Short Family trip to Aonang Beach, Krabi with some recommendation

We planned a trip to Krabi from 15th May to 18th May with family and an 11 month old baby. It is a challenge to bring a baby to oversea with stroller and things to consider during stay and eat at Krabi. So far we still manage to divide and conquer the attraction places and some restaurants.

The very first day we reach Krabi in the afternoon and I organised Krabi Shuttle to pick us up at the airport with the online booking. I also booked AonangOrkid’s Grand Superior with seaview with Baht2000 for a night. The sea view room is considering average and of course the deluxe room is much better. We rest after check in for baby sleeping time before going to our very first dinner at Aonang beach. We had our dinner at Aonang Cuisine with average food as I notice it is the oldest Aonang restaurant.

Then we stroll along Aonang beach for souvenir and book for our 4 island day trip at Krabi Trek. There are 4 of us and we need to divide and conquer for taking care our baby. So we divided into 2 groups as for myself and wife booked the longtail boat trip to the 4 islands as my both mother and in law booked for the speed boats trips. The longtail cost Baht400 whereas the speed boat cost Baht900 each.

The next day is our 4 islands trip as we had our simple breakfast before the agent pick up for the trip. The jeep pick all the tourist and heading to the jetty where we go into the longtail for an hour to reach Tub Island. This island is supposed to link with another island but it is high tide and we can only stay on the main island. Then the boat proceeds for a snorkelling short stop near Chicken Island. We stop at the third island, Poda Island for lunch break and also taking many photos of the giant rock at Poda Island. We are so lucky that it is a sunny day and it is a hot day at Poda. Then we proceed to our final destination which it is a highlight to me. It is called Phranang Cave beach where it is listed as one of the beach beach at Tripadvisor. It is indeed a beautiful beach but too crowded with tourists.

We visited Aonang Hilltop for our second dinner at Aonang beach and it is a beautiful restaurant with good view and the food is reasonable as well. Once you reach the bottom of the hill by tuk tuk then there are free pick up by the restaurant. The restaurant will send you back to your hotel or Aonang beach street for free as well.

Then the third day of the trip is supposed to be our parents turn to visit the 4 islands and we stay at Aonang beach to relax. But unfortunately our baby got a fever and it is also raining which is not a good day. So we visited the government clinic and got some antibiotic and luckily our baby temperature reduces at night. Both I and wife still manage to buy some souvenir for friends and families.

We depart back to Kuala Lumpur safely on the fourth day at noon.

Visiting Genting Highland twice on weekend in March

We visited Genting Highland twice where we stay at Resort Hotel on the first week and Highland Hotel on the third week. It is a total different experience with an eye opener on Genting hotel. So far I have stay at First World, Theme Park, Resort and Highland Hotel which different price but all the room is small and not spacious.

I would prefer Resort Hotel than Highland Hotel, as the price is cheaper and room is slightly new. Highland hotel need refurbish as things like bathroom door are spoilt. Both hotel room also not spacious but Resort Hotel is slightly cheaper which make the hotel rate above Highland Hotel. The cafe and restaurant recommended would be the Bubbles & Bites, Bakery and Good Friends Restaurant. Ming Ren is rated high in Tripadvisor but they do not allowed guest with slippers and short pants even I am wearing Bermuda pants was deny entry.

I visited the indoor theme park at First world bringing baby for a ride which is worth to bring your kids for the entertainment whereas Asian adults may be interested with the casino. Highland, Resort and Genting Grand are located at the same area whereas First world is on the other side where you need to walk down few escalators to reach First World.

Revisit Melaka Heritage Sites

We visit Melaka every year on the 2nd day of Chinese New Year and the routine did not change for this year. We drive at 4pm on 11th February and reached Melaka at 6pm with smooth traffic during the second day of CNY.

We stay at One Residence at Taman Pertam Jaya near Semabuk using the AMJ highway access which is quite convenience with transport. It is not so convenient for tourists that want to visit the heritage sites of Melaka. It is a double storey house which has 4 bedrooms suitable for big family.

We stay at Melaka for 3 days and 2 nights but we never really visit any attraction this time as we bring along an 8 months baby which is not convenient. I was targeting to visit the Baba Nyonya heritage museum or Cheng Ho Cultural Museum but we have no chance to pay a visit with busy CNY schedule. I will sure revisit and provide comments on this attraction.

The only comments on Melaka this round is I drove into Jonker Street and the jam along the Jalan Bendahara will never change. Everyone use to drive into the heritage sites using Jalan Bendahara and we have to find alternatives.

A Malaysian Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year is around the corner and I would like to wish all friends and familys "GONG XI FATT CAI" !!!!!!!!

As per culture and tradition, we would visit family and give angpow to children and to those that are not married and then we will be visiting hometown Melaka on the second day of CNY. Let's revisit the blog for the latest of Melaka edition.

A visit to Morib Gold Coast Resort with Tanjung Sepat day tour

We have a short break away to Morib. It is a beach near Klang and Sepang Gold Coast. Kindly be aware that this resort is mainly for local crowds.

We used north-south highway exit to nilai then followed the Banting signage to Morib. We reached the resort at around 3pm.

We had our dinner at the resort restaurant on our arrival and also visit the resort surrounding where there is a bar beachside. The resort caters for local Malaysian family trip resort as there is a pool theme part in the middle of the resort. The resort is a converted flat to resort kind of environment. The beach is not too beautiful and there are isn’t much activity except water activities for family. About the breakfast and yes I agreed has lots of flies but the breakfast is having at a open space near the beach where there are many flies that we can’t avoid.

On the second day, we visit the best attraction of Tanjung Sepat town and Sepang Gold Coast. We visited a recommended place with homemade ‘pau’ with a taste of local coffee during lunch time. Then we visited some local attraction to buy the local delights and also taste the dragon fruit juice from the farm. Then we proceed to a good seafood restaurant called ocean seafood near the lover’s bridge for dinner before returning back to the resort.

We celebrated new year 2013 at the beachside bar where surprisingly there is fireworks at Morib gold coast resort.

Trip Archival: Visiting Cambodia at 2006

(This is a archival trip sharing based on 2006 reports and some information like road, lifestyle and journey distance may not be applicable BUT you may refer to the itinerary for reference)

9/Mar/2006 – Depart from KL at 11am and expecting to arrive Siem Reap at 2pm. Visiting Siem Reap city’s market for some early sourvenir purchasing. There are many children beggars on the street and we went to a street with bars and restaurant for our dinner.

10/Mar/2006 – Visiting Banteay Srei in the morning, and then proceed to Angkor Thom and Banyan temples in the afternoon and finally end our temple grand tour of Angkor Wat in the evening. Banteay Srei is a temple craft with beautiful crafting on the red sand temple. Angkor thom is the temple cover with tree trunks where ‘Tomb Raider’ movie was flimed. Banyan temple is the temple with Buddha faces and finally Angkor Wat is the grand majestic temple of World Heritage Site.

11/Mar/2006 – Visiting Tonle Sap lake near floating village for a boat ride for a full day adventure. The journey to Tonle Sap lake is through the bumpy red sand road about 2 hours. We took the long boat ride around the lake but personally I think the lake is not amazing but the interesting part is to witness the Cambodia local people lifestyle. There are even children beggars on the lake (sitting on a big cup aka boat and begging).

12/Mar/2006 – Depart from Siem Reap at 7am from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh. Journey takes around 6 hours and reach Phnom Penh at late noon. Visit Russian market (Psar Ton Tom Poung) and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21 Prison). Tuol Sieng is a school converted into a prison by Khmer regime. It is a great experience to feel the ugly and horrific recent past of Cambodia.

13/Mar/2006 – Visiting The Killing Fields of Choeung Ek where the Khmer Rouge killed many thousands of their victims during their four-year reign of terror. The journey to the killing field take around 1 hour with a tuk tuk through bumpy red sand road and also very dusty. It is a great ride at Cambodia.

14/Mar/2006 – Depart from Phnom Penh back to KL.

Trip Archival: Our 1 week adventure at Bali during 2007

22 June 2007 (Ubud)
• Arrive Denpasar Airport at19:40 then proceed to Ubud Narasoma Guesthouse, Ubud (Handcraft City). Before check-in, we had a romantic dinner at ubud Balinese style restaurant. WOW!! Imagine the whole street fill with Balinese style restaurant (those candle light dinner). Then back to guesthouse and take a rest for a while coz we only had 3 hours to rest. Really crazy!! Volcano Mountain the next…

23 June 2007 (Mount Batur, Kintamani)
• Pick-up at 2am and start our journey to Kintamani (1.5 hours drive). Reach Kintamani at 3:30am and had a nice banana pancake breakfast with hot coffee (temperature very cold). Start our Mt Batur Volcano climb at 4am and it take around 2 hours to reach the peak to watch sunrise. Even only 2 hours climb but the climbing feeling is quite different with soft sand and many little rocks along the way. Interesting climb and we had a great time watching sunrise at the peak.
• After the climb, we went to Besakih (Temple) near Mt. Agong (another volcano mountain in Bali). This temple really nice but bewares of the people over there (rude & cheating).
• Back to Narasoma Homestay (Monkey Forest Road) at noon. Then proceed with shopping and a little walk along Ubud town.
• We end our day with a great dinner having dirty duck. The duck really dirty coz they don’t take out some of the thing inside the duck and heard it is really famous ;) and we try.

24 June 2007 (Singaraja/Lovina)
• Check-out Narasoma Guesthouse at 8am. Start out journey to the north of Bali with hillside scenery. Reach our first destination Pura Ulun Danu Bratan (Temple on the lake) and the location is at 1100m. Wow!! Whether chilling and place really nice with a lake In between. Then visited Giigit (Waterfall) and it is just a normal waterfall and nothing amaze ;)
• We reach Singaraja city and we decided to stay at Lovina beach. Before check-in we have a nice swim at Banjar Hot Spring (nothing amazing too!!).
• Heard from the locals that there are a nice café around the corner called Superman Café (nice food). We had our dinner there and the food really nice (something special with the cook and the owner is friendly too). The café have autograph for guest and we written a little notes for them.

25 June 2007 (Kuta)
• Everyone wake up early in the morning to watch dolphin at Lovina but I decided to have a little dive at Lovina Reef with spice dive. Saw many lionfish at Bali.
• Check-out at Lovina and had our lunch at Superman Café again. Too good to be true.
• After our lunch, then start our 3 hours journey back to the south. Enjoy Galungan Festival along the way. Before reaching Kuta, visited Tanah Lot for sunset.
• Check-in at Kuta. Try guesthouse near Poppy lane. Amazing lane!!

26 June 2007 (Kuta)
• Enjoy some shopping at Kuta. There are many branded shops there like billabong, polo etc. Shopper may love it ;)
• My focus is the next destination and another great attraction, Uluwatu temple. We had a sunset view at Uluwatu. WOW!! I can’t explain in words ;)
• Then proceed to Jimbaran having seafood dinner. Jimbaran is a place with dinner at the beach. Bali have many romantic places.
• Back to Kuta poppy lane guesthouse and then party at night.

27 June 2007 (Tulamben)
• Pick-up at 8am and proceed to east coast Bali, Tulamben for 2 hours drive. Had 2 dives at Liberty Wreck at Tulamben. This is a great dive site at Bali. Enjoy our dives and then reach back guesthouse at around 4pm.
• Time to get some sourvenir and had a simple dinner before proceeding for party time at Kuta Paddys bar.

28 June 2007 (Kuala Lumpur)
• Pick-up at Kuta Guest House at 11am to the airport.