Evie's Escape

New Look to the old Puduraya!

noreply@blogger.com (eVie) — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 14:30:00 +0000

What you read is correct, this is the new puduraya...

But dont get your hopes up just yet..

This is just the 2nd floor..

Better things to come for dear old puduraya..

Selesa Resort, Bukit Tinggi

noreply@blogger.com (eVie) — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 14:04:00 +0000

If you have read my previous post on Bukit Tinggi, you will know that my family and i have stayed at this apartment called Selesa Resort, which is not at Bukit Tinggi itself, but about 10 minutes drive away. Affordable and spacious.. That is how i would describe this hotel.. Check out the 2 rooms below..

I'm sure everyone will want to know.. about the toilet! Especially you girls.. Well, it was ok.. If you are a super neat freak you might not like it.. I wasnt difty or anything.. but old? Like the were little stains here and there but for me.. its was okay.. for the price we paid, it was quite awsome.. especially since we were in a group of 8... Anyway, a pic below to explain..

We were particularly happy about the kitchen, coz it meant we could spend a lot of family time, cooking simple and tasty food.. there were shops about 3 minutes away by car as well as many shops if you rather eat out.. But dont walk, its really dark and lone, drive with company as well.. It seemed to me like a cool adventure though.. not your typical prim and proper hotel, u know?

I dont have to talk about how big is the living.. you can practically fit another 10 people in there.. it has a nice green scenary, as well as other simple family activities.. Like the river beach which can accomodate picnics and outdoor activities. They also accept reservations for company retreats and functions..

Btw, the river was awesome!

For more information,

please visit their official website:

http://www.selesa.com.my/

Bukit Tinggi, French Colony

noreply@blogger.com (eVie) — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 18:45:00 +0000

Hey travel birds! How yall doin? Good i hope! You might wonder why i have not been updating and going travelling so often now.. well.... i'm working now.. bummer i know! but hey.. gotta make the money to travel to more exotic places right? Haha.. see, there's always a positive in everything :D

Anyways, this was around Christmas year 2009. My family went for short trip. We wanted to go somewhere near, affordable and nice. First bet was Port Dickson.. I didn't mind since i haven't been there in a while.. but i was in the mood for something different! Plus, i just got fairer from the beautiful breeze in Singapore, didn't wanna get all tanned up again :P Such a girl, i Know..

Anyway, this was only like 40mins away from where i live. The hotels at Bukit Tinggi itself were damned expensive so we booked an apartment 10 minutes away called Selesa Resort.

It wasn't bad.. If you have a car to drive up to Bukit Tinggi, Selesa is definitely the affordable solution. The apartment had 2 rooms, 1 kitchen, 1 balcony and a huge living room! Other activities at the hotel include swimming, golfing, camping, snooker and ping pong.. Simple family activity i would say..

Bukti Tinggi itself was quite good.. French and Italian restaurants, beautiful scenery, carnivals and so forth. Perfect place for the family and a bunch of friends looking for a simple weekend holiday..

One thing though, the Japanese Spa costs like RM500 per treatment and its never open! So if you wanna go there just to experience the spa, please look elsewhere.. The Japanese botanical garden is OK to me.. nothing really great considering all the uphill walking we had to do, but hey, got some good pictures!.. But given a choice, i would visit Cafe Del Mar rather than the Japanese botanical..

Enjoy the slideshow!

My Checklist Failed Me..

noreply@blogger.com (eVie) — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 16:58:00 +0000

Many of you have been asking me to update on my recent travel.. why have i taken so long.. well, here's the story.. i always make a checklist for every where i go.. i cannot live without certain things so this checklist is essential to me..

Just as i was about to leave, i realise that my camera battery was low, so i put a mental note to charge it in the hotel.. guess what.. i get to the hotel, my charger.. was.. not.. IN.. MY.. BAG!!!

I sobbed for days and even lost interest in sight seeing.. but moved on and had fun after that.. so... long story short, i cant really blog on my trip coz people need to SEE what i'm talking about.. without pictures, my blog is practically useless :P

I shall not make the same mistake for Bali, 100% positive.

So sorry guys, i know you were all looking forward to the posts and pictures.. i make it up to you during my trip to Bali aight.. muah!!

My New Blogshop!

noreply@blogger.com (eVie) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:44:00 +0000

Hey hey!

I've been missing lately.. i know.. been soo busy with soo many things.. now you can see the fruits of my labour! Go check out my new BlogShop! at http://heartieheartie.blogspot.com or click the logo at the sidebar it'll take u right to its doorstep ;p

Wanna know what pretty things await you? Hehe.. here's a hint :P

Taxi Services Anyone?

noreply@blogger.com (eVie) — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 11:29:00 +0000

I've got tons of udpdates to get started on.. on top of that, tons of other work to do! Can someone give me their 24 hours so i can have more time? Pweese? :P

Anyway.. My uncle has set up a taxi service! Yeay! He does trips to the airport, i.e. KLIA and even trips to other parts of Malaysia.. His name is Gilbert, nice and friendly guy with a smirky smile and sense of humor to go along!

Check out his website : http://sites.google.com/site/malaysiacab/Home

Get his number and call him to drive you anywhere you want kay? :D

Hotel 81, Bencoolen Street

noreply@blogger.com (eVie) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 03:17:00 +0000

Hey everyone! Finally i have time to update this blog.. Anyway.. what can i say about Bencoolen hotel? My mom stays here every time she visits me in Singapore.. We choose this location simply because of its location, free parking, clean hotels and friendly staff.

Location - its near to a bus stop, walking distance to doby ghaut MRT, walking distance to bugis and many other spots..

Free Parking - If you drive to Singapore, you can park your car at the hotel and take a bus around, you know, experience Singapore the sporean way..

Clean Hotels - as you can see the pics below, although the hotel room is small, its a practical clean room.. if you don't mind confined spaces, for about S$150, this hotel is quite a catch!

Replica Inn, Bukit Bintang

noreply@blogger.com (eVie) — Sun, 31 May 2009 03:17:00 +0000

I was totally amazed that such a hotel was at Bukti Bintang at such a cheap price.. the hotel was nice, clean and STRATEGIC!! Imagine just 3 mins walk away to Bintang Walk..

If you wanna make a trip to KL, Bukit Bintang especially, get a room at Replica Inn..

Park your car next to the hotel and walk along the strips of clubs and pubs, bars and cafe and have your nights of fun! i know i wanna do something like this sometime soon!

Pink Dolphine, Singapore

noreply@blogger.com (eVie) — Tue, 12 May 2009 10:48:00 +0000

A friend of mine had requested videos of Singapore's famous pink dolphin. As dolphins are my favorite, absolutely favorite animal, i thought i would share a little..

The show was only about 20mins and it was quite impressive, the tricks these dolphins could do.. Most people dont know however that the pink dolphins arent really pink.. they are pink with patches of grey.. but they still look adorable.. its hard not to love dolphins..

During the show, they usually get 2 people to get in the water and help the trainers with few tricks.. obviously you'll get wet but you'll be able to get really close and touch these dolphins and take pictures with it.. I wasnt dressed for that.. plus i had another tour after that so i couldnt get on the bus soaking wet.. but for those of you who plan to do.. bring a change of clothes and make sure you have time to spare after..

i was kinda sad i couldnt get that opportunity but im waiting to go to Batam.. they have swim with the dolphins programs there, so ive heard :)

The Budget Way to Cameron Highlands

noreply@blogger.com (eVie) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:53:00 +0000

This was my first trip to Cameron highlands about 3 years ago.. after lots of planning, we had found 2 good hotels, one of which was Father's Guest House and another, Daniel's Lodge.. Initially we wanted to stay at Father's Guest House because of all the lovely comments we read about the place in many forums, true enough, it was famous as they were fully booked for the whole month.. so we decided to go with Daniel's Lodge which is just walking distance from the Tanah Rata bus stop..

When we arrived, we were a little sceptical about the place as it looked a little run down.. my main concern was if they had maintained the rooms and toilets.. when the receptionist pointed us to our room, i was glad as everything looked clean and nice.. for RM60, it was good enough..

We were informed by the receptionist that they have tour services from as low as RM25.. so as soon as we got settled, we booked a tour and waited for our van.. The itinerary on the tour included 4 places; a flower farm, a bee farm, a Chinese temple and the tea plantation.

First stop, Chinese temple.

Second stop, Flower Farm. We were happy that the flower farm not only had flowers, but strawberries, insects, reptiles and a butterfly farm too. The weather there permits the flowers to grow so wonderfully beautiful and healthy that some flowers are so big and tall, you feel like for a second they can take over the human race!

After our stop at the bee farm, we went to the tea plantation and got a tour on how tea was made from start to finish. There was even a special tea museum and speciality shop where you can buy all sorts of tea! and the view.. breathe taking!

As it was a short weekend trip, we decided to spend the night in so we paid a visit to Daniel's lodge jungle bar which was cool.. they had a bon fire and all.. the next afternoon we watched 2 movies in their mini cinema.. all in all it was a holiday to remember.. especially since i had to wash my face in icy cold water..

Don't forget to stop at the Tanah Rata market.. things to buy/try: natural honey, honey with it honeycomb, tomato jam, fresh strawberries and vegetables, key chains and other small gifts of that sort.

You may wanna buy plants but unless you are really good at looking after them, i suggest you don't. The weather in KL is just not sufficient for them to survive so let them live in Cameron, rather than die in KL. Let the fern i bought be the only plant that had die a dreadful death..

Daniel's Lodge. Recommended 5 stars!
http://www.daniels.cameronhighlands.com/

Malacca Straits Hotel

noreply@blogger.com (eVie) — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 06:31:00 +0000

All my years studying in Malacca, I've never set foot to this hotel. But i bless the day i did because, although small, its my #1 choice now if i were to holiday at my fav 2 hours away destination..

Upon arrival we were greeted by friendly staff who precessed our check-in very fast. Heading up to the room, i was excited, not knowing what to expect. Frankly i thought it would be just like those normal looking, typical hotel rooms which over populate our country but no! Here's what we saw...

The highlight for me at any hotel, would be the bathroom. Don't ask me why but all my family members know that its the first thing I'll check, followed by the water heater. A clean, well maintain bathroom and hot water is key. But i think i kinda forgot about the hot water when i saw that our room had a JACUZZI!

Everything about this hotel rubbed me the right way that even after the we found out the jacuzzi for the first room was not working, i was still cool and calm. Otherwise i would have thrown a fit. Also i was excited to see the other room! I thought at first that it might be just as similar to the previous one given to us but.. hehehe.. i love this hotel!

There could be other, more expensive hotels that are better decorated but for my budget, this is so far the best. It really embodies the whole earthy atmosphere and the whole essence of Malacca being a traditional and historically diverse state. Did i mention that there was a computer in the room? Yes. A computer.

It amazed me too that such a small hotel, as you can see from the pictures above, had this..

The food from the coffee house was tasty. The pool was clean and well maintained. The only thing that bothered me was the kitchen staff from Equatorial Hotel. As the pool was directly behind EQ, there were so many "watch-birds" who couldn't just mind their own business.

Besides this, i give Malacca Straits Hotel, 10 Stars!! For more information on the hotel, view the pic below! Website address & contact number is also available in the pic :D

Stay at the hotel, you will not regret it! :)

Tickle Your Excitement at Genting

noreply@blogger.com (eVie) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:01:00 +0000

I'm lucky, i live very near to the Terminal Putra.. The location where you can take the bus to Genting? While i live near the terminal, the Genting express way exit is also only about 10mins away :D

I've taken both routes and my conclusion is i prefer to take the bus, simply because i don't have to drive.. heheh.. you can get a package deal inclusive of return bus ride, return cable car ride and tickets for the theme park at Terminal Putra at Melati for about RM50 which is very reasonable.. but if you want to drive to the cable car station, the parking is safe and FREE. I found this out the hard way.. it being my first time, i actually asked the guard where to get the parking ticket and he was like.. "err... its free?" *blush*

So anyway, i love the cable car ride.. its exciting and a bit scary! Especially if you're afraid of heights.. Just don't look down!

When you reach the other end of the cable car station, just follow the signs to the theme park.. I love Genting because it brings out the child in you, just by being there.. the color and designs make you feel like you're a kid in this huge carnival with endless fun rides to go on..

I can say that i have been on almost all the rides.. including the Flying Coaster which happens to be my favourite! As in i went on it 5 times on just the 2 trips i had to Genting. The only ride i can admitted say i haven't been on as a personal choice is the Space Shot.. Its the one where you sit in a circle facing outward, go right up and shoot down really really fast... 2nd pic below. Other than that, even the cork screw is extremely fun!

The pic above is of my gang, yup both cars.. We went in a big group and that's how i feel you should enjoy Genting.. Enough of the outdoor theme park..? there is also the indoor theme park.. where you can go to the snow world, have a shot at the indoor sky diving, watch a movie, go thru the Ripley's museum, go bowling, sing your heart out at kbox and lots lots more roller coasters.. I for one love the vast decorations they have..

You can head to Genting in the morning and come home the same day.. That is what most people from around here do.. coz its so near.. If you manage to get a good deal for First World Hotel, then by all means spend the night.. You will never be able to cover both the indoor and outdoor theme parks in 1 day.. especially if its during the rainy season.. some rides will be temporarily discontinued as a safety precaution.. check the genting website from time to time.. i hear the room rate goes down all the way to a crazy RM30 sometimes..

I had a great time with my friends and their kids but i think these boys can express it way better than i will ever be able to..

Sweet Breeze at Kinabalu Park

noreply@blogger.com (eVie) — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 16:19:00 +0000

Even if you are not planning to go tracking to the top of Mount Kinabalu, you should visit the Kinabalu Park.. Why? A promising view of the top of this righteous mountain! Did you know that the top of the mountain is covered by rocks? This is why you can track right to the peak..

After paying the entrance and conservation fee, we parked and got out to have this cool and cold breeze sweep our cheeks! And the view from here was totally amazing.. Such a scenic destination.. exceptionally beautiful and suitable for lots of picture taking!

All you need to do here is the enjoy the view.. just looking at the mountain gives you the chills.. something so high and so far away can be seen with your bare eyes.. really a wonder..

I would totally recommend anyone going to Kota Kinabalu to take the tour to Kinabalu park as well as the Poring Hot Spring.. the tours are usually together for these 2 places.. although there's nothing much to do here, except if you're hiking.. its a clean fresh experience for your eyes and skin.. especially if you're from a city like KL..

Heal at Poring Hot Spring

noreply@blogger.com (eVie) — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 10:10:00 +0000

There are many places where you can go to experience a good and hot spring water experience.. My family and I recently paid a visit to some relatives living in Sabah and they took us to Poring for a nice day out with the kids..

I got to say the drive was kinda long.. From Penampang (where we stayed) to Kundasang.. I was expecting a run down place with small tubs where the hot water comes out but i was pleasantly surprise.. It was almost like a Mini Sunway Lagoon, minus the rides of course..

We immediately went to the section where we can soak our legs in steamy hot water.. I for one, love love love hot water.. and i soak my legs till my feet was practically red! Its safe to say that my legs looked like it was cooked.. Don't worry about the water being too hot.. You cannot adjust this but logically speaking, the further away you sit from the tap, the better.. Once you get used to it, you can slowly move nearer.. I did it and i enjoyed myself..

After soaking our legs, one of our aunties got us a private chalet.. ranging from RM50 i guess.. There are 2 tubs in this chalet.. with a bathroom so you can change and wash up after.. This is where you get to soak your whole body.. and i think everyone going to poring should get a chalet.. its totally worth it..

For the kids who don't like hot water.. all they need to do is pay RM3 and get themselves tickets to the pool.. My cousin and I thought we had enough of hot water so we went to the huge pool area.. guess what? The water was freaking.. i repeat, freaking cold!! Imagine soaking in ice..

I was totally admiring nature just then.. these are all natural source water.. the hot and the cold and its amazing how 1 location can have 2 totally diverse temperature.. best part is.. there was a huge slide.. plunging into ice water was my first, one of a kind experience! Also there 2 pools.. another with the same icy cold water but at 8 feet.. :)

I was soo busy swimming i left my camera in the bag guys and girls.. sorry! I'll be sure to get pictures next time before i jump.. i couldn't help it.. i was too excited! :D

p/s: please bring along, fresh change of clothes, towel, bathing suit, toiletries, some cash to pay for entrance and conservation fees and some finger food, in case your kids get hungry from all the swimming :D

Tanjung Aru the Gateway to Relaxation

noreply@blogger.com (eVie) — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 13:58:00 +0000

Tanjung Aru is only about 10mins away from Kota Kinabalu.. For a city girl like me.. who always grew up surrounded by concrete jungle.. it was amazing that the beach was so near to town.. i wish we had that here in KL.. The nearest for us is Port Dickson and i know its been so long since i was there.. but the sea was kinda dirty..

A lot of sabahans just take a drive to beach in the evenings and on the weekends just to hang out.. play football or volleyball and just enjoy some sea breeze accompanied by a beautiful sunset..

We played football.. Well, they played football.. I'm not so much into sports so i was walking around the beach just enjoying myself and being one with my thoughts.. i love beaches and this is one of the reasons why i want to settle down in Sabah when i can.. You just feel so relaxed..

My cousins and i had some fun time in the sea as well.. one most famous game was to run towards the waves and it was fun coz the waves were getting bigger and bigger as it became darker.. don't worry.. we were only at knee deep :)

After getting wet from the sea and sweat (for those who played ball), we headed to the public bathroom which was pleasantly clean to wash up and get dressed.. then we went to this huge food court just by the parking area.. they had anything you could name but i was more interested in the totally huge glasses and chicken wings!!

All in all.. my perfect day.. sun, beach, sand, watermelon drink and chicken wings.. how i wish everyday could be like this... :)

Equitorial, Cameron Highlands

noreply@blogger.com (eVie) — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 13:53:00 +0000

Since this was my second trip to Cameron Highlands, i went prepared.. With gloves and even a snow cap! If you cant stand the cold like me, you need these to keep you warm.. I especially needed it because i knew we were gonna be staying at the highest point in Cameron Highlands, EQ.

The journey was long and a little scary with the winding roads and rain but we made it safely.. obviously right? hehe.. EQ looked really nice.. the lobby had 2 pool tables!! I was so excited.. My uncle had gotten us an apartment instead of individual rooms.. It was comfy and nice.. 1 hall, balcony, 2 rooms, 1 bath. It felt like home away from home.

After checking in, we left immediately to explore the beautiful and totally cold Cameron Highlands. As you drive around, you will notice many Strawberry Farms, Botanical Gardens, Vegetable Farms and other interesting activities for you to take part in. Since i love strawberries, we headed to the strawberry farm first :)

It was interesting to learn on how strawberries grow. Did you know that at its baby stage, a strawberry looks exactly like a flower? Cool rite? Did you also know that Tomatoes grow high up there on branches? I didnt!!

And after all the walking + learning, its only fair i indulge in my favorite fruit right? :)

We then headed into one of the flower farms. You will be surprised with how big the roses grow there.. and also on how many different species of flowers they have growing.. some of which we've never seen before.. don't get me started on the different kinds of roses.. if you're a rose lover, you'd absolutely love Cameron! Besides the flowers, they had other decorative for people like me and my cousins who aren't really into flowers and planting.. :)

But of course, being someone who likes to photograph things, i wouldn't miss my chance capturing what flowers i found beautiful..

After walking the whole day, we decided to head back and call it a day as the "driver" was tired and so were we.. After 3 rounds of pool at the hotel lobby we took our long and hot baths, cuddled up in blankets and watched TV til we slowly headed to bead one by one..

With our trip to Cameron being just a weekend trip, we packed our stuff and headed to the balcony for some family pictures to commemorate our trip.. EQ had a beautiful garden and terrace too over looking the whole of Cameron.. You can easily see a few tea plantations, the view was just amazing.. it gives you a sense of tranquility.. A perfect place for couples to just curl up together.. the environment and weather gives you the very reason to do so.. not that you would need any reasons, of course :)

And no journey to Cameron is complete without visiting the tea plantations.. The one we went to was the Boh! plantation. There are other plantations which have jeep rides that take you to the middle of the plantation. Unfortunately, we didn't get to do that. It would have been fun.

Upon arrival, we were greeted and taken to the factory. The lady talked us through the whole process of making tea.. from the leaves picking right to the part where the tea is packed into its cute little tea bag. We were then directed to their specialty shop which seemed expensive at first. RM7 - RM9 per packet of flavored tea containing about 10 to 15 bags per packet. I the realised that its so much more cheaper than the ones you get in KL so i grabbed passion fruit and mango. Totally Delish!

It was a short trip but educational, eventful and worth it!

P/s: Visit the pasar malam at Tanah Rata town near the KFC. You will be able to buy strawberries, fruits, vege, honey and everything else that has made Cameron famous.. Can anyone get me the Tomato Jam? Pweese?

D'Village Hotel, Ayer Keroh, Malacca

noreply@blogger.com (eVie) — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 04:10:00 +0000

Coming Soon!

Cruise to No Where!!

noreply@blogger.com (eVie) — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 14:35:00 +0000

So a bunch of friends went crazy and wanted to go gambling.. we couldn't obviously to go Genting because it was like a 7 hour drive away.. best alternative? Cruise!!

We took a jetty from a station, which seemed like the other end of Singapore and bought our incredibly cheap tickets!

SGD 12 per person

SGD 40 per cabin - 2pax, 3pax or 4pax
All you can eat buffet - Super, Bfast & Lunch
Location: Off Shore of Nongsang, Indo

The plan was to board at 8.20pm aboard a smaller boat which will take us to the huge ship.. i would tell you the name of the boat, if i could read Chinese.. plus it was night time and i couldn't really see.. I was feeling seasick the whole time, i nearly through-up, i swear! Luckily my friend suggested we sit outside on the deck.. Now why didn't i think of that? hmpf!

That's me, with the round earring :D Enjoying the breeze of the night.. So then we finally reach the ship.. It was this huge, very elegantly decorated ship, very well organised too! We got our room cards and threw our stuff and ourselves on the bed!! Its so soft i tell you.. I came close to steeling the comforters and pillows.. hehe.. kidding.. but i did think about it.. :D

Seeing that there were many hungry people among us, we rushed off to the buffet.. And the amount of food.. my goodness.. i think i became fat by just 3 meals! They had all, ALL, the local cuisines and snacks, western delights, drinks, desserts.. soups.. what else? Our table, was smothering with food i tell you.. and with the price we paid? it was well worth it..

Ok, this was after the waiter cleared our main course.. hehe.. After the munching and the chewing, it would only be fair to our bodies and minds! to go for a walk.. Some headed to the casino, no cameras allowed there and the rest of us just went round exploring the ship.. We had some cocktails and sang a few numbers before heading to bed..

I lay my head down to sleep, secretly anxious to look around when morning comes.. We reached the ship quite late and couldn't really see anything, except for of course this huge black "something" surrounding us! Plus, i was excited to see what they had for us at the breakfast buffet!

So morning came and i rushed out on deck to find this huge, blue, kinda scary but totally beautiful view.. Bare in mind this was my first cruise so i was entitled to go a little nuts..

We had our breakfast and lunch, by which time i had put down my camera and just enjoyed the view and being with my friends.. We were given 2 options.. either to board the speed at 2pm or 4pm, of course we got on the 4pm ride out.. mind you me, i sat on the deck the whole time this time, even though it was really really hot!

Oh, and i almost forgot, for those of you who smoke? Dont forget to get your taste of Indonesian ciggies at duty free prices.. my friends became dragons on the ship! If i were a smoker, for SGD2, I'm sure i would have been the mother of dragons :D

Please do not try to even sneak-in any ciggies into Singapore coz you will be heavily fined! If you still wish to do so, walk-in the red line and declare them.. You will be taxed, of course :)

I had a great time and would definitely recommend this to anyone wanting a romantic night out, just hanging out with your friends or even for first timer experience.. Money and time well spent, memories gained and totally worth it! :)

p/s: Dont forget your passports!

Sentosa - Island on an Island

noreply@blogger.com (eVie) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:57:00 +0000

Coming soon!

The Lion City, Singapore

noreply@blogger.com (eVie) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:56:00 +0000

Coming soon!

Privacy Den - Similana Resort, Phuket

noreply@blogger.com (eVie) — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:34:00 +0000

Its been years since i went to Phuket and the memory is still fresh in my mind.. I went in August 2006 for 10 glorious days and wished i didnt have to come home.. but ofcourse if i stayed on.. i would have probably come back a balloon coz the food... is... extremely... tasty...! As you can see me stuffing my face below. I'm such a cam freak and didn't even bother to pose..

Upon arrival at the Phuket airport, a friend of mine had got someone from the resort we were staying at, to come fetch us.. after about an hour drive and sleeping the in the car... We reach this beautiful and private resort called Similana Resort... The drive towards the resort was kind of scary.. There were trees on both sides of this small and narrow road.. Once we reached the lobby... Wow, i couldnt stop clicking my camera.. it was such a beautiful place! They have tree houses as they chalets! and mind you.. the trees were trees which had 2 flight of stairs with about 5 broad steps each! Yes it was high up..

The chalet was amazing.. To tell you the truth, i was not to keen on staying in a tree house.. I'm not that out-dorsey girl.. I hate insects and snakes and everything else that belongs to that family... I was afraid that i will never be able to sleep night.. I had this huge drama going on inside my head.. but when i stepped in.. i was so amazed.. it looked more comfy and elegant compared to the hotels I've stayed at before.. The toilet didnt have a long bath though.. but what made me most happy was that the windows has netting!! my heart literally smiled..

The view of the hotel was absolutely amazing.. We had the whole area to ourselves as not many people travel to phuket in Aug due to the rainy season.. The front view of our challet was the sea.. and a little walk leads to this huge pool which had a budha sculpture made out of stone which was exquisitely gorgeous..

Because the area was so isolated, the only option was to dine-in.. The resorts' club house had amazing food i tell you.. we had free breakfast every morning.. and the free breakfast was not at par with the free food we get in local hotels.. buffets serving toast and egg.. The breakfast of similana was ala carte and it had all the choices you can name.. they had 5 kinds of different prepared bread, egg, rice, pancakes, fruits, deserts, drinks and everything else... with that i gained 5 pounds..

We were able to book tours from the hotel.. so we got one that took us Bamboo Rafting and Elephant riding.. A friendly couple came to fetch us from the hotel, took us on the tours and sent us home.. It was kind of expensive but there was only 1 tour company wiling to come in all the way to Similana Resort..

The final days, we spent lazing around, getting our Thai massages and enjoying the breeze and scenery.. The only problem with this resort was that the path ways were so dark and lonely we were practically scared to walk to the club house for dinner.. but we managed.. we even packed a little food supper as we didnt want to walk around in the pitch dark scary ambiance after 12am..

I would recommend this place to couples and those who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.. Its A+++ for privacy and i just have to say this again.. an awesome scenic view..

Patong Beach, The Tourist Destination.

noreply@blogger.com (eVie) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 07:19:00 +0000

My best holiday to date has been my 10 days in Phuket.. I've already blogged about my visit to Khao Lak which was totally awesome! So after admiring the beach, taking elephant rides and going for bamboo rafting, we headed over to Patong Beach.

We stayed at the Patong Bayshore Hotel. It was nice decorated, had a big pool and a cafe for your midnight cocktail cravings.. The room was spacious and had the basic amenities of course.. It was also only 5mins away by tuktuk to Patong beach..

It was amazing to visit the exact place that was hit by tsunami.. I went there in year 2006, just 2 years after the horrifying natural disaster and was very pleased to see that everything was back to its original state.. However, the memory of losing dear ones will never go away.. Most of the Thais, when speaking about what happened have a distant look in their eyes.. and I can only imagine what they went through.. below is a pic of the sea that swallowed everything in its reach..

The waves were still kinda scary compared to the tiny ones we have here in Malaysia.. But i still had my fun in the sun and sea.. While at the beach.. you will come across many locals approaching you to have a go at Para sailing.. Unfortunately for me, it was over my budget.. if i had the money i would have done it.. it seemed extremely fun! Also, you will come across people selling locally made chains, bracelets, pendants, finger foods and even Henna tattoo services..

Para sailing - 1500 Baht ~ RM154
Local Accessories - 100 - 300 Baht ~ RM10 - RM30
Prawn Fritters - 100 Baht ~ RM10
My Henna (Depending on Design) - 450 Baht ~ RM46

Below pics of some of the sellers, food and My henna design.. We've became fast friends as all of them are really friendly.. Sweet people :)

Only 1 guy scared us at first.. He had a metal detector and went round searching for... hehe.. coins maybe but we were scared.. hahaha

Besides the beach, our hotel had a tour agent which had tons of exciting tours so we booked a tour to go island hoping and Simon's Cabere.. Awesome show i tell you.. i had so much fun.. it was funny and very entertaining.. I honestly was expecting a cheesy show but I was amazed by the effort they put into the shows and props.. A1!!

Besides the food being absolutely Delicious, we found a 99 Baht all you can eat buffet.. It was steam boat style and had all you can eat prawns, beef, chicken, vege, noodles and other seafood.. You must try the Thailand noodles.. they cook it very differently.. its sweet and the sprinkle nuts on the dish as a finishing touch.. amazingly tasty.. and of course, the seafood.. the most fresh I've tasted.. There are many Muslim shops available for halal food as well.. in fact 1 just 2 mins walk away from the hotel we stayed..

If you can drive.. i would suggest you rent a jeep or motorcycle, get a map and explore patong yourself.. In our exploration we went to the elephant sanctuary, gibbon project, go cart rail, other beaches close by to patong and even a local "Pasar Malam!!". The cars go out for fire at 1500 Baht and the motorcycles 100 Baht per 24 hours.. Exceptionally cheap in my opinion..

All in all, its was a really exceptional trip.. good food, good entertainment, good people, good everything! I'm serious.. Btw, if you're open minded enough and crave something a little different, catch the ping pong show.. I guarantee a reaction.. I.. laughed my ass off.. My friend nearly puked.. It was an EXPERIENCE, if you know what i mean..

For those of you who like to dance.. visit the Banana club just by the patong beach.. few blocks away from the McDonalds.. The DJ was good.. It was years ago.. i hope the place gives you good memories as it did me.. :)

Since i didnt touch on the island hopping, i included some photos of the islands i visited in the slide show below.. I'm sure the pic will do more justice compared to my words! :) Enjoy!

Holiday Inn, Malacca

noreply@blogger.com (eVie) — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 08:52:00 +0000

We were in Malacca during the school holidays.. its was a spur of the moment plan to drive down to my second favorite place.. Almost all the hotels were finally book.. even the budget hotels were full.. I then realised Holiday Inn just recently opened so i thought we give that a try..

And yay! they had a room but only for 1 night.. it was good enough.. :)

This was my first time at Holiday Inn.. and i gotta say i was impressed.. for a rate like RM350++ we manage to get a family room with 1 queen sized bed and 1 single bed.. The room was spacious and very well furnished..

I especially like the fact that the bathroom treats were straight from the resident spa at Holiday Inn - Teatree Spa.. The mirror was huge and clean and everything was well prepared, ie: towels, toilet paper and everything was very very clean.. I've had my share of rundown toilets and believe me, its not pretty..

By the time we arrived was already late evening and having things to do in Malacca town didn't really permit me to really take a walk around the hotel.. My cousin however said they had a huge and beautiful pool.. i guess you have to go there to fins out.. :P

So when we got back.. totally hungry! we called in for room service :) I had pasta, my mum had the sandwich and my cousin ordered a chicken teriyaki dish, i think.. all the 3 dishes looked absolutely awesome and taste really good..

Plus, the service was really really fast.. I had just filled up the tub with bubbles and the food had arrive.. Being hungry, i choose the food before the bath :)

Grand Seasons Hotel, Jln Pahang

noreply@blogger.com (eVie) — Fri, 23 May 2008 03:16:00 +0000

Coming Soon!

Underwater World, A Must Visit!

noreply@blogger.com (eVie) — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 09:45:00 +0000

I've always had the fantasy of being able to swim like a fish but still keep my humanly forms.. blame it on too much of The Little Mermaid ;) But its gonna be one dream that i will probably die without being able to fulfill.. Its not so much my love for sea creatures but more like being free in an endless ocean..

I heard that in Batam, they have a swim with the dolphins program. I am soo waiting for that opportunity. Dolphins are my angels and i love, love, love dolphins. I am also waiting to go to Australia to go Whale Watching. A much nearer adventure would be to go aboard the Glass Bottom Boat in Langkawi... So ok, back to the Underwater World in Singapore.. hehe.. sorry, got carried away! :D

The journey to Sentosa Island took a while.. first the bus, then the cable car, then the island bus again.. The tour guide actually told us that on Valentine's Day, they put tables in the cable car and serve a romantic dinner.. Pricey but totally romantic, dont you think? A little scary as well.. hehehe

But i was very excited to go to the Underwater World as i have never been to one before.. it wasnt the same as my fantasies but it was close enough. What interests me the most were these very different and unique creatures they had.

Consisting of a giant size crab, which might look small in the video below, sea horses which looks like sea weeds and flowers and many many more.. Watch!

Have you watched 7 pounds yet? Isnt it amazing that such beautiful creatures are so deadly? I could just stand there and watch them all day gently and softly floating up and down.. And did you know that there are many different kinds of jelly fish? Beautiful, just beautiful!

But the highlight of my trip was this amazing and sensitive creature called a Clione Limacina.. Also known as the Sea Angel.. The name doesnt do the creature justice.. i dont think my video does it justice as well.. neither can my words, but i''l try ;) To me, it looked like a mermaid with wings.. in fact looking at it closely.. it even looks like a little human being with wings.. simply put, an angel the size of your last toe nail!

Here's another video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmBIDinJUr8

Then there were sharks and other totally huge, i mean HUGE fishes.. I was so busy taking videos that i almost trip at the end when the floor stopped moving.. heheh.. it was eye opening and educational!

Overall, i would say that it would be a waste if you were at Sentosa Island and didnt visit the Underwater World.. Dont forget to catch the pink dolphin show if you have the time!