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Showing posts from 2015

Tamparuli Acoustic Getaway 2015 @ Borneo Orchard House

There is no right answer to camping, but yes. Except. Well, okay I'll tell you about it later...  Safuan and his friends (righfully called The Happen Makers) organised a Tamparuli Acoustic Getaway, which literally means an acoustic getaway at the beautiful Borneo Orchard House. This is genius. There were a few things, the fact that it's a musical weekend getaway and that us ladies are finally going camping together.... meant it was going to be nothing but fun. I invited Jessy along and we all drove to Tamparuli together :) The last time I was in Tamparuli was a couple of years ago for Kiulu white water rafting. It's good to be back, but this time, the bridge had a very National Geographic feel to it; yellow frame and all. The girls were snapping away, it was too hot for me to comprehend so some of us stood by the stalls imagining how it would be like for drunkards to drink and drive near that bridge with no barricade around it. That would be interesting. 

Work/ Play in Kuta

Right after Siem Reap , I flew into Bali for work. I was very excited to go back to Bali now that this time to Kuta. My previous visit to Bali was a very leisure trip, one I spend on my own resting, reading and taking time to see the cultured things that make up Bali. I stayed in Ubud, didn’t move an inch while I was in Ubud , and didn’t even bother to explore any other place except... for Tanah Lot. Now that I’m back!! And in the infamous Kuta!! I stayed in the newest Starwood property in Indonesia; Four Points by Sheraton Bali Kuta . I’ve worked with them previously and was just so excited to meet the awesome people behind this beautiful property. Look at how beautiful this hotel is. 

Petite Temple Suite Spa; Tropical pool, in-room massages and colourful breakfast

I was on overdrive from July to October, between the opening of the new restaurants, and volunteering in events, and the newfound passion with mum. There’s something going on every-day between these, family and friendships right up till October. So this quarter, I decided to focus more on my first love, BLOGGING!  This isn’t a travel blog, it just so happen that I feel most inspired to write after going to different places. This time, I want to share with you about my recent family trip to Siem Reap, Cambodia. I have never felt so … luxurious in any of my trips before, and this was that one that was. And we weren’t even spending money like water, it was just – that we had a good hotel, it was more laidback and relaxed. I am always so … “particular” about my budget when it comes to traveling, I’m not thrifty, I just like to make sure that what I’m buying is good value for money. Before going to Siem Reap I spent my weekends trying to figure out “what kind of vacation this will

Temple Running (with slippers and a 60 year old)

That disclaimer needs to come first because the idea of temple running is often associated with the impossibility for someone older (like my mum in this case) and it's often so overwhelmed with the idea of being young, tough and rough, having the right kits and the right shoes (unless you're in a huge tour group). Whoever invented this image? Well, we did it with me on slippers (although I must say, not recommended though) and mum joining in. Of course we didn't do ALL the temples in the Angkor Wat Central, in fact we only chose 4 from the selection. We wanted to be very honest with ourselves, do we really want to do temple running THE WHOLE 4 DAYS? No, we wanted to do other local things, eat, meet local people, tuk tuk around and basically enjoy Siem Reap as we honestly would. Also, it was very impractical for mum to painfully follow us temple running throughout the trip. So in a day we went to; 1) Angkor Wat 2) Bayon Temple 3) Angkor Thom 4) Ta Phrom (the To

Older, but better holidays

Writing this post in a small room of this Younique Hotel at my layover from Siem Reap before I fly really early in the morning tomorrow to Bali for work. I've had a really good time with the two ladies, now it's back to the grind. I wanted this vacation for the longest time because of the streak I had since ... July probably. Haven't had a proper breather from anything since then. It's good to go off the grid once in a while and get lost in translation, food, culture and anything in between. I admit I used to be so hard on myself when it comes to traveling/ vacation; like I MUST try all, follow the itinerary, meet new people, get uncomfortable, must see underground new things, take cool photos. Whoever invented these rules? Now I realized, the most important thing about going away, is to actually do things that make you happy. I started listing down a few things that I cannot miss, and followed my body. I made sure my health is taken care too, and embracing ev

Day trip to Hiroshima

Japan is a nation rich in history. Some if not most of the innovation we know today have been attributed to Japan. But, there are times when Japan is in the history for the worst reason. Hiroshima, 6 August 1945 marks a very tragic date to mankind. Hiroshima is the capital of the Hiroshima Prefecture, most known for being the first city on this planet to be wiped out by the first nuclear atomic bomb, used on civilians, and was done by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). It was war times, world war 2 to be specific, and the war that was between the United States and its allies with Germany, Italy and it's ally - Japan (please correct me if I'm wrong, this is my understanding). With a far more complicated than meets the eye allegations, conspiracies and allies during the world war 2, with the United Kingdom, and Italy and some parts of Asia joining in the picture - war times were complicated, and difficult. One thing was very clear - Hiroshima was the victim to the

YB Senator

Been weeks since dad has been well and very much living in our conversations. I think it started when Mum stumbled upon uncle Herald, a very good friend of my late dad during his "tougher" times. Ever since then, mum and brother have been sharing all the good times growing up, relating with me with the ones I remember. That seafood restaurant we never fail to visit before every movie. Brother's immense love for Tamiya because while dad spends an hour to get a massage next to the Tamiya shop, brother would drool over its new circuits. Dad's insistence in spending the weekend with us watching action-packed movies too long and too complicated for us to actually understand but it didn't matter because dad was there (although snoring loudly), letting us eat junk and pizzas just because he could treat us. He's really good at it too, my brother, always has the most animated, most visual descriptions when telling these moments I partially recall. And so honest whil

Nappark Hostel @ Tanee Road, Khaosan, Bangkok

I booked the entire Ladies NapSpace Dorm for all eight of us for at least 3 months ahead. Since they didn’t require deposit I was always at the edge of my seat, making sure that they don’t give away my reservations. YES I can be super paranoid. Angel, Ingrid and myself reached earlier than the rest of the gang so we were automatically tasked to look for the place. I was even more paranoid throughout the entire 2 hours journey to the hostel from Don Mueang Airport. Is it supposed to be 2 hours?!?!  We found out later that Michelle and the rest took less than half an hour with a cab to the hostel from Don Mueang Airport - I reckon that was kind of a good bus experience. EXCEPT – that we had to walk around the famous infamous Khaosan Hostel (where Hangover 2 filmed) in our rollers -_-“ seriously we are real backpackers who are just practical about shopping!! And yet we are roving around our rollers looking super impractical and lost in one of the busiest street in South East Asia

Day 4 - First day in Kyoto, Japan

Prior coming to this beautiful country, I asked those who've been to Japan which were their favourite cities, and why. 5/6 of my friends voted Kyoto as number 1 using similar keywords to describe their experience, authentic and beautiful. I didn't know what to expect really... I never spent a lot of time Googling about Japan neither have I discussed a lot on this beautiful country, but I do know one thing - I love Japanese food... I know so shallow. But thank God after this visit, I know a lot more about Japan than meets the eye. The people, the lives, what matters, what are they looking forward to. Upon reaching Kyoto (via Shinkansen and local train). We started our day meeting up with our Airbnb host Ms Rumi (a self proclaimed grandma who proposed the idea to the owner of the home to turn that home we stayed in into a meeting point for conversations and gatherings for the people around her area - because "people are just too busy with their own lives, we don&