Langkawi

Its been ages that i have a family trip. Always miss out but now yes i finally took leave and take the intiative to go holiday with them. This time round a total of 15 people..and we heading to Langkawi........



Located in North of Malaysia, lies a wonderful island. I think this is the best island that Malaysia have invested. You can visit to historical landmark, to entertainment centre till sea side activities....Shoik....till my father wanna go back again....trust me...

We took Silkair airline as our main transportation to get there and it just take 1hr and 45 mins instead of a long bus ride. Best of all, i have my uncle, my father's brother to fly us there... He is the co pilot of the aircraft and we have the privilage to get to the cockpit. Its a bit small to what i think...

Once we got there, we rented a van and a car which is pre arrange by my sis with the local agency for RM $ 600. We drove to our resort chalet called "Pelangi Meritus Beach Resort" rating at Rm600++ per room and times 4 room will be Rm 2400 per night and times 4 nights will be RM 9600 in total . Thou it is expensive but it is nice. Since the Malaysia's school holiday was just over, it seem we have the whole area to ourselves.
The chalet are designed as a malay kampung full with malay identity... The only flaws is that you have to walk in and out bout 5 min to your chalet if there are no available buggy or late night. Our chalet is right in front of the swimming pool....so no need to have morning bath but just jump into the pool but sadly it closed as eight pm.






As our flight delayed, we reached quite late and was left with just dinner and return back to the hotel. We slept quite early on that first night, well most of the time i been sleeping early and wake up late...hehehe

i didn't know langkawi was also hit by Tsunami till i meet this memorial in my hotel...

Labuan-Sabah

Another mistake that i've made is not booking the ferry. Thinking you can just purchase on the spot. Well i was wrong! Woke up at 11am, quickly i made my way to the Ferry terminal. I even walked to the ferry terminal. By the time i reach there, there are no more tickets.....argh!!!!!!!!!!!! waste time and waste my energy....no plans.... How? sat down and pondering,,, i don't want to stay another night in KK....and the island is mend for a one day trip and my trip to brunei. Where shall i go? Then i walked out of the terminal, a guy approach me and advised me to take a bus to Menumbok.A longer route to Labuan. Taking a bus(RM25) to menumbok, a 3 hr ride then 45 min speed boat.... Confused and uncertainof what to expect, i just follow the crowd. Down at menumbok, you have the choice of taking the speed boat which cost Rm 15 or Rm 5 by feery but take about another 2 hr. Well i want to be at Labuan asap as it reaching 4 plus.

Once got into the speed boat, you are advise to wear a life jacket...in my heart ...wow this going to be a life threatning sistuation. Its quite dangerous thou. Cause its speed can break the boat into pieces. Putting in jacket and then off it goes...you really can feel the speed thru the wind.... Finally, i reached to Labuan and went ard to search for a hotel and finall i found a cheap hotel which Rm 100 with Rm 50 deposit. The receptionist is very friendly and helpful. Checking into the hotel, putting my stuff and then str8 to the nearest shopping centre. Had not eaten the whole day and searching for any internet cafe to inform my parent of my well being. Walking my way to the shopping centre, found this beautiful hotel where it have a nice balcony..... but seem expensive thou.
I got myself a hair dye as there not much night activities, i decided to stay in the hotel and dye my hair.....thinking will be rushing day tomorrow as will be travelling to Brunei. when the next day come, everything cancelled! as the ferry timing doesnt premit me to do so....clash with the ferry on the way back. The schedule there is unfixed. Hence decided to go breakfast and a barber....Cut at the price of Rm 10, i got new hair cut...Check out of my hotel and say gd bye to the receptionist,
i make my way back to KK.... by ferry which took bout up to 4 hrs.Walk ard the shopping centre for another 2 hrs then head back to the airport. Upon reaching johor, my parent fetch me from there........so sweet rite..........

next coming stories....."island of eagles"

Poring Hot Spring-Sabah

My my...very the busy...have no time to continue my stories...another lame excuse from me hehhe. But regardless, let's proceed back...

Well after Mount Kinabalu, i waited for a bus which get me to Ranau. From there then i'll make my way to the Poring Hout Spring. But after an hour waiting for bus, it finally arrived. Making a deal with the driver for Rm 50(after much consideration and bargaining), he will drive me to the Poring and then back to Ranau. At first i didn't trust him, well you need to be wary of....then i misjudge. It took 45 min to get to Ranau and another 20 min or so to the Poring. Well if you want to get to the Poring by taxi or private car, it will cost twice. Well its best to make a deal with the bus driver. Its a good thing i'm alone so easier to negotiate with the driver.

Upon reaching the poring, again i claimed as Malaysian and paid local price of RM 3. Well the place quite smiple. You can have public bathing and private bathing ( which inside a small hut).







At the Poring Hot spring itself, futhur in , you can climb all the way up about two km uphill and you can find a long man made bring called "The canopy walk". I was very unsure of whether to get up there as you will take 30 min to get up. I have time constraint and tired after the Mount kinabalu trail. I asked the local youngsters there and they said they are going up and asked me to join. Well i just gave it a go....again you have Rm 3 oppps for the local if not Rm 5 for foreigner. One of the youngster asked me in front of the counter man, where am i from...i replied slumberly...KL...hehehe before entering, the counter man asked me where i am...without answering him i just ran in, where those guys had did so. They ran all the way up and i have to catch up with them...my gosh.... i am so not gonna make it..but finally i did and its within 15min. i am so wear off lor...but its worthy, conquering my fear and seeing the beautiful scenery....



Rushing all the way to look for the bus drive, i am 1/2 late...he patienly waited for me and rush me back to Ranau as i need to take another bus back to kota kinabalu. But i missed it. See i didn't bother to what the bus driver advised, i missed it by 10 min. He is kind enough to find transport back home. But they aint any except to wait for a big bus from semarang back to Kota kinabalu. i waited for an hr for that bus. Even then it stopped at the bus terminal which you have to take a cab for another 20 min back home. Wow an adventurous trip for me... a tired one....and end the night by visiting a club :P

Sabah (Kota Kinabalu)

Hi ppl, its been very long time that i updated my blog. Its because i will only update if i went for a trip as u guys know my dream is to cover the world. It took a while to update since my returned,i've been heading johor...almost everyday. Good n bad...ok enough of explanation i will start with my story

On 11 April 2008,it mark the date of my first exploration or shall i say the start of my dream. Dream to step my foot all over the world. 4 cities or more for every country - a must visit. Without realised, i have already completed Indonesia with a special friend,Sam. But since he got married, i've decided to finish our dream myself starting with Malaysia.

Sabah

It is located far eastern part of Malaysia, on an island called Borneo. It is well known for its rafflesia flower and Mount Kinabalu.

I took a flight from Johor - Air Asia costing $170 include a meal. But the only trouble is, i have to be there by 5.30 am ( to play safe) to catch my flight at 7.05am. So plan start coming in on how to get there on time. Luckly i have friends who love to go johor. Hence we went Johor and hang out, makan, massage and etc till 2am. Then he sent me to Bus interchange Lakin. At Johor, i did ask ard and according to the local assumption that cab fare will reach 100+ to get to Senai Airport as it is over midnight. What??? thats crazy!!!! So i decided to hang out at Larkin as there is 24hrs macdonald where i can hang out till its time to make a move. I just ordered a tea and sat quietly listening to my ipod. While i'm in Macdonald, i fall asleep after setting my alarm. When the alarms when off, woking up, i realised my table is wet. i knocked over my tea...ohhh gosh, luckly no one saw it.

Then I took a cab from Lakin to Senai Airport costing 40 ringgit which i think can be cheaper. But its 5am in the morning so i just let it be. But you should take the cab b4 six as the taxi driver claimed it will get jam. This is due to factory workers heading to work.

Upon reaching Senai Airport, i fall asleep again and finally got into the airplane. Thou its free seating but at least i've got my fav spot - windows seat, maybe its not a full flight.

After 2 hrs plus flight, i got a cab and alight to a shopping centre. From there, i can scavanged for a hotel. Not long enough, i got a cheap and budget HOTEL KINABALU costing 2 nights for Rm 130. Small,simple and the most important thing, it is CLEAN. Getting myself feel at home,suddenly i realised i forgot my Hp charger. Gosh! my phone is dead. How can i informed my parents that i have reached my destination but i will think that later. All i want to do now is to rest. I laied myself on to the bed. Thou it is not comfortable, i just want to rest myself well after a yr of work without any holiday..

When i woke up, its already 4 pm. Bath and getting reading to explore Sabah. First stop is to find Filipina Market. When i went there, a group of ppl busy getting ready to set their stall. So i decided to return later.

Day VS Night

NOTE: Filipina market is where you can find a lot of souvenoir but take note it is more expensive as its been a commercialised market. I got my sourvenoir somewhere else which its more cheaper.

For a moment, i felt regret of going alone. Not fun....But i told myself that this is what i planned and no matter what i want to travel ard the world regardless with family or friends.The most important thing is to step my foot ard the world. Breathe in and then i moved on. There are a lot of shopping centre ard. From the hotel i stayed, it is accessable to most places. At night, filipina market is turn into food centre and a night market selling grocery. The unique food that i bought are murtabak goreng and apam balik with kaya and magarine. Nice thou. Rest early as tomorrow will be adventure day.

Time:1000hrs

Woke up and slowly prepared for my adventurous day. Packing up my bag(which i bought a haversack bag at the night market behind my hotel @ Rm15) which I think it is a must to have this extra haversack bag where you can put in mineral water, biscuits, camera and extra clothes in. Got off my room and asked the receptionist for the bus interchange. Charges to Mount Kinabalu by bus in Rm 25 which you have to mention to the bus coordinator. The bus is going Ranau but they will alight you at Mount Kinabalu. If you take a private car or taxi will cost you Rm 120+. Its more fun taking the bus which actually a mini van. Driving very fast till no air con is in need to be install. The minivan pass by few places that i wanna go but of cause no stop - The state mosque, the oil refinery building and indeed the beautiful scenery of the highland. The higher it went, it getting chill and damn again, i forgot to bring any jacket. but i can bear the chill....nicezzz





After 2 hrs +, they alight me at the 1st entrance of Mount Kinabalu. Walking to the gate entrance, you have to pay Rm 3. I took some pictures before decided to take my lunch. Nice buffet cafe costing me Rm 25. Chill for a while but have to rush as my schedule may clash- leaving the area by 2pm. Asking for the staff advise, she said that we could choose 2 choices to take a vehicle for Rm 5 to get to the 2nd entrance of the Mount kinabalu or walk 3 km. Want to be adventurous, i decided to walk up. Regret and yet not!!!! I think i didn't listen carefully is it 3 km or 4 km UPHILL! I almost gave up when i reached 1.5 km. But what motivate me is to get in to the trail along way up. You can see the beautiful Mount Kinabalu...the waterfall , the greenery or just anything simply captured my heart.

*Be sure or if can, pretend you are Malaysian, if got caught to bad...cause you pay local price... far much cheaper..


Start of my trail
Time: 1200hrs


Found the map only towards the end of the trail

After 1.5k 30 min later




Face getting paler and paler





Nearing to "just" the entrance



Finally after 2 1/2 hrs...i've reached but just the entrance...sigh

Although no certificate(reach to the peak,receive a certificate of achievement),i'm glad i made it alive....