A Trip to Redang, J.B and Kuantan

After being “quarantine” for another week in PULAPOL and subsequent to the Mess Night, the posting list for inspector batch 2009 was finally released. Beyond expectation, he was posted to the capital of Pahang- Kuantan and this was quite a bad news to us since both of us have never been familiar to the East Coast. 

Once again I travel to K.L. on the 18th of July 09 and met up with Yunn in Damansara where I get to enjoy the “5 stars hotel” in her condo. We took our dinner at one of the most expensive mamak stall in Kelana Jaya which cost us RM7 for the Garlic Roti Naan, RM14 for the Spaghetti, RM7 for the Longan drink and RM25 for the Soft-shell crab fried rice. Nevertheless, we were satisfied with the meal since they do place a lot of ingredients to make the foods tasteful and it was indeed a large portion served. 

On Monday morning, I made a move to the cyber café in Setapak and spent a few hours there waiting for his announcement to end. We proceeded to Midvalley for a movie to deplete our time while waiting for the trip to Redang at 10.30pm. We have once again selected Redang instead of Perhentian and Lang Tengah since most of the comments on the other two islands were not as good as Redang itself. Providentially, the coach we took was a good one and we managed to arrive at the bus terminal early the next morning at 5.30am. We stroll around the station and waited for the van to fetch us to Merang at 8.30am. We have once considered taking a flight but due to the wide spreads of AH1N1 and since they have to report themselves on-time the next Monday, we thus decided to reduce the risk of being quarantine by taking a coach. 

Laguna Redang was providing a good service at RM428 per pax where the hotel was great and comfortable with 6 buffet meals provided at the Sri Serai Restaurant. The food was indeed scrumptious with variety of choices including beef, mutton, chicken and fish in almost every meals and extra selections of Satay, Keropok Lekor, Mee Soup, Soup and etc. 

After checking-in the hotel and took our lunch, we proceed to our first snorkeling trip at the CK Bay about 35 minutes away. We enjoyed our first night at the Tupai Bar with the live band performing on stage. The next snorkeling trip on the 2nd morning was at the Marine Park 30 minutes away with tons of fishes swimming around and the last snorkeling trip was on that selfsame evening. We enjoyed our final night at the Island Bar while it was drizzling. The weather was kinda cloudy this time and it does rain at nights. 

We departed from Redang on the 23rd of July 09 and the returning coach took us long hours before reaching K.L. at 9.00pm. We took our dinner in one of the Chinese restaurant in Brickfield and continued our journey back to J.B. straightaway after dinner. We arrived J.B. at 1.30am and spent approximately 2 days for various gatherings and packing-up before we head on to Kuantan.

It took about 4 and a half hour’s drive to reach Kuantan and since this was our first visit, we stayed a night at one of the first hotel we saw- the Grand Continental Hotel which costs us RM140 per night. The second night was spent at the Luxury Hotel which has a great outlook but sucks in within which costs us RM58. The remaining 5 nights were spent in one of the home-stay double storey at RM30 a night with the kind help of the house’s caretaker. (Really getting broke staying more than a week outside…) 

We finally rented a new constructed double storey terrace but the house was without furnish and yet to fix the grille. We went around the shops and shopping malls in Kuantan on the first few days after moving into the new house looking for suitable furniture and various home accessories. We needed to explore the shops and food stalls around slowly to settle our daily and future needs. Now, my pity little Kancil has almost finished travelling around the Peninsular as I will continue to explore the East Coast very soon.

K.L. & Bukit Tinggi

11th July 2009 (Saturday) marks the end of the one-year training for ccc and once again, I took an early journey at 2.45am driving to K.L. to attend the passing-out ceremony at PULAPOL. It was raining quite heavily while I was traveling from Penang and I started to get worried concerning the weather in K.L. but providentially, it was just thundering and lightning plus being windy that morning. ^^ 

After having a reunion lunch at one of the chinese restaurant in Cheras, we decided to take a trip up to Bukit Tinggi that evening. It was indeed a short journey and we managed to arrive there around 4.30pm and started to look for accommodation. However, Colmar Tropicale (at RM400 per night) was fully booked hence we have to proceed to the Berjaya Hills Golf & Country Club and rented a room at RM250. Subsequent to checking-in, we took a stroll around Colmar Tropicale to admire the replica of a collection of buildings from a north-eastern village in France dating back to the 16th Century. We took our dinner at one of the sidewalk restaurant- the “La Flamme Sidewalk Deli” where the dishes were delicious and the ambience was wonderful having live band performing sweet-sounding songs to each dining table.

 

-* Colmar Tropicale & the live band

The buffet breakfast at the hotel was also appetizing and the restaurant was nicely decorated. The only unfortunate incidence was that we were not able to visit to the Japanese Garden due to the strong wind which causes a mess along the road leading to the tea house. We visited the Rabbit Park and have spent a good time there with those adorable animals before getting back to K.L.

Vacation Spot- The Sepang Gold Coast

The Sepang Gold Coast is set to become the landmark of resort for the Klang Valley 2 when completed by Sepang Goldcoast Sdn Bhd (SGC), a joint venture company formed by Permodalan Negeri Selangor Berhad (PNSB) and Sepang Bay Sdn Bhd (Sepang Bay). It is the most easy accessible beach destination as it takes just 25 minutes from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).

 

Golden Palm Tree Water Villas is the first phase of the development and the concept is palm-shaped villas built from the shoreline stretching right up into the sea reaching as far as 1km creating the longest coastal paradise in Asia. It will contain three types of water villa which is Ivory Palm Villa (1345 sq ft), Canary Palm Villa (883 sq ft) and Travelers Palm Villa (570 sq ft) equipped with a clubhouse and swimming pool. Along the sandy beach foreshore visitors will discover to their delight a variety of retail outlets, shoreline restaurants, cafes, kids hotel and theme park. Construction is now on progress and estimate completion on year 2010.

 

Sepang Gold Coast is a Multi-billion ringgit integrated development poised to elevate fine living to the pinnacle of luxury. Given its strategic location, the Sepang Gold Coast has all the advantages to become an iconic landmark of resort living that attracts visitors from all over the world. The project covers 4,621 acres of sea and shore estates fronting 22km from the Straits of Malacca and 17km of Mangrove River. Having the strong natural characteristics, the existing land use of the project site is mostly dominated by shrubs, coppices, undergrowths and a large area of mangrove forest along the riverine. Sepang Gold Coast will be positioned as successful eco-tourism resort designed to preserve and promote natural heritage.

Memorable Trip to Sepang

Thousand thanks to be credited to my friend- Loh S.T. who resides in Sungai Pelek thus enabling me to be able to travel around the Sepang District during my trip to K.L. We visited the famous Seafood Bak Kut Teh Restaurant in Tanjung Sepat having our heavy breakfast on Monday morning (22nd June 09) before heading to the following sites: 

- Lover Bridge 情人桥: A bridge stretches right into the sea at a fishing village in Tanjung Sepat. 

- Mushroom and Lingzhi Farm: To behold the spectacular view of mushrooms plantation process and a variety of Lingzhi specialty products.

 

- Arowana Tapioca Factory: Producing different tapioca snacks in bulk. 

- Sepang Gold Coast: An ideal vacation spot with incredible scene and natural surroundings. 

- Dragon Fruit Farm: Get to taste the special treat of dragon fruit milkshake at RM3.00.

A Trip to Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus

After much amendments and discussions, we finally decided to pay a visit to Negeri Sembilan on the 20th of June 2009 (Saturday). I managed to arrive at Sungai Pelek around 11.00pm+ on Friday and we began our day early the next morning at 6.15am. We bought some bread at a 7-Eleven outlet along our way and proceeded leisurely to our first destination- the Fort Lukut. We have expected it to be an attractive historical site since the fort was claimed to be built by "Raja Jumaat" on top of a hill, Bukit Gajah Mati in Lukut during the year 1826-27. We notice there was a signboard pointing towards two different directions heading to the historical spots, thus we followed the farther path passing by some alley ways and parked our vehicle by the side since there was a sign restricting vehicles driving through. We have to walk all the way up the hill through a stony route leading us to the fort. However when we finally arrived at the top, we only get to realize that it was actually the same site (the garden which we passed by) we saw earlier and we should have enter through the front door without walking such a long distance =.= Sadly, these historical remains were not properly kept and maintained. There wasn’t even any illustration board displayed for the site.

-*A road leading you to "long piak"... 

We took our breakfast in one of the coffee shop in Port Dickson’s town and stopped by the beach for a photography moment. We move on to Tanjung Tuan’s Cape Rachado and intended to visit the lighthouse which was built by the British in 1860 on a hillock overlooking the Straits of Malacca. The entrance was seen to be a recreation forest with hiking track which requires us to hike up. However, both of us were not in our sport suit thus having difficulties to move on. After walking for some distance, we decided to hold back our steps to see if we could have drove up instead of walking. However we were told by the park’s warden that personal vehicles are prohibited and it was almost a kilometer’s distance before we were able to reach the lighthouse. We gave up reaching for the light house and came to the “Blue Lagoon” only a few meters away. However, the weather has turned to be cloudy and the strong wind almost blown us away thus forcing us to move on.

This trip was also deemed to be a tomb visiting trip where we visited quite a number of ancient Malay tombs namely the Keramat Sungai Udang and Makam Raja Melewar. Since we were close to the border of Negeri Sembilan, we decided to visit to the Dutch Fort at the coast of Malacca. We passed through countless of small villages before arriving at the coast. There was a restaurant built above the water thus appearing an incredible scene. Though it was drizzling at that moment yet it doesn’t quench our excitement of going around.

We stopped by the Pedas Hotspring along our way nonetheless still being disappointed by this recreation area where it was merely a water park for the locals with the entrance fee of RM10.00. We finally arrived at Seremban around 3.30pm and took our late lunch in one of the shopping complex. Our last station was the Taman Seni Budaya with some traditional buildings and displays. We stopped by the lake garden for a moment and ended our day’s trip in Negeri Sembilan. I was surprised that a day’s trip round Negeri Sembilan could end so fast leaving us extra time to continue shopping in Sunway Pyramid. I was indeed having a great day traveling around, went shopping and to have supper with this special friend of mine. ^^

Kedah Recreation Trip

An exploration team comprises of 12 members via two vehicles began a journey at 7.15am on Sunday 7th June 2009 heading to Kedah after breakfasted at Batu Lancang, Penang. This trip was initially planned to be a half day’s hiking trip at the Sedim Recreation Park visiting the Tree Top Walk which was claimed to be the longest canopy walk in the world. However, we were deeply disappointed after taking a 950 meter’s walk through the ‘bridge’ where there was nothing more than admiring the sight of the forest. Thus, we have to entertain ourselves by making fun all about and snap-shooting all around. The only attractive part in the park will be the cooling river which makes most of us feels like saturating ourselves in it.

We have had few fishes for our lunch after traveling through a long distance of minor alley-ways deep into the ‘forest’ (one can never imagine there will be such a restaurant and ponds deep inside the woods). The meal was indeed scrumptious except being surprised by having some fish wrapped by incredible amount of fats beneath its skin. 

After enjoying our lunch, we proceed to our next destination which was quite a distance away and took us more than an hour to reach- the Ulu Legong Hot Spring. We enjoyed both the cooling stream and the temperate hot spring, nonetheless we were almost burned by the extremely hot weather (memang kisiao, went for a hot spring soak on a scorching hot day in the afternoon -.-”) It was almost 5.00pm after enjoying the hot spring, thus we decided to proceed on the returning journey. Before we move on to Autocity to have our dinner, we manage to stop by the Mengkuang Dam to have a stroll. Though the dinner we took wasn’t that delectable, nonetheless the ambiance and pleasurable chats is believed to have compensated any dissatisfaction. Last but not least, thanks everyone for the cooperation and making this trip a success.

自由飞翔的感觉

-*~Bravo to My Energy 200%~*-

I’m absolutely hyperactive type of person who is very much into traveling and in exploring different places. The proposals for my next plan to the south and the east coast (Pahang, Terengganu, Kelantan) will be completed soon and I’m kinda excited and looking forward to those trips. ^^

Currently my scope of exploration is only within the Peninsular due to some budget constraints but I wish that soon I will be able to expand my territory overseas. I love the feeling of exploring new places which I’ve never visited before and gaining experiences just by reading a map and to discover places slowly. Getting to know the diverse cultures and the different ways of life is indeed exciting.

However, the most enjoyable part of a trip is often the craziness of friends getting together and kisiao-ing together along the way... isn't it?

-*~Feel the Excitement Thereof ~*-

Kedah Darul Aman - The Kampung Trip

Finally we decided to pay a visit to Kedah during one of our weekend- on the 26th of April 2009. We begin our day early at 5am+ and to have McDonald’s as our breakfast before we proceed on our trip. The first destination we arrived at was the Lembah Bujang Archeology Museum after we took the first exit from the North-South Highway. The way leading us to the destination was definitely rural with minor alleyways. This was a historical complex displaying archeological remains since the Mala Kingdom centuries ago and with the influx of foreigners and locals alike, places of worship mushroomed up in the higher grounds. The valley became an archaeological paradise after the discovery of the candi in the area in the 1840’s. Though we enjoy walking around this old heritage and taking photos, however most of us were fighting against the ferocious onslaught of mosquitoes and gigantic ants. And this was the place where a pity camera was left behind by our Ms Tan CG. =_=”

-* 被遗弃的相机

 

-* 死无全尸的蚂蚁- An ant which attacked one of us

Our subsequent destinations were the disappointing Pantai Merdeka and the Seri Perigi waterfall. I believe that both these places could have been developed in a far better way for tourism purposes. Along the journey to Seri Perigi, we are able to behold the scenic views of paddy fields and traditional Malay Villages. Kedah is indeed a place featuring rustic charm and simplicity where we were surrounded by the nature almost everywhere.

 

Kota Kuala Kedah seems to be a better preserved one among the historical buildings in Kedah and this fort was actually built to ward off Kedah’s enemies who came from the sea. It was reportedly to have been built by stone masons especially brought in from India. Today, it is a fishing village, known for the variety of seafood that is served by the numerous restaurants that have since carved their business at the old historic site. 

We arrive at the capital of Kedah about 1.30pm and stopped by one of the Shopping Mall- Pacific to have our lunch. Most of us were dehydrated while we were walking under a scorching weather at Kota Kuala Kedah. In Alor Setar, we visited some of the places of interest namely Rumah Kelahiran Mahathir, Alor Setar Tower, Balai Seni Negeri and the Paddy Museum before we called it a day.

-* Managed to sneak in through the backdoor ignoring the ‘No Entry’ signboard @_@… lazy to walk to the front door lar…

Joke of the day:

为什么稻田那么多水? 淹水了?! @_@”

Why are there so much water in the paddy field? Is it due to the flood?