bAmbOo CasTle - eAt, dRiNk & RelAx (PaRt 2)

It located at Ulu Kelang just beside Middle Ring Road 2 (MRR2). If you come from KL, make a u- turn under the DUKE fly over (nearby Harris) and heading towards Ampang. Just after the u-turn, take left, there it is. Most people might see the place from the highway but not sure what is all about. If you come from Gombak, once you arrive exit to DUKE please make sure you take the left road under the 3 tier highway.

This restaurant possibly can cater for 200 person at one time.

 Last year, our old school reunion conducted here, after 18 years not seeing each other we were having a good time together.

bAmbOo CasTle - eAt, dRiNk & RelAx

Location : Istana Bambu, Kuala Lumpur

Our Rating : 4*

 
Istana Bambu or Bamboo Castle - not known to many KL city settler but surprisingly having a very nice eating place and good affordable food. To those who are enjoying Thai food at beautifully decorated restaurant and landscape, why don't give this place a try!

You can choose to dine in Japanese style (without chair) or normal type and most of the table, chair and decoration are made of bamboo. They provide good facilities such as mussala for Moslem, ample parking space, beautiful landscape of paddy field, koi pond and the most important is "village feel".  I dare to guarantee you that you will love this place just after you enter it, two thumbs up!

hIgHlaNd tOuR - sTrawBeRrY & RoSe dEsTinAtioN (pArT 3)

The other "must visit" spot is Tea Plantation. I would say your tour is not complete without visiting the site. Boh Plantation and one more, Cameron tea plantation provide souvenir and hill-view cafe for you to enjoy Cameron tea before touring the tea plantation.

If you stay at Tanah Rata, the tourist spot that you must go is its night market. A lively place with real cool temperature and lots of cheap items whereby you can buy variety of food, vegetables, souvenir, etc.

Tips: If you plan to the night market, there will  be cramp car park and visitor might not get their park space. However, there are private and vast car park   behind the market and it will cost you RM3 only. Peace of mind.

Vacation few times a year with your family or big family (parents, brothers and  sister's families) might tighten the relations  and closeness of all of us...

hIgHlaNd tOuR - sTrawBeRrY & RoSe dEsTinAtioN (pArT 2)

 
A must see place is strawberry farm, whereby you can pick your own before pay. The price ranging from RM18 to RM35 a kilo - based on size and quality of the berry. There were so many vegetablelowers and farms, even just in-front of our hotel that we stayed! Cabbage, broccoli, lady fingers, chrysanthemum, rose, colourful cactus..you name it, all you can see and the most important you can pick it fresh.

 We stayed at Juliana Inn at Tanah Rata. The rate was quite reasoable, i.e. RM120 for standard room (1 queen bed and 1 single) and a 7 beds room for RM250 a night. The night temperature went down to 8 to 10 degree, we enjoyed the cool temperature by playing poker till midnight at verendah!

hIgHlaNd tOuR - sTrawBeRrY & RoSe dEsTinAtioN

Our Vacation: 1st & 2nd September, 2011
Location :Cameron Highland, Pahang, Malaysia
Our Rating : 3*

Cameron Highlands in Pahang is one of Malaysia's most popular tourist destinations, a collection of peaceful townships perched 1500 meters high on a nest of serene mountains. Cooling resorts, tea plantations and strawberry farms sprawl lazily across lush valleys and meandering hillslopes, the perfect setting for a relaxing holiday. The sea of tranquility, pleasant landscapes and cold climate impart a special experience upon the multitudes of visitors each year. Meanwhile, a different world lies hidden away among the natural surroundings - a rainforest ecosystem rich with the wonders of nature, long held with fascination by researchers and naturalists across the world

 

 There are 3 alternative roads to the highland . You can take North-South Expressway (PLUS) and exit toward Tapah and drive up the hill. The road from Tapah to Cameron is like snake tail, you might feel dizzy. Second, head to Bentong then Raub and just after Sg. Koyan you will see Pos Betau on your left. This is new road and more comfortable  for me. Some people say you can take PLUS expressway and exit Simpang Pulai, they said this is also new road and more straight compared to Tapah.

It might takes 3 hours if you drive from Kuala Lumpur.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LeT's gEt WeT - rAfT, CaNopY & gAlaXy sLiDe (pArT 2)

Tips: This is cashless park. You are  given a hand tag representing your ticket. You should request to include few Ringgit inside the tag, e.g. RM50 for your expenses for buying food and renting float tube or locker. Own food is not allowed to bring in. Unused money will be refunded.

The ticket is RM24 for adult and RM12 for children.

We have enjoyed all slides, rafting and food  the whole day, from 11.00am till the park closed at 6.30pm.  Unfortunately my camera was broken, slip off from my hand and the whole good pictures gone missing. However, we have good time there..

WinTeR sOnAta - iNcHeoN wItH lOVe

Travel memories in pipeline:
1. Winter Sonata at Incheon by Capt Farouq
2. Sea Cruise Dream  by Alphanso
3. Swimming with Dolphin by Azlin
4. Land of Eagle - White blood maiden by Nizam

wait for the next postings!!

LeT's gEt WeT - rAfT, CaNopY & gAlaXy sLiDe

Our Vacation : 31st August, 2011
Location : Gambang Water Park, Pahang, Malaysia
Rating : 3*

A day after Eid Mubarak celebrated by us, our big family have a trip to Gambang Water Park. The park can be accessed through East Coast Expressway, the highway that linked Kuala Lumpur to Kuantan and other east coast cities in Malaysia. If you drive from Kuala Lumpur, it might take 3 to 4 hours to arrive there. If you are from Kuantan, it might takes 30 to 35 minutes. Look for Gambang exit, after toll follow the signboard to the park.

This park offers many water activity attractions among others - galaxy, canopy and crystal slides -all are amazing water slides from top of hill . Swimming pool, fresh water tide pool, man made white water rafting and many more. May be it is not as excellent as Sunway Lagoon, the best water attraction in Asia, but worth to visit and give a try.

mOunTaiN rEsOrT - CoOl aiR & hOt RiDe (pArT 2)

Tips: Avoid to go there during raining season, normally on December. The outdoor park will be closed once raining. Check your weather forecast.However, you still can enjoy indoor park but different charge need to pay.

If you are lucky, there will sometimes an international show at Arena All Star Hall for free. During our visit, there were acrobatic show performed by China mainland performers.

Dinosaur Land is also another main attraction there. You will be taken around by boat to view pre-historic land with various kind of  dinosaurs in action.

We were not staying there, our visit lasted around 10pm before we headed back to Kuala Lumpur with full exciting memory.

mOunTaiN rEsOrT - CoOl aiR & hOt RiDe (pArT 1)

Our Vacation : 12th March, 2011
Location: Genting Highland, Malaysia
Rating : 4*

Many people around the world should have heard this mountain resort with cool and fresh air. Occupied with choices of hotels,  indoor and outdoor theme parks, karaoke, bowling alley and shopping malls, we have lots of things to experience. Located on top of the 1700m above sea level, located on the border of Pahang and Selangor states, it takes only 45 minutes drive from capital city of Kuala Lumpur. You can also taking a bus from Hentian Pekeliling, Hentian Putra or Jalan Duta at KL.

I traveled up there with my family and arrived around 9.30am.We parked our MPV at Gohtong Jaya and took cable car to the top of the Genting resort. Normal activity there is letting your children play at Outdoor Theme park till they tired. Lot's of play and ride you and your children can enjoy like roller coaster, spider ride, space shot, boating into dinosaur era, bump boat or car, kart car and lot's more. You can occupy the whole day at outdoor theme park alone.The ticket is RM45 for adult and RM22 for children.

iSlaNd oF seReNitY - sEa, SuN aNd rElaXinG (pArT 2)

Either relaxing on the beach,  hotel's swimming pool or you can go around the island. There are a lot of places to visit at Pangkor Island. We took the opportunity to visit the seafood Satay factory, craft shops, old Dutch fort and night market.

Accommodation (hotel and apartment) at affordable price flourish around the island. You can search through internet or just walk-in and you might find the good and cheap one even during weekend. To travel around the island, you can rent a car (normal sedan RM80 per day) or a motorcycle at RM20 per day.

This island also famous with dried sea food (dried and salted  anchovy, squid, fish, etc) but from our observation the price is quite expensive. You can get cheaper at main land, i.e. Lumut town.

iSlaNd oF seReNitY - sEa, SuN aNd rElaXinG (pArT 1)

Our Vacation : 11th  - 12th of June, 2011
Location : Pangkor Island, Malaysia
Rating : 3 1/2*

Let's get break...to an island where sea, sun and fresh-air relaxing our mind! Our vacation this time was to a tiny island located at west peninsula of  Malaysia. It takes just 4 hours traveling by car from the capital city Kuala Lumpur, you will heading to Lumut, Perak before taking a ferry to the island.

Suitable for low budget holiday, you will find value-for-money stay over there. The "must join" activity here is snorkeling. We have rented a boat that can occupy 8 people which brought us to a crystal clear snorkeling spot. The rental was RM125 for 2 ways and RM10 for snorkeling gear per head.

Tips:
You can rent a boat at many counters near beach that  provide the services. There also banana boating costing you RM35 per head.  You are advise to go at the low tide time so that you can snorkeling in more wide area. Please ask the boat operator the right time to go.

Don't worry, your kids and "makcik-makcik/ah so" can also try this activity as long as they can fit the life jacket. What's a nice experience looking at many kind of fish swimming around you..hundreds of them..angel fish, coral fish and many more..you name it!

iSlaNd oF goDs - PerFect GaTewAy! (part 2)

Tips:
While you are traveling around Bali, it is not advisable for you to self-drive. It's better to rent a car with local driver or tourist guide. Motorists there are rough drivers and no road regulation were taken seriously, however unexpectedly during our visit there were no road accident at all.

The other "must see" site is Tanah Lot.  It is a beautiful sight-seeing place whereby unique land and rock formations that being carved naturally by sea and wind since million years ago. Adding to spectacular view, we can enjoy amazing sunset while having our seafood dinner in any restaurant facing the sea.

iSlaNd oF goDs - PerFect GaTewAy! (part 1)

Our Vacation : 3rd - 6th March, 2010 (4d3n)
Location: Bali, Indonesia
Rating : 4 1/2 *

Bali, one of the most beautiful tourist  location in the world offers unique and bizzare experience for our family. During our 4 days and 3 nights stay, we have packed list of places to visit. By taking package tour, every day were tight and full schedule, and all were unexpected experience of a lifetime.

During our 1st day of stay we have visited Uluwatu temple that located on the top of cliff facing Indian Ocean. Kecak and fire dance have been performed by hundred of man in an open theater, they were clapping and chanting  whilst Ramayana (Hindu epic) story being presented. It took place around 1 hour in which after the end  of the performance we were allowed to take photographs with all the characters like Ramayana, Sita Dewi, Hanuman (Monkey God) etc.

You can be there by taking flight directly to Denpasar International Airport, Bali. However, if there is no direct flight to the airport, the best way is by shifting either from Jakarta Airport (Indonesia), Kuala Lumpur Airport (Malaysia) or Changi Airport (Singapore).

posted by: nizam.mnl@gmail.com

LeT's ShAre.....

Hi everybody...let's share our joy and experience during our vacation around the world! We welcome any articles, photos and tips that you've experienced during your vacation.

 Please email to us at letsgovacation2011@gmail.com and we are eager to publish your journey/holiday/vacation with your love ones or your lone travel at any destination...

Cheers from your admin, Farouq, Nizam & Alphanso