Yogyakarta

I was in Yogyakarta for a holiday with my sister end of July. We visited two cities i.e. Yogya and Solo. Was so excited over the trip as this is the first time we are travelling together.

The hotel we are staying is so..so.. only. Wanted to go for the high end but the lower category rooms are fully booked. Somehow, I managed to secure hotel that is closed to Malioboro street.

The first day, we visit the palace, taman sari and the famous Borobudur - nothing to shout about as it is not as great as the Angkor Watt. Did visit the mount merapi Kaliurang the same evening – can still smell the sulphur.

The next day, we are off to Solo. We take train and the fare is so damn cheap – only IDR 7,000 per trip. The train is like our LRT.

I don’t know why.. I am so lazy to visit interesting places in Solo. Just walk around the bazaar, don’t buy anything here, whilst my sis is pampering herself in the saloon. Suppose to stay two nights but changed my mind as I want to watch the Ramayana Dance Theatre in Prambanan.

We had our lunch at one of the local stall – bakso… wow, its so tasty. Whilst for dinner, we have nasi padang….

The next day, I went back to Yogya… take afternoon train.. so packed. Arrive Yogya, purchase the theatre ticket. Tonight, we gonna watch the theatre. Having watched… its ok la… something different.

Sunday… is a shopping day. I walk along the Malioboro street from one shop to another. Managed to buy 2 pairs of kebaya for myself, 1 pair for my uni-mate, 2 sarongs for my sis and 1 pair of batik for my mum. Not to mention, souvenirs for my boss and my friend, Faisal.

The last night we are in Yogya, we go to Café Vie-vie – recommended by my friends but unfortunately it is so packed. We ended up having our dinner at one of the restaurant close by Vie-vie.

It’s quite an interesting trip though I don’t really do what I want to.. watching sunrise/sunset at the Borobudur..

Here are some pictures taken whilst we were there…

The Entrance of Taman Sari

In the compound of the Palace

In front of the Hall at the Palace

The Borobudur

Myself at one of the level at Borobudur

The main stupa surrounded by the small stupas

The Kaliurang Mount Merapi

The local (short distance) train to Solo

Weekend in Janda Baik, Pahang

Janda Baik... I don't know where the hell is this place the first time I heard about it. The name itself sound funny... 'good widow'.

The first time I step my feet in this village was in March '08 - a trip with my college mates for our Ko-K program. This is a real typical village with small road, full of greens (jungle), river and the people make a living with odd job, kerja kampung and the like.

But to my surprise, there are visitors / tourists come to this village for camping, relaxing and to film a movie as well (wow!). There are a number of accommodations here and most of them cater for team building, company training and the like. There is one or two that cater for high end kind of weekend outing as well. One of it is Sailor Rest - the place where we gonna stay. They have 2 kind of accommodations - boathouse and house. Price range from RM 250 (boathouse) to RM 280 (house). They do cater food as well. My advice.... opt for the food they cater as it will be easier for those who just want to relax, afterall not much choice outside there.

During one of the weekend, me and my other 2 friends went for our weekend outing in Janda Baik and have booked a place at the boathouse. Arrived there around 11 am. We were being greet by the owner itself, Dato' Hashim and Datin Zana (we didn't know they have the title until my last visit to Janda Baik for my Ko-K program). That time we just call them auntie and uncle.

The place is further deep inside of the tribe/aborigine village. Though its quite deep inside but the minute you reach there... wow, fantastic! The house is just next to the river and the boathouse was built in a manmade lake (the water is piped in from the river). The view is superb and the air is fresh. Uncle and Auntie show us around the house, their fish pond, their kitten... We had a very warm welcome.

After our fruit punch, we walk to our boathouse. The minute we step into the boathouse, I was stunt with the decorations. It is so luxury, no doubt that it can't compete the five star hotel in town, but for that kind of place... RM 250 is worth the money.

Having looked around the boathouse, we get change and ready to go for our 'mandi sungai'. God... the water is so cold... This remind us of the Sungai Congkak we went few years back - but here is even better. Almost an hour and a half we were in the water. Get out of the river, we shower and ready to go for our food. Had our late lunch at one of the makan place there (drive out for 5 to 10 minutes).

After our late lunch.... here the incident started. I don't feel comfortable. Ask the makan place owner if there is a clinic I can head to - he shown us the direction. Drive there and its not a clinic but just a 'clinic desa'. Worst part... the doctor was not there.

We left the place and drive further down, in case there is clinic down there. By that time I couldn't stand the pain. I couldn't sit, stand, bend and everything.... I just couldn't.

My friend drive back to the 'clinic desa' try to see if the doctor is there... still no sign of him/her. I feel like vomiting and after sometime, manage to vomit everything out. Passers by were asking my another friend about me... My stomach is getting worst.

My another friend manage to get the doctor (fr the 'clinic desa'). They take me to the clinic. Myself that point of time.... I feel like I'm going to die. The lady who we thought is a doctor is just a nurse there... gosh! Asked her if she has gastric medicine and to my surprise, they don't keep other medicine than panadol, cough syrup and the usual medicine. That time I feel like yelling at her (sick like half dead, still want to yell at people...) but I have the energy to do so. Take the panadol and still no sign of cooling down. My friends decided to drive me to Bentong but they changed the plan. They instead pack our thing and drive back to KL.

They arrived Boathouse, make payment and tell Uncle and Auntie that we want to check out. They were surprised and by the time my friends want to leave the place, they say they want to come along and want to give me 'antibiotic'. My friends were hesitated but then, they agreed. There are another two person following them.

When they arrive, according to my friends, I wasn't look myself. Was jokingly tell them, why didnt they take a picture of me that point of time...

The person who followed Uncle and Auntie recites verses from the Quran. They ask me to drink the water and the one Auntie brought. In less than 20-minutes, I am back to normal, I start to laugh, can talk and .... no more pain! Its terrific!

Uncle and Auntie welcome us to overnight there but we've decided to go back to KL. Thank all of them there and Auntie hug me - I am touched!

We take a slow drive back to KL. In the car, my friend want to say something but dare not to until we are out of that place. Arrived KL, went to clinic to take medicine and back home. My friends overnight at my place and there we recall and chat how it started until we back to KL.

On the way home (almost reach my home), Uncle call to check if we arrived home - so kind of him. He advise me to finish the water they've given, this and that.... so concern....

To my surprise, on Tuesday the following week, he and auntie text me to find out if I am ok. I've called and talked to him... They are so very kind, and as a gesture of respect and thankful I'll visit him again (probably during my Uni programme in June '08).

Below are some pictures taken when we were there.... enjoy!!!!!

Newly born kittens...

The House

The Boathouse


Interior of the boathouse

The Garden (close to boathouse)


Myself... infront of the boathouse

The River... (next to the house)


The River


Nav... in the river...

Mok... testing the water (it is so cold...)

The three of us... (in the river)

p/s regrettably, we didn't take picture with Uncle Hashim & Auntie Zana. (Recently went to Janda Baik for my Uni program.. the village head told me that they are Dato' and Datin... I was surprised and even respect them more as they are very kind person).

A Weekend in Krabi

Hi readers... it's been long since my last post in January. Was so busy with work, daily routine etc.. Here, something to catch up what I've been ended up in January...

Took a short break - this time I headed to Krabi. My original plan was to Ko Lanta, but redirect to Ao Nang due to wrong info I've got from their airport staff.. :-(

It was so hot... my face, my body were burnt to the max and it takes almost 1 and a half month to recover. Thank God, my face now back to normal but there still marks on my body - it's like a zebra.. :-)

My unable to visit Ko Lanta was blessed with new friends I made in Ao Nang - Mei, Ayin, Winnie and Jackie. We are still contacting each other todate.

Here are some pictures for you readers to enjoy...

Sunset in Ao Nang

Tup Island

View from Tup Island to another. During low tide, we can walk to this island

My another new friend from Japan, Ary

Chicken island..

These are my new friends, (next to me) Mei, Ayin & Winnie

Hong Island & Lagoon

Time to leave Ao Nang... Jackie with us

The Cat City..... Kuching

Kuching a.k.a. Cat City... we were there last August '07 - a yearly outing by HRKL's girls. It is exactly a year when we were in Langkawi for our first outing. This time the same group is heading to Kuching with Sally managed to join us and Felicia who left HR early this year - still joining us.

We are taking the first flight out of KL at 7am and the worst part... we have to meet at KL Sentral at half past four in the morning. Don't even have time for breakfast. You readers may and must be saying we are crazy, kiasu, etc... - yes, we are. I don't really sleep that night as am excited and afraid of being overslept.

First thing upon arrival.... find a breakfast.

Having breakfast at one of the restaurant in Kuching Waterfront.

Me and Mok - munching a biscuit while waiting for our food.

After breakfast, straight to our so called "villa" in Santubong - Permai Rainforest Resort. Quite a distance from Kuching city.

Start our programme with a visit to their cultural village - walking distance from Permai Rainforest Resort. God... it was so hot there - all of us couldn't take it and the worst, being "puteri lilin" myself and Sally!

Managed to borrow umbrellas from the resort.

At one of the "long-houses"

Look at this bamboo bridge... its interesting, though a bit scarry

Playing ??? (don't know what is this called) - my feet stucked in between the bamboos once... arrrghhhh!

Look at their stairs (made from coconut tree)

Auntie dare not to climb this stair. Poor her, she has to wait for us one floor down. I try to find ways so that Auntie can join us. Yeay... I found a way.

Auntie... so happy upon reaching the top floor.

Take a rest here, we are sweating and worst... wind not blowing!

Late afternoon we finished our tour in the cultural village - walk back to our "villa". Get ready for dinner and some of us plan to go to the beach.

Go to the beach, get wet and watch sun set. The scenery is fantastic.

So peaceful... just the sound of the wave

"Sun set in Santubong"

We check-out the next day. Have our breakfast and I must tell you this... the tea is so nice. I've got addicted and lost count of how many cups I've consumed.

Today, we gonna go around Kuching city, visit few places of interest and the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre.

At the reception of Permai Rainforest Resort

Look at Sally....

At the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre

Two of the Orang Utans having their dinner

Semenggoh WC is our last stop. We head back to Kuching city. Take a ride in a small sampan crossing Sarawak river - the fare is only 30 cents. We are in the same sampan crossing back to Kuching Waterfront - the sampan owner try to con us.

This is the man who tries to con us.

Get back to our "hotel", shower and get ready for a "big dinner". We gonna have seafood tonight at the Rooftop. OMG... the amount of food we order like 10 days never get to eat - a lot! You guy guest whether we finish our food or not....

We walk back to "hotel" and along the way, the youngsters are wasting their time "melepak" at Kuching waterfront. I plan to go for a clubbing but seeing this situation, dare not to go - just relax in the "hotel". Few of them go for a foot massage.

In front of our "hotel" reception - its cozy here.

Today our plan is... whatelse if not shopping. But first thing in the morning we are going to Satok - Sunday market. OMG..... all kind of things you can find here - fresh vegetables, fruits, souvenirs, etc. After our first-round shopping, head back to "hotel" and walk to China Town to have a second-round breakfast, then we stroll along Kuching Waterfront doing our second-round shopping.

Take a break for lunch. We go to the Rooftop again for seafood lunch. After lunch, walk back to "hotel" and some of us straight to Kuching Waterfront for a third-round shopping. After getting all the things we intend to buy, and here comes the tedious part - packing.

Around half past four we leave Kuching city for the airport - flight was delayed.... arrrghhhhh - gonna arrive KL late night. We doze off in the flight zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Arrive KL Sentral around quarter to eleven.

At Kuching Airport - its time to say good bye to "Cat city"

Historical Malacca

One of the rows of shop houses - some of the shops were restored and this is one of it



Another shop house been refurbished - with beautiful carving

We were in Malacca over the weekend (day trip) - so called "Jalan-jalan cari makan". Starts our journey around 9.30am, arrived Malacca town around 12pm, straigt to the Portuguese settlement to have lunch.

YF, Sally and Nav

Another group of people from our office were also there - but didn't bump into them.

Banda Hilir - the main tourist attraction, we didn't visit this place. To us, nothing to explore here as from small, we were exposed to this place (visited so many times during our schooling days - so called "rombongan sekolah").

We instead go to Jonker Street - rows of shophouses sell so many kinda things, from antiques to accessories. Our main purpose is.... fooooood. Main attraction is its dessert - variety of ice shave you can enjoy here, from ice kacang to cendol - you can't compare Jonker Street's ice shave with others in KL especially it's cendol - one word I can express.... superb!

Browsing the menu

Apart from dessert, try out the nyonya kuih (cakes), curry laksa, assam laksa and the Baba Nyonya dishes... hmmmmmmm...... yummmmyyyyyyy!

Enjoying the cendol

p/s Look out for "Jonker 88" - the famous dessert shop. When you are here, also try out the 'pineapple tart' - bake daily.

Its a night market on Saturday and we get a chance to taste so many food - tried out their 'popiah', hmmmm taste good.

Don't forget to also try the "Chicken Rice Ball" - you must be wondering what is it. Its the normal chicken rice but the rice is round like a ball shape.

At one of the junction - a number of bars you can find here

We window shop for about 3hours here and its time for dinner - we gonna have "satay celup" and this is the first time for me. All this while I was wondering what is satay celup and finally I got to taste it - not bad, something different. Its like the 'lok-lok' and 'stamboat' but with satay sauce instead. I wonder what they do with the excess sauce (from every table) ???????

After 'satay celup' we were like a python... how are we going to drive back to KL?????

Take a slow drive back to KL, but knowing me.... I'll fall a sleep if driving like this, so... you should know what I did... he..he..

One thing I don't like about Malacca is their parking system - you have to purchase the coupon, scratch and display, and the fee is only 60cents per hour and.... you have to purchase 1 booklet that cost you RM3 or RM3.50 (for 5 hours??? am I right???). I wonder whether they make money out of it with the cost of printing, this and that.... ????? and the worst thing is not all shops selling this coupon and the booth..... I don't see any booth surrounding Jonker Street.

Not a friendly system at all.