Kinabalu. Check out all these things to do and attractions in Kota Kinabalu and be sure to leave your comments back here!
We shall now leave you with a view from the our Silkair flight as we left the Kota Kinabalu International Airport…
View of the islands from the plane (Sunset Included)
deal.com.sg, goCrazy.com.sg, gobbler.com.sg, groupon.com.sg etc etc etc…there are so many online discount coupon/vouchers sites these days! Initially Tom and I were skeptical about these so-called “good deals” and we were worried about pushy sales people, so we let these deals slipped by. But one night as I was bored and surfing the internet to pass time, I came across this “$199 2D1N Philea Resort” deal. The photos of the resort look really inviting and I decided to check out the resort’s official website. Philea Resort was completed and officially opened in August 2010. Since it is still fairly new (it was Feb 2011 when we checked out the resort), we decided to book a weekend trip to Philea Resort Malacca in May 2011.
Philea Resort Malacca (Melaka) – Doesnt it look inviting
Our experience was marred by a 2 hour traffic jam at the Malaysia customs, and we arrived at the resort at about 3pm instead of the scheduled time of 1pm. We were hot and tired after the long bus ride but thankfully the check-in was smooth and there were welcome drinks and cold towels that quenched our thirst and refreshed us.
Refreshing drinks at the lobby of Philea Resort MelakaBuggy that transported us around the Philea Hotel
The hotel staff then helped us put our bags onto a buggy (is it pronounced as “Bud-gy” or “Buggie”?) and drove us to our room. On our way up, we could see the landscape of the resort, the tranquil swimming pool, and the spa facilities. We quickly settled into our room, checked out the amenities in the room (free pretty slippers!), and head down to the pool for a swim.
Front of our “cottage” roomBathtub Philea MelakaRain Shower Philea Resort MelakaCoffee Tea and Mineral Water in the roomThe inviting and comfortable bed! Philea Resort MelakaSculptured Lamp Shades in the room that depicts famous attractions in Melaka (Malacca)Bathroom Amenities!Waterfall Feature by the Pool Philea MelakaOpposite the Waterfall – Chill out lounges Philea Resort MelakaFront View of the Waterfall – Chillax by the pool Philea Resort Malacca
As it was a Saturday night, there was a seafood buffet dinner deal! Only RM69++ (approx $33SGD) per pax! The spread was awesome (esp the desserts for me, and the seafood for Tom), and we ate so much that we could hardly move. We even able to eat 2 whole snappers by ourselves and it was fresh and tasty! The BBQ corner also included other seafood such as prawn and crayfish. Yum! The quiet stroll back to our room on a cool night aided with the digestion, and we enjoyed the peaceful evening away from the crowded city life.
Table Setting at the buffetCooked Food SpreadCharming appetisers Philea Resort MelakaSeafood Spread + BBQ area with grilled snapper, crayfish at Philea Resort MelakaChocolate Fondue Philea Resort MalaccaDesserts!Complimented with fruits
The next morning, we woke up early to walk around the resort and take in the fresh air. Soon we were hungry and we made our way to the restaurant where the breakfast buffet (included in the package) is served. Once again, the variety of food made us happy. With chefs at the different stations to cook roti prata, waffles and pancakes on the spot, and the spread from an international buffet, we were really spoiled for choice 🙂
Roof with Water Feature at Philea Resort MelakaPhilea Resort Melaka Breakfast BuffetMore Food!Pastries and Yoghurt
After breakfast, we lazed by the pool and got a nice tan. It was a relaxing weekend, and we were all ready to conquer another week at work! 🙂
P.S Go visit Philea while it is still rather new and clean!
P.P.S Remember to plan activities for the bus trip eg card games or dvd to watch in case you get stuck in a unexpected traffic jam.
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Ah…cruises…one of our favourite ways of having a holiday and vacation. There are so many benefits and advantages of going on a cruise
1. All prices inclusive. That means to say, you have 6 meals a day (2 snacks, 3 meals and a supper), use of the pool which includes the jacuzzi, sauna, gym, cinema, entertainment shows in the evening, game shows, art and craft, sunrise, sunset. ALL INCLUSIVE in one price! But of course, if you want some red/white wine or in room service, you’d have to top up. Essentially, one price gives you all the entertainment that the cruise ship offers.
2. No need for plans. That’s right! All programmes have been planned out for you each day. This really makes for a good holiday where you can just unwind, join in the programmes if you want to and skip if you just want to enjoy the sea breeze and sounds of the ocean. Even if you go for shore excursions, the options are there for you to follow what the cruise has planned for you (usually at exhorbitant prices) but you get gist ya? No planning required. Just follow the programmes and hop in and out as you wish.
3. Value for money. As a typical kiasu (scared to lose out) Singaporean, the all expenses paid for trip is value for money. For one price, I get to travel, stay in a ‘hotel’ and enjoy its facilities, eat as much as I want (thats where I really get the value back) and enjoy the shows in the evening that includes magic shows, music and dance, acrobatics/circus among others.
4. Getting back to nature – oceanliner style. You really do get to enjoy the wonders of God’s creation by joining a cruise. You can wake up each morning and enjoy the marvellous sunrise, end the evening with views of spectacular sunsets. You also get to star gaze in the night without bright city lights obscuring the view. The calming sounds of the waves and vast limitless ocean views really does soothes the soul. You could even catch a glimpse of the dolphins swimming with the cruise ship!
With that as the backdrop, Kate and I chose to celebrate our anniversary onboard the Superstar Virgo (from Starcruise) for a 4D3N cruise to Phuket and Langkawi (from Signapore).
We paid about $700 each for the balcony class room. This means that you can enjoy views of the ocean and port right in your room. Remember, there is always ongoing deals with your credit card. Usually it is with UOB and Citibank, do check this out with your local dealers. We got a 50% off through the cards.
Essentially, the trip was a relaxing and rejuvenating one. So we’ll just take you through some of the highlights of the trip!
Day 1
Bought Kate a music singing balloon – Love Machine and we started to take pictures of it throughout the ship. Take a look at the pictures…
First thing you do when you board the ship – EAT! We had our lunch at the Mediterranean (deck 12) and enjoyed some pasta with meatballs. As the ship slipped off, we immerse ourselves in the pool (parthenon pool) and waved goodbye to Singapore. We also slipped in and out of the jacuzzi and enjoyed the outdoor slide (part of it even overhangs out to the ocean!). Before long, it was dinner time! We chose to have dinner at the Chinese-themed restaurant – Pavilion (deck 6). The chinese food was not bad i must say.
Then we headed for the show of the night. It was Terry Parade (the Lido at Deck 7) performing juggling acts. He was good! Juggling things like ping-pong balls and plastic bags! Also on the same deck as you enter or leave the Lido is the casino, be wary!
Day 2
We caught the sunrise this morning and enjoyed dim sum breakfast back at the Pavilion. The picture house (deck 8) was showing Tale of Desperaux and we caught the movie there. Lunch was at Bella Vista (Deck 6) where western fanfare was served. We had a bottle of wine (too much) and enjoyed the beef and sandwich there.
We were alongside Phuket in the afternoon and we got on a tour to visit the cashew nut factory. The workers there work really hard and carefully retrieve each cashew nut from its ‘shell’ to ensure that it is whole. Any cashew nut that is not retrieved as a whole, will be considered ‘defective’ and fetch a lower price. We also got to taste the different flavours available, wasabi was one of our favourite.
At night, we headed out to Patong beach, saw tonnes of fake bags and made our way back to the ship.
Day 3
There is usually a gala night for every cruise where one is expected to dress up to the nines. This was the day. Beside lunch at Pavilion and snacks at Taverna (Deck 13 – overlooking the pool) we joined in the “Win lose or draw” gameshow and got to make a paper necklace for ourselves! (Proud look).
For dinner, you could choose to go any one of the 3 dedicated restaurants. We chose our dinner to be at the Samurai Restaurant (Deck 8) where we enjoyed the sushi, tempura, beef/chicken tepanyaki. It was a really classy place and guests were treated like VIPs.
We enjoyed Maestro & Music at Lido for the night where dance and music were performed.
Day 4
Too soon, it was day 4 and our last day before we head home to Singapore. Again, we joined in the programme for the day and included Dancexercise (healthy way to get back into shape after all that eating), Box or Bucks ( whereby you answer a question by standing at the correct place. Last person standing wins. Much like million dollar drop just that the person moves instead of the money and people are ‘dropped out’ if they choose to stand at the wrong place. Kate won btw! We received some starcruise vouchers and exchanged them for some souvenirs. Cool…) as well as mini golf!
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Conclusion
He says: If I can afford it, I would cruise for every holiday to every continent! That’s how enjoyable cruises are!
She says: For the first time, I dont have to plan for the trip and I get to really chill out and relax. With the credit card discount, it was certainly a steal.
So we caught the overnight seater and arrived early on Saturday morning. It was about 5 am and the bus was already ascending the Cameron Highlands. At about 6:30am, we reached the town and were given the short break to have our breakfast. We had our usual fill (2nd time to Cameron) of Wan Ton noodles and hopped back to the bus where they took us to our hotel – Strawberry Park Hotel
Strawberry Park Hotel
I used to think that the Strawberry Park Hotel either grows strawberries or is very near a strawberry garden. Neither of which was there. However, it is a quaint hotel with french architecture. It really just offers tranquility and peace of mind when you enter the hotel.
The hotel seemed a little old on the outside. But as we entered the rooms, it offered a whole new perspective to us. The view from the balcony offered lush greenery while the entrance of our room had views of the highland.
The bed was big and comfy. The best part of it was that the bathroom was HUGE. The bathtub was located right in the middle with showers and toilet located behind. Facilities include a playground as well as an indoor heated pool. It was really clean and offered “country-club” like facilities at the bathrooms. The pool stared out at the garden and was a good place to chillax.
We quickly unpacked and headed out for our first stop – Ee Feng Bee Centre
Ee Feng Bee Centre
We joined a mini tour from our tour agency – Titiwangsa. The driver took us to Ee Feng Bee Centre and we were given free time ourselves to roam about. We were able to have up close view of the bees while the bees busied themselves with gathering of the pollen.
Butterfly Garden
The next stop was the butterfly garden. It was an interesting experience as it was the first time that I saw so many butterflies all in an enclosure. There were in fact so many of them that many were just crawling all over the floor. Be careful not to step on them! We also saw a koi feasting on one of them…ew…
Next, the guide at the butterfly garden took us to see some exotic insects. They included stick insects (really have to stare hard to locate them), lizards as well as scorpions! The pictures will show you the guide ‘playing’ with the scorpion and placing it on other tourists.
Strawberry Garden
There are several strawberry gardens in the highlands and the next stop was at one of them. There was a choice of picking strawberries with a given fee. Kate and I were not keen to eat that many strawberries, so we settled for a yummy strawberry milk shake and bought some jams as well. It was nice to observe the strawberry as well as its flowers in its natural form. The guide even teach you how to correctly pluck the strawberries.
Rose Centre
The Rose Centre should be biggest exhibit on show. There are so many kinds of flowers and cacti here. We spotted several unique flowers like the horse-shoe flower as well as the “butterfly” petals (you have to take 2 of it to form a butterfly)
Roses were blossoming prettily and the sunflowers were as large as the palm of my hand! We also climbed to the viewing point and had a spendid view of the city. Warning : The climb can be exhausting.
T-Cafe
In the evening, we took a stroll down the hills to the town nearby to enjoy desserts at T-cafe (located above Marybrown). We ordered Tom Yam Bee Hoon and Claypot Kway Teow as mains. Apple juice and mango lassi as drinks. They were quite enjoyable, but what we were really after was the dessert. We ordered the chocolate cake which was rich and creamy, the apple pie that was how an apple pie should be, as well as the strawberry scone, a nice addition to the meal.
We went to the cab stand nearby and took a short ride back. Literally because the driver was a hell-rider who charged at every curve on the way back. We had to hold on to our seats as we swayed side to side. We were back within 4 minutes flat.
Breakfast
Breakfast at Strawberry Park Hotel was enjoyable. The chef made prata fresh on the spot. Each time he serves his lot, the guests would clear it. I had to order several in advance. They were crispy yet delectable. Together with the curry, it was a oh so awesome!
Kuala Lumpur City
We then proceeded for the next part of our trip to KL city. We stayed at the Swiss Garden Hotel and were presently surprised by its stylish contemporary deco. We ventured out to the city in the evening but encountered a short downpour. So we hid ourselves at Nando’s and had unlimited drinks with a spicy mango burger.
The rain subsided and we began shopping nearby. Soon it was time for dinner and we had claypot rice as well as some satay. Street hawker food is still the best!
The next day, we ventured out to KLCC and had an excellent view of the Petronas Towers (See slide show). There was also opportunity to shop at KLCC as well as the surroundings. We rounded off the evening with more hawker food such as popiah and char kway teow.
He says : I particularly enjoyed the fresh air of the highlands. It is so relaxing just to breathe in the fresh air and leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind. Views of the Petronas Towers were also magnificent up close.
She says: I love the cheap malaysian street food and the shopping!!!
Berjaya Hills is located near to KL and Genting Highlands. It is about 800m above sea level (Genting is about 2000m) . Hence, the drive up the hill is relatively smooth and short compared to the long and windy roads of Genting. The drive up the hill from the main road is only about 15 mins.
The entire development is done up by the Berjaya Group and currently consists of the Colmar Tropicale, Golf/Country Club, Rabbit Farm, Horse Trail as well as the Japanese/Botanical Garden. The Chateau (A French themed resort and spa) will be opening in July and there are also talks of a German, Italian and Spanish themed resorts.
The temperature is about low to mid 20s though it may reach about 30 degrees on hot days.
Souvenier shop and carriageMorning view from 3rd level of towerColmar TropicaleMore koi with mini waterfallJapanese Garden Colmar Tropicale Berjaya HillsColmar Tropicale Berjaya Hills
Japanese and Botanical Gardens
Cost : Free
One of our favourite attractions at Berjaya Hills has got to be the Japanese Garden. As the roads were under construction, the shuttle from the resort dropped us off a distance from the gardens itself. The beginning of the walk was a 45degrees inclined path which exhausted us quite a bit (or at least Tom). However, if you tread the path slowly, you would enjoy the scenery of the hills, the overhanging trees and the birds.
The gardens are filled with Japanese themed plants and flowers. Pebbles lined the pathway. Heading towards the Japanese teahouse, we were pleasantly surprised by the koi fish pond as well as the gentle streams and mini falls. The sounds of the water really together with the serenity of the gardens really does allow one to unwind.
Along the way there is a spa as well as a guest house. We think that the prices are quite exorbitant but still the architecture adds genuine flavour to the gardens.
The Japanese gardens is linked to the botanical gardens via a short walkway. For the botany enthusiasts, you will find that the plants are labelled meticulously, some with their scientific names. The entire walk, at a leisure pace will take about an hour or so. Do take your time to enjoy the sights and sounds of the nature!
Horse Trail
Cost : 1 hour trail costs 100RM on weekdays and 120RM on weekends
It was the first time that we rode a horse. Hence, Wan (the receptionist @ the Horse Trail) recommended that we had a half hour introduction to riding before half an hour on the roads. We gladly accepted his recommendation and we never regretted it.
The first half hour was basically about confidence building. When you first mount the horse, you will feel a little tensed. After the introduction, we all felt quite relaxed and had a great time on the trail.
The introduction covered riding (riding in circles within a pen while the horses trotted) without hands, without legs and without hands and legs. After which, the sequence was repeated without hands while the horse galloped. We were also taught how to angle our heels and be at at standing position such that when the horse is climbing up a slope, we sort of ease the burden on the horse a little.
After the introduction, we were relaxed and confident about riding our horses (mine was called Miss Penelope while Kate’s was called Indiana Rose). The trail took us out on the main road for about 2 kilometres or so and we were able to just chat and enjoy the scenery that Berjaya Hills had to offer.
On a side note, the rabbit farm was close by and it costs only 3RM for entry. We peered in from the outside and saw that the kids were thoroughly enjoying themselves. A recommended place for family time.
Golf/ Country Club
Although we are not golf enthusiasts, we can see that the condition of the golf course was quite well maintained. It should be a place that golfers will enjoy. The club house offers archery, billiard, bowling, squash, tennis, swimming and badminton.
But the highlight of the country club (at least for us) has got to be the cafe! This is because, up on the hills at Tropicale, the restaurants charge exorbitant prices (A large pizza costs 36RM while the buffet was 55RM++) At the cafe of the clubhouse, the jumbo hotdog that comes with fries and salad costs only 11RM! Noodles and rice were about 13RM.
Colmar Tropicale
We stayed in a 2BR suite and had views of the hills and swimming pool. The view of the ‘main street’ (about 100 metres of it) is really modelled/inspired by the French town of Colmar. At the end of the ‘main street’ is a tower, overlooking the hills, golf course and resort itself. Here is a video of it…
There is even complimentary acrobatics as well as magic shows at several timings throughout the day!
Our Take
He says: I have thoroughly enjoyed the trip especially the walk through the gardens. Breathing in the fresh air of the hills and taking in the greenery does relaxes the soul. I also enjoyed the horse trail and learning how to ride a horse. Since I drive, Im also glad that the drive uphill was actually only about 15 mins…phew…
She says: I enjoyed the cool weather and the landscape of the hills. I think I had enough pastries for the remaining half of the year. I was scared to ride the horse but Im glad I did it in the end as it was actually quite fun!
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Colmar Tropicale Berjaya Hills
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