S621 - Perth, Australia

 Salam

It's spring time in Australia.

Day 1

We board the first flight for Perth from KLIA2. As usual, i slept for the first three hours, and wake up hunger for food. We arrived at Perth International Airport six hours later. We took public bus from the airport to city centre which cost us AUD11 for a 'family ride' package.

Perth offers a free bus-ride within the city centre called CAT. We hop on CAT bus to Watertown outlet for shopping. Unfortunately the bus provide service up to 6PM. So we walk back to our apartment. Luckily, the weather is not so cold and it took us almost 30 minute to reach our apartment.

Day 2

We went to Fremantle on the next day. Fremantle is quite far from the city centre and a must place to visit in Perth (based on AirAsiaGo magazine). We rode on classic old train (similar to KTM in Malaysia) from Perth Train Station to the last train station called Fremantle. Fremantle is a placed to get cheap souvenirs and famous fish and chips!

I can say Fremantle is almost similar to Port Klang in Malaysia. I love Fremantle view of white birds at the port and we can get fresh seafoods with reasonable price here. 

Day 3

We rent a small car as we plan to visit places which is quite far from the city and not so convenience to take public transport.

With help from Mr GPS, we reach Araluen Botanic Park around 10AM. It's spring in Australia at the moment, and all flowers are blooming. We got a chance to see and feel the real tulip here. Tulips are everywhere all over the park. Most of the visitors have picnic with family and friends here, and some of them even have barbecue feast.    

Our next stop is Caversham Wildlife park. I am looking forward to meet and hug koala.  I even imagine a picture of me hugging a fluffy smiling koala. Unfortunately, all koala are sleeping and visitors can only touch them softly and took picture with sleeping koala.  I keep on asking the guard if i can hug the koala, and the answer is NO. Haha. I fly all the way to Perth for them, and they only greet me with a sleepy face? So frustrating.

Koala sleep almost 20 hours a day. 

Despite of koala being so boring and sleepy, kangaroo really make my day. They are so friendly and approachable. Australia is known as land for kangaroo. I ind it too mainstream to visit a kangaroo in Australia, so does I decided to meet a koala. Except the koala being so unfriendly to me.

Luckily we have kangaroo in this park.

We can feed them with food and also hug them! You can even see the kangaroo pouch with our own eyes. FYI, kangaroo baby have milk inside the pouch.

Day 4

We went to Pinnacles which is two hours drive from Perth city centre. I love this road trip because the view is different from our Malaysia highway view.

Back in Malaysia, we always come across with cow or maybe elephant crossing the road signboard. But in Perth, they have signboard of kangaroo or emu crossing the road.

We stopped by the rest area for some photos with Perth yellow bushes. The weather forecasted to be raining that day, so does it tells the gloomy skies of my jumping photo. 

Pinnacles Desert located at Nambung National Park, where rock spires out of the sand dune. We manage to get some photos here, before it start to rain heavily. 

Day 5

We walk around the city centre for souvenirs and perfumes, and Correlle before our late evening flight back to Kuala Lumpur. Buying Corelle and perfumes are highly recommended because the price are much cheaper here. 

I can't shop that much since i don't buy extra luggage on the way back. So bring back extra Australian dollars to be converted back to Malaysian Ringgits. This is my first time having extra cash for a holiday trip, am i matured enough not to shop too much?

Till my next trip, thank you.

S620 - Krabi, Thailand

Salam,

This four-days trip to Krabi is the most relax trip I ever had (read as: with a friend. because travelling with friends always be a trip full of activities). We booked a room at Deevana Plaza Krabi, a very comfortable and convenience hotel for persons who hate city crowd and yet we still can reach halal restaurant and family mart (our favourite) in walking distance.

We ride on airport shuttle bus to Ao Nang beach which cost us 150 baht per person. Our first activity is Elephant Trekking. Im so looking forward for this activity since Im always wanted to ride on the elephant since my trip to Bali. Searching for elephant trekking package is the first thing i did once we are done with flight ticket booking.

However, things turn out not as what i expected. Or maybe it is my fault for expecting too much (?). The elephant took us for a walk around the jungle, and it is just on-land trekking all the way for one hour. Im expecting for the elephant to cross the small river, baru lah trill sikit kan? Nevertheless, it worth for me to experience it at least once.

Later during the evening, we walk along Ao Nang beach. To be honest i just feel like walking at Port Dickson. Lol. Maybe sebab banyak sangat Malaysian tourists and halal restaurant. We tried the famous Krabi pancake which i find it so so yummy! We enjoy the sunset at Ao Nang sunset beach dan juga survey souvenir for family and friends around Ao Nang city centre. 

Our second day is the island day. We joined one day tour to Phi Phi island. We stopped by Bamboo island and the sea is crystal clear! And then we also drop by Maya Bay which is the most beautiful bay in Phi Phi island. I love the scenery around it. I fall in love with the combination of green cliff with blue sea and some longtail boats. The tour finally stop in the middle of the sea for snorkelling. Everyone seems to enjoy snorkelling for color fish. I decided not to join because i find it a bit awkward to be together in the sea with lots of other people. Haha. 

We went to Krabi town that night for a visit to Night market. And things i like the most are the pandan bouquet and handmade soap flower. But i did not bought them pun. Just love to see, but not to have..

During our last day in Krabi, we spend our own sweet time in our hotel bed. And just spend few hours outside for food, Thai massage, souvenirs and Banana Nutella pancake for the last time.

Till then. Thank you.

S619 - Kundasang, Sabah

Salam

Kundasang is one of the places that i always want to visit in Malaysia. Since one of my close friend had been transferred for good to Sabah, so some of us from KL decided to visit Sabah, and to spend our weekend together in Kundasang. Because we just missed our good times together back in KL.

We took the first Saturday flight to Kota Kinabalu. As soon as the flight take-off, i have been tasked to capture sunrise view since i am sitting at the window side while my other friends quickly find the best position to sleep. It took us two hours and a half to reach Kota Kinabalu.

*the sunrise view above the sky*

Three of us from KL and two of them from Kota Kinabalu, make five of us for our weekend trip to Kundasang. We had our lunch, which is my first meal in Sabah at one of the local restaurant on our way up to Kundasang. And my comment is the food is so tasteless... 

After about one hour journey, we reach at the first pit-stop which is Pekan Nabalu. Pekan Nabalu is a place where tourist stop by to view Mount Kinabalu, unfortunately the tips of the mountain has been covered by thick clouds. 

We then continue our journey to Poring Hot Spring, and we can try on the canopy walk here. This is my first time experience canopy walk, walking through the green rain forest. Very interesting! 

Super amazing view all the way up to Kundasang. Subhanallah. We stay at Kinabalu Pine Resort for one night and we manage to get promotion deal for MYR230 per night which include breakfast and dinner. My very first comment as i enter the room is, the room only have fan and i desperately looking for aircond! Not knowing the fact that it gonna be super duper cold at night and early morning. I'm shivering and have to tip toe to get wudu' for Subuh prayer. Apart of the fan issue, i live the design of this hotel, so classy and english. 

After Subuh prayer, we patiently wait for the sunrise outside our hotel room in the cold morning breeze. And so get full view of Kinabalu, we need to standby outside our hotel room before group of clouds cover him again. I am so amaze to see the rocky top of Kinabalu. 

*view of Kinabalu*

Before we head back to Kota Kinabalu, we drop by Cattle Dairy farm. Sabah local people always associate this place with New Zealand. They have those black and white cows here. Visitors can try on their dairy products. Super delicious and fresh. 

From my eyes, i don't see any New Zealand the Cattle Dairy Farm tue. Just a normal grassy area for cows. Nevertheless, i still enjoy taking picture around the farm. And after looking at my own picture, only then i realise ada lah skit-sikit view macam New Zealand. Maybe kebab ada white fence tue kot. So sad, only with camera lens can see the New Zealand view, not with my own eyes.

We stop by Tanjung Aru beach on our way to airport. The sunset view is sangat sangat cantik. For the first time ever i effortlessly manage to capture such beautiful and significant view.

We board the second last flight to KL that night, three of us slept all the way back to KL. Such a tiring weekend, and yet we still enjoy every single moments together. 

Thats all for my weekend trip to Kundasang. I really enjoy the trip!

Thank you.

S618 - The Baju Kurung Project

Salam

My family plan to spend CNY holiday in Langkawi and we finally cancel the plan once we get to know everyone all over Malaysia is coming to Langkawi as well. We are paranoid-to-crowd kind of family.

In conclusion, everyone stay at home watching movies and eat mak's cooking.

After my half-day sleep on Thursday, i woke up and gave mak cotton fabrics for my Baju Kurung. And she came out with an idea to teach me how to sew my own Baju Kurung. Maybe she already get tired giving me free-Baju Kurung-service.

We start with the Baju-part. To sew Baju is quite easy for me. I get excited with the baju part, and cut all five set of fabrics which make it five set of Baju Kurung. Sangat banyak kan? I spent the whole Friday from morning till evening getting all the five Baju done.

In the meanwhile, i keep asking mak, "Susah tak nam jahit kain?". Around 9PM, my mom get to sew my own Kain. Since i have been focusing on five Baju during the day and only realise i will be back to Kuala Lumpur the next day, i became emotionally breakdown thinking of five Kain that i need to sew. I can't be having all those Baju without Kain. *sigh*

In comparison to Baju, Kain need some efforts and skills to sew the zip and waist part. During my first Kain session, i gave up on the waist part and get my mom to get it done. At that moment i feel so tired because i have been spending the whole day for the Baju part. I feel like my long holiday get wasted if i don't have wasting-time-doing-nothing session at home! Haha. Don't ask me how i get the other four Kain done.

Due to my silly reason to be at home doing nothing, i decided to do the finishing part such as get button on my Baju once i am back in Kuala Lumpur.

Here is my first sewing machine with five set of Baju Kurung. I posted the same picture in Instagram  and get few comments from my friends on how to sew Baju Kurung, nak tempah Baju Kurung, etc etc. Everything looks perfect in picture, and only my mom know who emotional i am to get all the Baju Kurung done.

Oh ya. I saw this cute sewing needle cushion in Pinterest few months back. And i decided to sew one for my machine. When i am in a very good mood to sew, i feel excited to sew everything.

Wait for my next post on teaching my friends sewing. Haha.

Till then, thank you.

S617 - Kelas Ekonomi Keretapi

Salam,

Happy Chinese New Year for those celebrating CNY and happy long holiday for Muslim! 

Since i just decided to spend my long holiday at my hometown few days before CNY, KTMB can only offer me Kelas Ekonomi seats with super freezing aircond. Im fine with it as long as i can be at home, because im afraid i can get into depression for being in KL alone without friends. Sounds a bit clingy kan?

Wednesday, 10PM, my journey on Kelas Ekonomi heading to Arau, Perlis started. To find out the lucky person sitting besides me is a man sangat meng-downkan. For a Kelas Ekonomi first-timer, i keep thinking of how to sleep with this sitting posture. Even worst, the aircond is super super cold and i dont have any blanket or something to cover on me; because KTMB provide me a blanket on superior night coach; still tak move on dengan superior night coach and my bad for not be extra mindful and anticipate how Kelas Ekonomi could be. Lesson learnt.

Apart of that how to sleep issue and super cold aircond, having a man sitting right beside me which just 2cm apart form each other, really make me want to cry. Alhamdullilah he went off at Butterworth, leaving me to conquer both seats. But at 4AM, seats was no longer my priority. I am shivering, and yes, it is literally shivering. 

Then i decided to get hot drink from the cafe. The moment i stand in front the cafe counter, the cafe guy said, "Kakak nampak macam sangat sejuk", i just smile back,  thank you adik kerana sangat memahami, not really in a good mood to talk until i get the hot chocolate. Haha. Being emotional.

Luckily i survived the other 4 hours, and reached Arau around 830AM. Not to mention another man came to have a seat beside me. During my last 2 hours in the train kot but i just dont care akibat terlalu mengantuk dan feel a bit comfortable after minum hot cholocate. 

I slept half of Thursday akibat terlalu penat with that 10 hours journey sitting on train seat. 

And today, luck still not on my side. I didnt manage to get superior night coach for my journey back to Kuala Lumpur. Again, the best that KTMB can offer me is a seat at Kelas Ekonomi. 

Today, 7PM, i straight away went to the cafe for dinner and as always order teh ais. I met the cafe guy who said that i look shivering last time. He smile at me, maybe because he still remember what had happen to me last few days back.

Itsokay adik. Kakak dah prepare blanket this time around. *flips hair*

With this Oman Airlines blanket, i imagine myself in an airplane for a 12 hours flight to Oman instead of a train. I feel better now enjoying the journey. Haha. Cant wait for cabin crew to serve breakfast the next morning. Tetibe totally in character. 

Till then, thank you.