We were very early for our 8:35 a.m. ETS this time as we didn’t have breakfast at McD or Burger King.  I told the hubs that having breakfast at the station was a complete waste of time. I bento-ed fried rice and apples for the girls to eat on the train instead.

My papa and younger brother couldn’t pick us up from the Ipoh train station as papa had inadvertently left both sets of his car keys in his car when he manually locked the car. And the other car had a flat tyre in the morning when papa went to the market  to get coconut water for us. He had to change the tyre by the side of the road in the hot sun. Double whammy!

We took a Grab car to my parents ~ with 6 people crammed into the car including the driver and it was only a Proton Preve car.

Lunch was at our favorite kopitiam at the neighborhood.

After lunch, I took Cass to Kinta Cinty to claim her reward. I told before her exam that if her ‘position’ is within 20 in the entire Primary 4 (of 6 classes), she gets her wish of owning any novel that she wants.

Her reward was a Harry Potter book plus bonus of 3 other books on special offer at only RM10 each.

At the Claw Machine at the mall, while observing people play, Cass spotted a young man carrying a backpack and slinging a shoulder bag for his girlfriend.

Cass – mum, I feel REALLY SORRY for the man. Look…

Me – (ROTFL!) then make sure you don’t do that to your boyfriend in future

Cass – hell no. I will never have a boyfriend.

Me – oh really? Let’s see…

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Our girls finally met their new twin cousins on 21 December 2017. They were beaming with joy.  So was I.   I have been yearning to cuddle my new niece and nephew since day 1 they were born prematurely at 32 weeks on 1 Sept 2017.

The girls could not resist cuddling and stroking the babies, who are absolutely cuteness overloaded!

Both my sil and myself were on tenterhooks when the girls carried the babies, concerned that they would drop the babies.  And this sort of unfortunate accident really happened to my sil’s friend during the baby’s fullmoon party where a friend dropped the baby! Oh. My. Gawd!

The next time we meet the babies will be in another two  months, perhaps during CNY. They will be even more responsive by then.  We can’t wait to see the babies again.

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Today is big brother Raymond’s birthday.  We started off our day with breakfast at a nearby market. Food was really not up to we Malaysians’ taste buds.  We ordered wanton noodles, prawn noodles, fish ball noodles, economy noodles, coffee and milk tea. Nothing met our expectations, though the queue at most of the stalls were long and we had to spend 15 ~ 30 minutes queuing up to buy food.  Thankfully our lunch at Sentosa Resorts World was very satisfactory (at no other than a restaurant offering Malaysian hawkers’ food hehe) and big bro Ray treated us to Japanese for dinner.

After breakfast, we went to Novena church to give thanks and to sneak into the grounds of one of the most expensive and beautiful churches in Singapore.  After 33 months and at a whopping cost of $54 million, Novena Church’s redevelopment and extensive overhaul was finally completed. The church opened its doors to the public again on Sept 29 2017.  Novena church is one of the most iconic and popular Catholic churches in Singapore.

Clad in granite outside and limestone inside, the church’s sanctuary now features soaring arches, intricate columns, a dome and 18 large stained-glass windows.  It is indeed one of the grandest churches that we have been to.

 

 

After Novena, we headed to Sentosa Island’s Resorts World.

 

 

 

I secretly snapped two pix of Sherilyn posing with the birds coz I was too cheapskate to spend over SGD10 for a picture.  I had to remind myself that every dollar spent is RM3 and to spend RM30 for a picture that will eventually end up inside our photo album cupboard, no way am I going to add more junk into that cupboard, ha!

 

Walking to the toilets.   Toilets in Singapore are very clean, unlike the ones back home.  Even the loos at the market that we went to are of the standard of shopping mall toilets back home.  And I don’t mind paying 10 cents to use it.

We had lunch at Malaysian Food Street @ Resorts World, one of the most popular eateries at Resorts World.

Food was surprisingly not expensive and quality of food is good. The char koay teow and prawn mee tasted exactly like the ones back home.

Malaysian Food Street is created into a unique old-town ambience to flavour the experience of indulging in some of Malaysia’s finest and famous hawker fare. This is one dining destination not to be missed in Sentosa Island.  It is fully air-conditioned and designed to evoke the look of streets of Malaysia, with facades of old shop houses and replicas of 1950s coffeeshop. There are a total of 17 stalls which includes legendary Malaysian favourites such as Famous Jalan Alor KL Hokkien Mee, Huen Kee Claypot Rice, Penang Hai Beng Lor Mee etc.

 

 

 

After we got back from Resorts World and with only an hour left before dinner, my childhood best friend, Ju, picked me up from my brother’s apartment. We had drinks at a nearby cafe. It was really nice to meet up with Ju again after donkey years.  And thank you once again Ju for spoiling my girls with those gifts. And our favorite potato chips from Japan!

After our sumptuous Japanese dinner, our friendly van driver drove us to Gardens By The Bay.

Entrance fee is only SGD10 per person.

Our favorite spot is the Supertrees. When night falls, this enchanting  vertical gardens come alive with a mesmerising Garden Rhapsody light and sound show.  On the night we were there, there were fake snow flakes too.

There is an elevated walkway, the OCBC Skyway, between two of the larger Supertrees for visitors to enjoy a panoramic aerial view of the Gardens.  Too bad it rained half way through our admiration of the trees and we had to miss going up the elevated walkway.   Instead, we ran back to the entrance and got into our waiting van, half drenched in rain water. Bummer!

Tip: do bring along umbrellas during the rainy season.

Our girls against the backdrop of Marina Bay Sands.

 

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We came back from Singapore late last night after an 11-hour crawl back from Singapore.  We left Singapore at 11:30 a.m., went through the Tuas Checkpoint pretty smoothly without any traffic jam and thought that luck was on our side. But we were so wrong.  A few minutes after we left the Tuas Checkpoint, we saw the longest traffic crawl ahead of us. We were totally unprepared for what was to come.

After over 3 hours stuck at the Causeway, where vehicles were barely moving, we were still not reaching the Malaysian Customs yet. All our bladders were about to explode.  Our very friendly van driver gave us some suggestions on how we could relief ourselves. But could you even pee into a plastic bag?  Or walk to the side of the Causeway and pee near the bushes? NO WAY!

Finally, we decided to get down the vehicle smack-bang in the middle of the highway and walked under the merciless 2 p.m. sun to the Malaysian Customs to use the staff toilet. What a relief it was after holding on for over 2 hours!

Long story short, after 11 hours of bumper to bumper crawl from the Tuas Checkpoint, we finally reached home.  Home sweet home at 10:30 p.m.  We had a lunch break and 2 toilet breaks in between.  Half the journey, almost everyone was in sheer agony of full bladders.

After we were dropped off in KL, my parents, younger brother and hubs had dinner at 11 p.m. before the driver continued the trip back to Ipoh to drop off my parents and brother. They reached Ipoh at 2 a.m. It was the longest ever road trip for all of us.

Much as I would like to write more and post more beautiful pix that we took in Singapore, especially the ones with my new twin niece and nephew, I have to make this post a short one. I have to be up very early tomorrow for Christmas service in church at 8:30 a.m.

Bumper to bumper crawl on both sides of the highway, all the way from Seremban to Singapore and vice versa.

 🎄Merry Christmas Everyone!🎄

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Hiking in the jungle is not the girls’ first. They had tackled Rangitoto Island in New Zealand 2 years ago as well as Stanley Peak and Victoria Peak in Hong Kong last year. But this is by far the toughest ever hike for them at Ratu Rening.  The hike to the waterfall on steep and very muddy terrain (it had rained all night) took us about 2 hours.  The descent was about 1 hour plus. I almost wanted to give up and make a U-turn but our Indon guide had warned us prior to agreeing to the hike that there shan’t be any U-turn. He also asked me several times if I was certain that I wanted to bring Cass along as the hike is not suitable for young kids. So I soldiered on, pushed my boundaries and challenged my stamina despite being breathless each time we climbed up a steep and muddy hill.  There were a total of 7 steep hills to conquer. Flat terrain was easy peasy for me, though muddy. What zapped away all my energy was the steep hills.  We could make a U-turn after reaching a stream about 1km away from our villa. Hubs and I had initially agreed to go back after reaching the stream but when everyone was super enthusiastic to hike for another 1.5 hours to the waterfall, especially Cass, we joined them.  Well, no regrets as the waterfall was a sight to behold. The water was crystal clear and icy cold.  The waterfall area is pristine and unpolluted as I think not many people would want to venture into such a risky hike to the waterfall.

Below- about half an hour before reaching the waterfall, we had a nerve-racking balancing stunt on some slippery and rickety bamboo ‘bridge’ while holding on to ropes – crawling and climbing down steep steps towards the waterfall. I made sure I was behind Cass screaming to her to hold on tightly to the rope. And I hollered to my man to take a snap shot of this stunt for I know that the snap shots will be priceless and definitely a keep sake for future reminisce.  Am glad he obliged and despite lugging his humongous backpack and mine, he managed to whip out his phone to take a quick snap shot 😀

Below – see the man with an orange float across his shoulder? That’s our friendly Indon guide.

As we got nearer to the waterfall, the sounds of the gushing water got louder and louder… and the descent got tougher and finally, voila, we saw the beautiful waterfall!!

Below – my tough cili padi with an indefatigable spirit braved  2 hours of tough jungle hike on unforgiving tracks without a single complaint. It’s always been her wish to tackle tough jungle hikes, just like her 2 sisters. Cass missed the 2 jungle hikes that her 2 sisters did in Hong Kong last year.  Her limbs were covered with mozzie bites despite me applying thick layers of mozzie repellent and lemongrass essential oil on them but she had no complaints. She was always ahead of all of us and I think she’s a hero in her own right.

Crystal clear and unpolluted water – can you spot the fishes in the water?

Alycia soaking in the sun after a long dip in the icy cool water…

Picture perfect postcard shot of the waterfall…

 

Despite the icy cold water and everyone shivering (it was drizzling lightly), everyone made a dash into the cold water. We brought along snacks and devoured on them like a pack of hungry wolves after our grueling 2 hours hike and long dip in the water.

My baby girl and I…

On our hike back to the villa, we had a close encounter with these lovey dovey creatures in the midst of their love session!

 

I asked the girls if they would want to go to Ratu Rening  for yet another wilderness adventure stay and do another hike to the waterfall and I got three resounding YES!!  As for me, I still have reservations as my main turn-off is the lack of ensuite facilities in the bedrooms.  Well, I may consider doing this again after a few years when Cass is bigger and I have forgotten about all the inconvenience and creepiness of walking up and down slippery steps in the rain in the forest to use the toilet at ungodly hours.

Check out more updates and pictures of our villa at Ratu Rening Residency in my other blog.

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After a 3-day-2-night stay in the jungle doing ‘camping in style’, I am SO SO glad that we are back home. To civilization!  During our stay in the forest reserve, we were  up close and personal with nature. Though the rustic villa at Ratu Rening was breathtaking, I just could not live comfortably without an ensuite toilet / bathroom in our bedroom. We had to climb up and down stairs and walk briefly (less than a minute) in the forest in the rain to reach our toilet where we would be greeted by a mishmash of jungle insects and creatures (lots of dragon fly, jungle roaches, baby frogs, camouflage insects, ants, lizards, etc) in the toilet when we visited the toilet in the wee hours of the morning *shudder*.   Cass was terrified of using the toilet each time and would stay frozen in a stationery position clutching on to me, lest the jungle insects flew to her direction.

Though the rooms are modern, there are still plenty of jungle insects inside them. Only 2 rooms are 99% enclosed to the top. The other rooms are open, leaving creatures and insects roaming freely into the open rooms! The two most adventurous couples chose the open rooms, sans air-cond. Thankfully it only drizzled on the two nights we stayed there. Had it rained cats and dogs, our friends occupying the open rooms would have been  wet.

I told the girls that they were camping in style in the jungle and that if they had so much complaints with insects and no ensuite bathroom, they have failed miserably and will never have the guts to camp in the jungle in tents sans toilets and bathrooms like how I used to when I was a teenager, where hiking and camping were my forte.  I even did a 1-day solo camp in the deep jungle during a 10-day wilderness adventure camp in Lumut. Yup I was that brave and dirt-resistant but that’s history now.

Our stay at Ratu Rening Residency brought me down memory lane. The loud sounds of insects filling the still of the night as we slept, the walk in the forest to the toilet in chilly air in the wee hours of the morning, the smell of nature, sharing our beds with jungle insects, the hike in muddy terrain to the waterfall, peeing in the wild (haha!), swimming in the waterfall, the BBQ at night, remind me of my camping days in 1987 – 1989. I am in awe that Cass has so much energy to reach the waterfall first and to return to our villa first, along with other kids during the 3-hour hike to and fro the waterfall.  The owner of the villa stated in her website that this place is not suitable for kids below 12 years old. I am so glad that Cass survived living in the wilderness.

That’s the aftermath of our 3-day-2-night forest retreat – loads of wet and muddy clothes and shoes.  I did 5 rounds of laundry today and my house now looks like a make-shift laundry shop.

I can’t wait to plonk myself onto my cosy bed now!

To be continued with more pix of our forest retreat and our challenging 3-hour hike in the jungle to a beautiful waterfall with pristine water and scenery…

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The mil came back from Hong Kong after being away for 4 months. As usual, she brought back lots of goodies from Hong Kong, New Zealand, Korea and Japan.

We had Panettone Christmas bread for breakfast today. Panettone bread is something that we only get to eat once a year around Christmas, which my eldest sil from Hong Kong buys for us, thus is a holiday treat for us. If you’re new to Panettone bread, you’ll be shocked to see the price tag on it.

It has been a wet holiday the past one week.  Alycia’s tennis lesson had to be cancelled yesterday because of the rain and we couldn’t go to the park either. The past few mornings have been wet too, so I’ve had a good excuse to skip exercise. My bad, I must compensate and try to work out in the gym soon! Drama Queen is already planning on the next baking project in the kitchen and Cass has been spending hours on end doing art and craft.

The mil ain’t feeling too well and my stint as sous-chef de cuisine has to be extended indefinitely.  Thankfully I have Drama Queen to help me out.

The girls have something to look forward to this school holiday. First is a 3-day-2-night stay at Ratu Rening with friends next week. Ratu Rening is a hidden ecological retreat near Genting Highlands, surrounded by a crystal clear stream and forest reserve. Second is our yearly end-of-the-year holiday at my parents in Ipoh where we plan to have several celebrations during this festive period 🙂

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Port Dickson started life as a humble charcoal producing town, but in recent times it has turned into a thriving and popular beach destination.

This jewel of a destination is just 60km from Kuala Lumpur, meaning it is a popular destination for city slickers looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Indeed, many of them own holiday homes in the area. It also means that the city is readily accessible for anyone who is visiting this exquisite area, it is actually just a one hour drive to the world renowned city.

But don’t go jumping for a rental car too quickly, because there is plenty to do and see in this picturesque holiday destination.

Naturally being near the coast, the area has a great abundance of beaches, with all types and levels of beauty. Teluk Kemang Beach is a popular beach for the locals, calm clear waters and beautiful golden sandy beaches, it is the perfect scene for a relaxing sunbathe and a frolic in the ocean. It is also a great place for water sports, the beach side is well stocked with exciting water based activities to hold your attention all day.

 

While you’re at a beach, the one at Tanjung Tuan to be exact, why don’t you try the thrilling climb up the historic local lighthouse?  Not only is it an amazing example of human engineering, keeping our oceans safe, but it also offers amazing views across the bay and beyond.

Finally after a great day at the beach, perhaps a relaxing massage should be considered, there is only one place to attend. The Thai odyssey is a famous massage parlour and is always reviewed well, thanks to their experienced experts in massage comfort, just be sure to book your slot well in advance.

So you’ve swum and relaxed, now it is time to sleep. Fortunately, Port Dickson has a myriad of hotels, ranging in all qualities and prices for you to choose from (Click here to find more options of hotel!). Below is a small selection of hotels, to give you an idea of what to expect.

Hotel Seri Malaysia Port Dickson
Lot PT 49, Jalan Pantai, Port Dickson 71050, Malaysia
With a nightly price beginning at just RM133, this is a very affordable and good quality hotel. There is a pool and restaurant on site, ensuring you’ll never go hungry or bored and the free hi speed WIFI means you’ll always be connected; enabling you to be able to send those priceless holiday photos to your social media sites.  This hotel is available in Traveloka. Simply visit https://www.traveloka.com/en-my.

Corus Paradise Resort
3.5km, Jalan Pantai, Port Dickson 71000, Malaysia
This excellent resort combines quality with reasonable pricing; with prices starting at just RM215 a night. It has all the amenities you’d expect at a high class resort including; pools, a gym and excellent restaurants. You’ll never be bored and the business centre ensure you’ll always be connected.

Ilham Resort Port Dickson
Batu 10, Tanjung Biru | Si Rusa, Port Dickson 71050
This is a high end resort and you get what you pay for. Spacious rooms and the highest quality possible, the hotel even provides a viewing tower, so you can enjoy the amazing views it has to offer. An amazing pool and brilliantly stocked gymnasium, all you could want on your resort holiday.

 

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